today, i'm not wearing deodorant. i know that sounds gross and yes, i am in public but i was too lazy to dig it out of my mess of a suitcase this morning. but hey, i am in europe right..? on that note we will pretend i can get away with this. so, here i sit at starbucks back in my comfort zone attempting to hold on to the last bits of familiarity before i head to botswana tomorrow. even though this time i am in england, at least i can get my java chip frappucino light but still with the whip cream, sit down, facebook creep and/or read a book. the past few weeks have been madness. i arrived in england on july 1st when i finished up a wonderful month in zambia. i have been staying with the sweet, sweet Parkes family in birmingham. i am so grateful for their hospitality. they have been so kind and welcoming to me and have just let me crash in their basement which is exactly what i needed. after a few days at the Parkes, my family arrived at the london-heathrow airport and we made the 2 hour trek down to london to go pick them up. it was great to see them all after a month of zambia and it was rather comical to see my father in an international setting (those of you who know him will understand ;) we spent a few great days all together, Parkes and Austins, riding around england in the rental car just being tourists. from there, my family flew to italy where we got to see the colosseum lit up in all it's glory at night in rome, buy artwork from a moroccan artist in florence, and be a part of an italian flash mob protesting the government in venice. unfortunately, this flash mob made it onto the local news channel. luckily we left venice that night before being thrown into an italian jail. whoops. from venice, we flew to the place i had so strongly insisted upon. SPAIN! i could not have been more excited to speak spanish non-stop for 4 days. then, back to england! my family returned to the states on the 20th and it was a rough goodbye as i know i won't see them again until december. being able to spend the past few weeks with them was really great and much-needed. since they left, i have been spending much of my time alone and processing the past 2 months of my life before i set out on the next 4. needless to say, i have gone to starbucks everyday the past few days...again, whoops. today is my last day in england and as excited as i am to return to africa, i really do love england. it has begun to feel like a nice home away from home for me. especially, once i realized due to layovers and such i have been here 6 times. brittish people are very welcoming people and are often very interested in the US. i have also been able to spend the majority of my time here away from london and the main tourist areas allowing me to partake in regular life in england. this place really is just great. today is my last day here as my train departs for the airport at 5:20 AM. (it is already 4:15 PM here) so, i have approximately 12 hours left in this place i have really come to enjoy. don't get me wrong though, i am going to back to africa and more than ready. the past three weeks i have really been missing that accent, dark skin, and those pure white smiles.
it's a bit surreal to be sitting in england at starbucks by myself, just processing life and researching africa, the way i would at home. i am more than excited to see what God has in store and who God has lined up for me to form relationships with in botswana. i am excited to branch out of zambia into a different african country. God has a lot to teach me and i can't wait to begin learning. i still am amazed that all of this is happening. i have literally been dreaming about God calling me to something like this since i was an 11 year old girl sitting in sunday school. i can't wait for african children. it's been three weeks, but i have missed them. please pray that i would become quickly acclimated and would bond with other students as quickly as possible. i have said a lot of hellos and even more goodbyes in the past 2 months. jumping between 4 countries, 4 different cultures in two months. some stability and deep friendships would be wonderful. it has been a bit lonely at times. thanks for continuing to read and keep up with this blog. everyone back at home and those of you i don't even know make me feel much less alone. be strong and courageous. do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. psalm 9:10
today, i'm not wearing deodorant. i know that sounds gross and yes, i am in public but i was too lazy to dig it out of my mess of a suitcase this morning. but hey, i am in europe right..? on that note we will pretend i can get away with this. so, here i sit at starbucks back in my comfort zone attempting to hold on to the last bits of familiarity before i head to botswana tomorrow. even though this time i am in england, at least i can get my java chip frappucino light but still with the whip cream, sit down, facebook creep and/or read a book. the past few weeks have been madness. i arrived in england on july 1st when i finished up a wonderful month in zambia. i have been staying with the sweet, sweet Parkes family in birmingham. i am so grateful for their hospitality. they have been so kind and welcoming to me and have just let me crash in their basement which is exactly what i needed. after a few days at the Parkes, my family arrived at the london-heathrow airport and we made the 2 hour trek down to london to go pick them up. it was great to see them all after a month of zambia and it was rather comical to see my father in an international setting (those of you who know him will understand ;) we spent a few great days all together, Parkes and Austins, riding around england in the rental car just being tourists. from there, my family flew to italy where we got to see the colosseum lit up in all it's glory at night in rome, buy artwork from a moroccan artist in florence, and be a part of an italian flash mob protesting the government in venice. unfortunately, this flash mob made it onto the local news channel. luckily we left venice that night before being thrown into an italian jail. whoops. from venice, we flew to the place i had so strongly insisted upon. SPAIN! i could not have been more excited to speak spanish non-stop for 4 days. then, back to england! my family returned to the states on the 20th and it was a rough goodbye as i know i won't see them again until december. being able to spend the past few weeks with them was really great and much-needed. since they left, i have been spending much of my time alone and processing the past 2 months of my life before i set out on the next 4. needless to say, i have gone to starbucks everyday the past few days...again, whoops. today is my last day in england and as excited as i am to return to africa, i really do love england. it has begun to feel like a nice home away from home for me. especially, once i realized due to layovers and such i have been here 6 times. brittish people are very welcoming people and are often very interested in the US. i have also been able to spend the majority of my time here away from london and the main tourist areas allowing me to partake in regular life in england. this place really is just great. today is my last day here as my train departs for the airport at 5:20 AM. (it is already 4:15 PM here) so, i have approximately 12 hours left in this place i have really come to enjoy. don't get me wrong though, i am going to back to africa and more than ready. the past three weeks i have really been missing that accent, dark skin, and those pure white smiles.
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