Today I saw her....and all I did was stare.

Today I saw Reese Witherspoon at the Houses of Parliament.  She walked right past me in the only room you can take pictures, yet I was so starstruck all I did was stare!  She was wearing houdstooth heels, a black knee-length coat and her hair was down.  She is so petite!  With heels on she was my height - which is only 5'4".  I wish I would have acted quickly and taken a picture, but no sense in regretting it now.  Only in London do I get the chance to take pictures with Ang Lee, see Imelda Staunton, watch a play starring Kevin Spacey and encounter Reese Witherspoon.  I am debating about a play with Kiera Knightly in it called the Misanthrope.  I am not really interested in the play but I think it would be great to see her.  What do you think?

Next on my agenda here in London:
2 papers
1 presentation
1 photo essay
British Library
Ice skating at the Natural History Museum
Dinner @ Bodean's
Jersey Boys?
5 finals
Switzerland: Zurich and Geneva

Wish me luck!

Berlin: The city with so much history.

Jake asked me at the end of this trip where it ranked compared to the other places I have been this semester.  Initially, I was exhausted and ranked it quite low on the list - but not the lowest.  Now, after I have thought about it for a few days, I like it more and more.  As usual, the first day was packed with as many things as possible.  We saw the TV tower, popped in and out of random churches, went up the dome of the Berlin Cathedral, visited the Pergamon Museum, wandered through multiple Christmas markets, listened to a children's accordian band, drank hot chocolate, visited Humboldt University, saw the square where the books were burned, stopped at the  Brandenburg Gate, and visited the Reichstag glass dome.  After all that we had traditional Thanksgiving dinner at 8pm at the Hard Rock Cafe.  This was the first time I have not been with my parents for Thanksgiving and both Jake and I really missed everyone.  Yet it was a good experience and one I will never forget.  We went back to our hostel in East Berlin, talked to the fam, watched a little football, and crashed.

On top of the Berliner Dom.

 

At one of the many Christmas Markets.  It was a fun environment and I hope to visit more in Switzerland.

 Where my favorite man, Ronald Reagan, delivered his speech.

The glass dome of the Reichstag.  It was designed by the same guy who did the pyramid at the Louvre.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Hard Rock, complete with apple spritzer, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, steamed broccoli, and pie.  Well, actually, Jake and I didn't eat the stuffing or the cranberry sauce and they ran out of pie after we ordered so we got brownie sundaes instead.  Not a bad trade if you ask me!

Day two was not near as busy as day one.  We took our time popping in and out of stores and getting to know the city in the process.  We went to the Jewish Memorial near the US Embassy and took an audio tour, visited a Jewish synagog, got hot chocolate at Dunkin Doughnuts, took a tube ride down an artificial snow hill at a Christmas Market, saw the new city construction at Potsdamer Platz, saw a portion of the iron curtain, went to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and Reagan exhibition, ate dinner at Subway, took the metro to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, walked to KaDeWe (2nd largest department store in Europe, trumped only by Harrods) and looked around, and finally made our way back to our hostel where we drank bottled diet coke and watched football.  Now that I have listed everything out, it doesn't seem like the day was more relaxing than the first day but trust me, it was.

After our tube ride in Potsdamer Platz.

Jake next to a portion of the remaining wall.

 

In front of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.  If you look closely, you will notice the tower is bombed out.  They have only repaired the church enough so that it is not a danger.  They have left the rose window bombed out and various other things damaged as a memorial.  However, inside, they refer to the Cold War as a "political disagreement".  The Germans are pretty good about ignoring their past.  This is in West Berlin where the city is alive and thriving.  In East Berlin, where most of the government buildings are located, it is still dead as if the wall was still up.  It is amazing that after TWENTY years, there is still a huge chasm.

The next morning we got up early and flew back to London via EasyJet.  I really like traveling with Jake.  I hope he knows how much I love and appreciate his friendship.  Also, with out Mom and Dad, none of this would happen.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want all my family to know that I am thankful for them.  I am a fortunate girl to have such wonderful older brothers, sister-in-law, and parents.  The longer I am away from home the more I realize how unique our close family relationships are.  I hope we are able to maintain these throughout the years to come.  I have enjoyed my time in London and I am very thankful for the opportunity to grow, learn, and have fun.  Only 12 days, 10 hours, 4 minutes, and 10 seconds!