shassinger's Photobucket media

Entry 10 7/17/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:54 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 10 7/17/09 - P1010676.jpg

Our last day together was spent at Westminster. Westminster was beautiful and it was amazing to see all of the people who were either buried there or who had memorials there. It was extremely interesting to see peoples' reactions to Darwin's grave there. Some people walked by and were excited, like we were, some were indifferent, and then there were some people who stomped on the grave when they saw that it was Darwin's. I also really enjoyed our farewell dinner later that night. My roommate is Indian and I have not really liked the food of hers that I have tried in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised by our farewell meal and definitely enjoyed it.

Entry 9 7/15/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:53 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 9 7/15/09 - P1010663.jpg

inside Tiger Tiger

Entry 9 7/15/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:52 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 9 7/15/09 - P1010647.jpg

Entry 9 7/15/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:52 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 9 7/15/09 - P1010662.jpg

outside of the Icebar

Entry 9 7/15/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:51 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 9 7/15/09 - P1010625.jpg

This was one of the best days on our trip! We went to see the Hunterian collections which was my favorite museum. I loved seeing all of the preserved specimens and was in awe of the expanse of the collection, even thought that was only the surviving third of it. Then we went on the London Eye. That was an amazing experience, and once again it was so cool to see the whole London area and see where we had been in relation to the eye and to really get an idea of where everything is in relation to our dorm. Then at night we went to the Absolut Icebar and to Tiger Tiger. Once again I was so amazed at how our group was compatible enough that we could get everyone to come out and have fun and have us all get along without any squabbles. The Icebar was really cool and it is fun to show people pictures so that they can see, that yes it really is all ice.

Entry 8 7/14/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:50 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 8 7/14/09 - P1010603.jpg

tree top walk

Entry 8 7/14/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:49 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 8 7/14/09 - P1010582.jpg

water lily house

Entry 8 7/14/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:48 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 8 7/14/09 - P1010579.jpg

I loved our day at Kew Gardens. It was so cool to see not only how expansive Kew Gardens is, but to also see how science was integral in the creation of Kew Gardens. I only wish that we had been there when the flowers were blooming because most of the gardens had already flowered. It was possible to see the influence of Darwin all around Kew, but it was cool that up on the Tree top walk there was a bit of DNA that I believe discussed water lily genetics. There is also a picture of water lilies because the Water Lily House was one of my favorite places. We have a pond at home and the water lilies are gorgeous when they are in bloom. Throughout the trip I had no idea what I was going to get my dad, but Kew was a place that he would have loved so I found some "Pocket Gardens" that I managed to get through customs for him. And even though in this picture the rain clouds were ominous, we were so lucky that there was only a little bit of rain for our day trip.

Entry 7 7/13/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:12 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 7 7/13/09 - P1010572.jpg

Bus Tour, Ha'penny Bridge

Entry 7 7/13/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:11 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 7 7/13/09 - P1010553.jpg

Bus tour, Christ Church

Entry 7 7/12/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:10 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 7 7/12/09 - P1010516.jpg

around the corner from our hostel

Entry 6 7/10/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:09 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 6 7/10/09 - P1010503.jpg

More than half of our group went together :)

Entry 7 7/11/09-7/13/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:09 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 7 7/11/09-7/13/09 - P1010515.jpg

This was when six of us traveled to Dublin for part of our five day break. This was something that I was a little apprehensive about, just because I have never stayed in a hostel before and while ours was actually pretty nice, I wouldn't say that it is my preferred place to stay when traveling. This was a great trip, although I wish we had been able to spend one more day there. Dublin is a very pretty city and we walked around and took a bus tour on Sunday. I would have loved to have been able to go to Hoth though and see the shore and the Irish landscapes. Our first night there we went on a bar crawl and it was really cool because our leader had actually been in East Lansing before. It was so cool to see that even when thousands of miles away from home, you can still find people that know about East Lansing.

Entry 6 7/10/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:13:08 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 6 7/10/09 - P1010502.jpg

This was our day trip to Stonehenge. I was really happy that we were able to pull this trip off because we were talking about it for a few days but nothing was happening, so finally a couple of us got together and worked out all the details. I was really happy that our group dynamic made it so that there were 10 of us that all went and spent a day together. While Stonehenge is one of those places where when you get there you take some pictures and then are ready to leave, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be able to say to friends, family, and future children that I went to Stonehenge when I studied abroad in London.

Entry 5 7/5/09-7/8/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:52:03 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 5 7/5/09-7/8/09 - P1010425.jpg

Entry 5 7/5/09-7/8/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:52:02 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 5 7/5/09-7/8/09 - P1010426.jpg

Just one of the many beautiful views.

Entry 5 7/7/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:52:02 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 5 7/7/09 - P1010437.jpg

LB 492 at the Darwin exhibit.

Entry 5 7/6/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:52:01 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 5 7/6/09 - P1010422.jpg

I loved our trip to Cambridge. The campus was the most beautiful campus that I have ever been to. Our first night there I called my mom and told her she was lucky I was already accepted to vet school because otherwise I would pursue a masters at Cambridge. Even when I was just in my room it was beautiful. The room was spacious and had a great view. And then on our first morning to have the opportunity to see Richard Dawkins speak in the main venue was amazing. I have read some of his books and talked to my best friend about his ideas in May, not realizing that I would be able to see him. I also really enjoyed going to the art exhibit with our LB 492 group. It was a really cool exhibit and the picture of us there is one of my most treasured from the trip.

Entry 4 7/3/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:52:00 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 4 7/3/09 - P1010398.jpg

Hot House and Garden

Entry 4 7/3/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:59 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 4 7/3/09 - P1010397.jpg

Going to Down House was a wonderful experience. It was great to see and experience what influenced Darwin in his daily life. I am so happy that I can say that I walked the sand path. It was so calming to walk it and see the house from the path the way Darwin would have. It was also great to learn about the many experiments that Darwin would conduct. To see the hot house and how he had a whole room dedicated to carnivorous plants was so interesting. It showed that Darwin really gave everything 110%. I wonder if he had been forced to work in a laboratory if he would have had the same motivation to work and carry out his passions.

Entry 3 7/1/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:58 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 3 7/1/09 - P1010349.jpg

Entry 3 7/1/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:58 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 3 7/1/09 - P1010356.jpg

This was the day that we went to the Science Musuem and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The V&A was my second favorite museum after the Hunterian Collection. The V&A was so interesting because there were so many intricate and interesting pieces. I think that museum has something that could interest everyone. The costume area was one of my favorites. As a dancer I looked in awe at the many tutus and loved this one in particular. Lindsey was also a dancer and she and I were walking in the same group and in heaven.

Entry 2 6/30/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:57 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 2 6/30/09 - P1010326.jpg

The Painted Hall

Entry 2 6/30/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:56 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 2 6/30/09 - P1010324.jpg

The Chapel

Entry 2 6/30/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:55 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 2 6/30/09 - P1010338.jpg

This was our day at Greenwich. This was one of my favorite days, as were most outside of the bustling city. Even though it was one of the heat wave days, there was so much that I wanted to see here that the heat did not bother me too much. The Painted Hall was spectacular and one of my favorite experiences from our class itinerary. The art work was beautiful and demonstrated the respect that was paid to those who had served in the British Navy. The view from the observatory was also something that made me realize the span of the adventure I was on, and the vast area to explore in our short time.

Entry 1 6/27/09

shassinger — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:54 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Entry 1 6/27/09 - P1010262.jpg

This was the first night that we were all in London (with the exception of Brittany). A very large group of us went around London that night. It was great to see how well we all clicked. I had been apprehensive about what the group dynamic would be, but those worries were put to rest the very first night. These are all people that I like very much and friendships were made, and more importantly there is a bond between us all. We all took part in this wonderful experience and even if you meet someone else who has been on a study abroad to London, I don't think you can relate to them as much as you can with the actual people that went on your own trip. Not only did I learn about each person on our trip, I learned about myself through them.

Westminster

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:54 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Westminster - P1010674.jpg

Westminster

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:54 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Westminster - P1010675.jpg

Westminster

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:53 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Westminster - P1010676.jpg

Big Ben

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:52 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Big Ben - P1010677.jpg

Westminster

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:51 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Westminster - P1010678.jpg

Westminster

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:51 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Westminster - P1010679.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:50 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010680.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:49 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010681.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:48 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010682.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:47 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010683.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:47 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010684.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:46 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010685.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:44 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010686.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:44 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010687.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:43 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010688.jpg

Buckingham Palace

shassinger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:13:42 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Buckingham Palace - P1010689.jpg

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:22:03 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010665.jpg

Mammal display

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:22:02 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010666.jpg

Entrance hall

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:22:01 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010668.jpg

Dinosaur exhibit

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:22:00 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010669.jpg

DNA

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:21:59 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010670.jpg

Giant baby

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:21:58 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010671.jpg

Dodo birds

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:21:57 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010672.jpg

Giant Constellation map

Natural History Museum

shassinger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:21:55 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Natural History Museum - P1010673.jpg

really cool earth display that you could take an escalator through

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:50 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010650.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:49 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010649.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:48 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010648.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:47 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010647.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:46 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010652.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:44 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010653.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:43 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010657.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:42 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010658.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:41 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010660.jpg

P1010661.jpg

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:41 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

P1010661.jpg

Absolut Icebar

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:40 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Absolut Icebar - P1010662.jpg

P1010663.jpg

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:38 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

P1010663.jpg

The Monument

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:45 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

The Monument - P1010616.jpg

The Monument

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:44 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

The Monument - P1010617.jpg

The Monument

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:43 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

The Monument - P1010618.jpg

On the London Bridge

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:42 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Bridge - P1010619.jpg

with Adrienne

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:41 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010633.jpg

The London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:39 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

The London Eye - P1010621.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:39 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010634.jpg

The Old Operating Theatre Museum

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:38 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

The Old Operating Theatre Museum - P1010620.jpg

cool sculpture, boring museum

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:37 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010632.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:36 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010631.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:35 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010630.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:34 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010629.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:33 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010628.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:32 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010627.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:31 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010625.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:30 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010624.jpg

Big Ben

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:29 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010623.jpg

St. Paul's Cathedral

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:28 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010622.jpg

Parliment

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:27 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010635.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:26 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010636.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:25 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010637.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:24 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010638.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:23 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010639.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:22 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010640.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:21 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010641.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:20 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010642.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:19 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010643.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:18 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010644.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:17 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010645.jpg

On the London Eye

shassinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:16:16 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

On the London Eye - P1010646.jpg

Professor Pennock, Bellon and Smith

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:51 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010579.jpg

Palm house

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:50 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010576.jpg

one of the many birds that were really cute

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:49 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010575.jpg

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:48 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010580.jpg

Waterlily house

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:47 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010583.jpg

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:46 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010584.jpg

This peacock was trying to get food from the couple

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:45 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010585.jpg

cool water fall by the Princess of Wales conservatory

Kew Gardens

shassinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:59:44 MDT

shassinger posted a photo

Kew Gardens - P1010586.jpg