Loves in London: Ruby, Miranda and Matt Fashion

Last weekend I went back to London AGAIN but this time I brought my Chelsea along for the ride! I was excited to go back again since I love London so much..I love it even more since Matt is there so its extra sweet and extra special to me.  The plane ride was a bit weird since I felt drugged from my coffee. I haven't had much coffee here, and anyone who knows me wouldn't believe that since at home I basically live on coffee. SO i was feeling very anxious..the plane ride felt like 7 hours..it was only 40 minutes. We finally got off the plane and took to Tube to Matt and started our weekend of adventures.

That night we went to Suki, one of my favorite sushi places in the world and after a fabulous meal,of course my luck..I threw it all up in the floor. That coffee really did me in..SO ANNOYING! Just adding it to the list of all my shenanigans. We went back to Matt's that night since I was sick but we made up for it the next day by getting tickets to see Matilda for only 5 pounds! If thats not bargain shopping i dont know what is. The play was amazing and we ate amazing Greek food and froyo..it was perfect! We went to the Roxy that night, I've never been there but we had a good time as always <3

Our last day was relaxing and we basically did photo shoots by Big Ben and the London eye..typical haha Oh the highlight was getting iced lattes at Starbucks!We missed them so so so much..I still want my green tea so bad..I can NOT wait for it. Mom if you're reading you MUST bring this to the airport or else..Trenta unsweetened iced green tea with two splendas..please and thank you :) I am a very lucky girl to have both Matt and Chelsea in my life but I'm even luckier that they love each other and get along so well. I am truly a very very blessed girl to have such amazing people as my best friends.

It was sad to leave London and Matt again but I'm seeing him this weekend in Amsterdam and then the next weekend in London AGAIN! I also got back to Dublin when tragedy struck in Boston. The bombings at the marathon was something I never expected, no one did. It was really a reality check and made me really wonder how people could do something like that..its sickening. Thank God all of my friends in Boston are okay but I am still praying for those not as fortunate.

I'm off to Amsterdam this weekend so fingers crossed I'll come back alive (sorry Ma heheh) I'm so excited!!! Thats all for now!

Cheers to lotsssss of special brownies and of course all the beautiful things I'll see in Amsterdam ;)

xoxo

B

Surprise Landing in LONDON!

So I can finally spill the beans about the secret I did my very best to keep! On Friday I surprised my sister Alexa in London. She was there on a school trip with the Passport Club, which I started with Matt in high school. Being my sneaky self, I HAD to surprise her and plan this whole trip to London...which was extremely last minute.

As expected she was surprised! It was worth it to see her face light up when she saw me. It was great to see some old teachers but it was so special to be in London with my sister and experience things with her, even if it was just for the day. We were walking through the Tube and I just thought of how lucky I was to be there with her. I just grabbed her and hugged her and walked like that with her for a while..I didn't want to let her go, I missed her so much but I felt it even more when I was with her. I can't believe that my baby sister is traveling and growing up..its hard to believe. It feels like yesterday that we were playing Barbies and dress up. I wish I could get those years back sometimes but I guess its all about looking back and cherishing those moments and memories.

After a great day, I had to say goodbye. I was meeting Matt and his family for the rest of the week. I stayed until Tuesday so I could spend Easter with my second family :) So yea I said goodbye to Lex, I was upset and then her bus pulled away and I lost it. I couldn't stop crying..there I was in the middle of London sobbing like a baby. I think I just got really homesick since she was the first person of my family who I've seen since January. I've seen Matt but I know in the back of my head that I'll see him a bunch of times and hes a 40 minute plane ride away if I need him. But through the tears and the heartbreak, I was so glad to see her and to watch her grow up and be her British govna self in London.

The rest of my time in London was spent with Matt and his mom and aunt.We had a beautiful time and Easter. I really love them and their company. They crack me up and they made me feel less homesick after I left my sister. It was nice to explore London with them especially since it was their first time there. Its always comforting to see Matt..He truly is my reflection..me to the T! I'm blessed to have him in my life and to be able to share his family <3

It was so nice going to London. From the moment I arrived at Heathrow, I felt a sense of comfort. Its so hard to explain but I do think of London as a home. It holds a very special place in my heart and every time I go back I get more and more attached to it and fall more deeply in love with London. My heart just feels warm when I'm there and my eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. I love it so much! I'm going back to London twice more during my stay in Dublin, so I am sure I will add to the list of beautiful memories and experiences that I am lucky enough to have.

I'm off to Belfast tomorrow with CIEE on a school trip..Shit I never stay in one place for long, but I guess thats the beauty of this life right now. I'll enjoy it while i can!

That's all for now...Cheers xxx

St Paddy's in Dublin!

The day that I have been waiting months for finally came and quickly went. St. Paddy's Day, one of my favorite holidays, even though I am not one ounce Irish! I love celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Boston, I always seem to have so much fun partying with all of the Irish people who are in Boston, or claim to be at least. When I found out that I would be in Dublin for St. Patrick's Day I was elated! What better place to celebrate, right?

This St. Patrick's Day was extra extra special since my best friend Matt was coming to Dublin for the weekend. Matt is studying in London, so we haven't seen each other since the beginning of January. I could NOT wait for him to come and for St. Patrick's Day weekend. Knowing our curse of bad luck, something went wrong which delayed Matt's arrival. We seriously have a curse put on us. Someone hates us up there let me tell you. But thankfully he got here in one piece.

The weekend started on a great note and we celebrated at Flannery's Friday night. It was so awesome because all of my friends had guests so it was such a great night with all of us together<3. Matt and I saw OZ the next day and had a great day together in the city UNTIL we went to the Jameson distillery and the tickets were sold out..sooooo bad luck struck again.

St. Patrick's Day was so fun although I have to say that I think Boston does it better. I think I just built it up so much in my head, which lead to being disappointed. I did have a great time though and Matt made it extra special which is all I couldve asked for. It was great to see such Irish pride and everyone come together and just get drunk and dance in the streets, so it was a great experience. I guess not many people could say that they were in Dublin for St. Patricks Day, I am a very lucky gal.

I got a bit sick from that weekend but I am on my way to recovery, slowly but surely. Easter is this weekend..I have some tricks up my sleeve but I can't fill you in just yet..shhhh its a secret ;)

March MADNESSS!!!

What a crazy month is has been already! Firstly, I am having the time of my life..this experience has exceeded my expectations and I am so so happy that I came! So starting off one of my best friends Kelsey came here last week to visit us and it was also Chelsea's 21st birthday so it was so so nice to be reunited with her and celebrate all together! After Kelsey came, Sarah also came to visit us so its been super fun being with them and spending time with them in Dublin. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I saw them, which made them coming even more great and exciting! It was so hard for Chelsea and I to come here without Kelsey since we are basically the three musketeers but her visiting was so amazing and I am SO happy she came to experience Dublin.These are memories that we will never forget and I know that I will cherish them for many years to come <3  Continuing with the madnesssss..I went to Venice on Thursday until Saturday with my friends Claire and Jill! It was amazing and so beautiful. I had such a beautiful weekend and ate more than an obese clan of men, but it was SO worth it. My favorite meal had to be the pizza ate at this cute little restaurant. It was un real. Just so you get an idea of how much I ate in just one day...heres my Facebook status from Friday "Updating the world on my gorilla eating habits for the day...pizza for breakfast, bread, bread sticks and gnocchi in cream sauce for lunch then cookies gelato, an Italian cookie , Nutella crepe, caramel gelato and then bread and scampi shrimp and pasta for dinner and then pistachio gelato and then pizza just because...when in Italy"So yea...I pigged out but it was worth it. Venice was gorgeous...we went to Murano and Burano and we saw St. Mark's Basilica as well as the Rialto Bridge..It was incredible. I started crying just because I was so happy and thankful. I am so lucky and I have never been so happy to be alive..I am so grateful..especially to my parents.. I love them so much, for just being them and giving me this life that I love way too much right now! 

         

My high on life got even higher when I was awarded the DCU study abroad scholarship! I am so unlucky and never win anything but I guess my hard work payed off this time! So now I have some extra cash to continue my travels! Yay! I guess the luck of the Irish is really helping me out! 

The rest of the month will also be crazy, especially because of St. Patricks Day in Dublin!!! AHHH can NOT wait, especially because my best friend Matt is coming from London! Alll of these great things to look forward to..I don't think this smile will ever come off my face!!! 

Updates to come!!!!!!

xox

Bree

Keeps getting better

Just when I thought I have reached Cloud 9 in Dublin, I was thrown to an even higher cloud after my trip last weekend to Scotland. On Friday my friends and I took a very early flight to Glasgow, Scotland where our adventure began. I visited Scotland before when I was 13, but I knew that this would be a much different experience.

Glasgow was so beautiful and modern. There was a brightness to it that really excited me. The most simplest of things were so beautiful..The Apple store looked like a museum with stone pillars and high arches; it was unreal. We spent Friday and Saturday in Glasgow and were lucky enough to stay with friends who were studying abroad at the University of Glasgow which is the inspiration for Hogwarts. It was incredible and I hate to admit it but I kind of pretended to be Hermione...shh don't tell anyone that.

On Sunday we took a train to Edinburgh, which completely blew me away. I felt like I was in a painting, the scenery was too beautiful for words. I had an amazing day, we walked all over Edinburgh and walked up the Scott Monument..I thought I was going to die in there of claustrophobia but it was worth the 3 pounds to say I did it..all 287 steps worth.

On the train back to Glasgow I was just looking out the window and my friend Claire and I started talking about how lucky we are to be studying abroad and traveling to these amazing places. I am such a lucky girl and this trip has made me feel even more grateful to be alive but to actually live. I could cry thinking about it because I am just so happy..I really don't think I've been this happy ever but I am happy that I have found happiness in such a great place and among some beyond amazing people.

Coming from New York, its hard for me to slow down and enjoy the moment..I am always running around thinking about the future and whats coming next and what I should look forward to but honestly   I haven't appreciated where I am in the moment at all. Right now I am going to enjoy the moment..my life is great right now and yea, my future and next semester and even next month are going to be great BUT today is amazing and I want to soak in every second and every experience possible.

Cheers
xxx

Two weeks or two years?

My two week mark is coming up and I can NOT believe how quickly the time is passing. The time is flying but I also feel like I have been here for years. I am definately becoming more comfortable with my surroundings and the people I have met on this trip. I wish i could slow time down though, I don't want this trip to end but I guess its true that time flies when you are having fun and I am having an absolute BLAST!

Okay, okay so partying is grand (Irish slang..I can't imagine really using that word for real haha) BUT i did come here to study..just a little bit....My first week of school began on Tuesday and will end tomorrow. My schedule is pretty relaxed, I have 5 classes but each day I am only in class for 2 hours at most so I have plenty of time to hit up the gym and run off those thousands of calories I am consuming from the Bulmers and Guinness. The work for each class isn't bad at all, its completely manageable, which I am very happy about so that I could experience Ireland instead of setting up camp in the library every night.

The group of girls that I became friends with rather quickly are starting to plan trips and I am so excited to start traveling! I have a pretty big list of the places I want to visit but money does come into play so I'll see what I can afford(HOPEFULLY ALL OF IT) I haven't been shopping which is VERY weird for me..anyone who knows me well enough probably would have guessed that I already bought a whole new wardrobe but I'm really trying to budget my money for traveling..I guess I finally got the hang of budgeting my money while studying abroad..THIRD TIMES A CHARM, or maybe its the Luck of the Irish!

Ireland really is amazing though..in every way its just perfect, especially for me. I really do feel like I fit in here and I really do appreciate the culture and people and how welcomed I felt when I came to Ireland. After studying in London last summer, I kind of thought of London as a home and look back at those memories and feel so elated. I really discovered London and fell in love with the city and to me thats special because its hard for me to fall in love with a city other than New York. From the moment I got to Ireland I knew that Dublin would also be a city that I would also fall in love with. I was on the bus from the airport to our school and I took a breathe in and got chills from just looking out the window. That is the exact feeling that I felt in London last summer  and its the exact feeling that I experience in NYC when I walk the streets and look up and the buildings and walk past thousands of people who I will probably never meet.

Home is New York for me but home is also where the heart is and a good portion of my heart is in traveling and experiencing the world the most I can. Nothing can never match the feeling of falling in love and I am grateful to have fallen in love with another beautiful city. I know Dublin will be in my heart forever, but for now I'm not going anywhere...Dublin you are mine tonight! <3

Cheers,
Ruby

Ruby in the Emerald City

Oh what a week it has been! For starters I left my life in America and my American ways all to start this journey in Dublin, Ireland for the next four and a half months!! Many may think I'm nuts for studying abroad and leaping in to the unknown, but traveling and moving to different cities and countries constantly is somewhat normal to me and in a way comforting.

I started my travels very young with my family however, my independent travels began when i was just thirteen where I went to London, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on a student ambassador program. I did not know anyone going on the trip, but I knew that I needed this experience to make me an independent individual especially to start off my teen years. It was a great experience..I mean I did cry like a baby because I missed my Mom but overall, this trip sparked something inside me. I get such a thrill out of traveling and experiencing new places and cultures..I guess you could say its one of my hobbies.

My craziness continued through highschool when I traveled to Italy and Paris with the Passport Club. Both were amazing trips and taught me a lot about the different people of the world. I also became OBSESSED with anything Paris related. This trip even pushed me to take French in college (I regret it completely..IT IS SO HARD) I continued my travels in college, actually my first semester of Northeastern, when I embarked on a study abroad experience to Thessaloniki, Greece. Another experience that was bittersweet, more so sweet. I made my best friends, traveled to Germany, Spain, England, France, Turkey, Corfu and Athens, ate some of the most amazing food I have ever eaten and just overall completely grew as a person. The bitter part..well I obviously gained 20 pounds from the food but other than that, communicating with the locals was tough since I did not know they language (I tried my best to learn Greek..How I got an A in Greek is beyond me) But yeah this trip was tough for me because it was my first semester of college and the transition was kind of tough but I would not trade it for anything.

So between all of this traveling and going from Boston to New York to go home from school I am used  to moving around. I kind of like it and get bored when I am in one place for too long. I have never studied at Northeastern for more than one semester consecutively. Between CO-OPS, internships, studying in London this past summer..I can for sure say that I have not experienced the "typical" college experience but you know what I am so happy about that. The places I have seen and the people I have met have really made me the woman I am today and I believe that traveling and being independent has really made me a stronger person. I'm not going to lie..I get homesick and scared and nervous but thats life. Playing it safe will leave you no where so i guess my philosophy is to go with the most risky and extreme choice. Hmmm stay at Northeastern this semester or go to Dublin with your best friend for four and a half months..OPTION TWO PLEASE!

So I am here in Dublin..I'm calling it the Emerald City (I don't know if thats a real nickname..I just like it because its so so green and I'm OBSESSED with the Wizard of Oz). Dublin is absolutely amazing..it is so beautiful..it sort of looks like London and Boston combined. I have adjusted very well. I made Chelsea (my bff that I met in Greece) stay up over 24 hours with me to beat the jet lag and it worked!! So far we have done a walking tour, a bus tour and today we went to Causey Farm where we played the Bodhran (Irish drum), did some Irish set dancing, milked a cow(almost got kicked), played with the cutest puppies in the world, walked through the bog and made some brown bread which Chels and I had no problem devouring! It was a great day and its been wonderful so far.

The people on our program, although from different parts of the US and all come from different ways of life and backgrounds and such great people. I am very happy with the people of the trip and of Dublin. Irish people have to be the nicest people in the world hands down. I am so excited for this experience and the friendships that I will have after this program. It will be grand<3