Days 43-47 a.k.a THE MOST STRESSFUL WEEK so far...

Day 43: WEDNESDAY

February 16th

This was the day of unrest. I woke up, got ready, had to go to a museum, come home, do my FOUR sketches and writeups for each one (including research for each painting), then assemble them all and turn it in before dinner. THEN, I had to prepare my presentation on the Baroque Era for Fine Arts class (which was due the next day) AND start writing my talk and preparing my primary lesson for Sunday. UUUUGGGH!! Whoever thinks study abroad is easy, seriously, think again. This day was crazy hectic. I don't even want to think about what MARCH is going to be like; every weekend we're in a different country (Italy, Wales, Ireland, France, and Belgium). So I have no idea when I'm going to have time to do anything!!!

Day 44: THURSDAY

February 17th

So, I finished my fine arts powerpoint at like midnight-ish and just crossed my fingers that it would go okay. I think it did.. I won't know till Thursday. Then we had religion, blech. But he announced to us that we wouldn't be having class this week and since we're gone every Thursday in March, we don't have class till the 24th! Woohoo!! Then, I [kinda] worked on my talk.

Day 45: FRIDAY

February 18th

HAMPTON COURT PALACE AND DOWN HOUSE!!!!

This day pretty much made the week worth it. We took our bus to King Henry VIII's Hampton Court which was so BEAUTIFUL! SO much fun! I believe the best part was when we got audioguides and they came with velvet ROBES that we could wear!! It was so legit :)

Unfortunately, we had to take them off once we went into the gardens, but at least we felt cool walking around "Base Court" with them on. We were basically royalty; no big.

The gardens to this place were incredible. And that's saying something considering it's still winter! They had awesome looking trees and green green grass and fountains and, apparently, the oldest grapevine in the world!! It was dead, though. But we still had a jolly good time have a promenade around the plaza. So of course we all wanted pictures in the garden in front of the Palace. So, the jumping ensued. Oh. Boy. 

 

Take 1: Emily's a little confused on what to do




Take 2: Brittani attempts to model while jumping



Take 3: Now we all just fail...



Take 4: ...as I decide to headbang; the moment called for it



   

Take 5: A little slow on the uptake, Em?

After Hampton Court, we headed to Down House where Charles Darwin used to live. Now, if you've never been to England or seen British money, you wouldn't understand how big of a deal this is. Charles Darwin, along with The Queen, of course, is on their 10 pound bill. As much as we love him and think he's really awesome for everything he contributed to life as we know it, yeeahh, they do but times like a billion. So his house is still in mint condition from when he lived in it except for certain rooms that have been turned into part of the museum. However, everything still has that English Countryside feel. The house was lovely and quaint and you could go almost everywhere. Even their backyard where the greenhouse and sandbox is. It was so pretty :) I was so wrapped up in how awesome it was that I almost forgot to take a picture. So this is the only one I got, it's of the backside of the house:

 



Day 46: SATURDAY

February 19th



Everyone got up and went to Camden Market this morning, however, I just wanted to sleep in. And that's exactly what I did. My intentions were to finally get ready and make my way to the Tate Britain, but then I found my self procrastinating on Stumble.. yeah.... So Amanda came up and invited me to go on a walk with her and Natalie. Which was strange. But I accepted. And we went on the Lamsbeth to South Bank walk. This was cool because it ended on the Strand and we got to see the Twinings Original Tea Shop (Twinings is the company of the Royal Family). So this was sort of a big deal, the place was a little hole in the wall place and smelled divine!! But they were closing so it was kind of a bummer. Then we got food and came home and I finished working on my talk!! BAAAHHH!!!!

Day 47: SUNDAY

February 20th



I was so nervous for this day. I'll be honest, I haven't given a talk in sacrament meeting since I was like 14. And it didn't go so great. Nothing horrible, just not awesome. And to make matters worse, we had to take a different route to church because our normal line, Central, on the Tube was closed. So it was a long, conplicated process getting there and we left late. Fortunately, sacrament meeting is last in our ward, so it was okay. We got there on time, too!!



Primary was first and I just had Daniel again - who is adorable and I want to steal him. I gave him the lesson on the Day and the Night and we made a little craft :) He's so precious!!

Then, the innevitable 3rd hour: Sacrament. I was so nervous, I wasn't even thinking about the songs or the sacrament; just in this weird butterfly-filled trance. I tried to calm myself down because I was going last and I'd practiced AND I had just given a presentation on Thursday. I CAN DO THIS!!!

Laura spoke, then Shelbi (who I LOVE because she went like 5 minutes over, giving me just the perfect amount of time), and then the rest hymn, and then ME!!



DREEEEEAAAAAAAAD!!!! I was so nervous and I felt like I talked WAAAY too fast and I just tried to breathe. The one thing I was happy about was that I remembered to look up every once in a while! AND I made them laugh when I told them how the house I've lived in for 15 years has been in 3 different stakes and 5 different wards. And that the street it's on consists of two separate wards and has the two bishops and 3/4 of the bishoprics on that street. Yeah, gotta love M-Town.

So, I think it went well because A TON of people afterwards came up and thanked us three for our wonderful talks and were surprised at how well they all went together (even though we didn't write them together AT ALL). Amazing how that works out sometimes, yeah? I was just ecstatic for it (and this whole week) to be OVER!



Then, the young women's president, Eva, invited us to her house for dinner one week after church! Her husband is Muslim so she said he would stay home all day and cook for us! YAAAY!! We also got invited to this little girl, Lauren's, baptism in a month. It's at our ward building but we have nothing going on that night, so we're gonna try to make it :) I love our ward and I'm going to be sad to leave it in 50 days. Apparently there's only 5 more Sundays left with them. It's gonna go by so fast.