IU East Blogs

8Sep/11

Shopping Sprees and Royal Tea

My countdown is officially in the SINGLE DIGITS and the closer I get to my day of departure, the more nauseous excited I get! I have been talking about studying abroad and leaving since February and it STILL hasn’t truly hit me that I’ll be leaving and living in England for an entire school year. This past weekend I went shopping with my sister for my new European wardrobe, and when I say shopping, I mean like intensive shopping. I got leggings, pants, jeans, blouses, sweaters, make-up, boots, shirts, tanks and tees all of which are UH-mazing. I won’t say how much I spent (I would be totally ashamed and embarrassed) but I took a good massive chunk out of my bank account. Buying a new wardrobe made my upcoming year seem more real and exciting, but still, it’s hard to imagine myself living abroad. I feel like I’m stuck in this weird limbo of waiting around, not doing anything but still knowing that my life will drastically change in nine days. I think the first time it will really hit me, the fact that I’m living in England, will be as my plane takes off on the 16^th. Thankfully, five of us from the program are flying over together so I’ll have four people there to ease my inevitable freak-out and vice versa!

Dining Room!

Besides shopping ‘til my card falls apart, I have also been hanging out with my closest friends and family. On August 27^th, I had my first going away party (the second is this Saturday). This party was for my best friends and its theme was Royal Tea. My mother set everything up and helped me in planning the party; anything I could dream up, she could make reality. She made my invitations (she’s so crafty, like 24/7) which were like miniature Buckingham Palaces. You had to open the gates (which were kept closed by an authentic wax seal!) to read the invitation. This party required formal attire and an even more formal dining room. My mom tied extra ribbon from Christmas on the back of our chairs (Ha!) and used her finest tea sets and dishes to serve the food on. We had little party favors that accompanied our place settings. We had platinum tiaras and the highest quality diamonds which were kept safe in a little canary colored box. Ok, so really they were plastic tiaras and rings from Factory Card Outlet, but let a girl dream! On the menu we had: maple-oat scones, cream scones, lemon curd, clotted cream, raspberry jam, roast beef and horseradish hors d'oeuvres, cucumber and tomato tea sandwiches, mini mascarpone cupcakes with strawberry glaze and strawberry and pineapple with chocolate ganache. We truly ate like royalty! After stuffing our faces, we went and talked on my back porch about school, our dreams and what we hope to accomplish in this next year (we’re deep, I know). It was so nice to take a day out and relax with my best friends. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did!

With only nine more days in the states, I couldn’t be happier that I get to spend them with my family and friends.  I am even more excited that in my two-hundred and some days in England I will have the opportunity to meet and make new friends that will hopefully last a lifetime. 'Til next time-

Kelsey

Enjoy the pictures!

Our place cards! My mom made them!

Our Royal Jewels!

 

Shortbread my mom made and decorated!

 

Delicious food!

 

Mini cupcakes and cream scones!

 

Strawberries and chocolate!

 

In deep conversation!

 

Brittany!

 

 

Last 5 Posts by Kelsey

• HARRY POTTER!!! Oh yea, my parents were there too. - May 20th, 2012
• REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD - May 18th, 2012
• Eating Our Way Through ROMA Pt. III - May 10th, 2012
• Eating Our Way Through ROMA Pt. II - May 4th, 2012
• Eating Our Way Through ROMA Pt. I - April 22nd, 2012

Popularity score: 6336 (52%)

About Kelsey

Hey guys! I’m Kelsey and am a Junior majoring in Biology. I am active in the Honors club on campus and spend part of my time working as a student ambassador and Pack Leader for IU East. I am a foodie, I love to shop and I watch entirely too much television. I am studying abroad this year in Canterbury, England at the University of Kent and am excited I get to take all of you on this journey with me! Cheers! ;)