A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

Friends, this post may be a bit odd on such a day as this, but I am going to write about Thanksgiving from my point of view this year. Here in Scotland the Christmas spirit has been in full swing for quite some time now. I honestly feel as though Thanksgiving has already come and gone this year, or simply that it just didn't come. At first this seemed sad, but now I am looking at it in a different light.
Today is a day I usually spend with family and friend running a 10k then stuffing myself with loads of amazing home cooked food that has been cooked with love and joy. This year though I am heading off to class, followed by a little celebration with sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and "It's a Wonderful Life" with my roommate and a friend. Then of course, more revision (studying.)
With only this small simple celebration, I think this year I may be more thankful than any other year. Here is why: I am thankful that I have a family that I am missing today as so many people don't, I am thankful that I have a warm cozy house that I usually spend this day in cozied up to a fire, I am thankful that my family is fortunate enough to be able spend this day cooking and eating food made with love and joy, I am also thankful that they get to celebrate this holiday even without me, because guess what, it will come around again next year and I will get to be there!
I am also so very thankful for friends in this land 3000 miles away that found a small way to celebrate with me. I am thankful I get to share in the family traditions of my roommate who always watches "Its a Wonderful Life" on this day. I am thankful that I still have food and shelter over my head. I am thankful for the education I have the privilege of getting on this day.
Most of all though, I am thankful that even though I am missing one of my favorite days of the year with family, life goes on and in a few short weeks I will be gathered around the same table I usually am on this day, with the very same people, celebrating the birth of the One who granted me all of these things to be grateful for in the first place!

A Great City, Good Food, Better Friends, and the Best of Times

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post, but things are getting quite busy up here now that I squished a five day trip in to London! I am playing catch up while also trying to write papers and prepare for finals.
Anyway, on to the exciting stuff! I will fill you all in on the trip to Londontown! The moment I stepped off the train was pure and utter bliss! I felt like I had just come to life again after being in The Bubble for too long. Once in London we headed straight to Griffin's boyfriend's house to drop off out bags as we were in no shape to lug them around all night considering we both looked like we packed to be away for a month. After dropping our stuff off we went to a wonderful bar in Shepherd's Bush called The Oak. It had the most amazing brick oven pizza and some pretty good cocktails.
On Friday we went to afternoon tea then did some shopping. We went a bit crazy in Selfridges seeing that we have not gone shopping in months...it was also decorated for Christmas which was extremely exciting and fueled my joyous spirit! 

On Saturday afternoon I headed off to the Old Vic to see Much Ado About Nothing. It was a good play, but I was really bummed when I got there and found out that Vanessa Redgrave was not in it for the day. After the show I headed back to the house where we hung out for the night watching movies and Griff and I made breakfast for dinner, a.k.a the best omlette you have ever eaten (see below.)

On to Sunday...Griffin an I got up and into town in time to grab brunch at La Bodega Negra. I honestly can't remember the last time I was so grateful for good mexican food, especially guac! We then spent the rest of the day running around London looking at Christmas lights and shopping. 

...I know, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't even passed yet, but since it is non-existant here, its straight to Christmas for us!

After grabbing the last few essentials we needed for Monday night, we hopped back on the tube to meet up with James. We headed to High Road House in Chiswick to meet up with a couple of friends of Griffin and James. I must say the dinner itself was fabulous, and so was the company. After dinner we went around the corner to a nice little piano bar where we were entertained until closing time. This was one of those amazing nights that I will never forget, but it is also the kind that I would like to cherish for myself, so I really am terribly sorry about not posting more details. 

Unfortunately, Monday morning was an early one as I needed to get my hair done. Let me just say, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Pol Garcia at Metodo Rossano Ferretti in London, you won't regret it! He was so nice, the studio itself was beautiful, the team working there was wonderful, and Pol did a lovely job on my wash and dry that lasted for multiple days, even in the dreary weather!

After finishing up there, Griffin and I grabbed a light sushi lunch at Roka in Fitzrovia, ran by Harrods to get our doughsant breakfast for the 7am train ride home that would greet us the next morning, and finally made it back to get ready for the premiere. 

Upon leaving for the Catching Fire Premiere, we quickly realized that the London traffic was going to get us to Leicester Square extremely late, so we got gutsy and braved the tube in our formal attire. I must say I have never been stared at that much in my life! 

Upon getting to Leicester Square we were sent about five different places to pick up our tickets and after about 25 minutes we got ahold of them! We went through security where the security guard neglected to wand me because, in his words, "Ha, you couldn't be hiding anything anyway!" and then quickly walked the red carpet and headed into the theatre right behind the cast. We talked to a few acquaintances of Griffin's on the way in, then took our seats. The director made his greetings and thanks to everyone, introduced the cast, and the movie began!!

I won't talk about the movie because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, just know it was great and reviews are saying it leaves the first movie in the dust!

Afterward, we had the privilege to go the the after party! The venue, The Royal Courts of Justice, was beautiful. In addition, the food and cocktails were amazing and seemed to be in Capitol inspired! We had a great time and partied the night away! Below are a few pictures of our adventures!

We arrived back at James' well into the morning, slept for less than two hours, and at 5 we headed off to King's Cross for our train back to Scotland. It was a sad goodbye to a city that has stolen my heart, but I'm already looking forward to going back!

Friends, I can honestly say this weekend is one for the books. Not only did I have a wonderful time with great friends, but I learned so much about life, myself, and my career path. What a blessing to have these types of experiences and the conversations with friends and family that follow them! 

I hope to post again soon which should be a lot easier since tomorrow I am writing my last paper and this is my last week of classes...for there on out it is study, study, study for a few weeks!

Let the Holidays Begin!

Yesterday kicked off what is easily my favorite part of every year, The Holiday Season! (of course it deserves all caps!) Although I am missing Thanksgiving, this year the season is even more exciting than most. It began with Halloween yesterday and we went to House of Horror at St. Andrews.

To follow, this weekend just so happens to be Raisin Weekend which is something I have been told only St. Andreans are fully able to appreciate! Raisin weekend revolves around a really old tradition here in which third year students would adopt first years, and on this weekend the first years would take their parents raisins in return for a receipt. Over time this tradition has evolved. I haven been adopted by third year parents who I refer to as my academic mum and academic dad. Evidently I lucked out as far as academic parents go and got really sweet parents. On Raisin Sunday it is tradition to go to your mum's with your siblings and tradition is now to drink and do other fun things which I am not yet aware of! Mum's then send us to or dad's to continue the day of drinking well into the night. In the morning on Monday all children head back to their parents houses to get Raisin receipts. I have been told that receipts can range from large objects to carry around, such as couches, to funny costumes and everything in between. The only thing I am completely aware of for this Raisin weekend currently is the note below that our academic mum gave my siblings and I at a family dinner.

So, like I said the season has an added weekend of shenanigans this year which I am sure will be a blast! To continue the fun, on Thursday of this coming week Griffin and I are leaving the Bubble to head off to London for five days! We have been prepping for this trip for quite some time by compiling lists of places we are going to eat, things we want to do (go see Christmas lights anyone?!), and of course places we want to hit up for some shopping! Before we leave though, we are starting the long weekend with a mani- pedi to get ready for the focus of our trip, The Hunger Games Premiere. The premiere is on the Monday that we are in London, so we will head back to St. Andrews the following morning.
A few essays and two weeks later is Revision week. Revision week is the week before exams begin and many students leave town for a short break away before the two long weeks of finals. For revision week we are hoping make our way to either Amsterdam and Brussels or to Prague. Both of these destinations would have fun things to do, pretty places to see, and my personal favorite, huge Christmas Markets with lots of festive food and handmade crafts!
Then there are the two dreaded weeks of finals and a long journey back to the States. Once home it is lots of food I have missed, my favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve, then Christmas, New Years and to wrap it all up, (drum roll please....) my 21st Birthday! It is gonna be a great couple of months friends!