Hey, y'all, I'm back!

So I've decided that blogging shouldn't just be an England thing, but I should try to keep up with it this summer too!

What's the latest dish? I'm headed to Nicaragua in less than a month! I'm going with a team of 4 other Messiah people. We're going with Food for the Hungry to do whatever work they need us to do. I'm really psyched as the time draws nearer. It will be a stretching, growing, learning experience for me, I'm sure...I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for our team!

Mediterranean here I come!

So exactly 25 minutes until we start our spring break excursion to Rome, Venice, Athens, Corfu, and Santorini! I'm nervous but also excited, running on a tiny bit of sleep and adreneline (notice our taxi comes at 1:30 AM)! But before I go, I just want to say that I have been so blessed to have Amy and Mom, UB and Ty visit these past two weeks...Seeing them really gave me the boost I needed to not be homesick. I love all of you and miss everyone! Please pray for me and the rest of my friends traveling with me, for protection, safety, good health, and fun! Ciao!!

Gold Cup Race Week!!

Welcome to Gold Cup Race Week!! It's the biggest, most famous week in Cheltenham because of the world-famous horse races going on! Every hotel and b&b is booked, and has been for months. It's a huge event, with thousands of Irishmen coming out. Ladbrokes, the betting store, is PACKED with people shellling out money like crazy. Every bar and pub in town whipped out "Guiness" signs and all the stores are hopping. It's like Black Friday at home...except with higher prices rather than deals lol. All the stores have fresh inventory and all the restaurants are totally soaking in the extra crowds. This restaurant/bar near Regency had a "Race Breakfast" this morning, in addition to a champagne breakfast and when I walked by it was packed. So many people talking horses with Racing Times in hand. There are even people parked on the side of the road, radio on, following the action. Not to mention so many expensive, even antique cars and limos around. When I was walking back from class today (which let out in a half hour because only 3 of us showed up!), there were throngs of men in smart, classy suits, newspaper in hand, heading to the Races. I passed dozens of Irishmen chatting in their tweed caps and women with their umbrellas and fancy hats. I must have looked so goofy with my huge grin but I really wanted to just say "top o' the mornin'" or something! It's just such a European event. I mean, there will even be members of the Royal Family at the races! There's just an air of excitement...maybe because people bet too much money and are afraid they'll lose lol.. I don't know. But I feel like I'm in an episode of Wildfire (was I the only one who watched that show? lol). But anyway, this week it's just exciting to be in the same area of all this action, even if I'm not witnessing jockeys and stallions firsthand :)

Stonehenge, Portsmouth, and my Birthday!

Continuing from the last post...

Last weekend we took a trip to Stonehenge and Portsmouth with BCA and it was a lot of fun. Stonehenge was really neat to see since it's so famous. The history behind it, like how the rocks came all the way from Wales somehow, is crazy. But it was cool, a little boring but now I can say I saw it at least!

Portsmouth is a gorgeous coastal town, the oldest port in England. It reminded me a bit of home because the buildings were more modern and there were outlets and stuff. I loved how they had so many cafes and outdoor seating areas overlooking the marina and all the beautiful ships. We went up in the Spinnaker Tower which was this huge tower that you could see panoramic views of the town and the ocean. Really cool. I even stood on a glass floor looking down at the ground so far down...scary but cool. We ate a delicious meal (half a roast chicken, chips and vine roasted tomatoes!) at the Old Customs House which was so cute. It was nice to eat a great meal with a bunch of friends and just be near the ocean :)

On Sunday we saw the Mary Rose, this 500 year old ship that is being restored. They took it out of the ocean virtually intact and they are preserving it. Really cool. I'm such a history nerd lol. Then we went for a tour on the HMS Victory, a royal navy ship first launched in 1765 famous for its use in the Battle of Trafalgar. We got to see all the decks, hear about life on the ship, which was really brutal, and learn about the history. I loved it-so interesting! So the weekend was really fun and I really enjoyed just having a little retreat from Cheltenham!

So my birthday was wonderful because I have the best parents and friends in the world! Dad and Shari sent Steph and I a party in a box (which we will have soon!), a ton of yummy food, books, the Step Up 2 dvd, gorgeous jewelery, and the Compassionart cd/dvd. Check it out-it's absolutely amazing and all the proceeds go to dozens of charities!! I'm obsessed. Mom and Ub sent us beautiful jewelery and PEEPS! I can't wait for them to come in a little over 2 weeks! Our friends here bought Steph and I each a huge, amazing teacup and saucer and tea which was so sweet :) I got so many cards from friends and family, and just feel overwhelmingly loved and blessed. I could not ask for more!

Galway, Ireland

So I am really behind on blogging-sorry! Since it's been almost a month and so much has happened, I'm just going to briefly recap, with some elaboration :)

On the 19th of February, Me, Steph, Dan, Stacey, Heather, Mike, Mollie and Emily went to Galway, Ireland for a four day weekend...It was the most fantastic, beautiful trip ever. Our hostel was nice, with very helpful and friendly staff, free breakfast of toast and cereal, and free internet. It was our first hostel experience and it wasn't bad, although a bit interesting at points lol. Funny stories that I can share in more detail in person! So the town of Galway is so beautiful; the quintessential Irish town. I loved the accents, the hospitality of the people, it just has a unique and wonderful culture and feel to the town. We ate at the King's Head Pub, built in the 1500's, and had the best cheeseburgers with irish cheddar that I've had since I left the U.S. MMM! We went in the Cathedral where Christopher Columbus attended some services, walked along the beautiful coastline of the Galway Bay, checked out the Spanish Arch, and ate delicious crepes from Zatsuma, our favorite eatery. One of my favorite memories is eating a yummy crepe outside of Zatsuma at night, listening to street performers make sweet rhythms on their drums, watching two adorable kids dance to the music...so memorable and it made me feel so alive!

The third day, we took a nine hour bus tour to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher...Incredible landscape, countryside, coastline, and majestic rugged cliffs jutting into the Atlantic Ocean...Words cannot describe how breathtaking the views were...The landscape was exceptional, with dozens of miles of green pastures etched by stone walls, enclosing sheep and other cattle..We saw so much-definitely worth 18 euros! So that's Ireland for you...

If you ever get the chance, go to Ireland...it is amazing.

London on Valentine's Day!

On Saturday, we went to London for the first time and it was fantastic! Play-by-play: We woke up at 5AM and got the bus at 6:45 (running for it of course) and got to London a little after 10. LONG busride but fortunately I slept a lot. According to Heather, I twitch a lot in my sleep. I attribute it to the jerky Megabus. Anyway, we were dropped of at Victoria Station and headed straight for Buckingham Palace. It wasn't quite as big as I expected and there was no changing of the guards on that day, but the gates were beautifully detailed with real gold tips and the "bobbys" guarding it. The statues in front were also incredibly intricate. Then we walked through St. James park, kind of a let down because they were doing construction and the pond was drained. So it basically was like a big mud pit haha. From there we walked to Trafalgar Square, snapping pictures of everything along the way. I especially liked all the unique taxis, each advertising a different product. Colourful though! Trafalgar Square was equally as beautiful with the Gallery of Art juxtaposed with the fountain and large lion statues. Emily thought they looked like Aslan from Chronicles of Narnia and took a picture with the lion haha. Then we ate a yummy lunch at Lil Frankie's, an Italian place on Trafalgar Square. I had delicious spinach and ricotta canneloni (not British I know but I couldn't help myself!). Then Heather, Stace and I shared the "Godfather," a heavenly chocolate and vanilla ice cream plus brownies, whipped cream, fudge, etc....mmmm. We enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and heat, even though Dan had to constantly close the door to the restaurant because of the draft lol. Then we hit some classic tourist shops and picked out postcards. I also bought a beautiful purple and gold scarf, which I put on right away. Next, it was time for Big Ben...When we rounded the corner, there he was. Surreal. You see it in movies, The Parent Trap, What a Girl Wants, Winning London...but I was actually standing in front of it. WOW. It was gorgeous. The most gorgeous, gigantic clock I've ever seen. Like I've seen a lot. We glanced at the Parliament buildings and Westminster Abbey, but took ages taking pictures of Big Ben. Then, we headed to the tube..Dun Dun Dun.

The tube was scary, interesting, fast, and claustrophobic. We bought day passes and hopped on to get to Tower Hill-where the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge (commonly mislabeled the London Bridge. There is none, friends.)are; across town. The first ride wasn't bad, albeit a bit jerky. The Tower of London was a bit disappointing to just look at, although the history behind it is fascinating. We went to the Tower Bridge which was by far my favorite part of London. Maybe it's genetic from Dad or something ;) The Bridge was massive, detailed as ever, and had fantastic views of the whole city and the Thames River. We walked across the whole thing and then chilled along the one side for a while. It was sort of like a boardwalk (minus the funnel cake and shops), but with lampposts and strings of lights that I'm sure looked incredible at night. I took countless pictures and just sat there for a while taking it all in. We saw a couple taking their wedding photos in front of the bridge which was so romantic and beautiful. On Valentine's Day none the less. It was picture perfect!

The tube ride to and from Picadilly Circus (which was a lot like NYC to me; and we didn't spend barely any time there) was horrendous. We all held hands through the crowds so we wouldn't lose each other. We pushed and shoved our way onto a completely packed subway to get back to Victoria Station. Steph, Dan and Miranda didn't make in on but got the next subway and we all met up again, thankfully. It was an experience that I'll never forget. And despite the craziness, it made me more confident that we can do spring break on our own!

The rest is boring except that my Starbucks card worked and I got a Carmel Machiatto (thanks Ty!). But the busride back was longgg and I practically collapsed by the time I got back to my room. It was a great, memorable, day.

So up next is GALWAY, IRELAND on THURSDAY!! We leave early in the morning and get back on Sunday afternoon. I cannot wait!! It should be a great weekend :) Pray for safety! Love and miss you all so much. xoxo

Blessings

So I'm just feeling really blessed and wanted to share some of the ways God has blessed me in the past few days...

He's surrounded me with amazing, wonderful friends here with whom I can share so many fun experiences and laughs, not to mention my amazing friends back home who I miss a lot :)
He's blessed me with this incredible opportunity to study, live, learn and experience another culture and country-an opportunity that is so precious and priceless.
I'm so blessed that my family supports and loves me and that I have the financial means to do something like this!
I'm so blessed that God has a plan for my life that is bigger and grander than I could ever imagine.
God is doing big things here in England...which is amazing!
I'm so thankful that I am healthy and able to be independent.

So last weekend we went on a short-ish hike (not the 100 mile one) up to Cleeve Hill. It was the most breath-taking, incredible view ever. Wow. Words and pictures cannot describe God's creation and beauty! I could see for miles all of Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. Even though it was a long and rugged hike, I can't wait to go again tomorrow! If the whole Cotswold Way is this beautiful, I'm in for an incredible experience come May...

Tomorrow Stacey's friend from Switzerland is also coming for a few days so that should be fun! We're going bowling tomorrow night and to Bristol on Saturday. Spring break planning is well underway and we're about ready to book things..EEK! (that's for you Heather!) Right now, the plan is to go to Rome, Venice, Salzburg, Athens, and Santorini. We're also hoping to take weekend trips to Paris, Barcelona, somewhere in Ireland, and possibly Prague...So we'll see!

Lots of love xoxo