More London

I am so bad with keeping this blog about studying abroad... I should totally detail my trip in Madrid now .

Madrid was AMAZING. It was my first trip abroad but to be honest, my future cities has to match the bar Madrid has set. The architecture, the food and the prices were pure bliss. Also had my first Hostel experience which was AMAZING cause I spoiled myself at a nice hostel.

Places I ventured into...
1. Reina Sofia

one of the most amazing museums ever because it houses the most epic Picassos and the most gorgeous Dalis. If there was one museum in which I want to buy, including all collections, it would be this one... however the National Gallery in London comes a close second.

2. Prado

one of the largest museums I have ever been to lives up to its reputation with the most important painting in art history. "Las Meninas" by Velazquez, pure epic in real life compared to online imagery haha. Oh, and Goya's dark period was pure genius.

3. Plaza Mayor

think Trafalgar Square but spanish with cute expensive shops all around. It was built beautifully and I love the street performers. :D

4. Puerta de Sol

Pretty much the center of Madrid where most of the shopping, street performers and cute food shops are located at. I enjoyed the sun there =]

5. Kapital

One of the biggest clubs I've been to in my life, 7 stories tall and only a 15euro entry with two free drinks that wasn't even close to watered down. I LOVED IT. drunk times. =] Plus the pre-gaming was hilarious, 100 spaniard teens drinking at the square and running from the POLICIA. 2liter Sangria<3

6. Palace

Gorgeous, Buckingham Palace aint got SHIT on this.

7. Chueca

the gay part of Madrid, and yes, gay indeed. Went to a gay club with Octavio, Gladys and Jon and it was interesting. Very drunk from house party and it was packed and basically had a good time. Got mistaken for a hooker... its ok... life goes on haha. Interesting night, good drunk night. back at hostel at 630am

People I've met.

- I met Octavio who is Andres' good friend from home. He's been in Madrid since Sept and lives there till august I think... So from there I met his roommates Jon and Gladys and we all went to a house party. It was really nice, very Brooklyn and european at the same time. Free booze so therefore I got super drunk. Met alot of people from California to Chicago to France to Italy. Amazing.

Honestly, Madrid was amazing and I'm hoping to go back in April and hit Barcelona and Ala Cante as well. When the weather gets better I'm going to have a hella nice tan. =]

CHEERS

Pardona, No habla Espanol

This past weekend I went to Madrid to spend a nice weekend away from London. I had one of the most amazing experiences in Madrid because I was instantly attracted and did not want to leave.

Honestly, it wasn't about what I did in Madrid but being in such a different culture and making new friends that actually live in Madrid. I spent a majority of my time with them, most of them are Americans but they have such a european/spanish attitude towards life.

Of course, education is important but having fun is just as great. It seems as though they're living everyday to their fullest and if not, at least towards an advantage. On the other hand, I'm preparing for the rest of my life. I feel like I stress over small things that shouldn't be stressful for someone my age and my standing.

I'm at that point where I enjoy traveling so much and being stuck in these places that I just want to travel around for the rest of my life. My major is great, I enjoy it but I don't think it's what I see myself doing forever. I need excitement and I need a job that allows flexibility... law just isn't.

ESPANA

Spain, Madrid

February 26th 2010 - March 1st 2010

Trip #1

OT: Open Sexuality?

So last night I was talking to Andres about threesomes because Jack and I were debating whether they ruin relationships or not. I believe that they do because I am pretty conservative with sexual relationships, in a sense that I sleep with 1 person at a time and when I'm in a relationship I only sleep with that 1 person. However, Andres brought up a point about being open to talk about sex. He says especially 10 years or so down the line in the relationship, there comes a time when the couple gets tired of having sex with each other.

What he's trying to say is that when the relationship becomes more established and that the trust that is placed between the couple is strong enough, talking about having sex with other people should be ok. In other words, sex and the relationship should be viewed separately.

I disagreed with him completely because when it comes to being in such a committed relationship, especially with 10 years down the road, I am conservative. I don't think that having sex with other people should be even an option. If sex gets to a point where the couple get tired and bored of each other then there is already an issue. Sex has everything to do with intimacy and the relationship as a whole. How can you simply have sex with someone else and expect to come home to your partner as if nothing happened? I mean yes, your lover knows and in a sense approves of sex with other people but physically I would feel different. Also, it damages one's confidence in bed. Am I simply not good enough?

Those are my reasons for why I'm insecure about having open sexual relations 10 years down the line in a relationship. Actually, it is not insecurity because I'm am secure but it's more about not knowing how I would feel about you after you sleep with someone else. I understand the things you do in the relationship and how you show that you love someone but sex is also an expression of that love and the fact that you might need to have sex with someone else eventually in the relationship just damages that expression into tainted empty words.

Been a Month

So this is not good, I haven't been updating haha. I know it has been a month since I last updated but it took time to adjust and get into the groove.

... also done alot since but we'll get to that another time...

So yesterday, we went to an ICE BAR and that is literally a bar made of ICE. Overall, it was an experience and I enjoyed it a lot. It was worth it too, 15quids for entry, the gear and a drink was not too shabby. Today, we celebrated Chinese New Years by heading to Chinatown and checking out the festivities. It was REALLY crowded but I did had a great time and it made me miss home a lot. Spending family time during Chinese New Years means a lot to me so missing out and being so far from home made me wish I was back in NYC. Ended the night with the fireworks was spectacular, had a fantastic weekend.

Even though it has been a month and I do feel better being away from everyone and home, today I do feel really homesick. I'm not too sure why but I believe it is because of the festivities and the anticipation of Madrid this friday. I'm really excited for Madrid this coming weekend because it will my first trip to Spain and my first trip abroad.

Home always seems to be so comfortable because it is somewhere I trust. I love london and everything but the thing is I slowly realizing london is NOT where I want to live. Things here close too early and the culture is opposite to what I'm use to in NYC. I'm not saying that I can't handle unfamiliarity but just London has not been giving me what I want. Maybe Spain or France can?

I miss my bbs back home. It is almost March! that means I'm almost HOMEEE. May7th.

CHEERS

Is it really worth it?

So a week has passed since I've been in London and alot of mishaps happened in between. I've been through alot of emotional, mental and physical destruction in London that I feel like an old war-torn building. Being in such a state I can barely appreciate the beauty of this city, the history and the depth. I want to know London better and learn to love this place but with the anxiety attacks it really shallows my thoughts about London.

I spent two nights crying, once to my boyfriend and once to my mom and sister, all about missing home and how much I want to head back to NYC. It's very miserable and very unlike me because I'm a very independent person who can travel anywhere and be fine. I've traveled alone before and live in a city outside of the states without family or bf. This seems different though, it's definitely a new area of comfort I've never even looked into and has now attacked me face forward.

I joined a gym to try to ease my anxiety and stress. I need to put my mind off being away from home and learn to make London "like home". I'm slowly getting there, meaning that I try to take control of my sleep.

Day by day as classes are coming together, I will love london! I MUST because my backup plan is not pretty =[

Love,

Me.

Day 3 + Day 4, hoping Day 5 is better

So the basic gist of day 3 and 4 is that I didn't sleep because I am very homesick and I might have acute insomnia... this is crazy.

I AM VERY ANGRY with myself. i am homesick and i cant fall asleep because of it. It's been two days and ive gotten a total of maybe 3-5 hrs of sleep. I wish i can sleep again and it's driving me nuts. I'm going to go get some sleep aid and maybe this would help me.

pray to god i can sleep on day 5 =[

Day 1 + Day 2

So I have been in London for about two days now.

The flight was TRAGIC, it was terrible. The reasons why it sucked was cause of the seats... even with the aisle seat it was so TIGHT and not for HUMAN BEINGS. However, it was a quick flight being that we got to Heathrow in about 5hrs and 30mins.

After the flight we went to the apartment from a bus that took us from the airport to the front door. While on that 1hr bus ride, i saw so many things that was just so british yet i didnt feel alienated because this was all familiar in Hong Kong. The double decker buses, the driving on the other side of the road, the currency, the stores and pretty much most modern technology. The one thing that obviously threw me off was the british locals speaking english. The accent is not new to me because me and wilma practice often but it's just so awesome to finally be in Europe. FINALLY.

So, at the apartment I met my fellow roommates, two guys, and they're pretty awesome. Neither of them are from syracuse so it was only the two girls from our flat and me from SU. I think instantly we got comfortable with each other and was very social which was good. The 5 of us spent most of the time together. We spent the first night at a pub but for dinner we all finished 3 bottles of wine/champagne and had a can of beer. At the pub I had two pints and basically i was kinda drunk. So i passed out on the bed at midnight London time and woke up at 6am... was able to talk to Andres and stuff which made me day alot better.

DAY 2!!!!!

Today was a very simple day, just went to get other necessities such as the phone. Got to phone home which was good. We then became friends with people the floor below us and had dinner together then went to the pub together. Two different pubs, a different one every night and I swear my liver hates me. After the pub we all just came back and chilled and now here I am writing a blog entry!!!

I miss nyc, family, friends and my hot ass boyfriend. =] However, I am enjoying my time at London.

CHEERS

19 Hours...

In about 19hours I will be leaving NYC for the new adventures of London.

However, I will mention my amazing last night in the city...

Spent the night at my boyfriend's and woke up to have brunch and he told me he planned a whole day of surprises for me, which is what he always does and I love it.

We took the cab and had to make it somewhere no later than 245pm... and we ended up going to the theater that was plaing HAIR on broadway... not only was that a surprise but the seats were another surprise... 2nd ROW CENTER!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING boyfriend right? *hums tune to Lets them hoes fight by Trina*

The show was AMAZING, my second favorite right after Spring Awakening. It was definitely an epic show and expressed alot of LOVE FREEDOM and FEAR the 60s generation had. After the show he surprised me again with dinner reservations at the Standard Hotel Grill... which is AMAZING. All I kept saying in my head was that he's the most amazing boyfriend EVER. I really don't know who I prayed to because I have received the most amazing person in my life.

All I know is... this is just the beginning and London is just another obstacle we will go through and come this summer... it will be an epic relationship. EPIC PROPORTIONSSSSSSS

i love him.

CHEERS.

Single Digits

Today, currently, marks 9 more days till London...

It has finally hit the single digits and I'm freaking excited and terrified at the same time. The thought of being alone again haunts me but at the same time this is a fresh start and a way to meet new people from different colleges and from Syracuse.

... sidenote, this has officially became my primary blog till I finish London :D cha ching...

I have yet packed but I have a brief idea of what I need...

1. All my shirts and jeans... ok only 6-7 pairs of jeans.

2. 5-7 pairs of shoes

3. Skin and Hair products... oh and cologne

4. LAPTOP DUH????

5. CAMERA

6. ALL CHARGERS and Ipod usb thing

7. Necessities like a nail clipper

8. Glasses

9. Toothpaste and a small set of shampoo/conditioner and body wash in case I fail in shopping the first night

10. My leisure reading books

11. Pictures of my loved ones... I know, I said loved ones... gross

12. Owlbert <3

*thats all I can think of right now.

however, one thing I can't seem to let go right now is NYC, time with my family and best friends and my boyfriend. Things are just going so amazing right now with my life that leaving for London will potentially be a setback.

I love my boyfriend and I hope he loves me enough to not forget my face on May7th!

CHEERS

In Two Weeks...

It just seems like yesterday when I had a month before I had to go study in London. Not that I'm complaining but I haven't soaked enough of the city yet and to leave now would just leave a craving that I wont satisfy till May.

Since London is coming up so soon I also decided to map out the rest of my life in Syracuse and education beyond. Hopefully Spring 2011 I get to study in Hongkong or Beijing and also begin my LSAT preparations. By senior year I should have completed two internships, 1 involving International Relations and the other involving Law. I plan to combine both my interests into 1: International Law.

It took me 6 years of Model UN, International Relations and Politics class to find out who I want to help with what I want to do. Every time I hear about the destruction of families and lives because of ethnic division it bothers me. We are living in what we know as the "civilized" world but there is nothing civilized about murdering people because of how we look and how we live. It still baffles me that governments around the world congratulates people who torture and rape women because they're from a different ethnic group. How can war criminals run freely around the world after the nightmares they have caused upon millions of people? There is no such thing as justice in this world yet, there might have been centuries ago but not anymore.

I have always peaked interest in the life of people who have been hurt by another human being. Not that I'm fascinated by the pain of other people, which would then make me a sadist wouldn't it? I'm more into the look of people's faces when they have been relieved of a lifetime of torture and nightmares coming from a threat in their own homes/countries. It's about leaving an impact in people's lives without having to give them your name. I like being anonymous because a name doesn't do anything when it's empty. We see Angelina Jolie as a name yet it's not empty because the one that holds the name works and dedicates her life into what she does. A name on a check given to charity is empty... thoughtless and for publicity.

I need to get a really good score on my LSAT. If not... BOOM my career will fail. Who knows? I might have another goal in the coming months after London... being in a different city always changes my perspective on life.

CHEERS.