Alone

Emma left today.
Enough said.
I miss her, and I miss all of the girls. Emma was the first person I met here, she was the one who invited me to go out with them for the first time.
It's lonely here.
Glasgow was only amazing because they were here.
For the first time since I've been here, I locked my door tonight. Every night used to be like a sleepover, and if I slept past 10am, I would get nice wake up calls with someone jumping on my bed.
I just miss knowing they were here, I hate walking thru the 4th floor hall b/c if Becks and Becca were in their door would always be open a crack, now that they're gone its permanently open...and they aren't there. Debbie was always watching TV. Becca 3 always had music on. I could always hear from my room when Emma opened and closed her door. I even hate going to the kitchen b/c Becca was always in the kitchen, in and out all day and night. Its really quiet now. I moved to the 2nd floor, which would hav been great, except I have to walk by Kathleen's door everytime I go in and out, which makes me miss her.
I'll luckily only be here for 4 nights total. I can't wait to go to Kathleen's house; hopefully Debbie's house and also hope to see Becca Forbes. I also am hoping to go to Beck's house. Debbie has promised me that they will all come visit next year.
I hate that I am so needy and dependent on other people, but I really liked them and they accepted me into their group and were the nicest people I have ever met, not one of them was judgmental or mean or gossiped or anything negative.

Poland/Auschwitz/Czech Republic

Krakow

Giant head in Krakow

Hot Air Balloon

Czech Republic House

This is where I woke up and each track had a different train on it...and there was no one around.

Beautiful sunset in Auschwitz.

Crematorium chimney in Auschwitz

Inside the crematorium.

Walkway in Auschwitz

All the shoes the nazi's collected from their prisoners.

All the walls in every building had pictures of the prisoners

This is human hair.

Auschwitz

Auschwitz was great, it was peaceful and there were white petals falling down like snow...quite odd for a place that such horrible things happened.

That night was horrible tho, i got stuck at the train station and i was alone and there were creepy drunk guys shouting at me in polish. A creepy man came in the station and sat right next to me on a bench, when there were multiple other benches. After finishing reading the page I was on in my book, I got up and went outside. It was dark, so I just sat under a light on the cold concrete to read my book. Then it started to rain. My book was not helping, it was about rich New Yorkers who were complaining that their 3 floor apartment isn't big enough, written by the woman who wrote Sex and the City, as I sat on concrete in the rain. The rain sent me over the edge, I was officially scared. If I got stuck there, the only hotel was next door and looked to be abandoned. I called my mom, in tears, it was so bad, i never want to do that again.

I finally got on a night train to budapest (even tho it was labeled to go to Vienna), but didnt get a sleeper and had to sleep in a seat, like the Harry Potter compartments, and was woken by a woman screaming at me not in english, telling me get off the train. I was in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know what scary was, until I woke up being yelled at in another language and not knowing where I was. Luckily a train worker put me on another train that went to an actual station, which was quite frightening as well b/c I still didnt know where I was. I ended up in prague, Czech Republic. I was so frustrated, I got the first train back to poland, and luckily things turned around, i met 2 english guys (and an australian guy) who were backpacking, going the same place as me, so i sat with them and talked and the english guys and I ended up getting a room together in a hostel in Krakow, they were so nice. I finally felt safe again, and I never want to be out after dark in a foreign country or take another train.

I hate...

that everyone is leaving, just as I have gotten close to them, or now that uni is finished they hav free time and want to hang out.

Becca Forbes left today. She gave me a Cadbury T-Shirt (Cadbury is like our Hershey chocolate), her mum works there. She also gave me a wee lil wooden doll with a pin that says 'my favourite person'. I was quite sad to see her go, however, she said she is gonna ask Kathleen if she can come to Kathleens house when I'm there. So I'll get to spend 3 days with Kathleen, Debbie and Becca!

I also hate packing. There is no possible way I am going to get all my stuff in 2 bags and a backpack. The airport is gonna hate me or make me pay extra. I don't throw anything away, so I still hav stuff, such as an entire pack of dryer sheets and multiple hand lotions, from when i first crossed the big puddle!

I have to go to bed now b/c Debbie and Emma, the early risers, want to have a 'culture day' tomorrow. We're gonna go to all the museums, since they are free entry and it's Debbie's last day.

Wicked

Big Ben!!

The theatre

The stage. Usually in NYC, the theatre is quite ademant about ppl not taking any photos, but here they only said no pictures during the performance.

I went to see Wicked in London and it was fantastic!! I already knew it was going to be, but I think I liked it even more because all the actors had English accents, one guy was even Scottish! I sat next to an older woman, who was staring at her map, trying to figure out where she needed to go. She asked me how long it would take to walk thru a park, which is the same park I stayed near with my mom, so I knew the area and felt so British when I knew the answer! I did forget my map unfortunately, so twice I got lost. The first time, b/c I was pressed for time, trying to find my hotel, I was getting angrier and angrier b/c I was just walking in circles. Finally I asked a policeman, and found my way to the hotel. Then after throwing my stuff in the room, I needed to find something to eat and get to the theatre ASAP. Again, on the way to the theatre I couldn't find it. I stopped at a KFC and got some food, but couldn't find anywhere to sit, and my 7up (I don't even like soda, or fizzy juice as they call it here) kept spilling all over me. Then I turned a corner and the theatre was right there, in big green letters it said WICKED!

When I got back to Glasgow, it happened to be election day (don't ask me what for, but something to do with the European Union) and I went with Emma when she went to vote. It was very exciting, her first time and I got to see how the voting works here. There was only one person handing out flyers and she gave me one, in hopes I would vote for the green party. Very similar to home, but it was done by paper, nothing electronic. She just ticked the box of the person she wanted and stuck the paper in a cardboard box.

Sweden

The road on one of the Archepeligos islands. There were no cars, ppl just rode bikes and little motor bike things.

This jellyfish was pretty much glowing.

Every house and every boat had a Swedish flag flying.

The islands

I wanted to cross the water where there were rocks sticking out to get out to a little island. However, this swan and its 2 ducklings were there and when I came within 20 feet of it, it hissed at me and raised its wings like it was going to attack!

More of the islands

I tried this swedish food, but what i thought would be like bread/pretzel and icing, turned out to be quite disgusting.

Just to prove I was actually there, had to get in a pic.

I was set on swimming, however these jellyfish were EVERYWHERE!

There were vendors everywhere that sold strawberries. They were so sweet and delicious!

Botanical Gardens

More Botanical Gardens

This was my first time going alone to a foreign country (minus getting on the plane to fly to the UK, but I met Katie in the waiting lounge that day). I was quite nervous, I actually woke up the morning I was leaving and felt like I was going to throw up, I was that nervous. I don't do well alone, I constantly need other people (if u can't tell, since the majority of my blog is about my friends here lol) but it all went smoothly. I have unbelievably good luck when travelling for some reason, things just work out. The hardest part was the money, but I figured it out the last day I was there:

150 swedish crowns = €15 euros = which is roughly $20, give or take.

I did actually speak to ppl while in the hostel. I talked to a Danish girl who slept on the bottom bunk, and I talked to an australian girl, who gave me moisturizer b/c I was really sunburn after a day on the islands with no sunscreen.

Well, I am off to see 'Wicked' in London today!

Sad Times...continue

What have I been doing lately?
Well, for a day or so, it was just Becks and I who were here (besides Paula). Becks pretty much lives in her own little world, we'll make plans to watch a movie and she'll not come so an hour later I go to see where she is and she's drawing a picture...for an hour!
Emma came back Wednesday. On Wednesdays, Orange phone company, which is what I have, does 2 for one cinema ticket deal. So Emma and I went to see Angels and Demons at the cinema.
Kathleen came back, and we hung out quite a bit. I really like Kathleen, she was kinda filling te void of Becca, except I've always been pretty good friends with her.
Last night was Kathleen's last night here, so she and I went to The Hive (student union club). It was the first time I have gone out to the clubs with just her and I, the only other person I've been out w/alone was Becca. Kathleen and I had a great time!
Debbie and Becca 3 also came back yesterday.
This morning, Paula left. She gave me a little bottle of wine as a gift. I wrote her a note and stuck it in her bag, she didn't see it so she won't open it til she gets home. Debbie, Kathleen and I helped her take her bags downstairs. My room is now quite bare...I don't like it.
Then, Kathleen left. Debbie, Becca and I helped her pack then take her stuff to her car. It was horrible, I'm really gonna miss Kathleen.
Its suprising, but I don't think we choose our friends, friendship just happens. I never thought Kathleen and Becca would be my closest friends, but they are.
So after saying goodbye to Kathleen, we found out she had to pay a fine cuz her kitchen was dirty. We dont wanna hav to do that, so Debbie, Becca, Emma and I spent the afternoon cleaning the kitchen and now its as bare as my room. Debbie, Becca and I made some spaghetti for lunch. Then Debbie left to go home for the week, but she'll be back.
Finally, I just got back from basking in the sun in the park with Becca, Becks, Josh and Dave. We played I Spy and just chatted for a few hours.
Kathleen and I

Sunshine, Cheesey Pop and Broken Glass

It was a beautiful day in Glasgow yesterday. Kathleen, Becca, Bex and I went shopping downtown. We didn't really buy much, just walked around for a couple hours. It was really nice and relaxing. It was so sunny when we came back we took some of the common room chairs outside and sat, basking in the sun. We were waiting for Bex to come out, and when she finally came outside, she had a box that had been delivered for her. She opened it and out popped a balloon that said I love you on it. A year ago she met a guy when she was backpacking thru India, and this guy is completely head over heels for her, but she doesn't want to be held back from experiencing her life. He has told her he'll wait for her. I've never met this guy b/c obviously he lives in India but I really hope Bex ends up with him, he seems like the perfect guy and even she admits that he is.

Anyhow, back to my story. We sat out in the sun for a good 2 or 3 hours, just talking and every so often someone would come join us for a blether (chat?). I got sunburn, but just one side of me, cuz we were sitting weird. Finally, Kathleen, becca and I went inside and we made some pizza for dinner (Bex is a nutrition freak and pretty much just eats fruits and vegetables and weird concoctions she blends together so she didn't eat pizza w/us).

Last night was a beach party theme night at The Hive (student union club) and Kathleen, Bex, Paula and I were gonna go to it. Paula does not sit still for more than 10 mins b4 she needs to be off and doing something. So while I was waiting for Bex and Kathleen (both possibly the slowest ppl in the world and never ready on time) Paula left for the hive to meet us there. By the time Kathleen and Bex were dressed, then Bex did Kathleen and my makeup, we didn't get to the Hive until almost 10. Since it was the last night, it was packed, Paula had gotten in, but we couldn't get in. There were a few other Cairncrossers who couldn't get in and ended up at Fabian's flat (Paula's bf, but he wasn't there) b/c he lives across from the hive. So we stayed there for a while, until this guy Iain told Bex that he is in love w/Kathleen and was gonna try to tell her how he felt. Kathleen freaked out, dragged us w/her into the bathroom to plan an escape route away from Iain. We ended up getting kicked outta the flat and going to Cheesey Pop, the other student Union, with Iain and the other Cairncrossers, spending much of the time keeping Iain away from Kathleen.

Cheesey Pop was fun...until we were on the dance floor and someone had just dropped their glass beer bottle and it broke on the floor. It was beach party theme, and I had worn flip flops. Someone must have kicked the broken bottle and it cut my big toe. It was dark and the music was blaring, and I tried to yell to Kathleen and Bex that I needed to go to the bathroom and wash my toe. They were like oh your ok, let's just dance to one more song. Kathleen says, don't worry, glass makes a clean cut! So I was like whatever, ok, and we kept dancing. Finally I said I really need to go check my foot. They reluctantly said, ok lets go out in the light. We walk outside, and I look down to see my foot and flip flop covered in blood.
Kathleen tells the bouncer lady, who takes us into first aid and cleans off my foot and washes my flip flop for me and bandages up the toe. All the while, Kathleen is telling her the story of my low pain tolerance and how last week I let Becca wax my eyebrows and I was complaining of the pain and the lady was laughing at me, as my toe bled all over the place!

Bex, Kathleen and I

Not a clue what time we got back, but we were so exhausted we just collapsed on the floor.

Iain and Rory

Bex and I in our surfer shorts, pretending to surf.

By bandaged toe, after being cut by glass.

Me, Kathleen and Bex