Wait...I have to go to school while I'm here?

Today was the first day of classes...blah...kinda took the magic away a bit, sitting in class hearing about how we're going to have to read something like 2000 pages of history and literature in the next 6 weeks. I'll be honest, I'm a little worried about my classes. They're going to be much harder than I thought. I am a worry wart, so I'm probably overreacting, but everyone else is kinda bummed too. We have homework now...lots of it...vacation time is officially over.

However, for homework we get to go to cool places so that's something. Today we went to the London Museum! It had some really amazing exhibits and artifacts, though we had to fill out a worksheet on it which it made it a bit less enjoyable. The picture is of me and my friend Stephanie fighting the London fire.

We then went to St. Paul's Cathedral! Yes, the "feed the birds" one! And, don't worry, I took a picture of me feeding the birds :) We went all the way up to the top, through all these tiny, narrow, spiral passageways that were a bit claustrophobic and dizzying. It was really cool! The inside of the cathedral is gorgeous, but they wouldn't let us take pictures...but it was amazing and enormous. We went up to the whisper wall where if you whisper against the wall, someone can hear you all the way on the other side of the dome! It was such a beautiful building and had some neat history behind it.

After dinner - get this - we went and saw Lis Miserables for 27 pounds! That's like $40 in American money, and it was the most amazing performance EVER! Jean val Jean had the most amazing voice. It was like Whitney, one of the people in our group, said: "His voice is like silk...with gun powder!" Amazing! So beautiful and powerful - and every performer was that good. Except Marius...he was a bit awkward...but still good :) It still amazes me that we just decided on a whim to go see this show, and we got front row balcony seats (dare I say, some of the best seats in the house) and it was pretty cheap and an amazing performance! I've never seen Les Mis professionally performed live before. It was so powerful. I got goosebumps during practically every single song, especially One Day More and Do You Hear the People Sing and Bring Him Home. And, we sat next to a lovely Irishman named Jim who was so friendly and nice and kept asking us how we were liking the play and kept punching the air with his fist every time some powerful music played. I think he had seen it a few times. And he told us, and I agree, that the plays in London would keep us there for 6 months rather than a quick visit they're so good. If I could see a show every night I totally would - it was amazing!

So, I'm still a bit jet lagged. I don't know why it's been so hard for me to adjust...but my cold is almost gone! A cough still lingers. I'm really, really not wanting to do homework tomorrow. I need motivation - not a good way to begin a semester...but hopefully I will survive relatively unscathed. I miss home a lot. I wish I could be playing with my family and roommates here in London, though the people I'm with are amazing and so much fun. I miss those wonderful people back in the states! Well, it's bedtime here...so I'm off to bed! Good night, and good luck.