Chapter 4: "When I grow up"-Tribute to Matilda

That night I met my family at the train station to leave for London again. Unfortunately it was terribly flooded and our train was delayed about an hour. That would have been ok, but that meant that we would get to London at around twelve. It was all ok by me though because we had bought first class seats and I didn't have to write a paper this time. The train ride wasn't actually that bad. I got to spend quality time with my family for five hours (for me this is a good thing :D). 

For some reason, we did not get into London until one in the morning. The train company was willing to compensate us for our loss though which I thought was very professional. However, their taxi qeue was so disorganized! My brother was furious. We made it safely to our hotel (which even had a cute Thanksgiving sign). 

The next morning Leah and I took a taxi to Speedy's, where Sherlock is filmed. The food was ok but Leah loved it (I think it's because she is obsessed with the show). From there we took the subway (I felt so street smart figuring it out) to Oxford Street and spent the whole day shopping. We went to Hamley's, H&M, and Topshop. The street was decorated to look like a winter wonderland. It was perfect. 

Calm and Cool

Where's Benedict Cumberbatch?

If only

I finally met the Queen...

We were supposed to go to dinner together but Leah and I didn't know what the plans were so we just went to she our show Matilda. It was an amazing show. I love the movie, so I was sad when she couldn't levitate for most of the play, but I loved her story telling in the musical. They are just too different to compare. It was amazing though. Leah also thought she saw the boy from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas there and so she was freaking out. Maybe that added a little more fun to the evening.

My House-Ms. Honey

My favorite scene from the movie, Always!

The next day my family flew back to the United States while I jumped on a train back to Glasgow. Although it was a quick trip, I am so grateful that they could make it to the United Kingdom and see what I have been up to all this time. Being two days away from my flight back to Texas, I can't wait to see them again.

Interlude: Glasgow

Although we got back to Glasgow around eight, we did not make it back to our hotel until about nine because we kept getting lost. Even though we kept driving by the right exit, our GPS would tell us some weird way to go. It was the most frustrating thing in the world! So we did not go out that night but ate at the hotel. Since I had to turn in my paper the next day, I then went back to my flat to sleep.

I met up around four in the afternoon with my sister and my mom to show them around campus. Because it was already dark, they didn't get to see much but they did get to see where I lived. They were surprised at how big Glasgow was and how far I had to walk from campus to my flat everyday. They enjoyed seeing my actual flat and meeting my flatmates. For dinner, the whole family went to a fun Indian food restaurant. Then I headed back to my flat because I had classes the next day as well.

The next morning my family went to Edinburgh to drop off the car and do some shopping while I stayed her to go to class. Although they were not in Glasgow very long. I was glad that they got to see where I have been for the past three and a half months.

Chapter 3: "Where are you Nessie?"

Although we arrived to Stirling around three, the sun was already setting. We were anxious to make it to the Wallace Monument, but that didn't stop us from getting caught in a round about (Imagine the Griswalds on European Vacation). We didn't have time to go to the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, so we ended up just taking pictures of the monument. Then we drove to Stirling Castle.

We only went around about three time but it's still the same effect

Stirling Castle was recently (in about the past five years) renovated by Queen Elizabeth II. Therefore, it is an ancient castle but with modern styles. The old parts of the castle were amazing but the renovated parts were just too new. The castle grounds were still fun to just wander around. Leah is convinced that Merida's castle in Brave was based off of Stirling Castle. Who knows...It was fun though to be in the great historic city of Stirling, especially with my dad who is obsessed with Braveheart. We didn't stay in the city very long but it was a perfect outing.

The Wallace Monument

Stirling 

One Angle of the castle 

Inside the castle

Next, we headed to Inverness. I know I should have been miserable in the four hour car ride, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Leah talked all the way to Inverness about things only she liked. It was hilarious. My favorite part, though, had to be when we went to the gas station to pick up some snacks and Leah kept asking what everything was (as if things in the UK are foreign). She even went up to an orange Fanta and asked what it was called. "Leah it's a Fanta, Nothing special". Leah replied, "ohh, ok. What's this?" It was hilarious.

We got to our hotel around nine and ate dinner. The dinner was formal so I felt a little out of place but it was so good! The next morning we checked out of the hotel and went to the Jacobite Cruises to look for Nessie and visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle. However, in true Rosenthal fashion, we were late and were unable to go to the castle (My mom had left her credit card at the hotel). We did, however, look for Nessie. Lochness was so pretty! The lake was surrounded by hills covered in forest. It was definitely one of my favorite trips.

I found her!

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Good one Ben :D

After the cruise ended, we decided to drive to the castle and tour it ourselves. It was really cool to see a the ruins of an ancient castle. When we got there we watched a very short video on the history of the castle. Urquhart Castle belonged to a specific clan (I can't remember which one) and unfortunately was blown up in an attempt to stop the intruding clan from laying siege to the structure. After the video we got to walk around the old castle grounds. My favorite part was the tiny and steep staircase in one of the towers. It was just so weird--I couldn't picture the old servants rushing up and down those stairs without falling! At the castle, I also learned that it was fashionable for clans to have more than one castle! All in all the castle was fun.

Urquhart Castle

Sunset at 3:30!

Sunset take 2

On our way back to Glasgow we drove through Ben Nevis and Glencoe (where a lot of Harry Potter scenes were filmed). Unfortunately, the sunsets so early here and so we only saw the top of Ben Nevis for a second but it was gorgeous. It was a great way to end our highlands trip.

Chapter 2: The Balmoral...Hotel

Shipping Leah Off to Hogwarts

The next morning we left our hotel and headed to Edinburgh. My parents were surprised how easy the boarding process was. For anyone who does not know, trains are nothing like planes. You just have to get to the train station about fifteen minutes early in order to make it on your train. Well I guess I should say that the boarding process was easy but of course, with the Rosenthal's we almost missed the train because we bought lunch at the station. 

The train ride wasn't the best. We were supposed to all sit together but someone was sitting in our seats! My mom, dad, and ben ended up sitting together and Leah and I sat together. I think I annoyed her though because I was writing my paper most of the way. 

When we got to Edinburgh, we headed straight to the hotel, The Balmoral (Yes that is the name of the Royal Family's Castle in Scotland. I felt like Princess. It was so gorgeous! Of course, I took pictures. Leah didn't feel well so my brother, dad, mom, and I went to dinner at a restaurant I can't remember the name of. It was classy but good. I tried haggis and it was surprisingly good! 

After dinner we went on a night tour of Edinburgh. I know I know. Why go on a night tour with you're family? Well my mom thought my sister would like it but she didn't end up going so she didn't come. So my mom, dad, brother, and I, who don't necessarily believe in "things that go bump in the night" that went on the underground tour of Edinburgh. It was fun though. I was surprised that there were actually people on the tour on a freezing November night but it was completely booked! Our tour guide was amazing! He got so in to it. It was fun to be "scared silly" with my family.

I had to be at my lecture because it was essential to my exam, so the next morning my mom dropped me off at the train station and I made my way to Glasgow. My family was supposed to pick me up around noon so that we could make it to Stirling castle, but they were late so I went to my one o'clock class. It was good that I went though because it was useful on the exam. Anyway my parents picked me up after class and we headed to the highlands.

My Favorite Family. Chapter 1: London 1

After my fantastic Thanksgiving dinner I headed into London to meet my brother and my dad! (My mom and my sister came in the next day...my parents like to space out their flights). The train ride was good but I was just so anxious to meet up with my family that I hadn't seen in the last 2 months! I did, however, have to write a paper during the train ride :/.

When I made it into London, I wanted to take the tube to show myself that it was no big deal and that  I could be a wise city girl. Unfortunately, I went down to look at the map and was all confused. So I took a cab to the train station my dad thought I was coming in to and met up with him. There is nothing like meeting up with a family member you haven't seen in awhile. It is the best feeling in the world. Just by seeing them, you feel an instant comfort and warmth... but enough of that sentimental stuff :D.

Next, my dad and I took the tube (yes, he knew how to use the map but he grew up in Brooklyn!) to our hotel and just chilled while my brother just slept. When I went to see him, my big strong brother looked so pathetic. When we tried to get him up, he sounded like a little kid again as he said "just 5 more minutes..." It definitely made me feel all powerful.

Around seven, my dad, brother, and I headed into town to get Indian food. I can't remember the name of the place, but it was amazing! They served authentic Indian food with a french twist. I had chicken tika massala, which my brother told me was the most popular dish in Great Britain. But my favorite part of the restaurant was its decor. I felt like I was in the movie Casablanca or something.  After dinner we headed back to our hotel and went straight to bed.

As soon as I woke up, my mom and Leah were on their way to the hotel! I was so excited! But of course, Leah was so tired and didn't want to have anything to do with me. As we promised her though, we made our way toward Baker street. We found this little pub on a side street to have lunch. It was nothing special but I did finally have a salad (I hadn't had one in so long!).

We then walked to 221B Baker street to meet Leah's good friends Sherlock Holmes and James Watson. The museum was cute but it was tiny. If you are like me and don't know that much about Sherlock Holmes, you could easily visit the museum in thirty minutes. It was cute though. They decorated it as if Sherlock Holmes and James Watson really lived there.

After the museum, Leah was really tired so she and my mom headed back to the hotel while my dad, Ben, and I headed to the Churchill Museum and War rooms. On our way there we passed by the Prime Minister's grand residence, which is across from Parliament. That area of London is really pretty, especially in the fall. I could have just walked around that area the rest of the day but we were determined to go to the war rooms and the Churchill museum.

The war rooms were amazing. I felt transported back in time to  the 1940's. The underground safe haven was so erie. England wanted to protect their Prime Minister and defense team and thus stuck them underground. It would have been so scary to be under constant threat of attack. The thought of having to go underground in a crampt space to protect you from a weapon you probably couldn't really have been protected against would have been so scary! Anyway the war rooms were definitely amazing. The museum also had a Churchill exhibit. It was kind of hard to navigate but it was very informative. My favorite part were Churchill's cute love letters to his wife.

By the time we reached above ground again, it was dark outside. We rushed back to the hotel to change and immediately left to see Our Boys, a play about a war hospital during the Falkland War. The play had an amazing cast that included Jonathan Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Arthur Darville (Rory on Doctor Who), Laurence Fox, Cian Barry, Jolyon Coy, and Lewis Reeves. The actors were phenomenal and the story was funny but heartfelt.

Matthew Lewis! 

Cian Barry

Arthur Darville

After the play we waited by the stage door to meet the cast. For any of you who have ever done this on Broadway in New York, it is a completely different progress. In New York, the littlest character is surrounded by a burly security guard. Furthermore, you are cut off from the cast by an metal fence. It is not the same here. We met Jonathan Lewis without any barriers. He was really down to earth and acted a little bit like Neville. We asked him for a picture and he said "yeah, sure". He didn't act above us at all. I wanted to say something clever to him but, of course, at the time I couldn't think of anything! I could have said "Neville is my doppleganger self" or "I love you" or something but instead I just said thanks. Although my sister is the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world, she was dying to get a picture with Arthur Darville. He was a little different than Lewis. There was a girl in front of us that was practically crying over getting a picture with "Rory". He heard this and said "Now, now, you know its not real". Even though it's obvious, I would have been so sad to hear that my favorite character in a TV series wasn't real. When we finally made our way up to him, his phone started ringing. While still signing autographs, he looked at his phone to see who was calling and shut it off. I bet that it was his mom :). Leah told him that our cousin was his biggest fan and he wittingly replied, "Tell your cousin I am her biggest fan". We also met Cian Barry, who arguably played the main character. I asked him if he was really from Northern Ireland and he said that he wasn't. I made him smile by telling him that I have a Northern Irish flatmate that he sounded exactly like. He was so sweet.

After the show we had dinner at Medditerranean food place. It was nice to finally have a family dinner that I hadn't had for the past two months. After dinner we hurried back to our hotel to go to the land of Harry Potter, ie. Edinburgh, the next morning.

The 44th President of the United States

Note: This was supposed to be after Ireland

The Obama logo

The next night was election night. I was nervous-excited about the election that I told myself that I was going to stay up. I painted my nails Obama-ly and went with Liz, Katy, and Lauren to an American watching party for the election. I had been nervous all day. It’s not that I was vehemently against Mitt Romney running the United States, I would just rather Obama run my  country. The party was good. A lot of the group was from the East Coast, although there were people from California, Portland, and Georgia. The party was liberal leaning, as there was only one Republican. About twenty of us watched ABC news reports on an apple laptop (typical college life). We had hotdogs, chips, mac and cheese, apple pie, and cookie pie. The DU group and I left about 2 in the morning. When I left, Romney was winning.

When I got back to my flat, Lauren and I talked about politics for about 30 minutes. It was an enlightening conversation. We talked about how many politicians today seem to want bipartisanship, yet no one upholds it. Many people are one-sided and don’t respect people who have different ideas than them. As I’ve said before, although I am very one way, I am open to all ideas. I hold my values steadfast, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like people who don’t agree with me. Passion is a blessing but it can also cause destruction.

To calm my anxious self down, I watched an old Colbert Report. I set my alarm for 5 to see if I should smile or cry. My phone went off around 5 and I logged onto my computer to see who won. I was able to smile. Then I realized that it wasn’t my alarm that went off, but someone had called me., my mom. I called back and my mom told me that my sister wanted my mom to tell me that Obama had won. I thought that was so cute. I remember how thrilled my sister was when Obama was elected the first time. It was adorable, I started to tear up.

The next day, I received a care package from my Mom. It had my new bank card, an Obama t-shirt, Obama pins, and an ipod nano my dad had won at an auction. It was so sweet. I wore my Obama shirt the rest of the week.

Not my picture but it is so sweet

The weekend was pretty slow compared to the previous weekend. Sunday was Remembrance Day, for all the soldiers that have fallen in battle in Great Britain. It was so comforting to be in church that day and publicly recognize those two moments of silence. The light was shining through the stained glass, and I felt so touched. Even though Remembrance Day started after World War I, I believe the previous soldiers were just as remembered as the current soldiers. 

PS. Maria, I made your rice! It wasn't as good as yours but it was enough to remind me of home :D

Happy Slapsgiving

Since my parents were coming to visit me over actual Thanksgiving, I had an early Thanksgiving party with my flat the Thursday before Thanksgiving (This sentence has to many "Thanksgivings" in it). I never noticed how much effort it took to shop for dinner. I mean, I knew what an effort it was to make Thanksgiving dinner but I mean shopping. Really? Anyway I travelled from store to store but found green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, squash, things to make pecan pie with, and turkey. The turkey was 16 pounds (so expensive) but it was worth it.

Thursday evening, around four, I  started cooking the meal. Ivan helped make the stuffing, Julie baked the pecan pie, Bryony brought a vegetable dish, I monitored the turkey, and Cal helped with the decorations. I tried to show him how to draw a hand turkey but I don't know if it makes the same impression it makes on a 5 year old. Cal is so crafty though and the decorations were great. We made a paper chain and wrote down everything we were thankful for. Everyone asked me why we were doing this and I told them, "It's Thanksgiving, that's why!"

 

So Ivan, Bryony, Julie, Julie's friends, Cal, Calum, Alicia, Reece, John, Bram, Gordon, Stewart, Sorcha, and I had Thanksgiving dinner. It was so fun. We went around the table and said what we were thankful for again. My friends from outside the United Kingdom were so happy to experience Thanksgiving. Since I was the only American, they were only able to experience my kind of Thanksgiving. I never realized how many different Thanksgiving traditions different families have. Mine usually entails me watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or going on the Turkey Trot, helping my mom with food, getting ready, going to my grandparent's house or having them come over to ours, eating dinner, playing football or playing a board game, or walking Marley, and then watching some Christmas episodes. But other people have different things they do on Thanksgiving. Oh, and I have to have pecan pie, especially Mamaw's pecan pie.

So after dinner, the people that didn't cook cleaned up while we all played touch football. Bram, John, Reece, and Gordon were on one team, and Alicia, Cal, Calum, and I were on another team. Surprisingly, Gordon knew a lot about American football and there team were the Packers. My team weren't the most confident sports team so we were named the "Cuddly Cowboys" (after the Dallas Cowboys). Although we had the most spirit, my team did not score a single touchdown. Even after we switched around the teams a little bit because the Cuddly Cowboys were so horrible, my new team didn't score a touchdown! It was ironic that the only American playing football was so horrible! At the end I was able to score and "honorary" touchdown. But everyone was done with football because they wanted to watch Love Actually.

Just had to include my favorite scene, and for that matter one of the best scenes of any movie

We watched Love Actually, because every American knows that Thanksgiving signals Christmas :D. We transformed our kitchen into a movie theater. We brought in our big sofa chairs and sat in rows around the computer. Most of everyone had seen the movie and were dying to watch it. It was one of my most memorable moments of the semester. Although the Thanksgiving party ended early, I had to rush to bed in order to catch my train to London to meet up with my family!

It was a really memorable Thanksgiving. It was hard to be away from home because of my love of traditions. Although I was in a train during actual Thanksgiving, my make-shift Thanksgiving was one of my best Thanksgivings ever. I missed my family so much but while I have been here, my flat has become my home away from home, my new family.