Living in London: Cumberland Lodge Weekend

Guys this was so great. I was able to attend a place called "Cumberland Lodge" through my master's program(me). We got to spend the weekend at a "royal residence" - where dukes, princes, and princesses have lived.

Side note - it is the former home of the man who basically slaughtered the Scots in the last Jacobite rebellions... which I learned about on my last trip before school started. So that was interesting...

Unfortunately, I can’t write enough so that I feel you could really experience it – there just aren’t enough words. However, this may help you get an idea, and help me remember some fun aspects. I am so grateful I could spend some time with these lovely people, learn about new studies and get help in thinking about my future goals.

Friday Highlights:

We left LSE after my day of classes and drove through London - it was fun even though we were stuck in rush hour traffic...

We arrived a bit late to the lodge, set in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is amazing... but the sun sets at like 4:30, so we didn't really get to see much...

I share a room with a girl in my program, and it is unique in the lodge because it is in the tower... I can't decide if that is because we are special or like it's were the servants would sleep... but either way I absolutely love it. There are huge windows, a real wardrobe (no Narnia though...), really cute chairs that overlook the grounds, and I even got to watch some fireworks (presumably for Guy Fawkes day...?), and the bathtub is perfect. There is even this really cool thing... sorry, I'm uncultured and don't know the name, but you hang your towels on it and it heats it for you... so even though we're in the British countryside and it is quite cold actually, it isn't so bad.

We got to have a wonderful dinner - it was salmon, fruit, veggies, and a really delicious tart. I was really impressed. I've gotten used to the idea of not liking fish, from when I was little, but I tried this because I'd hardly eaten all day (it was really busy and I have an excuse...) the fact remains I was really hungry and that's what for dinner. And being trained that you eat what is in front of you, I tried it. And it was great. :)

Then we had a great presentation on cyranoids... which I am actually helping in the research. Well, sort of. I probably shouldn't take any credit. I am assisting a PhD student with his project on human communication. And it was really fun to hear more about it.

They keep feeding us so much food! Seriously. I also had my first creme brulee, and sorry I don't know how to get the fancy accents in here...

I took my first-ever cab ride... it was in a really nice Mercedes so I am not sure if that is accurate for England, because the cars weren't marked from what I could tell. But that was fun.

We explored Windsor Castle - we've been staying in the Great Park, which is fabulous, but we made it over to see where the Queen actually lives. Then we walked back - it was very wet, but beautiful. I have several pictures from this walk.

Also I learned that all the swans in the UK are protected by the Queen. Even the one that bit the hand that fed it - (mine and it bit another girl!) All the other swans were really gentle when you were feeding them, and this one was quite mean to us and the other swans.

We had a few more sessions, and I even stayed for a bit - for the social / cash bar (I had water) - but I tend to like some alone time, so I did not stay very long. Just long enough to talk with 3 PhD students about their process and kind of some options for the future. Basically, I am really not sure what my next step is and so I am not feeling confident... But I will work on that.

I also realized that I am helping with the final part of this 'cyranoid' research I've been helping with - mentioned yesterday - on Monday - I knew it was Monday but I hadn't realized that meant I will basically have no time to do my class readings... but let's be honest, I rarely even attempt to do all the readings... there are so many for each class... so maybe the lack of time will actually help me be more organized and productive.

I have also had more herbal tea than I've ever had in my life... (though that isn't saying much) it's been really fun to really have a "British weekend" - living in London, you get a very different perspective on English culture - and I have loved it so far.

Today I went to the church the Queen usually attends. However, it is "Remembrance Sunday" so she, as the head of the Anglican Church, is in London for the special service. So it was sad to not be able to meet her - however, it was really quite a wonderful experience to attend a different church, compare similarities, differences, it was quite special.

Oh we also had to get background checks done just so we could go to church. That was new. But fun. No worries guys, I passed.

Walking through the park was so beautiful.

Since my little group went to church, we missed the last speaker at our little conference. That was sad, I heard it was great. However, because of some rearranging of the schedule, we had the rest of the day to explore Windsor Great Park. We met some adorable dogs, and the countryside was beautiful.

It has been quite the special trip. I'm home now, and already missing it.

I'm not sure the pictures do the steepness justice. There is a reason there are the railings on both sides.

Saturday Highlights:

This was the view from my room! It was amazing!

Made it up to Windsor Castle

#hebitmeanditreallyhurt (really though.)

The Long Walk - from the Castle to Cumberland Lodge (well, the Great Park in general)

It was beautiful. And a little wet. Haha

This is how we walked home - I say home because I felt more at home there in the two nights I stayed, than I've felt in my flat so far...don't get me wrong, my flat is adequate and such, but this was better... ?