After only 2 hours of sleep I woke up at 6:30 to go on an excursion. Exhausted, and NOT a morning person, I'm not quite sure how I survived, however, here is a description of my day...

Jane Austen.
This turned out to be much cooler than Shakespeare's cottage ... It was adorable with a beautiful garden. As we walked through the house we learned much more about her personal life, and how that relates to each one of her novels. For my english class we read Persuasion; which is a novel I was unfamiliar with. However, as I read it, I fell in love (ok so i'm a total girl, but we all know that!). Jane Austen's love life resembled that of her character, Anne Elliot in Persuasion (although unfortunately for Jane, she did not get the guy in the end.) Anyway, throughout the cottage there were costumes from the Anne Hathaway movie that just came out, and even the original Manuscripts for the last chapters of Persuasion!
























Stonehenge
After a fabulous time learning about Jane, we traveled to Stonehenge, which is sooo cool, however, I thought would be bigger?? Maybe if I had gone on the much cooler night tour, and had been able to walk up to the rocks, they would have seemed bigger, but from my perspective outside the rope, they didn't seem all that big. During this time I thought I had lost Ashley, but apparently she was just ahead of the group the whole time. Too bad i didn't realize this until the end of the trip, and didn't get to take any pics with her. Sigh.











Bath.
After checking out a bunch of random large old stones we headed to Bath. Oh Bath. How could Jane Austen hate this place?? I suppose it is cool to us because it remains in the same condition it was 200 years ago, and still have the same functioning drain system as was built by the ROMANS! (well ok so they are just roman hot springs ... so think Glen Ivy mud bath?) Oh, and drinking the Bath water!! We drank, ok SLAMMED the Bath water, because its supposed to be good for you with all these minerals. Anyway, I loved Bath ... But I suppose the fabulous boutiques and funny Brits were in addition to my liking. We finished off our Bath trip with these beautiful gardens and the bridge over Avon.

The Woman in Black.




I would like to throw a shout out to the recommonders of The Woman in Black. An amazing play. Only 3 characters (one of which was the most CLASSIC old man!!!) Ok, wait, so let me fill you in on why this play was soo cool. It was a SCARY play!! Like, a total ghost story! We were screaming and jumping and everything!! So so fun. Ok so after the play we were walking home and happened upon a brand new PHANTOM Rolls Royce... so of course we had to stop and talk to the driver (not the owner, the driver) and take pictures of the beautiful (yet way too expensive) vehicle. THEN we walk by this beautiful building, and we're not sure what it is. So we walk up and realize its the opera house. Rigoletto had just let out, so the audience members are leaving, right? So this HUGE (Tall huge) brushes by me, and walks in front of me as we are headed towards the tube. I look up and realize that this can NOT be a woman. 6'7". Blonde Wig. Black see-through lace dress (except for the important parts which were covered) and platform black shoes (which he/she could not walk in). Being the tourist that I am, I pull out my camera, take the flash off, and as I am about to get the best back shot of this person, I hear,
"Wow, that's gotta be the best view in town"
Startled, I turn and see these 2 classic old man laughing, and we say
"um yeah, we are trying to figure out if thats a girl or..."
before we can finish our sentance, they both say
"umm thats definitely NOT a girl! haha"
Unfortunately, my picture got blurred (as you can see below), but the chat with the old men was worth it, and getting caught making fun of a Tranvy ... I guess i deserve it.





Only in London.

IAN FOWELS -- MY ROCKSTAR!






The Aquabats had a show lined up in London this week, so of COURSE I had to represent!! Ian ROCKED -- the show was amazing!! Here are a few pictures...


















Backstage before the show ... Ian's girls (he even dedicates a song to us during the show!)


























Getting Pumped before the show!
























All hands in --



















The Band.



















Oh Spencer ...


















The Oath of the Aquabats.



















Backstage AFTER the show (note the sweat ... eeewwww.)




















We LOVE Ian!!!


What a GREAT night.

I love my life.

First thing we hit up Portobello Road. Oh Em Gee. Probably like the best thing in London. Tons and tons of streets of open air markets-- everything you can think of. Produce, Food Markets, FRUIT SMOOTHIES, jewelry, shoes, scarfs, antiques, purses, etc etc etc. Literally anything you would need, you can find on Portobello Road.
"Portobello Road, Portabello Road ... "

After a short break from Portabello Road we walked across the street to Hyde Park and found the Tour de France. Ahh!! So amazing!! Averaging 33 miles an hour, these men flew by me again and again and again. I LOVE IT! Such an amazing opportunity.

Only in London could one have such an amazing day.

Just another day in Paradise..."

We finally had a DAY off from the program and what did we decide to do? Go Shopping!! Starting out at Covent Gardens and ending up at Harrods, we had a pretty fabulous day. Harrods was everything I though it would be AND MORE! The architecture and details are amazing. To a point where I started taking pictures ...

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.