Friday was the first day of our study abroad! Everyone was gathering but first, Scott and I had to move out of Albert and Janice's and make the journey to South Kensington which, is no big deal really but, with my suitcase...ooooh it feels like a long treck. We tried to get some extra rest because we got in so late after our adventures in Brighton. Our last breakfast made by Janice was wonderful as usual. She gave us a repeat meal which she had been avoiding all week. She was trying to give us new and unique foods to England every day. After we finished up with breakfast we got our laundry (which Janice kindly did for us the night before), packed our things up, gathered our linens, and headed for the local flower shop to get Janice and Albert something nice, at the request of our mothers. It was fun to go to a little local flower shop and have something really special created for them. I'm used to just hitting up the local chain grocery store. We got quite a lot of bang for our buck...or should I say pound?! *buh dun chhhh*. Anywho, I think we wound up with something really nice. We walked back to deliver them and as we walked in Janice said "oh you naughty children! Those are very expensive!!!" And I told her not to worry because it was a gift from our mothers. Scott and I did get them a pretty card and I wrote a nice note inside. I like that Scott leaves these things to me. He's a sentimental man so, it's not like he isn't capable of writing a lovely note but, for some reason he thinks I have better penmanship or something. Anyway, Janice seemed delightfully surprised and it felt good to do a little something in return for all the generosity we received from them.
Albert offered to drive us to the tube station which was amazing because our bags would have made the trip seem twice as long as it actually is. We arrived at the station and by this point both Scott and I were ready to begin the next leg of this adventure. I think it's safe to say that we were both pretty jazzed to see our friends and get settled into our flats; our home for the next 5 weeks!!! It was exciting to reach 37 Hyde Park Gate and walk into the warm arms of Sister Hall and Dr. Staheli. They asked us about our week of adventure, how could we possibly sum that up in a sentence?! Then we got ourselves settled in and met up with the other Londoners. I was so excited to see more familiar faces. Not that I was getting bored of Scott by any means it was just nice to be able to begin the phase of the journey that is the purpose of our journey; to study music.
Sister Wimmer took us on a walk around South Kensington. We saw bits of the High Street area, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace (Princess Diana's favorite), Queen Victoria's memorial to Albert, and got some groceries at London's version of Walmart, Tesco. I got a weeks worth of groceries (two meals) for 12 pounds!!! yahoo. Living in my own flat is going to be so much more economical. Our next adventure was planned for the evening.
Once more of the BYU Londoners had arrived and gathered, we heard about a YSA dance from another group and decided we needed to attend. As you can imagine, YSA dances are not always the most enticing of friday night activities. I was holding out hope that things would be different in a foreign country. We set out with a massive group of students, probably about 15 of us, and went to the pubs for a quick bite to eat before dancing the night away! Well, we didn't realize each pub would be so crowded that we would have to fight to get a table large enough for all of us. We wound up splitting into smaller groups. Scott and I ate with Danny and Chris which was entertaining mainly because they were both so exhausted that they were practically falling over as they ate their fish and chips. tee hee.
When we arrived at the dance naturally there were like 4 people on the dance floor. I started dancing with some of the theatre study abroad kids and eventually more and more people showed up and the party started. Several of our music students chose to leave early simply because the music was too loud. As musicians, our ears are very valuable tools and exposure to overly loud sounds can be damaging if in excess. So, being the cautious students that they are, some headed home in search for quiet and rest. Scott and I stayed a bit longer. The picture of us against a white wall is taken far far away from the dancing and the speakers. One of the songs was a bit loud so I went to be with dear Scotty as he escaped. :) Me and this theatre student Shelby really tried to get the BYU kids to mingle with the local YSA kids. Plan kinda failed. I guess the YSA's here are really used to seeing new faces and it totally messes with their dynamic. The American girls flirt with the guys and the ward and the local girls get jealous...and visa versa. I found church to be really wonderful but at the dance...things got clicky. Perhaps it would be better to mingle with the locals on a more intimate level. Who knows. Scott and I had fun dancing with our BYU friends. Logan was really enjoying exploring everyone's negative space (it's a modern dance thing) and in the process of doing so, he hit both Scott and me in the face with his elbows. haha. Despite our little mishap, the dance was a fun way to spend our friday night.
The adventures have merely begun.
Oh, by the way...that white building....thats 37 Hyde Park Gate...WHERE I LIVE!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment