Health Question...

Is it bad to eat spaghetti for dinner one day, and then both lunch and dinner the next day??? What about caramel-infused chocolate brownies at midnight? And then for breakfast?

London Temple

Last night was our ward temple night and let me tell you... it was AMAZING!!! It was my first time visiting the London Temple and it is truly beautiful. I felt so happy and at peace to finally get to go after 2 months of being here. Hooray! I must say, it was quite the trek to get to it though. It required taking Bus Route 72 to Hammersmith Underground Station, taking the tube to Victoria, taking the Victoria National Rail to Lingfield (and we missed our train so took to East Croyden, got off, and back on to Three Crosses), then a taxi to get to the actual temple! Quite the process compared to the 5-minute drive to the Bountiful/Provo temples. I ended up leaving my house just before 5PM and returning home well after 12AM. All well worth it of course! Love and miss you all... especially my family!!! xox

FIESTA FIESTA!!!

On Thursday night my flatmates and I threw the best party in the history of flat parties at the Willow House! We had a fiesta theme and served the most amazing snacks and sangria! We went ALL OUT people... I'm talking chips, salsa, home-made guacamole, little home-made cinnamon sugar donut holes, I made 2 large platters of layered taco dip, as well as 30 quesadillas cut up into little cute appetizer-sized triangles... I also created a non-alcoholic sangria with fruit juices mixed with British "lemonade" (essentially sprite) and cut up fresh lemons, limes, oranges, apples, and pears. It was DELICIOUS!!! We all worked hard cutting, cooking, mixing, organizing, cleaning, and decorating!

That was just the food... We also made home-made invitations to post to all of the doors in our building, as well as home-made flowers out of colored tissue paper to decorate our flat and put in our hair (see below). Kat was our main party planner and she did an incredible job! Everyone really seemed to enjoy the drinks, snacks, dancing, and social interaction. The party was quite the success!

Voilà! My amazing flatmates! We have quite the flat representing many cultures and countires! Let me introduce you to them (from left to right): Denise (from China), Kat (Puerto Rican from Philadelphia), Florence (from Belgium), Çağdaş (from Turkey), Meghan (Italian from New Jersey), Randa (from Libya), and me (Filipina, Dutch, Chinese, Canadian from Utah)! Quite the multicultural group, eh?

Let's just say that with our combined efforts, we threw an amazing party! Might I also add that we're the only single flat in all of Willow House! Wooo-wooo!!! Willow House Flat 3: Representing single, intelligent, and beautiful people from all over the world! =)

First Football Match!!!

Okay everyone, are you ready for this...

I went to my first European football match and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Here is the proof - it's my actual ticket which I scanned (oh yes, a true blogger now) for all you people to see:

I must stress that this was truly a CULTURAL experience. Never have I encountered the species of "British Football Fans" and let me tell you, they are OUT OF CONTROL! The closest thing in comparison would be Canadians at a hockey game, but even still... they do not measure up to just how INTENSE these football fans were. Whoa... a bold statement I know, but I'm Canadian so I'm allowed to make it!

The stadium was fully packed with 42,000 people in it. It was at the Chelsea football stadium so I was cheering for Chelsea (as to not get myself killed). There were some Burnley fans, but you should've seen what it was like when they came in! There was a huge crowd of them - all marching in drunk and singing some Burnley fight song with hundreds of police surrounding them, marching around the group to keep them contained and protected. There were police on horseback in front, and 5 police vans behind the crowd on top of that. IT WAS INSANE!!! There was a separate entrance entitled "Away Supporters" at the stadium, and once inside they were completely blocked off by the police all lined up in a row standing there like body guards. I was sitting on the opposite end but could see the police having to break up several fights! The rage of the fans was truly unbelievable! Never have I heard so many profanities in my life! Seriously... I'm "profaned out" for the year... haha! How would I describe the men sitting behind me... Do the words "gnashing of teeth" mean anything to you?! Umm... yes. I could literally feel the air (and envision the spit) on the top of my hair as they were SHOUTING words you wouldn't imagine hearing in the states. My oh my...

I also didn't realize that one has to be able to sing in order to be a football fan! The ENTIRE CROWD would sing, chant, and clap to all of these different cheers and it was just so entertaining (and hilarious to eventually figure out what it was they were singing). I'm still not entirely sure, but let's just say that the many F-bombs weren't difficult to decipher.

One of my favorite moments was when I heard the elderly man sitting in front of me shout at the Chelsea players "Come on girls!" in your classic British accent. Haha! I was slightly concerned for the young man who was with him though because it literally looked like a blood vessel was about to pop in his eyeball! I could see the veins pulsing in his forehead... He seriously needed to simmer down! Everyone was rightly upset though because unfortunately, Chelsea didn't play very well. We lost the game... Our second loss at home since 2004! SAD.

Well, that's a little more detail for you on the experience, but you'll have to just witness a football match for yourself. Needless to say, my ears were ringing and my voice was raspy by the end of it all, but it was well worth it!

I know, I know... it's been forever...

Hello world!!! Just in case you were beginning to worry... I am still alive and doing well!

My dear, beloved blog followers, you will have to find it in your hearts to forgive me. I'm a horrible blogger and will repent and try to do better! Let me give you a brief update with some pics and I will go back to the more frequent and much shorter posts... I'll start with the most recent news.

HALLOWEEN!

Well, Halloween is not as big of a holiday over here in the UK as it is in the states, but my flatmates and I did decide to venture out and experience our first uni BOP. Two words: never again!!! As my flatmate Kat said, it was like a "junior high dance gone techno." Bad, bad, bad... Sad really, cuz we sure looked cute as two can-can girls and a gypsy!

Getting ready for the BOP...

Pretending to have fun at the BOP... haha

BLAST FROM THE PAST

I got to meet up with one of my old friends from Bountiful, UT the other day - Bryan Larsen. He and his wife moved to Germany, and his work brings him to London often. It was great seeing a familiar face, catching up, and eating yummy Italian food in Covent Garden.

We had a lot of fun walking all over central London. Here we are by the Eros fountain.

RICHMOND

Met up with girls I met at church, Jade and Kendall to have the Richmond tour and experience. It was a cold day, but was worth going out for the shopping, chocolate shop, seeing the apartment where "Finding Neverland" was filmed, walking through book shops, free hot chocolate, and visiting the oldest bridge on the Thames, Richmond Bridge. Truly a picturesque place!

Richmond Bridge!

Me freeeezing walking along the Thames!

ROXY

One of the funnest nights in central with the flatmates at Roxy Bar. Meghan knew the owner from when she lived in London before. We were treated like VIPs with free unlimited drinks and a personal tour of London on the way back to Roehampton.

STILL WAITING

Yes, everyone it's true. Not much has changed. The majority of my life still consists of waiting for the bus. However, I have learned to make the process a little more exciting. Rather than just sit there hot and bothered (actually very cold and bothered) like this:

I have found something to do that helps pass the time:

What can I say... even if it's a ridiculous hour in the morning, it's freezing cold, and people are watching probably thinking I'm crazy... I love to dance!