The End of the Road

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

To me, this just describes our trip

This has been something I have been putting off for weeks. But this is my final blog post.

Firstly, I would like to share a little bit of what I have learned with the world:

1.     Things always work out. It may not be in the way you wanted it to, but it WILL work out.

2.     Be respectful of other cultures and put aside all prejudice and seek what other cultures have to offer. Be humble and learn.

3.     Nothing good happens after midnight.

4.     Obey rules. Rules are there for a reason.

5.     Forget about getting fat and eat as much food as possible!

6.     Trust in your gut. If you have a bad feeling, get out of there.

7.     Wear good supporting shoes.

8.     Pray always and leave time for scripture study.

9.     Learn to laugh at the silly things instead of stressing.

10. I know you want to see everything, but don’t forget to watch where you’re walking.

11. Don’t be afraid to be rude to ward off unwanted peoples. Your safety is more important than hurting their feelings.

12. Always know exactly where your passport is. And carry an umbrella, it doubles as a weapon. 

13. Walk like you own the place! Confidence is key to safety.

14. Take tons of pictures! Don’t even delete the blurry ones!

15. Enjoy it! Live life and have fun in a safe way! It is an awesome experience that you will often reflect upon. And be smart!

It's story time...

Before I end, I would like to share two stories: one that began my adventure, and one that ended it. 

The morning of my interview to get into the program:

Sweating under the heat of my coat, hands burning from the cold as they tightly gripped the handlebars. Can’t be late, repeated through my mind as I booked it up to campus on my awesome purple bike. I knew I already was late. After locking up the bike with numb stubs as hands, I ran across the snowy pavement to my destination.

7 minutes late.

Breathe. Must Breathe. I sneak up to the door and try to listen over the thudding of my racing heart. The interview before me had run over! A brief victory dance followed.

I wasn’t out of the woods yet. I still had to do the interview. Thank goodness my nerves had been eaten away by my adrenaline. However, this allowed me to be myself whom I did not think was an advantage at this time. I walked out of the building severely downhearted and called my mom.

The next day at the gym, I nearly fell off the cardio machine when I saw an email that told me all my dreams would come true (basic paraphrasing). And I called my mom.

            I honestly think that I was supposed to have my adrenaline pumping for that interview. I think it allowed my nerves to be calm and for me to really just be the crazy me that I am.

My last day in Europe:

            Flight from Rome to London: Run to the train station to get on the shuttle? Check. Get on the plane; sit next to extremely attractive Italian boy? Check. The plane is late landing? Check. The Coach from that particular London airport to Victoria Train station is late? Check. There’s a huge accident at the main roundabout that causes an hour delay? Check. Your plane takes off in 2 hours and you have to run for your extra luggage, haul it to the tube and take about an hour of a tube ride to get to Heathrow airport? Check. Are you running like there is no tomorrow, carrying 20 lbs. on your back and dragging 70 lbs. behind you? Heck yes. You sprint through the airport with only 30 minutes until the plane leaves… you realize check-in closes an hour before…. Yeah… You didn’t eat breakfast that morning and now you can’t breathe?

You try to figure out how to get home to your family while you still can’t breathe and you are all by yourself in the middle of one of the world’s busiest airports….

You pass out….

You wake up on the floor of one of the world’s busiest airports with an AED on you and oxygen on your face surrounded by semi-cute British emergency crews.

They accidentally called in your black out as “There is an America girl dead on the floor of Heathrow Airport” and you just caused the biggest panic of the month.

And all you can say is, “I don’t have health insurance.”

They take pity on you and set you up with a ticket for the next plane out the next day. They give you a good price at a nice hotel. You roll up to the hotel in an ambulance. The cool paramedics that are now your friends escort you in. You walk into the fancy hotel, just having stepped out of the back of the ambulance, looking like a double-decker bus just ran you over with your shirt cut from them putting the AED on you.

The next day, you’re 4 hours early for your flight. You get a complementary “Sky Couch” for the long plane ride home (probably because they think you're some unstable American). And you have the best flight of your life.

Your mom never lets you go anywhere by yourself again. Check.

Does this story sound familiar to you? No? Oh wait, that’s because this kind of stuff would only happen to me. It has taken a while, but now I can properly laugh that this situation. I learned a lot and I am grateful that even though I felt that I was very alone in the world at that point, I knew that my Heavenly Father was mindful of me and that my Savior was there to comfort me.

I know that things happen for a reason, even if we wish they didn’t. But we can take that bad situation and make it into a learning experience. I know that the power of prayer gave me the strength that I needed to get through this low point of my trip. This experience has made me a more independent and a stronger individual. My testimony has grown so much because of this time I spent abroad. I love the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I’m grateful that I wasn’t actually dead on the floor of Heathrow airport… and that no one tried to do CPR on me… Even though one of the policemen was pretty cute. 

How do you say “Goodbye” to the greatest, most educational time of your life?  The answer that I have found is, you don’t. Even though you are not in that moment, that moment is in you. This experience will be something for me to treasure for the rest of my life. The people I shared this with will always have a meaningful place in my life. And thank you for caring enough to read about my life. Maybe I will blog again in the future!

Until next time... 

Just a few of my favorite pictures. 

Oh, time...

every sign needs a mustache

Love the green... 

I have conquered!!!!

Pure contentment 

When in Rome... Eat Gelato!

When in Rome...

• get a purse strap tan
• eat as much gelato as possible
• go and people watch at a local cafe
• haggle with everything you buy
• be wary of creepy Italian men
• eat more gelato
• talk to other American tourists (they're nice)
• learn how to be mean to ward of the guys that try to get you to buy roses
• it was hard, but now I'm a pro: "NO!" and run away
• when the birds poop on you, just laugh
• eat gelato
• give a group of tourists a spiel about the Pieta 
• eat gelato
• get lost in the streets (in daylight)
• find someone that speaks English to point you the right way.
• eat regular ice cream to remind you how good gelato is
• Watch the sun set over the river.
• Go see some historical ruins
• Walk by a few masterpiece sculptures
• enjoy the architecture
• buy a soccer jersey of a player you don't know (remember to haggle)
• stand in the Sistine Chapel until you can't look up anymore
• reflect on how gorgeous the Sistine Chapel was and go through again
• throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain
• Take a moment to realize how amazing your Rome experience has been.
• Oh! I almost forgot! EAT GELATO!!!! 

I love these little airport things!

Senate Forums

The real senate floor!!!

They have cool drinking fountains.. 

I saw someone else do this pose, so I copied her. 

Flirting with Italian boys = twice as much gelato

The climb up to the dome, yes, my camera is straight. 

The view from the top of St. Peter's Basilica

AHHH! I saw the Pieta in real life!!!

...... 

speechless. 

Spanish steps!!!!

Pantheon

best...thing...ever

putting a two pence coin to good use in the Trevi Fountain!

Dear Future Husband, Let's get married in the LDS Rome Temple and then take pictures at the Colosseum afterwards. Love, Your Future Wife 

Coolest Italian=Ottavio

It's just SO Italian 

Three Cheers for the Queen!

The British know how to party when it comes to celebrating the Queen. It's like 4th of July on steroids! Everyone has a Union Jack that they're waving around and there are people walking around with masks of the royals on their faces... I thought it was all pretty silly at first. After all, the Queen is just a figurehead, right? Wrong! I learned more about her role as a leader and representative than I ever thought I could. And by seeing the love and respect the people held for her, I too learned to appreciate her and what she represented over the few days of Jubilee.

This Jubilee wasn't your ordinary royal ball, it was the Diamond Jubilee. This has only occurred once before in history. And I was there for the second time it happened. Sunday was the first major celebratory event. What better way to kick off a the festivities than a massive parade down the Thames River with hundreds of barges? After Church, a group of us headed down to the river with our packed dinner, and waited a couple of hours for the queen. We moved around to a few different spots. We settled next to a bench that was raised. Two of my companions got a ledge on the side of the bench, and I shoved my way in front of the bench for a better view. We were determined. It was just a really funny situation. One of those where you just start talking to the people around you. You all have something in common: You're all standing in the cold on your tip-toes, straining to see an 86 year-old woman that for some reason, you adore. And that is what makes this fun. It's the Police Officer directing pedestrian traffic that instructs everyone to move to the right and "keep smiling" as they do so. It's not about fighting crowds for a silly reason. I went because I wanted to have an experience. I got to (literally) immerse myself into Britons and their culture at its best. I was surrounded by Britons that were proud to be British. Gathering together under one flag, and one non partisan leader. 

It was this appeal that had me coming back for more. 

The next night, despite having a chunk of history reading due the next day, a group of us went to Hyde Park to watch a broadcast of the concert. I had been there in front of Buckingham Palace when they were setting up. And there was no chance of getting there, so they set up viewing sites. But this was pretty epic. It was one of my favorite nights in London. There was a huge stage and screens in this park as people gathered to watch. We were just sitting down chilling on the blanket when it began... but three minutes in, we had made our way to the middle of the crowd to dance. We didn't know half of the performers, but we cheered with the rest of the Londoners and had a ball! And, oh boy, when Elton John played "Crocodile Rock" we went at it. But it was Paul McCartney that stole my heart! It was one of those moments, when you just have to feel it to know it. You feel the vibe that everyone around you has as you sing the words to the song. In that moment, you think about how you feel and you know that this is a significant moment that you'll always remember. It was like we were actually at the concert. It was the best concert I have never been to. 

To end this hard rocking concert, Prince Charles got up and said a few words. But to conclude... he had everyone give three cheers for the Queen. "Hip hip!" "HOORAY!!!" "Hip Hip!" "HOORAY!!!!!" "Hip Hip!" "HOORAY!!!" Oh boy did I join the ranks in this one. It was just such a precious moment. The cute little fragile Queen was standing there and I just wanted to cheer her on! And in the most stereotypical way you can cheer on a Monarch. It was just so cute and British. I got all into it with my fist punching the air to each "hooray!" It was fantastic. But, the real finale was in the fireworks, which could be seen from where we stood. When I got back to the centre, I found a group of girls singing Katy Perry's "Firework" song and saw two ladies doing a dance to the singing. I immediately recognized this dance from the Wii game Just Dance. Instinct took over and I jumped in to take the win. Naturally, I had the dance memorized too. Not that I'm the reigning Just Dance Champ in my house or anything. (I am.)

The next day was the Royal Procession through the streets amongst other events the Queen attended. This day, our group actually went into the Churchill War Rooms. This was the cramped underground space where great decisions and pivotal moments in WWII took place. It was fascinating to learn more about Churchill as both a person and a politican. And to see the conditions and the fears that they must have had at the time. It helped me to get a clearer glimpse at the pressure they felt and the foggy future they faced. After this, I walked out and realized that it was about time for the Queen to leave the Houses of Parliament, this happened to be two minutes from where I was standing. So, being the pushy American that I am, I elbow my way to the front just in time to see the Queen in her carriage followed by Will, Kate and Harry. It was pretty awesome. Upon my return to the Centre, we had a "tea" party. We watched the activities the Queen participated in through the day while eating scones with jam and clotted cream. It was pretty fun.  

And with that, this remarkable event was over. 

I am really glad I got to participate in these few days. It was neat to see the different people and especially witness their love for the Queen. 

Nothing like standing in the cold by the Thames to see the queen...

We were determined to get a good view... (thanks to our friend on her boyfriend's shoulders that took this pic!)

It's the queen! (in white)

Hey guys... WE JUST SAW THE QUEEN!

With Amanda, Jared, and Lauren at the Concert broadcast in Hyde Park!

I walk out of the Churchill War Rooms and decide to go stand to see the Queen in her carriage down the street... 

Our "tea" party food

The first carriage has the Queen, Prince Charles, and Camilla... The next one has William, Kate, and Harry... 

Ah, The Luck of the Irish

Dublin: The City of Green

       Literally, everything in Ireland is green. Their lampposts have clovers on them and they have pubs everywhere. So, why not travel there for a weekend?

       It was fabulous. We found our way to our airport (I'm basically a GPS). We land in Dublin and realize that there is an Irish language (What?!). We find the right bus (they give you change for a 20 in all euro coins, it's like winning at the slot machines). Then we don't know where our B&B is... but find it! The Irish are pretty nice if you can understand what they're saying. And after settling in, we head out to find dinner and end up listening to different pubs' Irish music (it's fantastic). 

       The next day, we're total tourists. We go to all the common places. Trinity College, see the Book of Kells (pretty legit if you can fight off the crowd to the case). Loose Amanda.... Find Amanda at the B&B. Wander to Dublin Castle (saddest excuse for a castle ever). Then we go to evensong at the St. Patrick's Cathedral.... scariest experience of my life!!!!!! There was maybe 10 people there for the service. And the cathedral is mainly lit up to the standard of candlelight. So it's dark and huge. Every sound echoes through out the entire cathedral. The ceremony goes and I took the opportunity to seriously ponder the ceremony while sleeping (it's what happens when prayers are pretty songs that last ten minutes). AFter it's over, you're supposed to sit until the organ is done playing. And a little background, we had just read a creepy short story about organ playing ghosts... and we say an empty organ off to the side... and there was no one playing it... but there was music. This was the first sign. While we're sitting there, the organ player goes INSANE! Where ever this creature was, it was possessed or something, because I have never been so scared in my life. I think that Dracula was going to fly down from the rafters and eat me. It's the haunted mansion music x100! Amanda and I just grab the other's leg with horrified looks. And it lasts, FOREVER!!!! We're just sitting there in total terror, trapped in a dumb little pew by this little wooden door! It ends and we book it out of there and get out and just start laughing at how ridiculous this experience just was. But we walked to a park and ended up talking to some local kids that were really funny. They had us say "Apples and oranges," then they'd laugh, and we'd have them say "Ireland" and we'd giggle. They also told me that they thought I was "Posh" when they first saw me.... YES! Best compliment ever! I felt so cool and trendy! 

After having a restless sleep (thank you creepy evensong... I didn't know church could be so scary), we went off for a trip to the other coast! We loaded on a coach and went from Galway to Moher. I am officially in love with the countryside. There is something more rugged about them than in England. We made cute stops along the way... at some cliffy beach... then a pub... then the CLIFFS OF MOHER. You may know these cliffs from their appearance in the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. They were pretty awesome. There were so high up and so pretty too! IT was just crazy... We followed the crowd and went to the side of the trail where there (*don't read this part, Mom) was not a safety wall. And it was soooo cool. IT was just beautiful. You couldn't see where the sky met the water. It was quite something. Then we stopped to try to find a leprechaun and make a wish. Then at some really old stones too. After our return to our B&B, we went to a pub to sit a listen to music... it was so Irish and cute! 

       On Saturday, we discovered that the Irish luck... was not necessarily the good kind. After pickin' up a souvenir, Amanda and I met up with Jared at a museum and looked around. And then hiked to a park with everything we needed to live on our backs. We ate lunch and ended up heading the wrong direction in what seemed to be the biggest "park" in the world. And we thought we were going to be late for our plane. So we book it back the way we had just walked. We finally get to a bus stop and we're exhausted. And the sweet bus driver lets us know he's not the right bus but takes us to another stop for free. I did't understand half of what he said, but I think he was really nice. We pay to get on this express bus, and three blocks later, it breaks down. Then we have to go to another stop and get on another bus and hope that we get to the airport on time. We get there... and go to the wrong side of the airport and have to run to the other side of the airport.... but we make it on time... Everything else went smoothly. I have less respect for Disney Channel's Luck of the Irish.... 

       Overall, Ireland was fantastic. Our coach tour guide was hilarious and we just had a blast. I learned a lot about myself and about understanding thick accents.... It was good to get back home to London though. Especially because it was Jubilee Weekend! Imagine 4th of July having been build up for a decade and finally let out in a huge explosion of British pride! That's in my next blog! For now, wish me luck on my finals! (But not the Irish luck.. because that can go either way)

Have a great week!