Another Week in London Town

Hello friends!  The end of this week marks the end of our sixth full week in London, which means we are halfway through our semester abroad.  I have mixed emotions about that. I am having the time of my life and so amazed at the opportunities that God has given me, but also it's about time that I see all the people I love.   I have a few moments of homesickness now and again, but I think that's healthy.  But I am way to busy and enjoying my time way too much to mope about even for a minute!
I would go so far as to say that this past week has been the best week of the trip so far.  It wasn't quite as full as other weeks, yet what we did do was exciting.

Sunday- I did not feel like riding the tube 30 minutes into London, so I decided to stay in the area of my home stay and explore Muswell Hill. I woke up early that morning and spent a few hours just walking around the woods having God and Micheal time. I then had lunch at a cool cafe in the town center.  I explored Muswell Hill and found some really cool local shops. I even found an old, beautiful church that has been turned into a pub...I thought it was cool!    I had told Fiona, my host mom, that I wanted to learn how to make their traditional Sunday roast, so she invited me to help her cook it.  So Cortez and I spent the evening learning how to make traditional Sunday dishes like beef roast, Yorkshire pudding, and roasted potatoes  Okay...I burned the Yorkshire pudding, but it still didn't taste half bad.

The view of London from Muswell Hill. You can even see Olympic Park.

Why did Fiona let me cook?

Monday- This was a pretty routine day with History of Science in the morning. That night, we saw an...interesting...play at the Young Vic.  For some reason, the director thought it was artistic to include the throwing of Jell-O throughout the whole show.

The group waiting at the Young Vic 15 minutes before the show starts. Where are our professors with our tickets?

Tuesday-  Busy day!  We had a great theatre class in the morning with Ian, our theatre professor, bringing in a well-known theatre publicist.  I was really inspired by her talking to us. (She has a degree in Public Relations!  Maybe I am in the right major for once!) She even brought her really cool dog to meet our class.  I then had an interview with Ian for an article I am doing for Dr. Price for the MC website.  He's such an interesting guy.  That afternoon, Mr. Rumbelow took us around downtown London with our lesson focusing on the Great Fire of 1666 and the Great Plague.  That night, I returned to the Young Vic to see a play called "Bingo."  I only knew one thing about the play...it starred Sir Patrick Stewart!  The play wasn't that great, but hey, I got to see Patrick Stewart onstage.  I also got his autograph afterward!

The Young Vic Theatre

The autograph of Patrick Stewart...no big deal.

Wednesday-  Open Day!  We don't get many of these, so it found our group spreading out all over Europe.  I decided to return to Oxford to see the Harry Potter locations I missed on our first trip.  I also returned to the Eagle and Child to read a bit of "Mere Christianity" that afternoon.   I met a cool couple from Canada that were eating in the Eagle and Child for the same reasons I was...to soak up the C.S. Lewis atmosphere.

The Bodleian Libary at Oxford University. You may recognize this as the infirmary from the Harry Potter films.

Thursday-  Back to class. We started the morning off with British Literature, which was quite a good class because we were finally discussing the novel, Mrs. Dalloway, and showing pictures of the book locations that we had been to.  It was such a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and it was warm enough to shed the coats and take off our shoes.  I took the afternoon to relax and headed to Regents Park where I read a bit of my book and took a nap in the warm sunshine.  Later that night, we traveled to the outermost part of the London area to Richmond to see Eugene O'Neil's "Long Day Journey Into Night."  To our surprise, it starred Laurie Metcalf, who is best known for playing Jackie on Roseanne.  You know I got an autograph and a picture with her...such as nice lady.

The beautiful Regent's Park

Laurie Metcalf (from Roseanne) and I after her performance in "Long Days Journey into Night"

Friday-  I went into the city early to try to get tickets to Ghost the Musical (based on the 80s Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg film).  And, I got them!  Front row seats!  I could barely pay attention during art history that afternoon for excitement about this musical.  It did not disappoint whatsoever!  I do not know how, but Ghost is one of my favorite shows I have ever seen on stage.  I've never seen a musical where I have wanted to jump up and dance and felt so much emotion for the characters on stage. If you can get to New York to see this show when it opens next month, I highly recommend it.  One cool thing was that they actually mentioned Hattiesburg, Mississippi during the show!  The night was made even better by getting to walk by chance with one of the actresses, Sharon D Clarke, to the tube and talk to her about the show.

The Picadilly Theatre.

Sharon D Clarke (with whom I walked to the tube) in Ghost the Musical. Definitely not my photograph.

Saturday- The program took a day trip to Cambridge! Throughout the day, we went punting on the river, saw candy being made, and even climbed a tree.  This trip was one of the best day trips we have taken so far.

Punting on the river in Cambridge.

Our group gets excited about little things like sheep, ducks, and good climbing trees.

Overall, it's been a super week. I started studying the book of 1 John this week and God has been showing me a lot of cool things from it. Tomorrow, I am going to church in Muswell Hill where two of my friends are playing in the worship band with their home stay dad.  I also might be meeting up with a friend I met at Show Choir Camps of America a few years ago and catching up. So tomorrow should be a great day too.

I'm bummed because we leave our amazing home stay Friday morning to head out on spring tour.  I am so thankful for the Carters and the awesome time I've had living under their roof for this past month. I really do not want to leave their house!

Because of spring tour, I probably will not blog again until weekend after next, and I will definitely not upload Snapshot Sundays next week.  I should have much to show and tell after a week in Scotland and around England.  Plus, I find out where I will be stationed for CentriKid this Sunday!

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon the rock, making my steps secure.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will se and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!  You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!  I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told."  Psalm 40:1-6

If we haven't been in touch lately, Facebook me!  I'd love to catch up with everyone from home. Thanks for reading and for your prayers!
-Micheal