Penny for the Guy?

Bex's mom came to visit this weekend and it was so wonderful. Bex had warned us before that she was very enthusiastic and had been talking about taking us all out to dinner for about a month now. She and her boyfriend Gary arrived Saturday morning bringing with them all sorts of goodies. When she walked in the door she gave Rachel and I big hugs (Jamie went home for the weekend) and brought us each a dozen roses. It felt so good to have a mom hug again!
After we ate some lunch, they went to check into their hotel and Rachel and I stayed in the flat doing some work. A bit later we got text messages from Bex: "champagne in the flat in 20 minutes!"
We had a little pre-dinner glass of bubbly and chatted in the kitchen. Then we all squeezed into the Bug (Baxter) and drove into Headingley for our 6:30 dinner reservation.
We ate at a Greek restaurant called the Olive Tree and it was soooo good. We were treated to a three course meal-I had a trio of dips and pita bread, spanakopita (a spinach and feta filo pastry miracle, mmm) and berry covered cheesecake for dessert. It was definitely the best meal I've had so far.
Bex's mom was truly amazing. She kept thanking us for indulging her! It was sweet to see mother and daughter reunited but at the same time, I kept feeling little pangs of sadness. Everyone in the flat has been able to see their families now...Christmas will be very welcomed.
Sunday they came back and drove us to the big grocery store that's much too far for us to walk. We all did our shopping and appreciated the luxury of not taking the bus or carrying all our bags up the hill. Then they treated us to another meal at a restaurant called the Arc. This place had the coolest looking burgers-artfully stacked full, held together by a skewer placed next to a cute little bucket of chips, all on top of individual wooden cutting boards. This was the most American meal I've had, and while the rest of the group sat in awe at the size, I was thinking to myself, wow this is normal size in America.
After lunch, we all had to say farewell but not before it was insisted that we come visit Bex during Christmas break (I may just take her up on that offer).
Although university life is fun and crazy, it is always lovely to spend time with people other than students, especially those who really care about you.

Tonight is Guy Fawkes or bonfire night! Fireworks have been set off all week here and there but tonight is the official celebration. We are going to Hyde Park to watch the fireworks at 7. I asked Rachel last night if we should bring blankets to sit on and she laughed at me. Apparently thats just an American thing...

Hope everyone is well! Miss you!

Manchester

It was another wonderful weekend here in England.
Friday, the girls and I went into town to shop around for our Halloween costumes which we dawned Saturday night for a Halloween Party in Manchester. Leeds city center has a really great shopping atmosphere and we wandered around, lunched in a cafe and made it back to the flat for some tea. Friday night, despite the fact we were headed to Manchester the next morning, we gave in to the urge to go out. So we put on our dancing shoes and went to check out a club called Oceana that everyone has been talking about. We got in free since we went before ten, but as we guessed, it was pretty quiet until around 11.
Oceana is definitely my favorite club so far. It has so many themed rooms like a disco-complete with the light up dance floor, a ski lodge with fire places and wooden decor, a boudoir with lots of red velvet and then a few other general dance floors. Plus, they were giving away free glasses of champagne at the start of the night, so you know, they won my heart right away.
Unfortunately, we made it back around 3:30am, leaving a mere 4 hours of sleep before it was up to catch the coach to Manchester.
We left in the morning, a bit like zombies, but still excited. The reason for the trip was Rachel's brother's Halloween Party. Manchester is only about an hour away, so when we arrived, we walked around the city a bit and grabbed lunch at the art gallery. It was here in the gallery cafe that I tried my very first English scone with cottered cream and jam. Its so cute, because every time I come across something new the girls instruct me exactly how to eat it the English way. Of course, they end up debating which of their methods is the best. Butter then jam? Jam then cream? How much? Haha. I went for no butter and it was amazing. Really delicious.

After lunch we looked around the gallery for a bit, which is always enjoyable. Then we took the train to where Rachel's dad and uncle live. Rachel's uncle was generous enough to let us sleep at his home in the most comfortable beds ever. I will miss it tonight.
It was so nice to be in a home again and see family getting together.
We took a nap back at Rachel's Uncle's after chatting and having a beverage with her dad and step mom, only to wake up with about and hour until we had to leave.
We put on our costumes-black widows because we scored some cool hats at Poundland-and went to the party.
Rachel's brother and his girlfriend, who are about 26, really did such a great job decorating their place. I tried to get pictures but it was difficult since all the lighting was done with jack-o-lanterns and candles.
They had "evil punch", a bonfire out back and bobbing for apples. They also lit fireworks about half way through the night. It was nice to see some people actually getting into the Halloween spirit, since the English don't do it like us crazy Americans. :)

It was a pretty relaxed party and thankfully we didn't get home late and had a good nights rest.
This morning we had breakfast at Rachel's dads and some lunch at her mom's before taking the bus back to Leeds.
Yay for family visits! Bex's mom comes next weekend and she's taking us all out to dinner.
Happy Halloween everybody!!! What are you all dressing up as? :)

I'm going to Italy for Thanksgiving!!! For almost an entire week. I will get to celebrate with Kelly and have wonderful food. I can't wait!

Day Trip: York

Last night marked the end of Kristen's short but sweet visit. She came on Tuesday night and left this evening. Tuesday I went to pick her up in the city, but her bus was 2 hours late! I've come to find out that buses, while affordable are definitely not as reliable as the trains in England. Unfortunately while she was here I had class and felt quite sickly but nevertheless we made the most of the time. We walked around Leeds Wednesday, she tasted some true British style tea and a full English breakfast, almost went and experienced the Leeds nightlife (at the last minute deciding we would be better off staying in warmly cuddled watching Scrubs), and went to York. We took the bus to York, only about 45 minutes away and had a lovely day in the historic city.
The pictures below include some random city shots, the art gallery we went to and the York Minster-the largest medieval gothic cathedral in Northern Europe.

Everyday Dutch

Hello all! Here are some photos from last weekend's amazing Holland excursion. Take a look at Kelly's blog-link on the right-to read some of our stories! The trip could not have been better...I got to see the girls, eat some yummy food and appreciate the beautiful weather. The transportation there and back was challenging, but I made it and it was well worth it. Now it's time to really hit the books here in Leeds...but don't fret, I'll make time for some blog-worthy adventures.


In Utrecht, we discovered our own little canal down some steps and away from the crowds.


The little engine that couldn't. This is the train that failed us on the very first night in Holland.
Bikes and canals are my new favorite landscape.
Amsterdam was precious, don't believe all those naughty rumors.
Relaxing again. It was the theme of the trip.
Amsterdam Centraal, even the train stations were gorgeous!A wedding in Utrecht.

The bike parking lots were crazy.
Had to snap a photo! :)The inside of the Delft Old Kerk (Church). Beautiful stained glass.

Firsts

So I tried my first Yorkshire Pudding a few nights ago, compliments of Bex. I'm not really a big fan of sausage normally but it was quite delicious!

After our Yorkshire pudding dinner we ventured to a second year house party which was cool. However, it made me glad that I chose on campus housing instead of finding my own place. Our flat is really nice and in a safer area in comparison.

In other news, I rode on a double decker bus for the first time today on our "food shopping" trip today. Enjoyable indeed.

And last night was the Fresher's Ball...which was the big end all for the freshers fortnight of events.
The picture is one of the four clubs inside the student union.



Some of the people in my building. The girls posing pretty and the guys being crazy. Alright, well keep checking back in because I'm going to Amsterdam and Utrecht this coming week so there should be lots to write about!! Oh and if you want to mail me something in the post:

Oh right, that's what I'm here for...

So I only have class Monday through Wednesday which is really amazing and I only have one class a day. Compared to the five days a week, at least 2 classes a day schedule I had at UCSD, I feel like I'm on easy street. Well, until I went to my seminar today.
Here at Uni, the students pick a course (like a major for us) and study only that course for three years. They have a set group of core classes they take every level. It's very strange for me though because I'm sampling classes from all three levels. I'm taking my theatre courses in level one with first years and my communication courses in both levels two and three.
I had a lecture Monday for my Communication Arts class and I think that class will be pretty good since many of the themes I've learned about at UCSD. Tuesday I had my Stage Management class which I almost fell asleep in it was so boring. I think that one will be tough to sit through but the tutor promised something more active next week, thank goodness. However, today's seminar has got me a bit worried.
The class is Screen Fact and it is taught by David Lancaster. He is a definitely a character and very smart man. He came out to The Library (if you were paying attention you will recall that this is a pub) after class today with all the students. During class though, I felt so lost. The seminar is only about 35 people and they all know each other from their first year. Prof Lancaster pulled one of those cliche movie scenes and introduced me to the class. In a very slow and dramatic voice he said "This is Brittany and she is from America. Not only America, but California, not only California, but Southern California, not only Southern California but San Diego," to which I smiled, looked around and gave an awkward wave.
Then he started talking about the aims of the class. It's basically about factual British TV, like documentaries and news and such. I know nothing about British TV and felt so oblivious as the group discussed current debates surrounding it.
I have a lot of learning and TV watching to do in order to catch up to all my colleagues, but it looks like I'll have plenty of time.

I also joined the Theatre society and the LS:TV society so that should keep me busy. (you know they charge money to join clubs here?)

And, seeing as how my pictures are not postable right now, I'm stealing someone else's from last night's Devonshire Pub crawl. This is Rachel, Paul, Bex and I walking back to Dev: