The last few days

I have fallen a little behind, so this may get long...i'm not offended if you don't read all of, so don't feel obligated ;-)

Yesterday was the best day here so far! Kim(with me at the bottom) and Audria (from Romania) and I all got up and took the train into London and the tube to central London, and went to Hillsong Church!! It was awesome! When we walked in, the guy who runs the young adult ministry spotted us, and showed us where all the other students and young adults sit, and then invited us to free lunch! The service was so cool, and they did songs that I'd never heard before, which was very cool! The message was awesome! Then after we went to get pizza, which they paid for, and met a bunch more students and young adults from the area. It was cool to get to know people in London who do more than sit in pubs and get drunk. There is a small group in Kingston for college age students, so I'll be going to that! Its really awesome!

Then I got home, and Cate and I and another girl named Megan went to an irish pub to hang out. We had a white wine which was good, then a glass of cider which was good. I think that was probably as much as I'll ever drink, not like i was in any way even tipsy, but thats as far as I want to push it. I would just prefer a soda, although the cider was carbonated, so that was good.

Then today, we went into London, AGAIN, and my camera did not die, so there are more pics on facebook. We walked around in Oxford Circus, and on a side street found a cool little second hand store, but I didn't really find much, and it was all sort of expensive so...I may keep checking back because it was such a cool place. Then we went to this place called TopShop, which is like the huge department store with ONLY clothes. It was INSANE. I was completely overwhelmed with how huge and crowed it was. That many people made me so tired. I did get some sweet purple keds for £15, which is like $24 soo that was fun.

We also went to a store called Faith, and this was the lower level. We decided that you can wear whatever you want in London, and no one thinks its weird. Its so awesome. Even in Kingston its like that. I think I may try it tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

Then we started looking for somewhere to eat, and ended up taking a bus back to Trafalgar square, where we found a cute italian restaurant with a good lunch special. I had this awesome Linguini. And it was only £7, sooo yummmm

By that time we were so tired and ready to go home, so we walked to the square to go into the National Galaries, which are free, and use a free bathroom (most in London cost £.20 to use) This is Kim from Winthrop, who I have really enjoyed spending time with. In the background is Trafalgar Square and then way in the back that tall building is parliament!

After we got back, I chilled for about 2 hours, then Kim came over and we made dinner and me and her and Audria just hung out and talked. Cate wasn't feeling well, so she just went on to bed.

Overall this weekend, my first one, was really great! I am so excited to meet people in my classes, and more people from Hillsong Church and just create a niche here! I miss everyone back home, but I am excited to make the most of this experience!!

British Life Quiz

Ok, so I've started to find the little niches of the English Language that are somewhat different. I'll post the answers later.

1. if i am wanting to buy "trainers," what type of store should I go to?

2. If i am queing in the UK, what am I doing in America?

3. there is a sign that say "to let," what is it most likely in front of?

4. if I bum a fag, what do I need?

5. how much do all museums in london cost?

6. where is the tube?

7. i've just bought an oyster card, what can I now do much more easily?

8. what is ASDA the british equivalent of?

9. what are british cents called?

10. is London awesome? (the answer to this is yes)

Being a tourist

This is what the bus I ride everyday looks like. Its all very exciting, and thank God, I completelty understand it. Its wonderful to feel like if I am alone and lost I know how to get to my house and my classes on the bus. Its a really good security.

I thought this was funny. "mind" the step

So today, we went to this place called Hampton Court Palace. Henry the 8, of the Tudors, lived there. He is the one who killed all his wives if you were wondering. It was SO beautiful. I have some other really good shots of the grounds, but Blogger takes forever, so this is one of the best. except its a little crooked.

These trees were shaped like arrow heads. There was a power source under it, i'm not sure what it was for, but i thought it looked like a little house, so I took a picture.

Today, I got enrolled, got my ID, and then Cate and I went to the grocery store. It was the british version of walmart. Its even owned by them. I hate walmart, but it was very convenient. That didn't really make up for it, but I got some PB&J and some pre-made pasta dishes, so I'm having that for dinner. yum

I think we are going into London again tomorrow, and this time, I WILL bring my camera.

Fun from Kingston.

This is three days :-)

Before I left, waiting in the columbia airport where I actually almost missed the flight because it was such a small flight, and i went to fill up my nalgene after they called. They said my name over the intercom and told me I had only 1 min to get to the gate. it was silly. the man sitting beside me looked like and older version of steven colbert. i wish i had asked for his autograph.

This was the sun set leaving DC on the way to the UK. stunning. God is so good. The flight was long, and I didn't feel that great. This time I had a sweet old british man, and really wished that I was in first class, because they have their own seat pod. its awesome.

After I bought my british phone, kim and i went to sit and wait for the other girls that were with us. It was so fun to talk and watch the pidgeons and the children playing. then we went to a pub.

My first full drink. It was cider and I really liked it. I only drank like 1/3 of it. I don't really like it all that much I have discovered.

This is at the internation "mixer" we had tonight. I had another beer, i can't remember the name, but it was not that great. Cate, apparently, attracks all the boys. it was really funny to watch them flock to her. There were some fun philisophical and drunk political conversations tonight that were interesting to listen to.

These days have been great! I have met a ton of people, some of which I will probably continue to spend time with, and others I may not see the whole time I am here. Cate and Kim and I will spend some time together, but I will also spend time with my other roommate Audriann. She's from eastern europe, as well as another boy. yesterday i went into london with them, and FORGOT MY CAMERA! but it was really fun. also weird to be the only native english speaker in the group, and in a country that is english. it was long, and on the way home, we missed the bus and decided to walk the almost 3 miles home from the train station. we eventually, though got cold, and decided to just wait, so we did and rode the bus for the last mile i'd say. today was much better, but not all the busses run 24hrs, so we had a little trouble finding one that was running, but it was fine, and now that its 3 am i will got to sleep!

More photos will come when i take them!

About to head out

This was the general feelings with everyone I said goodbye to this week. It was definitely sad, but I am SO excited to get there and get started. I have been watching everyone have fun and learn things for the last month, and now I GET TO ALSO!! I am still really nervous about the whole transportation thing. but it will all work out. I fly out tomorrow at 2:25 from columbia. Pray for a safe flight!

more pre-flight

i enjoy updating this with like 2 sentences.  also, about nothing.  

My modules (in america we call them classes) are now posted online.  From what I can understand, I have one class everyday, except tuesday, when I have...NONE! Its going to be a good semester.  I will have some class on the weekend because of the british culture class I am taking, which is all about the field trips.  Its all very exciting, and seemingly chill. I am making an effort to (a) figure out the public transportation  system before I actually need to to get around.  (There is a definite potential for walking to most of the campus, but its a long walk, so public transport will be great if I can figure it all out) and (b)not spend all my money before I get there  (Money is also really stressing me out because the pound is much higher than the dollar (1lb = about 1.62 dollars) and my rent it about 150 a week, plus I have to buy food, and just live, and I want to live it up.  Streeeeessssfuuullll.  Hannah and I turned in our tenant application today, which, from what I understand, seals the deal on a town home in Yorkshire apartments for next semester.  Mainly I'm still skeptical because it was really simple to complete this process, and everything else seemed to be so difficult, I feel like this should have been too, but it wasn't.  Weird.  House warming festivities will follow.  I don't have cool pictures yet, however, I feel like this has potential to become a photo blog.  I like those better.  

Please continue the prayers, because in His perfect time, God is totally answering! 

this was way more than 2 sentences.  

ok thats all.  

did i say progress?

i tried to start packing today.  30 min later i stopped.  it was too overwhelming.