Buttering Parsnips

Well, I’m home.

It’s good to be back.

Portobello Road Market yesterday.

I sort of wish I’d gone to this sooner when I thought I had more room in my suitcase. Which probably makes it a good thing that I didn’t, but still.

So much stuff.

The antique shops/booths were some of the coolest, but there were other parts, too. There was a booth with wooden and metal movable type for sale, for crying out loud. It was fantastic.

There were also quite a few different food booths from other countries, so naturally I got pizza.

After the market, I went to the Victoria Apollo Theatre to switch out my (and Lily’s) Wicked socks because they were two different sizes? And they checked it out, but apparently they’re all like that. The workers were really nice, though, and I really like those socks, so we parted amicably.

Then I went back to the flat. It took forever since - of course - a significant stretch of the Piccadilly line (MY line) was closed for engineering work this weekend. But it’s cool. I just took a majorly roundabout way to get back to where I live. And had to deal with more tourists standing in my way than usual. But really, I’m not complaining.

Actually, I’m not complaining. I get to go home tomorrow.

Final thoughts from the UK.

As I’m sitting here eating dinner in my flat and listening to Willie Robertson (Duck Dynasty) talk on faith and ministry, I figured it was as good a time as any to post what I’ve gathered from my time abroad. So let me gather up my notes and see what I have.

-Two weeks to form a habit: this is something I’ve heard many times, and it’s pretty accurate. About two weeks in is when I stopped feeling like a fish out of water. I was navigating the tube like a pro (sort of) from that point on.

-Continuing along that vein, it was a few more weeks before I was ready to leave. The turning point for that was Ireland, I’m pretty sure. London was great, and continued to be great for the rest of my trip, but the weekend spent missing all methods of public transportation and wandering around in several foreign countries was really tiring. A good way to describe it is this: it’s like being thrown into the deep end of the pool; you know how to swim, and you’re expected to keep your head above water. It’s great at first, especially if you love to swim, but I’ve been treading water for a while now, and it’s worn me down.

-I, like many young Americans, had a somewhat idealized view of Europe. And it’s fantastic, it really is. But it’s just a place full of people, and at the heart of it, it’s just like the USA. Yes, they talk funny (kidding), have pretty buildings, and eat some interesting food (it really isn’t as bad as you think). But it’s not perfect, and the beauty is not unparalled (guys, we live in a gorgeous country). I guess I saw this a little more because I worked a lot of the time I was here. But yeah, it’s thankfully rekindled my interest in taking an American road trip next. :)

-The royal family is a big deal. I remember reading one newspaper that was all about the birth of Prince George. Seriously, almost every page was dedicated to something royal baby-related. As a side note, I was really excited, so no issues here.

-The English (and UK citizens in general) really do drink a lot of tea. I think I’ve had three or four cups on a good day at work (the other interns always offered, so…).

-Without adversity, grace withers: I was flipping through my notebook and saw my notes from a sermon back home (granted, this was the only thing written on the page; the rest was covered in a drawing - which helps me concentrate, promise). Seeing it brought back memories of the weekend in Ireland/Northern Ireland/Wales (referred to as the Ireland trip for ease of storytelling). I know I keep going back to that weekend, but it was one of my favorites, as exhausting as it was. There’s just something about adventures (or hard times, take your pick). It could have been a terrible weekend, but we made it through by the grace of God. It was the most spiritually challenging trips I’ve ever taken- more than the mission trip or summer camps or any of that stuff. I’d never had a time when I realized just how utterly dependent I am on God. And I’m telling you, hymns are great. So whether you’re listening to one on your iPod after finding out you don’t know where you’re sleeping that night or singing with a friend with your feet dangling in the North Sea, hymns can have such a significant impact on your outlook. And prayer. I feel that goes without saying, though. But just in case: PRAYER IS IMPORTANT.

-If you want something badly enough, make it happen. It’s understandable to be afraid of going out into the world, to worry about being financially able, or whether or not your parents will allow you (this is obviously dependent on age). If you really want to do something, start telling yourself it will happen and start saving, learning that new language, whatever. I never thought I’d be able to do something like this; I needed money and my parents’ permission. Sarah and Lily both visited me, and neither thought they’d be able to until under a month before I left (Lily didn’t know until I was already over here). I’m not saying that if you believe it hard enough, it will happen. Seriously. You need to work for this stuff to happen. But believing that it will is going to set you on the right path.

-Customer service is better in America. There, I said it.

Movie night in the UK.

I just paid a ridiculous amount of money to see a movie that I could see at home. For about ten dollars less. And then I had a moment where I thought, “Do I really want to watch this right now? Man of Steel is playing at the cinema across the street. I never saw it.” But I bought this ticket. I’m going. Besides, I’m more of a Captain America girl. :)

And then I watched it. It was the next Percy Jackson movie, by the way. And it was kind of stupid. I don’t know why I do this to myself. I didn’t like the first one. They messed everything up. At least they gave the Greek gods personalities in this one. Stanley Tucci as Dionysus and Nathan Fillion as Hermes were worth at least some of the money I paid. And nothing against Logan Lerman as Percy. I like him. The problem was that the writers were writing to amuse children. I am not as easily amused. At least, not by bad humor. But it gave me time to kill. Because that’s what I’m doing now. Sad, isn’t it? I have two more free days in London, and I don’t really want to do anything but head to the airport.

I did hang around Leicester Square for a while, though. That’s where I watched the movie. And ate dinner. It’s starting to be one of my more frequented areas. Ah, London. I’m going to miss you. Not your crazy cinema prices, but I’ll look past that.

Also, did you know that you reserve your seat in the British cinemas? I think some American movie theaters do this, too, but I’ve never experienced it before.

And I counted three Bella Italias in Leicester Square tonight. It’s a popular chain. To be fair, though, they do have some really good food.

I’ve been productive.

I still haven’t shipped the drying rack that Sarah wants, but the place I’ll be using to ship it is open tomorrow from 9:30 to 4, so I’m good.

Anyway, I just packed pretty much the whole apartment to see if it would all fit, and I THINK it will. Barely. I had to leave a few nonessential items behind (some food, a pair of headphones from the 99p store), but I think it’ll be okay.

My poor suitcase. The last time I weighed it, it was 72 pounds. Then I added some more. I had issues zipping it closed. But it’s packed and waiting in the other room. I have to say, I’m feeling quite accomplished.

I’m pretty much ready to go. I’m so excited.

I love this.

My fellow interns gave me the sweetest card today, basically wishing me well and hoping that I’d “thoroughly enjoyed my time in the UK”. They also wished me the best in the “Disney Programme”. I’m so glad I got to meet those girls.

Last day of work.

So my fellow interns and I ate lunch at a nearby park in Camden, and it was really lovely. The lunch and talking with them, not the park. The park was okay, kind of small with a shirtless middle-aged guy lounging in the sun. But it was still nice.

We got off work early since I was finished with my projects and the other two were leaving for weekend commitments, so I decided after lunch that I really wanted to see the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens.

Now this wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. It’s something that I didn’t realize how much I wanted to do until I did it. But whenever I’ve thought of England in the past, I generally remember Kensington Gardens and that statue of the boy who never grew up. It kind of represents to me that magical view of this country that some of us Americans have.

It had a nice little area, and there weren’t a lot of people around, so I was able to get a few pictures without anyone in the background. I didn’t really want to leave after that, just stay and hang out with Peter Pan, but I was hungry, and there was a cafe near the Italian Gardens (an area in Kensington Gardens) up ahead.

Before that, though, I stopped in Hyde Park (which is basically connected to the Gardens) and just wrote some postcards in the Rose Garden area. My goodness, it was pretty. Especially while listening to Tchaikovsky.

After walking around those incredibly beautiful park/gardens, I’ve gotten a little sad that I won’t be able to see it anymore (until I come back, which is inevitable :) ) in just a few days. There’s so much left to do, and I’m not done exploring. Next time, though, if I can, I want to come as a tourist. I want to be able to go everywhere, do everything.

And next time, I’m going to bring an extra suitcase.

Also.

USA, I love you and can’t wait to see you again, but seriously. Twenty degrees hotter than London?

That took a ridiculously long amount of time.

But housing for Disney is taken care of. Whew.

And here I thought this week was going to be easy.

As of last night, the housing information for the August 19th arrival group (that’s me) of the Disney College Program went up. And as of last night, the Facebook group and my messages have been the focus of my attention.

Apparently not a lot of housing options are left, so those future Cast Members who found roommates through the Facebook group and made groups of six like they thought it would be are now having to split up. It’s confusing and frustrating, and I wish that Disney had left housing preferences the old way: you show up early the day of, you’re roommates with the people in line next to you. Simple. But they’re trying this out to make it easier on us, so I’m not going to complain. I have been going a little crazy trying to coordinate everyone and talk to the people in Housing (who have been very nice), but it’ll be okay once we get down there.

I know this is not related to London in the least, but this is what’s happening with me as my internship is winding down and I’ve finished my last project.