English Life

Hello Everyone! Currently I am sitting on a mini-bus lost in England with 7 other girls on our way home from our (winning) basketball game. I think I have listened to every song on my iPod 4 times already and played Temple Run a bajillion times. I am in desperate need of something to do so I decided to fill you all in on my life. Today we went to Brighton to play our game. We left early this morning for the game, and I was a little anxious about it because I may or may not have skyped Megan until 3:00 this morning. However, after a peanut butter sandwich, a bar of chocolate, a bag of potato chips, and a hot chocolate (I’m really watching my figure…get bigger), I finally had enough energy to play. However, we got to the town 3 and a half hours before our game so we had a little time to kill. We decided that the best way to celebrate the leap year was by swimming in the English Channel! It was so spur of the moment, and we just stripped down our layers and ran in. I think I stopped breathing it was SO cold, but I’m happy that we did it!

Since I have last talked to you I haven’t gone on any crazy trips or anything, but I’m still having a good time. Last weekend Michelle and I wandered around Gandy Street for a little bit. Gandy Street is the alley J.K. Rowling based Diagon Alley off of. It was interesting, but I think you have to have a good imagination to see it. After our little adventure there, we went and met up with the gang at a local pub and watched the England vs. Wales rugby game. Rugby is such an interesting sport, but the only thing I really took from the experience is that I have to meet some rugby players ;)

I also received an AWESOME care package from mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa last week. It was so nice and I demolished all of Grandma’s cookies in 2 days because I gave up cookies for Lent. Speaking of Lent, Ash Wednesday was an experience in itself. I had not had the opportunity to go to the Catholic Church here, so Jenae (my fellow Iowa Stater/next door neighbor) and I looked up where it was and left a half hour early to give ourselves enough time to get there. Well, the shortcut we took ended up not working exactly as planned and we showed up to church twenty minutes after it started. I saw them giving out ashes as we turned into the parking lot and started sprinting and turned and yelled, “ASHES” back to Jenae. Well, the church doors were open so everyone probably heard me and we made it just in time and were the last two to get ashes. After church, I was finally able to skype with Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma gave me the brilliant idea to make applesauce. Yesterday I was not feeling the best and decided to make myself a good meal so I made applesauce along with baked potato soup. I’m so proud of myself! It was so good and just what I needed.

This weekend most of the flatmates are going to Amsterdam, but I’m staying here. I’m excited to catch up on sleep and get to feeling better. (I finally have cold medicine. I found it quite humorous that the British equivalence to Dollar Tree is called Poundland.) On Sunday I’m hoping to make a trip down to Cornwall, a coastal town with a few friends. If the weather agrees, I really want to learn how to surf while I’m down there!  Oh and I just found out that I get to go visit the Haguewoods in Spain next weekend! I’m sooooo excited!!!!!

That’s about all I have! Sorry for rambling, but I’m bored out of my mind. The pathetic thing is that this is only a 5 hour drive and I have a lot more traveling ahead in these next couple of months. I would LOVE song suggestions if you have any…or any fun ways to pass the time! Love you and miss you! Wish you all could come here and experience this with me!