This is Kendal who I met very shortly after arriving in the UK. We met at church but soon realized we’d both served missions in Argentina (in different places and at different times) and that we were both going to be studying at the LSE.
Anyhow, Kendal’s from a town in Virginia about 3 hours out of Washington and she invited me to spend some time there over the holidays. We managed to find me a cheap flight so a week after getting back from Belgium I boarded a plane for DC. I must say that it felt weird to be back in North America since I wasn’t planning on hopping the Pond for some time yet.
I was able to meet nearly all of Kendal’s family (as they were all home for Christmas) and felt very welcome…though I must admit I felt a little out of place and overwhelmed by all the grandchildren running around. In any event I enjoyed myself and was able to relax for a few days in a charming little town in the Shenandoah Valley. Really a beautiful place.
I also got to try my hand at rock climbing for the first time: something I’d always wanted to do but never had the chance to.
Since both of our flights left from DC, Kendal and I were able to spend a few hours in the capital (something else I’d always wanted to do but hadn’t had the chance to). The weather was crumby and we didn’t have quite as much time as we’d hoped (it got dark surprisingly early) but we managed to see the big things. I also got to wander around the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (both locations) which is something I’ve been reading about since I was a kid.
(The Capitol. Notice the stands being set up for the Presidential Inauguration in front of the building.)
(Honest Abe in his Memorial)
(The Vietnam Veterans Memorial)
(Smithsonian)
Now I’m back in London and a couple of weeks into a new term. I still feel overwhelmed and wish I could slow time a little but I’ve got things sorted out (for the most part) and am getting into the swing of things at school, at church, etc. I'm starting to feel like part of the Ward and have resigned myself to the fact that academic brilliance will continue to elude me...probably permanently! =)
