I don't miss America that much....you know, have just balled my eyes out every night since I got back. That is also partly because I miss Andy such a lot (he is still in America for another four days). I miss America. I miss everyone. I miss the weather. And I miss living two seconds away from Andy. It is so hard to think he is so far away.

The last week of my stay in America was eventful. I went to the Zoo with Jess and Mikey and I went to Las Vegas with Jess and Andy.

The Zoo was...well disappointing. I couldn't believe how upset I was with it. San Diego Zoo is meant to be incredible. And I have been to lots of Zoos in my lifetime so it isn't like I am against them but I felt this one was just...inhumane. The animals were trapped in these tiny cages and it made me feel so uncomfortable. The tiger was pushed up against the glass with children banging their grubby little hands against the glass, the elephants were trapped in metal cages which meant they couldn't move and entwined their trunks with one another, the polar bear was stuck in San Diego temperatures and fed a diet of lettuce so he didn't get too much blubber and over roasted, the cheetah was trapped on a ledge in a teeny cage. It was just heart breaking. The animals looked so glum. It just ruined the situation for me. And then I had to pay for a taxi back as we had agreed to meet with our friends for Pho later on and we wouldn't have got back in time if we didn't. None of us had phones (my iphone had died) to text them to let them to know we would be late. And I appeared to be the only one who cared about this. I didn't want my friends just sitting there! For like hours not knowing where we were! So we taxied back and got there on time (Betty was already there).

Pho was fun with all amazing people. We all teased Laura saying English people said "Leons" not "Lions" and that we called Giraffes "Leaf Eaters". It was very funny and such a wonderful evening with people I cared about.

Las Vegas was AMAZING. Truly amazing. But boiling to a new degree. We kept diving into hotels as much as we could. We met some interesting folk on our way there, including a mad waiter at Dennys and a bunch of young people from Las Vegas in LA who proceeded to ask us all sorts of mad questions. There were nice, but just a teeny bit crazy. It is going to be weird not having random people starting conversations with you.

We arrived by Megabus and had some trouble walking to Las Vegas as there were a lot of grasshoppers and Jess developed a fear of them to the extent she had a panic attack as we were walking to Las Vegas. Andy and I had to walk in front of them whilst she held onto us and closed her eyes. We wondered into the MGM Grand around 8 in the morning and found the Fro Yo place I had gone on and on about when I had come to Las Vegas with Cathi. We ate cold Fro Yo whilst Jess rang Jed and her parents to try and calm herself down. It was at this point i found it would be funny to text my sister joking that Andy and I had got married in las Vegas, and she couldn't tell Mum and Dad. No one else believed she would believe me. But alas, she did. I hadn't even had three hours in Las Vegas yet! There was a chapel opposite the Fro Yo place and Andy and I joked we should take a picture outside of it.

That day we explored all the hotels. Saw a lot of brides getting married (In really short tacky dresses - so Las Vegas). I have never been in all of the hotels. Usually Las Vegas for me, is a beach holiday. They are all so amazing. We went on the New York New York ride which was amazing. The first people of the morning. It soared so high and tipped you round and round. It was so good. (Thanks Andy for paying for all of us). Then we went to Cesars Palace, The Venetian, Planet Hollywood, and a variety of shops. We went to a 'traditional english pub' for a drink. They put popcorn instead of the normal bread on our table....yeah really english pub. Got it right down.

Our hotel LV Hilton was quite far away. We walked there though and collapsed into bed for a nap (we coached it over night from LA to Las Vegas - using megabus - only Andy managed to sleep well) . Our non-smoking room smelt very smoky and the hotel charged for the coffee machines and for the water. but oh well. It had the monorail right there.

We went to see Evil Dead the musical. It was....AWFUL. I had been boasting so much about brilliant Las Vegas musicals and IT WAS AWFUL. The actors could not sing nor could they dance. They couldn't act. The first two rows would get splattered with blood, a girl got raped by a tree and everything was very very overly sexual. I wanted to leave. It was meant to be bad funny, like a spoof, but it was just plain awful. Andy, Jess and I just threw each other looks and when the guys behind started going "Oh yeah baby." when a girl on stage stripped to her underwear I just face palmed. IT WAS AWFUL. DO NOT GO.

The next day was equally as hot. We went and had ice cream at the Bellagio at this beautiful crepe place (well Andy and Jess had crepes). We saw the water show which was gorgeous and we went to see 'Circus Circus' because Jess insisted that we did. It was really scummy and very barren. SO DONT STAY THERE. At the same time Jess's grasshopper fear increased and she started screaming on the platforms even when the grasshopper was clearly dead. We went to a TV showing of a new show that evening for CBS. It was starring Anna Ferris. It was funny. I liked the experience of voting. We had a dial and had to spin it between 0 and 100 whether we liked it or not. Then we went to the Rainforest Cafe and i had an amazing meal called "Taste of the Sea' (something like that). Andy had it too. We then played in the shop :) It was so much fun. Then we got ice cream and Andy turned 21. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (FOR JUNE 9TH) we tried to find a place for a cocktail for him but they all seemed closed (weirdly) and Jess was stressing about finding a taxi back to the bus stop in time. So we got one back to the bus stop and got on a megabus back to LA. I knew it was a bit of a weird start your 21st Andy but I hope you liked it!

We got home and gave Andy his presents. A Squirrel onesie and a video I had made for him. He seemed to really like them and he has no qualms in telling people he doesn't want presents as he never usually likes them and will usually show people that by not wearing it once. So I was glad I picked well :D. We then attempted to go Shark diving and got directed to the wrong place so we got a drink instead (Him - a smoothie, Me - a diet coke - crazy 21st times), then we went and got ice cream :). That evening, we had Cafe V and then watched a film at Andys with a few others. Andy and I were the only ones to cry! It was sad!

So now I am home. The last few days I will detail later perhaps. But all you have to know is I loved San Diego. Thank you UCSD for giving me the best year of my life (even if I have also met the most evil person I know). I also met some amazing people and my first (and hopefully last) boyfriend :D who I love very much. Thank you so much. Everyone should do a year abroad just for the experience. It is amazing. Just go it :D x