Something I Can Send You from Across the Sea

Wholly Whose?

2011-10-03T04:27:00.005+01:00

I've been learning a lot the last couple of months. And it seems impossible to me that I can even use that phrase, "the last couple of months" in reference to my time in Columbia. But I started my job at USC two months ago exactly, and in many ways, I feel exactly like I did when I first arrived.

My intention was for my next blog post to be about my job, to bore you with all of the mundane details of the job that I love so much. But instead of spending paragraphs trying to explain what it is that I am doing here, I'm going to briefly give you the highlights, and then tell you about, more importantly, what God is doing in my life.

First off, you can now find me on the Study Abroad staff page, and "meet" the rest of the awesome people with whom I have the privilege of working. So aside from getting to know my lovely coworkers, I have learned the ways of the chaotic and never-a-dull-moment front desk, sat in on initial and follow-up advising appointments, participated in exchange student move-in and orientation, survived (and enjoyed!) my first study abroad fair, attended a scholarship workshop in Atlanta with Rachel and Sarah (my very first business trip!), interviewed peer advisors, and partaken in multiple meetings, included staff meetings, department meetings, and provider visits. All of this, though, is the "side dish" to my main task. Primarily, as "graduate intern," I am working closely with Jenn, the director, on a variety of assessment projects. Some of these are data-focused and will hopefully lead the way to more funding, while others are more research-based and lead to improvements in our office for our students. For example, I just finished putting together a comprehensive list of our most affordable program options in the 10 most popular study abroad destinations. Sounds easy, perhaps, but is definitely time consuming when you have upwards of 300 programs to review! I have learned so much since I started working, and I still have much to learn. Every day brings a new set of challenges, which is part of what I love so much. But, nothing beats the staff and the students that I get to work with everyday. They are the constant reminder of why I am here, the reminder that I am in the right place and doing the right thing.

Which brings me to the next part of this post: what God is doing.

In March, while I was in Guatemala, I started reading Donald Miller's Searching for God Knows What. I got through half of it before I became distracted by school and life. I picked it up again today, though, and would you believe that the very chapter where I left off is about exactly what the Lord has been trying to teach me, recently? Not only is it amazing that I didn't read this part earlier, because it would not have meant as much to me then, but it's also amazing that now, right now, is when I was prompted to read it.

You may remember my last post, in which I mentioned that transition has not been so easy this time around, and that I am struggling to find where I belong in this not-very-large city. Now, perhaps more than ever, I have been seeking validation from people, because I have this idea that having people like me will make me feel more at home here. I put myself in compromising positions because I am far more concerned with making friends, no matter who they are, and with having these friends validate me as an individual, than with taking the time to find people with whom I have much in common. And forget trying to find spiritually supportive friends; I have to find a church to find them, and finding a church is never an easy scavenger hunt.

And right in the middle of this struggle, God (and Don Miller) whacks me upside the head with this: "These wants we have, like wanting to be right, wanting to be good, wanting to be perceived as humble, wanting to be important to people, and wanting to be loved, feel perilous, as though by not getting them something terrible is going to happen...God wired us so that He told us who we were, and outside that relationship, the relationship that said we were loved and valuable and beautiful, we didn't have any worth at all...As Paul said, if those relations are disturbed, the relations between God and man, then we feel the desire to be loved and respected by other people instead of God, and if we don't get that love and respect, we feel very sad or angry because we know that our glory is at stake, that if there isn't some glory being shone through us by somebody who has authority, we'll be dead inside, like a little light will go out and our souls will feel dark, like nothing can grow there. We'll feel that there is a penalty, by default, for being removed from love."

I don't know about you, but every time I read that I feel like I'm being sucker punched with a horribly fantastic reality. Because, the reality is that it's not the "being in a new place" or the "being away from my closest friends" that is making me frustrated and making me long for companionship, acceptance, and validation. It's my distance from God, my separation from him because of sin, and my failure to wholly, fully, and completely trust in His love. Because it is only in His love that I will ever feel fulfilled, no matter where I am and no matter who I know. "What if the way the Trinity operates explains the way humans are wired, and that we will be fulfilled when we are finally with God and, in His companionship, we know who we are? What if when we are with God, we feel that we have glory, we feel His love for us and know, in a way infinitely more satisfying than a parent's love or a lover's love, that we matter?"

This is my lesson for the day: it doesn't matter where I am, who I know, how new my surroundings are, or how comfortable my life is; I will always look for validation from my peers if I am not fully satisfied in the God of the universe who loves me infinitely. I can try to excuse my desire for worldly acceptance by saying that I am in a new place and trying to make friends, but I will only be denying the real reason for my loneliness, which is that I am not trusting in the loving arms of Christ.

I am reminded of my neighbor's art camp I photographed this summer, a job which gave me the privilege of leading a small group of fifth graders in Bible study every morning. We were discussing holiness one day, and what exactly that means and looks like. We all agreed that Jesus is holy, but how in the world are we supposed to be holy? Scripture tells us that we must seek holiness, so I encouraged the girls to wake up every morning with this prayer: "Jesus, make me holy." I have found myself wanting to ask this, and sometimes even saying the words aloud, but not fully committing to the request in my heart. And yet, this only makes me want to pray this more, because it is my unholiness that prevents me from being able to ask the Holy of Holies for his attributes.

I am full of earth; You are heaven's worth.

I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity.

You are everything that is bright and clean,

The antonym of me; you are divinity.

But a certain sign of grace is this:

From the broken earth, flowers push up,

Pushing through the dirt. You are holy.

I want to be holy like You are.

Love,

lvp

Well?

2011-09-18T05:57:00.000+01:00

If you want to feel alive, then learn to love your ground.

2011-09-01T15:49:00.001+01:00

Remember how I felt when I first got back from London? Like I didn't know where I belonged, and I wanted to be four different places at once?

When all of this fell into my lap--the job, the school, the apartment--it was hard to not see God's hand in all of it. He was so clearly directing me a certain way, and I stepped into his direction with confidence and expectation.

But so far, it's nothing like I expected.

I love my job, and I love the people I work with. My boss is not only a powerhouse, she is a pleasure to work for and a constant encouragement. In fact, going to work is the best part of my day, because I get to spend hours with some of the most inspiring people. And now that the student workers have started, there is even more inspiration to be had. When I'm at work, I am comfortable but pushed beyond my comfort zone. And I know it's exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Outside of my job, things start to look a little bit...messier. I suppose I haven't really found my "nitch" yet, so I still feel unsettled. I've moved to several different places on my own, without knowing anyone, and I've gotten along just fine. But this time is different. There's no orientation for grown-up life, there's no city tour and scavenger hunt, and there's definitely no icebreakers. You have to come up with your own way to break the ice--but first you have to find people with whom you need to break it. Outside of work, and Natalie, I've made a few friends here and there, randomly. But it mostly just leaves me craving the intimate and real relationships I've made in the past--at Queens, at Crestridge, and in London.

It's funny that when things make sense and happen outside of my control, it's easy for me to give God the credit. But when things start to look a little imperfect, messy, and confusing, my first response is to wonder if this is really where God meant for me to be. Because, I have this false idea of what that should look like, of what life should look like if I'm stepping into God's plan. But, the truth, I have no idea what it will look like. And, there's a good chance I'm exactly where God wants me but, perhaps, not being who He wants me to be.

Friends, I have a lot to learn. Everything is new to me right now, and God's mercies are new every morning (thank goodness). This journey is just getting started, and I don't have the slightest clue as to what the next two years in Columbia will look like. I do have a God that I can put all my trust in, though, and I am confident in His perfect plan. Most of the time. And for the times that I am not confident, He sweeps me off my feet and reminds me how very much He loves me.

Love,
lvp

Living Internationally in This Nation I Love

2011-08-24T02:31:00.004+01:00

I have some exciting news that I've been meaning to share with you for a while. My recent move to Columbia, SC has kept me busy and kept me from telling you why, exactly, I moved here. Let's start from the beginning.

As a reader of this blog, you may know that in the spring of 2010, I studied abroad in England. What you may not remember is that I traveled through a program provider called EuroLearn, which is a branch of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. And, more recently, I wrote about receiving their Alumna of the Year Award and subsequently traveling to Vancouver, Canada for the annual NAFSA conference.

At NAFSA, I met so many incredible people--too many to mention. The connections I made were invaluable to my future and inspiring to my ambitions. Some of the people I met were big-time International Education names, such as Cynthia Banks, the CEO of GlobaLinks, and Kevin, the VP of STA Travel. But some of the others I met were perhaps lesser-known, but no less-important to the industry. Coming home from NAFSA, I went through business cards over and over to try and match them with the faces in my memory. And there was always one who stood out in particular: Susan. Susan works for University of South Carolina (USC, not to be confused with University of Southern California), one of GlobaLinks' 400+ affiliated universities. She attended the affiliate luncheon with Jenn, her director, and heard my award acceptance speech. After the luncheon, she came to the GlobaLinks booth to talk to me about the Higher Education program at USC; and as a current student in the program, she had a lot of insight. I was very intrigued, but, admittedly, did not think that much would come out of that conversation--at least not for another year or so when I would go to graduate school.

You may also remember this: that I had a "master" plan, which was to spend a year abroad after college, teaching, working, doing something (anything, really) to gain more international experience. And then, after a year, I would return to the states for graduate school, where I would get my degree in higher education, thereby making me more qualified for the various jobs in international education. As I was frantically searching overseas jobs after returning from NAFSA, I received an email from Susan--the graduate student who was so encouraging to me but I scarcely expected to hear from. Her email stopped me in my job search tracks, and I immediately signed up to take the GRE. You see, she had told me about a Graduate Assistantship that was available in the USC Study Abroad Office, and that if I applied and got accepted to the Higher Ed program, then I could be considered for the GA position. Despite my plans, I scheduled a GRE date for the following week (right before I left on the road trip), and got excited about the possibilities. However, the excitement was shortlived; several days later, I received an email that it was too late to apply for fall admission to the graduate school. I took the GRE anyway, and set off on the greatest cross-country adventure (which you have hopefully already read about).

Two weeks later, I was sitting in Barnes & Noble in Charlotte, soaking in all of the US that I had just seen, when I get a phone call from the USC Study Abroad Office. But this time, it was not Susan contacting me; it was her director. She was offering me an internship position in her office--the chance to work with them as a temporary employee rather than a graduate assistant. And, in theory, I could apply to the Higher Ed program, get accepted, and apply for the Study Abroad GA for the Spring semester. I could not have been more thrilled. I would be lying if I didn't say I had already made up my mind, but I walked back into Barnes & Noble to tell my friends the news. The same friends with whom I had been discussing, literally moments before, everything I needed to do to get ready to go teach in South Korea.

The opportunity of working in the USC Study Abroad Office was a massive one for many reasons. Not only would it give me experience in the field that is a) difficult to come by in this economy and b) difficult to be qualified for as a recent college graduate, but it also gave me a direct opportunity for graduate school. The position was impossible to turn down, and a couple of weeks later, I found myself in Columbia, SC searching for an apartment.

It is the beginning of my fourth week of work and, needless to say, I absolutely love it. I have learned more in three weeks than I ever thought I could, and the people that I work with are the best. I felt welcome the moment I stepped into the office, I am always comfortable asking questions, and I know that I am a part of a team. And this is the thing that I have found over and over with international educators; there is this camaraderie that exists between those in the field, this unspoken (or perhaps spoken) vision that brings all of us together in a common mentality. And we've all studied abroad, so we understand that aspect of one another; no one complains when I say "This one time, in London," or when Susan says "When I was in Ecuador..."

So the point of that long-winded story is to tell you that I am still continuing on my path of travel. Although I am currently residing in the United States, I am still becoming the person that I met while I was in London. I am on an exciting path, and SO excited to see all the God has for me. I am confident that I am right where he wants me to be, and expectant about His plans for the future. I never imagined that I would be here, doing exactly what I wanted to be doing, exactly on God's terms. But here I am, and I am reminded everyday of His faithfulness and provision. May you continue to trust in His perfect plan for your life, and rest in the comfort of knowing that He has one!

Love,
lvp

P.S. Check back later for more concrete details about my job. I'll let you know what I'm working on and the exciting things that I get to be a part of!

Road Trip = Life Metaphor

2011-06-30T17:16:00.076+01:00

It wasn't long into this trip that we realized that Roadtrip!2011 had metaphorical potential out the wazoo. We had lots of philosophical, spiritual, in-depth, and complex discussions that left us all thinking about the more important things in life. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we each learned things about ourselves during this adventure that we weren't fully prepared to learn. For me? I was reminded, blatantly, that there are some things I cannot control, no matter how much I think I can.

I also learned that the United States is beautiful. I don't really know what else to say, or how to say it. But I live in a gorgeous country. As someone who is so passionate about exploring the rest of the world, I had never really taken the time to appreciate my own nation and what it has to offer. I am so, so, so glad that I took advantage of the opportunity to drive to the west, and to see the US from a car. There aren't many times in your life that you can take two and a half weeks off of reality, pack in a sedan with four other people, eat sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, stay with friends and family at every stop, and only spend less than $300 a person on the entire trip. By the trip's end, we had visited five national parks, had seen friends and family that we hadn't seen in months or years, and didn't have one car problem (unless you count blowing the fuse when we had four chargers plugged into one electrical socket; thank goodness Eric knew just what to do). It is a trip that I will treasure forever, and will recommend to anyone graduating from college. Jump in a car, map out a trail, and see this amazing country.

People keep asking me what my favorite part was, and it's impossible to say. Surprising the JOH boys was definitely my favorite moment; nothing can compare to the amount of love and happiness that came from that surprise. I wish that I could replay it over and over again. But I think that my favorite place to visit was Jackson, WY, mostly because I fell in love with the Tetons, and the hike we did there was unreal. But then I think about everything else we did and everywhere else we went, and there is no way that I can say I liked Jackson more than Yellowstone, Yellowstone more than Glacier, Glacier more than the Badlands, or the Badlands more than Colorado. You don't go on trips like this to find a favorite place. You go to take all of it in, and you come back with favorite places.

I could write about this trip forever. I don't know which details to give you all, because there are so many. And I am leaving these posts on my "Something I Can Send You from Across the Sea" blog, even though I didn't actually cross the sea this time. Why? Because my journeys abroad made me think that the rest of the world was more beautiful than my own country, and this road trip taught me that I was sorely mistaken. Every trip I go on impacts my passion for travel in some way--whether it's a ten hour drive or a ten hour plane flight. The point is that I travel. And I want you to be a part of my journey.

Love,
lvp

Still on the road!

2011-06-28T16:06:00.000+01:00

So I had to stop updating for a little while because we were in the process of surprising our friends on JOH--the bike ride across the country to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities. Five of my friends were on the trans route, which goes through Yellowstone, and we were going to be there at the same time. Of course, if the boys had known we were in Jackson Hole, they would have either been furious we weren't seeing them, or certain that we were. So Joey forbid us from writing anything about our location online, and as a result, we pulled off an amazing surprise. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

After we left the Badlands, we took Eric to Rapid City, SD where he met up with his family for his brother's wedding. The next morning, we headed out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, stopping at Mount Rushmore on the way, which was a beautiful drive, complete with lots of "critters" that Mitch spotted (while driving, nonetheless). In Jackson, we stayed with Joey's friend Sarah who graduated from Queens and works at a ranch out there. We hiked in the Tetons for a good 4.5 hours, and then Sarah took us on a horse ride through some trails, which made for some gorgeous views.

We were sad to leave Jackson, but excited for SURPRISE DAY! We drove through Yellowstone and made all the important stops, including Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic. Some of those places are crazy beautiful. We didn't have a whole lot of time in the park, though, before we had to meet Fred for the big surprise. I can't really put into words what surprising Ian, Wes, Michael, and Brett was like...but I have a few pictures for you.

Next stop: Bozeman. This drive also proved gorgeous, and we got to see an amazing sunset that left us all with our jaws dropped. We stayed with Nate, one of my London friends, and his family in Montana, and went out to one of the local bars with Nate and my other London friends, Jeff. The next morning, we headed to Glacier National with Nate, and had a great time out there camping, exploring, hiking, and driving around.

After a few nights in Montana, it was time to move on, and now we are in Boulder, Colorado staying at my brother's. After we eat breakfast, he's taking us rock climbing, and then we are getting on the road again!

That's all for now.

Love,
lvp

And these badlands start treating us good...

2011-06-23T14:33:00.000+01:00

The South Dakota Badlands. Ever heard of them? Neither had I until a few days ago. And rather than trying to explain them to you in words, I'm just going to share pictures with you. Please know that these photos do not, in any way, do this magnificent place justice. But, it's the best I can do. Hopefully it will inspire you to visit yourself.

Amazing, right? This is the best road trip ever.

Love,

lvp

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska...

2011-06-21T05:16:00.000+01:00

It's hard to believe that three days ago, I was in Florida. And now, after 27 or so hours of driving, I am in Omaha, Nebraska. Today, I drove through several states that I have only heard about but had never actually seen--not even in movies, because nobody puts Iowa or Illinois (unless it's Chicago) in a movie. Lots of land, y'all. And fields. And wind farms. We got really excited about the wind farms, I guess because it meant a change in scenery.

We also had a run in with a few storms, the worst one being when we arrived in Omaha. The clouds were more than just ominous; they were pre-tornado, as far as any of us were concerned. Once we reached our destination for the day, we saw on the news that there were, in fact, tornado warnings; it's a good thing we got here when we did.

I'm just going to leave you with a few pictures, and leave the rest to your imagination. Don't worry. I'll update you again soon!

That's all for now. Don't be freaked out, Mom.

Love,

lvp

Which classic road trip song should I use to title this post?

2011-06-14T15:24:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, I'm heading up to Charlotte to pick up the rest of the people I need for our epic road trip. We leave on Sunday, stopping first in Union, WV to have lunch with Joey's granny, and then staying the night in Cincinnati with a friend of ours. You can see where we'll be the rest of our time on the map below.

This trip is going to be insane and amazing. I am excited, because it's completely unpredictable, and I am at the perfect time in my life to be doing something that is spontaneous. This road trip seems like it's a metaphor for my life at the moment--having a direction and a goal, but not having any idea what getting there is going to look like.

We have planned stops, we have places we plan to see, and we have people we plan to meet up with. But there is no way of knowing how this trip will go, no way of knowing exactly how long it will take us or how many times we will have to fill up the gas tank. It's all dependent on other things, other forces that are bigger than all of us.

View Larger Map

But one thing is for sure. We are going to have an awesome time. I love the four people I am traveling with, and think they will be the best companions. We are going to have so many inside jokes after this that you probably won't want to hang out with any of us for a couple of weeks. Don't worry--a quote book WILL be kept.

This will be an adventure to remember. One for the books. I'm going to do my best to keep y'all updated as we move around the country, so be looking out for posts here and there. And, of course, plenty and plenty of photographs.

I'm off again, my friends. This time not across the ocean, but across the country. I'm one of those people who has seen more of Europe than she has of her own nation. And I think it's time to change that.

Catch you on the flipside!

Love,

lvp

NAFSA: Day 3

2011-06-03T07:37:00.000+01:00

And yet another incredible day of learning, networking, smiling, laughing, and being inspired by the GlobaLinks staff, the Kingston University international department, and all the other interesting educators I came in contact with throughout the day.

I had so many people who recognized me from the luncheon yesterday compliment me on my speech, wish me luck in my future and in the field, and mention potential opportunities. All of the GlobaLinks staff, and Kingston staff for that matter, helped me network, told various companies that I was looking for jobs or internships, and put in a good word for me. I even stopped and had a chat with the CEO of STA, who I sat next to at the luncheon, who said if I ever needed a good deal on a flight, I could simply contact him and he would get me set right up. Pretty nifty to have the contact information of a travel agency's CEO, then, eh?

This evening, after all the meetings and official stuff, I went to receptions with Zac and the crew, where I met more fascinating people, including a guy named Scott who works for CIS out of Jacksonville and went to JU! Small world. After the parties, I went back to the suite to say goodbye to everyone before they started their debriefing meeting...but then Cynthia (the CEO of GlobaLinks) invited me to stay! This was obviously a huge honor, and one that I felt unworthy of, but I jumped right in, listened, learned even more, and thanked all of them for the invaluable opportunity they had provided me with by allowing me to not only attend NAFSA on their dime, but also to be a part of their team. Literally, this is the most welcoming group of professionals I have ever met, and it was a massive privilege to be a part of the family this week.

I have so much more to tell you. But let me just say...this is only the beginning. Carrie said I should make it my goal to be at the 2016 NAFSA in Colorado, and that is exactly what I am going to do. So this is not the last you will see of me, my IE friends. I look forward to seeing you all in the very near future.

Thank you GlobaLinks, Kingston Uni, NAFSA, and everyone else who make this an unforgettable week and and an incredible jumpstart to my post-graduate life. I am truly humbled, amazed, and grateful.

Love,
lvp

NAFSA: Day 2

2011-06-02T07:02:00.000+01:00

Ladies and gents, I am wiped out. I want to tell you all about the GlobaLinks Affiliate Luncheon and tell you about all the feedback I got after my speech, but I am literally falling asleep as I type this. So for now, just know that today was absolutely incredible, I think that many doors were opened, and I am increasingly blessed to have the opportunity to be here.

You will hear more from me soon!

Love,
lvp

NAFSA: Day 1

2011-06-01T06:09:00.001+01:00

Where do I begin?

Today was a blur, but a blur in the best possible sense. I don't know how many business cards I collected or handed out, and I was even able to give someone my resume! That was a lovely surprise. I met incredible, interesting, and innovative people--all of whom we willing to talk to me about all of my ridiculous questions. I met ONE person who had heard of Queens University of Charlotte before, because she grew up in Myers Park. Go figure. Everyone else just sort of nods their head when I tell them where I just graduated from. They're also confused as to what I'm doing at the conference if I don't already have a job in international education (IE), so I have a whole speech about that, which is only a few lines longer than saying my school's full name.

I got to say hello to the Kingston representatives today, and I could have stayed there and talked with them all day. I am going to stand at the booth tomorrow and represent Kingston and EuroLearn! Heather says this means I can put "Kingston representative" on my resume, now. Every little bit of experience helps, you know?

I am exhausted, but oh so happy. Two more days? Bring it on.

Love,
lvp

Home is wherever I feel like it is.

2011-05-31T07:21:00.001+01:00

I will never forget the first literature class I had in college. I remember looking around at the room full of people who were openly admitting they had an acute interest in books and knowing that I was one of them, that I belonged. These were my people.

That is how I feel here already, and I have literally been to the airport, my hotel room, and the grocery store. Because the sense of belonging that I feel has nothing to do with the place I am and everything to do with the people I am with. I'm staying with Kelli and Carrie, and let me tell you: they rock. So welcoming, so interesting, so kind. I have already learned so much in one evening, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the week has in store.

Now if I could just figure out which outfit to wear tomorrow, we'd be in great shape...

Love,
lvp

The Adventure Continues

2011-05-29T15:41:00.002+01:00

I know it has been a while, but Tony told me to never apologize for not blogging. So don't expect an apology.

I intended to blog about my 10-day trip to Guatemala, and I'm sure at some point, I will share photos and stories with you. But for now, I have some exciting news related to my semester abroad in London.

On May 6th, I received a phone call from the EuroLearn office telling me I had won the Alumna of the Year Award. Words cannot possibly explain how much I had hoped to win this award, and how excited I was when I found out I actually had. I was in shock and disbelief, but I felt this incredible sense of belonging. You see, receiving this award from GlobaLinks means that I go to Vancouver for the annual NAFSA conference. NAFSA is the Association of International Educators, and the conference is a giant meeting of study abroad programs from all over the world. Since realizing, about a year ago, that working in the study abroad industry was exactly what I wanted to do with my life, I knew that being able to attend NAFSA would be a massive step in the right direction. Knowing that I am going gives me an even greater feeling that I am doing the right thing.

You can watch my application video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6fOltlxnD8

I leave for Vancouver tomorrow, and I am both nervous and excited. I've spent the past two weeks preparing--adding clothing to my professional wardrobe, writing my speech for the GlobaLinks luncheon, tightening my resume--and it is all coming to fruition when I get on that plane for Canada. I am so looking forward to meeting the GlobaLinks and EuroLearn staff, many of whom I have emailed and spoken to on the phone, but have never gotten to meet. I know that I will be meeting some incredible people at the conference, and I do not really know how to prepare for these encounters, except to be humble, eager to learn, and an excellent listener. I believe that the Lord has gone before me, just as He did in London, and prepared everything. Any connections that are made, jobs that are offered, or opportunities that are given will be because of Him, and I have already begun to thank Him for what He is going to do in Canada.

I am honored to represent EuroLearn and GlobaLinks as the Alumna of the Year, and I cannot possibly express my gratitude in having the chance to attend NAFSA and dip my feet in the international education industry. I will try to update you while I am there, but definitely expect a post when I return.

Thanks for reading, friends.

Love,
lvp

It had to happen eventually.

2010-09-10T17:13:00.001+01:00

Last night, for the first time, I cried because I missed London.

It wasn't a sob fest. Silent tears, rather. But the ache in my stomach was so strong that I had no choice but to let the tears go. I think one of the reasons the pain of missing this place is so acute is because I know that, even if I go back, it will not be the same.

I was recently presented with an opportunity to apply for a Model UN trip, through my university, to Oxford, England. The trip lasts for six days, and is paid for by the university. I debated whether or not to apply, but decided against it for several reasons. First of all, I don't feel equipped to represent my school in an official forum. Second of all, I think that it would be difficult for me to return to England on such a tight schedule, as a tourist, and on someone else's agenda--not to mention, to be fairly far from London and Kingston. Third of all, I would have to be dragged out of the country after only six days. And I think that I would spend the rest of my senior year depressed that I wasn't back there.

That being said, there is almost no question in my mind that I will go back to London for graduate school. I have a lot of research to do in terms of the financial situation, but I am determined. And you know what they say about where there's a will...

As a side note, I would like to add that, after a little bit of adjusting, I am thrilled to be back in Charlotte, at Queens, with the people who have helped shape me over the last several years. It's also helpful that I get to see some of my London friends every now and then; it's just one of those things that makes me feel a little bit closer to the place I miss so desperately.

If the money in my bank account didn't equal the cost of a plane ticket to England, I would have bought one already.

Love,

lvp

I ain't lost, just wandering.

2010-08-02T06:01:00.000+01:00

The summer is nearly over, and I still feel like I came back from London yesterday.

Thanks to the internet, we've all done a good job of staying in touch since we've gone our separate ways. I was able to see Katie and Krista in Charlotte, and will be seeing a few others in DC in a couple weeks if all goes to plan. Seeing London friends in the US is surreal. It took a lot of self-convincing for me to believe that, while I was with the girls, I couldn't just click the heels of my flip flops together and return to England with them beside me.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about the semester I just had. Most of my memories are of the simple things. Sure, I loved my classes and teachers enough to make straight A's, traveled to several other countries, met up with so many different people from home, and ate loads of amazing food. But the memories that flood my brain almost constantly are the ones that, to other people, may seem the least significant or substantial. The neighborhood walks. The train rides. The tube stations. The Oyster stops. The grocery days. The weather. The river. The market. The Bentall Center. The cookies (Ben's and Millie's). The music. The dancing. The post office. The currency. The "hole in the wall." The guacamole. The Costa Coffee. The Chocolate Cream Frappucino on a day when it was actually warm enough to drink one on the way to the train station. The ever [un]reliable bus system and the fantastic bus-waiting conversations. The assigned seats and ice cream at the cinema. The couches and Curry Night at Coronation. The comfy chairs and wooden forks at Foodie. The bitch at Corky's. The love/hate relationship with Primark and the 99p Store. The crappy vending machines on campus that never worked and the doors that wouldn't open. The room on campus that doesn't have a catchy name but where we always met...to avoid doing homework. The weird chairs at Subway where we met every Wednesday. The chicken and cheese panini at Moulin Rouge. The Sunday morning football games in the rec field behind my house.

These are the things I remember most often. Not because of what they involve, but because of who they involve. It's all about the people. I went halfway across the world to meet the people who would change my life, and it was worth every single mile.

Returning to college in the US will be strange, and will require some adjusting. But I must remember that these people, the ones with whom I have spent most of my time over the last three years, have also been a part of my life changing experiences. And we all have a whole lot more life to live.

The people I've met are the wonders of my world

I like it in the city when two worlds collide

You get the people and the government

Everybody taking different sides

Shows that we ain't gonna stand shit

Shows that we are united

Love,

lvp

The streets are all familiar, and an old friend shakes my hand.

2010-06-25T15:44:00.001+01:00

They do warn you about the culture shock and the feeling of displacement that comes along with returning home, but nothing can fully prepare you for it.

Please don't misread me; I am so glad, and thankful, to be home. Being gone reinforced how grateful I am for my family and friends, and being here with them again after four months is wonderful. But being away from England is not easy.

The first week I was home was mostly just exciting. I was soaking it all in, trying to appreciate the little things that I had missed, trying to spend time with everyone at once, trying to keep in touch with the friends I had made in London. And then I went to Charlotte, to visit my college friends.

Charlotte was, no doubt, a great time, but it was, for whatever reason, when the transition struggles started to settle in. I felt, for maybe the first time in my life, like I didn't belong anywhere. Jacksonville, home, is where my family is, and of course I always feel welcome. But, after three years of college and the semester in another country, I feel somewhat detached--not from my family themselves, but from daily life, from routines, from habits and schedules. I've been so used to being on my schedule that to suddenly consider four other people's routines becomes overwhelming. Then, in Charlotte, I felt a bit out of place, simply because my friends who are staying there this summer are very set in their routines, have jobs, have internships, have relationships--and so much has changed since I left. Dynamics among friends are so different, and it's difficult to just jump back into these friendships, especially after having changed so much myself. The other two places I would be? In the Blue Ridge Mountains at Camp Crestridge, but I know that that is not what the Lord has for me this summer. However, seeing a bunch of my friends return to work there and seeing all the photos go up from their adventures makes me miss it way more than I ever thought I would. And, finally, England. A place that has undoubtedly become a second (or third or fourth?) home to me, and I will be back. I just know now is not the time, although I wish with a lot of my heart that I could return tomorrow.

I will say that today marks the end of my third week home. And I have developed more of a sense of belonging. I am home, and I need to soak that time in, enjoy it, appreciate it, and savor it. I actually have to start considering my future, or my post-undergraduate life, which at this point consists of way too many ideas to even have a clear direction. But so much that I do now will make a difference in what I can do later. So I feel a bit like "the future is now." And that's stressful. But I can handle it. Mostly because I am at home, where the love and support is constant, and because what better place to contemplate your future than the very place that holds your past?

By the way, I have done all but four of the items on my list. And I did most of them within 48 hours. Success!

Love,
lvp

The Last Boat to America

2010-06-04T01:46:00.000+01:00

So, this is it.

I plan to keep you all updated on the continuation of my journey back home, but, I'll probably be signing off for a bit while I get home and process things. I have a lot of catching up to do as well, so hopefully I won't be around the computer much.

But, since I am far too emotional at the moment to write anything of clear substance, I thought that I would provide you with a list of things that I plan on doing within 48 hours of arriving home. These are, mostly, exclusive of the obvious things involving family and friends, such as hugging, chatting, etc. So, for your entertainment (and my distraction):

First Things First: A to-do list upon my arrival to the States (in no particular order)

Eat chick-fil-a.
Drink sweet tea (from Tori's mom and from Publix, and the mentioned restaurants).
Drive.
Eat Al's.
Eat Panera.
Call/text/receive calls on my iPhone (I've missed my ringtones!)
Spend DOLLARS and CENTS (hahaha. not that I have any left to spend...).
Go to the beach.
Drive again.
Play with my puppy (who is actually an old lady now).
Dance in my kitchen.
Drink good, cold skim milk.
Drink good, cold Dr. Pepper (the Dr. Pepper tastes different here).
Take pictures of things around my neighborhood that I've failed to notice before.
Go sit by the river.
Drive some more.
Teach my family how to play Big Bertha.
Get my camera cleaned/get my speedlight fixed/buy a new lens.
Print pictures.
Did I mention driving?

Is it coincidence that the three food places I miss the most all have the best sweet tea? I think not.

There are many more things I will be doing, but, I will update you later on. Thanks for joining me these past four months! Look forward to keeping in touch with you.

Sing me the truth, sweet bird of youth. I got some trouble trying to understand. Beneath the veils of mystery, are these the movements of an unseen hand? Our arms are filled with sunken treasure, baby; now our heads are filled with perfect sound. But do we truly see it, hey, 'til we're placing it in the ground? Make me a boat, away I'll float into the stillness of a pure blue sky...

Love,

lvp

I'm sure your thoughts are not with me, but with the country to where you're goin'.

2010-05-31T12:31:00.002+01:00

I haven't been blogging lately because I am finding it increasingly difficult to express how I am feeling. For those of you who know me, you'll know that I'm not a particularly emotional person, and I have even been told--mostly sarcastically--by friends that I "have no heart." But one of many things I have learned whilst being here is that it's okay to be connected with your emotions; in fact, it's natural. My friend Amanda studied in Florence this semester, and when she left, she had a quote on her blog that resonated with me: Dear Firenze, Look after my heart. I have left it with you. It is incredible how a place can become a part of you. But it's not really the place that makes the experience. Certainly, it's a piece of it; I couldn't have "studied abroad" by going to a different state in America. But what has made this time unforgettable, unique, rewarding, and life changing are the people I have encountered along the way.

To the ones I met on the trains or in the hostels or on the streets: thank you for inadvertently being a part of my journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours. I'd like to think that although we may never see each other again, we will remember the moments that we shared. I am especially grateful for Ana, the sweet girl from Portugal who befriended Jenny and me on the train to Florence, and for the teacher couple we met on the train to Venice who encouraged me to pursue teaching in another country. Also for Breanna, who we met in Venice, is from Canada, but working in London: it was so great to spend a day with you in Venice and to see you again in London!

To the ones I saw regularly at our regular spots: you became a part of my routine, my habits, my comfort zones. K3 bus drivers, K3 bus riders, Coronation bartenders, Jo and her employees at Foodie, and so many others: thank you for helping London become a home.

To the local ones I met at Kingston Uni: Professors, teachers, module tutors, English students, the international office staff, TJ...thank you for making this a positive educational experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my classes, received help and advice when I asked for it from teachers or students, and was consistently impressed with the friendliness and liveliness of the international office. Without you all, this time would have been a total waste--at least in terms of college credit. So, thanks.

To the EuroLearn staff and my fellow EuroLearn travelers: It was a privilege to meet you all at the Bridging Cultures Program. Meeting students who were experiencing similar transitional issues and hilarious encounters was a comfort that I didn't even realize I needed. I hope that you all had incredible experiences wherever you were in the UK and that you are not going to leave this behind you when you go back home. Special thanks to Rachael, Mona, and Robin who have worked tirelessly to ensure that my (our) time here was the best it could possibly be. You all are super heroes!

To Ben and the students at St. Mary's Church: I wish I could have gotten to know you all better, but I am eternally grateful for the welcome and kindness that you showed my friends and me for Passion weekend. Thank you for including us in your social time and, to Becki and Jess, for opening your home to us. I truly saw Christ through you all that weekend, and this makes me so honored to be a part of a church that is a part of St. Mary's--a church that is obviously encouraging its people to live as Jesus lived: with untamed love and compassion.

To Jonny & Bianca and the Young Adults at Hillsong London Surrey: What can I possibly say that would express how grateful I am for all of you? You took me under your wing, welcomed me into your family, and became the spiritual support that I desperately needed during my time here. I will never forget the Weekend Away--not only because the Lord worked on my heart in mighty ways, but because I met all of you and established life-long friendships. Your constant encouragement and kindness will stay with me long after this trip is over. And I promise I will come back and visit.

To the friends from home that I saw abroad: How exciting and memorable that we were able to meet up in another country! You probably don't know it, but connecting with you--with friends from home--helped me get through the times when I missed home the most. It was always refreshing to be with someone who understood exactly what I was going through, who spoke the same language (American English is different from British English, I will have you know), and who missed the same things. Jenny, thank you for traveling with me and for letting me sleep on your floor! Amanda, thank you for giving me the grand tour of Florence. Fiona, thank you for the amazing and special time at your wedding and for the chance to see Snarky, Courtney, Rachel, and Tricia. Brice, thanks for traipsing around London with me in your spare time. Dan and Eric, so glad we finally connected and I hope your times have been incredible. Elizabeth, I am so glad you made the harrowing journey by bus and ferry from Paris to come to Passion; it would not have been the saem without you. Elyssa, hahaha; there are no words, but seeing you in London was one of the highlights of my time here, if not of my life. And anyone else that I am forgetting, thank you!

To the ones back home: Thank you for your constant support, your messages, your phone calls, your cards, your letters, your Facebook notes, your emails, your texts, your prayers. Your friendship. It means so much that I have such amazing people to miss while I am away. I cannot wait to see you all again, soon.

To Debs (and Drew, Charlotte and Immie): Without you, I would have been homeless! But, in all seriousness, your house was a home, Debs, and I cannot thank you enough for that. I knew that you were always here if I needed you, and you were the best host mom a student could ask for. Sometimes I am not sure how you put up with us, two crazy American students living in your quiet house...but I am thankful that you did. I only hope that one day I can return the favor; you know that you and your family have a free place to stay in the states next time you come to visit!

To Akua and Jemelyn: You really have no idea how thankful I am for the pair of you. Besides the fact that, as Joey's friends, you were a slice of home, you let me into your lives and allowed me to experience snippets of the life of a London student. We had some crazy times, some special times, some pitiful times--Skyping until 4 am, I would say--but I loved every minute I spent with both of you, and I am grateful that Joey took the time to introduce us. I cannot imagine my time here without you, and I look forward to seeing you again...someday. Hehe.

And finally...

To my fellow study abroad friends, without whom this trip would have been just a trip: I don't even know of a song that can express how I feel about you all, and that's saying something, because music can say almost anything. Our time together in London/Kingston/Surbiton has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love how different we all are and how many different places and backgrounds we come from, and yet we are so stuck together by our commonalities, by our similar struggles, by our shared hilarious moments, by one incredible experience. Each of you has, for different reasons and in different ways, left an indelible impression on my life; you have been a positive part of one of my most significant growing periods, and I can only hope that I have been a part of yours. The times that we have shared together, although coming to a close, cannot be closed, shut out, and forgotten. We must keep these memories at the forefront of our minds so that we can continue to grow and learn from them. Friends, this is only the beginning. You have learned, grown, developed, matured, and transformed. The true test is what you will do with these discoveries when you get back home--back to a place where you are comfortable, where you are familiar, where you might have to force yourself to be challenged. I encourage each of you--and myself--to move forward. Sure, look back on this time with a smile, but don't think of it as something that has happened and is now over. Think of it, instead, as the beginning of a journey, of your adulthood, of your life. Apply what you've learned here to your life back home. Never forget the times that we have shared, and use them to continue your development into the person you are meant to be. It is impossible for the words "thank you" to do justice to how grateful I am for each of you, but thank you for who you are and for who you have been to me over these past four months. I look so forward to continuing these relationships and to reuniting within time and seeing how much of our time in London has stayed with us. I love you all so very much! And I am especially grateful, at this time, for Skype, Facebook, cell phones, etc. so that we can keep in excellent touch.

Love,
lvp

Elyssa Feder Rhymes with Seder + Leslie Pitman of Pitman Produce

2010-05-27T10:08:00.000+01:00

Elyssa & Leslie in London was, perhaps, one of the most explosive, ebullient, and exciting times that London has ever seen. Minus all of its incredible history. But still. Amazing times were had. I love this girl so very much.

Love,

lvp

The Tides are Changing

2010-05-23T12:58:00.000+01:00

The thing that is so difficult about Katie leaving isn't the goodbye. I know I'll see her again. It's that her leaving forces me to come to the reality that all of this is ending, that this experience is coming to a close, that lunch dates at Foodie and pints at Coronation might never happen again--at least not with all of us.

The past two weeks have been such a blur. I worked relentlessly on my three final papers so I could have them finished before Passion and Ibiza. I finally finished them after days of staring at a computer screen; turning them into the student office marked the end of my junior year of college. This fact alone completely freaks me out, and I still have not processed that I will be a senior in the fall.

We had a girls lunch at Foodie on Friday afternoon before heading into the city to meet up with Elizabeth, eat dinner, and get in line for Passion. Some of the uni students from St. Mary's--mother church to my church back home--were kind enough to put us up for two nights after Passion so we didn't have to make the commute back to Kingston. This was a massive blessing, and I was so touched by the generosity and hospitality of Becki and Jess. As if that weren't enough, the Lord totally blew me away at Passion on Friday and Saturday night. I experienced real, full, complete joy--the kind that only comes from a heavenly Father who is so great, so mighty, so powerful, and loves you. It is incomprehensible, but it's truth. The worship, with Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Redman, and David Crowder Band was, of course, awesome. And the talks with Louie Giglio and Francis Chan left me with a new awareness of my relationship with the Holy Spirit. Did you know that the Holy Spirit prays for you? This is the greatest news ever.

After two great nights of worship and fellowship with incredible people, Katie, Erin and I headed for Ibiza--one of the Spanish Balearic islands. Although it is renowned for its clubbing and partying, we were going to simply relax on the beach and celebrate our birthdays in a place with sunshine (i.e. not London). We spent every day laying out on the soft, sticky sand and playing in the icy Mediterranean. In the evenings, we went to dinner, and then went back to the hotel where we played a nightly game of Bertha Butt. My favorite part about this trip, though, was the talks that we had. We covered a ride range of topics, but a lot of our time was spent dissecting Passion and sharing things that the Lord was teaching us about ourselves and the world around us. Being able to spend this time with Katie and Erin was priceless and only made me more grateful for them than I already was.

If you are wondering, my birthday consisted of the same thing: beach, ocean, dinner, cards. I had a rum and coke with dinner, but didn't drink the whole thing and would have gone to sleep if Katie and Erin had let me. But instead, I kicked their butts at Bertha Butt. It was the perfect twenty-first birthday.

And then...Katie left. We went to Foodie for lunch and Coronation for dinner on her last day. We miss her, but I know she's glad to be home.

The next day, after saying goodbye to one friend, I got to say hello to Elyssa--my dear friend I've known since eighth grade but haven't seen in over two years. She is visiting several friends in London, so I went and hung out with them in Egham. So much fun. And so surreal. I kept hugging her because I couldn't believe that we were actually together...and in England, no less. I am going to see her again today!

I intended this post to be a thoughtful, thought-provoking, philosophical splurge, but I got too carried away telling you about my last few weeks. Hope you aren't disappointed. Many emotional thoughts to follow.

Love,
lvp

Time, You Humble People Everywhere

2010-05-11T10:37:00.000+01:00

3|5|8|10|13|24

I've looked in the mirror and the world's getting clearer. So wait for me this time.

Love,

lvp

Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die.

2010-05-10T18:17:00.003+01:00

It's about seeing things from a new perspective. It's about broadening your vision. It's about seeing something out of someone else's eyes instead of your own. It's about having eyes that see, not eyes that stare.

Look around. You might notice something you've never seen before.

Of course you've changed; your mind's been rearranged.

Love,

lvp

I suppose it's like forgetting, losing who you are, and at the same time, something makes you whole.

2010-04-30T19:32:00.001+01:00

There's a little boy with his father at the bus stop. They are holding hands, smiling, and both wearing Jason Mraz hats--perhaps that Mum made them put on as sun protection. The dad's is a sandy beige color and the boy's is white and blue striped. His trainer-covered feet are firmly planted on the concrete, yet his entire upper body moves to the right and left as he excitedly waves "hello and please stop" to the bus with his free hand. Once on the bus, he sits contentedly on his hat twin's lap and whispers curious questions into his father's ear. "Ask Mum when we get home," he answers with a nod. It's good to see that it's not just in the US where the men admit the women know all the answers.

A little girl and her mother come out of their house that is directly in front of the bus stop. The girl is dressed in all pink, and she's writhing her hand--quietly but emphatically--to attempt freedom from her mother's grasp. The mother positions the girl against the fence, far away from the street, then walks toward the parked car and opens the boot. The child immediately runs toward the road, and the mother instinctively reaches one hand out to prevent her from leaving the sidewalk. Frustrated, the child turns and looks at me. When I smile at her, she squeezes her eyes shut as tightly as she can, but does not turn her head. By this time, her mother has successfully gotten the stroller out and gently draws the girl toward her seat. Once on the bus, she continues to play this strange form of peek-a-boo with me, while her mother looks on with a smile.

I observe these and many other children every day throughout my various excursions, but the thought strikes me today: how different their childhood is from mine. And yet, children are children, and there seem to exist universal qualities that, if brought together from all different places in the world, there would be little or no prejudice, bias, judgment, or hatred. Just simply curiosity. Acceptance. Care. Love.

It is incredible how much you can learn from children. How much they can teach you about yourself. How much they can teach you about a culture that was entirely foreign to you mere months ago. How much they can remind you how similar we all really are--that we're all in this together, and if we just take a moment to smile and wave at the bus driver instead of habitually sticking our arm out as though we are robots who do as we're told, maybe we will learn something new about the world.

This is how I feel when I watch Wicked the Musical. I am a child again, and everything makes sense because nothing is too complicated. Life outside of the theatre, better yet, outside of Oz, stops. And I am just there, squeezing my eyes just in an attempt to hold on to this single moment forever. I am unaware of the past or the future; I only want to learn as much as I can from now. When it is over, when the house lights come back on, I am an adult again. And all of those worries--the money, the papers, the people--come rushing over me. But if I close my eyes tightly enough, I can remember where I was moments before, learning about fairy tales, friendship, and freedom. And I know that the girl who walks out of those theatre doors is not the same woman who walked in them. Something, it may seem, has changed within me.

It is not quite time to go home. But I understand why I have come here, and this is the first step to the end of a journey. But don't worry, dear reader. This journey, these moments, will live on as a part of me forever. And when I close my eyes or smile and wave, I will be reminded of what I learned here.

Love,
lvp

Spring Break: A Journey with Jabez

2010-04-22T13:25:00.006+01:00

It would be impossible to effectively summarize my trips to Italy and Ireland, and yet, I am going to attempt to do just that. This trip was about so much more than just traveling to countries I had never visited before. Of course, that was a large piece of it, but it was also largely about personal growth--an extension of my time in England, then--and a break from routine. It was about fellowshipping with friends from back home and also about making friends with people that I may never see again in my life. It was about trusting the Lord to go ahead of me and prepare a clear path for a smooth journey, and it was about learning to live in this trust--to do more than just believe that He was doing it, but to live like I believe it. It was about giving my brain and my heart a break from the daily attack they receive from various fronts. It was about exploration and discovery, but also restoration and recovery.

I returned with a newfound appreciation for this place I've called home for past few months. I also returned with a deeper understanding of who I am in Christ, what it means to have an identity wrapped up in Him, and how much He longs to bless me with unimaginable gifts.

The weekend before I left for Italy, I went on a retreat of sorts with the young adults from my church. The theme of the teaching for the weekend was the remarkable Prayer of Jabez, the little story in the Bible that's wedged randomly in between the massive lineage of a great family. As a group, we committed to start our days with this prayer and then see how God showed up in our lives. Personally, I chose to pray this prayer every day over my trip, and I can say, without a doubt, that the Lord absolutely granted my request. If you're interested, you can find the prayer here, in 1 Chronicles 4:10.

First stop: Rome, Italy (25 March - 28 March)
Accommodations: Camping Tiber Hostel. Awesome place! We loved it.
Main sights: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Ruins, Column of Trajan, St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City, Spanish Steps, Keats & Shelley Memorial Museum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Popollo
Blessings: Great hostel, met lots of interesting people, made a really wise purchase with 11 euro 3-day transportation pass, randomly found several gorgeous churches (Rome, you know?) and even walked into a beautiful service on Palm Sunday, incredible weather, 16 euro train to Florence, made friends with a girl Ana from Portugal on the way, also caught a gorgeous sunset on the journey.

Second Stop: Florence, Italy (28 March - 31 March)

Accommodations: Amanda's apartment. Absolutely loved staying with her.

Main Sights: The Duomo, Piazza Michaelangelo, Piazza de Republica, The Academia, Ponte Vecchio, The Leather Market, San Lorenzo Market, Pitti Palace

Activities: breakfast/coffee/gelato/lunch at "Hani's bar," dinner at Dante's (free bottle of wine for students! I must confess...this is the first time ever in my life that I've gotten tipsy, and it was only after a glass and a half), lunch at The Oil Shoppe, Beatles Cover Band at Be Bop

Blessings: got to see and be with Amanda, free and lovely place to stay, amazing food, saw Anthony Rapp (original Rent cast) at dinner, saw Michaelangelo's David (worth waking up early for to beat the crowd), more incredible weather, chance to relax with Jenny and Amanda after exhausting days in Rome, 23 euro train tickets to Venice.

Third stop: Venice, Italy (31 March - 2 April)

Accommodations: The Museum Hostel. Minor complaints, but overall a great place with a fun atmosphere!

Sights to see: Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, San Marco, Bridge of Sighs, Murano, Burano

Blessings: good weather (warm, but we had a couple of rain storms), met lots of interesting people at the hostel, didn't get too horribly lost (other than from the train station to the hostel), made a new friend Breanna who is an au pair in London, found a cheap and easy way to get to the airport, found some relatively inexpensive places to eat despite being an overall expensive city, found lovely wedding gift for Chris and Fiona.

Fourth stop: London, England (2 April 11:30 pm - 3 April 6:00 pm)

Accommodations: Stansted Airport. See here.

Fifth stop: Belfast, Ireland (3 April - 10 April)

Part I - Belfast City

Accommodations: Jenny's dorm room. Sleepover!

Main Sights: City Hall, Titanic Exhibition, Peace walls, Queens University of Belfast, Belfast Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum, Murals, Ship yard, Grand Opera House

Part II - Chris & Fiona's Wedding (7 April)

Accommodations: The Drumalis House in Larne. Beautiful place!

Details: The ceremony was held at Stormont Presbyterian Church, where Fiona's father is a pastor. The ceremony included a lot of traditional, beautiful Irish music, most of which was sung by Concentio, the church's choir. There was also a formal "signing of the register" in front of the congregation, during which more music was sung. Immediately following the wedding, there was tea and biscuits for all the guests, and Chris and Fiona were able to mingle and greet their friends and family before starting the photo frenzy with photographer Katy Cook.

The formal reception was about a 45-minute drive from the church, and was worth every minute in the car. First there was a cocktail hour where guests could curb their hunger with some small bites. Then, the dinner began in a different room, and included bread, salad, salmon appetizer, chicken breast stuffed with spinach and ricotta and wrapped in bacon, green beans, scalloped potatoes, lemon custard, biscuits, chocolate cake covered in raspberry sauce, ice cream, and finally, wedding cake. Drinks included water, wine (red or white), champagne, tea, and coffee. After a lovely meal and many heartfelt speeches, guests were invited to move next door to watch traditional Irish dancing. Lots of fun! Then it was back to the cocktail room for some swing dancing! This is where Chris and Fiona had their "first dance" as a married couple.

Once swing dancing was over, we were ushered back to the dinner room, where the tables had all been moved aside and a traditional Irish band was livening up the scene. Guests were encouraged to take part in learning some Irish dances, and when it was time for a break, the band provided some hilarious song, dance, and story entertainment. This went on until after midnight, when Chris and Fiona finally hit the road for Dublin, where they were leaving the next morning for their cruise around the Greek Isles. The band, however, was just getting warmed up; we stayed up with them until 3 in the morning, and rumor has it that they were still going strong at 5. These Irish sure know how to party!

Part III: Day Trip - Giant's Causeway and Coastal Ireland

Main Sights: Carrickfergus Castle, Giant's Causeway, The Old Bushmills Distillery, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede

And, one more little collage for you, highlighting the music of Ireland.

And that, in short, was my spring break. I am off to the Royal Opera House to see the Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella! This is why life in London is so spectacular!

Love,

lvp

Sunsets, Swans, and Smiles

2010-04-18T13:21:00.000+01:00

I know that I owe you a spring break highlights post. But to distract you from the fact that I haven't written it yet, I have some more photos for you.

Katie and I went down by the Thames last night to try and get some volcanic sunset photos. While the sunset wasn't anything extra ordinary (although I find the sky always remarkable), the reflection on the water and the swans made for some nice captures. And, besides, the company was superb.

Love,

lvp

"I came up now at Tower Hill, and there wasn't a tower and there wasn't a hill."

2010-04-17T16:12:00.000+01:00

There's this bloke called Bill Bryson. He's an American who lived in England for 20+ years and has written a collection of memoirs on this country he grew to love so much. Tori gave me one of these books, Notes from a Small Island, Christmas of 2008, long before I knew that I would be studying here. I started to read it this past Christmas, hoping it would prepare me for some of the culture that I was about to encounter. Today, whilst researching for a paper I am writing for my "British Life & Culture" class, I picked it up and decided to skim over it a bit and see if there were anything I could use. I'm not sure I can incorporate any of the material to my essay, but I thought I'd share a little segment with you. As a disclaimer, I want to add that this book is twice as funny after having lived here for a little while. Anywho. Have a laugh! Or as they say in Ireland, have a good craic!

I can never understand why Londoners fail to see that they live in the most wonderful city in the world. It is, if you ask me, far more beautiful and interesting than Paris and more lively than anywhere but New York--and even New York can't touch it in lots of important ways. It has more history, finer parks, a livelier and more varied press, better theaters, more numerous orchestras and museums, leafier squares, safer streets, and more courteous inhabitants than any other large city in the world.

And it has more congenial small things--incidental civilites, you might call them--than any other city I know: cheery red mailboxes, drivers who actually stop for you at pedestrian crossings, lovely forgotten churches with wonderful names like St. Andrews by the Wardrobe and St. Giles Cripplegate, sudden pockets of quiet like Lincoln's Inn and Red Lion Square, interesting statues of obscure Victorians in togas, pubs, black cabs, double-decker buses, helpful policemen, polite notices, people who will stop to help you when you fall down or drop your shopping, benches everything. What other great city would trouble to put blue plaques on houses to let you know what famous person once lived there, or warn you to look to your left or right before stepping off the curb? I'll tell you. None.

Take away Heathrow Airport, the weather, and any building that the architect Richard Seifert ever laid a bony finger to, and it would be nearly perfect. Oh, and while we're at it, we might also stop British Museum employees from cluttering the forecourt with their cars and instead make it into a kind of garden, and also get rid of those horrible portable crush barriers outside Buckingham Palace because they look so straggly and cheap--not at all in keeping with the dignity of her poor besieged Majesty within. And, of course, put the Natural History Museum back to the way it was before they started dicking around with in (in particular, they must restore the display case showing insects infesting household products from the 1950s); and remove the entrance charges from all museums at once; and bring back Lyons Corner Houses but this time with food you'd like to eat; and finally, but most crucially, make the board of directors of British Telecom go out and personally track down every last red phone box that they sold off to be used as shower stalls and garden sheds in far-flung corners of the globe, make them put them all back, and then sack them--no, kill them. Then truly will London be glorious again.

That's all for now. Katie and I are going to attempt to find a place to capture the Volcanic sunset. It's a gorgeous day in London! Hope it is gorgeous wherever you are.

Love,
lvp

Beauty from Ashes

2010-04-17T02:05:00.001+01:00

That volcano eruption is Iceland has thrown a wrench in a lot of students' travel plans. Most of them are trying to get back to London, or wherever they need to be, but all flights are cancelled around Europe. Thankfully, I got back before it happened, and most of my friends--with a few exceptions--made it back as well.

Interestingly, though, the ash from the eruption makes the sunsets more red than usual. Check out these photos to see for yourself.

I think Katie and I are going to try to find a good place to get some sunset shots tomorrow after we work on our papers. Hopefully I'll have some good shots to share with you later!

This is just one I snapped tonight from my window before walking out the door...

Bed time!

Love,

lvp

Because we are alive, so we've got to live life

2010-04-16T03:11:00.001+01:00

And if home is really where the heart is,

then we're the smartest kids I know...

because wherever we are in this great big world,

we'll never be more than a few hours from home.

And that's important, because I need to travel.

I've had this itching in my shoes since I was just a little kid.

You were on my mind at least nine tenths of yesterday;

It seemed as if perhaps I'd gone insane.

What is it about you that has commandeered my brain?

Maybe it's your awesome songs or maybe it's the way

You go straight to the top, you're not scared of getting squashed.

You know just when to jump off; you are so brave.

And then you run to the right; it seems there's no hope in sight.

And you drop down the tube that takes you right to level eight.

My rollercoaster's got the biggest
ups and downs
As long as it keeps going 'round, it's
unbelievable.

Love,
lvp

And what was said to the rose to make it unfold...

2010-04-14T01:47:00.000+01:00

Happy birthday to my amazing grandmother!

Today was absolutely lovely.

I went into Central this morning to have an early lunch with Jenny (and Karen) before they headed off to Paris. I met them in the city last night as well and took them to dinner at a favorite little spot of mine called Stockpot--where they serve cheap, delicious, traditional British food. I also showed them to Trafalgar Square, Westminster (for the night view), and Abbey Road.

After lunch, I went to Costa to have some coffee and get some reading done. I quickly got fed up with being inside, so I hopped on the tube and went a few stops away to Green Park, where I spent about an hour and divided my time being reading, people watching, and photographing.

Not wanting to leave the sea of daffodils, I walked the long way back to the tube station to head toward Angel, where I met Akua for an afternoon rendezvous. We went to a small cake shop where she spent nearly an hour (okay, ten minutes) trying to decide what kind of treat to get. She finally decided on the Curly Whirly (dark chocolate cake with vanilla bean icing) and I settled for the lighter Lemon Chiffon. Yes, we did have dessert before dinner. And yes, we did regret it about half an hour later when our stomachs were screaming at us for all the sugar we had just consumed.

Not to fear though: after some window shopping and dress-up time on Oxford Street, we met Dan and Eric (two fellows Queens students who are also studying abroad) for a healthy portion of Nando's. I had a chicken burger with cheese and pineapple, and it was the perfect end to the day!

I forgot to mention earlier that I called UPS this morning and scheduled my package (which has been in the UK for three weeks now) for delivery tomorrow! It could come anytime between 7 am and 7 pm, which means I have to stay home all day and wait for it. But this is probably a good thing, because I have plenty of laundry to do, and plenty of school work to work on. Not to mention...photos to play with.

Just for fun, and to further prove to you that spring has finally arrived in this country, I am showing you a few of my favorite shots from Green Park.

I want this to be my [future] husband and me one day in 50 years. Eating ice cream on a beautiful spring day in Green Park. Surrounded by daffodils...

Love,

lvp

Photographing Wordsworth

2010-04-13T01:20:00.000+01:00

I know you would probably like to see more photos from my holiday, but I am taking a break from editing for bit. I do, however, have another little treat for you in the meantime.

I have a bestest friend. Her name is Victoria. I call her Tori. She is my best friend for an infinite number of reasons, but mostly because she knows everything about who I am...and loves me anyway. We met in ninth grade and have been inseparable ever since--figuratively speaking. In literal terms, we have been separate more than we have been together since college started. This semester is, of course, the furthest and longest we have been away from each other. As much as I miss her, I never feel too far away from her, because we are connected by something much stronger than physical proximity. If I were John Donne, I may compare our friendship to a geometric compass--always connected no matter how far apart.

This is getting a bit creepy, I know. But all of this is to preface the photos I am about to share with you that are a gift to my best friend. Tori's favorite flower is a daffodil, and, as a surprise to me, the United Kingdom (Ireland and England, anyway) is inundated with them in the month of April. In a small way, they make me feel a little bit closer to her; I only wish there were a way to send them all to her. Photos, then, are the next best thing...or perhaps better, since they won't wilt.

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

Love,

lvp

"I long...to be at home wherever I find myself."

2010-04-10T21:56:00.000+01:00

I think that a place really becomes a home the first time that you leave it. Because it's the knowing you'll be back there--no matter where else you go--that makes it so significant in your heart. I have so many homes. England has become one of them.

And it changed so much while I was gone.

I stepped off the plane and immediately noticed the warm, no-jacket-needed weather, and wanted to jump around in circles from joy, but decided against it so as to not freak out airport personnel and fellow passengers. But I was extremely thrilled that the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and there were people on the tube in flip flops and tank tops.

Once I arrived at Stansted, I took the lovely and costly Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale (that's said "Tutnam," for all you Americans who were saying it phonetically), and then the tube from Tottenham Hale to Vauxhall. From Vauxhall, I was, theoretically, supposed to take the train to Surbiton. But I think I got so excited to finally be home that I completely distracted myself, hopped on a train that I thought was going to Waterloo but was actually going to Guilford, had to get off at the next stop which was Clapham Junction, and then hop on a train to take me to Waterloo (only because I couldn't find the board that told me where the next train to Surbiton would be leaving from). Eventually, I arrived at Surbiton.

I was astonished and overjoyed on my bus ride from the train station, as adults and children alike chatted and laughed to one another as though they had not a care in the world. It is truly remarkable how a little bit of warmer weather can do an entire city such good. The flowers are beginning to bloom, the trees are greening, and the daffodils are springing up--attempting to catch up with the ones in Ireland, I think. I am falling in love with this place all over again. And coming back to the hugs, smiles, and tea of Debs and Drew made me sure that I had found my way to home again at last. To think that I was only gone for two weeks! I cannot imagine leaving this place for good come June. Oh dear. Moving on!

I am in the process of editing pictures. I think I will be up all night. And then I have a paper to write (yes, Grandmother, I have my priorities quite straight), many emails to respond to, and a package to track down. Nevermind the unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, and social catching up that needs to be done.

Just to keep you busy while I am busy, here a few preview photos that I've played with so far...

Right, well, that's all for now. Should keep you temporarily satisfied!

Love,

lvp

*Blog title quote: Maya Angelou

Oh, Wow!

2010-04-09T22:14:00.000+01:00

I will post more about the past two weeks later, but just wanted to update and let you all know that the wedding was absolutely beautiful in every way. Fiona was gorgeous and glowing, Chris was handsome and happy, and we partied well into the night with genuine Irish music and dancing. I promise there are many many pictures to come! In fact, I think I'm going to be posting photos for the next month to make up for all the time I haven't been able to share them with you. Soon, my friends. Very soon.

I spent my last day in Belfast with Jenny, Rachel, and Tricia driving and walking along the coast. The views are indescribably beautiful. It is no wonder that the Giant's Causeway is the third most visited site in the world (second only to the Grand Canyon and Niagra Falls).

Having the chance to spend a week with people from back home (both Jacksonville and Charlotte) has been surreal and very special. I have found myself missing London and the people there quite a lot though, so I am looking forward to heading back tomorrow. First on my agenda when I return? Photos. Second? A paper that is due on Monday. Oh boy!

Love,

lvp

Keeping Time with Prince Albert

2010-04-07T00:26:00.000+01:00

I had an amazing day walking around Belfast with Jenny, Courtney, and tour-guide Fiona Haughey (not to be confused with Fiona Baker, who is getting married tomorrow).

We went to the gorgeous Belfast Botanical Gardens and the Ulster Museum, had some tea and scones, and then topped off the day at a traditional Irish pub with some Irish folk music!

Tomorrow is the day of the "blessed event," and we are praying for beautiful weather and all things lovely. I, for one, cannot wait to see two such amazing people get married to each other. Wuv...true wuv...

We'll catch up more soon!

Love,
lvp

Back "Home" in the United Kingdom

2010-04-04T17:59:00.001+01:00

Top 5 places to sleep in the London Stansted airport:

Pre-Security
5. Attached Burger King seating area on cushioned chairs.
4. Detached Burger King seating area on uncushioned bench.
3. Cushioned airport benches.
Post-Security
2. A table at F&B's Deli.
1. Tmobile internet hotspot with awesome chairs.

So, after 18 hours in this lovely place of refuge, Jenny and I finally got on our plane headed for Belfast. We were welcomed by chilly but nice weather, and a warm place to sleep...peacefully and for as long as we wanted to.

I woke up this morning around 11, and am still trying to remind myself that it's Easter Sunday. Jenny and I had a lovely lunch at The Mad Hatter...appreciative to be back in a country where we can read the menu and get free water!

Fiona (the bride) and Chris (the groom) came by Jenny's dorm a little bit ago to drop off Courtney. Everyone is gearing up for the wedding; there are many exciting times to be had! There is a tea party tomorrow morning with Fiona and her mom, and then a hen party in the evening. A hen party is the Irish equivalent to a bachelorette party, so that is sure to be a good time! Everyone is quite excited for the wedding on Wednesday. I am looking quite forward to the mini-Queens/USA reunion with Fiona, Jenny, Courtney, Rachel, Natalie, Tricia, and me. Yipee!

I am finally getting to do laundry after wearing smelly clothes for the last week, so I am off to switch my clothes to the dryer.

Love,
lvp

Venice...

2010-04-01T18:44:00.000+01:00

...is divine.

David, Gelato Waffles, and a Thunder Storm

2010-03-31T00:38:00.000+01:00

Today was our last day in Firenze with Amanda, and we certainly made the most of it. We went for an early morning coffee together before Amanda's class, then waited in line together at the Academia--where we got to see Michaelangelo's incredible David sculpture. Pictures are forbidden, but I do have photos of the "fake" David; they make copies of all the sculptures that were in front of the Piazza Signorio and moved the originals inside to keep them well-restored. I had no idea how large all of these sculptures were, but it is truly remarkable to see them in real life.

After the Academica, Amanda had to head off to class, so Jenny and I wandered into a bookstore for a bit and then met Amanda for lunch at the Oil Shoppe--a tiny but popular (and delicious) sandwich joint down a random side street. It was filled with study abroad students, likely because of the 5 Euro meal deal. A bit of a long wait, but it was well worth it!

We took a post-lunch rest and I helped Amanda figure out her SLR camera that she has been using very well despite the language being set to Italian. All is well now; we changed the language to English and I taught her how to adjust all the settings. We are excited for future photo adventures!

Amanda then had to go to class, so Jenny and I headed to the Pitti Palace gardens, but decided not to go in after learning it would cost 10 Euro to go in. Bummer. We happily wandered around Florence instead, and found converters for our UK cell phones (which were dead) and checked out the leather market--which smells divine.

Once Amanda was finished, we went for Gelato Waffles at "Hani's bar"(where we've now eaten three times since being here: lunch, breakfast, and dessert), then came back to rest before a lovely dinner at Dante's (also owned by Hani). We had a delicious meal with free wine! Cheers for being a student.

Following dinner, we stopped by the Be Bop's Beatles Night, then ran around the city for a little while and took some fun pictures. I cannot wait to share these moments with you!

We are waking up early tomorrow to have coffee together before Jenny and I set off for Venice. Will keep you posted!

Love,
lvp

"This is NOT Sparta!" -Amanda at 1:51 am.

2010-03-29T00:52:00.000+01:00

We spent our last day in Rome at the Piazza del Popollo, and enjoyed a relaxing walk along the street amidst all the palm-Sunday churchgoers.

After slight difficulty finding our platform, we got on the train to Florence. On the way, Jenny and I met and talked with a lovely Portugese girl named Ana. She told us when we got off the train that the 4-hour trip would not have been fun without us! I absolutely love the trains in Europe...you see such beautiful landscape and meet such interesting people.

We finally arrived safely in Florence and were greeted heartily by Amanda. Enjoyed a lovely little Italian meal in the Piazza del Republica before coming back to Amanda's charming apartment and celebrating her roommate's birthday!

Now? Sleep. More adventures await us in the morning. Good night!

Love,

lvp

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

2010-03-27T22:55:00.000Z

Jenny and I had a wonderful second day exploring Rome!

Highlights: Spanish Steps, Keats & Shelley Memorial House, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon (which was, of course, in the process of being restored and had a huge scaffold in the front of it), two beautiful cathedrals that we happened upon, and seeing Amanda La Rocco! We are spending one more day in the eternal city, and catching a train to Florence later in the afternoon. Amanda is meeting us at the train station when we arrive and we will continue our Italia adventures in Firenze!

I am journaling every night, so I will try to give you all more details once I am back in London and have a good long sit down with my laptop.

Love,
lvp

Grazi, Uscita, y Via

2010-03-26T19:20:00.000Z

Ladies and gents...

I have not time to waste telling you about this amazing city, but I will simply say that I nearly hyperventilated when I stepped out of the metro and was staring at the Colloseo. Jenny and I wandered around all day, and everywhere we walked, we found something else that was old, beautiful, and teeming with history.

Hoping to see Amanda tomorrow if we can find each other! Then Firenze-bound on Sunday for a sure-to-be-memorable several days with Amanda the Great in her "home," then onto Venizia. I can hardly contain my excitement!

I took nearly 400 pictures. And I cannot wait to share them with you.

Also, to quote a friend,"You and your brother certainly have the gene that draws you to climb mountains and cross oceans." All that's left to say, I guess, is...thanks Mom and Dad!

Love,
lvp

Movin' Out

2010-03-24T21:38:00.000Z

I have so much to say.

I have been writing blog posts in my head for days.

Unfortunately, I have not had a spare moment to sit down at the computer and actually type these poetic mind rants down. And, at the moment, I am taking a break from registering for classes, skyping with people, packing, and making last minute trip plans to tell you that the last week has been one of the most amazing weeks since my time here!

I have learned so much about myself over the past week, and have made some life-changing personal decisions that you are more than welcome to ask me about. I have met some of the most amazing people and have experienced British culture at its finest.

And tomorrow morning, I am off for a week in Italy with Jenny and Amanda. I have to pack first, I suppose. The trouble is, I have to also pack for the following week, during which I will be in Belfast, Ireland for Chris & Fiona's wedding! I am not traveling with my computer, but I will try to post updates when I find internet access. Expect loads of photos when I return from break, though!

Love,
lvp

You mess me around.

2010-03-18T18:18:00.001Z

When your day begins with "Build Me Up Buttercup" playing on repeat in your brain, you know it's going to be a good day.

I left today unscheduled so I could work on my 19th Century "close reading" assessment. Katie and I met at a new favorite spot of ours: Foodie. It's an adorable, quaint restaurant owned by Jo, Justin, and baby Erin. Krista, Katie and I happened upon it one morning when we were looking for a quiet place to have an early lunch, and it was the perfect find. In thinking of a distraction-free environment in which to write my paper, Foodie was the sensible option. So Katie and I met there this afternoon...and were pleasantly surprised to find that Krista and her mom, who is visiting this week, had the same brilliant idea!

Katie and I worked diligently for several hours until closing, and then meandered downstairs to pay and say goodbye. We talked with Jo and played with Erin for a few minutes, and amidst our conversation, discovered that Jo and her family also attend Hillsong London in Surrey! Jo encouraged us to find a way to come to the Colour Conference, and we told her about Passion. God is moving in mighty ways here. It is amazing to be a part of it all and to watch it unfold.

I'm heading out now to have dinner at Wagamama with the peeps, Jeff, and Jeff's family (who are also visiting this week). Then we'll probably head to the pub for a bit before we go our separate ways this weekend. Katie and Krista are headed to Scotland, and Erin and I are going to Sussex! I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to show you on Sunday.

Have an incredible weekend, dear reader.

Love,
lvp

[Re]cycled Conversations and Glimpses of Spring

2010-03-16T22:16:00.003Z

Today was a good day.

>>My alarm went off at 8 am. I half-consciously hit the snooze button over and over again until 9:30.

>>I showered. I blogged. I made a delicious sandwich.

>>I soaked in the sunshine and delightful weather on my walk to campus.

>>Class went by fairly quickly. Despite my love for this module (19th Century English Novel) and the teacher, I was having a difficult time staying awake, so the fast pace was a good thing.

>>Katie and I spontaneously decided to wander into Surbiton for some coffee and a chat.

To end my day, I should be finishing up a paper I have due tomorrow. But blogging just sounds like a better idea. So here I am. Talking to you, yet again...for the second time today. To quote a dear friend, "Procrastination is the devil."

I regret that I forgot to mention, in my previous post, another upcoming event to which I am looking forward in April. Sarah and I are going to see two Royal Opera Ballet performances: La Fille mal gardée and Cinderella. Pure bliss.

And now I will leave you with a passage that describes, to a blossomed extent, how I felt this morning upon waking and seeing the sun...

On that first morning when the sky was blue again, Mary wakened very early. The sun was pouring in slanting rays through the blinds and there was something so joyous in the sight of it that she jumped out of bed and ran to the window. She drew up the blinds and opened the window itself, and a great waft of fresh, scented air blew in upon her. The moor was blue and the whole world looked if something Magic had happened to it. There were tender little fluting sounds here and there and everywhere, as if scores of birds were beginning to tune up for a concert. Mary put her hand out of the window and held it in the sun. 'It's warm--warm!' she said.*

I actually said that this morning...although by "warm," I mean 50 degrees.

Love,
lvp

*extract from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Bigger than my body gives me credit for...

2010-03-16T10:43:00.002Z

I have so much to look forward to in the coming days, weeks, and months. I know what you're thinking: "Of course you do; you're in Europe." But some of what is coming up is better than I could ever have imagined.

On Friday, I am going to a pig farm resort (yes, that is an oxymoron) with the young adults from Hillsong, where I will be fellowshipping with some amazing people, worshiping my awesome God, and hopefully capturing these moments on camera. I know that there will be a bonfire (and Erin and I are going to teach these Brits about s'mores), games, mud, torches, beach party (in honor of the long winter), and a hot tub. Expect an update with lots of images!

I get back from that adventure on Sunday night, and have three days to get my life in order before I head out on Thursday, 25 March, for Italia! Jenny is flying out from Dublin and meeting me in Rome where we will spend a couple of days and hopefully see Amanda who will be there with her class. Then we're heading up to Florence to visit Amanda in her new home and see all the amazing sites she's been sharing via Facebook photos. Then it's off to Venice for a day or two! We fly from Venice to London on 2 April.

On 3 April, Jenny and I are hopping on a plane again...Jenny will be returning "home," to Belfast, but I will be visiting for the first time! I'm spending the week there for Fiona's wedding, and can hardly contain my excitement. Also in attendance from the big USA will be Courtney, Natalie, and Rachel! So, so, so looking forward to seeing these people for such a wonderful occasion.

I return to London on 10 April, and haven't exactly decided what I'm doing with my last week of break. I have some friends who will be in Paris, so I may meet up with them there. But I also have a lot of work to do, so I may try and be productive that week while also saving money. We'll just have to see! I am also debating whether or not to go to a Joshua Radin concert on 16 April in Oxford...

And then...eventually...14 and 15 May will be here. Passion. London. 2010. There are just. no. words.

I'm off out. Need to grab some food before I head to class. Thanks for listening!

Love,

lvp

E.M.J.

2010-03-15T12:07:00.000Z

Happy twenty-first birthday to my forever roomie, despite the ocean between us now and the unlikelihood of ever being roommates again. I love you, Emily, and I miss you something crazy. I know you're holding down the fort in our suite, though. Except for tonight. Go wild tonight, and have pictures to prove it.

The second best advice I ever got was from Tony Pierce.

2010-03-15T03:14:00.007Z

And this is what he said:

"'now, if you were teaching creative writing,' he asked, 'what would you tell them?'

'I'd tell them to have an unhappy love affair, hemorrhoids, bad teeth and to drink cheap wine, to keep switching the head of their bed from wall to wall and then I'd tell them to have another unhappy love affair and never to use a silk typewriter ribbon, avoid family picnics or being photographed in a rose garden; read Hemingway only once, skip Faulkner, ignore Gogol, stare at photos of Gertrude Stein, and read Sherwood Anderson in bed while eating Ritz crackers, realize that people who keep talking about sexual liberation are more frightened than you are.

listen to E. Power Biggs work the organ on your radio while you're rolling Bull Durham in the dark in a strange town with one day left on the rent after having given up friends, relatives and jobs.

never consider yourself superior and/or fair and never try to be.

have another unhappy love affair.

watch a fly on a summer curtain.

never try to succeed.

don't shoot pool.

be righteously angry when you find your car has a flat tire.

take vitamins but don't lift weights or jog.
then after all this reverse the procedure.

have a good love affair.

and the thing you might learn is that nobody knows anything---not the State, nor the mice, the garden hose or the North Star.

and if you ever catch me teaching a creative writing class and you read this back to me I'll give you a straight A right up the pickle barrel.'" - bukowski

And then he said,

"keep writing baby."

So I did.

In the Land of Academia

2010-03-14T12:48:00.001Z

Yesterday, we went to Oxford. And instead of conforming to the posh, elitist student image, we had a barbaric and uncivilized photo war. Here are the remains...from my eyes, anyway.

The end.

Love,

lvp

I love the miles between me and the city.

2010-03-14T12:19:00.002Z

Several times, I have been asked the question "What is your favorite part about London so far?" And the longer I am here, the harder it is to answer that question.

One of my favorite parts about being in London is not being in London. I live in Kingston-upon-Thames, which is a suburb of London, and a 20-minute train ride outside of the city. I have been into Central London numerous times now, but I definitely enjoy having a calmer place to return to at the end of the day.

Another thing I love about being here is the history that surrounds me and seems to permeate every aspect of life. You cannot walk down the street without acknowledging that past of the River Thames or old cathedral. There is something remarkable about being a small part of a place so old; it makes history seem much closer and the future unclear. Who would have imagined 400 years ago what Kingston would look like today, in 2010? And even if they had imagined, how would they have possibly fathomed this swirling together of commerce, history, entertainment, and culture? Perhaps, though, it is fair to say that, although visually it is obviously much altered, conceptually, this town isn't a whole lot different than in was in the 1600s, 1400s, 1200s...

Visiting places like Westminster Abbey, Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London, you develop a sense of awe at the vastness of time. And you realize that you are merely a speck, a splotch of paint on a massive canvas, a single letter in a thousand page novel, one drop of rain in an all-day storm. And yet, no matter how small your part, it is a part nonetheless. Take it away and the painting is severely altered, the novel is misread, the storm is less impacting.

I want to be clay in the hands of my Creator.

Love,
lvp

Every morning, the sunrise says 'I'm madly in love with you.'

2010-03-11T20:00:00.006Z

I was going to attempt to write about the sky. But instead, I think I will just show you.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Trafalgar Square

Camden Town

Thames Ditton

I don't know what you see in those paintings...but I see the image of grace, majesty, sovereignty, and omnipotence. And I am humbled in the presence of a God so big who loves so much.

Love,

lvp

The Wind in the Willows - An Allegory

2010-03-08T11:05:00.004Z

"'O stop, stop,' cried the Mole in ecstasies: 'This is too much!'

'Do you really think so?' inquired the Rat seriously. 'It's only what I always take on these little excursions; and the other animals are always telling me that I'm a mean beast and cut it very fine!"

The Mole never heard a word he was saying. Absorbed in the new life he was entering upon, intoxicated with the sparkle, the ripple, the scents and the sounds and the sunlight, he trailed a paw in the water and dreamed long waking dreams..."

*

"'There's real life for you, embodied in that little cart. The open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs! Camps, villages, towns, cities! Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!...'"

Another thing I love about the bus...

2010-03-05T00:05:00.002Z

...is that, sometimes, you see the same people.

And you wonder what their story is.

And you wonder if they remember you from the last time.

And if they wonder what your story is.

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

2010-03-04T02:12:00.002Z

The last week or so has been an absolute blur of events and activities. I could not possibly summarize all that has gone on since we last spoke, but I will attempt to update you on my recent growth and my current state of mind (which is, as usual, befuddled).

I am increasingly grateful for the people I have gotten to know during my time here. From the North Carolinian students I easily cliqued with to the amazing group of young people at church to the accepting friends of a friend, I am constantly overwhelmed, in the best possible way, by the individuals I am encountering. Meeting people in a place out of my comfort zone, in unfamiliar territory, was one of the aspects of being abroad that I was most looking forward to. And it has proved to be no disappointment. I wish that I had the ability to tell you how special and cherished each of these new friends are to me, but there simply isn't enough time. Just trust me when I tell you that, while those I am meeting here certainly don't replace the loved ones I left behind, they definitely make being away from home feel a little more like...well...home.

As much as I have discovered reasons why I love being here, especially at this time in my life, I was also harshly reminded, this week, of the realities of what it means to be an ocean away from family and friends. It is so difficult, in the face of tragedy, to merely be an onlooker who mourns and supports from afar. And yet, through the loss of a child, the compromised safety of a friend in Chile, the illness of a grandfather, the health complications of a friend, I am merely reminded of the tangible power of prayer. It is, perhaps, even when in the presence of these difficulties, the only thing that can really be done. And the greatest part about prayer is that the burden is no longer ours to carry; in this very act of sending requests to the Lord, He gently receives them and promises to fulfill His good work. I don't know about you, but I would much rather these trials be handled by a God whose love is bigger than all of it than to even think that little, tiny, insignificant I can take them on alone.

So, there you have it. For the second time in my life, I realized, treasured, and was thankful for the value of Home. This is not to say that I do not love my home, because I do. But I often get very caught up in exploring and getting away from what I know that I forget to appreciate what it is I am already blessed by. Rest assured, I am very aware of all that I have left behind in Jacksonville and in Charlotte. But I am also very aware of how important this time is to my growth and to my future. Learning the pain of being away and helpless from loved ones in a time of need is an inevitable life lesson, and perhaps I have encountered it earlier than others. In contrast, making lasting friendships with people who have had wholly different life experiences and cultural exposures than I have had is something that some people never encounter in their entire life.

I count myself richly, richly blessed to be here. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for those who have made and continue to make it possible.

Keep praying to our Mighty God, whose perfect love is casting out fear.

Love,
lvp

"Explore. Dream. Discover."

2010-02-27T00:08:00.004Z

Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.
Mark Jenkins

Forever my heart will sing…

2010-02-24T02:40:00.010Z

It is strange how the landmarks that you pass on a journey that signal you are getting closer and closer to the end of the road are the same landmarks that, at the beginning of your return journey, remind you that you are only just beginning and have quite a ways to go.

Last Wednesday, we had beautiful weather. It was still quite cold, but the sun was shining and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Upon seeing the forecast, I decided I would walk to school; I was accompanied by my trusty-lucky iPod who makes a great walking companion. I used the 30-minute stroll as a preparation for the rest of my long day, breathing in the fresh morning air, smiling at passerby, and mouthing the words to songs like Phil Wickham's "Safe" and David Crowder's "Shine". It was an exhilarating experience, and one that I am attempting to repeat every morning, provided the weather acts in my favour.

It was on my walk back home that evening that I had the thought I have shared at the beginning of this post. As I was passing the "New Born Coffee Shop" and the "Hand Car Wash" that, earlier that morning, had let me know I was only a block away from my final destination, I became aware that now, these landmarks signaled that I was scarcely two minutes into my delightful half-hour walk. Chris Tomlin's "How Marvelous" accompanied me on this leg of the journey, and I was struck, for the umpteenth time, by the majesty of the sky over the Thames.

I am reminded, solemnly, that I am held every day and in every moment by the same "arms that were nailed to the cross to break our chains and set us free."

I'm so unworthy, but still You love me.

In other news, I spent this past weekend in central London with EuroLearn, the study abroad program through which I came to Kingston. It was a great weekend during which I got to meet lots of other students who are studying in the UK for the semester. We also saw Billy Elliot (a highlight for me, as a dancer) and visited the Tower of London (one of my favorite places in the world).

Tomorrow I have to perform lines from Merchant of Venice for my Shakespeare class. I will be quite glad when that is over! On Thursday, I am going to meet up with a friend in Central, and on Saturday, I am going to Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle. Big plans, y'all.

Also: I booked my plane flights for Italy and Ireland for spring break, which is coming up quickly. Expect lots of photos in the coming weeks.

Love,
lvp

The Bus Diaries

2010-02-14T02:10:00.004Z

The bus system in Kingston gives me so many stories to tell. I think that I could write an entire memoir on my bus experiences. It is not easy to plan your life around a bus schedule. If you want to meet your friends in town at exactly 8:30, but your bus only comes at 8:05 and 8:35, you better plan to take the earlier bus and find somewhere to hang around, or take the later bus and be late. This is quite an adjustment for me—someone who is all-too-used to getting in her car at the perfect time to arrive approximately five minutes early, or late, depending on the destination. When I am relying on buses, I am somewhat out of control; there are times when I would like to ask the bus driver to take just a slight detour for my convenience, but then I very quickly remember that I am on public transportation, not a chauffeur service.

I was meeting some friends at the pub last night at 8:30. It's a 20-minute walk from my house that I can gladly make in the daytime, but will not do alone at night. So I planned to take the bus. As I near the turn that will take me to my bus stop, I see my bus turn and head toward the stop. I am far enough away that if I do not run, I will miss the bus (and it will be another 30 minutes before the next one comes). I start running, and praying that there is someone who has already queued the bus, since it is a request stop. If no one is there to get picked up, the bus will not stop. Thankfully, there are several people getting on, but I continue to trot toward the trolley. I jump on quickly with a smile, and a "thank you" to the driver. If I had not run and made that ride, I would have been half an hour late to meet my friends. Thank goodness I ran.

This afternoon, I was waiting for my bus, and a sweet old woman came to the stop dressed in the most awful outfit I have ever seen. I wish I could have taken a picture, but I did not want to be rude. She had a nice smile, which made up for the lack of fashion sense, I suppose. But when we saw our bus, she turned to me and said gently, "Do you mind helping me? I promise I won't make a habit of it, but I fell down today and am quite scared." I happily obliged, and linked arms with her as we walked to the bus. That is the end of the story, but I really enjoyed her assuring me she would not "make a habit of it," as though we met often or would be meeting again at this bus stop. I find the elderly British folk just as precious and precocious as the very young British folk.

Tonight, some friends and I went to see Valentine's Day at the cinema, which was interesting because our seats were assigned, like in a performance theatre, and they show more advertisements and commercials before the movie starts than they do previews. But, the point of this is my bus adventure following the cinema trip. I was waiting at the stop with several of my friends, but eventually all of their buses came and I was still waiting for mine. (Don't worry, parents; it was a brightly lit area with lots of people around). There was a cute old couple who were discussing whether or not their bus would be coming again, and since I knew the answer, I decided to help them out by sharing the information. They decided to continue conversation—which I found pleasant, because most of my similar experiences have been quite different; the conversation ends after the necessary discussion has been had. We first talked about nothing in particular, and then the woman asked if I was studying here from Canada. "The States, actually," I responded, and she said she could never tell the difference in accents. I assured her that I often couldn't either. When they asked me where in the States I was from, I said that I went to school in North Carolina. "Well, you don't have the North Carolina drawl," she answered, so I explained that I had grown up in Florida, near Georgia. This inspired the man to share his trip that he and his wife took to Georgia for a wedding; apparently the Georgian man their niece married was "horrible," because he did not offer him a drink. Then they rambled on about the dry county laws in Georgia, for which I could not speak.

And then, the inevitable question: "What do you think of Obama?" I smiled and, purposefully ambiguous, replied, "It's all very interesting." "Well that's noncommittal," the woman said to her husband. So I said, "What do you think of him?" He launched into his opinion of American politics and policies and did not stop talking until his bus arrived. I was amused. The man hugged me goodbye and kissed me on the cheek. His wife hurried him along, and they stepped onto the 71 toward Chessington.

Once on my bus toward home, I observed a young couple (cannot be more than 16 or so) that I had seen once before. They were holding hands, and the boy kept leaning over and kissing the girl on the cheek every few minutes. And the girl would turn and whisper something into his ear. And he would smile like a fool.

There are some things that the British don't know how to do, such as make sweet tea. But I think they do love quite well. At least as far as I can tell.

Love,
lvp

Thank Goodness for Google.

2010-02-09T21:39:00.002Z

There are no words to describe how much I love this commercial.

Please stand back. We are taking a professional photograph.

2010-02-07T10:55:00.003Z

PHOTO FRENZY!

The KU Study Abroad photo scavenger hunt

Team: Winning London

Rank: 2nd place

Photographer: Katie Shawcross

The girls at the start of the race!

The first landmark: The London Eye

Second landmark: Parliament

Third landmark: The Aquarium

We took a detour to Scotland...

Mapping out our journey.

Fourth landmark: Westminster Abbey

Fifth landmark: Big Ben

Bonus 1: Telephone booth!

These guys were not so cheeky about taking a photo with us.

Sixth landmark: Buckingham Palace (the creeper look was intentional)

Us in front of Buckingham!

Seventh landmark: Trafalgar Square

Eighth landmark: Piccadilly Circus (Eros)

Ninth landmark: Covent Garden tube station

Tenth landmark: Covent Garden street performer

Bonus 2: A Bobbie!

Eleventh landmark: Leicester Square tube station

Bonus 3: Double Decker bus!

Twelfth landmark: Leicester Square, Sean Connery's handprints

Bonus 4: "You know you're in London when...in five minutes time, the weather changes from rain to hail to sunshine and back again!"

Our final destination: The Tigertiger in Haymarket!

And who knows but that you have come [here] for such a time as this?

2010-02-06T00:50:00.001Z

One thing I really love about this country, and more specifically, the town of Kingston upon Thames, is that, when the weather is nice, you can randomly decide to stop by a pub or cafe on the river and have a drink with some friends.

There is something remarkable in this simple concept to me. Perhaps it is that I always feel at home when I am close to water, because I grew up in a city that is surrounded by it and built around it. Or perhaps it is that, for a change, I actually have the time to sit down for an hour on a whim. It is freeing, my friends: breathing in the air from the ancient River Thames, drinking Coca Cola from a glass bottle, laughing with friends I have known for a week but feel as though I've known my whole life. Between the six of us, there are three countries, three continents, three cultures, two languages, and an infinite number of life experiences represented.

I think, while observing the once again stunning London sky, "This is why I am here. This is why I knew, when I first met Europe, that we would meet again. This is what I came for." I feel nearly complete in this foreign land. This is a sensation of which I cannot make sense, except to say that I think I left a piece of my heart here years ago, and I am being allowed to borrow it, to glimpse it again, during my stay.

I belong here. Like fish and chips belong together, so do I belong in Europe. Perhaps not forever, but for right now. For this moment, I am right where I am supposed to be. And I am so glad that I listened to Someone other than myself when I made the decision to come here.

I just watched the film The Young Victoria, which was excellent. Now I think I am going to go read the book of Esther, which is the story of another incredible Queen.

Love,
lvp

You know the sunlight always shines behind the clouds of London skies.

2010-02-05T02:58:00.014Z

There is so much to tell, and so little space in which to do so.

I love it here. I wish I had a more concrete way of describing how I feel about this place; I wish that I could bring you all here to experience it alongside me; I wish that I could encapsulate in a photograph the array of emotions that I feel from being here.

But all I really have are words. And as much as I enjoy writing, I would really appreciate a teleportation device right about now. Words just aren't enough.

We started classes on Monday, and I am thrilled with both my courses and my schedule. For those of you who are interested, this is my timetable:

Monday, 1500-1600: Children's Literature lecture
Monday, 1600-1700: Children's Literature seminar
Reading list: Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, The Treasure Seekers, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Coram Boy

Tuesday, 1200-1400: 19^th Century English Novel lecture
Tuesday, 1600-1700: 19^th Century English Novel seminar
Reading list: Mary Barton, Villette, Adam Bede, Great Expectations, Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Wednesday, 0900-1100: Shakespeare: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Reading list: Merchant of Venice, Richard III, King Lear

Wednesday, 1400-1500: British Life & Culture seminar
Wednesday, 1500-1700: British Life & Culture lecture
Trip list: Brighton, Parliament & the Globe, National Theatre (to see London Assurance), Oxford, Stonehenge & Bath

If you're confused by the distinction between a "lecture" and a "seminar," just stop thinking so hard about it. The lecture is the main part of the class that may have anywhere between 40 and 100 students. The seminar, then, breaks us all into much smaller groups of about 20-25. It is here that we do discussions, turn in assignments, and get specialized help with the module. So far, I really like my teachers and have found them to be interesting, encouraging, and approachable.

I have so much to tell you about everything else I've been doing, but hopefully you've been following my adventures through my photos on Facebook or Flickr. This weekend (as in Saturday and Sunday) is sure to be eventful and full of pictures. On Saturday, we are going into Central (Central London, aka: what you all think of as London, with Parliament, the Eye, etc.) for a school-sponsored photo scavenger hunt around the city. Then, on Sunday evening, a few of my friends and I are going to ST. MARY'S (the mothership of my church back home) and then to a local pub to watch, of course, Superbowl XXXXIV. That's right: just because we're in another country doesn't mean we've completely forgotten our roots. Krista and Katie are big Colts fans, so I'll be adopting their Indianapolis devotion for the evening as well (seeing as how I don't have a real preference between the Colts and the Saints).

Love,
lvp

P.S. The song doesn't lie: the sky is the most beautiful I've ever seen.

How to Get Dressed: 101

2010-01-29T11:01:00.001Z

Note to self (and my readers): put long, warm socks on before putting skinny jeans on.

I am new to this whole skinny jean thing. But they work so well with my wellies!

Expect an update this evening on the central London walk around.

Love,
lvp

Kingston, Keane, and the K3

2010-01-28T01:58:00.002Z

Today was orientation, which I was so excited about since it meant I would meet some other students and hopefully learn my way around the campus (which is about a 30 minute walk from where I am living). The university is smack in the middle of the city—which I had decided to describe as a miniature London. It has everything you can possibly imagine, including all the charm and history a European city. I didn’t have a whole lot of time for photos, unfortunately, since we were on a fast-paced walking tour, but there will be pictures soon! I wish I could bring you all here, though, because a photograph will never do it justice. The town borders the River Thames, which thrills me, because anywhere with water feels a little bit like home. I love it here.

I met so many wonderful people, I could scarcely begin to tell you about all of them. But a good group of us—several of whom Karee had met at the airport upon her arrival—stuck together for most of the day, and then got dinner together at a nearby pub (which I enjoyed because they were playing Keane when we arrived) before going to The Slug and Lettuce (also a pub) for a free drink with the orientation staff. I, of course, drank the pitcher of Pepsi, which I had almost entirely to myself.

Before we could enjoy the food and drinks, though, we had to sit through several grueling hours of information sessions, leaving our brains mushy and our eyelids heavy. I nearly fell asleep during one of the sessions, but managed to wake back up before the following one—and a good thing too, because we covered SO many things that are so important. There is so much to do and to think about. It really is overwhelming. It’s hard too, because you have to go to different places around “campus” to accomplish different tasks—but the campus is spread across the whole city. They took us on a tour today, but I couldn’t tell you where anything is, because I was merely following the crowd! I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually, but to help myself out, I am venturing there tomorrow after lunch. I’m sure you will see some good photos from my walk tomorrow.

On a side note, apparently the bus system is a bit more confusing that it seems, or perhaps I just totally missed something. But Karee and I got on the K3 which, as far as I could tell, stopped at Long Ditton, which was about a block away from our street. Karee and I were both aware when we were getting closer, recognizing areas we had been before. And then…all of a sudden…we didn’t recognize anything anymore, and had no idea where we were. She asked the man sitting behind us whether or not the bus stopped at Ditton, and he said, in an American accent, that he did not know. We got excited that he was American, and talked to him briefly; he had only been in town for a short time but will be living here for the next three-and-a-half years. He was very impressed that we were studying abroad and wished us luck! Encouraged, we got off the bus that had obviously taken us too far, and waited for the same bus going back the other direction. We asked the driver to stop at Ditton, which he kindly did, and we arrived home safely…although quite cold.

An adventure is not an adventure if you don’t get lost or confused at least once! That’s my motto.

Love,
lvp

And after all this, won’t you give me a smile?

2010-01-26T18:54:00.002Z

Things I will miss about the USA (cont.):

Free grocery carts

Today, Karee and I both slept until about 13:00, because we both had quite rough nights, thanks to jet lag. After going to bed around 22:00, I woke up, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, at 1:30 am. I attempted to fall asleep back asleep with the help of music, but I had way too much turning in my brain. I caved and got on Facebook, and also watched an episode of the Tutors. Around 3:15, I saw Karee's status, saying that she was awake. And then around 4, I tried the iPod trick again. After 15 minutes, my sleep timer had shut the device off, so I just shut my eyes and forced myself into sleep, which didn't come until sometime close to 5 am. Needless to say, I hope tonight goes better than last night!

Upon waking, I couldn't wait to take a shower. But, unfortunately, that did not happen, because the hot water was not working. I thought maybe it would warm up after I got in the shower (not sure where my logic was in that decision), and ended up standing in the tiled cubicle shivering, before I heard a knock at the door. I got out, put on a towel, and was thrilled to see Anne, the angel! She asked me if I was having trouble getting hot water, and then showed me a switch in the cabinet that would make all the difference. However, the water still was not getting hot, because I think it needed to warm up. Needless to say, I did not get a shower and am hoping to do that as soon as I complete this post.

After making myself look somewhat presentable, Karee and I set out for shops…without a map, or any idea where we were going. We managed to get to Surbiton with the helpful directions from Anne, as well as the frequent advice from locals, who were so kind and patient. We made our way to the T-mobile and Carphone Wearhouse stores, where we were told something shocking: in order to purchase a phone contract for any length of time, you must have a UK bank account. One would think that they could merely use your American account to check your credit, which is all they really want the UK one for, but nope. So, Karee and I are still phoneless in London.

After the disappointing trip to the mobile phone stores, we went to the 99p store (like our dollar stores) to see what groceries we could find for cheap. There wasn't a whole lot in the food department, but we did get shampoos and the like. Then we went to Sainsbury's for the rest of our groceries, which was quite an experience! You have to pay for the grocery carts, but, thank goodness, can get baskets for free. Everything is in smaller containers, lasts for much less time, and is more expensive (or at least it seems to be). But, today, I spent a grand total of £17, and got quite a lot for my buck, I think.

I am going to work on my budget soon to figure out how much I should expect and plan to spend each week. I have a feeling that transportation, groceries, and phone bills are going to get pricey…

Karee and I are going to watch some Harry Potter tonight after we eat some supper. Seems like the right thing to do in London.

Love,
lvp

Take offs and landings.

2010-01-25T22:10:00.003Z

It is here. I am here.

It seems so surreal…that this dream I've had for so long is actually unfolding before me.

I still don't really believe that I am in England. Partially because it feels so right—I feel like I'm in a place I've been all my life, or at least a place that I've been before, not in a brand new home with people I have never met in a completely unfamiliar town—and partially because my commitment to not have expectations is not allowing me to think very far forward. Once I was on the plane, all I could think about was making it through customs. Once I was through customs, all I could think about was finding the representative who was picking me up. Once I was picked up (after a 45 minute wait), all I could think about was seeing my new and temporary home for the first time. And now, after meeting my wonderful landlady Debs, her kind partner Drew, and my awesome housemate Karee (as well as Anna, a student from last semester who is leaving tomorrow), I can scarcely think of anything else. If this is all my trip consisted of, I would be content.

I have learned so much in 12 hours. I have eaten sweet toffee pudding, which is nothing like American pudding, but more like a cake soaked in a very sweet sauce. I have stuffed more clothes into a tiny drawer than I ever thought possible. I have discovered that a 2-hour (no more, no less) nap shortly after arrival can make all the difference in dealing with jet lag (it is now nearly 22:00, and I will be going to sleep as soon as I finish this post, thus putting me on a normal sleep schedule straight away). I feel this strange, odd connection to the former tenant of my, lovingly dubbed, "little room" (which is about the size, if not smaller, of my bathroom in my Queens dorm); Anna tells me that Ruthie "was hardly any taller" than me, and everyone is quite certain she was also a Literature major. I have learned that in order to properly flush the toilets, one must lift the lever after pushing it down.

Tomorrow, we are going exploring around Kingston and shopping for essential items. I will be taking numerous photographs, weather permitting, so just be patient a bit longer. Before I go, I have a list…

Things I will miss about the USA:

Sweet Tea
Driving (without traffic)
Cookout
Ice
Free refills
My iPhone
Dryers (for laundry)
Target

Things I won't miss about the USA:

Large food portions
Driving (with traffic)
Public transportation system

That's all for now. I'm falling asleep on my computer.

Love,
lvp

Indescribable.

2010-01-13T15:36:00.002Z

Please pray for the nation of Haiti.

For a first hand account from an American missionary in Haiti, click here.

Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true.

2010-01-07T19:45:00.002Z

When I first went to Europe in the summer of 2004, I knew that I would be back. In fact, I began to imagine living there, and I cannot believe that at the end of this month, I will be living there—as a student, as a visitor, as a tourist, as a friend, as a child, as an adult. There are so many aspects of studying abroad that I am looking forward to, but what I am anticipating the most is personal growth. One morning in London, when I was there as a 15-year-old, my mom woke up with a terrible headache. With much anxiety, I ventured to the nearest pharmacy (which was about a block away from our hotel), asked the pharmacist for migraine medicine, paid for it in pounds (or maybe Euros), and walked back to the hotel with a skip in my step and a newfound sense of confidence. This was a big step for the girl who couldn't even stand to talk to the pizza guy on the phone.

I don't really want to have too many expectations, since those usually only lead to disappointment. But I am hoping to grow a lot over these five or six months. I know that I will be challenged, encouraged, pushed, discouraged, excited, pressured, loved, hated, refreshed, renewed, and energized in my decisions, my faith, and my situations. I am both ecstatic and apprehensive, but it is usually in my most fearful moments that I really see development occurring in my life. This summer, I worked at Camp Crestridge in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I signed up to spend three months there without knowing a single person, and certainly without having any idea what exactly I was getting myself into. Of course, I left in August with some of the greatest friends I have ever had, and with a piece of my heart inside the camp gates. Little did I know that this experience was actually preparing me for the adventure on which I am about to embark. I am nervous about the newness and foreignness of living in London, and yet, I am not nervous at all. Because I know that Someone has gone ahead and paved the way for me, and that all I have to do is live—seeking the Lord's heart daily and chasing after what He has for me.

So here we are. In 17 days, I will be getting on a plane that is headed for London. I will get picked up by the Meet & Greet service from Kingston University, where I will be studying for the semester. I will be taken to a house in Thames Ditton, where I will meet the family and roommate I am to live with over the next few months. I will attend several days of orientation activities, including a trip to Brighton, during which I will begin to create the friendships that, in no time at all, will seem as though they had always existed. I will also be getting involved with and attending St. Mary's Church, which is the mother ship of churches all over the world, including River City in Jacksonville and City Church in Charlotte.

The possibilities are endless, and they are even more so because I serve a God who infinitely and unconditionally loves, and has things for me so far beyond what I could ever imagine for myself. I want to be a blank, open book in His hands. I want to be renewed, moved, and used by Him every single day. And thebest part? I believe that I will be.

I hope you can enjoy reading and following along with my journey as I skip, stumble, and stand back up again. Thank you for all that you are.

Love,
lvp

Music recommendation of the day: Matt Nathanson, Some Mad Hope (album)