April's Blog

Burton-on-Trent Missionary Hunt

2008-06-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

My friend, Kylie, and I took a 4-hour train to a little town called Burton-on-Trent to find her cousin who is serving a mission there. We found him--he was shocked, of course--and just got to talk for a little less than an hour. Then we hopped back on the train and were back in London 4 hours later. It was an adventure!

Country Walk with Brother Chittock

2008-06-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

We went on a 9 mile "ramble" through the English countryside--it was sooo pretty! I loved it!

Jack the Ripper Tour

2008-06-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

We thought it was going to be Knott's Scary Farm style, but it was mostly informative. It was interesting to see all the places where the murders took place and we had a great tour guide.

Hampstead Heath

2008-06-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, we went swimming in that nasty brownish water. It was great!

Fat art

2008-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

There is tendency for students to gain weight here . . . unless you go running a lot! We poked fun at this fact of London living as part of an art project, as seen in the above pictures. If you want to check out another one of our conceptual art projects, you can go to jarart100.blogspot.com.

Samuel Johnson's Home

2008-06-12T04:11:00.000-07:00

We went as a class to the home of Samuel Johnson last week. Who the heck is he? Well, he wrote the first dictionary. (Only a bunch of English nerds would find that interesting!) The best part was dressing up in clothes befitting of the era in which he lived. He also was a huge fan of his cat, Hodge, immortalized in the statue directly across from his home.

Wandsworth Common Ward

2008-06-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is Sharon, the Young Women's President. She is such an awesome lady; I really admire how much she cares for the girls and how hard she works.

Walking from the church to the tube stop. It's a two-hour round trip every Sunday.

It was my last Sunday in my ward this week because I'm traveling with a friend this Sunday to find her cousin missionary (long story). I was really excited to teach the Young Women's lesson on "Understanding a Missionary's Responsibilities," but no young women showed up! I was really bummed that I didn't get to teach but even more sad about not getting to say goodbye to Carolina (the one devoted attendee). It has been a great experience serving in this ward, strengthening my testimony, and getting to meet some really awesome members.

Stonehenge

2008-06-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Stonehenge was cool to see in person, but really, looking at abunch of rocks didn't hold our attention for too long after a full weekend of travelling. We tooks some random pictures and started playing "missionary tag" while waiting for the bus--such a blast!

Stourhead

2008-06-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

I love love LOVED the massive grounds of Stourhead. It was a nature-lover's paradise.

Bath

2008-06-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Paris!

2008-06-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

I LOVED Paris! It was the highlight of the whole trip for me thus far. It just felt magical to see the Mona Lisa and Eiffel Tower in person after having seen those images my whole life. Notre Dame, the Louvre, the D'Orsay and getting lost along the little back streets were all amazing. They do not mess around when it comes to pastries either; I was in heaven. I didn't feel guilty eating a crepe with nutella, a chocolate cream puff, and a baguette with chocolate chips all in one day--it's Paris after all (24 hour fitness here I come!). It was just a great day and I felt so happy/blessed the entire time. I am so lucky to be having this experience and I'm not particularly looking forward to it ending. I'm sure I'll look back at this time of my life with many fond and fun memories.

Ireland!

2008-06-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

The actual city of Dublin isn't that great, but once you get into the countryside it's incredible. These pictures don't do it justice or even come close. We took a bus tour that went through the Wicklow mountains, valleys, and lakes. I'm touching the ancient sanctuary stone in one picture. I can't get over how gorgeous the natural scenery of Europe is; we are so blesssed to live in this world!

Crepes with the Girls

2008-06-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

The food here is really good. Item #1 on the to-do list when I return to the States: join a gym!

Football Match

2008-06-02T04:39:00.001-07:00

My two friends and I went on a little adventure trying to get into a huge soccer game (vs. USA) last week. It was a very random night, as the pictures portray. We weren't able to get into the game, but had fun nonetheless. We navigated our way through parts of London that we'd never seen before and took a bus ride through streets that looked like a cross between Tiajuana and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Heffer!

2008-06-02T04:33:00.001-07:00

A bookstore we went into at Cambridge. This one's for you, Jeff!

Cambridge

2008-06-02T04:24:00.000-07:00

Cambridge is a beautiful college town. My favorite part of the day was punting along the Cam River.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

2008-06-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

It was cold and rainy, the seats were really uncomfortable, and we couldn't see/hear a lot of the play (A Midsummer Night's Dream), BUT, it was really cool to see one of Shakespeare's plays acted out on his own stage (rebuilt after the great fire). Those are some of the directors' kids; they're all so awesome.

The Hills are Alive!

2008-05-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

A bunch of us went to see "The Sound of Music." It was obviously a bit different from the movie, but SO good. There weren't any men attending the performance dressed as girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, which was a little dissappointing. ;)

Hampton Court

2008-05-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

We went to Henry VIII's home, Hampton Court, as a group today. The palace itself was, of course, incredible, but my favorite part was all of the gardens (what else is new?).

Out for a Walk

2008-05-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

I think the effects of living with 40 girls 24/7 are finally starting to set in . . . these are such fun people. Most of these are from a walk we took along the Thames the other night. One is of my lovely bruise that everyone in the center is constantly giving me a hard time about. My roommate, Abby, elbowed me hard when we were playing soccer (in the same spot where I had already been bruised the day before). I'm actually pretty proud of it :)

York

2008-05-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

We were so exhausted when we got to York, but managed to have some fun nonetheless. Jorvik, the Viking city was . . . smelly, but kind of interesting. There were a lot of cute little shops and an amazing bakery. We also saw Scarlet Pimpernel the musical.

More Edinburgh

2008-05-17T13:00:00.001-07:00

Edinburgh

2008-05-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Deb, I don't know how you ever left Scotland! I loved it! We were only there for 2 days but we made it count. We went through the Edinburgh Castle, which was awesome. They have these books in the castle with the names of all the men from Scotland that had been killed in various wars, and I found a bunch of Daly's that were killed in action. In one of the rooms where those books were found it had a quote on the wall that gave me goosebumps: "The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God. There shall no evil happen to them: they are in peace."

We hiked to Arthur's Seat when we first got there. It was an intense hike, but the view at the top made it worth it. It is such a beautiful place! I loved all the bagpipers (is that a word?), the fun pubs, the hostel, and the slower-paced/friendlier atmosphere of Edinburgh--in comparison to London.

For the boys . . .

2008-05-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

My street, Palace Court, is a pretty posh part of town. This LOTUS (my apologies, Jeff) belongs to one of my neighbors. If you drive your own car around here, chances are it's dang nice.

Pizza and a concert

2008-05-11T14:01:00.001-07:00

A few of us found a cute pizza place and then went with the entire group to a Baroque concert at St. Martins-in-the-field church; it was a lovely evening.

Kew Gardens

2008-05-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

I have become obsessed with gardens and all things nature in the past year or so. I would post more of the hundreds of pictures I have taken of flowers and trees but I think Dad is the only one who would appreciate that :)

Les Mis

2008-05-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

I went to Les Miserables the other night; there is not an adjective I know that describes how much I loved it! I sat in the 7th row and either my jaw was dropped or I had a huge smile on my face the entire time. I was balling during the very last song. It really is quite religious and made me think of the plan of salvation when their friends that passed on came back through the veil and sang "will you join in our crusade." We're all fighting the same war, no matter what side of the veil we're on currently. I'm going back to see that one again for sure!

Football

2008-05-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

I had the most fun I've had since I've been here the other night: a bunch of us played football (soccer) in Kensington Gardens about an hour and a half before the sun went down. The weather could not have been more perfect. I started things off with a bang when I slipped on the grass and ate it in such a way that would win me a lot of money on America's funniest home videos. After bruising my pride, I proceeded to bruise just about every other part of my body in the following hour. I slipped many more times and have the scrapes and bruises to prove it. I scored a goal and had a couple of assists. I felt like I was reliving childhood; it was such a blast! We're playing again for FHE tomorrow night . . . better believe I will be wearing my game face for round 2.

Beachy Head

2008-05-08T00:18:00.001-07:00

It was super windy but the views were incredible!

Canterbury and Rye

2008-05-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

Ezra Pound's Home and Kensington Garden

2008-05-07T15:44:00.001-07:00

I'm never coming home!!

2008-05-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Kensington Garden is RIDICULOUS, and it's across the street from where I live. I went to Lion King Last night and tomorrow I'm hoping to go to Les Miserables. We took a day trip to Canterbury Cathederal, the quaint town of Rye, and Beachy Head. I'm just "eating it up" as dad would say.

The adventure so far

2008-05-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

London is incredible. It' s MASSIVE and very lively. The days seem to all run together; we're just constantly doing something. I went to a singles dance at the local stake and felt like I was truly in my element (out on the dance floor) for the first time since we've been here. I also went to my new ward today (Wandsworth Common). It was tiny and there are people from all over--many of them black--and they were very friendly. They asked us to bare our testimonies and gave us callings. I'll be working with the young women as an advisor. The church is not nearly as developed here, but the doctrine and ordinances are all the same, which is an awesome testimony builder.
On a slightly less religious note, I have to tell a funny story. I was hesitating to walk across the street and this guy on a motorcycle waved me to cross. He revved his engine right when I walked in front of him and I smiled, looking forward, thinking "No way he seriously just did that." When he saw that I smiled, he revved it twice after I had walked all the way across, and I looked back after a few seconds with a shocked. Then he did a head nod to acknowledge that yes, he really is that sleezy. haha!

Fun on the tube

2008-05-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Out and About

2008-05-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

These pictures are kind of random and I couldn't say exactly where they were all taken (somewhere in London . . .) Harrods is my new favorite place--incredible! We went to the chocolate cafe and could barely afford a shake but it was the cheapest thing in the entire massive store. A few of us went to "Stomp" last night. Incredible that they could make an entire show out of banging on garbage and charge 25 pounds, but I did really enjoy it.

Walking around the city

2008-05-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

In some parts of the city, I felt like I was in a third world country because we got a bunch of cat calls. Men stared shamelessly, kind of like in Winchester . . . Love you Kris :)

Big Ben and St. James Park

2008-05-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

I felt like I truly arrived when I saw Big Ben. Yet, this whole experience seems surreal. It's like I'm living someone else's life; some curly-haired Londoner girl's amazing life. St. James Park is one of my favorites--it was beautiful!

Wicked

2008-05-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wicked was amazing! I loved the costumes and the music. It was a great story but I still had some trouble staying awake. Jetlag stinks!

The fro is even harder to tame in this wet and windy city!

We took a double-decker bus to Victoria Station to see Wicked.

St. Paul's Walk

2008-05-01T09:35:00.000-07:00