ezza444

So even though I thought I was ready to leave the United States. I TOTALLY WAS NOT!!! I left behind so many amazing people and also the snow which I had grown to love far too much, then what was normal.

My only preparation for my English component was that I had arranged to stay with my Aunt's friend in London for 2 or 3 nights, from there I had nothing... and a 1 month stay, with very limited cash. Strangely enough I wasnt even worried. I was going on my own to a completely new country and didnt have the slightest hint of nerves in my body.

The first thing I realised as I arrived in London was that there was green grass. Yes I am not even lying. I had totally forgotten what grass looked like, and I stood and took a photo of it. Im sure other passerbyer's would have thought I was totally crazy. I even thought I was totally crazy!!

I met arrived at the place I was meant to stay and while the lady was at work, I pressed the intercom for all the units hoping someone would let me through the main door just so I could dump my gear. Someone finally did, but they didnt like the idea of it all, but I quickly left my 2 huge bags and left before he could argue any longer. I walked down the street and luckily there was a street full of shops I busied myself with for a couple of hours.

The next few days I did the typical sightseeing of London. It rained every single day!!! I was also amazed at the rain not realizing I hadnt seen any for 5 months only snow. But after it didnt stop that amazement was over almost quicker then it started. I hate the rain. I also had to organise somewhere to stay for my next few weeks. I new of a very distant relative who had come to Australia once and I had met. I was sure she was my friend on facebook and sure enough she was. I got in touch with her and ended up going to stay in Kings Langley for a week. We were the same age so it was a lot of fun being with someone I could connect with, after a few days on my own. We did all the girly things, went shopping went to the movies, even went to a club on a monday which I thought was strange, but it was packed and I had such a great time. One of the highlights the week was going to Camden markets. Camden markets is probably my favourite place in England. I think because everyone was so individual and friendly. I made friends with these 2 crazy rave heads who worked in a shop. They even invited me to a festival in Portugal a few months later. I was so there!! (although, unfortunately I never ended up making it)

While staying at this girls house I let my Aunty know I needed accomodation and she sent emails to all the distant relo's. Apparantly there were so many people who wanted to meet me that my Aunty gave me locations and phoe numbers of only a few who would be suitable. There went the accomodation problem. So after Kings Langley I went to Bedfordshire. I stayed with I think my mum's cousin? Not sure, this is how distant the relations were. I stayed with them for a week just relaxing. It was nice there out in the country not being rushed around on shopping trips. I really felt like I was with family.

On from bedfordshire I took a bus to Cambridge and had to take a train on to somewhere near Cromer in Norfolk. I am not a good traveler, I have done so much and yet I just dont get it right still. I made sure I was at the train station early, I arrived 5 hours before my train left, either that or rush to make it. I waited on the platform and just read my book, the time passed quickly and when my train should have been pulling up it never did. Only when it was exactly time for mine to leave and the train on the next platform left did I think something may be wrong. Turns out that being there so much earlier meant that the platforms can change as the time gets closer. I had no way of contacting the people who were meant to be picking me up in Norfolk. It wasnt one of my best moments.

I got to the train station 5 hours earlyHere I stayed with relatives who I dont even know the relation. It was the coolest house ever, it was built in Shakespearian times and had a massive fireplace hich you could bake your bread in. The yard was also beauiful and so old fashioned. I was taken out to dinner one night and then the next day I went to Cromer with one of the family. I liked Cromer, it was such a cute beachside own, something that you would see in old movies.

I left Norfolk the next day and took a train down to South-end-at-sea. Here I wasnt staying with any relatives but a friend I had made in the states. It was so awesome to see him again and we had such a great couple of days. First we went bowling and got drunk with a few of his mates. Why we cant drink in Australian bowling alleys in a mystery to me. They would get so many more customers! We then took hundreds of crazy photos on the way home. I didnt want to leave here either, but my plane flew out the following day from London to Germany so I took the train and said goodbye.

I went back to the first ladys house to pick up another bag I had left with her, stayed the night and went to catch my plane the next day. This was where my next 'Im a terrible traveller' comes in. I tried to check in on the machines and my flight wasnt found, I checked again and again. I finally read the crucial detail and found out I was at the airport a day early!! Whoops. How embarrasing. Lucky it wasnt a day late tho. I wasnt sure wat to do then, go face the embarrasment and head back to the lady's place? Sleep in the airport for 24hours? I did try the second option for about an hour then dicided  had all day to see what i hadnt seen of London. So I put my bags in overnight storage and went on another sightseeing trip of a city I thought I wouldnt be seeing for a very long time.

After all this, I made my flight the next day and made it to Germany. The country I was looking forward to most since leaving America.