United Kingdom Travel!

Hi my blog readers!!!! Traveling to the United Kingdom was a beautiful and crazy experience. It was non stop on the go the minute I got off the plane. I’m not really sure how much sleep I got but I know it was not enough haha. I was able to sneak one nap in though which was greatly needed. Being able to do the field experience in the UK was so amazing. Now while I was there the plan was to blog as much as I could but between getting minimum to no sleep and literally falling asleep while in the middle of drafting things didn’t go as planned lol. I don’t know why I didn’t think to just share pictures everyday like I was doing on every other social media sites….DUH JAZZ GREAT JOB!!!  But  I’m able to share my wonderful experience with you all now and pictures galore.  So let us begin!!!!

Opposites from the United States

From seeing the steering wheels, cars driving the streets, looking to the left instead of the right, and even walking on a different side! Everything was the completely opposite… our group looked like your average tourist with being so confused. HAHA! I was always joking with my group that once we get back to the States were going to get so confused about walking because we would have gotten so use to things over here. They all found it hilarious. Another thing that I noticed was that people are more reserved over here. Some are very open to talking to tourist and LOVE AMERICA just as we love the United Kingdom and are so happy to help, and then some aren’t so open. Maybe its a culture thing but you eventually learn to figure out the ropes. 9/10 the British are very helpful and can tell right away your American from our “Accents”  haha funny I know.

Walking in London

For the 10 days that I was there I saw and experienced  so much. I loved walking around and seeing the beautiful architecture around London, It’s such so wonderful t see a new country and learn about the culture from they’re prospective.  I finally sat down yesterday and learned that I had over 450 pictures of the different buildings that I have seen in UK. However My feet on the other hand was not prepared for the abundance amount of walking. It’s all worth it in the end.  When it comes to walking around the city make sure you have excellent walking shoes or good insoles whichever will come in handy the most for you. A lot of the places that you want to see have a bit of a distance from them.  My first day here I walked OVER 10 MILES! Can you believe that! Haha it was great!

Getting Around the city

The Underground Tubes are your best friend when it comes to getting around the city.  With our professor showing us the way the first few days it was massively confusing. But once she gave us all our trusty dandy maps and we really paid attention to the map we had it down back. Everything is sorted by color for the Tube lines. If you’re not that good with NSEW coordinates you will definitely  learn them in the UK. Now taking the Tube during rush hour….OMG! It is INSANE!! My classmates and I were almost separated because of how close people were and rushing to get on the tube.  OH! another thing everything it was so quite I was not expecting the quietness in the tubes. That’s how the British can sometimes tell it was a group of Americans on the Tube because 9/10 my group were the only ones doing the talking.

Things to Bring to the UK
I wish I would have remembered to bring main key thing because it would have come in handy when my phone died, A portable charger. Trust me, because of all the pictures you will be taking during the trip your phone is bound to died somewhere along the line. A portable charger will save you in the greatest time of need. Another good back up also is a digital camera. My grandma purchased one for me a week before I left and I have used it so much. I took so many pictures on it and on my phone its crazy.  Portable charger and digital cameras are the way to go

Embrace the Inner Tourist

On Sunday my group was in full tourist mode! My advice to get the best view and  tour of the city is to do the Big Bus London Tour. You will cover so much ground that you wouldn’t even think of seeing on foot. My favorite thing to see was Big Ben, my excitement level was like a kid in a candy store. I took this one photo that looks so beautiful I promise I’ll share it once I get it off my camera you all have to see it. The London Eye was a bit challenging for me since I’m not a big fan of Ferris Wheels but I wind up enjoyed it so much. You get a great view of the city from so high off the ground. It goes really slow which is a good thing because it gives you time to really take in and see all of the beautiful things that the city has to offer. Taking a River tour on a boat gives you a chance to see things from ground level too . Guess who got to see the London Bridge and rode across it…THIS GIRL!!!! I also got to see the Castle that the Queen was in which was Windsor Castle. It’s said that if the flag is up the Queen is home and guess what…She was home!! Isn’t that cool!

British Museum

If I have one great recommendation while in the UK it is definitely a visit to the British Museum! Plus its free so even more reason to go! They have so any beautiful sculptures and artifacts that I had no idea even existed. I was in there for two whole hours and I STILL didn’t wind up seeing everything. Every time I looked up it was some new room that ventured off into a new section of history, the clock room really caught my eye I took so many pictures. I was so not prepared. The building itself is a really beautiful place. If you get hungry while you’re in there there’s also a few food shops in there to get something to nibble on.

Trying British Food

OMG I ate so much while I was there. I have no idea how much money I spent on food but I know it was a lot. The one thing that surprised me while I was there was McDonald’s… that’s right you heard me the McDonald’s. Normally in American the menu is up at the top right above the counter, not for the UK. I was standing there wondering where in the world is the menu with the prices and I just so happened to look to my right and behold there it was, threw me for the biggest loop of the century. I thought it was so adorable. They also had the touch screens to place your order through them, those only had a card machine.  Of course while I was there I had to have the famous Fish and Chips. Now before I left I had people warn me not to have my expectations to high about the Fish and Chips in the UK. I had heard so many stories of getting soggy Fish and Chips…still makes me cringe to this day listening to the stories, but the Fish and Chips I had from Sophie’s Steakhouse and Bar were so delicious!!!!! The fish was SO huge I couldn’t even finish the whole thing. So take it from me my readers….EAT THE FISH AND CHIPS!!!!

Exploring by yourself

Now I’m all for the buddy systems and believe in it firmly. But I suggest just having one day to yourself for a few hours to just walk around and see what you might have missed in the group. Going to the British Museum was something I did on my own and I loved it so much. You discover a lot when it’s just you embracing the country and seeing what it has to offer. Although you might wonder off by yourself always be sure to check in with somebody especially in your group. Better to be safe than sorry while exploring a new country.

And that my bog readers is what I got from my UK travel! I loved it so much and hope to go back eventually if given the chance in the future. If you have the opportunity to go somewhere new I say go for it, you’ll never know what you’ll see or do. Going to the UK made me learn so much about myself as a person and I hope to always remember what I have learned. It was a life time experience that I hope to never forget as long as I live :). I’ll be sharing more about my Travels to the UK soon so be on the look out. Don’t hesitate to let me know how you felt about this posting or  if you’ve traveled to the UK before and how your experience was there, everything is welcome. HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!!!!