Home safe and sound...and engaged!!!!

Yes, in case you have not already heard, Spike and I got engaged yesterday. Not even home 24 hours and that boy had put the ring on my finger!

But let's back up a few days...

Back in London this last week, I had a nice last few days at my internship with loads of Christmas activities! Tuesday was a party for the little kids of the families that come to use the services at our centre, Wednesday I got things ready for the kids to go to the cinema for a Christmas movie that night, and Thursday was a party for the older kids. We also had a basement full of boxes of toys donated for the kids to go through and distribute!

Wednesday night, our programme went to see Billy Elliot, which was mind-blowing! Much jealousy was had of the dancing ability by the kids in the show. Thursday, we had our final exams in Contemporary British Society and Religions in London classes, then at 5pm a going away party commenced which was thrown by our director Mark and assistant director Jen. The party continued into the night with all us Vandoners celebrating our last night together. Much fun was had and memories made. A great last night in London! I had quite a mixture of emotions; sad to leave, happy to be coming home.

By 4:30am, Friday, I left Vandon House on a shuttle to Heathrow airport to begin my long journey home. When I went to check-in at the airport, I discovered that my first flight to Newark had been overbooked. So, they offered me to change my flights to go from London to Houston instead, and then to Des Moines, getting me home 4 hours early by cutting out the 7 hour layover I was supposed to have in Newark. So, I took it! However, the flight to Houston was about 10 hours as opposed to about 6-7 hours to Newark. Luckily I was able to sleep for the first 5! I had also developed a cough the last week, which is worse when I sleep, so I think I quite scared the people sitting beside me as I hacked the whole trip! The best part of the trip though (sarcasm there), was having only about 40 minutes from stepping off my plane in Houston to getting on my plane leaving for Des Moines. This wouldn't have been such a problem if I hadn't had to go through immigration, pick up my bags, go through customs, drop off my bags, go through security again, and then take a train to a separate terminal!! Thanks to my sprinting, I made it to my plane within 5 minutes to take-off! My bags weren't so lucky, but they arrived at my house yesterday afternoon. So, I landed in Des Moines around 5pm Friday evening and was greeted by my parents, Spike, and my brother Josh and his wife Lindsey, with flowers! We went out to eat at Spaghetti Works and then headed home after a short stop in Ames at my cousin's graduation reception. I slept the whole way home, but was wide awake by 7am yesterday morning! Today I am feeling the jet lag a bit more, but still not bad.

Anyway, on to the story you all are wanting to hear: how Spike proposed.

It happened yesterday afternoon, after he and I had lunch in town with my grandparents and uncle and brother. I was quite adamant about driving, as I had not been able to for 3 and a half months, apparently hindering Spike's plan a bit. So after lunch, he directed me to the place we started dating: Prairie Bridges Park. We were being pretty goofy, him telling me to turn right, then left, and then go straight, and me shooting back witty replies. So, we were both laughing when we reached the bridge he on which he was going to pop the question. He began to tell me about how I kept ruining his plans for his proposal: he had a special evening planned for next Thursday, his last day of school, but I was not sure I would be able to come to stay that night as I had a lot of things to do and people to see my first week home, so he was trying to convince me to come that night as he had a "surprise" planned; me knowing this was coming, knew what that meant, ruining the special-ness of it. So, in order to keep it a surprise, he did it this weekend! It was simple but cute, and of course I said yes! It has been a whirl of attention since then!

Still trying to unpack everything. I have all my Christmas presents wrapped and my suitcases put away, but my clothes are still lying in a massive pile on my floor. Maybe I will get to them tomorrow....

Thanks for following me on this journey, it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life! I am so blessed to have gone and to have you all in my life!

Cheers, and happy holidays!

Alyssa

Only 5 days remain...

Only 5 more days in London!

This picture is for Keith Jones:

Winter sunrise behind Big Ben.

Notice the Christmas tree too!!

Haven't been up to too much since my last post. At my internship we are busy collecting boxes of toys from elementary schools that the kids bring to donate to our Centre for the children in homeless/low income families. While doing this, I got to go into the school Prince William and Harry went as kids! It was very "posh." The headmaster's door has a sign that says, "Enter with a smile, or don't enter at all." Thursday for religion class we visited a Mosque and then had a Turkish meal afterwards, sitting on cushions on the floor and all (not very comfortable for people with long legs)! I have been spending some time on Oxford street, enjoying the Christmas lights and shopping. It will be interesting to see how packing goes this week! Can't believe my time here is almost over! I don't feel like I have gotten to do everything and don't really want to leave but want to go home at the same time...I hope to come back someday. This week, I have to finish a final paper for Contemporary Britain, take 2 exams on Thursday, have my final 2 days of internship, pack, hopefully go to Camden market one more time, and enjoy some quality time with my Vandon family!

See you all very soon!!!

Busy!

Hi all! I have been quite busy the last week, with assignments and exploring around London town! Here's what I have been up to!

Last week, I had a project due in my Religions in London class where we had to attend a worship service and describe the service and relate it to the religion and what they believe. So, I attended the first advent service at St. Paul's Cathedral, the Advent Procession. It was way cool!! The clergy and choir (amazing) started on the west end and moved to the east end of the cathedral which was dark apart from the candles they were holding, stopping to sing and read scripture. It was quite a dramatic service, and I would like to see what it is like for Christmas Eve.

On Friday, the CCA London programme went to Canterbury and Leeds Castle for a day trip. We toured the Canterbury Cathedral, although did not get to see the main part because there ended up being a service there. We were able to walk around the town on our own for a bit until we departed for the Castle. The castle was beautiful! It had a large amount of grounds space around the castle, with beautiful gardens and mazes. There were even a bunch of peacocks just roaming around! The castle even had a moat. I saw a leaflet for having your wedding at the castle...if only!!! ;)

On Saturday, I went up to Hampstead village to complete a walking tour assignment for British Experience Seminar class. It was a nice area; I walked by an old church with a large, really old, cemetery with people like Richard N. Shaw and John Constable buried there. I also walked by other old, famous houses. I then did some looking around at the many cute, but expensive, shops. I was very productive the rest of the afternoon and evening, finishing three assignments.

Sunday, I got up early-ish and headed over to the East End for another assigned walking tour. Whilst there, I toured the Whitechapel Art Gallery. In the first gallery of paintings, I was reminded of how much I do not understand when it comes to art. I look at the paintings and think, “What is so great about this? It is just a bunch of random brushstrokes and dabs of paint. Anyone could do that.” I simply do not get how a work is declared worthy of being put up into a gallery and called art. I just get a little frustrated as I do not see much in the majority of the pieces. However, there was one exhibit that I found rather interesting: The Past Was A Mirage I Had Left Far Behind by Josiah McElheny. For this exhibit, the gallery is turned into a house a mirrors; there are spots with mirrors and walls on which an abstract film is projected, with the mirrors creating an interesting effect. From there I walked down Brick Lane, looking around the endless string of restaurants and grocery stores of cuisine from all over. I saw the Brick Lane Great Mosque, not really that great looking, and then turned towards Spitalfields market. While walking, I was approached by a French man asking for directions, which it seemed I could not really help him.He continued to follow me and ask me questions about where I was from and what I was doing. I became very wary and quite uncomfortable as he continued to walk with me and then even ask for my number; I told him I did not have a mobile! He finally left me as I started looking around at the Spitalfields market. Relieved he was gone, I began browsing the huge Sunday market. I felt a bit overwhelmed, and probably would have bought some things had I more time and if there were fewer crowds. I saw a lot of cool crafts and clothes, very fashionable items! I was so tempted by many of the things there, but then disappointed by the high prices of the clothes items I liked.

That afternoon, I headed over to the Imperial War Museum to experience the history of war in Britain and Europe. This was the coolest museum I have ever been too! It was so interactive, and I was greatly impressed by the extensive collection of this museum. The exhibits really depicted what it was like during the wars. I saw the piece that was recovered from one of the towers of the World Trade Centre, which was really cool. I enjoyed the kid-friendly exhibit on what it was like inside a submarine, as well as the gallery depicting what the war was like seen through the eyes of the children during the time; the 1940’s house was really fun too experience as well. I headed downstairs to the galleries on the two World Wars. I spend a good deal of time down here, reading about how the wars started and ended, the personal stories, as well as marvelling at the never ending relics on display. I went through the Trench Experience and the Blitz Experience; both were really great, giving a little idea of what I was like in the trenches during WWI and in London during the blitz during WWII. For about the next two hours, I was in the Holocaust exhibition. I could not believe the extensiveness of this 2 story exhibit; there was so much to take in, but it was definitely my favourite part of the museum because of this. They had a model of Auschwitz, shoes and other items from the prisoners who were murdered, videos of personal stories from survivors, and so much more! I was interested to read about the ones who tried to rebel, particularly a woman who managed to shoot and kill a few guards when getting off a train to be separated into a camp; she was killed though too. Every time I learn more about this atrocity, the more I cannot believe it really happened.

Today was my last day of yoga class. It has been a good class, and I wish I could take the next beginners course. Tonight, I went to Oxford Street with Sarah, Dan, Margaret, and Caroline to do some shopping! They were wanting to help Dan find some new clothes because they apparently don't think he knows how to dress himself! I managed to find some things as well. :) Yay shopping!

This last week and a half is going to be a lot of fun as everyone is planning great nights out on the town. I am very excited to have some fun after getting all those assignments and projects done. I only have one paper and 2 tests due by next Thursday, so not much to worry about for finals! I think a bunch of us might go ice skating somewhere as well as going back to Portobello and Camden markets.

11 days!!!