Week 2

OK, I am recovering from a Skype scare wherein I got online to await a call from my Katie friend and changed my status on skype from the little green on sign to one that had a smiley face on it to reflect my happy feelings over the fact that I would be hearing from one of my dearest. Apparently the smiley face doesn't mean "I'm Happy" it means "crazy men all over the world or perhaps just from Italy please call and chat with me right now" because the phone started ringing. I couldn't figure out why Katie had given herself the skype name "mateo" so I chatted her first. I didn't freak out until Katie-Mateo asked how old I was and then I yelled at the imposter in BLOCK LETTERS and hung up the chat. Then Fernando rang. And two or three other mediterranean sounding names. ACK! And Katie still hasn't called! At least I figured out how to turn off the "chat me" happy face. heebie jeebies.

In other news, I got a calling, went to the temple, registered for school, was unearthed as an "oldie" for the first time in my life (this was a classic moment. why don't you call me on skype and ask me about it :) ), ate treacle pudding (yum), rearranged the house (into a home), felt joy and frustration, excitement and exhaustion.
I think I was expecting everything to be as easy as it was the last time I lived here. Well, let's be honest, the last time I lived here was very BYU-ified and everything was done for me, all I had to do was the adventuring. I have never had to figure out a bank account and a phone and internet and utilities and where to buy hangers and how to use the washer etc in another country. Not that its all that hard, but it is different. Besides that, every so often I have to pause to try to understand the language, which I really wasn't expecting!
For example, George who runs the local chippie where I bought this:


He has a real, bonafide cockney accent. I think we became friends because I hung out in his shop for so long just trying to decipher what he was saying! Its trippy when you feel like you should know or understand what is going on but you absolutely don't :).

I can't wait for my money to go through this week so I can get the things I want to make my room really put together. Poor Judith--she keeps hearing my frustration in wanting everything to be put together yesterday. I want my room done and my classes settled and my money available and my love life thriving and an academy award. Ok, maybe not the last one. But as with everything else, little by little.

Aren't you excited to see how everything is going to unfold? I sure am!

(ps--stay tuned as next weekend Judith and Rachelle and I will take a weekend jaunt up to the Lake District for my 30TH BIRTHDAY!!!! I promise lots of pictures from that!!)


(she's not really a midget...)

Day One

So, thus far it seems that London is a lot like New York, only everything is just a little bit better (wait, everything? Did I say everything? Except for the people that I LOVE AND ADORE who are reading this right now).

I have a bedroom about the same size as my last. Except that it has a WALK IN CLOSET.



I have a wonderful roommate and a wonderful place to live. Except it’s a HOUSE.



WITH A CONSERVATORY.



I am still a Money Magnet, finding coins everywhere I go. Except the first one I found here was a 20p coin (worth abt 35 cents).



Men still appreciate me when I walk down the street. Except here they are white with fabulous accents. (No, of COURSE I did not turn around and take a picture of the cute men who were hitting on me.)

I got to meet with the Bishop on my first day in the ward. This invitation was extended to me by the ward dreamboat. During the meeting I informed the Bishop I would do all that I could to help the single adults in the ward to get married off.

I practically got to teach Relief Society as I raised my hand repeatedly to correct various pieces of false doctrine which were being taught.

I also got to meet with the Stake President who happened to be in the ward today and who was informed by my roommate that I should be given a stake calling. Stake or ward, it looks like they will be putting me to good use soon! (nursery, nursery, oh pleeeeeese!!!)

Other attractive men came to dinner including one who is going to come and walk me to FHE tomorrow. He’d better, we’ve already gotten physical. (ok, ok, he’s a osteopath and he popped my back. With relish though, I am certain ☺. )



And I found a kindred spirit already, a German gal who just moved into the ward and with whom I am going to put together a single adult conference on dating and male/female relationships.

All in the first day!

So, thus begins a very illustrious and exciting year!