A Little Bit of Backtracking

Monday I was frantically studying for a midterm.  Tuesday I was frantically taking a midterm.  Yesterday I was frantically trying to recover from the midterm.  Okay, not really.  But let's catch up.

Monday really was mostly just studying for the elective history class.  I'm starting to think that taking all four was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.  I've enjoyed them all but it's a heavy workload.  It's a good thing I'm one of those people who prefer a hard class you get a lot from rather than an easy class you don't get much from.  

The most amazing part of it was Monday night when we went to a play called Bingo.  The play itself wasn't that fantastic.  BUT.  Patrick Stewart, the dude who plays Charles Xavier in X-Men and Captain Picard in Start Trek was in it!  After much whining and pleading, I switched spots with Jordan in the group so I could sit front row for the first half.  I could have reached out and touched him.  At one point he looked out into the audience and right at me.  I beamed at him.  He's amazing.  

After the play we came back and studied until our brains turned into puddles of goo and then got up early to do as much studying as possible before class and the test.  Unfortunately it was one of the tests where you have a bunch of things you're not quite sure about.  I had six or seven things from the essay question I didn't know and one essay that I wasn't well prepared to write.  Guess what?  I got ALL of those unsure essay questions and the one essay I didn't know what to talk about.  My first instinct was to laugh.  My second was to get teary.  My third was, "Well, not gonna do well.  Might as well just go for it."  I think that relaxed me a lot so I did a lot better than I would have otherwise.  My score wasn't fantastic but still not too shabby.

Then yesterday most of the group went to see Les Miserables at 2:30.  I don't like Les Mis.  I think the music is brilliant.  The set and the acting was brilliant.  The costuming was fun.  That trombone player was incredible (I know most people don't rant about that after seeing a play but there were moments when the trombonist played some super hard stuff and I was very very impressed).  I think it's a good commentary of various things.  But it still bothers me.  Thankfully it didn't bother me as much as the last time though.  I can read, talk, or think about prostitutes, starvation, or wars and be okay but I have a really hard time seeing it.  For example, I can watch Lord of the Rings because it's not a true story but Titanic gave me nightmares for weeks and I saw it for the first time when I was a senior in high school.  It's the human suffering that gets to me I think.  I have a horrible time watching a woman who is so desperate that she has few choices but to go be a prostitute, gets an STD, and dies a miserable death.  I have a hard time seeing a little boy get caught up in a cause and die for it.  Did he even understand what he was getting into?  I have a hard time seeing a man who does his best to be a good person and still ends up alone in a dark room at the end of his life until a few people show up just in time to watch him die.  All those people decided that they have a cause worth fighting--and dying-- for but most things are still not resolved.  I can't take it as just a story because I know those things really have happened and some of them are still happening..  It frustrates me to see how horrible humans can be, how awful peoples lives have been at times, and most of all how I can't do anything to stop prostitution or end world hunger.  I know some people like social commentary or seeing the best and worst of humans in a book or play but it always disturbs me.  I had a really hard time sleeping last night.  Maybe I'm just too tender hearted.

Good things:

1. DONE WITH KITCHEN CREW!  I'm going to miss spending a couple hours with the Mason girls every night but it's a relief not to have to worry about it anymore.

2. The Masons have suddenly been showing us their hidden talents.  The other day Matt started rapping and then Nick did it and then they did it together for a grand finale.  It was amazing.  Also, when we went to Les Mis, Nick's daughter was going with us so he said, "I just have one request" and then sang "bring her home."  It was hilarious.

3. Last night I was brave and ate duck for the first time.  It was quite good.

Today

A quick post about today.  Finally it feels like I'm in London because it POURED today while we were coming out of church.  So my good things before I get to the last Paris post.

1. I'm on kitchen crew.  At the start of every kitchen crew, Dr M comes in and yells at us in pirate.  It's amazing.

2. While we were on kitchen crew, one of his daughters and I were standing beside the dumbwaiter.  She randomly reaches out and gives me a big hug for no reason at all.  Then it was funny because her dad walks in and asks if we got in a fight and had to make up or something.  :)

3. Speaking of hugs, I've really felt like I've needed hugs lately.  If you know me very well (or read my last blog) you know that my love language is touch but for various reasons I'm uncomfortable with it.  I need hugs a lot but I'm too afraid to give or ask for them.  Today in my prayer I was telling Heavenly Father about how I needed some hugs.  Today in church about eight different people I don't think I've ever talked to came over and gave me big hugs.  

4. I took a nap today.  Oh, how glorious!

Now.  On to Paris Day 4!

Paris In The Morning

So... we leave for Paris bright and early tomorrow morning.  Or dark and early to be more accurate.  Less than 12 hours until departure time. I'm feeling a little bit panicked.

Well, that's a mild understatement.  It's more like butterflies in stomach, headache, climb in bed and refuse to come out until Easter panicked.  I think I'll be fine once we're on our way and I figure out my way around a little more.  It's just the thought of being in a city where not everyone speaks the same language that I do and where we're not with the group all the time (especially considering my incredible talent for getting lost) that's really getting to me.  But I'll be okay.  I'm tough.  I can handle this.

Good Memories of today:

1. We went on a "field trip".  This meant down the stairs to the first set of stairs where we looked at an artwork on the wall.  Field trips in London are always so exciting.

2. In our before dinner meeting, both of Matt's older daughters sat on either side of me.  We proceeded to have a conversation about how ceilings and bunk beds shouldn't exist.  I don't really understand their reasoning but I was laughing

3. I got all three of my midterms results back.  I did okay, not as well as I would have liked, but pretty good.  At least those three are over and done with.  One more after Paris.  Oh dear.  That's not a happy thought.  Let's pretend I didn't say that.

Bombs and Blessings

Today proves that I should probably have my own TV show.  I went to church on my own which normally would have been totally fine.  The Central line was closed to where my normal station was so I thought, "Cool, well, I'll just go on the Jubilee line".  Two stops along the way, I hear an announcement that my station was closed because of a "suspicious package."  Off Jubilee line, on to the Northern line, back to the Central line.  I get to the train station and I had a good long wait for the next train so I sat down to wait for it.  I had one of my completely random passing out moments.  I woke up with two security guys standing over me yelling at me.  I couldn't quite understand what they were saying because I was pretty out of it but one of them insisted on searching my bag for a bomb.  Well, you know me.  I usually keep a bomb next to my YW manual, Book of Mormon, and Personal Progress book.  Eventually the figured out that I wasn't lying on the floor for kicks and they helped me sit up, got me some water, and I headed for home.  I didn't quite make it to church today.  I just went back home and slept.

We had a meeting to get us ready for Paris.  We'll be spending the week there so don't be alarmed when I don't post.  Afterwards, I went and talked to the professors for a minute (I had to tell my Aylea the Train Station Bomber story) and then Matt gave me a blessing.  He said several things, one of which was to remember that he and Nick cared about me and would do whatever they could to help me.  After that they told me that if I ever needed anything to find them and I was welcome to hang out with their families while we were there if I felt uncomfortable... or wanted to babysit their kids so they can go to fancy restaurants.  It was so comforting to be able to receive a blessing for both the reassurance that I've got people on my team and also that Heavenly Father is looking out for me.

So.  Good Memories of the Day.

1. Already mentioned, but the blessings.  A very big one.

2. I got a nap today.  That is truly a good thing.

3. I'm almost done with Tale of Two Cities.  If I finish it before we go to Paris, I won't have English reading for at least a week after we get back, so for two weeks!  I could for sure use a less frantic homework load!

Now, with more peace of mind than I've had in a while, I'm going to go to bed early to try to get myself feeling better.  Maybe read a few more pages of good ol' Charlie Dickens.

Or maybe I'll go blow something up.  Because I'm totally a suspicious person like that.

Smoothie Summertime

Today we went to the Changing of the Guard but couldn't see much so we headed over to Burough Market.  I bought a bratwurst with ketchup and sauerkraut.  Apparently I don't like sauerkraut.  I also bought an amazing strawberry and blueberry smoothie.  It was probably the best smoothie I've ever had.  The weather was fantastic so we walked from there to the National Theatre where we watched a play called She Stoops to Conquer.  It was really good.  I especially liked the part where I took a nap.  After the play we went home, ate dinner, and now here I am.

Good Memories of the Day:
1. "Aylea!  I didn't know you could be so seductive!"-Taylor (Picture to follow.  Then you'll understand.  I promise it's nothing scandalous."

2. When we were headed out the door, one of the Mason kids saw me, waved eagerly, and ran over to talk to me.  It feels so nice to have someone that excited to see me!

3. I slept in until eight.  It felt SO GOOD!

4. I GOT A POSTCARD I GOT A POSTCARD I GOT A POSTCARD!  Mail makes me so happy!

Now.  Off to homework.  Or Facebook.  Or Pinterest.  Whichever.  I'm not picky.

You The Time!

I'm starting a daily habit.  Or, y'know, mostly daily.  Daily except for those days that I forget or I'm really tired.  Even if I didn't do anything particularly spectacular, I want to blog about a few funny things that happened or just things that could make good memories later that I'd like to remember.  They're also for happy things to help me keep perspective and remember why I'm here and to focus on the good stuff.

So.

1. At dinner tonight someone dropped a knife on to Dr N.  He mutters something about, "You guys have no respect!  Throwing knives at me..."

2. Also at dinner.  We had beets in vinegar but no one was eating them.  Dr M makes the announcement that although it's a Saturday, we will be being served beet smoothies!  I hated to tell him that I've actually had some... well, actually, no.  The look on his face was priceless.  Also, Dr N was offering us beets and when no one was accepting them he gets this stern look on his face and says, "Hey, you sit at my table, you follow my rules!"  We didn't take him seriously.  Poor guy.

3. Tonight at dinner, we all sat in the servery because so many people are gone.  It had a much more homey feel.  I really liked it.  It also made clean up easier, which is nice since I'm on the replacement dish crew because all but one person on it left.

4.  The other day Dr N canceled class to give us more time to get ready for the exams and to try to help our collective panic diminish a bit.  Some people made him valentines they signed from various characters such as Elinor Dashwood (from Sense and Sensibility; we just read it).  One was folded so when he looked at it all he saw was, "You the time".  He looked at it for a while and thought it was pretty cool and he'd have to start using that.  Then he opened it and it said, "Thank you for the extra time."  Someone wrote that on the white board and a few people have started saying it.  I love inside jokes.

5. I bought a bunch of Cadbury chocolate today.  :D

6. I went and watched Harry Potter 3 with some of the Mason kids.  It was fun.

7. While cleaning up the kitchen, Taylor was mopping the floor.  She had just been talking about how she'd never seen a mop formed that way so I told her she was doing it wrong and demonstrated how you're supposed to sing into the mop handle while mopping.  She tries it... just as one of the Mason kids walk in.

8. The youngest of M Mason's daughters was sitting on the staircase looking really sad.  I'm not sure she likes me too much.  If she does like me, she pretends not to.  Anyway, I asked her what was wrong and she wouldn't tell me so I offered her some chocolate.  Smiles all around.  She was back to singing up at the top of her lungs very quickly.  It made me feel good.

That's a pretty good start.