Entry 3: July 26, 2008

Hello. Meredith, Whitney, Emily and I have just returned from Amsterdam. We left last Thursday night and took a coach there. We stayed on the southern region of the city, next to the Bos, which is the forest. Amsterdam is a unique city with many bikes, laid back feel, and many canals. We mostly spent our time exploring the city and took a canal cruise. It was nice to get out of the busy city for a few days.

Before I left, I was able to see “The Phantom of the Opera.” I had always wanted to see this play, and it was incredible. The story is set in an opera house in Paris and is a story about love and obsession, with some amazing music. The first showing of this play was in London, so seeing it in London made my experience even more enjoyable. I had also seen the play, “Fat Pig”, which is a modern day love story about a man in love with an overweight woman, but not secure enough with himself to be with her. The ending was horrible and I do not recommend it to anybody.

I have also been to the British Library, which was much more interesting than I thought it would be. Inside are the Magna Carta, Shakespeare's First Folio, “Beowulf”, and many other manuscripts from famous authors. It meant a lot having studied some of these documents, such as “Beowulf”, and then seeing the original copy in Old English. There were also the original written lyrics to Beatles songs. I enjoyed reading these lyrics and seeing the thought process that John Lennon and Paul had writing song that have become inspirations to many musicians.

While being in London, I have been taking a class on Muslims in the U.K. This has been a very interesting class that has taught me about the religion and practices. Taking this class has opened my mind and I was able to recognize my own judgments and ignorance on the topic. Part of our presentation grade is using outside material. Well, one Sunday afternoon, Emily, Amy and I had gone to Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. This is an area where people are able to freely speak their mind on any topic they would like to. We met young Muslim women who were very nice and we were able to learn about their culture. They talked to us about their views and how it was being a young Muslim in the U.K. All of the sudden people started crowding around us and everybody started debating about Islam. I was able to listen to a wide variety of opinions on Islam and their practices. It was a great experience being exposed to so many different people; I learned a lot that day.

Entry 2: July 9, 2008

Hi! Today is a rainy day in London, but that does not stop us from having a wonderful time! 

Tonight we are going to the Globe Theatre to see a new play, “The Frontline,” which is about a night in London, with people from every background interacting.

We went to the Globe the other night and watched “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It was one the best plays I have seen and the first play I have seen of Shakespeare's that I understood. It was even better that we got to watch it at the Globe, which is the recreation of the Globe where Shakespeare's plays where performed for people of every social class.

On Sunday we went to mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was one with music by Mozart and it was a great performance! Tomorrow we are going to Brighton, which is a seaside town. I am very excited to go, because I have read about Brighton in a Jane Austin novel. We are also going to be having tea by the sea. Dr. Webb told us that we must see what the sea is like in England, she said it was different than North Carolina.

I feel more comfortable with my surroundings and I have finally been able to get a full night sleep. London is such a wonderful city; there are so many things to do and something for everyone. The people are nice and I have met some locals who always know the best places to go for shopping.

Time really does fly when you are having fun! Each day is a new adventure and I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring!

I hope you guys back in the States had a fun 4th!

Entry 1: July 1, 2008

Hi! I am in London right now! It is such an amazing city with so much to do. I am finally starting to feel like a normal person, since before I was still feeling jetlagged. The place we are staying at is very nice and the location is amazing! We are right in the heart of London. Yesterday we went to Kensington Palace, which is where Diana lived. It was so beautiful inside. Today we went to Wimbledon and watched a couple of tennis matches. We did not have enough money to get into the main courts, but we were able to watch the games from a large screen outside. I was surprised that some of the tennis players were just walking around the grounds. We ate strawberries and cream and enjoyed a warm afternoon with no rain! I am starting to feel more comfortable using the train. We have been walking a lot lately, which is really great! It’s the best way to see the city and we get to keep in shape. I am so lucky to be here in London, it’s a great deal for everything you are given, including the meals, stay, and location. One could not ask for a better experience! I hope everything is going well in the States!