I don't have much time to write now, so I'm just going to post this picture I just took during a walk I just went on.
Its from Kilkenny in Ireland.
I wish you could all be here to share it also!
I'll write soon!
-SP
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunsets!
Hi everyone!
I don't have much time to write now, so I'm just going to post this picture I just took during a walk I just went on.
Its from Kilkenny in Ireland.
I wish you could all be here to share it also!
I'll write soon!
-SP
I don't have much time to write now, so I'm just going to post this picture I just took during a walk I just went on.
Its from Kilkenny in Ireland.
I wish you could all be here to share it also!
I'll write soon!
-SP
Saturday, April 23, 2011
My Future. (Good-Bye London)
Tomorrow, I’m leaving Crawford Passage and headed to Dorset, the first stop of a very long, exciting two months that will undoubtedly change my life.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to sum up my experience in London in this blog. I’ve written out a whole blog on what it meant, the people that were here, the moments that I will never forget. I’ve re-written and re-written it a million times. But I've decided instead just to settle with this short post.
I really came to terms with the ending the other day when I had a meeting with my advisor Jill. She talked to me about moving on and how she had thought that this experience had changed me, including the people I’ve become friends with, the things I’ve done for myself and the chances I’ve taken. She helped me realize the positive things I’ve done and how I have so much more to do beyond here, and so much more to offer to other people. She helped me realize that the places my life will take me from here will be equally as amazing, because I can make it what I want it to be, as long as I continue to take chances, and continue to care about people the way I do.
In the end, I realize that all I have to say is easily summed up into this one little paragraph. The last four months have been some of the most amazing months of my life, for a couple, very important reasons: the places I’ve challenged myself to go, the fun I’ve had and the people I’ve let into my life. I think that is all that really matters in the end. Now, although this has all been great, and amazing, I realize that it has to end, so that I can go to the next thing.
Tomorrow, my friends board a bus at 6 AM, and they will be on their way back to America.
As for me, I’ll be there to say good -bye, put on my backpack, and head to Victoria Bus Station. I'm sure memories of the last four months will be racing through my head.
Reminiscing is great, but living in the past too long is never that good. As for my future, thanks to this experience and the talk I had with Jill, I’ve learned that it doesn’t need to be so scary or terrifying…because I will make it whatever I want it to be.
-SP
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Hasty One on Hastings!
Don't you love the title of this blog post...because I do.
Interesting fact to start off the blog: The Battle of Hastings in 1066 did not happen in Hastings, it happened in Battle, a town very close to Hastings. So, in fact the Battle of Hastings should be the Battle of Battle. Anyways...lets get to my life:
UConn in London went to Hastings to have an afternoon Bangers and Mash Festival at our program director Jill’s Hastings House. It was such an amazing day in Hastings. When we got there we walked through the town. It reminded me a lot of Narragansett. You could see where the fishermen sold fresh fish caught daily as well as all of the sea side attractions, much like Brighton. To get to Jill and Nick’s house we had to walk up this large hill that was lined with gardens and really great pubs.
We got to their house, which had an unbelievable patio and nice view down the hill. It also had a courtyard with a really cute husky dog! Once we got there some of us went to a pub with Nick. It was a really great place and we sat out on patio and had a great time.
When we got back we had Konstantin’s famous bangers and mash with gravy. It was really great and extremely British. After that, we had a beer judging contest of different British beers. Surprisingly, the judges all seemed to give the beers progressively better scores as the judging went on, hmmm?
After a great afternoon, we left their apartment and went to the beach. We frolicked a bit near the water, then we hung out and got some ice cream...which was great, obviously.
Then, we boarded the train back to London, saw the most amazing sun set...then fell asleep. So, that was Hastings. It was a great trip, but it hasn’t quite been the thing that has been on my mind the most lately. That is right: The program here ends in FIVE DAYS...but my backpacking adventure starts in FIVE DAYS. Right now, its pretty bittersweet...but I’ll talk more in the next blog.
I promise to get up one more blog before I leave London. For now though, I have to get back to booking travel stuff for this summer and studying for my finals.
Thanks for reading everyone, I really appreciate it.
SP
Interesting fact to start off the blog: The Battle of Hastings in 1066 did not happen in Hastings, it happened in Battle, a town very close to Hastings. So, in fact the Battle of Hastings should be the Battle of Battle. Anyways...lets get to my life:
UConn in London went to Hastings to have an afternoon Bangers and Mash Festival at our program director Jill’s Hastings House. It was such an amazing day in Hastings. When we got there we walked through the town. It reminded me a lot of Narragansett. You could see where the fishermen sold fresh fish caught daily as well as all of the sea side attractions, much like Brighton. To get to Jill and Nick’s house we had to walk up this large hill that was lined with gardens and really great pubs.
We got to their house, which had an unbelievable patio and nice view down the hill. It also had a courtyard with a really cute husky dog! Once we got there some of us went to a pub with Nick. It was a really great place and we sat out on patio and had a great time.
When we got back we had Konstantin’s famous bangers and mash with gravy. It was really great and extremely British. After that, we had a beer judging contest of different British beers. Surprisingly, the judges all seemed to give the beers progressively better scores as the judging went on, hmmm?
After a great afternoon, we left their apartment and went to the beach. We frolicked a bit near the water, then we hung out and got some ice cream...which was great, obviously.
Then, we boarded the train back to London, saw the most amazing sun set...then fell asleep. So, that was Hastings. It was a great trip, but it hasn’t quite been the thing that has been on my mind the most lately. That is right: The program here ends in FIVE DAYS...but my backpacking adventure starts in FIVE DAYS. Right now, its pretty bittersweet...but I’ll talk more in the next blog.
I promise to get up one more blog before I leave London. For now though, I have to get back to booking travel stuff for this summer and studying for my finals.
Thanks for reading everyone, I really appreciate it.
SP
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| This picture will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. |
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| The group on Jill and Nick's patio in Hastings...with a cow |
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| The Patio at the Pub |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
WOW! VLOG! THIS IS CRAZY! 3!
The long awaited VLOG 3 is here. We find our hero removed from his natural environment at the kitchen table and in a more relaxed position on the couch with some really exciting announcements! The goatee is back and better than ever in this one staring two time VLOG emmy winner Stephen Pelletier (WOW! VLOG! THIS IS CRAZY! and WOW! VLOG! THIS IS CRAZY! 2!).
( click on the link to watch!) Also: enjoy this complementary short video that has had me laughing all day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTRkRHAMkfI
-SP
Monday, April 11, 2011
Paris in the Spring!
I think that when you are able to say that you are taking a casual weekend trip to Paris, France, you can assume that your life is going alright. Well, that is exactly what I did this past weekend!
My friend Laura and I decided to head to Paris a couple of weeks ago, and little did we know at the time that we had literally picked the best possible weekend to go! Every single day we were there it was in the seventies and sunny! It as amazing!
In the four days that we were in Paris, we crammed a lot in, which left us really tired at the end, but it was completely worth it! So, here is what we did:
The first day we got an afternoon flight, which worked great! The flight was only about fifty minutes. During the flight we sat next to a girl from Washington, USA who happened to be staying at the same hostel as us! So, once we arrived in Paris, the three of us went out to dinner together. Rachel (the girl we had met) had been in the UK for a wedding and was going to Paris and Denmark to do some traveling and to see family. Then, we went on a long adventure to find the Eiffel Tower, which we kept seeing in the distance but never could quite get next to! Finally we got there and sat and looked at it. On the hour the Eiffel Tower sparkles, so we saw it do that twice! It was amazing! After that we walked on the river a little and then finally found our way back to the hostel. In the hostel, Laura and I were staying with another two people, Dean and Shelly. Shelly is teaching English in Spain and Dean had come out from California to visit her and they decided to have a trip to Paris. They were really cool people that we hung out with throughout the weekend!
The second day, we got up and walked to the Louvre! With our student visas we were able to get in for free, which was amazing! We went and saw the Mona Lisa (which is really small!) and then wandered parts of the gallery near it. After this we wondered through the gardens in front of the Louvre. As we were walking towards the Arc de Triomphe we saw police officers blocking traffic on a street. Suddenly we saw a huge motorcade go by with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. I guess he wanted to see Laura and I in Paris. So, we got to the Arc de Triomphe, then decided to head to the Eiffel Tower again. It was great to see it during the day, also with all the beautiful gardens and trees. We got some crepes and little bottles of wine and sat out under the tower for a while (maybe even napped!). We got a little sun burnt, but it was completely worth it! After that we headed back towards the hostel. We got some sandwiches at a grocery store and then found a little park to go eat and people watch. It was a beautiful night. That night we hung out with our new friends and the others at the hostel at the bar in our hostel. It was a good time!
The next morning, we got up had breakfast at the hostel and headed to Jardin du Luxembourg where we walked around and sat and had some coffee, and did some more people watching. It was such a relaxing way to start the morning. After that we walked around a bit and then found the nearest train station to head to the Sacre Coeur. It is such an amazing view from there! After that we went and got some amazing gelatos! SO GOOD! After this we walked and yet again decided to relax under the Eiffel Tower! It was great! When we finally realized we were getting a bit burnt in the sun we headed back to the hostel to get ready for dinner with our program director Jill and her husband Nick who had offered to take us to a real French Restaurant near Notre Dame. Before hand Laura and I decided to walk up the river. We went to the Pont des Arts were couples go and attach locks to the bridge and throw the key into the water together. We walked all the way up to Notre Dame and hung out there for a while. We met Jill and Nick there and then went and had the greatest meals, as well as one of the greatest times of the trip! It was great to sit and relax in a real french restaurant where the waiters and waitresses all for the most part only spoke French (luckily Jill was able to translate for us!). The food and the wine was simply amazing! It was such a great night!
By the fourth day, the sun and the long weekend was starting to get to the two of us. We woke up, had breakfast and headed to Moulin Rouge and then took our own little tour of the Red Light District. After this we walked to a place that Jill and Nick had recommended called the Centre Pompidou. It is a Modern Art Museum, but for three euros we were able to go up this clear tube thing and get some unbelievable views of the city. After we climbed up, we left and got some food and ate on the bank of the Seine. After this, we were so tired! We made our way to a little park and rested on some benches for a while before going to the bar at our hostel and having a drink. Then we spent our last hour in Paris relaxing in a park near our hostel. It was a lazy end to a busy trip, which we were both ok with!
Then another adventure began--getting home from Paris. We started around 4- by getting on one metro--then getting on another metro--then getting on a train (which we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets for, until about 10 minutes after getting into the station)--then we got onto a bus (because the train to the airport wasn't running)--then on a train to our terminal--then we went on the plane (I also set off the airport security buzzer for the first time so that was fun)--landed and got on a bus to the airport--went through customs--got on a bus (after the one we were waiting on broke down)--got on a train to King's Cross--then got on the bus to Clerkenwell a little after midnight. I'm tired just writing that all out.
Overall, the weekend was amazing. All of the other trips I've been on have been great, but this one really seemed like a true vacation. We did a great job just finding time to relax and enjoy the city, which is exactly what we wanted to do! It was a great last trip before the program ends. Now, I'm back in London--preparing for finals...and realizing just how great life is!
My friend Laura and I decided to head to Paris a couple of weeks ago, and little did we know at the time that we had literally picked the best possible weekend to go! Every single day we were there it was in the seventies and sunny! It as amazing!
In the four days that we were in Paris, we crammed a lot in, which left us really tired at the end, but it was completely worth it! So, here is what we did:
The first day we got an afternoon flight, which worked great! The flight was only about fifty minutes. During the flight we sat next to a girl from Washington, USA who happened to be staying at the same hostel as us! So, once we arrived in Paris, the three of us went out to dinner together. Rachel (the girl we had met) had been in the UK for a wedding and was going to Paris and Denmark to do some traveling and to see family. Then, we went on a long adventure to find the Eiffel Tower, which we kept seeing in the distance but never could quite get next to! Finally we got there and sat and looked at it. On the hour the Eiffel Tower sparkles, so we saw it do that twice! It was amazing! After that we walked on the river a little and then finally found our way back to the hostel. In the hostel, Laura and I were staying with another two people, Dean and Shelly. Shelly is teaching English in Spain and Dean had come out from California to visit her and they decided to have a trip to Paris. They were really cool people that we hung out with throughout the weekend!
 |
| View from the Courtyard of our hostel! |
The second day, we got up and walked to the Louvre! With our student visas we were able to get in for free, which was amazing! We went and saw the Mona Lisa (which is really small!) and then wandered parts of the gallery near it. After this we wondered through the gardens in front of the Louvre. As we were walking towards the Arc de Triomphe we saw police officers blocking traffic on a street. Suddenly we saw a huge motorcade go by with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. I guess he wanted to see Laura and I in Paris. So, we got to the Arc de Triomphe, then decided to head to the Eiffel Tower again. It was great to see it during the day, also with all the beautiful gardens and trees. We got some crepes and little bottles of wine and sat out under the tower for a while (maybe even napped!). We got a little sun burnt, but it was completely worth it! After that we headed back towards the hostel. We got some sandwiches at a grocery store and then found a little park to go eat and people watch. It was a beautiful night. That night we hung out with our new friends and the others at the hostel at the bar in our hostel. It was a good time!
 |
| Still pretty small! |
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| I had to stand on this block, but I could still touch the top! |
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| I love sitting in Parisian Gardens |
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| The weather was literally perfect! |
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| Nutella and Banana Crepe....so good! |
The next morning, we got up had breakfast at the hostel and headed to Jardin du Luxembourg where we walked around and sat and had some coffee, and did some more people watching. It was such a relaxing way to start the morning. After that we walked around a bit and then found the nearest train station to head to the Sacre Coeur. It is such an amazing view from there! After that we went and got some amazing gelatos! SO GOOD! After this we walked and yet again decided to relax under the Eiffel Tower! It was great! When we finally realized we were getting a bit burnt in the sun we headed back to the hostel to get ready for dinner with our program director Jill and her husband Nick who had offered to take us to a real French Restaurant near Notre Dame. Before hand Laura and I decided to walk up the river. We went to the Pont des Arts were couples go and attach locks to the bridge and throw the key into the water together. We walked all the way up to Notre Dame and hung out there for a while. We met Jill and Nick there and then went and had the greatest meals, as well as one of the greatest times of the trip! It was great to sit and relax in a real french restaurant where the waiters and waitresses all for the most part only spoke French (luckily Jill was able to translate for us!). The food and the wine was simply amazing! It was such a great night!
 |
| Luxembourg Gardens! |
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| View of Paris from the Sacre Coeur |
 |
| the signs on the fence were for the Paris Marathon, which was on Sunday |
By the fourth day, the sun and the long weekend was starting to get to the two of us. We woke up, had breakfast and headed to Moulin Rouge and then took our own little tour of the Red Light District. After this we walked to a place that Jill and Nick had recommended called the Centre Pompidou. It is a Modern Art Museum, but for three euros we were able to go up this clear tube thing and get some unbelievable views of the city. After we climbed up, we left and got some food and ate on the bank of the Seine. After this, we were so tired! We made our way to a little park and rested on some benches for a while before going to the bar at our hostel and having a drink. Then we spent our last hour in Paris relaxing in a park near our hostel. It was a lazy end to a busy trip, which we were both ok with!
 |
| Oh, the decisions one must make in Paris.... |
 |
| The bar in our hostel...the clock was stuck at 9:30...but it was time to go. |
Overall, the weekend was amazing. All of the other trips I've been on have been great, but this one really seemed like a true vacation. We did a great job just finding time to relax and enjoy the city, which is exactly what we wanted to do! It was a great last trip before the program ends. Now, I'm back in London--preparing for finals...and realizing just how great life is!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Why I Love the Playoffs!
So, if you haven't all heard already on ESPN, the Spiking Sphinxes Intramural Volleyball team is going to the playoffs for the first time ever. I'm so proud of my team, I wish I could be there with them, but I still have no regrets since I'm in London instaed! Anyways, congratulations Captain Mo and team!
You can all read some exciting commentary on the games at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70839777941 Anyways, Go Sphinxes!
Also, I just thought you all might be interested: here is a link to the UConn in London newsletter that I contributed to along with some of my friends. I hope you all enjoy!
http://www.uconnlondon.org.uk/life-in-london_newsletter.html
I have to say this too:
GO UCONN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, this blog made me feel really athletic, so I'm going to sign off by calling you all sports fans.
Thanks for reading sports fans!
-SP
ALSO! New reason to check my blog daily: even if I don't post something, there will be a daily puppy picture on the right hand side. Check it. They are adorable.
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| The Spiking Sphinxes after our big win last year. This year we did what we've been trying to do for two years: we made it to the PLAYOFFS! |
Also, I just thought you all might be interested: here is a link to the UConn in London newsletter that I contributed to along with some of my friends. I hope you all enjoy!
http://www.uconnlondon.org.uk/life-in-london_newsletter.html
I have to say this too:
GO UCONN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 |
| For kicks: a picture of me with the game ball after my first intramural win a little over a year ago. It was a big moment for me. I may or may not have taken the Intramural jersey home with me. |
Thanks for reading sports fans!
-SP
ALSO! New reason to check my blog daily: even if I don't post something, there will be a daily puppy picture on the right hand side. Check it. They are adorable.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
My Bubbles
I bought bubbles at TESCO the other day. Although I was ridiculed by the lady at the check out desk, who claimed that they were for "kids" and that I was "not a kid." I like to think that I still am...once and a while! Anyways, walking out of that TESCO with my bubbles and half eaten Reese's Peanut Butter Cup I realized a couple of things: 1) it is nearly impossible to remove the safety cap from TESCO Party Bubbles, 2) I actually had to finish my Shakespeare paper still...ugh, 3) both UConn teams are in the Final Four!!!!!!! and 4) By the end of this month, I'm going to be on one of the most exciting adventures of my life.
Anyways, the real purpose of this was to apologize to those of you who I told I would post a VLOG today to. Unfortunately I never got to it...but don't worry, it is still "coming soon."
Cheers,
-SP
Anyways, the real purpose of this was to apologize to those of you who I told I would post a VLOG today to. Unfortunately I never got to it...but don't worry, it is still "coming soon."
Cheers,
 |
| You know you are jealous of my bubbles. |
-SP
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