Oh my lorde, How times flies. I didn't even realize it had been a week since my last post.

Well, lots has been happening.

Friday we went to Oxford and got to tour around there. That was great, a very prestigious college with lots of history. We had a lovely tour guide who knew all the ins and out. What I  found most interesting was the college of Fellows, it is so exclusive that theirs only three students there studying currently.

We also learned that university tuition is capped at 9,000 pounds which is crazy because that's not something we do here. And it was only just recently established at that high of a price.  Students also begin to specialize classes and careers at around 14 in secondary school where they begin to focus on about 3 subjects. Unheard of in America. We compared the different school systems a lot because in America we have basics that we still need to take through college. One major question we asked was whether the specialization was too early for kids in Europe to the point where it would be hindered if the kid later decided to make a career path change. Just some of the observations and discussions we've had.

In class we've discussed the theories and foundations from people like Piaget and Skinner. Interesting stuff, I'm at least familiar with most of it because of lifetime and psych classes so i feel that i'm able to keep up pretty well. In child guidance we've talked a lot about child rearing practices and developmental problems and strategies. Its interesting to hear the stories and such from an elementary teacher perspective, I feel i could apply a lot of it when I have my own kids but the professors even admit that in some situations they've slipped up and done something not quite recommended. Its a slippery slope, parenthood. I wont be dealing with that for a while tho, it does amaze me seeing all these things and watching videos and such and realizing how much goes into parenting. Makes me appreciate how well my parents did.

Alright, now that I've covered some of the class stuff onto the fun stuff.


On Saturday Lucy, Abby, and I went on an art/graffiti tour in east london. It was absolutely wonderful and felt like we wernt even london anymore. Our tour guide Olivia was fabulous, she knew so much and was so chipper. I even learned that graffiti/street art started in Italy with cave drawing that came to life under firelight. The whole east side was covered with graffiti art and we had a wonderful time there before going to a market. I got some great Mediterranean lamb kabbob thing and we walked around almost all day just looking at all the food varieties and little booths with everything from jewelry to spoons to clothes and everything in between. There was even a market booth bar with a bright orange VW van converted into a bar. Gosh she was beautiful.

The next day we did another tour to see the changing of the guards and St. James park ( the only religiously named park because of the monks who lived there) and other such stuff. Had a really sweet old man guide and we made friends with a south African family. The daughter was about 14 and she was being dropped off to the royal ballerina school. How amazing. They were so funny to watch. The brother was about 10 and he kept asking us about soccer players and I honesrly had no idea who all the Americans he listed were but he was so into it. Super fun family, very funny. I miss them.

After that tour we went to Portobello Market I think, we walked around there and got lost a whole bunch but we found the traditional style houses to look at before we met up with some other girls to get dinner at a beer garden. It was a good day, so much walking. Glad I brought good shoes. The weathers been so good though so that helps with all the walking and no ac. Honestly not bad at all not having it. The markets here are also just so huge, you walk the whole damn town and theirs still more to find. Insane, and so many happen during weekdays as well. I just dont understand it.


But I sure love it.

Monday after class we went to the imperial war museum. Its really cool that almost all the museums here are free, makes them more accessible and beneficial. We got to go through the whole WWI part and a special d-day picture exhibit with 10 pictures that were taken while they stormed the beach. Was insane. Really humbling. Crazy to see those things come to life in real photographs. We also got to go through majority of the holocaust section before getting kicked out for closing. What a great exhibit. Everything is very through and well presented there.


Tuesday after class we went to the lavender fields with Emily and Audrey for some pictures. It was really beautiful there, just rows upon rows of lavender. Got lots of cute pics but I would have liked to stay and walk the fields more. The girls were more focused on getting pictures of themselves for hours and then leaving so the bigger group things wasnt quite as fun. Had a good time there overall, just would have enjoyed some more in the moment time. Afterwords on the bus back we had a bunch of kids hop on coming from school. It was funny listening to their accents because they were more southern, not quite our southern tho lol. We went home after that and dropped our bags off before heading to the mossy well. Our home stay mom recommended it and it sure was good, cheap and good. Although we tried to order a cocktail pitcher but it was out of ice so that was sad  :/ We're going to try that again later.

So far I've tried bangers and mash, liver and onion, and traditional english breakfast at pubs and its all been good. I want try a meat pie next because people tell me thats an english must. We'll see, im trying to get the full culture experience with food stuff.

Today was really great, we had shortened classes and then went to visit a primary school. The school was so colorful and fun. so many stairways and separate buildings and jungle gyms and a natural wildlife exploratory zone. It was amazing. I can imagine being a kid there and having such fun. Their library was even in a converted bus. They had ducks and chickens and bunnies and a pond with fish. It was so cool all the opportunity and stuff they had there. The main focus for such young children wasn't education with facts and numbers, it was health, wellness, cultural stuff, and overall roundness. Very interesting and fun environment, You could clearly tell all the children were having fun and enjoying themselves.

Thats another interesting thing about london tho, less than 50% of their student population speaks english as their first language. Insane, these teachers have to put in so much work to help kids meet benchmarks, address cultural differences, and forge friendship. Its really beautiful what they do. The speaker warmed my heart with how he spoke and saw things as the wellness/pe coordinator. I absolutely enjoyed this trip and what we got out of it.


Gosh we really have done so much in such a short time that it completely blends together. Im sure I forgot a whole bunch as well but its been such a good time and we still have so much more planned. I'll keep you updated!