Home Sweet Home!

     So we have now been home for 3 days and I think I'm finally back on good ole' SoDak time! We had a wonderful last few days in London... On Friday we visited Cambridge, which was absolutely beautiful. There was an open-air market where I did some shopping, and we ate lunch at The Eagle pub which was where DNA was "discovered" (more like, they had the idea of DNA but need a few extra pints to REALLY figure it out haha). Then we went on a punt ride down the river (a punt is a little boat that is guided down the river by the use a big giant pole!) and on the ride we were able to see a lot larger portion of the campus then just by walking around, it was a ton of fun! That night some of us students went out to a club called The Zoo, I had never really been to a club but let me tell it really was a Zoo!! It was definitely a unique experience, one which involved barely being able to move, getting stepped on, and sweating like crazy! Saturday was a free day, so my Mom and I decided to visit some museums, we went to the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, which were both extremely massive and absolutely incredible!! (Pictures to come!) And then later in the afternoon we went to the Princess Diana memorial in Hyde Park where I kicked off my shoes and splashed around in the Fountain, it was a beautiful experience. Later that night our entire study abroad group went to a Medieval Dinner, which was a lot of fun. There was singing, dancing, juggling, acrobatics, and dueling, and at the end of the dinner they turned the dance floor into a disco which was a blast!!

     And then came Sunday, the day we left London. It was a bittersweet morning, I didn't want to leave London but... 2 weeks away from Friends and Family, in an unfamiliar place, really does take a toll on you. So we left the hotel at 9am and our flight didn't leave London until about 3:30 so we spent a lot of time wandering around the airport and trying to sleep where ever we could get comfortable. We then found out that the return flight would be longer than our flight over due to the volcanic activity we were being re-routed but it wasn't a big deal, we got in to Chicago at 7 and were supposed to be on our flight to Denver by 8... cutting it close considering we had to go through customs in Chicago. Then we found out that our flight had been delayed an hour, which actually worked in our favor so that was okay, but then it got delayed another 15 min, then another, then a half hour, so now we were looking at getting out of there about 10pm. And that was when we began to board the plane, we were given instructions to board quickly because we only had a short window of time to get out between storm cells. We boarded and then waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, until we finally took of the runway at about midnight. And when we did take off it was absolutely terrifying!! Flying through a thunderstorm where you can see the lightining, hear the thunder, and feel the plane shaking and rattling is not my idea of fun! We finally touched down in Denver about 1:30 and were loaded on our bus about 2, we then continued our journey on a 5 hour bus ride to Chadron, getting in about 7am!! Oh goodness, but it was all worth it just to lay in my own bed again!!

     So now that we are all caught up again, I will be sure to get some pictures and video up during this week sometime!!

Xoxo,

Kelsey Corinne

Ohh Lovely London...

     So this week has gone by so fast!! I can't believe it's already Thursday! This week we've done and seen a lot including New Scotland Yard, The Magistrate Courts, Old Bailey Crown Courts, and Wormwood Scrubs prison, all of which were fascinating. Old Bailey was especially exciting because of the Pomp & Circumstance surrounding their court room proceedings... The Barristers (like lawyers, but not quite) and the Judges still wear wigs... Which cost them anywhere between 500 and 2000 Pounds (which with current exchange rates is more like 750 to 3500 Dollars!!) Wormwood Scrubs was also interesting because their prisons are not like ours. For starters, there is no difference between jails and prisons like we have over here, so in one prison you can have criminals awaiting trial, serving a two month sentence, or incarcerated for life on a murder charge. We got a glimpse into one of the cells and to be honest it looked more like a dorm room than a jail cell, there was a TV, a playstation, books and magazines, and food stocks all over.
    
     But of all the things we've seen this week nothing could top the experience this morning... We had the honor and privilege to watch the Changing of the Gaurd from INSIDE THE GATES of Buckingham Palace!! Literally the Gates of the Palace were opened so that we could walk through, into the Forecourt of the Palace while the hour long production of the Changing of the Gaurd happened 15 feet away!! It was a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity that I will never forget and am so grateful to be able to share that with my Mom and Uncle as well! It still seems so surreal! So, now that I have updated you all I will end there because my Mom and I are off to see Wicked in the West End!

XoXo,

Kelsey Corinne

Peace, Love, & Pints!

     This will be a shorter post than my last as we are getting ready to to end our stay in Ireland... This has been the most amazing "tree" days!! We arrived in Ireland early Friday morning and by the time we made it into the city of Dublin we were ready for lunch... We had our first "Fish & Chips" experience of the trip and it was interesting to say the least but we moved on to our hotel in Dun Laoghaire which is a beautiful and quaint coastal town. We went back in to Dublin and had a drink on O'Connell street (the main road) then moved on to Grafton street and walked around all the stores there and finished with dinner at O'Neills, a 300 year old pub that was very lively and had delicious food! The next day we took a tour up the Northern Coast where one of the stops was at gorgeous Malahide Castle! When we got back to Dublin we did some shopping and wandered around the Temple Bar area... Where we discovered that Johnny Cash seems to be the Elvis of Ireland as we heard no less than 3 of his songs throughout our time down there. This morning after we checked out of the hotel we went into Dublin and took a tour at the Guinness Brewery and spent almost 4 hours there!! It was a wonderful experience! Overall the weekend was a success and I can't wait to post all the pictures!! I miss you all...

XoXo,

Kelsey Corinne

Stop... Or I'll tell you to Stop again!!

     So today is the end of day 3 in London!! The time has just flown by and I can't believe we leave for Ireland in like 30 hours and my Mom and Uncle leave for Paris tomorrow morning!! But those will be in later posts... First things first... The Internet here at our hotel is extremely slow and not very upload friendly so I'm so sorry I won't be able to post pictures or videos yet :( but I will hopefully be able to while we are in Ireland!!

     We landed at 11am on Monday morning and went straight to Windsor Castle. And let me tell you it is not just simply a castle but a city surrounding the castle which is like a city!! We took a tour through the Castle and saw the State Apartments which were absolutely incredibly amazing!! I cannot begin to describe the grandeur of these rooms so you will have to wait for the pictures! That night we went out to a local pub and I ordered my first legal drink!! A cider. And when they tell you it will sneak up on you it is no joke! I ordered a pint and couldn't finish more than half! It was sinfully delicious but maliciously dangerous :)

     After a long good nights sleep on Monday night we woke Tuesday morning to board the coaches (buses) for Oxford. The only way to truly describe Oxford is that it feels as though you are walking through a Harry Potter movie... It was breathtaking!! (Again, pictures to come!) We then went on to Stratford Upon Avon and walked through the house of Shakespeare's birth. We ate a quick lunch on the tourist filled and lively streets then back on the coaches and off to Warwick Castle. Now if some says the word "Castle" the image that comes to mind is Warwick. A strong brick fortress surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside. The towers were fear inducing and intimidating and the 3 of us made the 500 stair climb the top and the views were more than rewarding!!

     This morning while I was touring the Met Police Training Center and the Charring Police Station, Mom and Uncle Rob went to West Minster Abbey and the Churchill War Rooms! But more on their visits on a later post. At the Met PTC we talked with a Sergeant and a Constable about how they recruit and how they police and that is where the title of my blog comes from. They police without firearms whereas, we in the US love our guns and would never expect our policemen to protect us without firearms. They saying goes in the US police will yell "Stop or I'll shoot!" in London the police yell "Stop... Or I'll tell you to Stop again!"

     So that is what I have for you all now... Hopefully I'll get some pics and videos up soon!

XoXo,

Kelsey Corinne

First Blogging Experience!

Okay... here goes!!  Today is Wednesday the 4th, and we leave for London in less than 100 hours!!  All my finals are complete (Yay me!!), although I do have to drop a project off in the morning, so I have begun to attempt to pack... And as most of you know (or could guess) I am having some issues!!  I have enlisted my roommate to help keep me in check and I have to say I think it's working, and she is definitely enjoying telling me what to do!! I will be posting a video soon (you're welcome Wada!!), but thought I would jot down some thoughts quick as I haven't had time to get on here since I created it a few weeks back!!  So that is all for now...

XoXo,
Kelsey Corinne