Last post from London

Wow! I can't believe I'm leaving this morning. I can't get over how fast time has flown by. I'm really going to miss it here. I've grown to love this place, however crazy it may be. I am really going to miss all the different people here. Going back to Provo is going to be rough. 

On top of all that, I'm going to go crazy without all these friends I've made. Its so sad to know that we won't be living together again... ever. I'll miss them all so much! I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was Diana's empty bed. It was one of the most depressing things ever.

I'm really going to miss my ward here. I really grew to love those people. It was such a great experience and I wish I could come back and visit all of them someday.

Basically, Sunday was beautiful! We had the best weather ever for our last few days here. After church, which was amazing and my lesson went well, Melissa and I got off a few stops early to hit up Speakers Corner in Hyde Park. Wow. That was intense. And then she and I just enjoyed a nice stroll through the park to get home. It was so pretty out and such a nice, calm way to say goodbye to the park and the area.

Then it was packing time. This was absolutely insane. clothes were everywhere....

We had dinner and a little fireside where we watched a slide show and all received some fun little awards. Then the "apostate" group headed out to get McDonalds together for one last time. 

I'm really going to miss this. Especially the kids here. I grew really close to a few of them, and I"m really excited to spend more time with them when we get back to school....

I'll be home late tonight; around midnight. I'm leaving the centre here in about an hour and will have such an adventure getting around. 

Finals, Phantom, and spider bites

Finals are finally over! It was an insane day! We all wanted to die! I'm so happy that they are done and that we can get back to somewhat normal life and really enjoy London for our last few days here! 

In the middle of finals, Koryl, Diana, Kaitlin, Erika and I took a quick trip to the British Library! We got to see some super old books and the original handwriting of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mozart, Handle, the Bettles and many others. Also a copy of the lovely Magna Carta was there. Super cool! 

Last night Koryl, Diana, Kaitlin and I went to Phantom. BEST. SHOW. EVER! I really think it was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen! The singing was amazing!!!!!!! I Loved it and want to see it again! It really was the perfect end to the day and it warmed my heart and soul! I think I had goose bumps the entire time! 

This week really has been insane and on top of that, I've had a pretty nasty cold. Nothing too serious, but now I sound like a 40-year old smoker. I just can't wait to sleep!!! 

Today, we got up and went over to Queensway and got some last minute shopping done for some family and things. We headed down to the Tate Modern after. Umm... I honestly don't know how I feel about that museum. The first thing I saw were some dead birds... but we did see some pretty stuff! Sadly, I didn't find mom's favorite painting. We looked around for it, but ran out of steam fairly quickly. 

Then we headed off to Camden Market. Such an interesting market. I'd been there before last week and enjoyed it, but Kaitlin hadn't seen it, so yeah...

Well, about the spider bite... something weird bit my leg about 2 days ago. Since then, I've been reacting pretty weird to it. My leg basically feels like its on fire a lot of the time and its nice and red. Today my leg and foot were pretty swollen.... walking around has been loads of fun. I should be just fine, but getting home will be nice.

Tonight we are having a soccer game/ice cream social. Its going to be nice to be around everyone and just have everything nice and calm. I"m really going to miss this crowd. I was telling Trevor the other day that things might be a little different for us this coming Fall/Winter Semester because now I have friends! We're planning a road trip to Idaho sometime soon to visit Sarah and Caitlin!!! I'm so excited! 

Tomorrow  I am teaching Relief Society and its going to be quite the adventure! Then we are all just planning on taking it easy and packing. I'm leaving monday. My flight leaves at 1:20, but I'll probably be leaving the centre around 9:00. I have a 5 hour layover in Atlanta where I'll meet up with some kids because we have the same flight to SLC. Its going to be a fun adventure!!

Love you all and see you very soon! That is, if I make it home in one piece!!! 

House of Parliament

This morning we went to the House of Parliament and had a nice little tour. It was really cool to stand where the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, stands every week and to walk where many Kings and Queens have walked just like in other historical places. It was beautiful inside! I loved it! Honestly, the best part was that we weren't taking notes. We were just enjoying the building and having a break from homework. 

Now, its literally time to get back to work. We have 3 finals tomorrow and a paper due tonight. Great fun. But tomorrow night Diana, Kaitlin, Koryl and I are going to Phantom! And then I have one more day to play! (kinda.. I have to do an entire lesson for Relief Society)

Love you!!

Stratford upon Avon and so much more!

Sunday was great! Such a good day! I do love sundays even if going to church here is a little bit of a pain. We had a great Sacrament meeting followed by some great lessons including one taught by Jordan and me! Ha ha good times! Then, somehow the Relief Society President caught up to me and I was stuck. Yep.. I have to teach my first Relief Society lesson on sunday.... after finals, a bunch of reading, and a paper. Gotta love London homework...

Monday we went to Stratford upon Avon and saw some very Shakespeare-like things: his mother's house, Anne Hathaway's house, and his birthplace. It wasn't extremely eventful. Probably the best part of the day was when Diana, Koryl, and I were looking through the windows at a jewelry store and Koryl hit her head on the glass. haha We saw Shakespeare's grave, walked around the town, ate some really good ice cream and enjoyed being out of crazy London for a bit! We went to Witherspoon's for dinner! SOO good! The bar tender wanted to check our IDs which turned into a small fiasco. I'm pretty sure we all look over 18, which is the drinking age here, but whatever. It was fun! After dinner, we met some drunk guys from Birmingham. They were crazy funny and they loved Americans.... I've never had anyone tell me they like my accent before, but I'll take it! 

Then we went to the Shakespeare play, A Winters Tale. I maybe kinda fell asleep for most of the first half, so the second half I didn't have any clue what was going on. It was pretty boring, not going to lie, and all I wanted to do was get back on the bus and head back to the center. We had about a 2 hour drive ahead of us... 

We didn't get back to the center until close to 1 am. I was not a very happy camper. And I didn't really recover for the next morning. 

Kaitlin and I have kitchen duty this week which has turned out to be super annoying. We lose about 2 hours every day of time we could spend either studying or playing. It mostly just stinks to have it the last week we are here..

oh well...

The rest of this week is full of studying. I don't know how often I"ll post, but I'll be home in about 5 days! I can't believe how fast this time has flown by! 

Love you all and see you very very soon! I can't wait for BYU Football with Michael and Brianna!!! Its gonna be awesome!!!

Sorry, too lazy to try and upload pictures on our awful internet! 

See ya!

Most embarrassing day EVER!

What a day! What a day! It started off with a very short and painful run in the morning (I need new shoes. My legs are dying!) and a quick shower and then I headed off to meet Diana and Koryl in Trafalgar Square. We didn't end up doing much. Just some lunch and a short walk through the theater district. It was crazy crowded and we all wanted to get home. Luckily we found this cute donut place and grabbed some quick donuts. So good! I got this amazing chocolate one! It was heaven. Apparently, I must have looked like I was going to snarff it down or something, because the guy at the desk gave me extra napkins just in case I got chocolate all over my face. haha! Way to make me feel singled out! haha 

This afternoon was quiet. Just more procrastination of homework and attempts to make Diana's hair curl. It curled nicely, but did not last... sad. Then the 3 of us headed off to this mexican place we've been hearing about. It was a bit of an adventure to find. It was the biggest meal I think I've had here! So nice! It was great food. The perfect amount of spice in a burrito. I will say that I'm really looking forward to some good mexican food when I get home! 

The real adventure was after dinner. We were getting back into the tube station and the little doors shut on me super fast... I got stuck and basically burst out laughing. Diana about died and it was just all over embarrassing. I'm really good at making a fool out of myself.

Those girls headed off to a show and I'm about to try to make a dent in my giant pile of homework and plan a lesson for Young Women tomorrow. 

Love you all!!! See you very soon! The next few days are going to be insane! I don't think I'll be sleeping much during this last week! Have fun in super hot Utah!

Sorry Folks. My computer doesn't believe in keeping pictures rotated. You'll have to do that yourself manually. 

The National Gallery... While waiting for Diana and Koryl I tried to be a little creative...i think it died.. oh well!

St. Martins in the field. Sadly, there was some celebration for Jamaican Independence so we couldn't go in...

The street I walk down many many times every day! Gotta love Palace Court!