Le Louvre 

From the top of Notre Dame 

Versailles "The hall of mirrors"

The Eiffel tower

PARIS!!!

I spent most of my time with Brooke, Brittany and Mandi.  We all had so much fun. Our first day we went to the Basilica and checked out all of the paintings around that area. Then we headed down towards the Eiffel tower. The tower is definitely not overrated! We all loved it!! 

The next day we went to Notre Dame, Le Louvre, L'Orsey and several other places, we literally had the time of our life.   They wouldn't let me go into the Orsey because I was holding paintings...sort of disappointing but next time I go to Paris that leaves something for me to do for the first time! The Louvre was amazing, I had to find a ton of paintings for humanities class which took a long time but it put perspective onto how large the Louvre actually was.   I probably wouldn't have spent so much time in there if I didn't have something that I had to complete but because of that I went through the whole thing. We also went to Versailles! I want to go back during the summer definitely because the gardens would be so much prettier if they were green instead of cold and dead.  This palace was so ornate, I think it's one of the prettiest places that we have visited. Also I am pretty sure that I am related to the king that lived in this palace, the sun king. 

In Biology we had to write an essay on what evolution is NOT and this is what I came up with!! 

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Wolly cut his light off, jumped from the switch to his bed in one lunge, managed to swing himself onto the top of his bed and calmly climb into his sheets until he was completely engulfed within his own fortress of cotton. After a few seconds of quiet listening Wolly decided that the coast was clear, he stuck the tip of his nose over the top cover and prayed he had waited long enough for his eyes to adapt to the dark! He cautiously opened his left eye… sure enough he was able to make out the outlines of the objects around his room. Silently Wolly thanked Heavenly Father for keeping him safe on his way to his bed!

Reaching across his bed Wolly searched for his emergency bell, finding that it was there Wolly felt reassured in being able to alert his parents if there were ever danger in his quarters. Wolly convinced himself that he could sleep peacefully for at least the next ten minutes.   Before Wolly had time to figure out his next precaution for the night he noticed sheep running across the backs of his eyelids. Getting fuzzier and fuzzier the sheep slowly faded into the distance, Wolly felt himself slowing loosing consciousness, drifting into a heavy sleep.

“Wolly the worrier!! Wolly the worrier!!” Wolly stood in front of his entire class for a Biology project on evolution while they chanted his hated nickname. Getting uncomfortable Wolly pulled out his germ-x in a nervous reflex and started sterilizing his hands and arms. His teacher sensed the tension and asked the class to settle down. Wolly began his presentation using a personal example. As shy as Wolly might seem he willingly began to explain to the class one of his adventures he experienced in his room one night at home:  

 

“Brace yourself my classmates, I am being very honest. One night in bed I saw a monkey who tried to attack me I am sure!

He jumped and jumped but all in vain! His short little arms were no match for my height! Upset and enraged he creped away to the darkness where he disappeared! Luckily I had set precautions and was on the very top bunk!

This sly creature spared no time, he waited only one single night and to my horrors he returned! Amazed I looked in awe; his arm had grown an amazing length! Off balance he darted towards my bed that night, pointing at me and positively foaming at the mouth!

I was a knight on my horse in a joust without my pole; I hoped I wouldn’t die tonight! I considered my fortress, calculated my chances, and realized my serious problem!

How could I have been so naïve? I should have considered this a problem but astonished I have failed; now I am at the mercy of this vile intruder! Where is my bell?

I flung my arm with lightening speed to my parental alarm! I know only my left eye was open but I saw what I saw! The very same monkey from the night before only this time his left arm was double its length!

Accepting my fate I pasted my eyes on the invader, not surprisingly he charged towards me and grabbed me firm, his arms were tight around me!

I’m being attacked I managed to yell before I was dragged to the ground! He pulled me out of my bunk, and as I fell I reminded myself to breath!

I must have been knocked unconscious, that’s the only conclusion that I can come to, I have considered every angle and I’m always pointed to this answer!

The classic story of evolution is not my theory and I bet you thought it was! In fact the classic isn’t the case at all, and trust me I would know!

Evolution takes too long and this monkey grew in hours, this is what evolution is not and in this statement I am sure! Individual organisms do not evolve!

Evolution is merely change and everything evolves. Populations are considered evolved when they inherit genetic information.

Evolution is not a quick thing, proving all my theories wrong, I read my books and studied my stats I know what I am saying!

One generation to the next, the difference in alleles, the small changes are considered evolution, not this, oh no indeed!

Yes he might have a common ancestor but there was no gradual state of deviance!

Mutation, genes, natural selection, adaptation, genetic drift, inheritance, the diversity of life, he has none of these things!

Change in genetic composition over time through successive generations, resulting from natural selection, ending with a new species just doesn’t make sense! I have checked and checked and am positively right!

I’ve established a conclusion and have come to believe I’m right! That monkey didn’t grow to reach my bed!

I know this might be hard to believe, I am never wrong of course, but this one time I’ll accept my fault, I’ve accepted that I was wrong.

My theory is a diagnosis and is somewhat of a surprise but the real problem is here with me, it is I, I have OCD!”

Prague and Vienna!!

I loved Prague and Vienna both, Prague is most definitely my favorite though! 

Prague was the cleanest, prettiest, friendliest city I have ever been to. It looks like greece with the coordinated roofs but without the ocean right next to it.  The buildings are adorable and I'm guessing they have stayed so nice for so long could be tribute to the communists keeping them in order. We went to so many different places and I know I must have walked a million miles! I loved the experience so much though and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  

In Vienna we went to tons of Christmas markets, which were amazing and Christmas there would be awesome with family.  They have little wooden houses set up that are all decorated, literally every inch of each house has something on it or something for sale. Just walking around the market is an experience in itself and when you hear English off in the distance its comforting! We also went to Beethoven's, Mozart's and several others graves in Austria's largest cemetery.  Seeing all of those giant grave memorials and so many graves was intense. It's funny how when someone is alive that's important there's always a crowd of people around them but when they die people don't want to visit them or make an effort to be next to them. 

I also saw some of the coolest stained glass that I have ever seen in prague right outside of Prague's castle.  

I LOVED THIS TRIP AND WOULD GO AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT!!!

Roman Baths reflection

cathedral in Bath

Stourhead and the reflective lake

The bridge on pride and prejudice at Stourhead

The Stonehenge

Probably the most awesome travel so far!

Stonehenge

Stourhead

Roman Baths

I loved everything

I learned so much and loved the audio tour at the roman baths

Stonehenge was right in the middle of an intersection along the highway, it was he craziest thing to drive up on! The stonehenge can't really be explained but there are lots of theories. Most prevalent, it is some form of fertility deal. The stonehenge was kind of crazy to actually see. I've seen pictures in books but seeing the actual huge rocks right in-front of you is amazing. 

Stourhead, GORGEOUS and was where parts of pride and prejudice were filmed

We went on a long hike on a path around the lake.  The lighting was perfect and the water was so clear and still that everything surrounding the lake was able to reflect perfect mirrored images. It was the coolest thing to see. 

In my own spot I spend all my days,

from my own view I learn knew ways.

I yearn to venture like the travelers passing

A silent watcher I am destined

For forever I am silent

 

No need for sleep, I never tire

The sun gives me health and power

My many friends live on my limbs

Cold, hot, wet or dry

They come and go with the season’s whims

 

The worst of the seasons is winter

Definitely a lonely few months for me, very bitter

No other of my kind in sight

I wish almost every night

A little trunk will be brave enough to sprout

 

A friend beside me would help pass all my time

All this knowledge ive gained is worth much more

When shared and not hidden, lost with me

After I am gone, back to the dust of the earth

Oh the importance of a friend and knowledge. 

This is a poem we were required to write in one of our classes.  It had to be about nature, I am no poet for sure, but this is what I came up with. 

Shakespeare's Birthplace 

Anne Hataway's home (Shakepeare's Wife's home)

At Shakespeare's Mom's home

Shakespeare's mom's home

SHAKESPEARE WEEKEND! 

This weekend we went to shakespeare's birthplace! 

Anne Hathaway (cottage) his wife's home

Mary Arden (farm) his mom's home

The medieval looking house (his birthplace) 

We had a lot of fun looking at the farm and anne hathaway's home is gorgeous in the spring/summer time. There were so many plants and flowers that could bloom at the right times of the year. 

We also went to one of his places "The winters tale" and to his grave.  That was awesome.  The play was a little risky and the professors warned us but I was still in shock for part of it.  

Going to all of these places has helped me to realize that even though these people are AMAZING historical people, they lived everyday lives.  Realizing this has helped me to understand that anyone can do anything that they want to and they can be just as influential as who they study. 

I loved seeing this and I have a new love for shakespeare.  

Our guides
The spotted Rooster 
9 miles up and down a mountain in this and POURING rain
Today we went on a 9 mile hike through Kent. The picture with all of the fallen trees is what it was like all the way down the side of the mountain.  Today it rained all day and I thought it was going to be kind of a miserable hike but I ended up loving every minute of it. A couple of times, at different elevations, we would come out on a giant open field. Since it was raining at the same time I felt like I got a huge feel for how England really is.  A little more than half of the original hiking group left, came home and  some of us stayed out for the rest of the hike. The 2nd part of the hike was definitely the most fun and the hardest it rained! It was pouring down but I was completely waterproof, wool quick dry socks, waterproof hiking shoes, waterproof pants and jacket.  (Thanks to mom) I still got wet though because we were all pretty sweaty by the time we finished hiking that mountain ha ha

I wouldn't trade this experience for anything back in the states, I loved loved loved this hike

Fountains Abbey


Traveling the United Kingdom

We took a bus and traveled up north through the beautiful land of England's countryside. We went to York, Manchester, liverpool, Preston, the lake District, Fountains abbey, Beatrix potter's home, hostels, Wordsworth's home "Dove Cottage", York Minister Cathedral and places that were important in church history. We went to all of these awesome place and took scenic drives through the countryside on a bus, live changing drive!

In northern yorkshire a ruined Cistercian monastery was founded in 1132.  Fountains Abbey was by far my FAVORITE! I would love to visit there again! Thirteen monks that had been exiled to this valley realized that they had all the materials that they needed to build a monastery, they used the materials and started building an amazing monastery. This monastery was functional for around 400 years, up until King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries. The Abbey buildings and over 500 acres were sold to royalty and taken from the monks. 

Rainbow colors can be seen throughout each stone used to build this monastery, the rocks make the abbey look amazing especially with the vibrant green grass that surrounds it. Walking behind the monastery I saw the water gardens and it is amazing to be able to see things that had been built without machinery we have in these latter-days. There are hug stone walls that surround the monastery, now covered by trees, but there are places that can be seen where rock was removed from to help provide the materials used for building. 

The way the terrain was used and the huge building efforts shows how important building this monastery was to these exiled monks. This made me question how much I believe my religion.  I could never see myself actually cutting rocks from a side bank, building giant walls, and arches so that I could have a place to worship my God. I am amazed by the great efforts that these people went through to be able to have a place to worship. They really believed that they had the correct word of God and they truly believed that they were doing something that was justifiably right and necessary for salvation.  This makes me question how much I would be willing to give for my religion and makes me question why I believe the things I believe.  I also question why these monks believed what they believed to be true even with other religions being pushed on them.  Understanding what I believe has become more apparent to me since I have had the opportunity to visit all of these temples, Abbeys, Cathedrals and monasteries. 

CANTERBURY

The cathedral is 512ft long and the first archbishop was St. Augustine. Augustine was originally a missionary to the Anglo-Saxon people recruited by Pope Gregory the Great.  The Cathedral follows a form of many cathedrals during that time; it contains a nave, transept, and apse, along with long isles of arches and flying buttresses.  Under the cathedral’s main hallways is a crypt; the largest of it’s kind in England.

Two people we learned about that were buried there was Edward, Prince of Wales, commonly known as the ‘Black Prince’ and ‘King Henry IV’.  The black prince’s tomb had something written around the edges, it read, “such as thou art, so once was I. As I am now, so shalt thou be.” The first time he was referred to as the ‘Black Prince’ was first recorded 200 years after his death, he was never referred to that while he was alive. He was friends with Thomas of Becket and that is a reason why he wished to be buried in the Cathedral.

There were several styles of architecture in the Cathedral. Gothic style arches, (pointed at the top), Roman arches(more rounded,  parallel gothic ceilings (vaulted), and very gothic decorations.  We were also told how to tell medieval stained glass from modern stained glass. Medieval glass is thicker and when the sun shins through it you can’t see the reelection of the colors on the ground below. However, modern glass is thin and transparent, even with colors, and when the sun shines through it the reflections of colors can easily be seen on the ground below. 

Sikh and Hindu study:

An experience that changed my thoughts on religion forever. 

At first I was sure that making the trek to these temples were going to be the biggest waste of my life and I had no desire whatsoever to go.  We were told to bring scarves to cover our hair when we enter the temples. 

Sikh-

When you first walk into the temple there are places where you leave your shoes.  (good to wear socks when going to their temple) We went upstairs to the main meeting room, bending down and touching the threshold to the room we all made sure our heads were completely covered. We had to walk down a long aisle with people on the left and right of us sitting in a very orderly manner. The aisle was probably around 500 feet and at the end was an altar.  A man standing behind the altar was waving feathers over their bible to "keep the air clean around it", figuratively speaking. (related to the maharaja's being fanned in the early days because the air was dirty and the fanning was thought to help cleanse the air around him)  At the foot of the altar we knelt down and touched our hands to the floor to show respect.  We then (never turning our backs to the altar) walked away and took a seat (girls on the left, guys on the right side of the aisle).  We sat there for around 30-45 minutes and watched everything that took place. (the people, the way things work, what was being said etc) 

leaving (not putting our back to the altar) we left the main room and got a gift when we received a gift.  There was a lady holding a giant bowl, inside of the bowl consisted of what looked like really thick oat meal.  Turns out it was water, sugar, butter, and flour.  That lady handed us all a hand full of this and we were told to eat it.  (Some of the girls got sick but overall it wasn't that bad tasting) They hand out that gift as a "gift for spending time honoring God".  When you honor God and are obedient, he blesses you, this gift is symbolic of one for many to come. We then went downstairs and enjoyed a free meal. (In any Sikh temple you can get a meal for free, no matter who or why you are there) I didn't have anything, so I can't give my input for this area but my colleagues did, they liked the food. Then we helped the Sikh kitchen crew clean up a few dishes before we headed to the library.  In the Library we had a real Sikh teach us about his religion. They were the 5 K's like Mormon's wear garments.  (Knife, Comb, a certain kind of underwear, a turban, and a bracelet....all symbolic) They wrap their hair every morning and night, they are require to shower daily and use their comb that they store in their turban to keep their hair neat and brushed. They wear the special underwear to make sure that they are modest at all times. They wear the knife to remind them that they are "like policemen", if there is someone in need or if there is a crisis, they are to be willing to give their life to save a life. The bracelet and the turban are mainly just for show so they can tell that there is a sikh in a crowd of people. Kind of cool listening to what this Sikh had to say, I learned a lot about their religion and I have a completely different outlook on their way of life/religion. 

Hindu: 

We had to take our shoes off here too, unlike the Sikh religion, Hindus' worship more than one God. When we first walked into the main meeting room there was a stage with several Gods posed in different settings (selected differently for each God according to their power). 

We sat in there for around 30-40 minutes again and on our way out some of us gave thanks to the people running that particular temple and received a piece of fruit on the way out. (same concept of a "gift" as the Sikh religion) 

Sitting in all of these temples and watching such devoted people made me question my devotion to my religion. If all of these hundreds of people believe their religion to be the most true and sacrifice so much of their time for it, why is Mormonism true? These people sacrifice so much everyday, go to their temple twice a day, wear 5 items on their persons everyday (some even in the shower), and don't even have copies of their scriptures outside of the temple because they are so sacred. How can Mormonism be true if these hundreds of such devoted people don't seem to believe it?  

This really made me question why I believe what I do. I know the church is true. I know that every time I say a prayer it is heard. I know that Heavenly Father knows me personally and I know he wants to see me return to him one day. I want to hear him say, "well done thy good and faithful servant".  I know there is good in all religions but I believe the LDS church to have the entirety of the truth. I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life. I know this has changed my life for the better and if anything, these religious people have showed me the devotion that I should show towards my religion. Heavenly Father doesn't ask to much of his people, he created the world, we are all in debt to him. We should all try a little harder to be a little better about living closer to the gospel teachings. 

Trafalgar Square

My first real outing in London with my great roommates was to Trafalgar Square to visit the National Gallery.  One word: Amazing. 

Walking up to the gallery we passed people in suits, people doing bike tricks, a man coming out of a tent, on top of a column, who was painted green and was bum naked, a singer and a whole lot of arabs. Before we got to the gallery we already had a days worth of fun things happen.  The tube was hilarious, the night before we had been taught that English people don't make eye contact (it's a way they get away from the claustrophobia of being in crowds all the time) and we purposely would make people look at us.  Then we would all try to not make eye contact...very hard to do, either look up or down because everyone is facing each other in the seats. 

The national gallery is pretty amazing, we saw the rosetta stone, an amazing part of history. 

After the gallery we headed up parliament street, saw all of the parliament buildings and then walked past St. John's park to Buckingham palace. Throughout those few hours it probably rained at least 7 times for a 7 minute period each time, gorgeous skies. 

 

 

GOOD MORNING LONDON

When I first landed in London the initial thought to cross my mind was "What have I done"? I was standing in an airport with no signs anywhere except for the word "toilet" printed in plain print above a symbol of a lady off to the side. 

I head down, what seems a 10 minute walk, to customs and am asked what my business is here in London. I told her I was a student from Brigham Young University and she looked at me puzzled, "I've never heard of that place, do you have a customs letter?"  Good thing I remembered to put it into my backpack...she examined my letter and then sent me on my way, waving and saying "have  great time in London!" 

Next I get to baggage claim...no staff members are to be found, just travelers who knew exactly what they were doing. I felt like such an odd ball.  I get my luggage, sit down on a bench and decide to wait and look for someone who might come though this baggage claim for the London Centre. A guy that was my age, off of my flight that I sat next to, comes up to me and tells me, "if I you need any help at all, give me a call." That wont happen but it's comforting. I met him and his sister on the plane, they are from North Carolina.  About that time a girl with blonde hair shoots around the corner and I caught a gleam of her back pack, it was just like mine, BYU! I tapped her on the shoulder and she was so happy to see someone from BYU.  We waited around for any other girls for a bit and then decided that we should just catch a ride to the centre. We looked at cab tickets, way expensive...around 40 bucks a person...so we decided to take the underground tube for 4 dollars. Keep in mind I have two 50 pound suitcases, a large camera, and a backpack...9 flights of stairs and 7 blocks later, we arrive at the London Centre! All of the professors fly outside and great us, seeing them was such a comfort!!! They had cookies laid out on the table with glasses of water and ice melting in them. My friend I traveled to the centre with got placed on floor 3 and I got placed on floor 4.  Oddly enough, floor 4 is on the 7th floor...here I go again with two 50 pound suit cases. I make it up and there's one bed left, the bottom bunk, the one I wanted! I have my own corner, there are 12 other girls in my room, 3 showers, 3 toilets on the lower level floor, and we each get an outlet to ourselves under our beds. There are no outlets in the shower room but there is one in the hallway...that's where we blow our hair dry, one at a time, so I wake up before the other girls. I got put on kitchen duty so I wake up an hour ahead of the girls and meet 5 other kitchen duty girls before each meal, I help set everything up for around 50 people, and then clean up the dishes after. The London Centre is amazing and gorgeous. I love all of the girls and now have 39 new best friends! 

The first day I unpacked my things into my locker and put on the sheets that don't necessarily fit my bed.  I opened the windows because they don't run the a/c, it was so nice outside that day.  I washed my face and showered, the showers are just clear glass so you have to pinch the towel in the door jam to cover the front of the shower.  The water is soft water and so the soap never really feels like it comes off your body no matter how intensely you scrub ha ha.  Maybe having more shower pressure would help, the water definitely takes its time making its way out of the faucet head!  It really takes talent but I am a pro now! 

That same day we walked around our area, which is Palace Court, k gardends, hyde park, and lots of fun streets.  

You'd think with 12 girls talking it would be an issue when you try to get some sleep. Not at all, luckily the girls my age LOVE sleep just as much as me! No when it comes to not getting enough sleep I blame it on my mouse friend.  I have a mouse that sits on my shelf by my bed every night, I always catch him with the light on my cell screen.  I flash my phone up there when it's dark and everyones asleep, there he sits. 

This past Sunday I got assigned to hyde park ward, on the way there my church shoes wore such bad blisters on the backs of my heels until the blood started filling the bottoms of my shoes. I ended up walking the rest of the way barefoot, to my meetings and for the walk back. Not going to wear those again! The hurt spots are now clearing up and things are a lot better with the feet situation. Quite the experience.  I get my calling this week, I am going to be in the Lee something ward and there are a lot of young women there, maybe I'll get to teach them?!

We go on "London walks", it's part of a course we have to take here along with our core classes, and they map out where we are supposed to tour and tell us a little about everything. (It's a book we follow while we walk around) Seeing everything in London is impossible. There is so much everywhere and there is always something unique about whatever it is that you're looking at.  London's the most amazing place I have ever seen, I love it here.  

One thing to look out for, they drive on the wrong side of the road. You would think that I would get used to looking for the cars to come at me...but no. I still don't have the road rules down pat, all of us girls here are constantly getting honked at, oops.  

Today was our first day of actual classes, we have one classroom, it's pretty much the coolest room in the whole place.  The doors on the 2nd floor take up the whole front of the building and they all open into the classroom! The weather is always nice outside and the sun rises through the doors, it literally is hard to focus on the teacher because of how amazing it is just sitting in that room.  On the other side of the room through the other set of doors, there's a garden on the 2nd level of the porch....the students can't go out there but I can see it from where I sit and it is so nice to see. 

My bunk is by the doors on the back of our place, the fire escape is right outside, the coolest thing. I have my own corner which is nice because I get a little privacy but the room is still pretty open. I just finished eating some leftovers for lunch in the kitchen from dinner last night. 

Overall, I love the london centre and I literally am having the time of my life :)