Too Random to be True

Today was one of those days where everything seemed to fall into place...even when I wasn't planning a place for certain things. Let me explain.

This morning Jordan and I decided to explore the main financial district of the city because today is a bank holiday so it was pretty much deserted since no one down there has to go to work. We were absolutely right. It was like a ghost town, which made it very easy to get our walk done...until we ran into some police tape and barricades. Then we heard the music and discovered there was a 10k going on in the city! We watched for a bit, saw the leaders pass and cheered some others on before continuing on our walk. Soon, we reached some more tape and more runners...seriously our walk was following the race, but backward. It was so much fun to watch all of the runners while looking at the cool buildings in downtown London at the same time (Lloyds of London...Swiss Reinsurance Tower....) My favorite was a larger man who was jogging slowly (but still moving) wearing a shirt with the words "you are behind a fat man" on the back. LOVE IT.

After our walk Jordan and I went to one of the most touristy places we could think of in London hoping it would be open on a bank holiday. Like always, covent garden did not let us down. We were going to hit up Wagamamas, a personal favorite, when we spotted Maxwell's, and the best thing about Maxwell's...half price Mondays. Yep, main courses are up to 50% off on Mondays! We went in and ordered some nachos to share and a cheeseburger each - thinking that this was a typical London restaurant and the portions were going to be tiny - NOPE! The nachos were huge! We couldn't even finish our appetizer and we each only ate half a burger. This restaurant is totally Americanized (well except for the free refills thing...but they are getting there)...it was lovely.

On the way home from Maxwell's we saw something that I hope I will never forget and I am so sad that I didn't take a picture...15 grown men (probably like 25 years old or so) all dressed up in full body costumes. Picture this, a Telly-Tuby, Popeye, Batman, Peter Pan, Fred Flinstone, Tigger, Spongebob, Fred (from Scooby Doo)....and many others. They were just chilling on the tube like it was no big. They went to get off just a few stops after we got on so...Jordan and I followed them. We walked through Picadilly Circus with them and had a little chat with Peter Pan as they walked into a cafe for lunch. Just like that. No explanation as to why they were all in costume...it was amazing. I wish you all could see the image of all 15 of them lined up on the escalator in a row...haha love it.

So after realizing where we were and finally finding our way back home, it was time for a little school work and dinner (that I couldn't even touch...still so totally stuffed from lunch). After dinner most of the people at the center went to see Angels and Demons for 3.50 at the theater down the street. Such a good deal and such a good movie. It was seriously one of the best days I have had in London yet. I can't wait for the adventures that Scotland is going to bring later this week.

More Sunday Thoughts

Since not much happens here on Sundays there isn't a lot to tell. I went to the Mitcham ward and helped teach primary to the CTR class (4-7 year olds). The class isn't big at all and they are all very shy but it is always a lot of fun and I am always amazed at how much they know. Next week I am teaching the valiant class (8-11 year olds) by myself so I am looking forward to that.

After dinner today the entire group went to the Barbican Concert Hall to see the London Symphany Orchestra perform. They performed some Elgar, Stravinsky, and Brahms. I really enjoyed it but I must have been coughing a little too much for the man next to me who kept offering me cough drops. Sorry...

So last week I listed all the things I miss about home. Just so you don't think I am not loving it here, this week there is a list of things I am definitely going to miss about London.

1. Marks and Spencer...oh how I love M&S. Its like Target on steroids...seriously. Their fruit is always so fresh and so cheap and their chocolate chip flapjacks...HEAVEN!
2. Boots...how can I live without a Boots just around the corner for all my convenient store needs?
3. Nandos...YUMMY chicken pitas. They let you get your own water and soda with as much ice as you want. Fresh and fast.
4. Wagamamas...so much food and such good service. Can never go wrong with the number 41. The soup is a little hard to eat but totally worth it.
5. Waffle Man...The hole in the wall waffle place on Bayswater - the only place open past 9 here. And he is so friendly. I don't know his name but we call him Gustav.
6. Gelato...the place on Queensway is divine. So many flavors so little time.
7. Parks...ok, must get away from food. I love how green this city is while still maintaining a city status. One minute I am hearing the busy streets and the next I can be in a forest...its amazing. I love having trails to explore when I run.
8. Public Transportation...ok, as much as I hate when the tube is crowded it really is a great system. And the buses are so much fun to ride, those drivers don't yield to ANYONE.
9. Shows...What beats a show for 20 pounds...in 50 pound seats. Absolutely NOTHING.
10. The Center...Yeah, life is crazy living with 40 girls and 1 boy but I am going to miss having people around all of the time. As strange as it is I love living in the same building as my professors. True, seeing them in my pajamas in the morning isn't the most glamorous thing, but I feel like I can connect with them and then class isn't so stressful. And, the Shulers are so nice to feed us two wonderful meals a day (yep...back to food). I love breakfast here, nothing is better.

More Fun in the Sun

Just like yesterday the sun was beautiful today which was fabulous because we had major plans for today. After a relaxing morning we went to Portabello Road and I got a chocolate and banana crepe (which was amazing) and a fresh fruit cup. After breakfast we relaxed in the center for a while before packing a picnic basket full of fresh food we bought at Borough yesterday. We had such a feast...fresh bread, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, snap peas, grapes and bell peppers....mmmm it was so good. We topped it all off with fresh apple/strawberry juice and a picnic basket Ari bought in Bath last week.

We took the tube out to Hampstead Heath and walked to the huge park there and ate and slept. It was so nice...warm and sunny with a little bit of breeze. I loved it.

Later in the afternoon we walked down Oxford Circus because it was closed to traffic for a fair type thing so we wanted to see what that was all about...kinda disappointing, but still fun.

News around the center is that everyone is sick...its no fun to be sick away from home, but it is especially not fun to be sick in a foreign country. I just hope it doesn't last long.

Busy Day

Today was another beautiful day in London. Since there wasn't any class I slept in a little and then started my day with a run. By the time I was ready for the day and had worked on my paper a little the group (me, Rachel, Jordan, and Ari) were ready to go down to Borough market and find some lunch. Borough market is a huge food market and one of my new favorite places in London. There is so much fresh food and it is all so cheap! I love it! I found lunch (a chicken wrap made right in front of me with fresh salsa, mayo, chiles and some lettuce stuff) for today and then we got some for tomorrow for a picnic. The best part....SAMPLES EVERYWHERE! Seriously...I can't express how much I love this place. mmmmm yum

After the market we went to the Natural History Museum which is one of the places we have to go to for our fine arts class (this does not classify as a fine arts museum in my book). It was fun though, very interactive, and we got our assignment done so thats good.

After dinner our little group went to ride the London Eye. Remember how the center didn't have hot water the first few weeks I was here? Well, since we were all so cooperative, the directors decided to treat us with London Eye tickets...whenever we want. It was very cool to go, especially since I have walked all over this city and I was able to point out different buildings I have been to. We impressed the other tourists in our little cab by pointing out all of the important buildings and telling them about them. It was way fun...especially since it was free!

Looking out over the Thames before our "flight"


Flying high in the sky
How much do I look like Danica in this picture?

London has exposed a serious problem in me...I love treats! Seriously...there are so many good treats all over this city and I just don't know what to do about it. There was a scale in the museum today and in the four weeks that I have been here I have gained 5 pounds! Thats crazy! (I do have reasons to believe that my scale in Provo was broken...so I don't know how accurate this is....but still!) I need to go home for my own good!...but of course I don't want to :)

Finally! A Sunny Day in Londontown

Today was a beautiful day! We were spoiled with them the first couple of weeks we were here but recently it has all been rainy. This morning I enjoyed a nice run in Hyde Park before breakfast...this time without the wind in my face the entire way. After breakfast and a couple hours of class I went with Rachel to the Apple store to get her computer looked at...they didn't have time to talk to her then so we went back to the center for lunch and then back to the Apple store...but this time we dragged Jordan with us. Jordan and I got totally distracted playing this Frenzie game on iphones...it was too much fun.

Anyway, Rachel got her computer fixed (we think) so we took off for a walk through the Kensington neighborhood and Holland Park. It was really cool to see some of the houses in the area we live in...some of them are worth millions of pounds. Its really amazing that something so small can cost so much. I love walking around the quiet neighborhoods and the parks...sometimes its so nice to escape from the busy city life (although I love that as well).

Tonight a group of us went to see Blood Brothers. It was way different than the other shows we have been seeing but it was still amazing. The acting was great and their voices were so powerful. The theater was packed with kids though. It was like a field trip or something. I swear kids in London are never in school...they are always at shows and museums and galleries...it gets really annoying sometimes.

Outside the Blood Brothers theater.

I realized today that I must be getting integrated into this fast London city lifestyle. I was getting off the tube at Queensway, by the center, when a bunch of tourists got off too. Since the elevator was so crowded (and they don't know how to pack in) I climbed the 123 stairs (yes they are labeled) and got up just in time to see a bunch of people get out of another elevator and stand in front of the ticket gates...and then look for their tickets! It was impossible to get out...standing there in frustration I said "I hate tourists!" then just laughed at myself. I guess I have been here almost four weeks though...what do you expect.

The Official Middle

Today marks the official middle of my study abroad here in London. I only have three and a half weeks left...which is kinda sad when I look back at the list of things that I want to do while I am here and it isn't even half completed. I think the problem is that I keep adding things, more than I mark off. There is just so much to do here haha.

The entire group took a day trip to Oxford and Blenheim Palace. It was really interesting to see how Oxford works...it is really different than the college system here. We got to tour Oriel college, one of the smaller collages at the school. Then we went over to Christ Church college, the largest at the school (the Harry Potter dining hall is filmed in their dining hall...with some help from computers of course), and visited the Oxford cathedral...the smallest cathedral in England. It was kinda cool...pretty much like any other cathedral...just smaller.

Outside of Christ's Church College.

A short drive from Oxford is Blenheim Palace, the ancestral seat of the Churchill family (Winston Churchill was born here...his cousin was the duke). The Duke of Marlborough still lives there, which is pretty cool. We got to tour part of the inside of the palace and then walk around the amazing gardens. There was a small train that led out to the outermost section of the gardens where a hedge maze is. We had to run through the maze because we were going to miss the bus which was actually a lot of fun.

Outside of Blenheim Palace.

On the train out to the maze and other gardens.

Running through the maze.

I can't believe this trip is halfway over. I have learned so much but I can't wait to keep learning more and experiencing everything this city has to offer.

You Can't Stop the Beat

Ok...two days, one blog post. Easy enough since not a whole lot was accomplished.

Yesterday the entire group went down to the Tower of London. I went there two summers ago when I was here with my family and its kinda a "been there, seen that" kind of experience (for me at least) but it was still fun to hang out with my friends. I did notice how much of a tourist attraction it is and how little history is actually there. It's sad really...


Outside of the White Tower.

Just guarding the Tower of London.

Pretty much everyone stayed in the center after dinner last night because we had a paper due today and a quiz to take in class, plus a book that we all had to finish. Needless to say everyone had some work to do. About tenish a group of us decided to see a movie since students go for 3.50 on Monday nights (I love being a student in this city). We picked Star Trek which was oddly entertaining even though I know nothing about Star Trek. It was definitely a good study break.

Today was class as usual but then Rachel, Jordan, and I went back to the National Gallery to finish up looking at all of the paintings we missed the first time (its a really big place). After dinner we went to Hairspray with Jenny, Rachel (the other Rachel), and Brittany which was a super fun show...much better than the movie. It was a really fun night...complete with singing on the way home and making people in the tube stop probably think we were drunk haha.

Outside of the theater for Hairspray!

Since today is my mom's birthday I want to make a little shout out to her. I was looking for pictures and I realized that I don't have very many with her because she is always behind the scenes. She does so much for me and our family...I don't know what I would do without her. I love her so much and I hope she knows how much I appreciate her. Love you mom!

My beautiful flowers after they had time to bloom.