57% Better Than the Day Before

I'm in London! I arrived here about nine AM England time after flying all night. And despite feeling really jet lagged and starving after getting off the plane it has been an amazing day. We started out by exploring the city a bit when we were supposed to do a scavenger hunt. We saw Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, The British flag was flying so that meant the queen of England was home. Talk about close encounters with royalty. However, I think that if my stomach had been full at the time I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

After that adventure we were able to get into our hostel rooms which are tiny, and colorful and very very cold. But they are clean! (The bathrooms are not and that is all I am going to say) It was a good day, about 57% better than the day before. I mean, I ate fish and chips, saw a Rolls Royce, and got to ride in a subway train. Tonight I'll just be happy to get some sleep and have some good dreams. I already miss everyone and I can't wait to be able to call home.

By the way, if you ever happen to be in the London area (which I truely suggest you make a point to do) then you should stop by Hummus Bros. The sign outsides says that it is first hummus bar in London, but it should also say that it is the best and most delicious hummus in all the world. I´m gonna go ahead and urge you to try a large bowl of guacamole and chicken with brown pitas and a ginger mint lemonade.

Long live the queen, or something like that.

Goodbye

Synced my I-Pod with the music I can't live without for three months...check

Ate last egg sandwich (courtesy of dad)...check

Overpacked to the maximum extreme...check

Prayed with Peju....check

Ok I got most of the important stuff done, which is good since I'm going to be leaving in about an hour! Last night we had family dinner with my grandpa. Most of the conversation was us reciting lines from our new favorite movie Hot Rod. (Which if you haven't seen it, please do, your life might just be changed.)

So this post is my farewell! I'll see everyone soon, well, I'll see you in May. And I promise I will try to post on here as much as I can. I'll be in London tonight (which will be tomorrow there).

Goodbye! (Also, will anyone who sees my mom just make sure to give her a hug and tell her its going to be okay?)

"Pack-o-Rama"

Honestly, I hate packing. I mean, I've lived in a different house for every year of my life. I'm just sick of it. So I have dubbed the next seven days "Pack-0-Rama" that way it seems like more fun. My theory is it will work the same way as the word "extreme" does. You know, like "EXtreme Puzzling!" or "EXtreme Knitting" it just automatically makes any activity less boring and more awesome. That's my theory anyway.

Okay, so day 1 of Pack-o-Rama. I got a really sweet rolly suitcase for Christmas, now I just have to distinguish what to fill it with. Our professors told us to bring as very little as possible...and then they gave us a three page packing list. Here are some of my favorite suggestions:

1. jacknife with a corkscrew

2. fork

3. a door jam

4. a map of the U.S.A.? (maybe, so we know how to get back home)

5. ear plugs (because apparently people "snore" in youth hostels)

6. a leotard

Which, for some reason, I already have...and enjoy wearing over my normal clothes on a regular basis. (sorry about the rather disturbing picture.)

To be sure, one thing I will not forget is chapstick. Anyone who knows me, knows how serious I am, gosh darmit. I might just bring fifty sticks of it. I mean who know if the kind my lips have become accustomed to is even available in merry ol' England!? Or whether they even have chapstick at all?! I mean, maybe Europeans just have naturally moist kissers and they don't even sell chapstick anywhere!!!! That almost escalated into a full-blown chapstick-induced panic attack.

As For the Kid With the Turtle

Ok...what's the date? The 22nd. So, seven days until I leave for Europe! That's incredibly awesome and totally terrifying at the same time. You know, sort of like a haunted house (it makes sense to me, ok?). Anyway, I will be gone from January 29th until sometime in May. Pretty awesome, I know. And though I will be having unparalleled adventures I can't even imagine how much I am going to miss everyone back at home. Which brings me to why I am creating this ultrafantastic blog. I need to be able to communicate with you guys somehow, but if I get any phone access at all it will cost me an arm and a leg (and I have grown rather fond of all my appendages). Soooo...this will be my main way to communicate with all you Americans.

I'll post pictures and interesting stories about cool stuff I get to do and fantastic Europeans I meet. Leave me some comments about how much you miss me being in your lives. That way, I won't feel so lonely.

Also, I have no idea what "awesometron" means. I was just sitting here at my computer and it came to me. I guess if I had to push it to get a meaning, it is the name I would choose for myself if I was a Transformer. I don't know, it has nothing to do with the trip or anything.