The End

I am currently on US Airways flight 733 from London Gatwick to Charlotte Douglas. It is 2pm eastern standard time, and I’ve been on this plane for almost 7 hours. As I sit here, hoping my computer doesn’t die as I write this, I am starting to reflect back on this semester. What a ride these last few months have been. I’m still struggling to believe that I have not been in America, not seen my family, my friends, Tom, for 14 weeks, some even longer. Its incredible how much I’ve learned this semester. I’ve learned so much about theatre, and creative writing, public trasportation, British Culture, and I think, more importantly, my self and who I am in Christ. So I am about embark on another list-I love them so much, because they don’t have to make sense in any order, and they are easy to look at and read. I am also going to include some of my pictures from the last few days.

Sooo Here it goes.

What I learned during my semester abroad:

1. Flying is not that fun. Neither are airports. Or luggage. It’s the destination that is fun.

2. I am horrible at downsizing luggage. I brought WAY too much, and I have more muscular arms to prove it.

3. Public transportation is easy when your are confident. And pay attention to signs. And if you go the wrong way, just get off and switch directions. Don’t keep going when you know your going the wrong way.

4. Church is vital to making a home, and being comfortable.

5. I love planning trips. I could do it professionally if I didn’t want to travel so much.

6. Cooking is really really really fun. I feel like I have a little bit of a nack for adusting recipe’s to taste different and still good. I also love baking for other people.

7. I don’t like long classes, and ones that are only once a week.

8. I should never take less than 16 hours. It makes me way t lazy.

9. Winter is fun for a week. I love summer way more.

10. Friends are not as hard to come by as I thought. I have learned to be more open with people, and have made so pretty awesome friends because of it.

11. I know what I believe. I know not everyone agrees. I am ok with the fact that what I believe I believe is truth. And I am ok with standing up with what I believe in. God is powerful and amazing and I love him. He is more my life now than when I left.

12. I am so so glad I never have to live on campus again. I will never regreat that decision.

13. I could live permanently in London. Not forever, but I do love the city.

14. I’m not as introverted as I used to be.

15. I now understand what most of the nubers and dials on my camera mean.

16. I love cheese

17. I love pasta

18. I can be not socially awkward if I try really hard.

19. I love people. I love being around them, learning about them, enjoying who God has created them to be.

I love myself. God has made me the way I am because that is what serves Him best. I’m no where close to perfect, by the world’s standards. And further away from the more important ones. But I love who I am, who I am becoming, and where I am going in my life. I have grown so much this semester. I am not scared to ask questions, or answer them. This is who I am. I am proud to be alive in Christ, and be the person He has created me to be.

I'm sure, as I get further away from this experience I realize even more what I've

Anna's here, Luggage on Public Transport, and Snow in London

So on Sunday, I left my house in Kingston for good. It was bittersweet. I got some pictures before I left!

but....ANNA GOT HERE!!

I picked her up from the airport and we made the hour trip from heathrow to clapham. It took FOREVER! seriously. I was annoyed.

That night, we went to the free organ concert at Westminster Abbey, but no pictures were allowed. It was absolutly beautiful, and we got into the abbey for free!

Then Anna and I walked on the South Bank,

then headed home so she could sleep!

Monday we woke up nice and early and went in London to go to the Tate Modern. I love that place, and we got their so early that we walked around the museum completely alone. Its much faster and more fun that way. Again, no pictures were allowed.

Then I had to go to my class, and do my final devising piece. This also took forever. Then Anna went to Wimbledon for Kim's Birthday with church friends. It was really really fun. I'm really going to miss those kids! I came home and worked on school stuff. uggggg

Tuesday, we got up and went to the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace. It was really cold, and we really didn't know where to stand to see it, but I got some pictures. And the band that played during the change played ABBA and Michael Jackson. So weird.

Then I went to my class again lameeeeeeeee, but I think we did well on our final, so i guess it was good. Then we went into Covenent Gardens to have dinner. We ate at this little italian place that was a really great price. We had food and dessert and wine for 2 for only £34! It was really good too!

Today, we got up and went to the South Bank again. It was snowing. I know that sounds really cool, but actually it kinda stunk. Because we wanted to see London, but it was snowing and cold and gross. We did go though. We went to the globe, but its a little expensive to get into, so we just took some pictures outside, and then walked to Parliament and Westminster Abbey to take some more pictures.

Then I had my LAST CLASS!! and now, we are having some home cooked chicken parm, and hanging out with Kim and doing nothing. Cause I'm done with school. YESSSSS.

J'aime le Francais

SOOOO, its been a while. Sorry.

I've been working hard on getting essays done, and rehearsing for classes, and packing. I am moving out of my house into Clapham on sunday, and ANNA IS COMING

(this is her on the left)

We are going to be annoying tourist for a week. Its going to be awesome.

SO this past weekend, we went to PARIS!! WHOO

Here's the thing though, to get there, we had to take a ten hour bus trip. which was aweful.

Here is us before:

Here is us after.

We got there at 7am. Our walking tour was at 9am. We chilled in the hotel, and had some breakfast (where that picture was taken)

The walking tour was actually really good. I learned some new things about paris. And was really tired.

Then we grabbed some lunch and went back to the hotel to take a nap.

After our nap we went to walk down the champs elysece. It was all decoracted for Christmas. Beautiful.

And Had some dinner.

Then we walked under the arc de triumph

and then headed to the Tour Eiffel.

Then we headed home, and went to sleep.

The next morning, we woke up, and checked our bags, and headed out to enjoy our day. We headed to the Louvre because it was free day, and waiting in an insane line for about 1 hour (awesome considering it went all the way through the courtyard with the pryramid and into another, and all the way around it.) It was awesome. Here's some cool pictures I got.

Then we went toward the Tour Eiffel, and got some pain and fromage (bread and cheese) on the way.

We took some cool pictures outside and then tried to go up.

The line was insane though, so we decided against it because we had to make our bus home. We went back to the Champs Elyse and got a waffle. YUM.

Then we went home. It was a great weekend, minus the insanly long cummute. But I had a great time. I would really love to live in Paris in the future. I hope it happens!!

This week has been busy. I'm packing and finishing my script, getting ready for ANNA!! I plan to finish the script tonight, and then one of my last two papers tomorrow, and pretty much be home free for the rest of school!!!!!

"Inspiration" or "Research"

So, for the three of four people who read this. I love you guys. Thanks for making me feel loved. I can't believe I'm almost done with this experience. I litterally have two weeks and two days left. It is insanity. This weekend, I'm jet setting on a cheap coach trip to Paris. I'm not as excited as I should be because I'm really stressed about school work and life in general. In other news, I'm submitting some pictures of a photo contest here at school. We'll see if they are any good!

So here's what I need help with. The male character in my script is lacking depth. He sits there and lets people use him to get what they need, and loves them past it. He is human, because he gets angry and moves on, but he doesn't have any character flaws. I need him to have some flaws. So what I need from you, my loyal reader base, is some ideas on character flaws to give him. The opposing character in the piece is self loathing and frivolous. She does what she wants without considering the consequences. What I need is some character flaws for the male character that will continue to accent the issues she has, but make him real.

Please help me out. I'm desperate.

Thank you.

The last few days have been Foxy

I've not done too much in the past few days, but I do have some sweet pictures!

On Sunday, I went to church and had some lunch after at a nice pub we go to sometimes called Spice of Life. cheap and GOOD pub grub. yum

Then I hung out in central, and did some Christmas shopping, which I LOVE doing (seriously) and then hung out in McDonalds until Cate and Dan and Megan and Raquel came up. Then we walked around looking for The Fly, where we were going to see a show. We found it, but the show had been pushed back 2 hours so we went to Spice of Life (again) and hung out until the doors opened.

The show was SO good. We saw an american band called Foxy Shazam, which I had never heard of until I found their gig online. They were really great live. Totally insane, but great. (Litterally insane. The singer ATE his cigarette. The keyboardist played with his feet. The horn player split his pants. I'm not joking. Check out this video.) It was a really great night.

I've just had class for the past few days, although last night, I did make some sweet from scratch cinnamon cookies. And shared with the people in my house. Its my way of getting them to like me, or loving them, you know whatever....

Today in class, my partner and I had not even gotten our lines totally down, well more I hadn't, but we had to preform in class. UGGG, but it actually turned out really good. Thank God I'm getting better at improv, because we had literally NEVER done it with words. and our class rather liked it. Whoo

Giving thanks and Market shopping

I have just returned from the awesome Portobello Market in Notting Hill.

This week has been a pretty sweet one.

Update on Timing- I'm going to Paris in a week, Anna comes 2 weeks from tomorrow, and in 22 days I'll be on my way home. Its really crazy how much time has flown.

Monday and Tuesday were very chill. Just hung out and worked. On tuesday, classes were meant to be cancelled during the afternoon, which is when my only class is. But I, like most of the people in my class, assumed that wouldn't apply to us because our teacher is a little clueless when it comes to things like that, so litterally over half the class showed up anyway. Instead of leaving after 15 min like a normal college class would do, we decided it would be better to stay and work. It was the weirdest thing, because no one in the class was like, no thats a bad idea lets just leave. We sat around and worked on our pieces for our final, and basically had class. I only stayed for half of it, but it was just really suprising that people would do that, because usually kids here are less apt to do anything than even kids back home. WEIRD. After I left, I walked to Primark and did just a little bit of shopping. I bought a really great jacket, some socks, a hat, and some flowers for my hairs. All for only £13. What a deal. Then I grabbed the rest of what I needed for thanksgiving and headed home.

That night, Cate's partner for acting's show was opening/being preformed/idk and so we decided it would be fun to go, and see what student work here was like. It was in a bar on campus. I literally did not understand anything. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen. All the actors did was sit around and drink wine and yell alot. and half the time it wasn't loud enough. It was set up like a cabaret, so there were lots of different pieces. Some were really good, but as a whole, the show made literally no sense. Apparently, even Cate's partner, who directed and put it all together, didn't even understand it. Weird.....

Wed, I slept really late, then went to class. After class, Cate and I stopped by Raquel's for a few min, then headed into the city to see another show. It was at a place called the Arcola Theatre. We had a blast (NOT!) getting there, but made it about 20 min early, in time to actually check out the space before we went in. It was just like I imagine my theatre to be like. There was an organic bar with lots of cool thrift store places to sit. There were three different spaces to preform. The one we were in was really tiny, and like the blackbox at Winthrop, just smaller. it held about 40 people, and was about half full. The show, A Real Human Person Who Cares and All That, was fantastico. Going made me really excited about the future I hope I'm going to have.

On Thursday, it was Thanksgiving. In protest of it not being a national holiday in the UK, I skipped my class, and slept nice and late, and worked a little on my script. Then Cate and I headed to Clapham to make some dina. Dan was cooking the turkey, so we made some other sweet dished. Kim came after class, and made some REALLY awesome mac and cheese. I made homemade mashed potatoes and broccoli cassorole. Cate made rosemary roots. It was a FANTASTIC dinner, especially considering we were not in America, or with our real families.

After we ate, we played some Taboo, then headed home to end the day in a food coma.

On Friday, we went back to Clapham, ate leftovers and played with duct tape, and watched Modern Family.

Today, I went to the market, as I mentioned earlier. It was sooo fun and hip and awesome. If I lived here, my entire wardrobe would come from it. I got a really hippie vest and a sweater and some sick earings, and herbal tea.

Then I came home and vedged for a while, planning to go have more thanksgiving. However, it was pouring rain, and I litterally waited on the bus for 20 minutes. One that I should have had to wait 2 min on. Seriously it was horrible. So, Cate and I decided to eat dinner and watch elf, and are not listening to sappy Christmas music and missing home.

Shakespeare's Globe, Parliament Pub, and The Piano Bar

So The rest of this week was uneventful. Mostly. OK, not really.

Thursday, My Script Got read in class. It didn't go over as incredibly as I would have hoped (you know thunderous applause and no negative feedback. O and a publishing deal), however, I think my class did like it. They identified with characters much differently than any one else who's read it has, and they had some great suggestions as to how to improve it. I may or may not have started a new one. I just got a really good idea and so I figured I should write it down, and see if it goes anywhere. As daunting a tasks as it is, I really enjoy writing. So even if they go no where, its fun to be creative in that sense.

That night, Kim and I took the bus to Fullum Broadway and met some girls from our small group and had some tex-mex. Good night. Also, this is proof I have British Friends. Yay!! They are all really really awesome. I'm really going to miss Hillsong.

On Friday, my British Life class had a trip to the Globe Theatre and Parliament. So I woke up and headed to the South Bank. I met cate, Raquel and Megan on the way in, and Kim met us at the theatre. We took a tour of the Globe. Its pretty sweet inside. I wish the season was still happening but it ended in October. :-(

After the tour, we walked around in the Exhibition and I got some sweet posters for my classroom(!) and then we headed to get some food and to Parliament.

We were already tired when we got there. We also had the most dry tour guide EVER. In his defense, I don't think he was actually a tour guide, but still. it was SO. BORING.

After, Kim and I called up a friend from church (another British Friend!) who works in Parliament. She showed us around another part of the building, then we went and had a drink in the pub inside of Parliament(!) I felt very cool, and got to see the British Parliament Rugby Team and the South African one, who were in town for a match. Here tour was about ten times better than the legit one.

Yesterday, I woke up really late, and hung out and got some work done. Then we headed to Raquel's for dinner. After Dinner, we headed to Kensington High Street to the Piano Bar. It was the coolest place! There was live piano music and TONS of people. We had such a great time. Then we took the tube/bus/another bus/walked 10 min to get home because London shuts down at mid, and there are no more trains. It was SUCH a great night though. Lots of good friends and good music!

Today, I woke up to go to church. As I was getting off the bus, a monsoon broke lose, and I got completely soaked, even though I was wearing a raincoat and had an umbrella. Welcome to London. All I could do was laugh!!

Church was really great. Love. that was what I heard about for an hour. SO SO amazing. My God loves me, and he opens up my heart to being able to truly and unconditionally love other people. SO awesome.

Kim and I then went to Subway, the into a sports shot to find some football jerseys. The rain let up, but it sure was cold. Its officially winter I'd say.

I'm just starting to really really love it here. I'm glad I have a whole month left, although I am really missing certain people.