Everybody always asks, "How's London?" And ya know.. that's a really good question! I don't live or study in London - I actually have never been to London except for the airport. But, Cheltenham is great! I love the girls I live with. Classes are going much better, and I'm finally getting comfortable with my surroundings. To give you an idea of England, the distance from Cheltenham to London is equivalent to driving from Logansport to Muncie - about two hours.

The program I'm doing study abroad through, BCA, takes the group on various trips throughout England. So far, we have been to Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge, and Portsmouth. This weekend we are going to Windsor Castle! So, look forward to that post as it will be coming soon.

I didn't realize that study abroad was just a really intelligent way of saying "you're going on a five month vacation." As you all may know, it took me quite a while to get adjusted and to appreciate this new area I was in. But, I think I'm over the homesickness. I really do love it here! The landscape is beautiful and I have started experiencing life outside of my flat, a.k.a dorm.

My roommates and I go swimming, on late night runs, or just hang out in each others room. Since I don't have a telly in my room, I often find myself in Sophie, Natalie or Georgie's rooms. We just finished a season of Playing It Straight. haha. It was a TV show, sort of like the Bachelorette, only some of the guys in the house were gay! So, she had to figure out which ones were gay or straight, and in the end, if she chose a gay guy, we got to walk away with all 50,000 pounds; but, if she chose a straight guy, they split the money. She chose a straight guy! We also like to watch Take Me Out. It's a game show where there are 30 girls and one guy. A different guy comes on each time and goes through three rounds to win himself a date. But, it's all up to the girls whether they want to go out with him or not. It is really funny! But, these girls have been absolutely fantastic to me! In two summers, Georgie will be on placement in Mexico for her major, so we are hoping she can swing by Indiana to visit me on her way back. And, Sophie's godfather is a pilot, so she plans on coming to visit me soon! We find cheap entertainment by asking each other all sorts of questions about our different backgrounds and cultures. Dogging on the way we speak is probably the best!

Speaking of which, the food situation is so interesting! Let me fill you in:

"Have you guys ever had devilled eggs? sweet potatoes with marshmallows? PB&J sandwiches? celery and peanut butter? no bake cookies? white trash? strawberry daiquiris?"

"The things you come up with to eat, Lynette, I swear. You are so weird!"

**You all laugh now, but this is real stuff!!

There is such a difference in economy, that it affects the cuisine. They eat A LOT, I mean, basically ONLY, white meat. Chicken is probably the fastest selling meat. The bacon here is nothing like at home. It is much thicker with less fat. It doesn't sizzle and curl up to nothing but crisp. It stays in a strip to fit on a sandwich. I tried to make a roast, or baked ham, or tacos the other day...... weird meat! Pork loin is the cheapest, and even then I can buy three outfits for the price of one! They use minced meat in place of hamburger. I just couldn't bring myself to buy that stuff. So, chicken it is! They LOVED the white trash but, wouldn't try PB&J, devilled eggs or no bake cookies. They spit out the celery and peanut butter. And... let me tell you about the daiquiri situation.

Georgie and I decided we were going to have a date night in. So, dinner and cocktails it was. Dinner went great, as always. The cocktails? not so much. Apparently my idea of a daiquiri and hers are very different! I asked her to blend the ice and alcohol. I DID NOT know that they don't use blenders with a lid. She put it all in a mixing cup and turned on the hand blender. As far as I know, the worktop (countertop), floor, cupboards and walls really liked the drink :) We ended up drinking them with the leftover ice.

The weather is starting to get nice!! It has been in the high 50s and peaked low 60s this past weekend. It still rains every other minute, but the sun is trying so hard to shine! The colors are starting to fill and it's becoming really pretty. It makes me really anxious for Spring Break. Which! I have all booked up, sort of. The family gets here in 10 days - TEN DAYS! Then I have a week of class, then three weeks off. The first week I think I am going to stay with Sophie in Exeter. (that's on the sea coast). And, we are planning to travel to Jersey. (a very, very small island near France). Then, I'm in Venice, Rome and Paris April 3-11. Then back home for four days to recover before school starts. I am so excited!

Quick Random Thoughts:

A) No clocks in the classrooms.

B) Tutors check out keys for the classrooms.

C) Everything remains locked, at all times.

D) I get my camera back TOMORROW!

E) Construction and accidents are much easier to deal with here! They last about two days and twenty minutes.

F) I want an English child - their accents and manners are brilliant!

But, I will be posting soon about this weekend and things I couldn't live without over here. Until then, have a splendid week and weekend.

♥Lynette