Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Three days in

(written Tuesday)

So I am HERE! Arrived Wednesday evening, stayed at a hotel near Heathrow, took the Tube to the YWAM base in Fulham the next morning (with all my baggage in tow—I am never doing that again if I can help it, but it still beats spending half a paycheck on a cab). Stayed at the YWAM base for a couple nights, had a look round London, eventually learned enough to avoid making a fool of myself and looking like a tourist. I was rather sad to leave. But I caught the coach on Saturday and now here we are. :)

I'm not in the “castle” (which isn't really a castle but a manor house—it was built in the 1800s) but in the distinctly unromantic rooms beneath the conference hall. But we get wireless internet in our bedrooms, which covers a multitude of sins (everyone else has to trek to the library or other loungey places). We swap rooms after Christmas and between terms anyway so it's all good.

Six other girls in my room, plus various honourary members who are somehow in here all the time too, so it's loud and crazy and there's always something going on. The six come from exotic places such as Surrey (BC not UK), and Oregon, Alaska, Virginia, Manitoba, and Yorkshire. There are 19 people here from BC which (I think) is the largest amount from any state or province—second is Washington, third is Oregon—so much for an inter-cultural experience! The other day I met a girl who lives a few streets down from me. Other than the inevitable North Americans there are quite a few Germans, a handful of Brits and various Europeans, one Kiwi, one Argentine, a couple Ugandans, a few who aren't quite sure what they are...

Lectures started yesterday and the two series-es so far have been on prayer and 'The Transforming Friendship.' I love it when speakers are so passionate about their topic that they automatically make you excited about it as well. I think if I learn one thing this year, it will be how little I know.

Still muddling my way through everything. Still seems like summer camp. I wish I could upload pictures but with the rubbish internet connection it would take days. Photos don't really do the place justice anyway.

It's raining tonight for the first time—feels exactly like home.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

To Begin

Naming this blog "Among the Mad English" was very tempting but I decided not to because 1.) it doesn't make as much sense if you haven't read the obscure but wonderful Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery and 2.) the 'mad English' might object. So. Oh well.

I leave for Capernwray Hall, Lancashire, on Tuesday. This is the story of what happens after, assuming I don't become too busy/forget/get struck with a permanent bout of laziness, and also assuming I don't get lost somewhere between Seattle and Carnforth. Both of which are all too likely but let's hope not.

Said goodbye to a bunch of (fabulous) people tonight. This whole thing still seems absolutely unreal.