Friday, November 16, 2012

Going Back

Do you ever wish you could go back to a specific time in your life, just to see if everything was as you remembered it? Perhaps things wouldn't be quite as good as you had talked them up to being. Maybe the scenery wasn't as beautiful, or a relationship wasn't as perfect as you thought. How would time skew your memories and then how would that mesh with a new current perspective?

These are the thoughts that ran through my mind on my flight to Manchester in the early hours last Sunday morning. However all my fears were laid to rest as soon as I was reunited with my friends at the airport. It was such a special reunion, and honestly felt very surreal all day long. It was so strange to be back in the exact same place as I was last year. Catching up with everyone has been so amazing, and of course I've had several days now to see the sights (aka go shopping!).

Yesterday I decided to go to Salford Quays, a part of town I missed out on during my last stay in Manchester. It is a newly redevloped area around MediaCity, where BBC is located. Here is a picure looking towards the water...


My mission was to see the Lowry Museum and do a bit of shopping at the outlet mall next door. On the way to the museum though I saw something that made me smile...


It was election day! Someone had mentioned to me earlier in the week that it was their Police and Crime Commissioner elections coming up, but I had completely forgotten that their elections are on Thursdays. So I'm happy to report I spent an entire election day separated from politics and did not have to tell anyone where their polling site was, for a change! I'm sure my coworkers at the Board of Elections back home would have loved to join me. :)

Salford Quays is such a beautiful place, and I will be going back there next week to see everything I didn't have time to do yesterday. Here is a footbridge in the area, and yes - that is sunshine you see! It was a beautiful day...


The Lowry is a museum that houses incredible artwork from its namesake, the artist L.S. Lowry. I don't believe I had ever seen any of his paintings or drawings before, but they were truly incredible. There was also a special exhibit for pop artist Peter Blake, whose artwork was inspired by The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The museum itself is interesting to look at...


Last night was a formal dinner at Gabs (my hall from last year that I'm extremely blessed to be staying at again), and it was in celebration of the Hindu festival Diwali. It was so great getting to see more of my friends and, as usual, Gabs put on a fantastic show. Here are some pictures from the exciting evening...

Grace and I at Diwali dinner
Natalie being cute and Cheryl being herself :)
Bana and I - neighbors reunited! :)
Well that is all for now. Many more adventures to come, and still a few reunions to happen. Tonight is the American costume party at Gabs, so I shall begin my preparations for a cowgirl transformation! Yee-haw!!

Cheers!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Graduation and More Travels

It seems like such a long time ago that I left my second home in England and came back to all that was familiar back in Missouri. Much has changed since then, and I have found myself constantly looking back at all the wonderful experiences and friendships that I made. It was wonderful coming back home, but I pretty much hit the ground running once I returned.



I graduated from Regent University in early May with my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and I have to say it is one of the best feelings I have ever had! I'm still adjusting to all this free time I suddenly have, but I am more than enjoying it. To celebrate my graduation I took a trip with my good friend Katherine to one of the best cities (in my opinion) in the United States... New York City. :)

I saw two shows on Broadway, Mary Poppins and Newsies. I have loved the film version of Newsies since I was in the third grade, so seeing it in its Broadway debut was something I will never forget. The cast did an amazing job and I had the best time...




I have been to New York before, but I had never visited Ground Zero. I wanted to go there this time, and I have to say it was quite a humbling experience. The 9/11 Memorial is not finished yet, but they did have a temporary memorial preview site set up. It was one block away from where the twin towers fell, and it held images, video, and pieces of the shattered buildings. For a small crowded room in New York City it was oddly quiet, and the horrors of that day are eerily felt outside on those city blocks. I took a picture of the new Freedom Tower that is under construction at Ground Zero. It will be the tallest building in the United States when it is completed...


It was just a few short weeks after I went to New York City that I found myself on a plane once more, this time headed to New Orleans to visit my friend in her new hometown. It was my first visit to Louisiana and I had a great time. We drove to Biloxi, Mississippi one night to see Gavin DeGraw at the Hard Rock. It was a beautiful drive along the Gulf Coast, and an amazing concert...


We spent the rest of the time exploring the city and eating amazing food. All in all not a bad way to spend Memorial Day weekend. This is a photo of the Joan of Arc statue in the French Quarter...


Jackson Square was probably my favorite spot in New Orleans. Palm trees and beautiful buildings... the perfect combination!





My travels are over for the time being. I will just have to be content to stay in Missouri for a while! :) For those of you that may not have heard yet, I am going back to England this November to spend Thanksgiving with my dearest friends. As I mentioned before, I have missed them terribly and I cannot wait to see them all again. I truly feel as though a part of me is missing, and I just could not pass up the opportunity to go back to my second home.

I will be sure to keep you updated on anything new and exciting that happens to occur... you never really can tell what that may be in my life! :)



Flat Hannah's Corner

Oh c'mon. You didn't really think I could forget about Flat Hannah, did you?! Of course I didn't. She had to join me on my trips, because it just would not be the same without her anymore! Flat Hannah loved New York, and we visited many shops on 5th Avenue our first day there. Here is Flat Hannah amongst the NYC skyline...


She also went to see Newsies with me, and was interested to find out that the musical was based upon the actual newsboys strike of 1899...


Flat Hannah will undoubtedly join me this fall in England... as long as Real Hannah says it is ok, that is. :) Until next time!


Cheers!