Back home. Let's recap.

After our fun times in Paris we came back got to work and then had some more fun.

We went to the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1!!!

Where it rained while we waited.

But we got to see the beautiful Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy (yes that's my hair...yes he is signing my journal)

Emma Watson aka Hermione Granger

Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley.

and Matthew Lewis aka Neville Longbottom.

We went on the London Eye and saw the beautiful rainy, rainy London

and we had good times.

And it was Charity's birthday. So we sang to her on the Eye :)

Then we went to a dinner at Hatfield House, where Elizabeth I grew up.

Then I have no picture for finals week and our final nights in London. Let me just say we had a goooood time and we will never forget our experiences these past four months.

So we leave you London, satisfied but sad to go.
It is now time to relax in Oroville for about 7 weeks. Maybe have some adventures, but mostly love and be loved by some of the best people.

Something beautiful.

Love by George Herbert

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

If I lacked anything.

"A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here":

Love said, "You shall be he."

"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on thee."

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

"Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve."

"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"

"My dear, then I will serve."

"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."

So I did sit and eat.

France with the fraansss (ahem friends)

Paris take two.
What a great weekend. It consisted of mostly eating crepes and walking. But I would say those are two of my favorite things to do in Paris. Laurel's birthday was on Saturday and it was raining all day, but we made the best of it and bought her a Longchamp coin purse and had some good quality time in a cafe.

Paris is definitely a place I could go back to multiple times. It has a great feel to it and the people are great. I would have to say it's the prettiest in fall, but I've never seen it in spring. All the trees losing their leaves were beautiful and made the feel of Paris so wonderful.

This week has been insane, but I have finally finished the last thing on my list. All I have to do is print it and slip it under Carl and Ronda's door. Then it's time to party!!/ study for finals.

November brings

November brings:
Winter & Warmth
Goodbyes & Hellos
Memories & Anticipation
November should be
renamed January.

A weekend in Wales.

It was a beautiful Autumn weekend in Cardiff, Wales as a group of 21 students from San Diego, California came to visit

We had a wonderful time exploring this country.

We fell in love.

We had fun...being our typical selves.

It was a bit damp at times, but never when we were prepared for it to be damp.

But it was a lovely weekend we had.
And so we say: Happy Fall, we miss you but will be returned to you soon.

You want to go to the seaside?

A weekend of love and family in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
This weekend a bunch of us went to Ireland. Flew into Dublin, spent Thursday there, went to the Howth for a nice seaside view on Friday, and to the Cliffs of Moher on Saturday. Ireland has some of the prettiest countryside I have ever seen and my words are ruining it. So I will quit writing and let you look at what pictures only attempt to capture.

And the weekends are flying by.

Last weekend was an eventful weekend and my second to last one that will be spent in London. Crazy to think about right? Thursday a bunch of us went to Old Street and walked around and stopped at a piercing and tattoo parlor called The Happy Sailor. When we came out I had an extra hole in my ear and Kinsey in her nose. Then that night I went to a club with Alexa called Plastic People where the djs played grime music and crowd ranged from hipster to gangster to what? It was so fun! Best part of the night was a extremely wasted guy coming up to Alexa and I asking for a ciggy. The conversation went like this (mind you it the words are to be read in a yelling voice over the music):
guy is dancing hilariously waiting to go outside for a smoke and makes eye contact with Alexa and I who are standing in the back people watching...
dances backwards to us and says:
"Do you have a ciggy?" continues to dance
"No. Sorry."
apparently doesn't hear or understand so repeats louder
"Do you have a ciggy?!" dances.
"No! We don't smoke! sorry!"
"I would really love you right now if you had a ciggy!"
"We don't have one! I'm sorry!"
guy sticks out bottom lip in a sad face while dancing away.

That guy was by far my favorite person in the club, over all the attractive guys- which goes to show how funny he was.

Friday Kinsey, Jessica and I went to St Paul's came back took a nap, ate dinner and then Adilene and I went to help with this youth club at Christ Church Highbury down the street. It was basically glorified babysitting 13 year olds, but the girls we hung out with were really sweet. We taught them ninja and put on fake tattoos (a few of which I stole to bring back to the gang at home). Then we all attempted to go to a club for an indie night, but forgot our ids so just went back home and ordered pizza.
Saturday was Oxford! I feel like Oxford deserves a blog post in itself, but I don't have time for that. It was so fun, but mainly just because we met some really funny people. If that didn't happen I think I prefer Cambridge- it's cleaner and just cuter.

And so this weekend is here and tomorrow brings an early flight to Dublin with Kinsey, Jessica, Adilene, Andy and Harris. I feel like Harris is going to provide some great entertainment, but we shall see. Ireland here we come!

My short and happy life in Germany.

This weekend I went to visit Joana (unfortunately not pictured) in Germany. I arrived Friday evening and left early Sunday morning (or late Saturday night..depending on the way you look at it). It was a very short trip that I wish lasted much longer. I learned new words, met new people, watched a handball game for the first time, and drove with Joana for the first time (which was an adventure in itself at times). Not only did I get to experience all those new things, but I got to hang out with Joana for the first time in two years. It is the sign of a great friendship to be able to pick up right where you left off with no awkwardness, but pure friendship. It was also great to hang out with the people I met the last time I was there -Johannes, Christoph, and Luisa.

I thank them all for spending their weekend with me and I hope to see some of them in Paris in November and all of them at Joana's birthday party if it works out that I can come!

Thoughts and reflections.

If you are reading this to hear about the exciting things I'm doing, stop now. I feel like writing and reflecting, and I've done enough in my journal..and I'm too lazy to get it, while my laptop is on my lap.
If I were to ever write a novel I decided that it would be a coming of age novel- but that's probably just because that is what I'm going through right now. If I were fifty I would say "If I were ever to right a novel it would be about the transition of your children not needing you anymore". There are a lot of those coming of age novels around, so I doubt mine would be ground breaking. It definitely wouldn't be a Catcher in the Rye that's for sure. But it would for sure be in stream of consciousness. I like people to read what I'm thinking. To know what the character is thinking makes the reader feel like they are the character. I think I would also use dreams to show what the character is going through. There are some dreams people have that truly mean nothing, but I think a lot of dreams we have reflect what's going on in our lives- some more obvious then others. I would put in a dream that means something- like Dostoevsky does in Crime and Punishment.
I had a dream two nights ago that I think would work really well. Here it is:
I was sitting watching a wedding be prepared when I realized it was my wedding. The music was about to start for people to start walking down the aisle and I realized that I didn't have my dress on. I ran upstairs to frantically try and get ready. I started yelling for my mom to come help me, but she wouldn't come. "Mom! I don't even know where my dress is! Come help me!"
"It's in the trunk!"
"Mom please I need your help!"
But she wouldn't come. I didn't understand. She helped Amber at her wedding. Why wasn't she helping me? Who am I marrying? For some reason in this dream I could not think of the name of the guy I was marrying. I thought to myself I probably shouldn't be getting married if I can't even remember his name. It made me so mad that I couldn't remember. And then I just sat there with my dress on and my hair half way done realizing that my mom was not coming up to help me get ready. And then I woke up in my dream and told Kinsey about it. She said "It means you want to get married". I told her I didn't think that is what it means. And then I woke up for real.
I would use that dream in my stream of consciousness, becoming of age novel- if I were to ever write one. The character would be homesick or going through a transition of independence. The people they depended on for help before wouldn't or couldn't help them.
That's what I was thinking about all day yesterday. Saturday was a bad day. Sunday was a day of reflection. I had some much needed alone time and some much needed God time.
This morning my Solo Bible told me to get on my face and kneel to God asking him for direction. I don't know about a clear answer I got, but there is something about putting your face on the ground in reverence. It was peaceful? Rejuvenating? I can't seem to find the right word. Maybe it was both. Whatever it was- it was good.
If I ever write a novel I think my character might do that.

Travel travel travel. return.

I found this on the way home and decided it is my new motto for life.
Our week off was nice, but in all honesty by the time it was over I was way ready to come back to London. The best place was the first place: Stratford. It was a great little town and while we were there a big farmer's market and food festival was going on. We got to go to Warwick Castle and see Eat. Pray. Love. also. The place we stayed was a great little bed and breakfast.
My favorite picture from Warwick Castle:

And then we went to Liverpool. I think this city has great potential to be super fun and cool. If I had one word to describe it I would say grungy. But I really liked the grunge factor of it. Unfortunately we were there on Monday and there was really just nothing to do or going on. So it was kind of a failure/ disappointment.
Laurel and I at the docks

Bath was next and while we were there we took a day to go to Stonehenge and some other places. Just like it looks- it is just a bunch of rocks in a field that you have to stay 20 ft away from. But still cool to say you've seen it I guess.

Most exciting part of that exploration out of bath? The little town of Lacomb. Presenting James and Lily Potter's house:

Then we stopped off at Castle Comb a cute little place many things are filmed. Last week Spielberg was there filming Warhorse- a play we are going to see soon actually.

And that's pretty much it. We are back in London not wanting to do homework. At a new place called the Highbury Center. It's nice, but different and I think we all miss Lee Abbey. Number one problem: the wifii in the rooms. We have to go hook up down in the basement library (and I live on the third floor). Problem number two: for four girls we have one small closet and one dresser to keep things in. Problem number three: the lack of motivation to do anything. But that's not Highbury's fault. Coming back from this trip made me realize how much I hate doing school work. Combine that with the stress of being in a new place that doesn't fit your every desire and it makes for a grumpy Kaitlyn. So prayer request: that I 1) get motivated 2) not stress 3) live it up 4) enjoy my time 5) live and love GOD by focusing on all the blessing He has given me on this trip (that should probably be number 1).
I miss all of you.

Goodbye for now.

In about twenty minutes I will be shutting my computer and not opening it until October. I know- it makes me uneasy too. How sad is that? Anyways the reason is this: We are traveling around for ten days and well it would be a pain and not necessary to lug this little guy around. Liverpool, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon- I will adventures to share when I open this thing again (I should really give it a name...suggestions are welcome).

So goodbye for now.
Farewell my friend, until then.
Stories will be shared.

Edinburgh smells like Bacon and Cheerios.

Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland
We greet you with smiles.
And introduce you to our new Italian friend we met in our hostel, Guilia (Julia).
We send love to you from us. (Apparently it's good luck to spit on this...we didn't)
And let you know that it is tiring living so far away from the people I love..
But I get by with a little help from my friends.
On this road called life
Distance may separate us
But I think of you

sleeping, models and road pic- photo cred: Jessica Russell

It's been a long time.

So wow. I haven't written here in a long time. Well let's talk about those reasons. This week I had two presentations. One for my theatre and drama in Great Britain class on Tuesday and one for my sociology class this morning. Also this weekend my parents were here! Tack all those things on the massive amount of homework I have anywaysssss and you get me never having time to write my blog. But here I am done with my presentations, aced my theatre 101 final, Shakespeare class canceled tomorrow, and Scotland this weekend!!! What what! I'm excited for that.
Also I had a great time with my parents this weekend, even though I was a bit stressed I wasn't working on homework. We went out to eat and saw Phantom of the Opera the night they got in. So they were pretty tired and kept falling asleep, but it was sooo good. Raul was so amazing. Though I actually liked Christine better in the movie. We went to Cambridge on Saturday and my dad's business partner John and his wife and kids (wife, Susan, son Oliver age 11 and daughter Alice age 7) showed us around. We took a little boat ride on the river that toured the back of like 7 of the main colleges in the University. Cambridge has like 30 colleges within it, the smallest consisting of like 60-70 students to the largest like 15,000 (I think that's what he said, but he could have said 2000..which is a big difference). Oh and the tour guide also showed us a spot where they filmed a Harry Potter scene, but he didn't say which movie and he started out his sentence by saying "and for the children.." I was like "children?!" haha. I'm embarrassing.
Anyways after that we walked around then went to the village we were staying in by John's village. It is called Swayfield and we stayed in a little inn/pub. We had dinner there. It was really fun being able to talk to there little family. I think learning about the culture here is so interesting, especially since I have a class on it.
Sunday morning we took a walk with John and his dog through the country side. So beautiful. Reminded me of Iowa kind of. It was so nice and I really didn't want to go back to school and all the homework I had. But after we visited a little castle and had a small lunch I was back on the train to London. I stayed up till 1am every night since then doing homework, but noowww I feel so relieved!!
Last night we saw a play called Earthquakes In London. It was very much a green peace/the world is going to end if we don't get rid of our carbon footprint. But it was still really good and really well done. I cried. It was definitely powerful and really opened my eyes to how much power the theatre can have as a voice for people. Tonight we go see Henry IV part 1 which I must say I didn't finish reading before we had the quiz and completely guessed on four questions and got them right! ha, man that is good stuff. That and I studied maybe an hour for my theatre 101 final and got a 95%. God loves me. That's all I'm saying. (it's not like I'm lazy-I was working on all my other homework and my presentations).
This morning was great. Got my presentation out of the way. Went on a four mile run with Laurel then did some situps and little stuff. Rinsed off, went to whole foods and made a yummy salad and bought a little bread and grapes, came back and watched the season premiere of Gossip Girl! (ahh chuck!)
Theatre 101 is done now and I don't have Shakespeare class tomorrow so I just started my weekend on a Wednesday morning. That's beautiful.
Oh I have also booked a ticket to Frankfurt and Dublin :D yay for travel time!!
Tomorrow morning I see my parents off as the fly back home :( I really didn't get to hang out with them enough. I feel like seeing them for such a short time kind of makes me miss them more. I hadn't really thought about it enough to miss them before.
Oh well. I have so many adventures to come! And I will try to write them down here more often!!


*picture: random Barclay bank advertising guys outside the tube station. We decided to take a picture with them. They were hilarious and decided to protect us as we crossed the street. One also new of the San Diego Chargers. Impressive I say.

Hampton Court Palace.

Today was a great day. I don't think I go to places enough on our free days. I usually just stay home and do homework all day..which is needed. But today Kinsey, Laurel, Jessica Griffin and I went to Hampton Court Palace and it was so fun! The gardens were definitely the best, but it was also fun to go around and look at the palace because we got to wear cool robes. haha. We went and ate at a eatery in one of the gardens and I had yummy soup, bread, and salad. Then of course we got some ice cream to continue our walk around the gardens and went through the maze (which we defeated quite easily if I say so myself). We also got to look at the Royal Tennis Courts, and saw some royals or friends of royals playing some tennis/squash.
If you ever go to Hampton Court Palace here is my suggestion (actually I think I suggest this for any garden):
Put you head phones in and put on a nice soundtrack on and explore God's wondrous creation.
I started on shuffle with my ipod, and right when I was gonna give up on that and just play it safe with some Gregory Alan Isakov, Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel came on. It was probably the perfect song for the garden we were in at the time.
After some sun bathing in the gardens and exploration we hopped back on the train to London. We went to The Scoop to watch Toad Hall- a little kids play that was free and counted as credit for a class. It was pretty ridiculous. We left early because we didn't want to miss dinner and we BARELY made it. We actually didn't make it, but the lady was nice enough to give us food. We literally ran every time we were not in the tube and ran without stopping (except when we stopped to cross the street) from Earl's Court to Lee Abbey....worked off that ice cream.
Tomorrow we go to Stratford Upon Avon as a group to see Julius Caesar and to eat good things at a tea room!

homework. homework. homework.

So I had a fun weekend, but payed for it Sunday and Monday night with all the homework I had to do. It was actually really frustrating to learn that I had to do three different write ups for the production of Merry Wives, for three different classes with same professor. And it was really funny when that said professor's husband canceled the mid-term for his class and just moved up the final one week. You would think after almost forty years of marriage he would rub off on her.
Saturday night Kinsey, Adilene, and I took our new friend Marcos to get frozen yogurt and then we all walked around for awhile. He is from the Canary Islands and left Sunday morning, but had never had frozen yogurt. We may have talked it up too much for him, but he still liked it. We also found out he had never had cookie dough. Which brought us to the discovery that England doesn't have premade cookie dough!! We went into Tesco's and the guy looked at Adilene like she was crazy when she asked. That really amazes me, and saddens me. Again, Sunday was a homework day and Monday was a tired day. (though I got an A on my intro to theatre mid term!) Oh and Sunday night I got to skype with Melinda and last night with Joana. :)
Tonight I went with the Shakespeare class to the Globe to see Comedy of Errors, which was quite hilarious. When I cam back into my room I noticed that my desk was organized, my bed made, and my clothes picked up off the ground and organized in my closet. I guess that's what happens when you have an OCD roommate with not enough homework. (Jessica, not Kinsey). Hey, I don't hate it. We'll see how long it stays that way. I'll probably try for a day or so just because that's mean if I didn't. Well it's off to bed for me. Only two more days of classes for the week!

Picture: At Yog with Marcos, Adilene, and Kinsey

Like I always say "A night isn't good unless it ends in a dance party." *

So tonight was definitely my favorite night on this trip so far. We went to the most amazing play, Fuente Ovejune, that turned into a dance party at both intermission and the end. And the crowd were literally in the play. Yes, we were the towns people but it was more than that. We chanted, sang along, threw murdering stones (water balloons), claimed the murder, and celebrated our freedom. It was amazing. The music during the play consisted of modern songs, ones of which I knew the words to sometimes and we were encouraged to sing along. We laughed, got angry, felt disgusted and the atrocities happening to our fellow townspeople. I think one of the most powerful scenes is when a girl comes back on stage from being raped. She's sang a part of Damien Rice's song "I remember". It was so sad. Then ended it all with a great dance party that lasted quite a while. And let me just say that the rest of the audience (the whole audience was probably only 5o people) would not have joined in the dancing had not the crazy American girls gotten up and started dancing with the cast. California Girls- We're unforgettable. But after all that description I'm guessing you want to know what the plot of the play was. Fuente Ovejune is a town in Spain and the Lord over that town is abusing his right of owning every thing they have by raping all of the women. He takes a the mayor's daughter right after her wedding and tries to rape her. That was the last straw for the towns people. They then plot to murder him. After murdering him the King and Queen send a judge to figure out who is to be blamed. When asked who killed the lord, we all answered "Fuente Ovejune did it." Then the King and Queen were told of the things he did to us and we were free from charges (hence the fat dance party at the end).
I could talk about the rest of my day before this, that consisted of going to Canterbury and eating the best scones ever, but it's midnight and I'm sweaty and smelling and tired. Time to take a shower and go to bed. I have to get up for breakfast...it ends at 9.

Picture: Alyssa and me eating tea sandwiches (more like teeny weenie sandwiches...)
*I've never said that before.

The Globe Theatre:me as Blockbuster:Rhonda (libby)

So blogging is becoming more and more sporadic and less and less of an every day thing. This is why: WE HAVE SO MUCH HOMEWORK/ plays to see/ places to go. Yesterday I was really dreading the whole day because I literally had no break from 9 am to 11pm, but in the morning God really blessed my day by giving me a great devo time with him. He gave me 1 Peter 5:7 to get me through. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." And so what could have been the worst day ever, was actually pretty enjoyable. Minus two incidents: 1) my conversation with Aimelle at breakfast-
Aimelle: "good morning"
Me: "...mornasdfsln.."
Aimelle: "(jokingly) fine don't respond"
Me: "I said good morning!!"
For those of you that have experienced me in the morning you know I mean no harm in my grumpiness. I was actually taken back my own response, but luckily Aimelle is the type of person that found it funny. If it was Wendy, she probably would have thought I hated her and never talked to me again. Just this morning Aimelle said to me "are you just really tired or haven't woken up yet?" "Neither..............I mean..both"
2) The other incident is referenced in the title of this blog and if you don't get it then you can ask me...I may or may not tell you what I mean.
But the moral of this story is that God is freakin great and if you ask for help, He comes through.

Other things that have gone on since the last time I've blogged:
Seen a couple plays (Merry Wives of Winsdsor and The Habit of Art)
Starting working on Chelsea's b day gift which will be revealed to her and the public on her birthday, the 27th.
Got invited to a couples house for lunch after church on Sunday. Alex and Susan Ferguson.
Though, according to Ronda and Carl, Alex is a "american junky" and gets a little controlling.
Way to put a damper/creeper alert on our excitement of finding new friends.
I bought the new Sufjan EP for 5 bucks and it's amazing, so go buy it.
Bunch of us bought round trip night bus tickets to Edinburgh for Sept 16-19 :D.
umm...that's it. minus all the homework that has been assigned and done. (more assigned then done of course).

Picture: me attempting to climb a wall to see the changing of the guard a couple weeks ago. Don't worry, I eventually got up. And no you can't see my butt crack. You can zoom in and see that it is just my pants.

oohhh eemmm ggeeee

What a week it was. I have the most homework in the whole wide world. I'm going a bit insane. But even though I have so much to do, it hasn't stopped me from having a little fun. Yesterday made my whole entire week. If you haven't seen on facebook already, Kinsey and I happened upon the premiere of Going the Distance with Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. We had to go back to the movie theatre that was the street next to it because Kinsey forgot her ipod in it when we watch a British indie film earlier that afternoon. We had to wait till another movie got out so we went and waited where everyone else was thinking "well maybe we'll get to see Drew Barrymore and Justin Long". Not only did Kinsey get her ipod back an hour later but only a half hour after that did the actors show up. We were right where they drove in and they came back to where we were after being dropped off a little ways off. It was insane. I video taped and Kinsey took pictures. I was closer than arms distance from them. I hate to be a crazy star struck person, but I was not planning on that when I woke up that morning. And it was so cool.
The movie that we saw that afternoon was called Four Lions. And I hated it. It was the darkest comedy I have ever seen. The movie was funny, but it was like "I shouldn't laugh at this". Some parts were genuinely funny, but at the end of the movie I felt so uneasy. It was about these four guys trying to be terrorist bombers and get a fast track to heaven. Every group of people were portrayed as stupid. The bombers, the police both. The main character that had some sense was the one that wanted to die the most and he had a wife and kid. All the guys end up blowing themselves up in the end and I just walked away thinking "What the heck were they trying to say with that movie?" People said it was realistic and I'm like how do you know that is realistic? Are you saying that the Muslims that aren't as strict really do want to be "martyrs" cause I really hope that's not true. The one thing I could see as a message was that it was ironic that the police ended up taking into custody the Muslims that looked like Muslims (the long beard and hat), and they were the pacifist Muslims. I just really didn't like it.
But again that was redeemed with seeing Drew Barrymore and Justin Long later that day. haha.
Also last night after all that Laurel, Kinsey and I went to tesco and bought milk and oreos (kinsey already had peanutbutter) and ate them whilst watching the Parent Trap. It was wonderful and horrible.
Now back to homework. I have read a play and written two play write ups. I have to read another play, part of Great Expectation, parts of Beowulf, an intro and answer some questions, and write one more write up on a play. Yeah. oh and tomorrow I need to go to a place that has colonization information.
So little time, so much to do. I'd rather spend my day with you. (some mk&a theme song for you there). here's drew.

And so it begins

Today was the first day of classes. Just going through the basics pretty much, but classes are a lot longer here, because at the most they are only two days a week and we have a shorter semester. Needless to say Intro to theatre was painfully long (2hrs 15min long).
Note to self: take some sort of snack or at least a water bottle to class so you stay awake.
But we had to get on the tube and go to the Learning Institute of Contemporary Christianity. I thought that would be cool to be like real student and go somewhere to school, but it's kind of just a pain. But it's ok, it's right around a shopping area. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. I bought a head band for a pound today. And 12 post cards for only 95 pence. Now that's a deal. (granted some of them aren't that cool).
We also began a girls Bible study with our group tonight. It went really well, some people just shared their testimonies and we'll hear the rest next week. I think that will be a huge bonding part of the trip for us. It will make us way more open with each other and make us more like a family.
Tomorrow is my busy day. The only day of the week I have three classes. The rest I only have two. But I am looking forward to British writers: 1) cause it's with Carl, 2) we are having it in a Costa coffee shop in Tesco (which is like a Safeway)...and tesco has the best chocolate chip cookies. But Laurel and I decided to only have dessert three times a week. And I had it tonight. which means if I have it tomorrow I would have to wait all the way till Sunday (cause the good stuff is on Sunday). Oh no.

It was magical.

I just got back from running around in the forest with Oberon, Puck and the whole crew. We went all the way out to Cockfoster to go and see A Midsummer Night's Dream in a park. But in this play you walked from place to place as the scenes went on. So after the beginning the small audience is pretty much following Helena as she follows Demetrius, who is searching for Hermia and Lysander. All the while stopping and seeing scenes unfold. When we emerged out of the forest area we walked into the field at dusk with it covered with mist. It was like emerging from a dream. It was beautiful, fantastical, and magical. The mist on the field with a few trees made me think Mr. Darcy was going to come up any moment and say "You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you." The play was hilarious and so well done. I have seen two polar opposite kinds of plays in two nights and both were the best plays I have ever seen. It's almost like well I think I've seen it all, time to go home. I really can't imagine seeing multiple plays every week from here on. It's amazing. I am so blessed to be here.

On a less exciting note, but still cool- we got to tour Parliament this morning. It was really interesting to begin to understand how the government works here and the history that goes with it. It is Saturday today too, so that meant lunch at Lee Abbey. I think it was the best meal yet, but I was also really hungry. Tomorrow we are going to church at St Barnabas, which is just about a 15 or so min walk from here.
I'm seriously just so happy still from that play. What a great night.

Hamlet. House of Horror.

So I just saw the best play I have ever seen tonight. It was a rendition of Hamlet, described as a vaudeville-musical version. It was a little longer than an hour so they cut a lot out and the script was changed a bit. But it was amazing. We were packed in with no more than 50 people in the second story of a pub, watching this play. The music was performed with no more than two maybe three instruments at a time and the characters singing. And the songs were composed and written by the director and two of the actors. I love the play Hamlet anyways and this rendition was amazing. I wish I could watch it again and again. The music really made it. The gravedigger was funny, just like in the play and philosophical as well. It on the whole was actually pretty philosophical, like Carl was talking about after. There were things mentioned about death and what happens when you die. Ultimately the ending was changed with the mother living. Carl said something interesting about that- he said that she was left in utter misery with everyone she loved dead. And she could have done something about it, if she wasn't so eager to keep her power, to marry Claudius, to not listen to Hamlet. Again it was great and I can't stop raving about it and I wish there was somewhere I could get the music from it.

On another note I went to go see the changing of the guard today and it started raining pretty hard. Not to mention a police made us get off a wall we were sitting on to see right before it started to we couldn't see that much. After I went to John Wesley's chapel and house. That is the site that I have to do presentation on. It is seriously so boring. I mean the history is interesting, but the actual place is boring. It's free so you don't waste your money, but kind of your time. I don't know what I'm going to do for my interactive presentation. Luckily that isn't until the fifteenth of September.