Brighton, England

 {only funny because my name is Jackie Olivie... aka Jackie O}

Our first weekend in London we decided to spend a night in Brighton, which is in South England on the shore.  Since I experienced the most homesickness during the first week or so, it was nice to head to the beach for some familiar territory.

I pretty much spent much of the day pretending I was five years old on the Brighton Pier.  The weekend ended Sunday morning with some of the best eggs I have ever eaten... I still dream about them.

It was short, relaxing, and sweet to get to experience Brighton.  

Notting Hill and Kensington Palace

One thing I noticed while in London was that each area is completely different.  Notting Hill is no exception and quickly became one of my favorite locations, if only for its different colored homes.  My best friend Stephanie has family in London, and when she heard I would be there for the summer quickly booked a trip there my first week to help me get settled.  

We stumbled across a little pub, called Churchhill Arms.  The pub is not known for its traditional pub fare, however, but rather for the thai it serves in the back.  Thai in a pub?  I know, I was skeptical as well.  But it was THE BEST THAI EVER.  Hands down.  Stephanie may have only been there a week, but it quickly became one of my favorite places.

While in the area, we walked down to Kensington Palace, and took a tour of the inside.  I definitely could have done without the tour, but I think the cute embroidered pillows made up for it.

Hello Home!

Hello!! I can't believe it's been two months since I've posted here.  Sorry for all of the blog silence while I was on my little European adventure.  I'm not kidding when I say that I barely had time to relax during my two months over there.  The thought of compiling all the pictures together and posting made me have a bit of a panic attack, so I just figured I'd take a little blogger break and fill you all in upon my return.

Anyway, I'm back in America!  I can not believe how fast my time in the UK went.  When I first arrived, I was terrified that I would be unable to do it.  I almost felt paralyzed by the fear that I would be so homesick.

But it truly was the adventure of a lifetime.  I did think I never thought I would do- climbed a cliff, stayed in a hostel, went trapezing, ran 888 steps up the Gherkin- and saw things that I have always dreamt about but never actually thought I would experience- stonehenge, the berlin wall, the guinness factory.  

I touched down in Newark last night after my 7 hour flight from Heathrow, and it felt so nice to sleep in my own bed with my puppy.  I didn't realize how exhausting the entire experience would be.... for the entire two months I never had one day of just relaxing.  Every single day was spent either at work, in class, or exploring the city I grew to love.

In two months I visited 5 countries, all of which I cannot wait to share with you!  I explored Scotland, Germany, France, Ireland, and of course, many, many cities in England.  

As happy I am to be back stateside, I 100% feel like I am a changed person.  I definitely left a little piece of my heart back in London.  After all, after spending 2 months there I definitely feel like it was my home (even just temporarily).

For now, I am going to unpack, play with Zoe, and adjust to the scorching humidity.  But I will be back tomorrow (and everyday this week) with more pictures then you know what to do with!!

xo 

start of classes and south kensington

on thursday, after three days of exploring, we started our class here in london.  the class i'm taking is called healthcare in the us and uk.  it's about the differences in our healthcare system and it's so interesting.  

while i'm not a fan of the area where my dorm is, the area where my class is is a whole other story.  as soon as you walk out of the tube, you are surrounded by gorgeous white town homes and little cafes and bakeries.  i am in love.

i've already found the cutest cafe, where on friday morning i grabbed coffee and some porridge (english oatmeal) before class.  i also love exploring all of the side streets that this town has to offer.

the photographs don't do it justice.  i'll have to make sure to take more this week after class. xo 

The Adventure Begins!

I'm here!  I've been in London for a week already and I can't believe how amazing it is.  The past week has been jam pack of so many things {which is why this is the first time i've posted} but I am already in love with this city.  I've already started classes and done quite a bit of exploring since I've arrived.

It's hard to believe I've already been here a week.  I have so much to post and explain, from my classes to our overnight trip to Brighton.  

For now, I'll start with the beginning.  On our first day here, we ventured over to the London Eye and Big Ben.  It made it all seem completely real.

the last few weeks

this post has been scheduled for this morning... which means if you are reading this i am about two hours from landing in my new home for the summer-london! 

before i share all about my new city, i figured i'd share some pictures from my last few weeks of my sophomore year in college!

these past few weeks were filled with some not so fun stuff- papers, final exams, group projects, and oral presentations.  not to mention applications, orders for london, and packing.  these things were time consuming and insanely stressful.  BUT in the midst of all of that were some of the best memories of my sophomore year.

^^ formal! two weeks ago we had formal at this gorgeous country club.  i borrowed this dress from my big (top picture) and had so much fun with everyone.

^^ i planned an event for my sorority's philanthropy, a soccer tournament called alpha phifa!  the day was gorgeous and we raised $2,000.

^^ macklemore and time flies tuesday came to my school for our spring concert.  it was such a fun day!

^^my baby sister had her prom!  isn't she gorgeous?

LONDON CALLING

i honestly did not mean to take such a long break from blogging.  but sometimes massive end of the year finals and papers take up a majority of your time and you have no time to go to the gym, sleep, or blog.

i'm officially done with my sophomore year of college, which is insane because i remember walking on campus as a new freshman like it was yesterday.  the fact that i am half way done with school is beyond scary.

but now it's summer and time for a new adventure because tonight i am leaving for london!!!

for those of you new readers {do I even have readers left???} i am spending the next two months studying abroad in london!  

i have such a mix of emotions {nerves, excitement, worry} but i honestly know that i am going to have the time of my life.  it's my biggest adventure EVER and i'm so excited to blog here about it this summer.

do you have any big plans for this summer?  i have a few random posts scheduled for this week while i settle in but don't you worry.... as soon as i get moved in i will be blogging all about this!! xo 

jane goodall and the fear of the unknown.

two weeks ago i had a panic attack.  it was a full on, tear streaming down my face, couldn't breathe, panic attack.  

and it wasn't the first one this year.  in fact, it wasn't the first one this month.

i am currently in the four week countdown to the day i leave for london.  less then four weeks, in fact.  for those of you who don't know, i'll be living in london for two months this summer.

and i'm terrified.  i'm terrified that i won't like it.  i'm terrified i'll get homesick or be lonely.  

don't get me wrong.  i am excited.  i'm so grateful for this opportunity and i know if i backed out of it i would regret it.

but there's still that part of me that is so beyond nervous it makes me nauseous.

last week, jane goodall came to my school to speak.  i kind of was hoping she'd bring a monkey or gorilla {she didn't}, so that was kind of a let down, but otherwise i thought she was great.

one of the things she spoke about was how when she was still a teenager she moved to africa to work and live with the gorillas.  she said she was so incredibly nervous, but that this was a huge thing for her and looking back, it was the best decision she made.

and i feel like, in the midst of my panic attacks, she said this for me.  i know moving to london for the summer is the best thing i can do right now.  i know deep down i am about to have a life changing summer.

so thanks ms. goodall.  for making me a little more excited and a little less nervous.

besides, it's too late to back out now.  my visa was officially approved on friday!  

have you ever done something that absolutely terrified you?  xo

boston.

i had just gotten out of my 2:45 PM American politics class yesterday when i went on Facebook and saw the status.

say strong boston.

i had no idea what happened, and quickly turned on the news.  

i was shocked.

horrified, i guess, would be the word.

my best friend goes to boston college.  

on sunday she told me she couldn't wait to watch the marathon.  they had off from school and she was planning on watching her friend run the marathon.

i panicked.  i couldn't get a hold of her.

my friend is fine.  she called me an hour later when she could get service.  she was 2 miles from the site of the bomb when it went off.  thank god. 

every time something like this happens- aurora, sandy hook, now this- i get nauseous.  maybe it's because i can never fathom the idea of hurting someone else.  i just don't understand how evil some people can be.

but i have to remember, that these evil people make up just a small portion of our population.  while watching the news, i saw people running towards the blast to help victims.  i am hearing stories of people running through the finish line and straight to the hospital to give blood.  of doctors who ran straight to the medical tents.  of homeowners who brought food and water to the runners.

today i pray for the three innocent people that were killed,  for the 100+ people that were injured.  for the runners whose dreams of finishing the race didn't come true.  for the kids who were there and whose innocence was taken away.

but i also thank god for the kind people.  the people who risked there lives.  who had no idea if another bomb was going to go off, but stayed to help anyway.  

between the gunman in schools and movie theaters and now bombs at marathons, it's hard to feel safe.  xo

that time i was a model

my friend gina needed some models for one of her photo projects recently, and since I'm currently living up to me new years resolution to not say "no" as much, i agreed.

i've never modeled anything before, and it definitely showed in the first few photographs.  but once i warmed up to the camera, it wasn't so bad.  i'm not saying i'm dropping out of school to model anytime soon.... but these i kind of enjoy.