Fan Mail: This Post Is For Lauren

So.  Paris.  It was cool.

But forget Paris.  And let's also forget the fact that it's eleven o'clock, I've gotten very little sleep for a whole lot of walking around, I've just been on a long train ride, and I stopped functioning properly about two days ago.  And I smell bad (not that any of you really needed or wanted to know that.  It's just really distracting).  Something really cool just happened.  I can't quite do it justice, but this will have to do for now.  I wanted to say something right away.  I really hope this makes sense and my spelling isn't too horrific.

Today I got a note in the mail from a girl named Lauren.  I know many people named Lauren but this one I didn't know.  Lauren is going on the spring group with the Masons and somehow found my blog.  She wrote a note saying how much she appreciates my blog and how it has helped her be excited to come and know what to do here.  To be honest, I blog stalked a bunch of people who have been here before me so really, I'm so glad that my blog has been helpful to you, Lauren!  She also sent me some quotes to help encourage me.  I love quotes so she couldn't have picked a better thing for me.  It was like getting a bucket of smiles and sunshine.  So now, a few words to Lauren.

You know what, Lauren?  Sometimes it's really hard here.  I guess you've gotten that impression.  I like to blog about it because I really do want to remember the whole experience, not just the good or the bad.  Maybe I'm just a wimp and so I struggle more, but everyone here has hard times sometimes.  London is just like anywhere else.  You have good days and bad days, people you get along with and people, well, you're not quite sure how you feel about them. You have times where you're homesick and want to go home and you'll have times where you're sure you will never want to leave.  At least I hope you do.  Because it's all part of the experience.  All that hard stuff that's happened to me has been completely worth it.  Even if things went horribly here, even with all the things that have been disappointing or hurtful, scary or even heartbreaking, I will never, ever regret coming.  I hope that when you come here in a few months that you won't either.  I don't think you will.  The best things in life are worth fighting for and I think this is for sure one of those things.

I wish you the best of luck in your study abroad next semester.  I'm sure you'll have a great time.  I'll try to start including a few tips for you and others who are coming next semester (hi, Kayley and Janessa!) in the next couple of weeks.  And thank you so much for taking the time to write to me.  You'll never know how much I appreciated getting your note but I'm sure that when you're here you'll find out how great it is to get mail.  I hope I'll get to meet you someday.

And now I'm going to bed.  I promise to blog about Paris as soon as possible.