Well I haven't written on here for a few days because nothing really exciting was happening. I went to London yesterday though and that's definitely worth mentioning. Though I'll start by posing a question: have you ever thought you were going to be really cold so you put on all these clothes and then realized that you were actually rather warm but it was so hard to get everything on that you were just too lazy to take it off again? Well that's the situation I've been in for basically two days! It's awful. I know it's not blizzarding here though, or below zero at all so maybe I'm alone in this sentiment at the moment. Anyway, the fact remains, getting two jackets on and off is a lot more effort than I wanted to exert while getting dressed and now again when thinking about bed time. Ugh.
So, I don't remember what day I last posted on here...and I really only remember yesterday...so that's all I'm gonna talk about! We woke up yesterday and Mandy made a great breakfast and then I did the dishes. It sucked! Whatever though, the kitchen is clean! I finished that and then started to get ready for the bus to come and take us to London!!!!!!! I was already dressed and then Erika was getting dressed and she put on leggings under her pants so then I started thinking about that because we were told to dress warm since we were going to a soccer game in the dead of night and it was supposed to be about 20 degrees. So I ended up putting on leggings under my pants but then I was really hot for most of the times when we were inside. I also had on a long sleeved shirt and then a hoodie over that and it was, like I said earlier, so hard to get on that I didn't want to take it off! That's beside the point though, I'm just saying...it was warm.
Anyway, we took the bus to London and it drove us all around the city, we got to drive over two bridges and see the big clock that people call Big Ben. Actually though, Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the tower next to the clock...so I don't really know what to call the clock/clock tower now. I saw it though! And I saw the London eye and the parliament houses and all these famous buildings. We were dropped off at the British Library...I think that's what it was called but now that I type it out it doesn't look right. Eh...we went there and there was an exhibit on the evolution of the English Language and that was so amazing! There were all these different speakers where you could hear famous speeches made throughout history and different songs from English speaking countries and dialects from different parts of the same country and the origins of words. Fascinating! Then there was what they called the treasure room. That had in it all sorts of original pieces of art and literature including but not limited to: Papyrus with the gospel of John on it, original drafts of Mozart and Beethoven's music, original drafts of the Beatles' songs on napkins and the backs of envelopes, and Jeffry Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It blew my mind! I was in awe of some of the things I saw. It was by far one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I've gotta go back! Of course, I couldn't really find anyone to walk around with so I was just kinda bopping around on my own.
Then we went to Candle Mass at Westminster Abby. Shoot that was cool! We were standing outside in line, waiting to get in and this robed man walked out and was passing out programs to everyone and he got to the group in front of me and then dropped the stack and he goes, "S***!" and he yelled it! And I had to try really hard not to laugh because this guy was obviously not supposed to say that and the guys in front of me were laughing really hard. It was hilarious. The actual service was beautiful though. They had an all male choir and the soprano parts were sung by little boys and man, I don't know if I've ever heard anything like it. It was amazing and moving and gorgeous and I just wanted to buy a cd but I didn't think it would be appropriate to ask if there was one. And I was going to get up and take communion when everyone went but they dismissed our row and I didn't notice until everyone was gone but they guy next to me and I asked if he was going and he said no so then I felt weird getting up by myself in front of everyone and I decided not to go...but I wish I had. I watched a lot of other people take it though!
After that, it was straight to the football match. Fulham (which I've been spelling wrong) and Newcastle United! Man it was AMAZING! We were sitting with all the Newcastle fans and they were loud and had all these cheers that everyone knew and I just started yelling getting all into it and it was seriously so much fun. We lost. I think I'm definitely a Newcastle fan for life though. I'd write a cheer in here, but it's hard to capture the essence in type....also there were a lot of expletives. The game ended at around 10:30 and we walked back to the bus and ended up leaving the city around 11:00. I was so tired at that point. And today I woke up early to do homework but it was all reading and since I read at a steady 20 pages an hour...that didn't get finished before class. Some days, like today, I have class from 1:00 to 6:00 and it's really a bit boring. My last class was at St. Peter's college in city center so we walked there and then after, a few of us stayed for the evening chapel. That's not what they call it but that's basically all it is. Then we went to St. Aldate's for college group time and that was really amazing for the second week in a row! Hah, weird to think I've only been here for two weeks. The lesson was about judgement and the woman (that's right...) was talking about how when you believe then judgement day seems bearable and to those raised in the Church or who come to Church all the time it's easy to think you've got it going on but she said, "Just because you're born in McDonald's doesn't mean your a hamburger". I thought that was funny.
I hadn't eaten since noon though, and after the college group, I was ready for some food because it was 10:00! So on the way home, I stopped with some girls to get Ali's which is this amazing van on the side of the road that sells a bunch of different food and such. I got chips (french fries) with chicken, cheese, and ketchup. You eat it with a fork because apparently people over here are too good for finger food. Whatever! It's so good though. I might eat that for the rest of my life. I won't really...but it's so good!!!!!!!! Anyway, now it's after midnight and I'm going with the touristy class tomorrow so I have to be up early...lame. I won't let another four days go by without posting anything though, that was a bit ridiculous. Especially since I can't remember what I was even doing that kept me from it...weird.
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