Lately.

Another week has come and gone! Hard to believe. My days have been very full and there is a lot to catch you up on.
This weekend I decided to stay in London since we have been traveling so much and we will be gone on fall break travels for 10 days this next weekend. On Friday I went to the Imperial War Museum. It is a gorgeous building, with a lobby exploding with airplanes, tanks, and guns. By far my favorite part was the Holocaust Exhibit. It is one of the most powerful museum exhibits I have ever seen and there is no way to leave without a heaviness on your heart and mind. It was so interesting to learn more about the why and how behind the holocaust, rather than just the event itself. But gosh. Those pictures could rip your heart out. It is hard to imagine what goes on inside the mind of a person that treats other humans the way that they did. And to think it was only 80 years ago! History is not as far in the past as we often think...

I also went to Wimbledon this last weekend. It was a pretty dramatic day. I left for the Tennis Club and Museum at 12:45, anticipating about an hour travel time. The last tour of the day (where you see center court!) was at 2:30, so I thought I was leaving with plenty of time to spare. The first of many incidents began when the tube train I was on stopped at Earl's Court and they said that due to service issues, this train wasn't going any further. So i got off and waited over 5 minutes for another one to come. I then crammed myself onto another train, only to hear that there is no service running between Putney Bridge and Southfields (where I was trying to go). So I get to Putnety Bridge exit and am directed to a bus stop down the street. Once there I realize I have no idea which bus goes to Southfields. I ask several people, who have no idea, before I finally ask a man in the blue 'help' vest who tells me to wait at this bus stop. Three buses later, one to Southfields pulls into the bus stop. At this point it is now almost 2. I am beginning to panic a little. The sweet lady sitting next to me is reassuring and helps with directions once we arrive at Southfields. I then wait for another bus that is to take me to the actual Wimbledon Tennis Club and Museum. I'm going along and hear the stop called. I wait for the bus to stop, and the bus driver just keeps on going, so I assume we haven't arrived yet. That is, until I hear the next stop called. I go up to the driver and ask about the museum and he curtly remarks "Oh well that was two stops back!" As if somehow I was supposed to have magically evaporated out of the bus onto the entrance. So I jump off the bus and find myself sprinting back down the same street the busdriver has just driven me. At this point I have become pretty emotional. I realize a few tears have flown behind me as I continue to run the two bus stops back to my destination. By the time I arrive at the security gate, I am out of breath and pretty much sobbing. The security guard didn't know what to do with me. haha! I can only imagine what he thought as this 20 year old girl comes up to the museum in tears and declares "I have just been through Hell to get here!" He was so sweet to me though and told me that the tour group had just left and that he would let me catch up to them once I got a ticket. Still crying like an idiot, I walk into the museum and approach the girls at the counter. I explain again that I just experienced a nightmare trying to get here for the tour, that it's the only day I can visit, that I've spent two hours traveling, that I would really like to go on this tour, apologizing for crying, and that I'm just one person wanting to tag along to the group. The girl was very understanding and about to ring up the ticket when her manager walked out and said that due to health codes, only 43 people could go on the tour and it was full. And she would not budge. So I just stood there at the counter, in the lobby of the museum, crying. Yes it was a traumatic journey to get there, but I think I was crying more because I wanted so badly to do the tour for my parents. They both love tennis, play it, and watch Wimbledon every year. They are the reason I love Wimbledon. I wanted them to see it all vicariously through me and I had failed. So I stood there like a little kid and cried. The girl felt so bad for me that she took me to see center court anyway!

I stood in the stands of the gorgeous arena, still gasping for air and trying to regain my dignity, and the girl just let me stand there for a while and soak it all in. I finally collected myself and thanked her for her kindness. I was still able to see the best part of the tour, and for free! I then stayed and saw the museum which was very neat. By then, however, I was so emotionally and physically drained that I am sure I looked like a complete wreck. Needless to say I did not ask the girl to take a picture of me at center court. :) So yes. There is my Wimbledon story. Frustrating. But had its redemptive moments. Of course there was a local football match in the town of Wimbledon that day so there were hundreds of people trying to get back the same time I was and it took another long trip to get home. I learned a lot through that ordeal. Not the least of which to be flexible and not get so caught up in my plans!

On Monday, I went with a group of girls to Greenwich via boat tour. We went to see the Prime Meridian and I was able to have a foot in the Eastern and Western Hemisphere at the same time. Pretty cool.
We also went and saw Phantom of the Opera that night and it was fantastic! The set was unreal with falling chandeliers and candles emerging from the floor. And of course the wonderful songs sung by wonderful voices. The next day, our whole class had the opportunity to have tea at the Naval and Military Gentleman's Club near St. Jame's Park. It was a lovely old building, with a library, lounges, dining halls, and the like. Professor Graffius (our British professor for 'British Heritage and Culture') is a member there and had a special visit arranged. It was quite fun to feel a bit British as I sat in my nice dress, on a leather chair, drinking tea and eating a scone with clotted cream. :) That night we went to see Hamlet at the National Theatre. This version of the famous Shakespeare play was set in modern dress and I really enjoyed it! It was very long (almost 4 hours!) but the actors kept it interesting. The actor who played Hamlet was phenomenal. No ego whatsoever. The humility partnered with his great talent was really refreshing.

Today was my first day to teach my own lesson at Hornsey! The ESOL (English for Students of Other Languages) teacher asked me to prepare a lesson for this week on irregular verbs. So I came in, ready to meet with her before class to do final touches only to find that she was absent today. I was on my own for the lesson and spent much of the morning getting ready! The class itself was so much fun! The girls listened, participated, and really enjoyed our game of charades at the end. It was so rewarding to watch them understand what I was trying to convey. And I think they enjoyed a change of face and pace from their regular teacher. I need moments like this to remind of why I am doing what I am doing. It is those moments in the classroom - when I am teaching and it all seems to click and, in the midst of it all, I am building relationships with the students - that are the reason I will be a teacher one day. Hopefully there will be many more lessons to teach while I am here!

This week has been a bit of a transition week. The Sandley's have left and the Castle's have arrived which means that our classes have switched. We are doing a kind of two-term semester with certain classes taught the first half and different ones for the second half. So I will start my theater appreciation class with Mr. Castle after fall break! The Castles have two boys and it so fun to have a 13 and 10 year old running around the house. They add a great dynamic to our London family. And I'm pretty jealous of the 10 year old's footie pajamas....

It is Fall Break starting on Friday! Our whole class will leave for Paris at 6am and we will spend the weekend there. Then me and two other girls will head to Salzburg, Austria (Sound of Music land); Bavaria, Germany (please google pictures of this fairytale place!), and end the week in Prague! It is going to be a splendid 10 days. So because of that, it will be a while until I blog again. I will do my best to post about the break as soon as I get back. We will be back in London November 1st, so please keep us all in your prayers as we travel!

Cheers!

A Cluttered Mind.

So I've kinda been putting off this post.
Maybe it was because I haven't had any major trips this last week. Or maybe because I wasn't in the mood to write or didn't feel creative. But mostly I think it was because I was waiting for my head to be clear. But then I realized: as humans, our heads are never clear. I'm always going to have 902738423 things going on inside my head, demands on my time, and emotions that take over. So here I am. Just writing in the midst of the unclear head. And all the messy thoughts. I'm sorry if this isn't very organized.

I have finally been here long enough that I am accidentally taking things for granted. Like the sheer fact that I'M IN LONDON. I forget sometimes. But I have to remember, as I'm complaining about being tired or stressed, that I'm tired and stressed because I was IN SCOTLAND or going to great theater shows, or getting ready for A WEEK IN EUROPE. All things that deserve my utter gratitude! So i am trying so hard to remember that each day here is a gift. I need to be content. And I need to cherish every minute, because in 2 months none of this will be possible.

I have also been here long enough and learned enough to know that there is so much I don't know! The saying that "The more I learn, the less I know." is so true! I consider myself a person with a decent head on my shoulders, with a decent understanding of the world. But man, I feel like I am back in Kindergarten. My understanding of history, the modern world, and all the people in it, is minuscule. And you think is would be increasing with my world traveling. But it is actually the opposite. Step outside of your comfortable American bubble and all of the sudden there is more knowledge than you can handle. And I know that we all say (and i have) that Americans need to get rid of their superiority complex, but I didn't actually understand what that meant until now. I've only lived in another country for 7 weeks and I can already tell a difference. I am surrounded by rich cultures, languages, diversity, and equality within it all, and it is intoxicating. I am going to go home and look around and think "where are all the languages? and why does everyone look the same?" There is something very humbling and enriching about being the minority (as it is in the school where I am an intern) and being just one of so many languages and people groups. God created us all equal. But do we actually believe that? Or is it just something we say because it is what we're supposed to say?

I attended the rehearsal for the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra this week and let me tell ya, it was phenomenal! These kids all lived on the streets. They were into drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and the like, but this program takes this kids off the streets and teaches them classical music. This program has been funded by the Venezuelan government for many, many years and is one of the only stable funds in their rocky history. This orchestra brings hope. By picking up a violin, trumpet, or cello, those kids' lives are changed forever! They have a future, a passion, and they have people to support them all along the way. It was emotional to see them all up there pouring their hearts out on their instruments and knowing that they came from such desperate circumstances and now sit on a stage in London to perform top level orchestra masterpieces. May we all live with such passion. May we desperately strive for our dreams and goals as if there is only one shot. God bless the people who run the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra.

I was also able to go to Oxford for a day this weekend. A small group of us went with our neighbor Roger, who actually attended Oxford for graduate school. Everything seemed to be closed that day, but Roger still got us in! It was like having a back stage pass to the town, with our own personal tour guide. One of the neatest things we did was climb the tower of Magdelene College (where C.S.Lewis attended). Almost no one gets to climb the tower and Roger had called two days before to reserve the key and he walked out with a giant key that unlocked a large wooden door and we had to lock ourselves in afterward! It was literally the 7 of us in there. And it was a fantastic view of the whole town! Oxford is a very quaint and respectable town. I could feel my brain cells growing just from walking the streets. I also felt like I could sit down and write epic novels of magic wardrobes and hobbit tales. ;) We did actually go to The Eagle and The Child, the pub where Tolkien and Lewis used to meet with The Inklings to discuss literature and theology over a good pint. It was pretty amazing to think that such great men sat at those tables. Oh to be a fly on that wall! In addition, we toured The Great Hall of Christ's Church, which was used as the great hall in Hogwarts in the filming of Harry Potter (not sure there are many places in England that Harry Potter WASN'T filmed in! haha). If you didn't know, Oxford University is not just one university. It is composed of 28 smaller colleges. And we were able to see 8 of them! They are all so unique, each with their own church, dining hall, dormitories etc. Beautiful architecture. Great gardens. Wonderful stained glass. Memories of thousands of students, long since graduated.

In other news from this week, we saw Oliver last night! I have seen the movie, performed the play, and know all the songs, but seeing the musical live was refreshing and new! Everyone in the production did a fantastic job. Oliver had a voice of an angel. And Faygan put on a show that could not be rivaled. All in all, a very entertaining and fun night. I'm going to have those songs stuck in my head for a loooong time...
So those are just a few of my random thoughts for the week. I'm glad I got at least of few of them down so my brain will be a little less cluttered.

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

"It's only when you see the madness of others that you can diffuse it in yourself." - Sherife Tayfun
When we get overwhelmed with all that we have to do and live up to, just take a step back! Pour into someone else's life, be a part of relieving their struggles, and all of the sudden you find that you're own problems are not quite as bad any more. The load gets a little lighter. And we could all use a little weight off our shoulders as we run this race called life.

Edinburgh

This past weekend, our entire group had the opportunity to go to Edinburgh, Scotland! It is only a 4 hour train ride away and still in the United Kingdom, but Scotland has a unique culture of its own. When we first arrived it was raining, cold, and windy (which is very typical Scottish weather). Luckily our first event was to take a bus tour around the city, so we were able to see the sites without braving the elements. We then checked into our hotel and headed out to explore. The first stop was the National Museum. We were able to see the history of Scotland, from prehistoric times up to today. It was very neat to get a glimpse into this country's past and have some back story as we saw the rest of the city (and we didn't have to be out in the rain). Scotland has been through a lot. You can almost feel the heaviness of the past in the buildings and streets. In addition, many of the buildings have black on the stones from all the soot that poured from the city during the industrial revolution. There is a great view from the top of the Museum and it was my first chance to really see Edinburgh. However, there would be several views of the city to come that would put this to shame!

St. Giles Cathedral

We also went to St. Giles Cathedral and saw the beautiful interior just before it closed. No matter how many churches and cathedrals I see, they can still take my breath away. For all you Harry Potter fans: we had dessert at The Elephant House, also known as "the birthplace of Harry Potter". For those that don't know, this was the restaurant where J.K.Rowling first wrote down ideas for the book on a napkin. It's a very quaint place with great hot chocolate and desserts. :) I'm sure their food is great as well. Since we had been up since 5am, we decided to call it a night early and get the very much needed sleep to make it through the weekend.

Saturday began with a fantastic hotel breakfast and then setting out for a tour of the Edinburgh Castle. The castle is located on top of a large hill made of volcanic rock. It is pretty remarkable to see this gigantic building with walls and fortresses jutting up out of the side of the volcanic rock. I'm still not sure how they were ever able to build it there. The castle has a long history of Kings and wars. We were able to see the crown jewels as well as the coronation stone that is used every time a new King or Queen is crowned in England. The castle was used during the World Wars and there were several exhibits about the military and prisoners of war (where we actually walked through the cells where they would stay). It is a picture of Scottish endurance and also has a great view of the city and the river running through it.

We spent most of the day on my favorite part of the weekend: hiking to the top of Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano in the middle of Edinburgh. This massive formation looms over the city and there is nothing even close to compete with it's height. The picture does not come close to doing it justice. Those are people on the bottom right side, to help give you some perspective. We spent about 2 and 1/2 hours hiking up and down and enjoying the fantastic view. I had to look down at my feet for the steeper and trickier parts on the trail, but then i would look up and we would be higher, with a view that takes your breath away (literally too, with all the wind!). Not only could i see the vast city with winding streets, thousands of houses, and the spires of churches and monuments, but i could also see out in the Scottish countryside with rolling hills and grass as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately on our short 3 day trip we did not get to see all of the great landscapes that Scotland is so well known for (the Highlands, the Lochs, small villages etc.) but i felt like i got a taste of what those places would look like and i have a appetite to see more! Maybe one day i will be back and see all of those amazing things. But until then, the views from the top of Arthur's Seat will have to be enough. And man, was it phenomenal!! Oh and i forgot to mention that we had perfect weather that day. It was gross, rainy, and cold the other two days, but we were so blessed to have a break with clear skies and sun for our day of hiking!

The view from Arthur's Seat...

I don't know how people can stand on the top of a volcano and look out over the countryside and say that there is no God. Every blade of grass screams His praise. Every black stone declares His majesty and power.

After a long day of rigorous physical activity, we took a relaxing break for dinner before we went on a ghost tour! Apparently Edinburgh is one of the most haunted places in Britain. Our guide took us around to different parts of the city and told us horrific tales of torture and killings that took place on the very spots we were standing. It wasn't the scary type thing you would expect from a haunted house at Halloween, but it was so interesting to hear these true stories about people who lived and died there. We heard about the longest hanging in recorded history (8 hours) and stood in the very alley that was barricaded during The Plaque and dead bodies literally piled up in the thousands because there were not enough people to bury them all...we then went down in the vaults underneath the city. These were once used for merchant store rooms, but because of the dampness they had to move out all of their merchandise. The space was then used for illegal drinking taverns, brothels, and cults. Secret dealings in the dark of the vaults. Who knows what all happened down there. It was pretty spooky with only candlelight to see by and so many dark openings around you. Our guide told us some great ghost stories (both true and not) and got a good jump out of us at one point. We stood in the room that is supposedly THE most haunted place in Britain (according to Physics and mediums etc, if you believe that sort of thing) and some people refuse to go in. But don't worry, nothing happened. Although, people have reported strange things happening to them on the tour. I'm pretty sure most of it is psychological, but still interesting none the less!

Our last day in Edinburgh was mostly spent going into shops (for souvenirs, but also just to enjoy the local scene). We met a great older man who ran an antiquarian book and drawings shop and talked to him for a good 30 minutes. We also met a guy in one of the kilt shops who recommended a fudge shop down the road and of course, how can you turn down home made fudge?! yep, it was delicious. We ate a great local cafe and sat for a couple of hours enjoying the warmth, tea, and music. We did go to the National Gallery that morning and i thoroughly enjoyed slowly walking through the quiet halls and taking in all the great paintings. My favorites were the few Monet paintings they had on the top floor. It was also good to see a lot of Scottish paintings and see the unique characteristics of their art and artists.

Our train left at 3pm, but our adventure was far from over! Due to some complications, our reserved seats were not honored and we had to just find seats wherever we could for the hour train ride to New Castle, where we would catch our train home. However, there was engineering work being done at one of the stations along the way and we missed our connecting train! So we got onto the next train to London, but found out that because we had missed our train, our reserved seats were again not honored and other people had the reserved seats. So all 27 Samford people piled off the train just before it left and stood on the platform and watched the train pull out. We probably looked like a pitiful crew. Needless to say, our professors and house manager were not pleased with how we were treated and after a talk with the station manager, we had first class seats on the next train to London! The ride back was great fun, with large seats, complimentary tea and snacks, and leg room! It was great to have first class seats, but we did not get home until midnight. Our 4 hour journey took us 9 hours to complete.... a very enjoyable and full weekend all in all, but there is still some sleep to catch up on! And here i am, thrown into the next week with classes etc. Most of my time is not my own (in the sense that is already so planned out!) so i do the best with the free time i am given and hope that everything can get done! I'm off to British Heritage and Culture class now and we are seeing the play War Horse tonight and it is supposed to be a fantastic show.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for safety for our group! I don't know if you've heard, but they have uncovered a terrorist plot that is meant to attack major cities in Europe. All we can do is keep our eyes open and be aware. They are only issuing an alert, not a warning, which means we need to be careful but we can still travel at this point. I am just praying that nothing will happen, now that the plot has been uncovered. British security is very experienced with terrorist threats and I'm sure they can handle this.