At The Start.

In hand: a small cappuccino from Caffe Nero.  Sitting in a comfy chair and feeling like I'm in a cafe in any other city- everything looks the same, everything is written in English.  And then, I hear the barista at the counter say to a customer, "You 'on 'av it 'ere or take i'out?"  Oh, that's right, I'm in England!  At the moment, I am in London waiting for a train to go to Dublin.  It partly feels like I just left State College (in a rush, of course), but it also feels as though I've been traveling for ever.  Either way, it's been a total of 13 hours since my first flight and my attitude about this trip has already done a complete 180. 
You see, these past couple weeks I have been having negative feelings about my trip to the UK.  These mostly ranged from feeling sad that I would miss my last month at college before the other seniors and I graduate, to feeling nervous about traveling all by myself.  Now that I think about it, I just feel extremely thankful.  I am so thankful for the experiences and the people God has given me the past four years.  He has used those experiences and those people to help me grow in drastic ways.  And I am sooo thankful for this opportunity I have right now.  I get to travel around another country, learn about new cultures, experience teaching in a completely different setting, meet new people, and be independent.  Especially now that I've been able to maneuver myself and my 3 heavy luggage items through the underground stations of London without getting lost, I can say that I am excited to do this.  I am overwhelmingly thankful for the support I've received and continue to receive from others, and for the grace God gives me even while I am ungrateful or doubtful.


I'm ready to explore.  And you better bet I'll be sipping my way through as many cups of tea and coffee all the cafes in the UK can offer!

"Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Some of my wonderful lady friends on my last day. 

I must also add that I feel very left out for not having a British accent.  Everyone sounds so cool and I can't stop smiling as I listen to them.  What are the chances I'll pick one up within the week?