The Dutch!

Oh mann, this puts a smile on my face, just because it's The Dutch...

Chelsey the European (Part II)

Well, I'm back in the good US of A where freedom rings, Deoderant is applied, and Peanut Butter is accessible. :: Sigh :: It's good to be home.

I'll admit, it is hard to say goodbye to the traveling life. No matter how tiring and unaccomidating it could be at times, it still is hard to leave behind. I know it sounds a little silly, but while in Europe life in America seemed like a distant memory. 40 hour work weeks? Final Exams? Running Errands? Bill payments? Responsibilities? What are these distant memories?

Now it is back to real life. Job hunting. Whoopie. (If anyone happens to have a hook up, I would be much obliged.)

As I walked out to my car yesterday to run some much needed errands, my malamute, Sitka (seen below in the only picture I can get to on this computer at the moment) followed me out of the house and went to the door eager for a car ride. Oh, how I love my Sitka! If only I could take her with me to run my errands, but alas, it just is not possible... or is it?

One of the things I loved about Europe is how dogs went everywhere with their owners. Metros, trams, places of business, even restaurants. I couldn't help but entertain the idea... so I did just that! Embracing the European laid back life style, I grabbed Sitka's leash and we were off for some quality time.

The first two stops were not a big deal as we went through the drive thus at the post office and bank. The bank teller sent Sitka a tasty little treat in the tube. (I think I was more excited than Sitka!) The big test was the Jamba Juice at Jordan Landing. I figured it would be okay as teenagers run the place and wouldn't care-or at least say anything- if she popped inside for a minute. The true test would be customers complaining about a dog being in a food joint. I took my chances. All in the name of prolonging a European lifestyle!

Cute little Sitka was so excited as we walked around Jordan Landing and she sniffed all the new trees, benches, cement, and everything in sight. She gave me a weird look when I beckoned her inside a store. She could tell it wasn't the vet, but just didn't know what to think of it. Once inside, Sitka was fine, and just sat next to me. There were some looks and you could tell the Alaskan Malamute chillin' in line with me was throwing people off. She got a few scratches on the head, and compliments on her beauty. We got Lindsey's Mango-a-go-go without any problems from consumers and I was so happy! Chelsey- 1, Lame people that have nothing better to do than complain (Allergic population are void of this comment)- 0. Sweet!


In the next few weeks the plan is to add some pictures on here, and tell some stories that I was not able to get to while I was on my trip. Hopefully I will be able to do so while I find a 'perfect' job. :)

When in Rome...

I have been in Rome for 2 days and am LOVING life!!! Today has totally felt like a Roman Holiday and my Audrey Hepburn haircut makes it all the more realistic. Although she had 2 cute guys at her side and she didn't deal with all the crowds... you get the idea though.

While here we have:

• Seen the Vatican
• Seen the Sisteen Chapel (Got a couple of blurry pictures in when the guards weren't looking)
• Experienced the Colosseum (Sooooo cool! I LOVED IT!)
• Saw Raphael's tomb inside the Pantheon
• Tested the hand of Truth (I still have mine!)
• Went to the Spanish steps and listened to a band for the Music Festival
• Made a wish at the Trevi Fountain
• Went to the Boghese Museum and saw COOL statues!!!!
• Ate many... MANY a delicious gelatos!
• Avoided being pick-pocketed (so far)

I can't even believe that I am here! It is sheer bliss coupled with heat and exhaustion, but worth every single step! We are planning on going out tonight to celebrate our last night in Rome, and then wake up really early to get some great pictures of the Colosseum before the crowds. Hopefully we can wake up in time! :) Then we are off to Milano tomorrow and end our trip in Barcelona!!! Hurray! I am soooo excited!

My love to you all! I can't wait to see everyone and hear what has happened while I've been gone! Ciao!

Florence!

Today we arrived in Florence and it was most exciting as my dear sister Kierstin, and her husband Ken are spending part of their honeymoon here. I saw Ken in all his tallness as I walked up the platform and was sooooo excited! We walked up the market and saw so many leather clothes along with many ties and scarves. We made our way to the Duomo and and climbed 400 and some odd steps to the top of the dome to overlook the city. YOWZA! It was quite amazing! What an experience to see such an ariel view of the city, especially with those you love most! After that we saw the replica of the Michelangelo's David then made a quick jont over to... some bridge that was beautiful. Before we all left we made our way to the pig statue to rub it's nose which grants us the wish to come back to Florence. I rubbed that snout extra hard!
It was so great to spend time with Kierst and Ken. While I have been loving my time with my friends, it's just a little something extra when you have your family with you. I love them!
I will be home in one week, and am not quite ready to say goodbye to Europe yet. However, after seeing the fam, it reminds me of the things I love most at home, and I start to get the little itch to come home.
See you all soon!!!!

Lots of happenings

Wow.... I am loving life! We spent less than 24 hours in Zurich, Switzerland and had a BLAST! Zurich, like Vienna, is a host city for Euro 2008. We ended up going to a street celebration where big screen tv's were set up and people watched all the games. I ate LOTS of delicious food! DE-LIC-IOUS! There was lots of food, fun, music, dancing, cheering.... oh, it was so much fun! It reminds me of when the Olympics were in SLC, the excitement in the air just buzzes in the air! We met a group of guys and one of my dear friends hit it off with one, so we went to an English pub to go dancing. I had soooo much fun! They played a mixture of different music and I could not hold my dancing side back! I was a little leary how the guys would be here, but it turned out to be nice. They will kinda dance next to you, but wait for you to give the go ahead before they put the moves on you. It was really nice to not deal with any nasty guys!
We have been in Italy for 2 days! Yesterday we were in Milano and we stayed at a great little hostel. They have a dog! His name is Jet and I had so much fun playing with him! I fell in love with him! We actually have to go back to Milano in a few days as it's a connective city for us to travel. I am so stoked to see Jet again!!!! While in Milano I had some of the BEST Penne I have ever ate! It was in a delicious.... lemon/bacon cream sauce.... SO GOOD!
We are now here in Venice!!!!! It is soooo weonderful here! We are getting ready to go out and explore!!! It is TRULY MAGICAL! We all love it to so much! I will write stories when I can about it! Gotta run! My love to you all!!!!!
I LOVE ITALY!

New Travels

My study abroad is over, and I am now traveling to extra cities. Class ended on Wednesday June 11th, where we hopped on a train and made our way to Vienna. I LOVE Vienna! If I was there longer I would have gone apartment hunting. Vienna was especially fun as they are hosting the Euro 2008 Soccer games, so there was a sports electricity in the air which made it all the better.
On thursday the 12th, we took a train into Munich, Germany. We took a day trip to Fussen to see the Cinderella castle and we loved it!!!!
I need to get going as our train to Zurich leaves in a half hour.

My love to you all. Europe is fabulous!!!!

Budapest

Ah, nothing like being at a McDonalds in Budapest to use 20 minute intervals on the internet... ooh.... sweet artery clogging aroma filling the air. It's a nice change from the urine soaked/B.O. filled metro. Mmmmm, nice! Just to clarify, the Z and Y buttons are backwards on this keyboard, so... i won't waste my time fixing them. Zou just might need to fill dislexic for a bit.... and.... i also cant figure out how to make a new paragraph so enjoz the confusion! Budapest has been verz interesting. The economz is not exactlz stable and we are stazing in Pest, which is the poorer part of the citz. Everzwhere we walk, we see homeless people which is verz disheartening to see. I have never felt like such a greedz brattz American. It is a verz humbling experience to understand more fullz the blessings we have in our countrz. The men here are... bad news. Thez are verz much stuck in their Communist wazs and do not tolerate women looking into their ezes. It is different as American girls because -from what I can tell- we are meerlz sex objects that thez treat with little or no respect. Cat calling (far worse than anz new zorker construction worker) is normal here, followed with eerie stairs and distrubing remarks. A couple of mz friends were walking down the street when a guz grabbed her butt, and then a few minutes later a different guz spit on them. Zeah.... never have American jerks looked so good! As with anzthing, there is a lot of good with the bad. I have been fortunate enough to see manz beautiful things! One of which was a Russian Opera which I bought an evening gown for since i could not be allowed in seen in mz tourist blah clothes. The Opera was trulz amaying, and once again, it has been great to experience the breath taking talents of so manz people word wide! Budapest loves two things... meat, and Turkish baths. I have had as much meat as i can afford and tolerate without feeling lathargic. Manz hae gone to the baths and have loved them! I am planning on going later todaz and am plannig on going European, as I am in Europe afterall. I will let zou now how it goes. We are planning on going to a Palace on top of a hill which has a Labrznth underneath. We hear it is wonderful and worth the monez. I know, this might seem lame, being in Europe and all, but I made it a point to see the Sex and the Citz movie as earlz as I could on the trip. That meant seeing here in Budapest as it opened June 5th here. I won't see much about it as to not spoil it, but it was wonderful to see as it made me appreciate and miss home. It was nice to watch the movie ad drift back to the states and think of comforts onlz friends and familz can provide. Specificallz mz dear Carrie as she is mz other half and we both relate everzthing to sex and the citz. (hez, it's what we do) manz others were thought of as well, and it was reallz nice to get a piece of home even if I stole it for a mere hour or two. I two dazs mz class will end, but I start an extra 2 weeks of travel with 3 of the sweetest and coolest girls on the trip. I am sad for mz class to be over but am verz hopeful for the future and diferent sites I will see. I feel fortunate as I suspect the next 2 weeks will flz bz quicklz as i see so much beautz, to onlz return home to the true beautz in mz life which is all of mz loved ones. I will trz to write again in mz travels, but am not sure how the internet cafes will be as I will onlz be in a citz for a daz or two. Just know, I am being smart, safe and have 3 great girls with strong heads on the shoulders and we will all look out for one another. Mz love to zou all for zour support! See zou soon!

Prague

Prague has been a blast. A couple of days ago we made our way to a nearby town called, Kutna Hora. There, is a church decorated with 40,000 corpse bones. It was very interesting as it is not something you see daily that's for sure.
Yesterday we went on a paddle boat ride and got caught in a sudden downpour! I felt like I had just got off a water ride at Bush Gardens.
We are here during the puppet festival and have tickets for 2 shows tomorrow. There are marinettes everywhere and the shop owners will try to entice you in with dancing Pinocchios. Very cute!
I have one more day here in Prague and then I am off to Budapest. Supposedly Budapest is the cheapest. I look forward to the money break as I think I am in the poor house! I might need your pity upon my return!
I can't remember if it was mentioned in my last post, but the ice cream here.... TO DIE FOR! You have not lived until you have ate at Cream and Dream! YUMMERS!
Loves to you all!
p.s. please give hugs and kisses to the pooches as I miss the little furballs!

PRAHA!

So I made it into Prague yesterday morning. Prague has been so cool so far. We had a bus pick us up from the airport and the lady told us a lot about Prague as we drove through. She was very sweet. I took a bit of a nap (okay, 4 hours) when we got to the hotel. We went out to eat at a small little Italian place and it was fabulous! There was only one lady I saw in the entire place serving people, and she was just so sweet! She was so patient with us even though we didn't speak the language. I pretty much fell in love with her kind heart!

This morning I had a delicious breakfast in the hotel with some GREAT peach yogurt with strawberry granola and pineapple. Yummers! This morning we took the tram and a bus and went to the Jiri Anderle Museum. He is a well known Prague Print artist. Ummm, It was crazy, but good to go to. After that we walked up to the Prague Castle. That was beautiful! We climbed up one of the towers (287 Steps) in the cathedral. It was so much fun! The view was WELL WORTH the hike! It was cracking me up on the way down the narrow spiral staircase as you would hear people panting and whimpering on the way up wondering when they would ever get there. There was a group not even half way that asked me if they would see the top any time soon... I let them know they still had a hike to go, but said they could do it and it was worth every step. One lady thanked me through her heavy breathing, "thank you for your encouragement!" it was cute.

As we walked around the palace grounds we went through a corridor that had different armor and helmets on display. At the very end was an area set up to shoot a cross bow for only 5 Korunas! It was so much fun! I shot 6 arrows and had a couple good shots. I was able to keep my target practice. So much fun!!!

After that, we walked through the city a little bit. It was more the touristy stuff, but it was great! We crossed the famous Charles Bridge which is gorgeous! Loved it! After all of this, we made our way to an ice cream shop our teacher always stops off called, "Cream & Dream". Wow. No other words to describe. I got my waffle cone with one scoop of vanilla with chocolate chips and the second scoop of strawberry. One of the girls asked how my ice cream was right when I took my first lick. I literally could not answer. I sat down and composed myself... It was hella good to say the very least!!!!

Now we're back at the hotel and Shala is nice enough for me to use her computer for a bit. We are leaving for dinner in an hour. There is a place right around the corner a few of the people went to last night. It's suppose to be awesome! I'm sure it will be!

I love you all! My only wish is I could share all of these moments with all the people that mean the most to me in my life. Know that I think of everyone back home very often and look forward to seeing everyone again. Love to you all!

Getting Acquainted

Amsterdam has picked up during the last couple of days.

I went to the Van Gogh Museum which is nothing short of spectacular! I wish I could fully describe the feeling that was there as I looked at all of his masterpieces, but alas, it's just not possible. It has truly been a gift to stand in front of such works of art and experience the connection between myself and these expressions. I really am speechless when it comes to Van Gogh. I. Loved. It.

I also had the most wonderful experience of seeing the Anne Frank house. We were told we couldn't go inside, but this was a filthy lie it turns out. Going into the annex was one of the most brilliant things I have ever witnessed and would recommend everyone make a trip to feel it for yourselves. The air is so thick and somber and the public moved with a reverence as we filtered in and out of the empty rooms. What a horrific feeling to see the windows blacked out by fabric with only a dim light shining from the ceiling. One can only imagine the horrors of cabin fever as you watch your people being lead away to their torments. It was a memorable experience, one I shall never forget. (Hope this works.)

We spent today at the Rjiksmuseum which was full of many gorgeous things. Too many to convey at the moment. It has indeed been quite the time seeing such masterpieces. 

On a closing note, I'm still not all about Amsterdam. I hate walking into clouds of Pot smoke and I have never had so many people snap at me and treat me so rudely in all my life. Don't get me wrong, of course, there are many people here that have been very pleasant and more than nice, but for the most part.... ick! :) 

I look forward to my last day in Amsterdam as we leave to Prague tomorrow. I would like to say farewell to his fair city with a little quote from Austin Powers: Goldmember, which I did not truly understand until this weekend. After spending time here, I find it to be incredibly real.

There are two things I hate most in this world: People intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch!

Chelsey the European

Yesterday I came down with a cold/flu. This does not make me happy. I opted to stay home and sleep yesterday instead of going to the annual cheese auction (Don't worry, the lovely Jen took pictures).

While home the maid came in to clean the room, but I asked her to come back in 20. I mustered up all my energy and went downstairs in the lobby and waited for 1 hour and 20 minutes. When i came back, she still hadn't cleaned the room. Ah well, I just put the bathroom trash can outside. The bathroom doesn't have a lot, but if figured I would be okay.

I stripped down to my bra and underwear and began to shave my legs in the sink (this is loads easier than inside the shower for me). With one leg lathered and in the sink, the bathroom door opens, "oh! So sorry!" the older eastern European maid exclaims. I explained to her through the shut door she was okay to clean the hotel room while I was in the bathroom as nothing in the bathroom needed to be cleaned. "This bathroom is okay?" she clarified in her cut accent. "Yes, the bathroom is okay."

I hop in the shower and am enjoying the spray when I hear, very clearly, "You don't need the bathroom to be cleaned?" I turn around and see our maid through the glass shower doors and say it really isn't necessary for her to clean in the bathroom. "I check toilet paper." She comes inside and insists we need more tp. With the bathroom door open directly in front of the hotel room door open, she leaves to her cart, leaving me exposed to the hotel hallway.... oh how I hopped the cheese auction was still entertaining my class mates so they weren't about to walk down any moment and see all of Chelsey (in her glory)!

It turned out fine, but it totally made me smile to have the poor maid see Chelsey naked on several occasions.

To end this post on my sickly days in Amsterdam, I became sicker as the day went on yesterday and moved into the flu portion of my sickness last night and today. When I finally came out of my coma like state at 5:00 pm today, I saw a beautiful arrangement of flowers from Michael! How I love him! 

Home... deprived.

Here I am in Amsterdam. We got in yesterday around 2:00 and had the afternoon to orient ourselves here. Today we met as a class and I gave a presentation on 2 Fred Williams paintings for the Tate Museum in the park with the "I amsterdam" sign.

We later went shopping at the Market which is like Portabello Road. I got kicked out of a guys shop because he didn't like me trying on the hats. We later went to the grocery store where I got attitude from the cashier because I didn't take my food out of the carry cart when I placed it on the counter.

I came back to the hotel and enjoyed being out of the sun, eating some food, and having my room to myself.

So I wouldn't say I'm homesick because it's cool to be in Europe, but I'm definitely feeling missing home right now. I wish Monkey were here to cuddle up on the couch and then bark at the neighbor kids.

There are a lot of dogs here, and it makes me happy. They trot alongside the bikes, or ride in the basket. Love it!

Amsterdam!

I don't know if I will be able to write again as the internet cafes seem scarce in this area. So if you don't hear from me, just know I am in Amsterdam dodging bikes, loving the Van Gogh museum and loving life!

It smells like pot.

Cheerio!

Tonight is my last night in Foggy London Town. Sad, sad, sad! I LOVE London. I swear, I was meant to live here! So just keep that in mind. Maybe you all will all be able to sleep in my flat when you come out to visit! And maybe, just maybe, you'll have the entire place to yourself if i happen to be trotting around EU!

A few things I will not miss about London: The lack of public trashcans and toilets. And, that's pretty much it! :) I'll try to write from Amsterdam this week!

Side note, today at the British Museum (AWESOME!) I swear I saw today's Encino Man. Move over Brendan Fraiser, cuz this guy was good! He has long nappy dread locks and when his girl was expressing her views on the mummy he TOTALLY grunted. It rocked!

Mon petit chou chou!

Paris is by far one of the most MAGICAL cities I have ever been to! Well, once we got into the city that is! We left our London hotel at 5:00 am and made it to Paris at 9:00 am. We got lost lost LOST in Paris and didn't check into our hotel until 5:00 pm!!!!! That didn't stop us for going out for a night on the town!




When we got to the Louvre I was speechless! It was one of the most breathtaking things I have ever seen! I can't believe I was there! It was like being star struck but... European Building struck! Loved it! We also went to the Eiffel Tower and watched it SPARKLE (just like you said Kristen!) It was amazing!



While in Paris we:

*Went inside the Louvre (hello Venus Di Milo!)
*Went to the tip top of the Eiffel Tower (Amazing!)
*Saw the Arch de Triomphe (sweet-sweet!)
*Drove golf carts around Versailles (pimp!)
*Ate many a great food! Including crepes, pastries, wraps, and tiny churros!
*Bought/looked at street markets
*Went to Mass at the Notre Dame
*Was separated from the girls I travled with for several hours wandered around solo
*Walked in the rain.
*Wandered around aimlessly
*Constantly said, "Parlez-vous français?", "merci", and "excuse-moi"


I was pleasently surprised as everyone said the French were all snobby and stuck up, but I found everyone to be most helpful.

Things I will not miss in Paris: The smell of the Metro. Yuck!!!

Coming back to London felt like home. As surreal as Paris was, it was great to be back to London. Even though I have only been here a week, London feels like home! I just might need to look into colleges here. :)

PS. I will upload pics when I get home. So enjoy these internet ones... for now. :) Oh, and if anyone wants to see ADORABLE Shiba Inu Puppies that Michael has, go here. I think the lower righthand is Bruce. I LOVE HIM!

Cheers!!!

I'm in London! I am here at an internet cafe in Leister square. I can't even believe how much I love it here. My feet ache from being all over the city again and again.... and again and again! It's all good though. Usually if I rest a moment or two the pain goes away. I am one of the only ones to not have blisters... yet! :)

We have seen MANY cool cool stuff. Taking the tube (i sound so Enlgish) to many places. Mann, I have the tube DOWN! We have seen:

• Trafalga Square
• Paliment (Outside)
• Big Ben (Outside)
• Westminster Abby (The outside)
• Hyde Park
• James Park
• Buckingham Palace- we saw 4 guards do some fancy footwork/marching before walking inside.
• The Sex and the City LONDON PREMIERE! (Didn't see the movie, but I saw parts of the cast from very far away!)
• Day trip to Oxford
• Tate Museum
• Tate Modern Museum
• Boat ride on London Canal (name? it was between the two tates)
• Shakespere's "The Globe" (Outside)
• St. Paul's Cathedral (SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL! Prob my fav. place so far)
• The play "Wicked" LOVED IT!!!! I got a picture with the main star (Green witch-Elphiba) afterward)
• William Hogarth's house.
• We have been to several museums where our teacher Justin sets up appointments and we see original prints from artists. Including a couple of Picasso's first prints that are worth MILLIONS! They are right there! So cool!

(From these museums, I am writing reports on Henry Moore's "Standing Figures" and Ana Maria Pacheco. -I can't find the portolio online, but here's an idea of her work.) I loved it!

That's all I can think of right now. :) The food is delicious here! Nothing too crazy. I did try some fish n' chips with mashed peas (like mashed potatoes) and had a cheese and chutney sandwhich (a tangy british spread). It's been good!

My room mate is a Simpsons nerd like me and we will both randomly quote the simpsons and it's sweet to have the other know what we're talking about. Last night we were up until 1:00 giggling!

Tonight I am seeing a anything but PC play called Avenue Q. It's like Sesame Street for adults. Then we leave for Paris tomorrow morning and get back Sunday night. Hooray Paris!

Don't mind that I am not spell checking this sucker. No time. Time is money at the internet cafe! I'll write again when I can. Love to all!

Grumbly grumbly

So the other day I was complaining to/warning Michael that I DO NOT do well without food. I get all sorts of raunchy (as many of you have had to experience. Sorry!). He asked if I was hypoglycemic, and you know what.... I have never thought of that before!

Since I'll be leaving the country (yay!) I thought it was a good idea to be up on all my Dr visits. (Lol! My poor dad was questioning me because he saw an HPV pamplet in my car. I comforted him, "Don't worry dad, it was just a check up, and I asked about the prevenative Cervical Cancer shot. Nothing to worry about.") I have a physical scheduled for today and thought I would check the hypoglycemia thing. I need to *fast for 8 hours before. Since my appointment is at 1:00, that means I haven't ate since about 1:00 am last night. I am so hungry!

I feel like Homer when he is on his hunger strike!

*I called the hospital yesterday to see if I needed to fast for today. Here is the conversation that took place:

-I have a physical scheduled for tomorrow and wanted to be tested for hypoglycemia. Do I need to fast for that?
-I don't know. I'm not a nurse.
-Ummm...can you find out?
-Oh wait.... Dr. Rada would always prefer to have his patients fast no matter what he is seeing them for. So yeah, you can fast.
-How long do I have to fast for?
-However long you feel comfortable with. It's just what you prefer.
-Well, if i'm doing the hypoglycemia test isn't there a certain time frame I have to be fasting for?
-It's just whatever you feel comfortable with.
-Really?
(Silence)
-Ummm.... is there a nurse I can talk to?
-I'll have one call you if you would feel more comfortable with that.
-(Hell) Yes. Thanks (for nothing).