Most days, London is a pretty overcast, rainy, cold sort of place. We have finally hit the sort of "typical London weather" that comes with winter and it is sad to say goodbye to the warm and sunny weather we have been enjoying. However, in the midst of this seemingly dreary weather, God still manages to bring moments of sunlight into my life.
This week's sunlight comes from having a wonderful dinner with my mom's friend from college, Marianna. We had a fabulous dinner in a restaurant on the second floor of a building overlooking Borough Market. The food was fantastic, but the conversation was even better. It was so good to tell her all about my time here and have her really understand (since she has lived here for 4 years). She is so excited for me, eager to listen, and so willing to help me make the most of my time here. It's nice to feel that family is close by. :)
The second moment was seeing Les Mis last night! Oh my goodness. I mean I knew that it would be good, but it blew all of my expectations out of the water. The music is raw power and the actor's voices stir up emotions that sit heavy on your chest. Not to mention, the set was very intricate and elaborate and added so much to the whole environment. The talent was fantastic, the story itself is moving and well written, and the audience was electric with awe. A truly epic 3 hours of my time here.
The last moment has been my internship today. I had a different schedule today and I found out later that one of the girls that I have gotten to know and usually sit in on her English class was upset to see that I wasn't there. She even asked the teacher if she could leave the class to come and find me to make sure that I was alright. It felt so good to be wanted and appreciated! I am so glad that relationships are forming. I also received a sweet gift from the head of the English Department for helping out with all of their displays for the open house last week. I did not expect that at all and it caught me off guard! Again, it was nice to feel appreciated for my work. And then, at the end of the day my supervisor gave me encouraging affirmation of my time so far at Hornsey. She has really enjoyed watching me interact with the girls and sees a lot in me. And that means so much.
So yes. In the midst of gross, rainy weather, I am still built up, supported, loved, and inspired. And I am also supported and loved by all of you at home! It means so much to know that you all are keeping up on my adventures and praying for me. God is so good. All of the time.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Bath and Stonehenge
Hi all!
Yes i know, it has been way way too long since I wrote a new post. I apologize. This last week and weekend have been very full and busy. But now I have a few minutes of down time that I can catch you all up.
The last week was rather typical with classes and internship (as well as other random events like seeing a play, seeing Bear Grylls, chillin in Hyde Park, etc.)
But this weekend was especially wonderful! Me and three other girls (Elizabeth, Lindsey, and Hannah) went to Bath and Stonehenge and it could not have been better. We had a relaxing train ride early Saturday morning, looking out over the English countryside and made it to Bath by 9am. We went on the free walking tour around the town and were able to see all the different baths, John Wood's "Circus" and the Royal Crescent (both famous for their moon-shaped buildings). Bath was first a site for the ancient Roman Baths, where they utilized boiling hot water that came from a spring underground. But after a major flood centuries later, the baths got covered up and people didn't know about them. They weren't discovered until the 17th century when archeologists found the remains of civilization. Bath then became THE resort and vacation spot for royalty and celebrities of England. Needless to say, the town has an elegant feel to it. After our tour, we had lunch at Sally Lunn's (located in the oldest house in Bath). The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was, like the town, quaint and elegant. I will definitely go back at some point in my life and eat there again! If you're even in Bath, you have to go and get Sally Lunn's Bunns.
We then toured the Roman Baths themselves and the museum was really well set up. It is truly amazing that this hot spring was channeled and used for medicinal purposes (and still is!). I'm sure the minerals are great for you. We were able to actually sit by the water that the most powerful people of Rome and England have sat beside for thousands of years. History at your feet. Literally.
After the baths we took a tour of Bath Abbey, the central point of the town. We were able to actually go inside the clock face! We also saw where the bells are rung and then made our way to the very top of the roof to see a breath-taking view of the whole town. Bath is beautiful. And to get it all in one look was pretty awesome. We then left and tried to get to the Jane Austen center before it closed, but we missed the last tour by just a few minutes. bummer. Because everything in Bath shuts down around 6, we had nothing to do that night and decided to go to "Bizarre Bath", a night entertainment tour of the city (that isn't historical at all, but more just like a show and stand up comedian all in one). We had some great laughs and enjoyed a different take on the town. Bath is a truly quaint little town with amazing history and beautiful architecture. It is just big enough to keep you busy all day, but small enough to really see all the best things without having to give up anything.
Our second day, we woke up early and got on a bus for a full-day tour. We saw several cute Cotswold villages and a lot of great English countryside. Rolling hills, fluffy sheep, thatched roofed cottages. Yep, it was pretty great. Castle Combe, our first stop, was actually being used as a film set for Steven Spielberg's new movie "War Horse"! Unfortunately they had just finished the day before and we missed Spielberg. But I will be sure to see the movie when it comes out and be able to recognize some of the locations!
We also went to Avebury Circle, a much less well known henge of stones, but is 16x bigger than Stonehenge! The rocks were gigantic and it is truly a mystery how these ancient people were able to get them where they are (and stand on one side!). We were able to walk the whole perimeter of the circle and the town is controversially built within the circle. There is believed to be great power in these rocks. They do for sure have some sort of magnetic pull/elecrtical force because I held a copper rod in my hand and it was moving in circles depending on where I stood. I thought it was pretty cool, and i can't even imagine what people in those days would have considered this phenomenon. I also had a chance to sit in "The Devil's Chair", the oldest seat in recorded history.
We ended the day at Stonehenge and it was great to actually see these famous stones in person. They are set up in literally the middle of nowhere! There is farmland as far as you can see around it. Must be strange to be the farmer who keeps his cows in the field next to one of the most famous tourist sites in the world...It was rather cold and windy by the time we got there, but we still had a great time. Although they are just stones, it is pretty crazy to imagine HOW they got these stones here (the largest one weighing 45 TONS!). and why? why there? and what was it for? Guess we'll have to ask God when we get to Heaven.
Over all, it was a successful weekend trip and I loved every second of it! We were able to do everything we wanted, stayed in a great hostel, and I went with a great group of girls. The whole adventure was a true blessing. I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. We have another fun weekend ahead with our whole class going to Edinburgh, Scotland on Friday! Everyday is so full and so long, but then the weeks still fly by. But that's life isn't it?
Yes i know, it has been way way too long since I wrote a new post. I apologize. This last week and weekend have been very full and busy. But now I have a few minutes of down time that I can catch you all up.
The last week was rather typical with classes and internship (as well as other random events like seeing a play, seeing Bear Grylls, chillin in Hyde Park, etc.)
But this weekend was especially wonderful! Me and three other girls (Elizabeth, Lindsey, and Hannah) went to Bath and Stonehenge and it could not have been better. We had a relaxing train ride early Saturday morning, looking out over the English countryside and made it to Bath by 9am. We went on the free walking tour around the town and were able to see all the different baths, John Wood's "Circus" and the Royal Crescent (both famous for their moon-shaped buildings). Bath was first a site for the ancient Roman Baths, where they utilized boiling hot water that came from a spring underground. But after a major flood centuries later, the baths got covered up and people didn't know about them. They weren't discovered until the 17th century when archeologists found the remains of civilization. Bath then became THE resort and vacation spot for royalty and celebrities of England. Needless to say, the town has an elegant feel to it. After our tour, we had lunch at Sally Lunn's (located in the oldest house in Bath). The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was, like the town, quaint and elegant. I will definitely go back at some point in my life and eat there again! If you're even in Bath, you have to go and get Sally Lunn's Bunns.
We then toured the Roman Baths themselves and the museum was really well set up. It is truly amazing that this hot spring was channeled and used for medicinal purposes (and still is!). I'm sure the minerals are great for you. We were able to actually sit by the water that the most powerful people of Rome and England have sat beside for thousands of years. History at your feet. Literally.
After the baths we took a tour of Bath Abbey, the central point of the town. We were able to actually go inside the clock face! We also saw where the bells are rung and then made our way to the very top of the roof to see a breath-taking view of the whole town. Bath is beautiful. And to get it all in one look was pretty awesome. We then left and tried to get to the Jane Austen center before it closed, but we missed the last tour by just a few minutes. bummer. Because everything in Bath shuts down around 6, we had nothing to do that night and decided to go to "Bizarre Bath", a night entertainment tour of the city (that isn't historical at all, but more just like a show and stand up comedian all in one). We had some great laughs and enjoyed a different take on the town. Bath is a truly quaint little town with amazing history and beautiful architecture. It is just big enough to keep you busy all day, but small enough to really see all the best things without having to give up anything.
Our second day, we woke up early and got on a bus for a full-day tour. We saw several cute Cotswold villages and a lot of great English countryside. Rolling hills, fluffy sheep, thatched roofed cottages. Yep, it was pretty great. Castle Combe, our first stop, was actually being used as a film set for Steven Spielberg's new movie "War Horse"! Unfortunately they had just finished the day before and we missed Spielberg. But I will be sure to see the movie when it comes out and be able to recognize some of the locations!
\
We also went to Avebury Circle, a much less well known henge of stones, but is 16x bigger than Stonehenge! The rocks were gigantic and it is truly a mystery how these ancient people were able to get them where they are (and stand on one side!). We were able to walk the whole perimeter of the circle and the town is controversially built within the circle. There is believed to be great power in these rocks. They do for sure have some sort of magnetic pull/elecrtical force because I held a copper rod in my hand and it was moving in circles depending on where I stood. I thought it was pretty cool, and i can't even imagine what people in those days would have considered this phenomenon. I also had a chance to sit in "The Devil's Chair", the oldest seat in recorded history. We ended the day at Stonehenge and it was great to actually see these famous stones in person. They are set up in literally the middle of nowhere! There is farmland as far as you can see around it. Must be strange to be the farmer who keeps his cows in the field next to one of the most famous tourist sites in the world...It was rather cold and windy by the time we got there, but we still had a great time. Although they are just stones, it is pretty crazy to imagine HOW they got these stones here (the largest one weighing 45 TONS!). and why? why there? and what was it for? Guess we'll have to ask God when we get to Heaven.
Over all, it was a successful weekend trip and I loved every second of it! We were able to do everything we wanted, stayed in a great hostel, and I went with a great group of girls. The whole adventure was a true blessing. I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. We have another fun weekend ahead with our whole class going to Edinburgh, Scotland on Friday! Everyday is so full and so long, but then the weeks still fly by. But that's life isn't it?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hornsey, Hyde, and other activites
I completed the first week of my internship at Hornsey School for Girls and absolutely love it. Their school system is very different from ours in America and I am learning something new every day. One of my favorite differences is that they take a 20 minute tea break at 11 every day. How awesome is that? Everything is much more relaxed, but so much work is still done. I don't feel the same pressure to rush around, that is predominate in American high schools. I had mentioned before that this school is very diverse. It is not uncommon to hear multiple languages spoken as you walk down the hall and see religious head pieces worn by many of the girls. My American accent and white skin make me stand out drastically from the rainbow of brown and black skin around me. Instead of feeling overwhelmed or out of place, I am finding myself very comfortable and thrilled. The school is taking very good care of their interns and I am able to see a broad range of classes and out-of-class activities. I am so excited about knowing these girls well and feeling apart of their everyday lives. We have so much to learn from each other! I was able to sit in on a 7th grade English class on Friday. They are the youngest girls in the school and all so eager to learn. They were discussing autobiographies and I was able to go around the room and help them brainstorm ideas for their own autobiography they will be writing. One girl had been absent the class before so I spent some time helping her catch up. I found out she was from Germany and had moved here two years before. It is just her and her mom at home and she told me that she missed all her friends in Germany very much. It made me realize that every single girl in that room had a pretty incredible autobiography to tell. They are all from so many different cultural backgrounds, family lifestyles, and most have traveled from other countries. I would love to read their autobiographies when they are finished. Outside of assisting in classes, I have been helping the English Department get ready for an Open House that happens next week. I have been able to put my creativity and organizational skills to use by creating displays in the hallways for the parents to see, as well as tidying up their very cramped English office. I can tell that they are very appreciative of having an extra set of hands willing to help and it brings me a lot of joy to know that I am making a difference in their stressful lives. I am excited for next week now that I have a schedule and the teachers and students will recognize/know me, rather than being "the new intern".
Hyde Park. There's no place like it! I went running yesterday in the beautiful weather and as I enjoyed the breeze and tall tress, I was also able to observe humanity at it's best. There are families everywhere! Parents play in the trees with children, carry them on their shoulders or push them in a stroller, huge smiles on all their faces. There are quilts and blankets everywhere with people enjoying the sunshine. Couples hold hands walking down the street (both young and old). Soccer practice on a field in the middle of the park. People feeding the swans and ducks that swim on the shimmering ponds. Every species of dog romping around in the grass, always within eye-shot of their master. Bikers wiz by. Couples sit on benches. Toddlers walk unsteadily and plop down on the soft grass. And then of course there a fantastic monuments and statues throughout the park. Steeples of nearby churches pierce the horizon as you look over the trees. Yes, I thought to myself, I could get used to this! Hyde park is home not only to miles and miles of trails, but miles and miles of human activity as it should be. It seems basic, but no matter what race or background you come from, all people love to spend time with their loved ones, their children, their pets, their friends and all people love to get outside and enjoy a beautiful Saturday afternoon. What an amazing escape from the crowded sidewalks, streets, and tube stations.
In other news:
The Pope is in town this week, although I probably won't see him. The crowds to see him are crazy and 8 people have already been arrested for trying to assault the poor guy. He's drives around in the "Popemobile" and I think that's pretty awesome.
Dr. Westmoreland (President of Samford) and his wife were in London this week for a conference and came to visit our group. They took us all to dinner and it was by far the best meal I've had since I've been here! They are such sweet, down to earth people and it was an all around fun night.
We went and saw Swan Lake on Wednesday, with an all-male swan assemble. I have never seen more talented dancers in my life! It was a truly incredible ballet and I am so glad I was able to see it.
A group of us went to Camden Market yesterday. It is 10x bigger than Portobello and even after spending 4 hours there, there was so much more to see! It is a very funky market with crazy clothes etc, but there are also some great finds! One of the highlights was eating Mexican food! My first in 3 weeks. It is very hard to find any Mexican food here, so I took advantage of that. :)
Today is Sunday. And I am treating it as the day of rest that it should be. With how busy this week has been, my body and mind are ready for a little break before the week begins again.
God is so good. And He is revealing Himself in so many ways while I am here. I am trying to keep my eyes open so I don't miss what He has to say!
I'm off for some tea, reading, and a nap. Love you all so much!
Hyde Park. There's no place like it! I went running yesterday in the beautiful weather and as I enjoyed the breeze and tall tress, I was also able to observe humanity at it's best. There are families everywhere! Parents play in the trees with children, carry them on their shoulders or push them in a stroller, huge smiles on all their faces. There are quilts and blankets everywhere with people enjoying the sunshine. Couples hold hands walking down the street (both young and old). Soccer practice on a field in the middle of the park. People feeding the swans and ducks that swim on the shimmering ponds. Every species of dog romping around in the grass, always within eye-shot of their master. Bikers wiz by. Couples sit on benches. Toddlers walk unsteadily and plop down on the soft grass. And then of course there a fantastic monuments and statues throughout the park. Steeples of nearby churches pierce the horizon as you look over the trees. Yes, I thought to myself, I could get used to this! Hyde park is home not only to miles and miles of trails, but miles and miles of human activity as it should be. It seems basic, but no matter what race or background you come from, all people love to spend time with their loved ones, their children, their pets, their friends and all people love to get outside and enjoy a beautiful Saturday afternoon. What an amazing escape from the crowded sidewalks, streets, and tube stations.
In other news:
The Pope is in town this week, although I probably won't see him. The crowds to see him are crazy and 8 people have already been arrested for trying to assault the poor guy. He's drives around in the "Popemobile" and I think that's pretty awesome.
Dr. Westmoreland (President of Samford) and his wife were in London this week for a conference and came to visit our group. They took us all to dinner and it was by far the best meal I've had since I've been here! They are such sweet, down to earth people and it was an all around fun night.
We went and saw Swan Lake on Wednesday, with an all-male swan assemble. I have never seen more talented dancers in my life! It was a truly incredible ballet and I am so glad I was able to see it.
A group of us went to Camden Market yesterday. It is 10x bigger than Portobello and even after spending 4 hours there, there was so much more to see! It is a very funky market with crazy clothes etc, but there are also some great finds! One of the highlights was eating Mexican food! My first in 3 weeks. It is very hard to find any Mexican food here, so I took advantage of that. :)
Today is Sunday. And I am treating it as the day of rest that it should be. With how busy this week has been, my body and mind are ready for a little break before the week begins again.
God is so good. And He is revealing Himself in so many ways while I am here. I am trying to keep my eyes open so I don't miss what He has to say!
I'm off for some tea, reading, and a nap. Love you all so much!
Monday, September 13, 2010
This Crazy, Throbbing World
I apologize in advance for the length of this post, since I have done a very poor job of updating you these last few days. Let me just begin by saying that I love London. "Well ok", you're thinking to yourself, "that's an obvious fact, why is she saying this?" but it's true! But I love London not just because of it's rich history, beautiful architecture, and endless things to do (although all of these things are great), but because this city is full of life. It's the little things that make this place feel like home. I get all the advantages and excitement of a big city, but I can still get lost in a park and imagine myself in the countryside or settle into a coffee shop and feel like I'm back in downtown Franklin. :) So many cultures. People in and out of the city constantly. So much to do and see. But there is also calm. There is also stability. That is why I love London. A great example happened a few days ago when Christina and I set off to find a cafe a few blocks from here that our neighbor had recommended to us. After several wrong turns, etc. we finally found it. It is this fantastic hole-in-the-wall cafe that has been there for centuries. It is called Troubadour Cafe and my little classically-trained heart quite enjoyed that. The large front window has dozens of old tea kettles lining the shelves and hundreds of old violins hang from the ceiling. (oh i almost forgot to mention that Jimmi Hendrix and Bob Dylan have played gigs there!)We settled into a booth in the corner, sipped on some coffee, and enjoyed the great music while attempting some homework. I was reading for my Biblical Perspectives class and the article I was reading about interpreting the Bible was discussing how the men who wrote scripture down were not scholars who hid away in caves, but rather men who wrote the truth in the midst of the tingle and roar of life. I had to stop there. I looked up and could feel the tingle and roar of life all around me as the music played, people came in and out of the cafe, and people rode by on bicycles. The words on the page came to life as I watched life happen around me in this crazy throbbing world, just like Jesus and all those before and after Him lived in. The Bible was written in the midst of life, not separate from it. And I am not separate from the tingle and roar either.
I also had my first introduction to the Hornsey School for Girls, where I will be interning all semester. The school is very diverse, with 40 different languages spoken by the girls in the school! Over 50% of the students profess a Muslim belief and there are almost no girls that have the same skin pigment as me. I am so excited! What an amazing opportunity to get stretched and grown. I will be working partly in the "Positive Behavior Program" as a mentor to a small group of girls who are struggling with behavior issues that is negatively affecting their schoolwork. The other part of my time will be spent shadowing English teachers in the classroom. I cannot wait to get to know the girls at school and be able to make a difference (in some small way) in their lives. I'm sure there will be many stories to come.
Almost the entire group went to Dover on Saturday (a small town in the district of Kent) and we had a very full day! We left in the morning, had an hour train ride, and arrived in time for the next boat tour. We were shown much of the shoreline and given a brief overview of the town. It was a very windy and cold experience, haha. We then did a 4 mile hike over the White Cliffs of Dover and this was by far my favorite part of the day! The cliffs are made of white chalk and they create a magnificent contrast against the dark sea below. The trails were simple dirt paths amidst green grass and there was a strong wind throughout the journey. I felt like i was in a Jane Austen book.
We also had a chance to see Dover Castle which has a breathe taking view over the town. The rooms were all set up just as they had been when royalty lived there and I could actually understand what life would be like inside the thick stones walls. It felt so real.
We ended the day by touring the secret wartime tunnels that were dug into the white cliffs. They were first built during the Napoleonic Wars and then expanded during WWII. Over 2,000 soldiers lived in these underground tunnels and was a main defense/operating station for the British Army, Navy, and Air Force! It was pretty amazing to see it all recreated with sounds, smells, and sights that would have taken place during the war. I cannot imagine living underground for months, always expecting a bomb raid or attack from the sea. Needless to say, the train ride home was very quiet since we were all pretty wiped.
I went to Hillsong for church on Sunday it was phenomenal! I definitely want to go back. We went to lunch with a small group of girls from the church and at our table alone there were someone from Belgium, France, Britain, South Africa, Texas, and of course Tennessee. We had a wonderful time and ended up staying and talking for two hours. It felt so good to get to know people involved in the church and from so many different places (again, that's why i love it here). We ended Sunday with the Thames Festival that was taking place this weekend, with lots of food, music, and tents lining the Thames river. The festival ended at 10, so they had fireworks over the Thames river at 9:45. The explosions lighting up with sky and reflecting in the water is an image I will never forget. I feel like I say this a lot, but it is so true: I am blessed. I don't want to take a single day for granted! Every day is new and exciting and I am so glad that I get to share my stories with all of you. Afterall, in the end all that matters is God, His people, and the stories they have to tell.
I also had my first introduction to the Hornsey School for Girls, where I will be interning all semester. The school is very diverse, with 40 different languages spoken by the girls in the school! Over 50% of the students profess a Muslim belief and there are almost no girls that have the same skin pigment as me. I am so excited! What an amazing opportunity to get stretched and grown. I will be working partly in the "Positive Behavior Program" as a mentor to a small group of girls who are struggling with behavior issues that is negatively affecting their schoolwork. The other part of my time will be spent shadowing English teachers in the classroom. I cannot wait to get to know the girls at school and be able to make a difference (in some small way) in their lives. I'm sure there will be many stories to come.
Almost the entire group went to Dover on Saturday (a small town in the district of Kent) and we had a very full day! We left in the morning, had an hour train ride, and arrived in time for the next boat tour. We were shown much of the shoreline and given a brief overview of the town. It was a very windy and cold experience, haha. We then did a 4 mile hike over the White Cliffs of Dover and this was by far my favorite part of the day! The cliffs are made of white chalk and they create a magnificent contrast against the dark sea below. The trails were simple dirt paths amidst green grass and there was a strong wind throughout the journey. I felt like i was in a Jane Austen book.
We also had a chance to see Dover Castle which has a breathe taking view over the town. The rooms were all set up just as they had been when royalty lived there and I could actually understand what life would be like inside the thick stones walls. It felt so real.We ended the day by touring the secret wartime tunnels that were dug into the white cliffs. They were first built during the Napoleonic Wars and then expanded during WWII. Over 2,000 soldiers lived in these underground tunnels and was a main defense/operating station for the British Army, Navy, and Air Force! It was pretty amazing to see it all recreated with sounds, smells, and sights that would have taken place during the war. I cannot imagine living underground for months, always expecting a bomb raid or attack from the sea. Needless to say, the train ride home was very quiet since we were all pretty wiped.
I went to Hillsong for church on Sunday it was phenomenal! I definitely want to go back. We went to lunch with a small group of girls from the church and at our table alone there were someone from Belgium, France, Britain, South Africa, Texas, and of course Tennessee. We had a wonderful time and ended up staying and talking for two hours. It felt so good to get to know people involved in the church and from so many different places (again, that's why i love it here). We ended Sunday with the Thames Festival that was taking place this weekend, with lots of food, music, and tents lining the Thames river. The festival ended at 10, so they had fireworks over the Thames river at 9:45. The explosions lighting up with sky and reflecting in the water is an image I will never forget. I feel like I say this a lot, but it is so true: I am blessed. I don't want to take a single day for granted! Every day is new and exciting and I am so glad that I get to share my stories with all of you. Afterall, in the end all that matters is God, His people, and the stories they have to tell.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Classes have begun. Let's just say it is very different from class on campus. You just simply walk downstairs from your room, sit on a couch in the living room, and discuss a topic while taking notes. It is very relaxed and i love it. You feel much more like a scholar pondering the great mysteries of life over a cup of tea. (we really did have a tea break in one of our classes!) We also have alot more field trips and adventures, example a: going to the Natural History Museum for BP. :) Needless to say, having class brings a little order and structure to the otherwise craziness of exploring and seeing this amazing city. After class on Monday, a few of us went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, to see everything from sculpture, to fashion, to ironwork, to jewelry. The jewelry room was by far my favorite as we saw how jewelry progressed from 500BC until now. Intricate gold and silver chains, breath-taking jewels, strange designs, and every color you can imagine. There was also a Beatrix Potter exhibit on one of the floors, displaying her drawings!
"It is much more satisfactory to address a real live child; I often think that that was the secret of the success of Peter Rabbit, it was written to a child - not made to order." - Beatrix
The following day we went to the Natural History Museum for Biblical Perspectives class (since we are discussing Genesis). I did not realize there were so many animals i had never seen or heard of before! How is that possible? God is so creative. He could've just made a few animals and been done, but no. There are millions. One room showed the actual scale of the largest animals in the world and the Blue Whale will make your jaw drop open. It went from one wall to the other. Elephants and giraffes look like insects next to it. We also visited the dinosaur exhibit and the fossils they have found are remarkable. Hard to imagine what the world was like then. My how things change.
Yesterday was our orientation with CAPA (the program that places us for our internships) and I finally found out where i will be spending 20 hours a week as an intern! I will be assisting at the Hornsey School for Girls on the outskirts of Zone 2 of London (not in the city at all) and i am so excited! Molly McCollum and I had a chance to ride out to our site, which takes a hour by tube, to see the school and get familiar with the route. Our timing was perfect because just as we got to the bus stop to head home, the school let out and we were able to see many of the girls as they went home. They have school uniforms of black dress jackets with their emblem sewed on, black skirts or black slacks, and knee-high socks. There is literally every culture represented in this school (London is a very diverse place). I cannot wait to be stretched and taken out of my comfort zone. Not only will i be placed in a completely different education system, but i have never worked in a school for only girls, and from so many backgrounds! I am walking into this internship with an open heart and an eagerness to learn all i can. I have my interview tomorrow at 8:45am so please be praying that it goes well! Today's prospects include a run in Hyde Park and reading in a coffee shop down the street. I am so blessed. Love you all!
The following day we went to the Natural History Museum for Biblical Perspectives class (since we are discussing Genesis). I did not realize there were so many animals i had never seen or heard of before! How is that possible? God is so creative. He could've just made a few animals and been done, but no. There are millions. One room showed the actual scale of the largest animals in the world and the Blue Whale will make your jaw drop open. It went from one wall to the other. Elephants and giraffes look like insects next to it. We also visited the dinosaur exhibit and the fossils they have found are remarkable. Hard to imagine what the world was like then. My how things change.
Yesterday was our orientation with CAPA (the program that places us for our internships) and I finally found out where i will be spending 20 hours a week as an intern! I will be assisting at the Hornsey School for Girls on the outskirts of Zone 2 of London (not in the city at all) and i am so excited! Molly McCollum and I had a chance to ride out to our site, which takes a hour by tube, to see the school and get familiar with the route. Our timing was perfect because just as we got to the bus stop to head home, the school let out and we were able to see many of the girls as they went home. They have school uniforms of black dress jackets with their emblem sewed on, black skirts or black slacks, and knee-high socks. There is literally every culture represented in this school (London is a very diverse place). I cannot wait to be stretched and taken out of my comfort zone. Not only will i be placed in a completely different education system, but i have never worked in a school for only girls, and from so many backgrounds! I am walking into this internship with an open heart and an eagerness to learn all i can. I have my interview tomorrow at 8:45am so please be praying that it goes well! Today's prospects include a run in Hyde Park and reading in a coffee shop down the street. I am so blessed. Love you all!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Hide and Seek
Today is Sunday, so this was our first chance to attend a sunday morning church service. We attended Holy Trinity Brompton in Kensington. Don't let the name fool you, it was very contemporary and the worship was so refreshing! The man who spoke today was fantastic as he discussed the important role of petition in our prayer lives. Jesus did say "give us this day our daily bread." God wants us to pray about our mundane needs too. They may not always be answered, but you're still getting to talk to the Abba Father and have so many more opportunities to thank Him when He does answer them. How basic, but yet often forgotten. So i'm going to work on that and start praying more often, even in the small things. Like getting this cough to go away...
The church meets in an old stone building with stained glass and columns and yet there are projector screens and microphones etc. It was pretty amazing to see the collaboration of old and new. How amazing to worship a God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
After church, Molly and I went for a run. We were intending to get to Holland Park and after running for about 3 miles, we finally stumbled upon the back entrance and began to make our way through. As we kept going, there was the sound of laughing and running children, so we went to see what was going on. As we came closer we saw that there were 20 or 30 boys, all dressed in army clothes running around the park. There were two guys (in their 20's) leading the game in the center near a tree. All of them had brown paint or dirt smeared on their cheeks and foreheads and i thought that maybe we had stumbled upon Neverland and Peter Pan was going to jump out at any moment. The guys leading the game said hello and told us we could join in if we wanted to. So we proceeded to play "40-40" (which is kinda like hide and seek) with a bunch of 7 year old boys in army outfits. We found out that it was one of the little boy's birthday and he was turning 7 today. Molly and I had to get going, but it was so much fun for those brief minutes to be 7 again. (not to mention hearing their awesome British accents). We did eventually make it back to the house after seeing alot of the city, running through crowded sidewalks and taking a few short cuts. What a great day. I wish there was a picture i could post with this, but obviously we didn't have our cameras with us...There might be a nap in my near future, we'll see how it goes. I don't know why, but i just had to share that story with all of you for its childish fun and a feeling of not just being an American tourist. I loved it. I'm hoping for many more Neverland experiences and maybe i can smear a little dirt on my cheeks next time...
The church meets in an old stone building with stained glass and columns and yet there are projector screens and microphones etc. It was pretty amazing to see the collaboration of old and new. How amazing to worship a God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
After church, Molly and I went for a run. We were intending to get to Holland Park and after running for about 3 miles, we finally stumbled upon the back entrance and began to make our way through. As we kept going, there was the sound of laughing and running children, so we went to see what was going on. As we came closer we saw that there were 20 or 30 boys, all dressed in army clothes running around the park. There were two guys (in their 20's) leading the game in the center near a tree. All of them had brown paint or dirt smeared on their cheeks and foreheads and i thought that maybe we had stumbled upon Neverland and Peter Pan was going to jump out at any moment. The guys leading the game said hello and told us we could join in if we wanted to. So we proceeded to play "40-40" (which is kinda like hide and seek) with a bunch of 7 year old boys in army outfits. We found out that it was one of the little boy's birthday and he was turning 7 today. Molly and I had to get going, but it was so much fun for those brief minutes to be 7 again. (not to mention hearing their awesome British accents). We did eventually make it back to the house after seeing alot of the city, running through crowded sidewalks and taking a few short cuts. What a great day. I wish there was a picture i could post with this, but obviously we didn't have our cameras with us...There might be a nap in my near future, we'll see how it goes. I don't know why, but i just had to share that story with all of you for its childish fun and a feeling of not just being an American tourist. I loved it. I'm hoping for many more Neverland experiences and maybe i can smear a little dirt on my cheeks next time...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Portobello
Can you believe it? I'm already writing another post and it's only been a day! crazy.
Today is Saturday which means: MARKETS! Every Saturday, London turns into a hustling and bustling sea of tents full of every kind of clothing, jewlery, food, and anything else you can imagine! A small group of us went to Portobello Market today and got there close to 9 when they open. This was a smart choice because by 10:30, the streets were so packed that we could barely get through! Portobello is a fantastic market full of good smelling foods, colorful clothes, neat antiques, and so much more. I'm talking tent after tent right next to each other for miles down the street. It can be a little overwhelming, but you just take it as it comes and enjoy it for the chaos and magnitude! I wasn't planning on buying anything, but I did find one treasure - an awesome scarf. It's very unique and i didn't see another one like in all the shops and tents so i thought it was worth it. It might be the coolest scarf i've ever seen, haha. After 2 hours of wading through the crowds, we headed back home. I decided to have a more relaxed day and have just been at the Daniel House catching up on my life. Part of that has been uploading pictures, so go check them out on my facebook! Today has been very restful and much needed!
Did i mention the weather has been amazing? We are so blessed with sunny skies, nice breeze, and no rain! It hasn't rained yet (knock on wood). Everything is so much better with good weather.
Anyways, I don't know what I'll do the rest of the day, but it should be fun!
Love you all!
Today is Saturday which means: MARKETS! Every Saturday, London turns into a hustling and bustling sea of tents full of every kind of clothing, jewlery, food, and anything else you can imagine! A small group of us went to Portobello Market today and got there close to 9 when they open. This was a smart choice because by 10:30, the streets were so packed that we could barely get through! Portobello is a fantastic market full of good smelling foods, colorful clothes, neat antiques, and so much more. I'm talking tent after tent right next to each other for miles down the street. It can be a little overwhelming, but you just take it as it comes and enjoy it for the chaos and magnitude! I wasn't planning on buying anything, but I did find one treasure - an awesome scarf. It's very unique and i didn't see another one like in all the shops and tents so i thought it was worth it. It might be the coolest scarf i've ever seen, haha. After 2 hours of wading through the crowds, we headed back home. I decided to have a more relaxed day and have just been at the Daniel House catching up on my life. Part of that has been uploading pictures, so go check them out on my facebook! Today has been very restful and much needed!
Did i mention the weather has been amazing? We are so blessed with sunny skies, nice breeze, and no rain! It hasn't rained yet (knock on wood). Everything is so much better with good weather.
Anyways, I don't know what I'll do the rest of the day, but it should be fun!
Love you all!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Unidentified Network
Hi everyone!
I AM HERE! and safe. and moved in. Man it has been a crazy crazy first week here. We have hit the ground running 90 miles a minute and haven't stopped yet. This first week has been orientation so I'm sure once we start classes and have a set schedule, things will calm down alot.
Here is a brief recap of the highlights so far: (sorry this blog is probably going to be long, but i will try to be better about blogging more often!)
We arrived at 12:30 London time after flying all night (and trying to sleep although that was pretty much a fail). We lugged our suitcases up to our rooms, luckily I'm on the 3rd floor unlike many people who are on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors! One of the main reasons I have had little internet contact is that my computer will not hook up to the wireless in the house! I have literally spent the last 3 days troubleshooting every possibility and nothing has succeeded thus far. I quickly found out how much i relied on my computer and (due partly to exhaustion) i was so frustrated and made everything seem worse and all i wanted to do was go home. How silly is that? But i did get some sleep and everything has seemed brighter since! Who cares about an unidentified network? We'll get it figured out. For now i will communicate through the ethernet cord in the office. My room is plenty big and i have a big window that overlooks the street and i can see the trees watch the people of Kensington walk by. It's great.
Our first full day here in London was busy from the start! I wont bore you with all the details but one of the best parts of the day was getting a walking tour with our neighbor Roger who took us around Kensington (which is much bigger than i thought!) Kensington is a gorgeous area. We went to Lord Leighton's house (he's a painter) and his entire foyer was covered in breathe-taking deep teal blue tiles from the far east. I wanted to jump into the wall and swim around. This man had collected thousands of tiles and when he renovated his house, the architect put them everywhere. It was a bit over the top but definitely created the wow factor. Mom you would have loved it! I almost got you a postcard, but there weren't any good ones. Interesting fact: they're painting all the phone booths black. This is a serious tragedy. What will London be without their red booths? Glad we're here to still see them their proper color. :)
Day 2: We had the special privilege of touring Buckingham Palace! They only allow outside guests to tour during August and September so we were very lucky! There are no words for how magnificent the inside of the palace was. Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures inside or i would show you! There was a original Rembrant painting in one of the rooms Mom, you would have liked it I'm sure! It is incredible the amount of detail, time, and money was spent on the royalty's home. They were all about making a good impression. ;) We then broke into teams and had a scavenger hunt! It was so much fun and a great way to get to know the city. For ours, we went to the British Museum, Covent Gardens, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square. One of the highlights was climbing the lions in Trafalgar. Let me tell you, it's harder to get up there than you think!
We also went on Drury lane. But sadly, there was no Muffin Man. Believe me, we looked! All the groups came back from their hunts and presented their pictures and the best group got a prize and we won! Yay for going to extra places, remembering what we learned at each place, and having good pics. It was great to see everyone's presentations because we got to see alot of other places that we wouldn't have seen that day otherwise.
Day 3 (today): we had a London Pass where a bunch of different attractions around London were free so again, running around crazy busy! We started off the day at the Tower of London with a hilarious tour guide, seeing the crown jewels, and seeing the Tower of London Bridge Exhibition. We also went to All Hallows, the oldest church in London! We then took a break for our first fish n' chips of the trip, which was of course great! We then traveled on to St. Pauls. And it doesn't matter how many times you've seen it before, it is just as fantastic each time. We then proceeded up the 600 odd steps to the top of the dome despite the protest of my legs and the view was worth the sore muscles. One of the men who works there humorously commented that "Only a man would build a building this tall and not put in an elevator." And again, we couldn't take pictures, but whoah. I could have spent the entire day just in there. Christopher Wren was a phenomenal architect and artist who deserves all the praise he receives. Do you know that he is actually buried inside St. Paul's, but only with a simple plaque? Humility in the midst of his grand creation. The rest of the day was busy with lots of little stops. I love Covent Garden with the open air market, fresh food, live music, street performers, everything. One of the girls on our trip, Mary Evelyn dislocated her shoulder walking up the stairs at the Daniel House and was taken to the emergency room so it's been an eventful night as well. She is doing fine now and will be in a sling for a week or so.
And that about gets you up to speed on my time so far! I am so sorry for how long this is (and i didn't event tell you about everything!) I am definitely going to have to blog more often to get more details in! But yes. London is wonderful. I am going to love living here. It's still hard to wrap my brain around. I keep thinking i will be going home next week after a great vacation, but no, i'll be here! Tomorrow we are headed to Portabello Market and who knows after that. Please continue to keep our group in your prayers.
If you had made it this far, thanks for reading all this! You're a trooper. I am so blessed by my great friends and family. I can feel the love from across the pond.
I'm headed to bed. I definitely need the sleep! I cannot wait for tomorrow, each new day is so full of amazing and new experiences. I don't think i will ever run out of things to do in this city...
I AM HERE! and safe. and moved in. Man it has been a crazy crazy first week here. We have hit the ground running 90 miles a minute and haven't stopped yet. This first week has been orientation so I'm sure once we start classes and have a set schedule, things will calm down alot.
Here is a brief recap of the highlights so far: (sorry this blog is probably going to be long, but i will try to be better about blogging more often!)
We arrived at 12:30 London time after flying all night (and trying to sleep although that was pretty much a fail). We lugged our suitcases up to our rooms, luckily I'm on the 3rd floor unlike many people who are on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors! One of the main reasons I have had little internet contact is that my computer will not hook up to the wireless in the house! I have literally spent the last 3 days troubleshooting every possibility and nothing has succeeded thus far. I quickly found out how much i relied on my computer and (due partly to exhaustion) i was so frustrated and made everything seem worse and all i wanted to do was go home. How silly is that? But i did get some sleep and everything has seemed brighter since! Who cares about an unidentified network? We'll get it figured out. For now i will communicate through the ethernet cord in the office. My room is plenty big and i have a big window that overlooks the street and i can see the trees watch the people of Kensington walk by. It's great.
Our first full day here in London was busy from the start! I wont bore you with all the details but one of the best parts of the day was getting a walking tour with our neighbor Roger who took us around Kensington (which is much bigger than i thought!) Kensington is a gorgeous area. We went to Lord Leighton's house (he's a painter) and his entire foyer was covered in breathe-taking deep teal blue tiles from the far east. I wanted to jump into the wall and swim around. This man had collected thousands of tiles and when he renovated his house, the architect put them everywhere. It was a bit over the top but definitely created the wow factor. Mom you would have loved it! I almost got you a postcard, but there weren't any good ones. Interesting fact: they're painting all the phone booths black. This is a serious tragedy. What will London be without their red booths? Glad we're here to still see them their proper color. :)
Day 2: We had the special privilege of touring Buckingham Palace! They only allow outside guests to tour during August and September so we were very lucky! There are no words for how magnificent the inside of the palace was. Unfortunately we were not able to take pictures inside or i would show you! There was a original Rembrant painting in one of the rooms Mom, you would have liked it I'm sure! It is incredible the amount of detail, time, and money was spent on the royalty's home. They were all about making a good impression. ;) We then broke into teams and had a scavenger hunt! It was so much fun and a great way to get to know the city. For ours, we went to the British Museum, Covent Gardens, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square. One of the highlights was climbing the lions in Trafalgar. Let me tell you, it's harder to get up there than you think!
We also went on Drury lane. But sadly, there was no Muffin Man. Believe me, we looked! All the groups came back from their hunts and presented their pictures and the best group got a prize and we won! Yay for going to extra places, remembering what we learned at each place, and having good pics. It was great to see everyone's presentations because we got to see alot of other places that we wouldn't have seen that day otherwise.
Day 3 (today): we had a London Pass where a bunch of different attractions around London were free so again, running around crazy busy! We started off the day at the Tower of London with a hilarious tour guide, seeing the crown jewels, and seeing the Tower of London Bridge Exhibition. We also went to All Hallows, the oldest church in London! We then took a break for our first fish n' chips of the trip, which was of course great! We then traveled on to St. Pauls. And it doesn't matter how many times you've seen it before, it is just as fantastic each time. We then proceeded up the 600 odd steps to the top of the dome despite the protest of my legs and the view was worth the sore muscles. One of the men who works there humorously commented that "Only a man would build a building this tall and not put in an elevator." And again, we couldn't take pictures, but whoah. I could have spent the entire day just in there. Christopher Wren was a phenomenal architect and artist who deserves all the praise he receives. Do you know that he is actually buried inside St. Paul's, but only with a simple plaque? Humility in the midst of his grand creation. The rest of the day was busy with lots of little stops. I love Covent Garden with the open air market, fresh food, live music, street performers, everything. One of the girls on our trip, Mary Evelyn dislocated her shoulder walking up the stairs at the Daniel House and was taken to the emergency room so it's been an eventful night as well. She is doing fine now and will be in a sling for a week or so.
And that about gets you up to speed on my time so far! I am so sorry for how long this is (and i didn't event tell you about everything!) I am definitely going to have to blog more often to get more details in! But yes. London is wonderful. I am going to love living here. It's still hard to wrap my brain around. I keep thinking i will be going home next week after a great vacation, but no, i'll be here! Tomorrow we are headed to Portabello Market and who knows after that. Please continue to keep our group in your prayers.
If you had made it this far, thanks for reading all this! You're a trooper. I am so blessed by my great friends and family. I can feel the love from across the pond.
I'm headed to bed. I definitely need the sleep! I cannot wait for tomorrow, each new day is so full of amazing and new experiences. I don't think i will ever run out of things to do in this city...
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