Day 10: Rain, Rain... Come Again!

I'm sorta kinda freaking out right now!  Ah!  I need to organize my thoughts and stop being so excited.... Let me start out with this morning.


We had history this morning for three hours.  Did I mention that's how long our classes are?  It's a little hard but it's nice because I walk down four flights of stairs from my room and then I'm in class!  I'll never have a better living situation again as far as proximity to school.


I worked on an assignment and then I went with Kayley, Amanda, and Jared to do a walk through the heart of London for our London Walks class.  It was great to see a large part of the city.  We started out at St. Paul's Cathedral and made our way through the financial district down to London Bridge. I saw this cool little market on our tour, as well as a few churches that were beautiful on the inside.

(cool little indoor, outdoor shopping center)

(a painting in the shopping center)

Our walk ended at London Bridge.  Since we were absolutely starving and our walk was done we thought we should hop on over to... Borough (borrow) Market!  Yes!  My favorite place ever!  This time I explored new vendors, tried as many cheese samples as possible, tried as many olive oil samples as possible, bought something I wouldn't normally buy, and made friends with the vendors.  It was wonderful to just kind of do my own thing!  I made friends with the guys selling candied nuts and Turkish delight.  They let me try as many samples as I wanted because I was being nice- it was great!  I really like talking to real Britons.  I also made friends with the fruit guy.  I told him I loved the raspberries last week so much that I had to come back to buy some more.  He told me about how he picked the raspberries that day and how they were a different batch from the week before, and recommended the strawberries.  He was such a nice older gentleman.  I bought a lot more stuff this time and took less pictures.  It was cold so I got hot chocolate (a.k.a. basically straight melted chocolate- so rich and so good!), an "uber brownie" (a.k.a. a large brownie that is the BEST, most moist, most chocolaty brownie I have ever had), an almond croissant for breakfast tomorrow, cinnamon-chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered honeycomb (like Crunchie bars from Canada- they have them here too), raspberries, and strawberries.  Don't worry, I brought them home to eat throughout next week.  For lunch I bought myself this sandwich that was so wonderful!  It was on foccacia (spelling?) bread which was fresh and amazing!  It also had a light brushing of olive oil in it, fresh mozzarella (the best I've ever had), and some sort of meat.  I didn't know what the meat was and so I wasn't going to get it, but I decided that I should go out of my comfort  zone.  I'm glad I did!  I think is was prosciutto... that's my guess from the knowledge I've gained on food network but I don't really know.  Anyway... I loved it!  It was a filling lunch.

(my yummy sandwhich)

(THE best hot chocolate known to man)

Something I have to mention is the best thing I have ever eaten in my entire life.  I found it today.  At the same place that does the grilled cheese I got last time, we discovered that they have these things... I don't remember what they're called... but it's basically a cheesey potato on crack.  

(Amanda and her potato)

(It might not look that great but it is AMAZING)

There was a wonderful baked potato that was baked perfectly.  They took these giant slides of raclette cheese and put it under a broiler.  The cheese melted quickly and got all bubbly.  They then scraped a TON of the cheese (which by itself already is like heaven in my mouth), put on sea salt and pepper and served it.  You could also get it with pickles but who would ruin a good thing like that with pickles (probably my mom- but she probably wouldn't eat that in the first place)? :)  It might not sound very delicious but it truly was the BEST THING I EVER ATE!  Grandma- you would absolutely love it.  What's sad is Amanda is the one who ordered it, not me because I had my yummy sandwich.  So I only had two bites of this masterpiece but it was the best two bites my mouth has ever enjoyed.  YUM! :)


I wasn't hungry for dinner when we got back to the Centre so I didn't eat dinner there.  Instead I came back for devotional, talked to some people, and then left the Centre again for something wonderful... something amazing... something I have been looking forward to for a long time.... Singing in the Rain!

(Kayley and I singing in the "rain")

(the whole group for tonight)

I went to see the stage production of one of my most favorite movies of ALL time!  That means I have seen five plays in five days!  What?  Who does this sort of thing?!   We didn't have any tickets before we went but a group of six of us went about 45 minutes before the show started to the box office.  We asked for some tickets for our group and they had AMAZING seats for us.  There were three tickets on the sixth row with an obstructed view and three tickets on the very front row for the same price... only £25 pounds for tickets that are normally £65-ish.  What a great deal is that?!


In between buying tickets and watching the show, we took a little walk to Ben's Cookies.  My friend Kennedy had already been there once and she absolutely loved it so she drug us back to try it.  I got a dark chocolate chip cookie and a white chocolate chip cookie... dark chocolate was better and I'll definitely be going back to eat one again.  I accidentally dropped half of my white chocolate chip cookie on the sidewalk because it was so soft.  I was a little sad about that...

(Kayley, Jared, Paige, and Kaylie enjoying their "cookie monster" cookies and ice cream)

(Kayley, Jared, Myself, Kaylie with our treats)

(So sad my cookie dropped!)

(The newest fan of Ben's Cookies)

We chose tickets at random and decided to switch after intermission.  I picked the sixth row ticket first.  I was slightly disappointed at first because I wanted to be right up front for all of the main musical numbers.  Did I mention that they flood the stage with real rain?  So I was thinking I'd miss that.  What ended up happening is I could see the whole stage (with like a slightly obstructed view of the side of the stage where nothing happened) for all of the main numbers and when we switched I could be close to all the actors.  

(A four story theatre- you can't really see but it was beautiful)

(Kaylie and me- trying "not" to take a picture of the stage since it's now allowed)

(Illegal picture- don't tell!)

It was hard to get the movie out of my mind the entire time because I've watched it so often and fallen in love with it.  However, they did a good job and the two songs they added were really fun!  My all time favorite song from both the movie and play is "You are My Lucky Star" and that's what they ended on.  I was so happy because I felt like I was part of the production (even though it's hard to compare to the movie) and so I clapped for the bows with a smile.  Cosmo, Cathy, and Don came out in their yellow rain gear to take a bow- so iconic!  The stage went dark and I almost got up to go but then the whole cast came back on.  They all had their rain gear on and my first thought was "No. Way."  And then the water started and it rained again!  My jaw dropped and I almost started crying.  The whole cast performed the "Singing in the Rain" all together and it was even better than the first time.  Since I was on the front row I got soaked!  Everyone else on the front row put their jackets up so they wouldn't get water on them but the two girls and I soaked in every drop!  Our mouths were hanging open (we were basically drooling) and we were so happy.  The actor playing Cosmo looked at us and got this huge grin... We probably looked ridiculous but we were like kids in a candy shop and we were reacting to it the most out of anyone around us.  That was probably the best moment.  I was hoping more than anything that we would walk out of the theatre and it would be pouring... the one time that I wanted it to rain- it was good weather!  So ironic, but I guess I can't always have it all. :)

(Paige, Kaylie, and me soaked and smiles!)

(Just thinking about Gene Kelley and hoping for rain!)

I loved feeling like I just lived through Singing in the Rain!  I HONESTLY don't know how things just keep getting better or staying amazing, but they do!  It's hard to describe all these feelings I have but I just feel so HAPPY!  Life is good. :)


P.S. Aren't my long posts so much more tolerable with pictures to break it up now?  You're welcome. :)

Day 9: Around the World in 80... minutes?

Can I just say right now how grateful I am for my situation?  I want to remember how I'm feeling right now.  


There are stressors, there is sadness, there are fears and anxieties but overwhelming them all there is happiness and gratitude.  Every day is so wonderful! 


I get to see some of the most amazing things in the world.  
I get to learn details about great literature and about history and its effects today.  
I get to be entertained and have so much fun.  
I get to make new friendships. 
I can already feel myself changing in my actions, ideals, and attitudes... and I like the changes.


Thanks for letting me share my feelings for a moment.  Now let me tell you about my day.  After English this morning, our group rode a giant, red double decker bus through the city.  Kayley and I sat on the front row.  It was basically really scary because every 10 seconds we felt like the bus was going to run people over and/or crash into a building.  But it was an iconic thing to do and it was fun! 

(first double decker bus ride- crazy!)

The bus dropped us off at one of the places I have been dying to see- the British Museum!  Now something that put a kink in my plans was that the bus ride takes a lot longer than the tube.  That meant we got to the museum at 2pm and we had to leave a little after 4pm for dinner and devotional at the Centre.  It's not 80 minutes (a pun on Jules Verne's book) but it is still a very short time to see thousands and thousands years worth of history.  I think even an entire day in the museum would not be enough time.  I felt somewhat rushed and I'd like to spend more time there some day to be able to really enjoy it.  After seeing everything from Ancient Greece and Rome (my favorite), to a room full of mummies from Ancient Egypt, from part of the famous Sphinx's beard, to a giant collection of Chinese porcelain, to Assyrian Lion Hunt wall carvings, to the Rosetta Stone... everything made me feel like I had literally traveled around the world.  It's hard to describe the questions and feelings I had while viewing these amazing things!  I especially enjoyed it because I saw MANY things that I studied and memorized in my Humanities class Fall semester.  It was rewarding to go to the museum and know about a few of the major things I saw.  I'm thinking they should make a Night at the Museum III at the British Museum.   What do you think?  Here's a few of the pictures I took of the beautiful and amazing things inside the museum:

(outside of the museum)

(From Easter Island)

(Buddha)

(THE Rosetta Stone)

(GIANT head to the statue of Ramses II from Egypt)

(What are these?  Oh ya know... just a tiny part of the huge collection that the museum has of the PARTHENON!  They are ginormous.  My FAVORITE part of the exhibit.)

  (Caryatid from the Porch of the Maidens)

(Greek Column)

(The official poster for the Olympics that were held in 1948 in London)

(Me inside the museum! Isn't it beautiful?)

Want to know something cool?  Thousands of years worth of history (I saw items from near 2000 BC!  WHAT?!) is free for everyone to see.  The British has this concept of the "Great Society" that essentially means that everyone should have access to the arts, education, health care, etc.  This is somewhat controversial in the areas of health care but it seems to be overwhelmingly positive.  For many years (it's not the same now) a good high school student was able to get into Cambridge or Oxford (the equivalent or superior version of Ivy League schools) for FREE!  And all these great museums are FREE!  And a lot of performances are sponsored by the government, which brings down the cost of going to see them.  That's why I was able to see the amazing London Philharmonic for only £4.  And that's why I'm able to pay only about £20 (or near $30ish dollars) to see an unbelievable West End Theatre production where I would pay near $100 for the equivalent on Broadway in New York.  I like the idea of this Great Society because it gives everyone these marvelous opportunities.


Alright, moving on... I should mention that I have now seen four plays in four days!  Half of me is burnt out and exhausted but the other half wants to keep moving along at this same crazy pace.  I've been staying up until one or two to get homework done but I love it because I know that I'm "getting stuck in."  Life is good!  


The play that I saw tonight far exceeded my expectations.  It was Matilda!

(Paige, Amanda, and myself in front on the balcony above the stage.  Awesome, bright and beautiful scenery!)

I know what you might be thinking... the Roald Dahl book?  The movie?  That would make a weird musical.  I sort of thought that too before I saw it.  And with seeing Les Mis last night, I kind of forgot we were also seeing Matilda.  But let me just tell you... I LOVED IT!  I'm going back to see it no matter what!  Half of the actors were children and they were so talented!  They choreography was amazing, the set was so well thought out, the songs were well directed and performed, and the story line was light, surprising, and entertaining!  I can not give this play enough good reviews.  I literally had a smile on my face the entire time.  There were many, many times I laughed out loud.  There were moments when the audience audibly sighed.  There was one part where I wanted to stand on my feet and dance.


The young girl playing Matilda was talented in acting, singing, and dancing for being so young.  The little pudgy boy who ate the chocolate cake was a hoot.  My favorite, however, was Ms. Trunchbull... or should I say Mr. Trunchbull?  The scary, large woman was played by a man and he stole the show!  He was so theatrical, amusing, and entertaining.  Mom- Griffin would LOVE it!  It was truly a play for everyone.  Young kids would connect to it so well.  Teenagers would laugh.  Parents would connect to it and laugh.  I would highly, highly recommend seeing it if you ever get the chance!


What I liked about it too was that it inspired me as a future educator.  While I was watching it, I was thinking about differentiation tactics I learned in my instructional design and assessment course, I was thinking about the Ethic of Care I learned in my foundations of education class when I watched Miss Honey with her students, I thought about the power of reading a good book and the effect it can have on everyone.  I felt a very special connection to it because of this.  This play was added to my list of new, all time favorites!  


I should probably stop talking now and do as Nacho Libre would say... "Go!  Read some books!" ;)  

Day 8: I Dreamed a Dream

Wednesday felt like a dream... a dream come true!  

We started out our morning at the awe inspiring Westminster Abbey.  

(North side of the Abbey)

(In front of the Abbey- where Kate's car was!)

(Some of our group who are super excited to be there)

Maybe you've heard of it?  It's only where almost every monarch has been crowned since William the Conqueror in 11th century and where most royal weddings take place.  If you watched the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess last year (a year ago from this past Sunday- happy anniversary Will and Kate) then you'll have seen Westminster.  It is seriously amazing!  It is located right next to Parliament on the north bank of the Thames.  Our tour guide took us through the building and described it's history to us.  Something I thought was interesting is that next to the Abbey, there are three buildings.  One is the Westminster Boys School, Westminster Boys Choir School, and the headquarters for the Anglican church.  The schools cost $50,000 a year and it has the most students go onto Cambridge and Oxford than any other school.  Crazy!  I was expecting something like temple square in Salt Lake but in fact it was just a nice little square of buildings.


When we entered the Abbey, the first thing I looked at was the ceiling.  It's ribbed vaulting reached across the columns that were 101 feet tall.  It's beautiful!  The next thing I looked at was the floor.  There are graves and memorials everywhere.  That may sound a little bit creepy but it was the same way at Saint Paul's Cathedral.  It's a huge honor to be buried inside of these places and if you walk across the top it's considered a blessing, different from our cemeteries.  The only exception to this is the grave of the unknown soldier.  It's a very different setting from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C., where it's under constant guard 24/7.  This unidentified British soldier from World War I is buried near the front doors of the Abbey.  The grave has poppies all around it and no one, not even the Queen, is allowed to step over his tomb.  It's a tradition for any visiting dignitary to leave a wreath of poppies there and for any monarch getting married there to leave their wedding bouquet there (Kate did).  I was really impressed with that!


Some of the graves I saw were of Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, George Frederick Handel, and Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I.  Everywhere I looked there was someone famous!  Our tour guide kept pointing out many people as we walked along.  Oh there's Lewis Carroll, Lord Byron, and Chaucer.  There's the man who invented penicillin, there's the man who developed the latitude and longitude system, there's the prime ministers who served under Victoria, etc.  It's amazing!  The British really esteem their authors.  A whole area of the Abbey is called poets corner and dedicated to these people.  It made me think a lot about legacies and what we leave behind when we no longer live on the Earth. 


Did I mention that I stood where Kate stood when she got out of her car outside of the Abbey and that I walked down the aisle that Kate walked to meet William?  Yep... I did that.  It felt like a dream. :)


After the Abbey in the morning, I went with a few people to Waffle Palace for lunch.  I had a very yummy Belgian waffle with while chocolate and dark chocolate drizzled on top and with strawberry ice cream.  Kind of like a Neapolitan Waffle... Yum!  That was my lunch.  We also had our three hour history class in the afternoon.  I know I've said this before but I really enjoy that these classes are tailored to what we see and experience here.  If I were to take a British History class in Provo, I probably wouldn't be interested in everything we studied about.  Because the history we study here is pertinent to my life, however, I am very interested in it! 

Next up came the best part of the entire night..... LES MISERABLES!  

(So happy to be there!)

(Tube Ticket picture- Myself, MaCall, Natalie, Kayley, Kayley, and Kate in the back)

(Katherine, myself, and Paige)

(Whitney, my twin for the evening!)

(Kelsey, Kayley, and I in our Les Mis shirts!)

Everyone needs to see this play sometime in their life.  It is the number one thing I wanted to do here in London and I've dreamed about it ever since I got accepted to the program.  I don't know how anything will ever top it.  I even bought a t-shirt because I loved it so much.  The cast was great (except Eponine wasn't my favorite- too much of a pop style voice) but especially Jean Valjean!  I don't know how they find that many people with amazing voices.  I was so impressed with how well everything was sung and performed.  What I enjoyed best about the play was that it moved me.  I felt so many emotions portrayed by the actors including loneliness, pain, guilt, sorrow, excitement, charity, and love.  My favorite line was at the very end of the play...

"To love another person is to see the face of God."

Always inspiring is the "Do You Hear the People Sing?" number with the marching mob, the smoke, and the waving red flag.  But it came in close second to the last scene with the reprise of "Bring Him Home."  My friend here, Natalie, told me that the song wasn't in the original score.  Supposedly, the original Jean Valjean wrote it on opening night with the composer.  They sang it to the cast before the play and they all bawled because of it's beauty and so the song was put into the play.  When it's sung the first time, it's a prayer unto God asking for the protection and safety of a young boy.  When it's sung the last time, it's a prayer from an old man asking for a way back home to heaven to be with God again.  This is the point where I bawled.  I was emotional the whole play but at this point I cried.  I started thinking about Jake and how much he is missed.  It was almost like I was praying with the actors, to bring him home.  I wanted him to know he was loved and I wanted to know he is "home" with our Heavenly Father right now.  It was a beautiful ending to the play.  Les Miserables was informative, provided a lot of entertainment, and had a beautiful cathartic ending.  I think I want to go back and see it again before I leave because it was THAT good!


Doing all of these things has truly been a dream come true so far.  Before I left, my AMAZING friend/roomie Michal wrote me a farewell card that said, "Go, live you dream" (like from Tangled).  I thought that was so fitting for my experience.  I feel sort of like Rapunzel in Tangled right now:

Rapunzel: I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be? Flynn Rider: It will be. Rapunzel: And what if it is? What do I do then? Flynn Rider: Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.

I have the amazing blessing and opportunity to keep dreaming of bigger and better things that I can do in my life.   

Day 7: Hampton Court and Hakuna Matata

I love discovering the differences between home and here.  Once such lovely difference I have noticed are the gardens.  

This is a Utah garden.

Not much to look at right?  It is seasonal and will produce some fruit and veggies during the right season.

THIS, my friends, is a British garden.

I think they know how to do it right.  

Why aren't there more places like this in America?  I can't think of any type of environment like this back home where I can go to just wander and ponder.  I'm in awe of the years and years of landscaping, the tasteful design and care that goes into these environments.  I think I could spend hours in these gardens and never get bored.

William Wordsworth said in his poem Influence of Natural Objects:

The passions that build up our human soul, Not with the mean and vulgar works of man, But with high objects, with enduring things, With life and nature; purifying thus The elements of feeling and of thought, And sanctifying by such disciplineBoth pain and fear, -until we recognize A grandeur in the beatings of the heart.

I feel that way when I spend time in these beautiful European gardens.  My mind is turned towards more eternal things as I view the natural works of God's hands around me.

I saw these beautiful gardens at Hampton Court, where we started our day.  Hampton Court is just outside of London and sits upon the Thames River.  It is unique because it is like two different time periods in one palace.  There is a red brick side which was used during the time of Henry VIII.  It was his favorite palace out of the 55+ residences that he has.  There are so many different elements to it including three huge kitchens, a gorgeous church, a large dining room, bedchambers, etc.  I saw tapestries that were still hanging in the dining hall since the time Henry VIII lived there!  It was absolutely beautiful.  

(Entrance to Hampton Court)

(Myself and Lauren Fine in our Tudor attire)

(Kayley, Kayley, myself, Katherine, McKenzie, Jaden, & Amanda)

(The Great Hall)

(Jaden, myself, Henry VIII, Amanda, and Henry's assistant)

The other side of the palace is the white brick side and was expanded by William of Orange and Mary.  This side is also very elegant and had many beautiful murals.  I wasn't as impressed with the inside as I was with the red brick Tudor side.  But when I went outside my mind changed....  

I could have spent all day listening to the audio guide and learning all the interesting facts about the palace, although, what I really wanted to see were the gardens.  Like I said, I have never seen anything more beautiful.  There were several statues that looked like muses or Grecian gods and goddesses, brightly colored flower beds, fountains, manicured walking paths, a maze, and the worlds largest vine.  I saw several grounds workers out who were meticulously caring for the grass and plants to make sure everything looked perfect.  And it did!  I almost couldn't believe everything was real.  I felt like Alice in Wonderland since I was in a garden that looks like it could've been painted and I had the "off with her head" motto on my mind from Henry's tour.  The beauty I saw is truly indescribable.  I took so many pictures that my camera battery died!  Here are like .01% of the pictures I took:

We took a train to get to the tube to get home.  While riding the train, I got to see where the Centre Court is at Wimbledon!  I'm definitely hoping to go back there for a  tour before the trip is over.  

That night we went to see our second play for the week, Lion King!  Mom- you would have LOVED it!  It truly was amazing.  The colorful costumes, the creative set, the people who stay in character of the animals, and the heart-touching songs... I loved it all!  The execution of each scene was so creative!  In the very beginning there was a large elephant in the aisle right next to us.  There were also giant giraffes, a rhino, zebras, birds, and gazelle that looked amazingly lifelike.   My favorite execution was of the stampede scene.  They had the bison on a run down this ravine it truly looked like they were going to run right out into the audience.  They actors did an amazing job (except Simba's voice was a little too high for my preference).  There was a song that is not in the movie called "He Lives in You" that made me tear up.  It's when Simba decides to remember the pain in the past but let it propel him into the present.  He decides to step up to be who he was meant to be- a king.  I was so inspired!  When they sang "The Circle of Life," at the end I was reminded that we all have a part to play no matter where we are.

We went to the play with quite a large group (about 25 of us) and we all really enjoyed it.  Everyone else stayed at the Centre to do homework or went to Avengers.  That's right- it's already been out here for like a week.  I think I'll wait to see it when I get home though.  At the play I bought these yummy chocolates to share with everyone.  They're made by Cadbury and they're called Carmel Nibbles.  I love them!  I think I might need to bring some chocolate home for my friends and family to sample because it is so delicious.

So I had a jam packed day full of beautiful gardens and no worries! :)