A month ago I started this journey, today I find myself in the middle of it. I’m sorry that I’m terrible at remembering to blog, my hopes were that I could write in this at least once a week but I have failed, so perhaps I will try to do this a bit more? We will see if that really happens. 

Cheltenham as well as England itself has quickly captured my heart. I love this place. It’s busy streets, quaint buildings and shops, fun adventures with fun new people. This place is truly something else. I have to walk a half hour (or pay to take the bus, so I usually walk) to school three days a week and it has become something I quite look forward to. I walk down the busy streets in the Promenade and look at all the posh shops, down the residential streets and see the beautiful green trees turning red and orange. It’s a fall that I would never see in Fresno. It’s going to be a REAL fall, and I am seriously looking forward to it!

I feel like I’m slowly sinking into this culture. Actually getting the opportunity to live in England instead of just visiting for a week or so is something I’m so glad I did. I would never had been able to soak up the language differences and the culture as much as I have. I love this way of life. It’s crazy and fun, it’s simple and slow, it’s a hot cup of tea or a walk around Pitville Park with a friend, it’s a shopping spree at Primark or other shops on High Street, it’s a Friday morning walking down the Farmers Market in the Promenade & picking up a Victoria’s Sponge Cake just because. It’s so different than home and it’s been refreshing to get away from California for a bit and actually see and experience the outside world. I love my home, don’t get me wrong, but there is a world outside and I’ve just broken the surface.

I’m excited for these next two months and what they will bring. I’ve met so many people and done so many things in one month, I can only imagine what is to come! I’m ready for more adventures, perhaps Paris or Ireland? We will see where the next few months take me. 

I haven’t been in England a week yet and I have already gotten to experience SO MUCH. Not that that should really be a surprise, I’m still trying to convince myself that this isn’t just a week vacation but that I’m truly here for 3 months. For the first few days walking around in Cheltenham I was just in awe of all of the differences, big and small. From the way the cars go, how crazy the drivers are, how the weather changes in a blink of an eye, how perfectly adorable the brick houses are, how helpful the people have been and (my favorite) how blunt and simple the signs and advertisements are. 

I did have quite a few problems getting to England, but I was very fortunate to have another BCA girl with me durring the whole fiasco. Even though flights were canceled and delayed, bags were lost for a short while and we were exhausted for the entire time, I made it here and it doesn’t matter anymore! I’ve met some incredible people and I’m constantly meeting new people every day. One observation that I’ve made is that we are all so similar. Maybe that sounds a bit obvious, but I wasn’t really sure what these people half way across the world would be like. Maybe that sounds dumb, but I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to connect with people. Sure, we have different words to use to describe things (“Getting yourself into a tizzy” is my favorite so far) or different views but it’s wonderful to find someone with similar as yourself. It’s such a comfort to find someone across the world who can laugh at the same exact thing you’re laughing at.  

Anyway, I love this town. Cheltenham is beautiful and lively and wonderful. One of my campuses, FCH looks like a castle. I get to spend Tuesday afternoons here… No Big Deal. 

Last friday I went to the most beautiful place I’ve visited so far, Warwick Castle. It was incredible. It was everything I ever though a castle would be, including the most beautiful little town just outside of the castle. I wanted to stay there forever… The views were breathtaking and I couldn’t believe it was real.

Later in the day a friend and I walked into the town and got afternoon tea in a precious little tea house. There is so much I could talk about but it would take days to write it all out! To sum up, England is wonderful and I’m falling inlove with it more and more every day! Next week school starts, and that will be a whole new adventure! 

Cheers <3 

I have been counting down the days since 117, and I am finally 9 days away from my semester in England. I am finally just days away from leaving and going on an adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life. I recently looked back at some older posts and even things I’ve written in my journal over this summer and Its incredible to see how much has happened in those 117 days. It was going to be the longest summer ever. I was gonna be so bored and miserable, but this summer I got to see first hand that God truly has plans to prosper us, not to harm us. I don’t know why I ever doubt or worry, but God still uses my worries for his glory. He’s brought people into my life this summer that have been more than a blessing to me, He’s brought situations that grew me and made me stronger, He’s provided more money than I ever expected Him to, and He’s provided a joy in my heart that I wasn’t sure would ever come back. 

Anyways, I am leaving on a plane 9 days, I’m leaving my house in 8 days, today is my last shift at Platos Closet and Wednesday is my last day at Admissions (until I come back). This is my last year at FPU, and I only have one more semester there. I won’t even start on that craziness yet, but I just needed to say it. I just don’t even understand how life flies by so quickly, but by golly it does. 

I really hope to blog a bit while I’m over there, hopefully some of you will read this, if not then it can just be so I remember what I did while I was gone. 

Here’s to a great semester in England and a new chapter in my life. 

I am thankful for…

By Nancie J. Carmody

 …the mess to clean up after a party

because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

…the taxes I pay

because it means that I’m employed.

…the clothes that fit a little too snug

because it means I have enough to eat.

…my shadow who watches me work

because it means I am out in the sunshine.

…the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot

because it means I am capable of walking.

…all the complaining I hear about our government

because it means we have freedom of speech.

…that lady behind me in church who sings off key

because it means that I can hear.

…lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing

because it means I have a home.

…my huge heating bill

because it means that I am warm.

…weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day

because it means that I have been productive.

…the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours

because it means that I am alive.

There are three kinds of days:

1. Good days,
2. Great days, and
3. Outstanding days.

I hope yours is Outstanding!

I found this on StumbleUpon and thought it was such an awesome way to think about all the little things we’re always complaining about. We are so blessed, and don’t always take the right amount of time to appreciate it..