Another Item Off The Bucket List!

Yet another early morning for me, 7am came to soon yesterday but the day was well worth it. I hate traveling on Sundays, but you gotta do whatcha gotta do. Anyhow, yesterday I went on the London Eye with my Canadian friend Lindsay. Totally forgot about my fear of heights but this actually wasn't to bad. The view was amazing! We had great weather as well, no rain, sunny and only a couple of clouds. 

Near the top I saw out all the way to Wembley Stadium, which is only like twenty minutes away from where I live. It really puts it into perspective of how close everything is in Central London. I was looking at the other places I always go to (Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey) and to see how close everything actually is to one another is just crazy. 

Mind you it may take a bit to walk everywhere but from up there it didn't feel like it. If only it were that easy right?

After the London Eye, Lindsay and I walked along the Southbank up to Tower Bridge. I hadn't walked that area in a long time so it was nice to revisit it and enjoy it with someone who hadn't walked it before. I showed her all the little market areas around there and the shops that I like to go to, there is a Christmas store along there but sadly is closed on Sundays so we couldn't go inside. 

We walked across Tower Bridge and eventually made our way back to Leicester Square. For our special "Canada Day" Day out we decided to go to The Maple Leaf for lunch and was I in for a surprise! Nothing as fancy as meeting someone famous but lately I've been missing the little things at home and when we walked into the pub they had "Canadian Club" - a Canadian whisky - at the pub!!! I haven't had that in ages so of course Lindsay and I each got one to enjoy with our lunch.

Other than the little rain on and off in the afternoon it was a great day out. As of today, June 30th 2014, I have two months and two days left in England, I have one month and one day until my tour across Europe and I have one month and eighteen days until my Downton Abbey tour!!

July is going to be super busy so I bet the weeks will fly by. Lots of historic places to visit, a concert, Brighton Pier, the girls will be done school at the end of the month and traveling around with them before they head off to Italy for two weeks! Just craziness! 

No Rain on my Parade!

I love the West End! If I could I would spend all of my money just to go and see the musicals that preform in this area, thank goodness I didn't have to.

Yesterday in Trafalgar Square they had an event called "West End Live!". It was the 10th anniversary this year and at it they have the West End Musicals preform for 10-20minutes throughout the day. It started at 11am but I was there around 9:30am - so I could get a good spot in line and a decent sitting or standing spot inside. A lot of people had the same idea as I did, some where there since 7am from what I heard. I'm not sure of the exact number that were there but I want to say at least over a thousand, maybe even more.



Saturdays events ran from 11am-6pm and Sundays events run from 12pm-6pm (I didn't go today because I saw all that I wanted to see and I think about 7hours of walking around and just standing is enough for my legs this weekend.

Now I saw "No Rain on my Parade" because this is the first time in the ten years they have had this event that it didn't call for rain! Instead it was the hottest day London has seen in a year (it was about 25-28 degrees, which Canada wise it's hot hot, but not having a hot/warm day in over two weeks it hit me hard). Don't worry I drank lots of water and had sunscreen on...forgot to reapply it to my face however so I kind of look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the moment, but oh well lessoned learned - sunscreen is on my to buy list.

This event is amazing! I cannot believe the amount of support the West End gets, well I could I just didn't think it was THIS much!

I watched at least fourteen different musicals preform - and have added a new musical to my list that I really want to see. Out of the fourteen I saw "Wicked", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Phantom of the Opera", "Matilda the Musical", "Les Miserables", "Mamma Mia" and the new one that I really want to see now "Jersey Boys". The guys playing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were AMAZING! There was an older lady standing beside me when they came on and she was just singing and dancing away to the songs they were singing.

Next weekend I will be joining my friend Lindsay to go on The London Eye! I'm very excited about that! And after the London Eye it'll be July and then holy moly it'll be August, WHAT?!?! Just crazy!

Family ♥

First thing first, I want to wish my Dad a "Happy Father's Day!" :) To a Dad who believes in me, encourages me to achieve my dreams, makes jokes that only make me laugh, and is usually the only one to laugh at mine because he honestly thinks they are funny. You have taught me so many great life lessons and are so supportive of the decision I make in my life. Happy Fathers Day Dad! I love you!

I want to dedicate this blog post to the most important people in my life, my family ♥ .

They are the entire reason behind who I am today. They keep me grounded and believe in me no matter what crazy ideas I come up with, like going to England for a year.

Being away from home for as long as I have I've realized that life doesn't just stop for the other people around me. Life events happen everyday, good or bad, and it can change so suddenly. Sorry folks but it's about to get real emotional in here. About two years ago now is when I signed up with Scotia Personnel, I had only told my immediate family and was planning on telling my Grandparents and Aunt & Uncle at Thanksgiving this news. Before dinner my Poppa and I were talking about nothing in particular when he mentioned about ideas he had for me when I completed school in April. He had said that when I apply for jobs with the school board it would be better if I knew French, that way I could apply for more positions and be higher on the qualifying list.

He also told me that he found a program that would be best for me and was just waiting on the information package to be sent to his house. After dinner I told the family of my plan on being an Au Pair in England after I graduated from my program. To be honest I can't quite remember Poppa's reaction, out of everyone I knew he's mattered the most because he usually knew what was best for me school and career wise - once I talked him into being passionate about working with children anyways.

I think it was a mixed reaction but he I am pretty sure he was excited about me traveling to England and would want to discuss it further. Unfortunately we never got to, but I think back on it now and it probably would have been many upon many mini history lessons, list upon lists of places to see and places to go while I was hear and him telling me he would want weekly reports of everything I did while over here.

This past year has added onto the pain of not being at home, my Grandpa past away as well as my Great Uncle. Before I left I got to speak with both of them and telling them all about my work and plans I had when getting here. My Grandpa thought I was crazy for wanting to look after three little girls and going to England but he was very happy for me. Grandma told me that he kept asking for updates every now and then when she saw him so I am thankful to her for telling him all about the activities I got myself into.

The thing about being away from home is that you forget that life can still happen, at least that's how I personally find it. I have had so many wonderful experiences here that I would not change it for the world. Being away has made me grow up and realize that no matter where I am or what I am doing my family is still there for me through thick and thin. They support me and care for me just as much, and maybe even a bit more, since being over here.

Sorry for the sappy/sad post but I truly appreciate everything my family has done for me. I am excited to go home and see everyone but right now I am in the bittersweet stage of it. I have done a lot with the time I have had here and if possible would only change one thing - more traveling outside of London. I know I have more than two months left here but they are jammed packed with more traveling, concerts and events that will come and go just like that.

When I get home it will be a new adventure even, and I am happy to see where it will take me then.

So once again, thank you to my extremely amazing family (Mom, Dad, Siblings, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents) for being so supportive of me. I love you all!

'Cause I've got a Golden Ticket!

What can I say, I love the theatre! It's the greatest place to go to get your mind off of the problems and little things in your life that are bugging you and just absorb the story and the set hundreds of people have worked on. Just amazing!

Yesterday I saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with my friend Lindsay. Had a giggle because the theatre is on Drury Lane (Do you know the Muffin Man?) but anywho, it was a beautiful day in London, finally, and where did we spend it? Inside in an air conditioned theatre with about a thousand other people. It was well worth it though.

The story is exactly like the one I read when I was younger, a poor selfless boy makes an impression on this wealthy Chocolatier and in the end he gets what he deserves, all the wonders in the world really, he gets to own the Chocolate Factory.

The sets were absolutely brilliant! Very grey and dark - for when we are meeting the Bucket family and then very colourful and amazing when they get a tour of the factory.

Each actor/actress played their role so well. I was actually quite annoyed with Vercua Salt and glad she went down the chute with her dad, little brat. Augustus was quite fat and hungry ALL THE TIME, he was so funny as well. Mike TeeVee was a horrible little child, and it was quite neat how they made him TV size - but I won't give that away - his mom was hilarious (She did love her "Mommy Water"). And of course Violet loved her gum, and was quite famous for it so of course she got what she deserved.

But most of all Charlie, just amazing! As I said about "Matilda" I would not have had the courage those kids did to preform on a stage at that end let along the West End. The songs were brilliant as well, so catchy and the dancing for it as well was just great. All of the little tricks they did for the Oompaa Loompa and sizing wise was very cleaver as well.

I think my favourite part was the Glass Elevator near the end, Charlie and Mr. Wonka sang "Pure Imagination" during this, it brought a tear to my eye. It was so beautifully done and you just get into the moment and feel it all. Just great!

The musical was just amazing overall. So know that I am through with my musicals (I guess for now) it's time for my list.

Yes I did get a Wonka bar for the show :)

Top Musicals I've Seen in London, UK

1) The Book of Mormon

2) Les Miserables

3) Matilda

4) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

5) The Lion King

6) Once

7) The Phantom of the Opera

8) Wicked

9) Dirty Dancing

Something "Wicked" This Way Comes

This past week was something else. The girls were on their last half term before getting out of school for the summer, July 23rd is the last day, so we had a fun week. Jane and Chris were also home so I had some days off and others I spent hanging out with the entire family. It was fun, I haven;t done that in awhile so it was nice to hangout with everyone and do activities with them.

On Wednesday the family went and saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" while I made my way over to see "Wicked", I'm seeing "Charlie" on June 7th with my friend Lindsay. If you are a fan of "The Wizard of Oz" then you will love "Wicked"! Don't go into it with the same storyline in your head though, it is very different than the way Dorothy tells the story in Oz. I recognized a couple of the songs, because of Glee, but I was happy I didn't know the entire story before going in. That way I could enjoy it more and try and figure out the different plot lines. 

The rest of the week was spent swimming with the girls, going to see "Maleficent" with the family and then out to dinner and sometime to myself to organize my other plans for the rest of the time that I'm here. As of tomorrow I only have three months left so I have to make them count!

I only have a little bit to pay on my August Trip and then that will be all covered. I keep reading about all the activities I get to do while on that trip and it's just so amazing. I am so excited for it. Before that trip though I will be seeing "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", Kristen Chenoweth live, going on the London Eye, going to Brighton Pier and any other little bits and bobs I can fit in there before August. 

Once August comes the days are just going to fly by. I have my trip, then Caitlin is coming over right after I get back and we have lots of things planned (more on that when the time comes), I'm going on my Downton Abbey trip and then after will hopefully go and see "War Horse" with Lindsay as my last play in London before I leave. Just crazy!!

Hope all is well with everyone :)

100 Days Left...really?

Yes you did read that right...I just can't believe it.

Know I now you all are probably tired of me saying stuff about time, how it's to fast and that it's speeding by for me. Well I'm going to mention it more and more because that's how I feel right now.

This time last year I was just finishing school and getting ready for summer vacation. I was slowly getting my visa and other documentation done as well I just can't believe that all this all happened a year ago!

Time is going by to fast for all of us. My friend's son just turned four years old the other day, come this Fall he will be in Kindergarten! My little sister is graduating from Grade Eight in less than a month and will be going to high school the day I make my way home. My brother has just bought his first car and is completing an awesome co-op to do with his college program and my older sister is completing a summer job working in a law firm and then going into her third year of law school.

SAY WHAT!?!?

I know right?

So lets talk about something else today, other than time.

I agree with this quote 100%. If you knew me when I was a teenager and I told you I was going across the ocean to work for a year you would have said, "Yeah right, and pigs can fly!" And I would have laughed because it would have been a joke all along. Yes it is true that for the majority of my life I could not imagine leaving my little country town and thought all I needed was within a 50km distance.

But the funny thing with that is the changes I had in my life. Leaving high school, and still unsure of everything, I went to College - for the first time but not the only. Leaving home really made me think hard about my life and the choices I had made and where I was going. With this fact, and other events in my life, I chose a different path - and look where it got me! The idea of leaving home didn't scare me as much, to begin with. When I first applied to the agency - Scotia Personnel Ltd. - I really applied to see if they would hire me, which they did, and didn't think twice about it. I love working with kids and I've always wanted to go to England so I thought why not do both, and this thought didn't even scare me.

I was matched up with families and interviewed with some as well, which still didn't scare me - I was nervous but not scared. It wasn't until I actually sat down with my mom and dad and asked them what they thought of this whole process that I got scared. Why you ask? Why after all this time? It was because of what they said.

No they personally didn't scare me, it was in what they said. They both told me how brave I was for doing this, how courageous I had become in the last three years and that they were both happy and excited for me and my new adventure.

Now why did this scare me? Because they were the first ones who said this to me. How does being brave have anything to do with this I thought. And then that's what scared me... the fact that I hadn't given two senses thought about this. The fact that I applied for this job overseas and it didn't faze me, that scared me. The fact that when people called me brave for doing this and it didn't faze me, that scared me.

What was I actually getting myself into? What if the family was horrible to me? What if I had the worst experience possible and had no money to get home? All these thoughts went through my head for four months before I left. But you know what I realized after it all? The fact that no matter what happened, good or bad, it was an experience altogether and that I would be going to England!

When I left my family at the airport I was scared - traveling by myself, not seeing them for a year (or more), not being at home for certain events - all these things scared me. But then I thought of where I was going, what I would be doing, what I would be seeing and the excitement came back.

So if you ever come across anything that may scare you and excite you at the same time, take it. You never know when you will get the chance again.

England Baby!

As of this date, May 17th 2014, I have been in England for NINE MONTHS! Nine months people! Do you know the things you can do in nine months??

A woman can carry a baby full term and give birth by this time!
You can grow 4.5 inches of hair in nine months!
You can watch The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the Extended Editions) 532 times in nine months!
You can also read the Harry Potter series 168 times (on average of 1.5 weeks per read through of the series).

You know just some random facts for you. But what have I done?

Well...

I've started working as an au pair.
I've gone to London, England.
I've seen the London Eye and The Queen's Tower (Big Ben).
I've met three celebrities, two of them from Harry Potter.
I've seen eight musicals/plays.
I've been to Oxford University.
I've been to the Roman Baths.
I've been to Stonehenge.
I've been to Paris.
I've climbed to the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
I've been to the third level of the Eiffel Tower.
I've been to Disneyland Paris.
I've met Mickey Mouse.
I've been to the sea.
I've met so many new and interesting people.
I've drank at a traditional English Pun while watching a hockey game.
I've seen many historical sites involving England's history and royalty.
I've seen my all time favourite band live in an amazing concert.


AND I still have no much more to do!

This is still so crazy!

My friend Lindsay asked me the other day "Do you still get days where you cannot believe that you're in England?" and I do! I wake up and will think "Oh yeah just another day" but then it hits me, I am in London, England. I have been dreaming about this since I was a teenager and it still blows my mind that I am here!

I have gotten so much out of this whole experience it's insane the amount of opportunities I have been given since getting here. I am very lucky to have such a warming and kind host family to now call my England family and that they live in such an awesome town to have this adventure in.

Well everyone, only 107 days until I am home now....Canada you are just around the corner!