Hammersmith & City

Today marks the ONE MONTH anniversary. Thirty days ago, I boarded a British Airways flight to the biggest adventure of my life (so far). As I keep mentioning in all of my posts, it always seems like I've been here longer. I was so lucky to adjust easily and find mates so quickly (notice me sneaking in some brit lingo). This month has been the biggest growth spurt in the shortest amount of time I've ever experienced both personally and spiritually. I'm learning so much about the city, my life and god. Life lessons keep popping up all over the place, and although some are tough lessons to learn, I can actually say I'm intrigued. I was about to type grateful, but I think that comes later ;)


I'm interested in why god brought me to this place in this time of my life. Slowly, I've been catching glimpses behind the curtain of my life. I can feel that if I surrender to this whirlwind, the next couple of months are going to be even better. I can finally say that I'm ready for god to reveal himself to me full force. Even just typing that last sentence tugs at my instinct of apprehension (only because I'm starting to realize just how big our god is). massive.


I did something last week. I went to dance class for the first time in 6 years. For some unknown reason, I couldn't find the studio and was 15 minutes late to the class I originally wanted to take (intermediate jazz, 1 hour). Surprising myself,  I landed in the 2 1/2 hour long intermediate/advanced class. I've always been nervous in dance class, stupid comparisons. Lucky for me, my love of dance has always outweighed my insecurities and I've managed to trek on. This class was no different. Even though I was, once again, the least experienced in the studio, my heart pounded with that long lost feeling of elation. I've missed it so much. I plan to attend class weekly. 


I did something else last week. I saw the London you see in books and movies:

Westminster Abbey

Big Ben

House of Parliament

London Eye on the Thames River

Buckingham Palace



"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her."
Hosea 2:14

This verse showed up in my bible study this week. It explains a bit of how I've been feeling spiritually. More importantly, it describes how loved and supported I've felt from God in the midst of figuring out life lately. I'm constantly reminded of how patient he is.

Bakerloo Line

I'm just enjoying another week of exploring and rest. I finally started my "modules" (classes) last week and I am thoroughly enjoying all of them. I'm taking a little bit of everything: a little PR here, some Advertising there, Media and a theory class in Illustration. Which, may I add that my Illustration professor is a Typographer. If you know anything about me, you know I'm obsessed with typeface and completely intrigued at the similarities, differences and symbolism behind text. AH! 


Even with starting my classes, I have found that I have so much free time. Again, if you know anything about me, you know that free time is not something I come by too often. Although it goes against the very nature of my personality, I am soaking it in. I'm loving it. This is what life should be like. My spirit is calm and I'm taking joy in just being, doing whatever it is my little heart desires each day. I'm learning how to chill. And I'm learning that busyness doesn't equal importance, especially in God's eyes. 


This being said, I took an afternoon the other day to explore a little community about 5 miles away from campus, Harrow on the Hill. I can always spot it from my classroom windows and I've been dying to see what was up there...

I stopped at this little tea shop
"The Doll's House on the Hill."
 I had some strawberry cinnamon torte with an amazing view.

This is a part of the Harrow Boarding School for boys.

On my way home, I got on the top floor of a double decker bus!

In other news, last Sunday our flat made curry for our weekly dinner. Curry is really popular here and I looovveee it. I really want some right now. 

Also...Matt wore this adorable Mickey Mouse shirt that 

said "Cheeky"...I still don't really know what that means.

Annndddd....Gareth bought this AH-mazing inflatable
"football" chair. Beautiful purchase.

Metropolitan Line to Northwick Park

To all of those who glance at my blog every now and again...I'd like to properly introduce you to my new campus! Yesterday, the sun decided to peak around the gloomy clouds of London, revealing a perfect afternoon for taking pictures. Finally, I got a chance to be an embarrassing tourist and bust out my camera. I need to be doing more of that. Regardless...Welcome to your University of Westminster tour:

Oh...you decided to take the tube! It's my favorite
way to get around London...good choice.

Lucky for us, the tube station is mere feet from the Uni campus!

Welcome!! 

After we walk down a long brick path, 

we finally reach "The Street" 

"The Street" is the entry way to the large building where
almost all of the classes on campus are held. This is also
where the library,"The Shop" and tons of other things are.

This is a view from inside "The Street"...it took me a
few days to notice,but it really is just a street with
a partial roof connecting a few buildings.

Another view of "The Street" into a lovely grassy courtyard.

This is nerdy, but I love just being at a school where they
have really artsy majors...hence "Commercial Music"

Ok, so this is "The Canteen"...basically a small cafeteria with a few coffee and sandwich shops.

Modern, no?

Below "The Canteen" is "The Undercroft Bar"...
I'm totally not used to this, but it's completely
normal here. Just a little British culture for ya...

We'll just peer into the bar, without being too creepy. 

Look! Another grassy courtyard.

This is the back side of the building we walked into via "The Street"

Now, we'll walk back around the building to where we began!

Oh, this sign? Don't worry, you won't be needing
to caution yourself for a mustache ahead...
it just means there's a bump in the road!

Here's the parking lot....if you didn't feel like you were
 in another country, I bet you do now!

Fall at its finest.

This is "Area 51"...the club on campus.
They usually have themed parties on Wednesday nights.

The "Sports Hall"....a little different from Mizzou's
Rec Center...but hey, I never go to that one either :)

And to your right, you'll see the Harrow Halls of Residence

Look! We've been to all of these places!

This is the park next to campus....Northwick Park

This is what most of the adorable houses look like
in the neighborhood surrounding the campus!

And this concludes your personal tour of the famous University of Westminster. Feel free to fill out a comment card on your way out to let my boss know how much you loved your tour today.