"thanks, wellington. here's an arch we built for you."

so, finals are over. at least the first set. i think i wrote a pretty kick-ass essay on the (lack of a) british constitution, but we'll see what sir paul cousins has to say about that. i don't actually know if he's been knighted or whatever, but the dude calls margaret thatcher "maggie." i think he's probably got some connections.

after finals, everyone else went away for mid-semester break but i stayed since one ms. rachel zack was coming to london. it was lovely to see her and spend time with her in london. it was less lovely to see that her program paid for everything, including a trip on the london eye, which costs about 25 pounds.

anyway, a quick run down of the weeks events:

• tate modern (again, but not slides yet)
• tate britain (the turner galleries were a-mazing)
• british museum (i wanted to live in the reading room)
• bloomsbury and russell square ( i almost bought a book that would have allowed me to posthumously stalk virginia woolf)
• british library (the galleries were closed so i didn't spend that much time there and left a bit angry. i don't enjoy being angry at libraries)
• the rodin exhibit at the royal academy (it was great to see the burghers of calais, the thinker, the gates of hell, and the kiss in person)
• picadilly circus ( i don't think rachel enjoyed her flake as much as she thought she would)
• daily visits to hyde park, kensington gardens, and holland park to read some trashy novels
• trips to hereford arms (where the cute waiter wearing lee jeans was severely missed)

it was maybe the most relaxing week of my life. i got to experience what it would be like to live in london without having to have a job or take classes and it was fantastic. i think it just proved the fact that i am going to have to marry rich (just kidding- or am i?). i had the flat to myself a lot which was amazing, but did not prepare me for having to share it again.

this week also got me even more hooked on british television. from "strictly come dancing" to bbc's adaptation of "robin hood" featuring the pretty foxy jonas armstrong and let's not forget "extreme dreams with ben fogle," british television is hysterical. less hysterical is its tendency to air what is basically pornography. i'm talking about documentaries on the man with the world's largest penis (13.5 inches in case you were wondering) and men who have sex with dolls to an expose on nunsploitation. that would be pornography featuring nun characters if you didn't already know.

i start my internship with the islington labour party tomorrow and my second elective class (which includes weekly field trips) on friday. i'm not so much nervous as anxious so we'll have to see how it goes.

finally,

things i love:

• rachel's commentary on london monuments
• thinking it is acceptable to drink cider in the afternoon because it tastes like apple juice
• a flat all to myself
• reading in the park
• pineapple skittles

things i don't love:

• having to share my flat again
• the absence of ben fogel on bbc
• westminster bridge on weekends
• not falling asleep when i want to
• dirty kitchens