It's now the morning of Friday, the 12th of December. On Monday morning, I'll rise bright and early to catch the 251 to Arnos Grove, from which I'll take a 70 minute train ride on the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Airport and depart on a 10-hour flight back to America for Christmas. I cannot express how excited I am to see my family and friends (and dogs!), watch TV, drink non-instant coffee WITH CREAMER, sleep in my own bed, and drive a car. I am so looking forward to my 3-week holiday in the States.
As my first round in London draws to a close, I can't help but wonder what the next round will bring. My first few months here have been filled with challenges and rewards as I have adapted to my new environment. When I first arrived, I knew nobody and nothing. It will be interesting to see how things compare when I come back now that I have some experience under my belt.
Here are a few of my favorite memories from the last 4 and a half months:
1. My afternoon in Iceland
When I arrived in Iceland, I was sleep deprived, dehydrated, and in serious need of a shower. Even though I had spent months daydreaming about what I would do during my 10 hour layover, I felt so sick that I almost didn't leave the airport. I'm glad I pushed through and took the bus to Reykjavik, but I'm still kicking myself for not taking fuller advantage of the few hours I had there. I may have not seen much of it, but Iceland is such a cool country. The way the island just sort of pops out of the ocean--no beaches, no cliffs, no sloping coastlines, it just sort of starts--is eerie and bizarre. The tiny capital is quirky and distinctly not American. It is a place that begs to be explored. I'm already planning my next trip back.
As my first round in London draws to a close, I can't help but wonder what the next round will bring. My first few months here have been filled with challenges and rewards as I have adapted to my new environment. When I first arrived, I knew nobody and nothing. It will be interesting to see how things compare when I come back now that I have some experience under my belt.
Here are a few of my favorite memories from the last 4 and a half months:
1. My afternoon in Iceland
When I arrived in Iceland, I was sleep deprived, dehydrated, and in serious need of a shower. Even though I had spent months daydreaming about what I would do during my 10 hour layover, I felt so sick that I almost didn't leave the airport. I'm glad I pushed through and took the bus to Reykjavik, but I'm still kicking myself for not taking fuller advantage of the few hours I had there. I may have not seen much of it, but Iceland is such a cool country. The way the island just sort of pops out of the ocean--no beaches, no cliffs, no sloping coastlines, it just sort of starts--is eerie and bizarre. The tiny capital is quirky and distinctly not American. It is a place that begs to be explored. I'm already planning my next trip back.
2. Teen Camp
Teen Camp was the first place I went in England. It was such a fun few days, and a great way to meet a ton of people at once. (Though not a great place to adjust to the time change and get over the jetlag!) I was so moved by how open and vulnerable the teens were as they shared about the different struggles they have. Many of these kids were the only Christians in their families and schools. Some of them were the only teen in their church. I was immediately made aware of what a challenge it is to be a disciple in Europe, where a belief in God is not the norm. Their convictions and love for one another blew me away. There were fun things too: the dance party, the talent show, eating beans on toast for the first time in my life, struggling to use a shower that started and stopped like it was playing a game of red light/green light, refereeing ultimate frisbee and pretending I knew what I was doing. It was awesome! (Also, go Blue Fins!)
3. The UK/Ireland Conference
This weekend was so stressful, so busy, and so fun. The One Year Challengers were responsible for the registration as well as a themed party on Saturday evening for several hundred guests. On top of that, my sector of the church was responsible for ushering. Just to sweeten the deal, my line of the tube was closed that weekend for rail improvements. I spent the entire weekend frantically dashing to the building early to usher, coming in to lessons late, leaving lessons early, and spending every single meal and fellowship break scrambling to finish throwing the party together. The epitome of the entire weekend was when I and a friend came home on Saturday night, absolutely exhausted from the party (and the subsequent cleaning up). Because my branch of the tube was closed, we had to take a different train and then a bus. We got off the bus at the wrong stop by mistake and ended up walking a mile and a half back my house at 1 in the morning. I will never take a church conference for granted ever again.
4. Adventure Days
I have loved getting to be a resident and tourist in the same city. London is massive and has so many cool places to explore. From the market of Camden to the longboats of Little Venice, the stone churches that have stood for hundreds of years to the cafes, shops, and theatres, there is so much to see.
Teen Camp was the first place I went in England. It was such a fun few days, and a great way to meet a ton of people at once. (Though not a great place to adjust to the time change and get over the jetlag!) I was so moved by how open and vulnerable the teens were as they shared about the different struggles they have. Many of these kids were the only Christians in their families and schools. Some of them were the only teen in their church. I was immediately made aware of what a challenge it is to be a disciple in Europe, where a belief in God is not the norm. Their convictions and love for one another blew me away. There were fun things too: the dance party, the talent show, eating beans on toast for the first time in my life, struggling to use a shower that started and stopped like it was playing a game of red light/green light, refereeing ultimate frisbee and pretending I knew what I was doing. It was awesome! (Also, go Blue Fins!)
3. The UK/Ireland Conference
This weekend was so stressful, so busy, and so fun. The One Year Challengers were responsible for the registration as well as a themed party on Saturday evening for several hundred guests. On top of that, my sector of the church was responsible for ushering. Just to sweeten the deal, my line of the tube was closed that weekend for rail improvements. I spent the entire weekend frantically dashing to the building early to usher, coming in to lessons late, leaving lessons early, and spending every single meal and fellowship break scrambling to finish throwing the party together. The epitome of the entire weekend was when I and a friend came home on Saturday night, absolutely exhausted from the party (and the subsequent cleaning up). Because my branch of the tube was closed, we had to take a different train and then a bus. We got off the bus at the wrong stop by mistake and ended up walking a mile and a half back my house at 1 in the morning. I will never take a church conference for granted ever again.
4. Adventure Days
I have loved getting to be a resident and tourist in the same city. London is massive and has so many cool places to explore. From the market of Camden to the longboats of Little Venice, the stone churches that have stood for hundreds of years to the cafes, shops, and theatres, there is so much to see.
5. My Birthday...Week
I started receiving mail about 3 days before my actual birthday. I continued to receive letters, packages, phone calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, Skype calls, and Facebook messages for the next two weeks. "Happy Birthday" was sung to me at least 5 times, and I had around 3 cakes. There were at least 2 dinners I didn't have to pay for. Even though I didn't have any of my family members or close friends with me, I have never had a birthday in which I felt so loved by so many people. Can I do this every year?!
6. English Thanksgiving
I got to celebrate not one, but two Thanksgiving dinners: one with the One Year Challengers, and one with the teens and singles in the North sector. It was so fun and hilarious to celebrate an exclusively American holiday with a group of outsiders. (Sorry Canada, but we both know that your Thanksgiving doesn't really count.) Answering questions about what cornbread is, explaining that there are no Thanksgiving games, and panicking over my first-ever time roasting a turkey was outrageously fun.
I'm a little sad to be leaving London, even though it's only going to be for a short time. I've finally started to lay down some roots here. I'm so glad that this is only the first part and that more adventures are on the way! London, don't fret. I'll be back.
I started receiving mail about 3 days before my actual birthday. I continued to receive letters, packages, phone calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, Skype calls, and Facebook messages for the next two weeks. "Happy Birthday" was sung to me at least 5 times, and I had around 3 cakes. There were at least 2 dinners I didn't have to pay for. Even though I didn't have any of my family members or close friends with me, I have never had a birthday in which I felt so loved by so many people. Can I do this every year?!
6. English Thanksgiving
I got to celebrate not one, but two Thanksgiving dinners: one with the One Year Challengers, and one with the teens and singles in the North sector. It was so fun and hilarious to celebrate an exclusively American holiday with a group of outsiders. (Sorry Canada, but we both know that your Thanksgiving doesn't really count.) Answering questions about what cornbread is, explaining that there are no Thanksgiving games, and panicking over my first-ever time roasting a turkey was outrageously fun.
I'm a little sad to be leaving London, even though it's only going to be for a short time. I've finally started to lay down some roots here. I'm so glad that this is only the first part and that more adventures are on the way! London, don't fret. I'll be back.