To Home and Back

I know it has been a long time since I posted an entry, but I am sure most of you know I have been home this past week. It was soooo good to see those of you whom I got to see! (Even if we  barely got to talk!) Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement as my family went through a tough week.

First thoughts on returning to America:
Things I had missed or forgotten about: pickup trucks, what the sun actually feels like, country music (believe it.), Mexican food, my queen-sized bed, a house with just my family, wide open spaces, driving... and on the LEFT side of the road, TEXT MESSAGING, Clements Baptist, gas is $3.45?, ice in my drinks, milk from a gallon jug, television, country accents, biscuits and gravy, getting to wear shorts, etc. It was a great week at home.

At this point, I must tell a story from my first night back in America. My family had just picked me up from the airport in Nashville. I came off the escalator to see Dad and Fowler-- Dad was holding a notepad with my name written on it. We took the stuff to Mom's Jeep (an SUV?! haven't seen many of those lately...) and got on the road. We made it through Lawrenceburg and were only a few miles short of Grandmother's house when we came across a road block. Dad immediately said a cow must be out, and a woman in a camouflage jacket approached the car. Dad asked her what the problem was and she said, "Way-ull, me 'n my husben were jus' drivin' down the road an' I said, that there looks like a buffalo. There wuz a buffalo in the middl' of the road, so we called the rescue squad and we're tryin' to get 'im back in the fence." Dad asked if he could help. The woman looked at him from behind her rather large, round glasses and said, "I dunno. You got any experience herdin' cattle?" My father, who grew up on a farm, then laughed and said yes. She turned around, screamed, "Yo!" and headed back toward her "husben." Fowler got out to see if he could help and soonafter, I was looking out the front window and this is what I saw: First, a buffalo runs across the street. The rumors were true. What was funny was what came second: a man in pajama pants and cowboy boots running behind him. One pants leg was tucked into the boot while the other was not. A third character ran across the street behind him carrying a huge stick. I looked at Mom and said, "Yes, I am back in America." We all had a nice laugh and then drove on through.

I had a good week at home and enjoyed being with the family. It hardly felt like a week, though, and before I knew it, I was back in Nashville to board my plane to Dulles. The flight from Dulles to London was only 6 hours and 45 minutes. (This is short when you are expecting . Nevertheless, I took two Tylenol PM's after the meal and tried to sleep. This was difficult, because I was sitting inbetween two other passengers in the middle row of seats. I tossed and turned, and amidst my tossing and turning, managed to get a few hours to sleep before landing in London. Going through immigration was a breeze, and when I got on the Tube, I finally knew I was back.

I made it to the house around 8:30, showered, and began my day. My class went to the East End for a presentation and saw the Spitalfields Market, the Bangladeshi section of town, and Brick Lane-- home to 112398734 curry restaurants who send their employees out in the street to beg for your business. After that, we came back to the house for lunch. I ate a quick lunch, and then took a nap. (Jet lag again.) I had just managed to get into a deep sleep when my alarm woke me up and told me it was time to meet Roger at St. Paul's.

I didn't want to get up, but I was soon very glad that I made the decision not to stay asleep. Roger had made an appointment with the librarian at St. Paul's Cathedral to give us a tour. Regular tours do not get to see the library, so this was a special treat. The librarian's name was Jo Wisdom. I think this is funny. "Yeah, ole Jo Wisdom over there is our librarian." Sounds like a made-up name, but it's true. The man is Jo Wisdom. He took us up an emergency escape route to the triforium level where we got what he called the "BBC view" of the cathedral. It was spectacular. I have been to this cathedral multiple times, but it still continues to amaze me. We went into the left side of this level where we saw the used pulpits and Wren's great model of what he initially wanted the church to look like. It was 1:24 the size of the actual building, and I would estimate it was 8-10 feet tall. Impressive. He then took us into the library. Once again, beautiful. Dark wood, lots of books. Very cool. We signed the guest book after Simon Russell Beale (he's a famous actor on the London stage that we have seen twice since we got here-- Undershaft in Major Barbara and Benedick in Much Ado). Once again, Roger makes the day.

I came back to the house, did a little bit of work, had some fun catching up with the other girls, and then went to bed. I went to bed around 10 and woke up at 8:30, and so far today, I haven't been tired today. Take that, jet lag!

This morning we had our weekly house meeting and received our final meal allowances. Next week we will be talking about departure arrangements. I can't believe it's already time! After the meeting, Cait and I went to the park, and then I came back to work on my research paper that is due tomorrow. All of my British Invasions journals are due tomorrow, and I will also be taking my theatre final in the afternoon. Such is college life.

Hayley and I did a little kickboxing in the parlor room as a study break, and now I am going downstairs for our last student community dinner. We are taking a group picture tonight in the kitchen with all of us and our favorite food or utensil. My choice: CEREAL!

Well, tonight I will be burning the midnight oil or whatever it's called when you stay up late to finish something. It's okay, I have Craisins. (thanks, Amy!)