Adeus South Kensington

Today was my last time teaching my primary kids in the South Kensington Portuguese speaking branch and I realized I'm going to miss them so much. They are so funny and cute even though they screech and draw on the walls and hit each other. I realize that it's been a really useful learning experience for me (as opposed to a not useful learning experience...?) and that I've actually benefitted from going to a branch where I don't understand what's being said.

1) I'm comfortable around people who are speaking a different language, so it's not weird going to another country and not having a clue what the people are saying. That could come in handy.

2) I've gotten to experience a little bit of what it's like to go halfway across the world and realize that the Gospel is the same and is as true here as it is anywhere. In every language and every culture the same things are being taught and that's comforting to have the familiarity so far from home.

3) If you just immerse yourself in another culture you'll learn to appreciate it so much more than you would if you stay in your comfort zone and just look on. The people in my ward are so sweet and they all love each other so much.

4) Patience is a virtue. You develop patience in frustrating situations and with perseverance.

5) I won't have kids for a long time. I love them...but that will come far in the future.

This is Pedro and his sister Beatrice. Don't tell, but they are my favorite kids in the class. Whenever I would ask him if he'd done something nice for someone the week before Pedro would talk about helping his sister. He like to do headstands in class and yell...And Bea always showed me what she learned in ballet and how high she could jump. Adorable.

This is Pedro dancing. He's really good...as you can see. Such a funny kid.

Here Comes the Sun

We were out the door at 6am this morning so we could go to Abbey Road and recreate the infamous Beatles picture. I feel sorry for everyone who drives past that zebra with all the tourists standing in the middle...we only got honked at a couple of times. That's why we went so early in the morning...less traffic. After we got our picture, I went home and slept for 3 more hours.

I felt like I had been dreaming about going to Abbey Road after I had woken up for the second time today.

I went to the National Gallery...my favorite art gallery here in London. I found Josiah's birthday present...a brown tie with sunflowers! Like Van Gogh...plus he could always use a new tie right? And I might have gotten a ring with a sunflower on it for myself. I've discovered since I've been here that I'm obsessed with three things: Outdoors, sunflowers and birds. I think you can tell that by looking through all my posts.

Then me and Sarah went to Camden market where everyone has a mohawk and 20 piercings and wears plaid pants with chains. I love London. It almost reminds me of Olympia sometimes. We ate lunch at Nando's...the best restaurant in the world. Really, I'm not lying. I don't know why we don't have them in the United States. I vote we get one in Washington.

We took the tube back to St. Paul's Cathedral for Evensong. We came here for the first London study as a group which was back in January, so it's been a while. I forgot how beautiful it was inside, it's so different than any other cathedrals. And we got to hear the choir sing! It was a pretty good Saturday.

Hampton Court

I took the train to Hampton Court today. It was Henry VIII's summer house. We went there for our London study and spent a few hours wandering through the palace. There was a fireplace in the kitchen and I loved standing by it...I didn't want to move. I miss campfires so much. That's one of my favorite things to do-just sit by a fire and stare at it. So many happy memories with campfires! But anyway...the palace was really fun and we found a lot to do.

I love being a tourist with an audio guide and headphones! But really. I do like it.

We found some really comfy floor pillows. They might have been my favorite part of the palace. So there's us...laying on the wood floor...

Look, a fountain! This is in the back of the palace...I want a big yard when I have my own house. Maybe not a fountain, but definitely a big yard.

There was a big green field, we couldn't not take jumping pictures. We kind of succeeded.

There are daffodils everywhere! These yellow flowers make me happy. We took the cheesiest pictures...kind of a repeat of senior pictures.

We found the maze...and thanks to Arrin being on Sarah's shoulders we found our way out really fast too.

Lion King

Oh yeah, I saw The Lion King on Tuesday night. We got there literally 5 minutes before the show started but luckily still got seats. I love this production for the costumes and dancing. This is picture is from the opening scene. Pretty incredible. The grown up Simba was a little too fruity for being a manly lion. Let's just say there was no chemistry between him and any female characters. But we'll forgive him.

The End. Almost.

Wednesday was the beginning of the end...our last daytrip. *Really sad face* They are tiring and long but we get to see so much in one day. And I don't mind the long coach rides, actually I really like listening to my ipod and falling asleep on the person's shoulder next to me. But today was the last time that will happen.

But not really, because we're going on a five day trip to the North next week so we'll be on the bus for a long time. Longer than I want to be...but anyway. There's no free time here anymore because everyone is realizing how little time we have left here (including the professors) so this is my quick summary of our daytrip.

St. Alban's Cathedral

We've been talking about this Cathedral in our classic civilizations class so it was even more meaningful seeing it with my own eyes after reading about it in our little green book.

The pillars in every cathedral are absolutely gigantic...they remind me of the redwoods in California. I love them, as you can see.

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial

The men and women who died for our country in foreign lands are commemorated here. Our guide told us the stories of a few individuals and it just makes you realize that even though all you see are names, each one had a story. Each had a family and a life and gave it up for us. I'm thankful for everyone who has sacrificed for our freedoms, we are forever indebted to them.

I want to go to Arlington National Cemetery now. This is just a small one...puts things in perspective doesn't it?

Cambridge University

We went to the King's College chapel, home of the world's largest fan vault ceiling! Cool huh? That's right it is! I love just sitting in the pews and trying to soak the architecture in. You can't, it's just too incredible.

Here's a part of the campus...I can't believe students get to go here everyday for school. How amazing would that be?! Very.

We went punting! It's a long flat boat...almost like a gondola. I went on a relaxing boat ride down the river with a few girls while a funny guy who goes to the university got us down the river with his long stick and told us about the history of the town.

That's where the second year students live. If only the housing at BYU were like that.

We just walked around the town until it was time to go back to the coach. Everyone rides their bikes there and they all have wicker baskets...it's so cute. I want to live there just so I can ride my little bike around the cobblestone streets. Someday...

Happy Thought

This has turned into one of my favorite quotes. It's very applicable right now...and always.

"The Lord doesn't expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn't (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Spring is in the Air

It's officially spring in London! I have proof... daffodils in Hyde Park! Yesterday was Sunday, and it was sunny! It was absolutely gorgeous outside and all I wanted to do was sprawl out on the grass in the park and listen to my music. So I did. Sometimes I wish that during moments in my life where I'm feeling super happy or uplifted that music would just start playing out of the sky and I could bask in the joyous songs. I decided the next best thing would be taking my ipod for a walk to the park..it was. I don't know what could be better than listening to Death Cab and Relient K and The Hush Sound and all my happy music in the park. Okay...that's a lie. I could think of some things I'd like better but today was pretty good. I was productive and got to be outside.

Proof that I got to wear my Birkenstocks to the park. Green grass and religion reading. Good use of time.

Today is Monday and I have good news: I got a package from Josiah!!! I am so happy. It's been over a month since I've gotten something in the real mail (I am very grateful for email...) and so when I walked into my room and found the little brown envelope on my pillow I was ecstatic! I have proof of this happy moment thanks to Sarah trying out her new camera...See!

Oh, and there's our messy room too! Eight girls share it and there's no space to put your things...you can't judge. But look how happy I am. That's because I'm reading a letter from my lover.

And we went to the Somerset House today. There was a lot of art that I really liked...too many too list. And I can't remember everthing...all I know is that Van Gogh's self portrait after he cut his ear off is one of my favorites in this gallery. And all of Monet and Georage Seurat is amazing. Before that we went to a piano and violin concert. It was beautiful. I love London. That's it.

Boring update.

Today was good. I had eggs and toast at my little cafe down the street, then went to Portobello Road. Finally I got the dress I've been eyeing (is that a real word?) at a boutique! And I found a pretty blue wedgwood vase at an antique store. And I shared a nutella and banana crepe with Sarah. It was a very happy morning.

A happy afternoon too! I got tourist shopping done (a London patch and sticker!) and almost saw Mama Mia but decided to go to the Tate Britain museum instead. Good choice, I was in the mood to look at portraits! I love art so much! It takes me forever to get through one room because I have to read everything about every picture even if I don't especially like it. There was something going on in the museum today, lots of filming and cameras, and there was this set up in one of the rooms where people dressed up in medieval clothing and then people drew them. So I took a picture.

I got a kebab for lunch (muy delicioso) and then went back to the centre to do homework. Well...I got some done but not as much as I'd hoped to. It is so hard to focus here because you're always around someone and they distract you, there's always something better than homework to do and there's so much to do for all the classes it's too overwhelming so you get frazzled and then end up getting nothing done! So that was how a lot of my night was spent. I did get caught up on my journal though! That's important. More important than school I think. Well then. That was my day, and now I shall sleep.

Happy Bird Day!

I've been Madison's older sister for 14 years today. I remember when my mom went to the hospital to have her...seems like only yesterday! *tear* So this entry is for Madison, my favorite younger sister.

I love her because...

1) She looks good in Devin's aviators

2) She likes to snuggle with me when she visits me at college.

3) She makes really good fish faces...Sorry Madison. Josiah had to be in one of these pictures.

4) She's really good at Wii...look at that technique.

5) She's a little artist. And always makes me a card or cool box for when I come home.

6) She sends me really funny letters.

7) She decorates my apartment with snowflakes. And then tries to catch them on her tongue...?

8) She stays up late with me on Christmas Eve

9) She has beautiful eyes.

10) She's just a good little sister.

Au revoir Paris

Thursday, March 18th

Musee d'Orangie. This is where the Monet waterlilies are...the real ones. They wrap around the entire room and are just massive pieces of happiness. They are second favorite paintings. I don't understand how one man could do so much in one lifetime. I love the waterlilies so much I bought a print of them...and a folder...and a postcard. But that's it.

We stopped by a bakery on our way to the Rodin. I got a big loaf of bread because I wanted to buy bread from a real French bakery. I felt like Aladdin. It was so good and I finished the whole thing, what a surprise! That was my lunch for the day.

I saw the Thinker at the Rodin...I never thought I'd have the privilege of gazing at this sculpture...but what do you know.

I love this sculpture, it's just beautiful. (I don't know why this sentence is underlined, but I can't fix it)

The catacombs. It's a really cool place with a lot of skulls and bones. In the 18th century, Paris ran out of room in their cemeteries to bury people so they decided to use an old quarry to house the bones of people who were moved from the cemetery. It's absolutely insane how many bones there are, just stacks and stacks piled far back into the wall for....miles!

There were designs within the bones ... weird huh? We found a heart, a cross, and an arch. I guess they had to have fun somehow stacking all those bones.

There was a market we had heard about so we decided to make that our last stop of the trip. I got a crepe from a funny Indian man and tried some ice cream from a shop that makes it into the shape of a flower in your cone. We looked at a few shops and I got some fruit and then we walked back to our hotel to get our luggage. My poor body hates me after eating so much junk, walking about ten miles a day and not getting enough sleep. But I got some sleep on the train back to England. Good thing no one had their camera nearby or I would have some embarrassing pictures of me drooling with my mouth open. People like to take pictures of that. It was weird getting back to London and feeling like it was home. Only one more month and I really will be home. I don't know how to feel about that.

I'm Running Out of Creative Titles. Day Three of Paris

I realize I have been going into too much detail about Paris...I have too many things to write on here that I can't afford to write about everything. So here's day three in a nutshell:

Wednesday, March 17th

Early morning spent at Notre Dame. This cathedral is so beautiful, I love how it doesn't have spires. I have to be honest, the gargoyles were my favorite part. We heard the bells of Notre Dame ringing while we were there too! It was perfect. I got 10 Eiffel Tower keychains from a vendor, good deal. Professor Macfarlane even "endorsed this bargain" so I felt pretty good about that purchase.

This same gargoyle is in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame! I think he was the funny one...but I can't remember because it's been about ten years since I've seen it.

This is me being a gargoyle. I blend right in, don't I?...Thought so.

This is me being the hunchback of Notre Dame...You can't tell but I'm in the bell tower. That's where I live.

St. Chapelle is a cathedral with walls made out of stained glass...pictures can't do it justice. Pictures can't compare to any of these places, actually. We were so lucky to be in Paris on sunny days, it made the stained glass look brilliant!

We went to the Cluny Museum to see the unicorn tapestry. It's a work of art that explores all five senses. Tapestries are mind boggling, I don't know how someone can make something like that with needle and thread...or whatever they used for those tapestries.

Berthillion ice cream! It is the tastiest ice cream I've ever had. I got banana and coconut in a funny double cone...Mmm! I know now that in French, coconut is noiux de coco. That will be useful knowledge I can use throughout my life...? I don't know what else to say except it was a very happy moment. I think we walked about 2 miles out of our way to find this exact ice cream shop. Anna's "Paris Top Ten" book said to go here, so we did!

Up to the top of the Eiffel Tower! I'm so happy we went up during the day. I really wanted to take the stairs all the way to the top, but decided against it since I was so exhausted. Next time! To get to the second level you take an elevator that goes sideways, I felt like I was in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

We got up to the top and the view was amazing! Paris is a really pretty place, the buildings are all white and packed in together. The Arc de Triumph looked so little from far away. I really like how the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building for miles, it makes it seem that much bigger. Not like New York where there are skyscrapers everywhere.

I don't know how but we were still going after the Eiffel Tower. And what were we going to do with our night? Spend it at the Louvre. I think it's the biggest art museum in the world. And if it's not...I think it is. We were all so exhausted and our feet hurt so we were limping to the museum. Anna suggested we get a wheelchair and take turns pushing each other. Good idea, I don't know why we didn't follow through. We did stop by a cute little pastry shop though. We had to, we were in Paris! I got a pistachio eclair, it was really pretty.

The sky was beautiful. I just can't get over how good the weather has been here. I didn't even need a jacket, and the wind was warm! We just sat outside for a while before going inside through the glass pyramid. So overwhelming, this museum is huge! Obviously we didn't see all of it, but we saw some highlights. First, the Mona Lisa. Some people say they are disappointed when they see it in real life because it's small, but I loved it! It's revolutionary and is another beautiful painting. *I'm not doing a very good job of not going into detail* Two others I really liked seeing: Aphrodite (Venus) sculpture and the Winged Victory of Samathrace.

We were limping through the Louvre and trying to stay awake. It was worth the pain though...funny memories. We watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Arc de Triumph. The climb up the stairs to the top was entertaining. We had a laughing fit and almost didn't make it to the top. This is the best place to watch the tower at night. The arc is the center of twelve streets and has the best view. I only wish Josiah was there, I kind of missed him a lot at that moment.