HAIRSPRAY!!!












On our way to hit up Mama Mia on Thursday night, my girl friend Kim and I see a mass of people surrounding a Movie Theater. After relentless screaming and a chant of "Amanda" we look up and realize its the World Premire of HAIRSPRAY! (Starring John Travolta, Queen Latifa, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, and many others...). We rush the crowd and I bully a couple of guys on a bench to catch a view of some of our favorite stars. Although Queen Latifa and John Travolta didn't show, Amanda was there as well as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prince!

"And I'm Proud to Be an American"

Ok, so this doesnt really show the whole outfit, but imagine underneath the coat a navy blue sweater, jeans and fab red flats.


Today was the 4th of July. I've never felt so homesick. This time last year I was (a) sleeping in (b) heading to Huntington Beach to soak up the SUN (c) hanging with my girls (d) bbqing (e) watching fireworks. I can honestly say that none of the above occured this 4th of July. Instead, it was spent in a classroom, and then out in the rain, and then onto the GLOBE to watch Shakespeare. Ok, I'll admit Shakespeare was a LOT cooler at the Globe than reading it. The Merchant of Venice took me a little while to get into when I had to read it; but at the Globe, they immediately capture your attention when the crossdresser comes on stage, and a Joker is wearing a "no camera/no cell phone sign". It also helps that they encourage audience participation ... they actuallly have you help put together the set right before the show starts, and you have to be attentive if you are front row because cast members tendto spit on you and occasionally throw up on you. But its all in good fun, and for the betterment of the show. In case you don't know, the globe is an indoor/outdoor theater-- where the top of the roof is left open. Considering our recent encounters with all the RAIN, and our vulnerability to it with the open roof; we were anticipating a downpour. However, lucky for us, it was a clear night.

After the show a few of us walked across the Thames on the Millenial Bridge and sang Patriotic songs, like the national anthem, and toby keith's "I'm proud to be an American". I'm pretty sure all the Brits around were upset, but it was the most patriotic I had been all day. Ok, so I lied. My outfit must have been the most patriotic ...

BYU rides the short bus?




Today we went on our first offical bus trip to Stratford on Avon (where Shakespeare grew up) and then onto the Blenheim Palace (think Pride and Prejudice...) and then to Oxford. Shakespeare stuff was cool, and the countryside was beautiful and green...although we were all hating the rain and savoring the little sun that we did have. Blenheim Palace took our breath away, it was more than any of us anticipated. Oxford was classic; especially when it decided to downpour on us, and oh, did I mention there was HAIL involved?? All in all, the Blenheim Palace definitely won us over.

Stratford on Avon




Blenheim Palace-- no picture can fully capture the magnitude and magnificence of this place.

Queued = Waited in line.

Wimbledon: the oldest major championship in the sport of tennis and is widely considered to be the most prestigious. Pictures don't really do it (or the players for that matter) justice ... but here are some anyway. Oh, and did I mention that it rains here??? Im pretty sure I saw more rain than tennis action today and there are some rain pictures to proove it.























Yum. Strawberries and Cream.

Modern Day Pioneer

For church they split the BYU students up amongst the local wards in 2 London Stakes. Most of us have a bit of a journey to make it to church, me being one of those people of course. As I took the tube, transferred lines, and then got on the train to Blackheath (Cantburry?), I realized it takes about an hour to get to church, and another hour to get back every week. Gone are the days when I could leave 5 min before 1 and still make it to church on time. I realized this must've been what the pioneers went through to go to church every Sunday ... ok so maybe thats a little dramatic, but it is similar to our modern day pioneers that live in countries, or places where they have to travel long distances for church every week, or to make it to the temple. Sunday as a day of rest has taken on new meanings.

I have recieved a calling to be a Sunday School teacher. This will be interesting as my ward ... err branch? only has 5-7 teens ages 12-18; 2 of which are new members, and those visiting speaking other languages. I realized my patience will be tested, and as I prepare to teach on the Atonement next week, my teaching skills will be tested as well. Lets all pray that I can make it through the lesson next week.

THE TOWER

When you hear the word TOWER, one usually thinks of a tall, narrow building, stairs leading up to the top. Similar to one found in the fairytail of Rapunzel... In London, apparently TOWER means fortress ... and by fortress I mean a castle, and a city with a large wall around it; oh and not to mention a torture chamber and crown jewels. On Friday we experienced THE TOWER OF LONDON. It was amazing! Much larger than I had anticipated, and soon we made friends with the BEEFEATERS, or the Yoeman Wanderers, if you will, who told us of myths and facts about the TOWER. Like the story of the bloody tower...


We had a great time exploring, and making friends with the Ravens (if you will shout Good Morning to one of them, he will say it back, or so we were told?) The afternoon down pour that we got also made us more inclined to stick around and explore the tower more, which we were all grateful for.
yeah this looks cute ... tudor style and all, but its where they held the prisoners.

After dinner we decided to hit up the hot spots of London and strolled by the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminister Abby, Through St. James Park and onto Buckingham Palace. I think this is when it hit me -- I am living in such an amazing city. Big Ben was much larger than I realized, and Westminster Abby honestly took my breath away. St. James park left me the most peaceful I think I've been since I've been here. The wispering willows, and calm river, with the wind whistling through the trees was the closest I think I will get to the sounds of the ocean from home ... Buckinham Palace was ... well to be quite honest a little bit of a let down after Big Ben and Westminster Abby (why did they put all of those together, when CLEARLY the other two outshine the palace so much??) at any rate, it was a fabulously London evening ...

OUR FIRST NIGHT OUT

If you know Anna or I, you wouldn't be surprised we hit up the pubs on our 2nd night in the city. (In fact, you probably thought what took us so long??? Its called JET LAG). Thursday night we decided to hit up a pub or two in Soho. After checking out the scene we ended up at Three Greyhound, a smallish pub that appeared to be full of action. Anna immediately became "friends" with the fiesty Spaniard bartender, and soon thereafter we met some awesome Brits -- The little one on the right was my favorite, and a smart one too (he graduated from Oxford). We spent the night with these boys and hit up O-Bar later on to go dancing. However, soon thereafter we got a feeling it was time to go home. Although it wasnt late, we knew it was time to go. Little did we know what a smart decision that was. Thank goodness for the tender mercies of the Lord prompting us to get out of the area. As i'm sure most of you heard, there was a car bomb found in London at 2am Friday morning-- blocks away from where we were at. No need to worry, we are perfectly safe.

In case you dont know what i'm referring to, the NY Times had a good spread on it: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/world/europe/30britain.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin