May 20: Cultured Sunday

I'll quickly give a recap of Saturday, but I really want to forget it ever happened and move on to Sunday. After a great Friday adventure with Aleshia, I had to climb into a coach and travel to Calais, France to get the correct passport stamp. This was my first trip outside of London. I saw bits of the countryside as I went back and forth between sleep and being awake. It wasn't that different from central Indiana, fields and animals dotting the landscape. Despite having to get up at 4am to make the trip, I enjoyed seeing the white cliffs of Dover ferry port and the sandy beach of Calais. Many Britons take the ferry on small holidays, as it is very cheap and easy to get from the UK into France. I basically spent a total of 14 hours on some form of transportation, to and from London.

As you can probably guess, I was quite ready to have some fun after that experience, and the next day (Sunday) proved to be just that! My friend Paul came to visit and spend the afternoon with me in London. He had planned to go to a concert with his mum, but she was having problems with her chest (she recently had surgery) and was in the hospital. While he waited for his brother to contact him about going to the concert in her place, I took him down the south bank (where Aleshia and I had visited on Friday). We watched a man build sand sculptures on the beach. He made a big lazy boy, an octopus, and a tv! I treated him to Nandos for lunch and we both went to see the art on display at the Tate Modern (a very famous museum). I have some great pictures from this that I will share at some point. When Paul's brother finally called him back and said he couldn't go to the concert, I gratefully accepted an invitation to attend! Before heading back to my flat to change for the concert, Paul got us icecream, which the Brits serve with a little chocolate flake stuck right in the top. A man dressed up as Spiderman was walking around gaining attention from lounging Londoners. I hunted him down and asked him to take a picture with me, arm wrestling. I will also share this picture with you later haha.
Paul and I raced from my flat back to the concert, which was at the Royal Festival Hall on the south bank of the Thames. The concert, performed by the London Philharmonia, consisted of three compositions by Elgar. The violin concerto (my favorite of the evening) was absolutely amazing. Paul's mum had purchased seats in the fifth row! I felt like I was on stage! At one point, the conductor accidentally threw his baton into the second violin section haha. I had an amazing time, and it completely made up for the Saturday I wasted. However, I had quite a somber ending to my day. I found out that grandpa had died when I got home and read my email. I cried a little, not really because I was shocked, but because I couldn't be there for my family. I felt very alone, but in some small way, I felt like I was in a special place....knowing Nana and grandpa had met here. I think they would both be happy that I was taking in this wonderful place.
To end on a happy note, I have some very exciting news! I had talked to my friend Paul about going to Portugal to fix my passport problems, but decided to go to France so I could get it taken care of sooner. His brother and friend Matt both couldn't go, so he asked me again, knowing I had expressed a real interest. I told him I desperately wanted to, but that money was tight. So, he offered to buy my ticket for me!!! Before you think anything, Paul has the best of intentions and really wants me to get the most out of my trip as I can. I will be paying him half of the ticket, as well as paying for little things here and there. His grandparents own a HUGE eight room villa near Algarve, and we will be staying with them for three days and two nights. No mom and dad, I will not be missing any work (wink wink).
I feel so lucky to be doing all of these things. I never dreamed that I would be doing this internship, let alone being in London. The only thing that I wish is that I had people here that I loved and could share things with. I miss my Brad, and Norah. I want to show all my relatives and friends where I work and make everyone some proper tea. I want to take my brother and dad to a pub. I want to take my "mum" to Camden Market. I guess that's why I made this blog, to stay connected. Someday, I hope to share this place with everyone. More to come. Ciao.