Thoughts From Abroad | Part 25

Welcome to Thoughts From Abroad, a weekly recap of the simple things going on in my life! I decided to reformat my Thoughts From Abroad posts as I was getting bored with the 1-10 theme. Let me know if you like it!

• I can't believe this is my 25th Thoughts From Abroad post! When I started this series it was mainly to keep my family back home updated on my shenanigans abroad. For some reason though, it has turned out to be some of the most popular posts on my blog! Thanks for reading y'all!
• The sun is shining! The birds are singing! It has been a beautiful week here in Bristol! I've actually been able to turn off my radiator and keep my window open without freezing to death! I love Spring!
• I finally opened a UK bank account. Only took me seven months.
• My boyfriend and I had an argument as to who was the most popular Spice Girl growing up. He says Ginger and I say Baby. Was it different in the UK than in the USA? Thoughts? Also, if you want a 90s throwback, click here. You're welcome.  
• My love for pomegranates is ridiculous. 
• I can't believe Taco Bell has started serving breakfast and I can't even try it!
• That being said, eating out in the UK is absolutely amazing. Cafe eating is the life. 
• The Walking Dead season finale. OHEEMGEEEEE! HJVBUJHBDHG!
• Want to have your face at the bottom of one of my Thoughts From Abroad posts? Check out my Sponsorship page! It's cheaper than a cup of coffee and super easy to do!

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 24

1) This week's Thoughts From Abroad post is rather short mainly because I have been buried in school work. I've been feeling really studious and inspired this week, and it's actually crazy how much stuff I've gotten done! It's still the early stage of my dissertation process, but it's starting to form itself into a well thought out plan!

2) It's hailed about 3 times this week. So much for spring.

3) I've gotten my boyfriend hooked on American Horror Story! Finally, someone to watch it with me! We're almost done with Season 2.

4) I finished 'The White Princess' by Philippa Gregory in less than two days! I personally think it's her best novel yet. But that may be my bias towards Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. They are, after all, who I am writing my dissertation on.

5) I'm seeing The Wanted in Cardiff tonight with Emily! This is going to be my fourth time seeing them live! Crazy, right? I first met them two years ago and they are seriously the most down to earth guys ever.

No matter how cold it is, there's always time for ice cream. 

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 23

1) SPRING IS HEREEEEE!
Can you believe it has only rained ONCE in the last two weeks! 

2) I kind of blew off St. Patrick's Day this year. Since moving abroad my excitement for holidays has only increased, but for some reason I was just not into St. Patrick's Day. At least I didn't get pinched for not wearing green, that must be an American thing.

3) The setting for the next season of American Horror Story is going to be a 1950s circus! Omg, I seriously can't wait! 

4) I think it might be time to upgrade my UK phone. There's only so much a girl can take of a non-smart phone.

5) The amount of google accounts I have accumulated over the years is ridiculous. I think I have 4 or 5 and nothings more annoying than when your computer doesn't recognize the one you want it to automatically login to. 

6) I'm notorious for having knee problems. I don't know what I did to set it off, but my left knee has been kind of useless the past few days. 

7) Currently reading: 4 books on the Black Death, 3 on medieval afterlife, and 2 on Henry VII. Life of a history masters student...

8) I've come to the realization that I can no longer drink Starbucks. I'm too spoiled with Bristol's amazing coffee scene that Starbucks just isn't all that great anymore. 

9) When is Eurovision?? My friends keep on explaining it to me and I feel I HAVE to watch it this year.

10) I've finally caught up with The Walking Dead! Y'all... That last episode was cray. Like "made me an emotional wreck" cray.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Meet Katie!

Katie Walpole hails from upstate New York in the USA. She's currently living in the UK while she attends graduate school at the London School of Economics. An avid traveler, Katie has traveled to over 25 countries and has set foot on three continents! Katie can often be found eating a macaroon, drinking a latte, and updating her blog! 

BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 22

1) Being Spring Break in America and all, there was an insane amount of Americans on our visit to London. I swear, I heard more American accents than British ones.

2) I've decided Leah came to England this week solely for the purpose of making shadow puppets with me at 9:30pm on a Thursday evening. We're exciting people, I know.

3) It's been SO nice to have my best friend visit me. Leah is the first person to come visit, and I had so much fun showing her all the cool places and amazing things I do here. Unfortunately, she heads back to Atlanta tomorrow.

4) While we did see the sights, the majority of Leah's visit consisted of sitting in cafes and asking people "what's your wifi password". 

5) Nothing is better than trying your best "British accent" with another American in England.

6) I finally have a picture of me and Jon (the boyfriend)! If you want to see how much of a rocking couple we are, check out my Instagram here. 

7) It didn't rain once this week.
#SpringMiracles 

8) I bought an awesome Hogwarts shirt from Primark. I feel like such a badass when I wear it. 

9) I'm starting to panic slightly about essays for this term. What's the point of essays? I need to focus on my dissertation! 

10) Want to sponsor Bristol in my Pocket? Go have a look at my Sponsor page y'all! 

A preview of my trip to Bath with Leah.

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Meet Jamie!

Hey there, I'm Jamie and the the voice behind Gunters Abroad. 

My husband and I are recent transplants to England and love to travel and eat! Gunters Abroad documents our European travels, the thrilling ups and downs of expat life, and of course, yummy food! Come follow along with us on our crazy adventures!

BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 20

1) I'm almost done with Dracula. The second half has taken me a bit longer than expected but I LOVE IT!

2) I've managed to order every book known to man on Henry VII. Dissertation, I am ready for you.

3) I've been fighting a cold all week. Super fun, right?

4) Lush has a fantastic way of hiring the friendliest people. I am always impressed with how helpful they are!

5) I've come to the conclusion bread is very small in this country. When I go to buy sandwich bread, my options are small or smaller. 

6) I spent about 3 hours updating my resume/CV. It's fancy y'all. 

7) The Photo Hunt is tomorrow! AHHHHH! 

8) Leah freaking Sears is coming to England in 8 days! Get excited for TON of amazing posts because we are going to be busy tourists!

9) Last night I went to go see As You Like It with my boyfriend and his parents. As You Like It was one of the few Shakespeare plays I knew almost nothing about, but I absolutely loved it! By far one of my favorites!

10) Yesterday I was contacted by a man who had a beautiful story to tell about his wife. She was diagnosed with Mesothelioma and given only 15 months to live. Not only did she beat it, she has now been 8 years cancer free. To check out their amazing story and to face your fears, visit Lung Leaving Day.  

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 19

1) A 1217 copy of the Magna Carta has left its home in Hereford Cathedral to spend six months in a Houston, Texas museum I used to volunteer for! How cool! It is the second known time to ever leave the cathedral!

2) Working in a museum during half term is exhausting. 

3) On the recommendation of some classmates of mine, I have started to read Dracula. Amazing! How have I never read this before?

4) I learned the hard way that English mustard is not like American mustard, it's more like horseradish. 

5) The weather here has been absolutely amazing these last few days. Let's hope it stays that way!

6) I'm mistaken for a Canadian more than anything. 

7) My boyfriend and I stumbled upon a lady playing 16th century music on her flute in the Old City. Needless to say it was amazing.

8) I have found a Tesco that sells American products. I can finally fulfill my craving for Kraft Mac and Cheese!

9) I had an amazing brunch with Bobbi and finally signed up for the Photo Hunt today! Yay!

10) Excuse my brief absence from the blogging world this week. Life has been a little crazy. I've had a TON of reading to do, not to mention I'm starting to prepare my first proposal for my dissertation. AHHH!

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Monday Morning Traditions

As a Southern sorority girl, traditions are important to me. When I first moved to England, everything was new and different. I had no sense of what my routine would be. 

My mom had come to England for a week in September to move me in. Not knowing where to go or what to do, we grabbed breakfast just up the road from my new flat in a place called Park Street Cafe. The staff were friendly and helpful, which was the welcoming feeling I needed in my new environment. 

Since that first breakfast in Park Street Cafe, I have tried to make an effort to go back every Monday morning. It has become a little tradition of mine. Obviously some days are busier than others and I don't always make it. But it's nice to walk into the cafe and the staff immediately put in my order without me even saying a word. 

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 18

1) I almost stepped on a rat the other day. A RAT! You would think after hundreds of years of plagues and death, England would deal with the disgusting creature that is the rat. 

2) I stumbled into Lush and bought wayyyyy too much. The sad thing is I don't have a bath tub in my flat, which means I had to avoid the bath bomb section. Urgh, curse my tiny tiny shower! 

3) It seems to be getting colder and colder outside. I'm over this, where's spring?

4) I realized yesterday that there are so many parts of Bristol I haven't explored yet! 

5) Unless you live under a rock, you'd know that England is pretty much completely under water. I think we've lucked out in Bristol, the flooding hasn't been as bad as the rest of the country.

6) I don't know what it is about this weather but all I want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep. 

7) I miss having a puppy to cuddle with.

8) Hotel and flights are booked for Ireland in April! AH!!!

9) Who's idea was it to take tequila shots to celebrate passing our essays? 

10) Happy Valentine's Day!
Plans for today include reading lots of "How We Met" posts followed by dinner with my boo.

One of the few bits of sun we've had this week.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 17

1) I've been nominated for the Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs! Cool, right? You can vote for me HERE.

2) Broncos... Why?
Just,
why? 

3) To my surprise, there were about 100 American football fans in the bar when I showed up to watch the game. What surprised me even more was about 90% of them actually knew what was going on!

4) There were 80 Year 1 students at work on Monday. EIGHTY! For those Americans out there, Year 1 students are 4-5 years old. You can imagine how exhausted I was. 

5) I bought a hat. You know, those big black floppy ones. I feel like I should be a part of the coven in American Horror Story.

6) I'm spending way too much money time in cafes. I can't help it though, I'm addicted to coffee and brunch! 

7) Tanya Burr's new lip gloss line is amazing. I have to admit, the colors I ordered weren't exactly what I was expecting, but the quality of the products are fantastic. 

8) The Starbucks just down the street from me closed today. Yes, a Starbucks went out of business. While I'm sad to see it go, I completely understand why it happened. Bristolians are very supportive of local businesses and let's face it, local cafes have better coffee. 

9) I made myself chicken curry last night and it was fab! I have to pat myself on the back for that one because it was amazing. 

10) If you missed it last week, I'm officially offering Sponsorships! While my blog baby is still growing, I wanted to provide a cheap and easy way for newbies to get their name out there! 

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Meet Van Berry

I'm a 22 year old student from Germany with the urge to see the world. I took a year off after my graduation to travel through Scandinavia and Britain before going to Uni again. I'd be glad if you follow me on my journeys through Northern Norway / The Arctic, Scotland, Sweden, The Baltic Region and maybe even further away..... Enjoy my travelogues and pictures on my blog, watch my travel videos on my youtube channel and enjoy my latest travel snapshots on Instagram.

BLOG | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM

Don't be shy, go check out her blog!

Street Art | Bristol, England

I've wanted to do a post on Bristol's street art since first arriving five months ago. However, for mysterious non-existent reasons, I just haven't gotten around to it. 

Finally! Here it is! 

To me, there's a difference between graffiti and street art. Graffiti carries a negative connotation, whereas street art can be appreciated for its artistic merit and meaning. Bristol is famous for its street art. You can find amazing works around every corner, adding a cool and unique vibe to the city. Banksy, one of the world's most famous street artists, was born and raised here in Bristol. His identity is a mystery, but his work can be found scattered across the city. 

Bristol's street art culture is amazing. If you ever find yourself in Bristol, make sure to bring a camera. You never know what famous piece of work you might stumble across. 

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 16

1) Couple sitting at the table next to me in cafe:

Man: "I don't know if I should take the job. It's in Texas."

Woman: "Is there even anything to do in Texas? I thought they just sat around shooting stuff all day."

2) There has been a debate on the best Nando's flavor. I'm team Mango & Lime.

3) Did you know that the River Severn (Bristol's main water source) has the second highest tidal range in the world? That's crazy!

4) It's been stupid cold here lately, but no sign of snow. 

5) I have officially finished Peep Show and moved on to The IT Crowd. Gotta love British TV. 

6) People take coffee art very seriously here in Bristol. 

7) Kid at work when I told him we were studying things from Victorian times: "You're American, you don't know the answers".

8) School is officially in full swing and I couldn't be happier. It nice to have something to do again, let alone something I enjoy. 

9) My best friend Leah is coming to visit me in March, another friend Meagan comes in April, and my family comes in May! AHHHH! I'm so excited to show everyone Bristol!

10) I'm officially offering Sponsorships! Seeing as this little blog baby of mine is still growing, I wanted to offer affordable and easy ways to sponsor. Both options are cheaper than cup of coffee, and are great ways to get your blog on my reader's radars!

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Wanderlust

Wanderlust
- a strong desire to travel.

In 2011 I packed my bags and moved to London. While the move was only for the summer, my experiences studying abroad changed my life forever. I had been bitten by the wanderlust bug, which ultimately led to my return to England just four months ago.

When I returned to the states, I was craving travel. I felt this overwhelming urge to pack my bags and drop myself into another culture. I wanted to see more and do more! But I was not the only one. I learned very quickly that my fellow American and Canadian friends who had studied with me in London were restless at home as well. 

Overall, we experienced a feeling of not fitting in with our home culture. We were in this limbo, knowing there was a whole world out there to be explored and conquered. There was something so thrilling about living in another country, and coming home proved to be very anticlimactic. As for me, I was beginning to develop a resentment towards aspects of daily life that were being taken for granted. When I moved back to England, I finally felt at ease. My constant craving for culture and history was filled. 

I was not the first or last person in my 2011 study abroad program to make a life changing move. A significant amount of us packed our bags for new surroundings.

Texas to England.
Canada to Australia. 
Michigan to California.
North Carolina to Kentucky. 
Florida to England. 
Canada to New Zealand.
North Carolina to England.

I don't know if there was something in the water at that university in London, but we were all bit with the wanderlust bug. There's something special about a person who leaves the comfort of their home to create a new life somewhere else. It makes me incredibly happy knowing I have friends across the globe creating successful lives of their own. 

Happy Wednesday!
xoxo

Brandon Hill | Bristol, England

Since arriving in England some four months ago I've come to the realization that you have to enjoy the little things. It's easy to overwhelm yourself with tourist attractions and what not, but the best way to enjoy your new city is do as the locals do.

Brandon Hill is a hidden gem. Just around the corner from my flat, it's easily missed if you don't know it's there. Brandon Hill has become my 'relaxation' spot. Not so much lately with the cold weather, but if it's a beautiful day you can most likely find me sitting on a bench, people watching. The hill provides some of the most amazing views of the city, and it's easily one of my favorite places in Bristol.

One of these days I'll climb Cabot Tower, but trust me when I say climbing to the top of the hill is exhausting enough.

Happy Sunday!
xoxo

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I'm officially offering Sponsorships! Seeing as this little blog baby of mine is still growing, I wanted to offer affordable and easy ways to sponsor. Both options are cheaper than cup of coffee, and are great ways to get your blog on my reader's radars!

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 15

1) I started eating meat again (after two years of being a pescatarian). Yesterday I had a fried egg burger with peanut butter on it. 

A FRIED EGG BURGER WITH PEANUT BUTTER!!!! HOW AMAZING?!

2) I met Brendan Cole. He's a dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and unfortunately I had no idea who he was until someone told me.

3) We've had a mixture of amazing and dreadful weather lately. Rainy days = a very unproductive Sara.

4) The University of Bristol has an American football team. Words can not describe how happy this makes me.

5) It's been 4 months since I moved to England and I still don't understand why the letter Z is pronounced Zed...

6) What I'd give for a little beach time right now. Anybody want to fly me to Australia?

7) I made fajitas... and they were delicious. Why am I always talking about food?

8) I know I said this last week, but I really need to start thinking about my dissertation.

9) Classes officially start on Tuesday. While doing absolutely nothing has been fun, I'm ready to get back to reality. I've been in the library pretty much all day preparing for the upcoming week. Yay for being productive!

10) Thank you everyone who commented and showed me love for Bristol Vibes! It's nice to change up the pace every now and then. If you haven't see it yet, watch it here.

And so the semester begins.
Happy Friday!
xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 14

1) I'm almost tempted to say Bristol has skipped winter and gone straight to spring. It's been beautiful here lately!

2) However, I would like just one major snow this year. Just one BIG snow so I can go sledding for the first time.

3) And it's also been raining. Nonstop. I don't mind the rain here because it never rains for more than an hour straight. 

4) My American Horror Story Asylum experience so far:

Woah.

What.

Ew.

Awesome.

Woah. 

5) I should probably start reading things for my dissertation now that I have a little free time...

6) I went into Primark and bought one item. I'm learning self control.

7) I need to plan a day trip for sometime this week. Any suggestions of places to go around the Bristol area?

8) If you haven't seen this video, you're missing out. Bad British Commentary

9) I have come to the realization that the most deadly animal in England is the cow... Just think about that.

10) I was pleased to see the History MA gang last night. We are all slowly trickling back to Bristol, and there's nothing better than discussing possibilities of us all failing our essays over drinks.

Here's a picture of me being a cool kid back in the day.
Happy Friday!
xoxo

Thoughts From Abroad | Part 13

1) I apologize for my brief absence from the blogging world. I was back in Texas for the holidays, and to top it all off I had 3 essays and 4 medieval transcriptions to finish! To say I have been busy is an understatement.

2) I'm back in the UK! Woohoo! Although I loved being back home for a few weeks, it's nice to be in my own routine again. If you haven't noticed, I'm extremely independent and function best when on my own. 

3) I don't think I've ever said this before in my life: it IS possible to eat too much. I've eaten so much the last couple of weeks. Goodbye American portions!

4) Having said that, I will miss margaritas and queso. And kolaches.

5) Over the break my old roommate and I planned a trip to Ireland when she comes to visit me in April!

6) I forgot how nice it is to walk out of the house in yoga pants and a t-shirt without being judged. Gotta love the casual sorority look.

7) Y'all. The Olympics are about to start and I have no TV. What. The. Heck.

8) I think I've beat jet lag... I think.

9) It's weird to think that in 8 months I would have turned in my dissertation and completed my masters program. Time to start panicking yet?

10) I'm never one to make New Year's Resolutions, however there is one task I would like to accomplish in 2014. Travel outside the UK more! My first 3 months in England were an adjustment period. Now that I am comfortable living abroad, I think it's time for me to travel Europe more!

Happy Saturday!
xoxo

1 Month Anniversary

Today marks my one month anniversary in Bristol. 

Exactly a month ago I took the 9 hour flight from Houston to London, followed by a 2 hour train ride from London to Bristol.

Moving to a different country is scary. Especially when you know absolutely no one. But Bristol has been everything I hoped for and more.

So here's to the next 11 months (possibly more) in this amazing city.

Happy Monday!
I apologize for such a short post. The thing about graduate school is it's actually a lot of work!
Currently listening to R U Crazy
xoxo

Simple Living

I have been living in England just shy of one month now. It's been a crazy month full of stress and excitement and I wouldn't trade any of it.
Adjusting to life in Bristol has been easier than expected. Sure, I still don't know which coin is which and which side of the street to look at when crossing, but I'm getting there. 

However, there are two major differences between my life back home and my life here:

TVs and cell phones.
Both of these, I may point out, have nothing to do with the country I am now living in. It's merely a lifestyle modification that I chose for myself. 

I decided against a TV when I moved to Bristol. Back in the US, there's practically a TV in every room. Not having a TV accessible to me has been a major change in my life, as much as I hate to admit it. I had no idea how much of my time was spent watching pointless television. It's been an extremely positive experience. Now when I'm bored, I pick up a book and go outside instead of turning on a TV. 

As for a cell phone, this has been a slightly more difficult decision. The first two and a half weeks in Bristol, I didn't have time to sort out my phone situation. I just hadn't gotten around to it. In those weeks, I realized how I didn't need my iPhone. I used to think of my iPhone as a necessity, but who really needs access to Twitter or Facebook 24/7? So when I finally had time to go get a UK phone, I decided against an iPhone and instead got this beauty. It texts. It calls. And that's all I need.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo