Milan(ia) *said like Teresa Giudide*

Milan Post

The title is in reference to my family's fondness for and obsession with casual viewing of the RHONJ. The whole time I was in Milan, I just wanted to say Milan in Teresa's voice.

Dani and I left for Italy on Saturday, Dec. 1 with a fly from Edinburgh to Milan. Unfortunately I came down with a cold and fever the night before and Dani was also getting over a cold so we took the first day easy.

We were pretty pooped upon arriving to Milan so the only thing that we ventured out to do that night was to find food. We went to a nice restaurant owned by three brothers and I'm pretty sure we were the only Americans and I the only blonde. What we and the staff lacked in verbal communication we made up for in funny facial expressions. The food was great although I'm sure it would have tasted even better without a cold.

The next morning we ventured out to find the Duomo or Milan's main cathedral. Dani and I went inside  and walked around during the middle of mass. It was a great time to go and witness mass in Italian (actually it might have been in Latin) plus it was the first day of Advent so that was an extra perk. 

Outside next to the Duomo was a large market with a lot of stalls selling food, gifts and Christmas items. As doughnuts hold a special place in my heart (and stomach) I had to buy a giant doughnut filled with chocolate pudding. Best Milan purchase. 

After walking in the wrong direction for forty minutes trying to get from the center to our hotel, we took the metro and made it back to our hotel. We found that whenever we got lost in Milan, all we had to do was look as touristy as possible and take out our map and some kind, older Italian would help us out. 

It was my least favorite city that we visited but maybe because it was overcast and rainy and we only saw a limited section of it. It just seemed really grey, industrial and not that exciting which is the impression I've also gotten from other people who have visited. 

Next stop: Venice.

Done with school!

I'm finished with school!

I've officially finished all of my work and my classes at the University of Edinburgh ended on Thursday. While other people here are revising during reading week, I'll be traveling through Italy. And when other people are taking exams, I'll be checking things of my Edinburgh bucket list and going to stay at Ellie's house in England. And then it will be time to go home!

I can't believe that three weeks from today, I'll be flying home. I'm so, so excited to go home, see my family (including Skip) and friends, eat lots of food and gear up for next semester back at UNC. I love how Edinburgh has become like home the past few months and it will always be an experience that I'll cherish and reflect upon. I'll be sad to leave behind all of the great friends I've met here but I really miss my family, friends and UNC. That being said, I'm going to try and enjoy these last three weeks as much as I can!

Besides finishing up my work, eating Thanksgiving foods, and hanging out with my flatmates and friends, nothing too exciting has happened since I've last posted. Last night Sarah and I went downtown for the opening of the Christmas Markets and the lighting of the tree. It was cold and crowded but still lots of fun. There was a small parade before the lighting of the tree with a giant, creepy Santa puppet, a girl and teddy bear having a pillow fight, and a samba band. The bed that the bear and girl were on was hoisted into the air by a crane and flew around the tree before it was lit. It didn't feel very Christmas-y but there were lots of lights and fireworks. I do plan on going back to the markets during the day when it's not as cold or busy. Our flat is also doing a Secret Santa gift exchange and potluck with our other MC friends in two weeks so maybe I'll find a gift there.

I will have a lot to post next week when I get back from Italy! Tomorrow I'm flying to Italy with my friend Dani (Danielle) who goes to Penn. We will be in Milan on Saturday night, Venice Sunday night, Florence Monday night, Rome Tuesday and Wednesday night and then back in Edinburgh Thursday evening. We will be eating lots of great food and trying to see as much as we can. I'm so excited but of course nervous! I know we'll have a lot of fun and I'm going to try and take as many photos as I can. I think Dani has a friend who is studying in Milan and I know a girl who is studying in Florence so we're going to try and meet up with them. I know that I always enjoy new cities more when I have someone who lives there to show me around or just meet up with.

Here are some photos I've taken since Thanksgiving:

Flat 13/3's Thanksgiving meal. I made the mac & cheese! 

Dinner with (almost) everyone before Charlotte left to go home.

Encouraging words during a class trip to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

A talking Santa who cursed.

Skyping with the extended family on Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Can't wait to share my Italian adventure next week with you and be home in 22 days!

Loving London

Molly and I by Buckingham Palace.

Two weekends ago I went to London to visit Molly, one of my best friends from UNC. For those who don't know, Molly is studying and interning in London this semester. I hadn't seen her since the beginning of May so seeing her in London was a wonderful reunion! She gives admissions tours at UNC so I was in good hands as a tourist in London. We did so many things! It still amazes me how much we did and saw in one weekend.

On Friday night Molly picked me up from the train station and one of the first things we did was prepare to get on the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross to Hogsmeade Station take photos at Platform 9 3/4.

 

Friday night we went to dinner in Chinatown to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of her friends and then hung out back at her flat where we watched some Glee (of course) and did a lot of catching up.

Saturday morning we started off the day by seeing some of London's major sights. We walked for over six hours and didn't sit down until later in the afternoon. Molly is an amazing tour guide and I got to see more than I expected to, which I'm so grateful for. On our Saturday walking tour we hit up:

1. Thames
2. Big Ben
3. London Eye
4. Parliament
5. Westminster Abbey
6. Buckingham Palace - with changing of the guards.
7. Trafalgar Square
8. The National Gallery
9. The National Portrait Gallery
10. The Globe
11. Borough Market
12. Millenium Bridge
13. St. Patrick's Cathedral

Two of my favorite places where the National Portrait Gallery and Borough Market. We were only at the gallery for a few minutes but we got to see the Mario Testino exhibit featuring intimate pictures of the royal family. At Borough Market we both got hot apple cider, I got blueberry cheesecake and Molly got some fruit. Going there on an empty stomach would have been dangerous for both my health and wallet. There was soooo much delicious food! 

In front of the London Eye.

Big Ben

Poppies and crosses outside of Westminster Abbey for Remembrance Day.

Molly and I by Big Ben.

Preparing for changing of the guards.

Buckingham Palace during changing of the guards. So many people!

Borough Market

St. Patrick's Cathedral

After relaxing and having dinner back at Molly's flat, we went and saw Shrek the Musical, which happened to be playing right off of Drury Lane. The show was lots of fun and a nice way to end an amazing day.

On Sunday we did a toned down version of our Saturday walking tour but still saw and did a lot. Molly's flat is right by the British Museum so we started the day off there. I love museums but was almost overwhelmed by this one. The Rosetta Stone is one of the museum's main attractions and a major tourist draw. As an art history major, it made me a little sad to see people experiencing it through their camera. It also made it difficult for others trying to see it. Plus it was super crowded so I was a little overwhelmed. God help me if I go to the Louvre and try to see the Mona Lisa.

After the British Museum, we went to Brick Lane Market which has a lot of artisan stalls and a great food market. It seemed like you could get your lunch from any area of the world. I had chinese food and after we left the market, Molly and I got some yummy Indian treats from a local bakery. 

On Sunday we also went to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Covent Garden, Harrods, London Tower and Tower Bridge. One could spend hours in Harrods! The best part was the Christmas section of course.

Tower Bridge 

On Monday, Molly went to her internship so I went to the Tate Britain and got to see an exhibit featuring one of my favorite artists, J. M. W. Turner. After that, I met one of Molly's flatmates, Jillian, for lunch and she showed me around Hyde Park and Kensington Palace that afternoon.  

Kensington Palace

When Molly got back from her internship, she brought me to the train station to say goodbye. I had such an amazing weekend in London with Molly and getting to spend time with her after not seeing her for more than six months made me cry of course. Usually I've been ready to go back to Edinburgh after trips but I didn't want to leave London! It's definitely a place I could visit again and again. 

Molly, thanks for being a gracious host, great guide and amazing friend! 

In other news:

1. Edinburgh doesn't have squirrels so I got to see some in London. Don't know if I would call seeing them comforting but it was funny to watch tourists take photos of them.

2. London's Starbucks actually get my name right! In Edinburgh I've been Aidi, Lily, and Kathy when I say Katie and Fill and Feild when I say Field. I think I need to stress the T.

3. Today I had the pleasure of getting lunch with Kristen, who Anne was a Young Life leader to about twenty years ago. It was so nice to step out of the student/study abroad life for a bit and connect with Kristen. Thank you Anne for setting us up! I had a great time and also got to meet Kristen's family. They've been in Edinburgh for about the same time I have and are going back to the States a few days before me. We're planning on meeting up again in December when I'm done with classes and have a week in Edinburgh with no commitments. I'm really excited!

Kristen and I at Nando's.

Crunch time now! Ten days until I'm done with my work. Hope everyone is having a great weekend and has a Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be missing everyone extra hard that day so eat lots of pumpkin pie in my honor.

Highland Highlights

I made it! After one good cry (because it's what I do) and living in the library this weekend (approximately 40 hours), I've finished half of my course work as I submitted my essays today. I have three more due two weeks from today and then I'll be done with my work! It's been a both a blessing and a curse having to write another set of essays instead of taking exams. Since history of art courses sit exams in the spring, visiting semester students write another essay. It makes the next two weeks stressful but at least I'll be done with work by the end of November! 

I'll be traveling through Italy the first week of December during the university's reading week. I'm going with Dani, who goes to Penn, and we're going to Milan, Florence, Venice and Rome. Then I'll have about a week in Edinburgh with no classes or commitments so I plan to see everything I haven't been able to yet. Then I'll be in Paris for two nights with Charlotte, who goes to Georgetown and who I went to the Highlands with, and from Paris I'm going to London to take the train to my flatmate Ellie's house in Ropsley! I'll be at Ellie's for two night and I'm really excited to get to experience an English village, especially around Christmas. Then I'll be back in Edinburgh and going home!

I just googled Ropsley and there is a street named Chapel Hill. How ironic.

So about the Highlands…

The last weekend in October I went on a bus tour of the Highlands with Charlotte, Mike and Carley who go to Georgetown. Charlotte, Mike and Carley were just my speed and lots of fun. Mike and Carley have been dating for years and act like grandparents (but are awesome!). Charlotte is usually their third wheel so I know it was nice for her to not have to be it again that weekend.

We went with a company called Haggis Adventures and had an awesome tour guide named Stevie. He told a lot of good stories about his crazy friend, Tony. All that was missing was a Larry.

Driving past the beautiful scenery + Stevie's music + storytelling in his Scottish accent made me feel like I was in a movie or commercial. Didn't no whether to cry or not sometimes because the Highlands were breathtaking. 

We stopped in a lot of towns, tried to spot the Loch Ness monster, had some snow, went to a Halloween party at the only pub in the town we stayed at, and had an overall great time! I've never seen so many sheep or cows in my life. That weekend was the perfect time to visit the Highlands because the fall foliage was at it's peak. Charlotte, Mike and Carley were really fun to travel with. Next time I'm in D.C., I hope I can meet up with all three of them at Georgetown.

My pictures don't do the Highlands justice but here are some:

  

The Clansmen Centre in Fort Augustus. 

Mike wearing a belted plaid, which was traditional Highland dress during from the 16-18th centuries.

With Charlotte and Carley.

Another awkward solo for the family. 

Eilean Donan Castle, which was also in Made of Honor.

Mike, Carley, Charlotte and I.

Twins with Carley. 

Where J.M. Barrie visited during holidays as a child.

Spotted Nessie at Loch Ness! 

Our bus.

Hamish the Highland Cow/Hairy Coo.

In other news:

1. The Scottish mountains kill more people in Scotland than cars do. Not because they are the highest but because people aren't really prepared for the changing weather. It rained, snowed, was sunny, was freezing all the while we were in the Highlands.

2. Ellie, Sarah, and Lina got lice! Wong and I have been checked and luckily we don't have it but it hasn't been a fun experience. Ellie's boyfriend is visiting this weekend and he has it too. I can't escape it! Hopefully I don't get it...

3. Can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! It's one of my favorite holidays so I'm sad to be missing it. Our flat is planning on cooking some Thanksgiving foods though.  It's next to impossible to find pumpkin so no pumpkin pie :( No turkey either because I can't cook one and Ellie and Sarah our vegetarians. Excited that Christmas dinner is basically a repeat of Thanksgiving!

Stay tuned for a post about London. It was a fantastic weekend!

Sorry for the lack of posts! 

I've had a great two past weeks with trips to the Highlands and London. I want to share stories and photos about both trips but have a hellish academic week right now that I need to devote my time and energy to. 

I'll have posts up on or after the 14th. I have three essays (each worth 50% of my class grade) due that day so that's what I'm focusing on now. 

Stay tuned.

N.C. Heritage Calendar

Your girl has been published in print! This is totally unrelated to studying abroad but I thought I'd share a project that I helped work on this summer with the UNC journalism school. 

Presented by AT&T, the Heritage Calendar celebrates the N.C. African-American experience and those who enriched the fabric of diversity in the state. I wrote about two of the honorees - can you guess which ones? 

N.C. Heritage Calendar

P.S. I Love You, Dublin

Just got back from a wonderful trip to the motherland! I went to Dublin last Wednesday night and came back to Edinburgh on Monday morning. My trip to Dublin was the perfect combination of sightseeing and hanging out with new and old friends.

When I got to my hostel Wednesday night, Mary and Gina were already there waiting for me. For those who don't know, I've known Mary since at least 1999 (we rang in the new century together) and we've gone to all of the same schools and churches. Mary's spending her semester abroad from UNC at UCD-Belfield in Dublin. I've known Gina since high school and Gina is currently spending the year living and studying in Denmark. 

I checked into the hostel, put my stuff in my room and met them downstairs to go to dinner. While I was in my room, they met a boy staying at the hostel who was in Dublin with his mom for fall break. It so happens that he is also a junior at UNC. There were also two girls in my room who were studying abroad in Italy but go to school at Elon. Very small world.

Thursday morning I met up with my friend Anneke's friend Kaityln. Kaitlyn goes to UNC and is studying at Trinity this semester. Kaitlyn and I grabbed coffee and then walked around the city. It was great to share our abroad experiences with each other and familiarize myself with Dublin. We walked around Trinity, St. Stephen's Green, Temple Bar, and many Dublin streets. Thanks Anneke for getting us together!

The Campanile in Parliament Square at Trinity. Trinity students avoid walking under it for fear of bad luck. Legend also has it that if a virgin walks under, the bell will toll.

Inside St. Stephen's Green. 

Inside St. Stephen's Green.

Gina and I then met up at the Spire and wandered around Dublin while Mary had class. We ate hamburgers - I think this is now turning into a thing where I need to eat a hamburger (or red meat) in every city I visit while abroad - for lunch and caught up. 

Gina and I at the Spire. It's tall, not very aesthetically pleasing and kind of a waste of money but a great meeting point.

Kaitlyn and I.

I met up with Mary and Gina later that night at Mary's campus. It was great to spend more time with them and meet Mary's friends. Most Irish students go home on the weekends - I can't imagine going home every weekend at UNC. Later that night we went to the infamous Temple Bar area and went to a few pubs. Fun night!

Friday morning I went on a free walking tour of Dublin. It covered a lot of Dublin and was more of a historical tour but definitely worth it. Free and good are usually synonymous in my book. We visited Dublin Castle, Dubh Linn Gardens, Temple Bar, St. Stephen's Green, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral, the Chester Beatty Library and a few other places. 

What's remaining of the original Dublin Castle.  

 Christ Church Cathedral or the "Whiskey Cathedral." 

Dubh Linn Gardens. The wall was built to hide Dublin's largest slums from the Queen during her most recent visit.

Later that night I met up with Gina and Mary again at Mary's apartment. Gina was leaving in the morning and most likely won't be back in the U.S. until late August so I'm really glad that I got to see her in Dublin. The bus from Mary's campus to the city centre stops running around 11:30 pm so I waited at the stop to go back to my hostel; however, it decided to stop running when it got to UCD. Luckily there were other people waiting at the stop, including one of Mary's friends, Connor, who goes to American University. He and his French friends asked if I wanted to split a cab to the city centre so I did. They asked what I was doing and I said going back to my hostel. They invited me to go out with them so I did. I wouldn't normally agree to going out with strangers but since I had already met Mary's friend the night before, I did. When in Dublin I guess? I'm glad I did because I had a good time.

On Saturday I checked out of the hostel and went to UCD to stay with Mary that night. My flatmate Sarah got into Dublin Saturday morning and one of her friends from Duke is also studying at UCD this semester. We met up and went into the city for lunch and exploring. Her friend Ian took us to the Temple Bar Food Market and I got to eat Mexican food! It had been almost two months since Mexican food had been in my stomach so I was thrilled. Later that afternoon we went to tour the Guinness Storehouse. I really just wanted to go to take a picture in front of the famous gate, pour my own pint and get a certificate but it was interesting to learn about the history and the process of making Guinness. 

Sarah and Ian. Great people but kind of ashamed I had to share my Guinness experience with Dook students. 

Considering graduating from the Guinness Academy if art history and journalism don't work out.

The weather in Dublin was pretty much perfect during my visit. It only rained when I arrived on Wednesday night but the rest of the visit consisted of 50 degree sunny or overcast skies. There was also no wind or hilly streets! Didn't miss that about Edinburgh but I did end up with some seriously blotchy red skin after a few pints. How ironic would that be to be of Irish heritage and allergic to hops, malted barley or malted wheat?

I hung out with Mary on Saturday night and Sunday morning we went to mass and had brunch with her friends. The service was really great and a nice way to end the visit. Sunday night Sarah and I slept napped on Ian's couches - more like cradles before that's how small they were -  and left for the airport at 3 am Monday morning. 

Whatever levels of homesickness that I've experienced while being abroad were non-existent during my Dublin trip. I do hope to come back to Dublin again and visit the rest of Ireland with my family but it was great experiencing Dublin with new and old friends. I'm so thankful for all of the hospitality, laughter and friendship that I experienced during my visit. 

In other news:

1. The art history department has a reading week this week so when I'm not procrastinating  by cleaning (or writing this blog post), I'll be researching and writing my papers.

2. I'm going to the Highlands Friday through Sunday with three kids from Georgetown. The tour we're going on takes us through Inverness, Glencoe, the Isle of Skye and a few other places. I'm excited to see more of Scotland and take lots of photos. 

3. Going to London and seeing Molly in less than two weeks! 

4. Check out this article from the News & Observer. Over the summer I helped produce a calendar with the UNC Journalism School and AT&T which celebrates North Carolinians who've enriched the fabric of diversity in the state: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/22/2428791/calendar-honors-north-carolinians.html

5. Currently hearing Christmas music coming from a neighbor's flat. Anna, you would love it. Almost two months until Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend. Love and miss you all!