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!