Home

I really miss London.  While I was there and visiting all of the sites, though, I always thought about which member of my family would've loved to see this or would've gotten a kick out of that. 
I'm happy to be back in Oregon with them! We have a fun summer ahead of us :)

{the girls!}

It's over.

SUNDAY

I went to the single’s ward today with practically everyone from the program. Since our tube passes expired, it would’ve costed too much to get to the Lea Valley ward. It was a beautiful day and so we walked through Hyde Park instead of taking the bus.
It was our second last Sunday dinner with everyone. It was nice to finish and to not worry about the whole homework due tomorrow deal. So we watched Nacho Libre, instead.

MONDAY

More fun in the sunnn!!! I was loving those sunny days. I woke up for breakfast, but then went back to sleep because I could. Then a group of us went to the Park to play soccer. That was SO MUCH FUN!!
Annie, Jake and I ate at Taza’s for lunch then I took a trip with Rachel to the Science Museum (let-down after OMSI) and the Natural History Museum (got to see the baby exhibits).
That night, we rented “Quantum of Solace” and also watched the recent “Romeo and Juliet” (what a weird movie). I love just being able to hang out with the kids at the centre. We tend to have a lot of fun with each other.

TUESDAY

So, yeah, another day, another plane ride cancelled. Which means more playing in London. After a run in Hyde Park, Kira, Brittany, Annie, Tori, Mary Kate and I took a girls’ day out on the town. After lunch at Zizzi's, we walked all of the way down Bayswater-->Bond Street-->Oxford Circus and did some shopping. We then spent the evening seeing “Mama Mia”. That was a fun show, particularly the party at the end.

{Tori, me, MK @ Zizzi's}

That night called for a dance party in the basement for Kira, Brit, MK, Annie and I, complete with a choreographed dance to "Sexy Back" by JT.  It was a really fun day.

WEDNESDAY

People are starting to leave, by now. The ash is clearing. But my flight wasn’t until Thursday, so another day of fun in London. We spent a couple of hours playing football and soccer in the Park. That’s what I’m going to miss the most this summer: not having 38 other people my age ready to go do fun things together. I realized this day that we’re akin to siblings by now, I feel. We sleep in the same house together, we eat together, we play together, we go to school together. There’s no escaping it.

{Jake, Jenny, Me, Mary, CJ, Cam, Calvin, Briton-notice the perfected leg pop}

Brit, Kira, Annie and I had a double date at Nando’s for the last time. I decided that I’m opening up a Nando’s in Provo, I think it would do well in a college town. We love it, at least.
We then walked over to the Serpentine Pond, picked up some people in the park on the way, and did the paddle boats. That was a good concluding outdoor activity for my last day in London with the sun and the pond in Hyde Park with my friends.

{Brit and I are on a boat}

After grabbing some food and treats at Tesco, we watched “Dan in Real Life”. I’m also going to miss those late movie nights. Afterwards, we would just sit and talk sometimes for hours. Just added to the sleepover-every-night deal.
I didn’t want to mention it, but I have to. Today, I also packed. Tomorrow’s my flight and it hasn’t been cancelled, yet, so I think I’m getting off of the island.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY

It’s over.


The flight made it to Rome, Annie and I ate at the hotel and watched “Swiss Family Robinson” and then got on our flight the next morning out of Rome to DC. I looked out the window and what did I see? American soil and Washington DC. I was so excited to see my family once I made it to PDX (36 hours of travelling, anyone?). And, yes, on the way home we stopped by Taco Bell.
Things I missed about America:
1. My family.
2. Food=Taco Bell, Red Robin’s, good milkshakes, Reese’s.
3. Driving.
4. Everyone talks to each other here. We like to know everybody’s business.
5. Tualatin Public Library.
6. Oregon: chill people, trees, mountains, Portland
7. No conversion for moneys.
8. Lots of other things that I can’t think of right now.
Things I miss about London:
1. Not much responsibility other than homework and kitchen crew.
2. Shows
3. Food: candy, Nando’s, Taza, Khan’s, yogurt.
4. Hyde Park
5. The people
6. Day trips
7. My peeps from the program!!! (x100)
8. Walking everywhere.
9. See previous blog posts.
On Saturday night, to help ease the pain of being away from London, I went with my dad to get Nutella and I made strawberry, banana, nutella crepes for the family and we watched a movie.
From here on out, I’ll stop the everyday documentation of my life because 1.) I’m not really doing anything right now that’s blog-able and 2.) It would bore you. So I’m signing off from London Winter Study Abroad 2010 blogging duties. Cheers!

Finals, fAsh, and Final Week Fun

LAST SUNDAY!! (wellll we thought it was…)

It was also Stake Conference today and the speakers were good. A few were from my old ward and so that was fun to hear from there.
That night we had a great fireside testimony meeting. It was great to hear from everyone that spoke.
It was the night before the start of a crazy finals week and so we ate cake and talked for as long as we could, putting off the inevitable. It was a good night.

MONDAY-THURSDAY

All finals and no fun.  Plenty of Food and Wine runs for candy and Dr. Pepper.

THURSDAY

Finals
Annie and I took a break from finals and studying for a trip to Borough Market.
Between my last two finals, Annie and I took a break to eat at Borough Market, a favorite haunt of ours. We walked from St. Paul’s Cathedral, across the Millennium Bridge (they rebuilt it since the Death Eaters destroyed it in 6th HP movie), along the Thames River and ended in the Market. We continued walking along the Thames after lunch to Tower Bridge and found a memorial for the mariners lost at sea during the world wars. It was really beautiful memorial.

{Tower Bridge}

After the last final, we were treated to a song long anticipated by the famous Professor Macfarlane! He changed the words to “The Wizard and I” from Wicked to be about Professor Howe and how she joined our program. So funny.

A nice little treat that the directors did for us was order pizza and then surprise us with Ben’s Cookies. What a great ending to finals!

FRIDAY

Rumor had been travelling around the centre about a certain volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupting in Iceland. Ok, kinda weird, but whatever. Then the rumors escalated to truths as the airports started to close. Ok, it’s going to be only for a day, whatever. No, I end up being stranded on an island, aka Great Britain for 5 days after I’m supposed to leave.

Here’s a poem about this occasion:
Imma not going on a plane today
Because easyjet sent my way
An email that to me said:
“If you get on a plane you’s dead”
I prayed for another week in London
Surprise! Here it is, hon.
But why did I end up stuck?
Volcano Eyjafjallajokull did erupt.
No ash in the sky or on the ground
No said explosion can be found.
In fact, the sky is sunny and clear
Which means London’s favorite time of year.
Sports in Hyde Park over there.
Tulip Festival in Trafalgar Square.
Sunburn on a pasty face.
Shorts and sandals all over the place.
One more market, one more show
Last minute places to go.
Cancelled flight? That’s too bad.
Good thing there’s more fun to be had.
“Homework is waiting at home”,
Ha ha funny, school’s done.
It’s a dream come true:
London when the skies are blue.
Heading to America hurts even more.
There’s still so much to explore.
Cheers, 27 Palace Court, cheers.
I’ll remember you throughout the years.
Day trips to other parts of England,
Paris, Wales, Ireland.
Borough, London Eye and Big Ben,
Don’t forget the British men!
“I love Nandos more than you love your mom”
Khan’s and their delicious non
Gelato Mio, Frog, Ben’s Cookies:
Counting calories is for rookies.
Pounds, accents, tube delay,
all part of the everyday.
Friendships that will last.
Time flew by way too fast!
Forever has my life been changed.
But one thing will remain the same,
One thing will always ring true:
London, I love you.

-written by Michelle Ericksen in a Rome hotel after getting off the flight from London
Anyways, a group of us went to Borough Market (again, one last hurrah). I thought it was our last day, but it wasn’t, so that was a weird feeling. I was bracing myself for the upcoming trip to Rome and having to say farewell to London. When that “bracing” wasn’t necessary, an off-centered, displaced feeling set in. Good thing that didn’t last and we took it as a chance to go play some more in London. Some of us girls went back to Westfield’s to see “Dear John”. Don’t see it. It was stewpud.

SATURDAY

If you hadn’t caught on yet, I didn’t end up going to Rome. It’s ok, I’ve only wanted to go there since forever. You can understand why my feelings were so mixed. I missed Rome, but got a really fun few extra days in London. What a toss-up.

On my second last Saturday in London, I went back to Camden Market where Tori and I got the cutest/coolest folding sunglasses. She also showed me where to get some yummy fish ‘n chips and OJ. We then went over to Trafalgar Square, where the Tulip Festival was happening in honor of Holland. To be honest, there was one stand of tulips. Basically, it was a party with a live band and drunk people and pole vaulters. Very energetic and fun.

{hallo}

{party at Trafalgar}

Annie wasn’t feeling well, so I went back home to check on her and then we walked back to Trafalgar so that she could enjoy the party, too. On the way home, we stopped by Primark and got some flip flops.
We still had no signs of getting home anytime soon. Or to Rome.

Iceland has allowed me more time so that I can catch up on my blog

Catching up...

FRIDAY (the 9th<--20 for a month!)

Today, I stood on two halves of the world. I’ve been on the Western half for all of my life, but after this program, I would have ventured to the Eastern half several times.

{pretty day on the Thames}

The group took a boat along the Thames toward Greenwich, where lies the Prime Meridian marker, aka 0˚0’, or whatever it is. The sun was out and it was warm and the boat was so fun! The Prime Meridian marker was at the top of a hill and the view from the top was beautiful!

{look, ma, I'm on the Prime Meridian!}

We popped into the Greenwich Market. I really love markets. Even if I don’t buy anything, I like to look around and explore and taste different foods and people watch. I love the vibe of markets and they are probably one of my favorite things here in London.

Speaking of markets, some of the girls and I went to Borough afterwards (surprised?).

Then it was hitting the books in anticipation for finals next week. Eesh.

SATURDAY

There are so many cool things on the surface of London. Big Ben, the Eye, Trafalgar Square, all of those better known cool places. But there is an advantage to living somewhere as opposed to visiting somewhere. You find things that are not as well known and are really really cool and probably some of my favorite places. Like Covent Garden. I LOVE the energy from that place. It’s in the theatre district and there are lots of stands and street performers and good food and shopping. Annie and I got some crepes here and then went to the Royal Opera House next door for Cinderella. We couldn’t find the Opera House and so we got there about 8 minutes before the show started and this lady started to run to show us our seats and so we ran to our seats upa bunch of stairs to follow her. Kinda funny. I haven’t seen a ballet since I went with my grandma when I was 5 to see Nutcracker. It was a beautiful performance and the dancers were phenomenal.
Annie got home and changed and then got kebabs to eat in the park. Like Oregon, when the sun comes out, even if it’s not super sunny, everyone emerges from their caves of rain and winter.

That night, Kira, Brittany, Annie, Karalyn and I went to Westfield’s (the huge mall) for dinner at, you guessed it, Nando’s. Then we went upstairs to the theatre (now do you have an idea of how big this mall is?) and saw “Whip It”. It was such a fun girl power movie.

More updates to come! I have more time, now, because I’m stuck in London for however long!

I've never heard more about Iceland in my entire life...

...I'm experiencing mixed feelings about the whole Iceland exploding thing.  The timing could not have been more spot on.  The volcano decided to erupt the weekend that I needed to fly places, closing all air space.
My question is: how can you CLOSE air?  I know they mean air travel, but the way everyone's saying it makes it seem like space is a convenience store or something. 
Here's the sitch: I've been studying in London for the past 3.5 months with very little complications or issues. The weekend that we're scheduled to fly out of London, the fault running through Iceland moves, setting off a big volcano that's spewing ash into the sky.  This ash gets into the plane engines and hardens, breaking the engine.  Not good. So. All air space is closed and flights are cancelled.  I got an email this morning saying something that I never in a million years thought that I would hear:
We are very sorry but your flights shown below have had to be cancelled due to the risk from volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
Wait, what?!
My prayers have been half answered.  We were saying how awesome it would be that we got a week in London after finals where we don't have to worry about homework and we can just play and play.  Check, thanks to Iceland.  The other half of my prayers were please let me get to Rome without any problems.  Not check, thanks to Iceland.  So my priority right now is to enjoy the time I have left in London, but to get to Rome as soon as I can.
Yesterday was a weird day.  I had braced myself for having to say goodbye to London and having to do everything that I wanted before I leave.  But, awkward, I said goodbye prematurely.  We tried going to Borough, but it took us over 30 minutes to get there because a person was under the train.  How sad!  So I'm not leaving London, I have to change my plans, I don't have homework to do, and there's a volcano erupting.
For now, we're stuck and I'm going to go to a tulip festival that I wold have missed if my flight had left this morning.  I love London.  The jury's still out about Iceland.

Temple Trip & Lunchtime with Winston Churchill

TUESDAY


Classes were squished and earlier today so that we can get on the coach to head to the London, England LDS Temple! It was sunny and pretty and the temple was beautiful. I loved being there with some of the kids from the program. I love those people. They will forever be associated with being my friends during some of the best months of my life and experiencing this life-changing experience with me. The other night, we were talking about little habits and things that each of us does and I discovered some things that they know about me that I didn’t realize until they pointed it out. I don’t know how I’m going to spend a summer away from everyone. I’ll probably die.
{Roommates at London, England LDS Temple}

{me and my best mate}
Anyways, great day at the temple and then 5 pound night spent in Nando’s. Oh, Nando’s.

WEDNESDAY

Last Wednesday trip with the program…It was a really cool day. We’ve seen SO MUCH and yet we haven’t seen it all, today’s activities included. We lucked out for the timing of our tour at the Palace of Westminster, aka Houses of Parliament, because GB is having an election soon to vote for a new Prime Minister and so Parliament was out of session and open for us to see. We got to see Westminster Hall, where some important people, like kings and queens and prime ministers, lay in state before they’re buried. We also saw the chapel where Parliament was held a long time ago and where Charles I stormed in with troops to oppose Cromwell. Finally, we saw the House of Commons and the House of Lords, where the government happens, basically. This day was also the last day for the Q&A with the P.M. before the election and that happens after prayer time. So around 11:30, we stood in the middle of the houses and watched the official procession for the beginning of this. The lady who holds the staff that symbolizes the royalty being present at Parliament and the Speaker of the House of Commons (along with some others) walk down the long corridor to the Commons. An officer yells, “Speaker!” when they enter the corridor and when they got to us, another officer yelled “Hats off, strangers!”. And that was it haha. If we would have been able to wait for another 20 minutes, we probably would have been able to see the P.M., himself.

{Houses of Parliament}

But, we had another appointment at the Cabinet War Rooms on Whitehall. These are the bunkers where Winston Churchill stayed and worked during WWII and they just up and left it at the end of the war. Some people found it and opened it to the public just how it was left behind. Inside was also a Churchill museum, which was cool. I knew before that Churchill was a cool guy, but I never realized just how cool he was until today. I decided that if I could have lunch with any 3 people at this point in my life, I would choose: Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Brigham Young. How cool would THAT be? Maybe I’ll get what I wish for in Heaven.

After a solid nap and dinner, Anna, Alyssa and I hit up Starbucks for study time. We got kicked out early than expected because they closed and we encountered a crazy homeless guy at this time. He walked in, talking to himself, set a suitcase down, walked out, came back in, still talking to himself. So we left. We tried to go to McDonald’s to get WiFi, but they didn’t have plugs for our computers. On our way out, we got stopped by a sweet, old lady who talked to us for 10-15 minutes about her life story. Weird homework outing.

Easter Weekend!

SATURDAY
Wowie what a day. We started off with a lovely little Easter weekend brunch, then Jenny and I headed off to Wimbledon! We had a hard time finding the tennis courts, but a couple of nice British people helped us out. I still can’t believe we actually did this! Our tour guide took us to see court #1, the press rooms where they interview the players after their games, court #2 under construction annnddd…CENTRE COURT!! For those who aren’t tennis enthusiasts, Centre Court is where tennis champions are born during Opens. This is also where the Olympic tennis games are going to be held in 2012.

{Centre Court}

{Jenny and I at Centre Court}

We checked out the museum, too, where they have the cup and plates they give to the winners at Wimbledon. They also had the history of tennis and lots of other neat-o stuff (like Roger Federer’s shoes from last season…sigh…).
After a few hours in tennis heaven, Jenny and I went to Whitfield, this HUMONGOUS mall at Shepherd’s Bush. I’m not exaggerating, it HUGE and overwhelming. We found a really delicious Chinese place for lunch, then we did a bit of shopping. I finally found a party dress! For 15 pounds! Yay! I tried Sblended milkshakes for the first time—they have at least 50 different flavors. I got milk chocolate digestive…IN A MILKSHAKE! Two of my favorite things combined.
We rushed over to Hyde Park Chapel for General Conference…at five PM??? It was weird having Conference from 5 to 11 PM, instead of 9 to 3. But Conference was good, as usual.
It was a wonderfully exhausting day with Jenny!
SUNDAY
HAPPY EASTER!! Easter weekend + Conference weekend = best weekend ever.
We had a nice Easter brunch with the whole program.
That night was Conference, again. In between sessions, they didn’t feed us dinner, so a group of us went to Zizzi’s for din-din. I love Zizzi’s. I’m going to open one in Oregon and pick up some cute Italian cooks while I’m in Rome, sound good?
I loved this weekend! The second to last—only one more left :(
MONDAY
After classes, since I played and Conferenced/Easter-ed all weekend, it was homework time. But after dinner, Annie and I went to see Handel’s Messiah at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field at Trafalgar Square. I had never seen or heard it all of the way through and it was so beautiful! Here in Britain, they celebrate holidays for as long as they can (my kind of people) and so they have Easter Monday off and everything closes down. This was a great end to the long Easter weekend!