Momma, I made it!

After an exhausting drive to Seattle  (it is by God’s grace we made it – thanks for the prayers, Momma!), a restless flight to Atlanta (there were children in the seat behind who were allowed to throw toy cars at the back of my seat through the entire flight), and a sleep filled flight to London (fell asleep an hour outside of Atlanta and woke up an hour and half outside of London - no children in the near vicinity) we arrived.  We made it through customs, to Paddington station just fine and found our hostel.  We’ve taken advantage of the lovely weather and been to Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus.  

David and Becca are pretty conscious of the volume of their voices.  Becca checks in every once in a while to see if her ”London voice” is quiet enough.  They are trying so very hard to respect the culture they are experiencing. 

I’ve found a kindred spirit in Brandon.  He enjoys all the same things I do so we are spending our day tomorrow together.  As a big group we are going to St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower (to see from the outside, not actually go in)and Tower Bridge, and the British Library.  I had to bribe two of them to go to the British Library by telling them there were free bathrooms and water fountains to fill up their water bottles.  The other one only wanted to go because there are some Beatles song sheets there.  Crush my soul!  In one room are some of the greatest treasures of the world’s literature and the draw was free bathrooms.  This caused me to launch into a lecture about the tenacity of the human spirit and the very soul of generations before us being captured within these writings.  I was unable to change any minds with my impassioned plea.  They also refuse to go to the British Museum – citing it as boring and preferring instead to go to Harrods and Oxford Street (a mile an a half of tourist stores and shopping centers).  Again, my heart broke a little, but I refrained from a lecture this time.  You can only do so much in one day.  Brandon is my salvation; as I said, we like all very similar things so we are touring buddies for the week I imagine.  He also shows the proper amount of awe when we see cool stuff. 

Everyone was going to go to Phantom with us, but then they found out the guy who played Kramer in Seinfeld is in Arsenic and Old Lace and they want to go to that instead.  Again, it’s just Brandon for Phantom.  Which is fine – West End productions are worth it.  I’m glad they are going to a play instead of hitting the bars.  Never mind – Becca just looked up Arsenic and it closed March 5th.  They’ll probably go see Wicked instead.  Doesn’t matter to me – if my tookas is in the West End it is seeing Phantom!  Christine dumped him for another man; you won’t find me doing the same thing!

I’m tired, dirty, and in desperate need of a shower.  My feet are about ready to walk off my ankles they are so tired.  We covered some ground today and Brandon and I are planning on covering a heck of a lot more tomorrow.  In addition to the group’s happenings, we are headed to Westminster (we got to see the outside today but Brandon wants to see inside), The British Museum, The National Gallery, The Royal Albert Hall, a walk through Hyde Park, and whatever else our little brains cook up. 

The culture shock isn’t huge for everyone because they still here their language as the dominate one.  Little things, like how Londoners don’t smile and make eye contact and the fact that there are stairs everywhere are things they are picking up one but they haven’t quite picked up on the fact that the culture is vastly different.  I’m not sure if within this week there is enough time for them to see – it takes a while to work through trying to make this culture fit your culture – which is pretty solidly where most of them are right now.  It’s fun to watch how they react to things and the lens through which they see the world. 

I’m going to close for now, go shower, and write in my journal.  Love to everyone back home!