The whole world is out there waiting for you! Go as please...

It takes a lot to have the courage to get out of your comfort zone and experience what is there. You can either make it happen or you can sit in one spot. It is your choice. There  is nothing wrong with either one of the ways you decide to live. You have to do what makes you happy. You can not let tears and time take over your life. If you do, where are you going and what are you doing for yourself? Nothing.. but remaining unhappy for no apparent reason.

Dreams are not impossible, no dream can be impossible. That is how I always believe. Fairy tales can tell you it is just a saying and it is just an imagination for children, and it goes away. You can not let the imagination leave. Yes, this is true!! No dream big or small is impossible. It is the way you decide play out the dream is what the outcome becomes, and in the end the outcome is your own happiness. It is either good or bad because it's your attitude and you chose it.

Barriers always fall in the way of every situation. I believe that it is possible to overcome any barrier. Some  may be hard to cope with, while others will disappear in a matter of minutes with a single smile. To overcome these barriers you have to be able to find yourself, be yourself and show everyone and everything that you are proud of who you are.. Not one person can slow you down. They can say: "No that is a bad idea!" or Treat you as if you are dumb and you are easy to boss around, but truthfully the only person who is slowing you down in anything is yourself! Go as please.. Treat yourself like you are the  king of anything, show people that you are happy with the way your "life" is taking you, but you can't be too boastful about it. Boastful can hurt you in more ways than you know.

The whole world is out there waiting for you! So..Go as please...

Kaitlyn Greer

Smiles are never leaving..

Smile.. it's the second best thing you can do with your lips.Everytime you smile at someone it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

I am one of those kind of people who just love smiling. I smile all the time. I even smile when my world has turned upside down. My smiles have not left for the past few weeks. I am very comfortable with where I am at in my life right now. I'm at a point where I have no idea really what I am doing. All I know is that I am a college Sophomoore who has choosen to study in England for a semester. I am working toward a Business and Marketing job for the future, and I have no idea really how I will get there, but of course everything will work out if I stay focused on what I want. Today I was walking around Canterbury with my sister, and that is when I realized this is going to be one of the longest Christmas seasons I have been through. Just because England does not celebrate Thanksgiving like we do in the states. See at home, we try not to celebrate Christmas till after Thanksgivingm but here in England it is the time for Christmas! Canterbury was beautiful tonight. They had a Christmas festival going on through the shops. Christmas lights were hung all around this old town, and Christmas music was playing everywhere. Christmas is truely the happiest time of the year. I just love going out and seeing all the happy faces.

As I was shopping and walking through Canterbury earlier tonight, I realized I only have three more weeks left in living in the United Kingdom. Soon I will be back in reality in the states: working, driving, and going to school everyday of the week. This life in England has felt like a big dream for the past two and a half months. I am going to school two days a week, I am not working. The best part is I am shopping and traveling, the two things I enjoy the most! So I have decided that for the next three weeks I am not going to let my smile go away. I am going to cherish every moment I have left in the United Kingdom. I am actually at the point where I am very comfortable living here. I have just now got comfortable walking that 15 minute walk through the city to class, learning how to grocery shop and try new foods, and learn more and more about myself. I am not ready for this adventure to end. The United Kingdom has become a home a place where I am happy and come across a new adventure everyday.

Kacie and I have been to London three times the past week. Each of these times we have had amazing times, and a lot of laughter. I love my sister to death. She is that one person that I have shared everything with. The experiences we share together are defiently adventures that take a lot of courage. Kacie and I support and give each other courage when we are scared. We encourage each other to take that extra step, and not let go of what we want. Smiling and laugher is our key. The past few times in London we may have spent way to much money, and most of the times we had no clue where we were going. We leave Canterbury early in the morning on a bus and arrive in London around 10 everytime, and we do not catch the bus back to Canterbury till late that night around 10 or 11. Kacie and I do not waste a single minute while we are in London. This past Thursday we went to the Harry Potter Red Carpet Prermere. This day started off amazing. Till we we were walking through the park on the way to the theatre. It started pouring down rain. Not only was it raining, but the wind was so strong. Both of our umbrellas broke and we practically had to force ourselves against the wind. We got more soaked then we have ever gotten before. It rained and was cold for the rest of that day so we went and bought us each a brand new outfit and an atheletic store. We really did not have that much money left for this trip, but when you have eight more hours left, and it is freezing outside you have to do something. We got everything from socks and shoes. The premiere was amazing, we got a giant sign to take back with us, and we also got lost on our way back to the train station. We were walking through the most upscale part of London where we got lost: right behind Buckingham Palace. It was a crazy walk back, but all we could do was laugh  we had so much fun that day, and we were so tired we barely had enough energy to do anything else but laugh and keep us standing up straight with the storng wind as we walked through the dark, upscale, quiet square next to the Palace.

The biggest smiles came to our faces when we went to London on Monday to see the Wimbledon Tennis Courts. These courts have been our dream to see since we started playing tennis around eight years ago. I once told Kacie that I want to be a pro tennis player. My goal was to play in college and go from there. Not that I really could do that, I just dreamed of it. I did play for a year in college, but it was a horrible experience. Wimbledon was the most amazing tennis area I have ever seen. I found a random tennis ball on centre court I took back with me. I am going to call it my lucky ball, who knows who may have played with that ball last.

So.. anyways..smiling is contagious. I have been happy and smiling for the past two weeks. I have seen some amazing things, made some memorable adventures. I am comfortable with this new home that I have been at for three months, and when I leave in three weeks for Christmas I will be just as happy to see and spend time with my family and friends who do mean the most to me.

while its at my fingertips..

It is funny how fast time flies, and how slow it can seem when you want everything to speed up. I am living the life I have always wanted too, so why do I want time to fly so quick so I can get home? What I do, Where I go, and Who I become in life is all up to me, but everyday my mind is going different directions and I have no idea where I might be in the next 10 years. Will I accomplish that goal of having an international clothing brand? Will I make a difference somehow? Where will I be living. The past year and a half I have not sat still with my life. I graduated high school and wanted to leave, get out, find something new in life that I never knew existed. I can tell you this.. I have been doing that for a year and a half already. First, I moved to Chicago, a cold, windy city. I learned a new way of life compared to my so called simple life down in Tennessee. I thought Chicago was my dream city, till now I know I do not belong up there. I have no idea what is next.. I find myself still not staying still. I am not running from anything anymore, I just can not find what I am looking for, and truthfully I have no idea what I am looking for at this pat of my life.This life I am living right now seems like a fantasy everyday. I wake to a new day in Canterbury, England every morning. I went from traveling 8 hours away from my family, friends, and home to traveling overseas. I have seen more than I have ever thought I would ever see at my age: famous castles, Stonehenge, Oxford, Roman Baths, Effiel Tower, Big Ben in London and so much more, but yet this trip is just half way over so who knows what else to expect from this long summer vacation.

My goal was to see as much of the world as I can while I have it at my fingertips. Well, the process has started and it won't stop till the day I die.  It is crazy how much everything changes in one year also. One moment you are just dreaming about the unexpected, then the next moment you are living it. I have learned lately just cherish every minute. Smile even when youre stressed and upset. and more importantly take a risk. Do something you would never see yourself doing, and do not tell yourself you are afraid. Life is so unexpected, just like all my traveling experiences. One day, I will be in the middle accomplishing the job I always wanted, living the place I know I belong, and sharing every moment with the ones I love.

I will do all I can while it's at my fingertips.

Just a place in my dreams.

PARIS.

This was the schedule of our trip to Paris how it was suppose to turn out, then actually how it really turned out.
Thursday Oct. 22nd
12:00(noon) Kacie, Darrette and I were to leave Canterbury, England on a National Express Bus to Dover.
12:45: We arrive at Dover, check in board the ferry to France
2:30: Ferry takes off in Dover
4:00- but in France it actually 5:00: We arrive in Calais France and get off the ferry
5:30: We find our National Express Bus and finish our trip out to our destination which is Paris
9:30: We arrive at Paris, we get picked up by Darrette's Cousins and go out to eat and to a concert

This turned into a headache. The schedule did not turn out like the one above this is how it actually happened:
12:00 (noon): Kacie, Darrette, and I leave Canterbuy, England on a National Express Bus to Dover.
12:45: We arrive at Dover, "ask the bus driver how we get on the ferry" he points to the door to check in.
we follow his directions, check in at the ferry port, they read we have a national express ticket, but tells us that we will be foot passengers on the ferry..
**We then board the ferry with 20 other people as foot passengers. We go in awe. This is beautiful. We are the first ones in, fun music playing, we look cute, we are excited for Paris, the Sun is shining bright. We walk around to explore ferry, go shopping looking at jewerly and perfumes, makeup, and etc! exciting. We find cute guy at the bar. he serves us WKD's we relax and enjoy or ride
4:00 actually 5:00 in France: Ferry arrives at France. We walk around boat wondering where to get off. Man working on the Ferry tell us we get off at a door. We get off. Walk through Tunnels, get on a bus and arrive at the ferry port station.
**We start walking around looking for our National Express bus. We wait outside for it. NO BUS. We ask information where and when it is coming. They barely understand us, but the only answer they say is no National Express bus stops here.
**We are worried, upset, scared, stranded..ahh and keep checking our tickets
**We then decide to ask the women at the desk who are in charge of the Ferry. She barely speaks English, but tells us that we were suppose to check in at the "EUROLINE" station in Dover and get on the bus there to board the ferry. Where on our ticket did it say that, and the guy we checked in at in Dover should have told us that, but no.
**She says there is only one more bus leaving for Paris which is at 11 so our only choice is to ride the ferry back over. We start freaking out, we dont have that kind of money. We are really upset, scared to death and speechless. The lady notices we are upset, her and her friends start making phone calls in French as we stand there worried and scared to death. None of us had a phone or any way to contact anyone. We just wanted to go home. We are at the Ferry Port in France for about 2 hours till they found a way to help us. They give us free tickets to get back on the ferry to Dover. They told us when we get back to Dover to check in at the Euroline Station and we will get on another bus there. This trip def. felt like one of those horror movies and something bad was going to happen.
6:30 PM: we are back on a ferry to Dover: we enjoy new ferry, go shopping and relax.
8:00 PM:  We get off ferry, not really knowing what is going on, but we are all speechless and looking around everywhere to make sure nothing happens.
**Random man who works at the ferry port comes up to us and says "are you the lost girls," and for us to follow him cause he is taking us to the Euroline desk to make sure we check in.
** Euroline girl was expecting us too, we all felt a lot better cause people were taking care of us and watching out for us. She said for us to wait in the waiting area till 11 PM and we will board bus for ferry, and that she will take us straight to the bus. It was like she knew we would not find it.
** We are tired and wait 5 hours in waiting area. A little boy watches us the entire time, it is really freaky and the place we were waiting at was deserted and scary.
11:00 PM: girl takes us to bus, we found the right bus yay! we hug her, thank her she gives us 27 pounds of free food coupons. :) We board the ferry so tired but we go get some food. We tell the little guy giving us food our entire story. lol
3:00 AM: ferry gets in France, we walk underneath ferry and get on our bus: what we did not know to do last time!
7:30 AM: We arrive in PARIS! Tired to death. Takes us an hour to find Darrette's Cousin and bus station :( We met a really nice boy about our age from England who stayed with us three till we found her Cousin. We get to their apartment and sleep 4 hours. Then they make us breakfast.

So a trip from England to Paris can take less than 4 hours sometimes 2, but our trip took us 19 hours. It was def. an experience we will never forget. The fear we had made us learn and become very catious of everything that goes on now. It is amazing how nice people at the ferry ports actually were nice to us. I think it was because we were 3 American Girls lost. Apparently our story has made headlines in Calais, France in Dover,England at the Ferry Ports. On our way back from Paris the Border Patrol Officers looked at us and told us they had heard our story of the lost girls. Getting lost in a different country is what a lot of travelers face, but it turned out to be extremely dangerous and scary for us three american girls.

Paris was amazing. like my title says it has always been just a place in my dreams. It was everything it I thought it would be. The Effiel Tower was beautiful. The apartment we were staying in, we were able to see the Effiel Tower from their living room window. It was probably one of the prettiest aspects in a city I have ever seen. We saw so much in Paris, and went shopping too. I was looking forward to do some good shopping while in Paris. Mainly for the fact that it is one of the top fashion citites of the world,and that is def. true. We went to the Galleres Lafayette. It had all of the top brands. Oh I wish I could have bought so much, and that I could afford a 350 Euro Shirt. Maybe oneday :)

While there we also explored one of the biggest history museums. The Louvre. That museum is full of so much history, and so intersting. It could take all day to see the entire museum. I wish that we spent longer in the museum, but we spent about 5 hours. We saw statues of the Gods, The real Monalisa, Napeloians House and so much more history.

Paris is just one of those cities that can mean so much and there is so much to see and do. Like enjoy the fall leaves while walking the streets, looking at the Effiel Tower at day and night, walking along the river and seeing the paintings, and so much more. Paris was the cleaniest city I had ever visited and the prettiest city. I can say that I am in love with Paris! and I know I will be back more.

Our last day we went to see Marie Antoinette and King Louie XVI castle. It was beautiful and huge. My favorite part about the castle was Marie Antoinette's Garden. I had seen her movie a couple of years ago, and I really knew of her was from her movie, so I actually felt like I was living in the movie.

All in All, the most I can really say was that this trip was amazing. I learned so much, I got scared, and I had fun and saw some of the prettiest places. Paris is no longer just  place in my dreams, it is the place I dream about going back to <3

It will be ok

I never know what is going on with the world nowadays. I hardly read or watch the news when I am at, and now that I am here the only news I see is what pops up on my yahoo screen when I pull up my internet. I hardly read that too. However, I heard about some shocking news today that made me freak out and scared to travel anywhere in Europe. Obama told American's to be careful while traveling in Europe. He put a traveling alert for American's in Europe for the next three months. What am I suppose to do? I am going to be, here in Europe for the next three months. My plan is to travel around Europe while I am here. See as much as I can afford. They say to be careful at the major train stations, airports, and etc. I have never heard of a traveling warning in my life, now one is actually happening and at a place where I am at. The article I was reading stated that there are more than 20,000 American's in Europe at a time; from students studying abroad, business trips, military, and family vacations. We all came over here for a reason, and we can not let something scary like this scar us or ruin the experience we get on our trip. We can practically just say wow, this actually makes the trip even more interesting, and pray nothing terrible actually happens. 

I am still in culture shock, and I have been here for already three weeks. The other night I really realized how different the United Kingdom culture really is from back home. They may talk English, but that does not mean they live exactly like us. It is American Football season at home. The majority of Americans at home are watching football, enjoying the beautiful fall weather, leaves changing, cold fall weather, bon fires, and hay rides. None of this is happening in the UK.  We do not realize that they do not take part in activities like these, and at the same time they do not realize that we do activities like this. The first difference I noticed when I came over here was the accents and the fashion. As time progressed I have noticed the manners and the habits of life they take part in. Everytime, I try to become a local while walking through downtown Canterbury. The more I can tell that I am not a local. I still wear my jeans, heels and cute top. While the girls my age hear where leggings, boots, and short or long tops and sweaters. I have worn outfits like this a few days. I just do not feel like myself. Kacie and I walked into the grocery store today. All of a sudden we felt like all eyes were starring at us, and whispers saying look American girls. I know that was not happening. That is just the feeling of trying to blend in, in a new place, but at the same time knowing that you are different than the rest of the store. Which is we were American.

Like I have said before the UK, England in general, is very old compared to America. I can not tell you how much older England is than the states. However, England goes back to the kings and queens ruling the land. There are castles that go so back in time. The britian's grew up learning about the kings and queens who ruled the land. Where as Americans, we grew up learning when each state was founded, the difference between the North and the South, and etc. My british history class is such a boring class, I mean it is so interesting learning about the history of England. It is just hard to stay awake at nine in the morning for two hours listening to an old, quiet british accent professor. We were asked in Modern Britian. What does it mean to be American? I have no idea why I could not think what to say. Always being an American, and I had no idea what it meant to be who I am. The entire class could only think about four answers that described us. Then we thought about what it means to be Britian. Americans we have a president. The UK is ruled by a queen. We can walk the streets here and not take in consideration that the britians we are walking beside everyday wont be talking about something Obama did that they do not believe in. It is rare that you would hear a britian talking to another britian about a situation like that, but American's you may hear that everyday walking the streets, shopping, relaxing at home.  There are so many differences in the UK and America, actually more differences than similarities. The culture shock I am still going through everytime I step out my door reminds me that I am not standing in my home land anymore, but a land that is so much older, and thousands of miles and an ocean away.

"I wanted to Fly".. Margate Beach

When I think of all the dfferent places to go and see in England. I automatically think of this magical land. I think it is because I have grown up knowing that they have a queen, and their land is a lot older than America. Today I took the number eight bus from Canterbury to Margate Beach. I took the early bus at 9:10 in the morning. I was so tired, I almost did not want to go, but this trip turned into the best trip I have taken these three months I have been here. It was only a 20 minute bus ride and cost 5 pounds for all day! Such a good deal. I will be taking advantage of going to the beach probably at least once a week. It was so awesome being at the beach in England. I did not realize that I was actually that close to a beach. I guess because the weather here is like 50 degrees. When I think of the beach I automatically think of beautiful hot weather. It was defiently a cold day in Margate today. It was so empty also. The feeling of the beach was amazing to me. I love Canterbury, but for the past two weeks I have felt so crowded being in the city. I needed th fresh air.

We walked up and down just soaking in the fresh air  I guess. By the time the day ended we had walked around four or five miles. Kacie and I just enjoyed walking and walking looking at the chalk walls and high tide rolling in. The waves were very big, if a person would have fallen in they would drown automatically because the current was so intense. The town of Margate was a cool town too. It was not tourist season so it was pretty empty. Kacie and I enjoyed some Chicken and Chips( theycall fries chips here) at a little cafe on the beach. Margate reminded me of New Orleans back at home. They had casinos, pubs, clubs. It was a neat town, and it just made it even better that the beach was here. Today was a day where  I felt free, and wanted to fly.

LONDON A CITY OF WONDERS

Wear what you want! Do what you feel like doing! Act as wierd as you want to! Just being a person where no one judges you is exactly how I feel while I have been here. I love being free. I feel like I have no worries at all. Well I need to worry about my budget and be careful what I buy. I wore something very random today leggings, flip  flops, shirt, sweater. I thought I looked like I was going to a crazy themed party, but instead I am walking to class. I love it. Everything is in.

We went to London Sunday. We caught a coach bus from Canterbury at 8:30 in the morning. I was not ready for the early morning. My exictment for London did not happen till I opened my eyes on the bus and saw the river, big ben and the London Eye all toghether. It was truly amazing, and at that point I could not believe I was actually in the city that I have seen in the movies for ever. I am actually here. It was me and 4 other girls, we had no idea what we were going to do once we got to this city. We just knew we all wanted to go to London since it was not far from our campus in Canterbury. We got off the bus, and just started walking down the street.We were all still tired from waking up early and sleeping on the bus, but we were in awe!! Nothing good explain our face expressions. The first thing we did was become tourist! Snapping pictures non stop and running into the tourist stores. Professor Shindler told us when we went to travel to act like locals not tourist. Well that definetly did not happen! Right then is when I realized I am in a city of many wonders, and so many stories.

We ran into so many unexpected guest while walking around this city for tweleve hours. First when we got to Buckingham palace there were so many people we had  no what was going on. We could not get through anywhere. The guards were standing at the gates. It was amazing. They were in their red suits and tall black hats. Something you would not see back in the states. I over heard a lady say that the queen was in town today! Ohh my goodness, we just lucked up being in London the same time as the queen. Buckingham Palace is a beautiful place. Tours to get into the palace cost 18 pounds, I def. could not afford to take tour on Sunday of the Palace.

Like I have said there we ran upon so many unexpected things. We were walking towards Picdically Circle when we ran upon this anti pope rally. It was very interesting. I can not decide if I am for  or against it. They had random signs describing. No to the pope, and that he was against using condoms if you have been married for a while. There were so many reasons on why to not be for the Pope, I thought were very interesting. I did not agree or disagree on any of them.

Not only did we run into an anti Pope rally though. We actually ran into the Pope himself. We were randomly walking and taking pictures when we realized the road was being closed off. We asked one of the guards what was happening and they told us that the Pope was in town and would be making an appearence around six. This was such an exciting day. We waited and had great spots. We saw the Pope come out the door. We were practically face to face with him. So awesome.

I did so many things this trip that I had no idea would happen on the spur of the moment trip to London. We saw the queen, the pope, Big Ben, the London Eye, Picadially Circle, and art museum the Buckingham Palace, and practically almost the entire city from 10:30 in the morning till 10:30 at night. It was such a long tiring day, but totally worth it. I plan on going back to London quite a bit during this trip. I hope to see Mamma Mia the musical, go out to a fancy restruant, and do a little shopping! This is a city of wonders, and so many wonders during every visit. It is an amazing feeling to be here, find something new about myself, and learn so much about a new culture. I am free, and I am free to be me!