I've been in London for three weeks as of tonight. Wait...Three weeks? Where has the time gone?? Earlier today I was writing an email to a friend who I met in Germany. I realized I hadn't seen her since the day before arriving here. It amazes me how fast time has flown. If I've been here three weeks, that means I left home a little over a month ago!
The first two weeks here in London we had two weeks of Orientation. During these two weeks we looked over a manual of things to expect, what we'd be doing while here, rules, helpful information, etc, etc. We had a whole two hours spent on fire safety information as well as a whole day dedicated for child protection.
I knew some of the people I'd be working along side with, but not many before arriving here in London. During these first two weeks I really had a chance to get to know many others much better. I also realized that I never knew what the word "cold" meant until moving here. (I'm a Valley girl from California, what can I say?) My first week and a half here I literally LIVED in my jumper (hoodie/jacket). I slept with it on (some nights I even slept with my gloves on), I walked around the flat with it on, I went to orientation with it on. Now I am going some without wearing it. I'm either adapting to the colder weather and buildings, or it's warming up a bit. That, or, it's a combination. (I will say that it did snow TWICE within a week during this time! What a nice surprise! It has now snowed three times since I've left home!)
Within the first two weeks I also tried to pay for a bus with some Pounds AND Euros. Oops. Talk about awkward!
This week we started our normal week. Sadly, I missed most of it being sick in bed. Monday some of us spent time out in the streets of London meeting locals and passing out free literature. Tuesday I worked on my internship with the communications department. Wednesday and Thursday I was suppose to be in a classroom to learn about other cultures and religions, but Tuesday night is when I started to get really ill. Friday was my day off this week, and today (Saturday) I was suppose to go out to pass out more literature with our group. (Usually Saturdays are our days off, but this week it was flip-flopped as that will occasionally happen.)
Pretty much...That's what my week will look like:
- Monday: Spend time in the streets of London, meeting locals, passing out literature.
- Tuesday: Internship (which, can sometimes change with Mondays)
- Wednesday: Classes
- Thursday: Classes
- Friday: Same as Monday
- Saturday: My Usual Day off
- Sunday: Church
Being sick has really bummed me out. I was slightly getting homesick before I actually physically got sick. But being around other people, keeping busy, working...My homesickness would come in rare waves but would quickly leave. However, once I was sick? After two days of being really sick, it hit and it hit hard! I started to miss home and the comforts that it brings to my life. I missed my own bed, my own room, my dog, usual foods, and of course, my mother!
The night my homesickness was the worst my flat-mates came upstairs with a box in hand. My mom had sent me a package - and with PERFECT timing!
Opening the box I found items such as:
- Gloves
- Scarf
- A spice I love to cook with!
- Butterfingers
- Reese's
- Goldfish
- Jolly Ranchers
- Converter/Adapter (Did I mention here on my blog that my last one died in Germany due to a hair dryer? Yeah, the hair dryer is no longer living as well...Oops!)
There were also a few other things included, but those are to just name a few! I was so thankful when it came in the mail. While it didn't take my homesickness completely away it certainly made me smile! Even when my mom is many miles away, she still has a way of making me feel better! It was a reminder of how blessed I am to have such a supportive family back home.
Thinking about what to write next, I've realized that the topics and stories could take up a whole blog entry of their own. Since I don't want this specific entry to end up too terribly long, I'll end this one here. Who knows, maybe I'll post more then one tonight...or at least start a second entry!
Thanks for tagging along the journey and for the prayers thus this far!
The Travelin' Chick,
Crystal
PS: While I have been really sick, I am starting to feel MUCH better! Tomorrow I plan on going out for the first time since Monday. Hopefully my body will feel it's 100% tomorrow morning!
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