Home Again, Home Again

It's good to be home! Although I love love loved my trip, there is nothing quite as sweet as seeing your family and being welcomed home :) I landed in the evening and guess what I got to see right as I stepped outside of the terminal?? My lovely Mom!!! Even though I had 1000 lbs of bags with me, I ran like Forrest Gump. Of course I cried (I'm a crier....) After, we headed on over to the loading area where my Dad was! It was so great to see them again. I have missed them more than I could possibly say. The surprises didn't end there! When I got home I had a wonderful sign hanging across my patio with the Union Jack flag at the front of our house! It was so sweet of them to bring a little bit of England home to Utah. It made the ending of my study abroad much less hard. After unpacking a little bit my friends even stopped by to say hello :)  It's great being back home in my house, with my loving and caring family who I MISSED SO MUCH.

I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity. I loved my London Study Abroad more than words can possibly describe. I got to see so many wonderful places, meet some of the best people, make lasting friendships, learn so much about the places I visited, and more importantly, myself. I'm only 20 years old and I've already seen more than most do in their whole lifetime. How fortunate I am.

I want to thank my parents for helping me get there and support me along the way. Without the two of you I wouldn't have been able to go, and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you again.

Well. I guess this is the end of my London journey... I'm pretty sad that this chapter in my life has come to and end. That being said, I'm almost positive I'll make it back there again one day.

Union Jack

DADDY!!!

My friends!!!

What a cute sign!

Goodbye London group!

On to my next adventure!!!!

My trip to NOVA

On the way home from London, I decided to stop and visit my dear friend Julia Simmons and boyfriend Matt Rita. Who both conveniently live in Northern Virginia just 20 minutes out of Washington DC!

My PLAN was to stay with Julia for most of the time and then pop in to say "hello" to Matt and his wonderful family. Little did I know Julia had other plans! She decided to "accidentally" get sent to the ER and have gallbladder surgery during my ENTIRE stay in NOVA. Thus making it very difficult for her to show me around town. Her whole family was so sweet to welcome me into their home and take care of me even though they had their hands full with Julia being in the hospital. But I'm still convinced Julia did this all to avoid me (only kidding).

Since Matt lives in VA as well, he would take me around during the day to see the sites around town, and then I'd see Julia in the mornings and evenings. It worked out quite well, but still not as planned. It was SO nice getting to meet Matt's wonderful family. They were also so welcoming, and made me feel right at home! The Simmon's and the Rita's are some of the best people out there! So kind and fun! I hope I can go out there and visit them all again soon :)

Julia is doing well, the surgeries went fine and she is on the mend!

Matt and I visiting our dear friend Abe.

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Virginia, Chip, and Matt!

Visiting DC

Matt's family home!!!

Elizabeth (Julia's Mom!!!) She is such a DOLL!

Lunch at L'Auberge

Matt's family Mill

My sweet Jules!

She's gonna kill me for this... But I couldn't resist!

Cuddling with Julia!

Look who I found in the ER!!!

They thought they would take her for a little ride!

Best fwends forever!

Now back to SLC!!!

My Last Day in London

I am a little sad writing this blog post because today was my last official day in London. Heartbreaking I know.

I started out my day loading up on chocolate for family and friends. I have my priorities straight! After that I started packing up my stuff (which is a HUGE task, I've accumulated quite a lot of stuff). Headed over to Nando's for my last time, and then went to Spittafield's market! Afterwards I headed over and took a short bike ride in Hyde Park and had Taza's while people watching. Just soaking it all in. Walked over to the Olympic Park, and watched some of the Olympic events on the big screens that they have there.

We met some really fun characters there and had a grand ol' time. Afterwards, we thought it only appropriate to head over and say goodbye to the heart of London (Big Ben) one last time. There was this really cool video being projected on Parliament. I started crying, just looking up at the video. We tossed coins into the Thames, made a wish. And hung around the area just looking up at the buildings. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip in London.

We have a tradition of leaving your mark on the bed you sleep on! Here's mine!

And...another part of mine...

Stocking up for the winter!

NANDO'S!!!

Hyde Park!

Goodbye London Eye...

Making a wish...

Thinking really hard about it (it was a VERY good wish)

The video on Parliament

My wonderful bunkmate, dearest Kim

I went back home and finished packing up (pure chaos in our room by the way). Said some of my goodbyes to people who where packing up early, and fell asleep.

Nearing the End...

My 2nd to last day in London was great. I took my finals and got that out of the way, and was able to really enjoy the rest of my day! Don't get me wrong, I love a good 3 hour test, but I was ready to get outside and see the city a couple more times before I had to head home!

We went to see an adaption of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in the evening. It was based in modern day Africa; very different, but I actually really enjoyed it.

I was pretty wiped out but I still wanted to see the city at night, I walked around Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus and actually had a lot of fun. Did you know there is an M&M World in London? I didn't. We went inside and it's pretty fun to see how the one in Vegas and this one differ.

Abbey Road Studios

M&M Abbey Road!!!

Super tiny ledge that I'm sitting on. I fell off right after this picture was taken!

Olympic Mascot!

Look familiar? :)

Night!

3 Days in 1

I'm being a rebel and doing 3 days in 1 post. Unheard of I know. I just don't want to bore you because I've had a fairly uneventful last couple of days. It's finals week here in London so unless you want a play by play of my studies... I'll keep this short.

Monday:

The only amount of fun I had was when I ate food. Pretty grim right? I had class and studied all day basically, and only took a short break to go to Taza's for lamb. Kim and I sat in the park while eating. It was actually a pretty nice moment because we did that VERY thing the first day here in London.

Tuesday:

I had a bit of fun today! I was lucky enough to tour Buckingham Palace! It was so beautiful! Did you know it started out as a simple country estate? And they just kept doing major remodel job... after major remodel job... after major remodel job? Well. It's true! I wish I could have taken pictures inside the actual Palace to show you all how decadent it was. I did get a couple pictures outside of the palace, near the gardens. I told one of the tour guides that this was going to be my future home and he replied by saying, "Get in line honey!" It was pretty funny. The rest of the day I wrote papers, did homework, and studied. I'm glad I got to have fun at the beginning of the day because the rest of it was brutal! We all started to hit that delirious stage where everything seems to be funny... that's a dangerous stage my friends. Beware.

The Queen's back patio!

Don't I look like I fit in there??

Wednesday:


Studied. I'm not kidding you. ALL DAY LONG. Depressing stuff. I was sitting at a bay window in the classroom... looking outside... where people were having fun, and the sun was shining. I had the urge to jump out the window, just shimmy down the drain pipe and join the rest of the world who were out enjoying life. Here are some pictures of me attempting to stab myself with a fake foam sword. Yeah... I reached that point in my studies.

See the sad, defeated look on our faces?? Yeah.

Well we just got angry after awhile!!!

Hi-Kick and Tattoo Festival!!!

Saturday:

A great, eventful day! But what's new?? We headed to the Edinburgh Castle took a lovely tour then had free time to enjoy the festival!

At the Castle!

Walking down the streets of Edinburgh, right below the castle.

My friends and I probably picked the best/worst show to watch. It was called "Hi-Kick"... Asians dancing with soccer balls...a little seductively. Need I say more?? I felt like I was on drugs, watching those weird Asian game shows that only come on at 3 in the morning on the Game Show Network. And to answer your question that is probably running through your head... YES. I have watched those. You can sometimes get desperate for entertainment in Logan.

Fondue with my dear Abbie!

About to go see Hi-Kick!

It was a memorable experience. My favorite part of the day was when I went to the Tattoo Festival. No, it's not some ink art festival, I don't have a "tramp stamp" (Don't worry Mom and Dad...). It's actually a military band festival! Bagpipes, kilts, and all of the UK military forces doing a spectacular performance?? Don't mind if I do! I don't know what it is... but I love the bagpipes and a good ol' kilt. Gives me goosebumps!

My families street!!! Kind of... they forgot a T, but close enough!

At The Elephant House, home of Harry Potter. Yes. I just made another HP reference. Deal with it!

It was amazing. So amazing I cried in it. I was just sitting there, right next to the Edinburgh Castle, with all of this amazing music, and it just hit me how blessed I've been. My time here is running out, and it's bitter sweet. I've loved every minute of my time here, and don't want this great experience to end. And yet, I think it will be good to see my family and friends. Perhaps have some Taco Bell too. That would be nice.

Panoramic view of Tattoo!!!

Sunday:

 The longest, most miserable bus ride, ever. I don't even want to talk about it. We all hit a state of pure insanity. But I'm back in London. Safely. Emotionally scarred, but safe.

We did stop in Kibworth (a place we have been studying in class) and had dinner at the pub!

Olympic Football (Soccer) and the Crazy Homeless Woman

There’s nothing like an intense/rigorous hike in the morning right? Well, that how I feel! I decided to hike up Arthur’s Seat, a mountain in Scotland this morning. And… IT WAS TOUGH! I realized I’m extremely out of shape! The view was totally work the sweat though because I got to see all of Edinburgh! It was so perfect!

My camera does these cool panoramic pictures... This is the view from the top of Arthur's Seat!

Sarah and I LOVING the blue skies.

USA!!!

My day just continued to get better because I got to go to a Women’s Olympic Soccer event right after. It was the quarter finals, Sweden vs France game and it was intense! Everyone was decked out in Olympic gear, and cheering like mad! I still can’t believe I got tickets to go see soccer!!! I’m so lucky! However, they don’t have your typical sporting events food. They had mince pies and something called “beefy drink”. I wasn’t too interested in finding out what it was. I was almost tempted to ask for it and say, “May I have the beefy drink? Be extra generous with the beef.” Just to see what they would do. But alas, I held back. Especially since I’d had to drink it afterwards!

Striking a pose at the stadium! (I know the US didn't even play, but someone asked me to hold their flag)

Outside the stadium with my favorite bunk mate KIM!!!

We headed back Edinburgh and thought we’d do some touring….

Commence the CRAZY HOMELESS WOMAN. I was walking to St. Giles Cathedral with my friend Sarah. While walking, there was this woman that offered us a red pill taped to a sheet of paper. She said, “Try the red one not the blue!” It was… very random. We said “No thanks” and continued walking. It was so bizarre that we started to chuckle and walk away. About 3 minutes later, half a block up the street, there was this homeless woman. Rotting teeth, grocery bags, crazed look in her eyes, truly the whole shebang. Apparently our joy and carefree manner upset her deeply because she started to attack us. Yes. I was attacked by a homeless woman.

I don’t know what it is about me, but I attract… danger? Crazy people? Anyways… She grabbed my sweatshirt, started hitting Sarah and I, grabbed Sarah’s hair, and just started beating down on us!!! We were just trying to grab our stuff and get outta there! The whole time she was swearing and yelling at us asking, “You think it’s funny? You think that’s (super explicit word) funny??”

Uh… no. We don’t think it’s funny. We just wish you would stop attacking us! I was all ready to fight back, but she seemed crazier than what I like to associate with. So I just called it what it was, and skedaddled! The best part was after running away, a man that had watched the whole fiasco go down said, “Welcome to Edinburgh!!!” Well… thanks good sir! What a lovely and interesting place!

Dinner!!! I had Haggis (sheep stomach, a Scottish specialty)

We finally gathered our thoughts, calmed down a bit, checked ourselves for bruises, and decided to move on and check out the city some more! It was very fun, and we had a fairly nice hostel.

We were in Edinburgh during the famous “Edinburgh Fringe Festival”, it’s an event that goes on for about a month where some of the “best” performers from around the world come and do comedy skits, plays, etc. I would probably describe it as a meeting place of all of those weird theater people that I use to hang out with that partied under the stairs and played games like Pokémon and Dungeons and Dragons during lunch. Well all of those people congregated and decided to put on a bunch of shows. It was weird.

This show was called "No Pants Thursdays", just to give you an idea of some of the shows that were offered. Here are some of the stars!

We went to a comedy show though that was pretty good. The guy oddly enough made a joke about Mormons (can’t get away from it can I??) Anyways, after the show my friends and I introduced ourselves and said that we were oddly enough Mormons. His response? “Oh I’ve never met one before (as he gently pats our arm) I thought you would have chops or something… well you are just so cute I want to put you on a keychain and carry you around!” It was pretty funny actually!

It was an insane day; I’m lovin’ Scotland!