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| After reconsidering how I feel about the public nature of a blog, I've decided to send mass e-mails to anyone interested in how my days in NYC are going. I'll start a mailing list immediately, and if you want to be on it, just send me an e-mail at brookeshowalter@hotmail.com.
Thanks! | | |
| I've been home nearly a week now, so I guess it's time to try to sum this whole experience up for you guys. A well-nigh impossible task, but here we go . . . On a light note, I'll begin with a couple of lists. First, some things I missed while on the trip: - family
- friends
- free water
- ice
- cheap anything
- chi flat iron
- a strong hairdrier
- the English language
- cheese dip
- driving
- alone time
- singing/playing guitar/playing piano
- the internet
- Ranch dressing
- pepperoni pizza
- country music
- American TV
- divided checks at restaurants
- dinner in an hour or less
- church
- free bread at meals
- familiar coins
- broadcasting regulations
- hip-hop/rap music
and some things I did NOT miss while on the trip: - homework
- 15-20% tips
- drama
- violent crime
- huge cars/trucks
- ignorance
- fatty/greasy food
- HUMIDITY
- excess
- ugly metal buildings
- thugs
- irreverance
Moving on to more serious reflections . . . . Dr. Wight was right, no one who wasn't on the trip is going to really understand what happened those three weeks or how it changed us all. Everyone I've talked to from home since coming back has been interested, but only in really strange and insignificant (to me) parts of the journey. Then again I can't hold that against them when I can't put my finger on what was so special about the trip, either. I'm getting better at my response to "So tell me all about the trip!" I can fill in most of the things that are most interesting to those who weren't there; I just hope in telling those stories I don't forget the ones that truly made the trip for me and shaped who I am today. Since I've been back, everything has looked different - this country, my family and friends, my stuff, my future. I've felt different. You know how on your birthday people ask you if you feel older? And how you never do? Well, after this trip, I feel older. It's nice. Except that I feel like since I can sense a change in myself and see the potential for even greater development, my brain and my heart and everything in me is straining towards that undefined goal. Only I'm trapped here. Not that I can't get there; I just have a lot to do before I can get there, and all of that takes much time and energy. Maybe that is why I'm so motivated to do all of the cleaning and reorganizing that is dominating my life right now. Remember when you would get growing pains when you were small? Well I feel like I'm having those again, but in the other, non-physical aspects of my life. I must remember to live in the present and not let it pass me by in rushing towards the future - or else once I get to the future I'll rush right by it, too. I don't know how much of this makes sense, but what I really want to say is that this trip took me one more step toward figuring out who I am, and I'm excited about it. I feel different, so if I act differently (and I hope I do) when I see you, it is for good reason. Thank you all for being supportive and interested in this journey. Perhaps one day when I'm looking back with those 20/20 hindsight goggles I can explain it all better. For now, this is the best I can offer. Ciao. Arrivederci. Au revoir. Cheers. For a sampling of pictures, go to http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/brookeshowalter/. | | |
| Well I made it home. I am actually sitting in my own, personal, private bed, with my own, personal, private computer, and I have NO alarm going off in the morning, and there is good food and a long bath awaiting me there. I don't have the energy to give any summarizing words right now (my poor body thinks it is 6 in the morning instead of midnight - that's one long day. I will definitely make a couple more posts, though, when I have the time an energy. For now, though, good night!! | | |
| It's my last day! I can't believe it. London has been great - a lot more like the U.S. I still think I like Paris as a city the best (if only they spoke English). Since we've been in London I think I've seen a show every night, starting with Les Miserables (awesome! way better than i expected), then Othello (at the Globe! a cool experience, but very uncomfortable), then Mary Poppins (the first half was a little disappointing, but the second half more than made up for it), and right now i'm on my way to see Wicked!!(why do i suspect it will be my favorite? haha). Anyway, I need to go, but things here are wonderful. Yes, the weather changed and it is beautiful, so your prayers worked - thank you! I cannot wait to get home and tell you all everything! For now, though, off to another show!
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| YALL! Paris was absolutely amazing! Definitely my favorite
city so far. It was like I ended each day saying that it was my
favorite haha!
A couple of days ago we were in Canterbury, which was just
adorable. It was a big change from the big city, but a nice
one. It is freezing here in England, though, and it has been
raining alot, so pray that that clears up for us these last few
days. In Canterbury we basically just hung out, toured the
Cathedral, and attended Evensong, the church service there. I
didn't realize how much I needed that service, I don't think. It
had been a long time since I'd been in a church not to tour it and take
pictures. It had also been a long time since I had sung anything,
and if you know me, you know what a big deal that is. It was a
big boost to my spirit, I think.
Yesterday we went to Dover and saw the castle and toured the secret
wartime tunnels, which was neat, but frigid. Then we went to
Leeds castle for the afternoon. If you've never heard of it, open
another tab right now and google it. It is so beautiful!
I'm totally getting married there. It is the perfect fairy tale
castle.
Last night we made it to London, and today we've done the British
Library and the British Museum. We've seen some pretty incredible
stuff today, to say the least. The British Library is among my
top five, I think. Tonight we see Les Miserables, so I'm super
pumped about that, and it's Monica's 21st birthday and another girl,
Catherine's, 22nd birthday tomorrow, so everyone is going out
tonight to celebrate. It is going to be tons of fun! AND we
don't have to be anywhere until 3:00 tomorrow, so we can sleep in for
the first (and only) time! Yay!!!
Y'all, this trip has been absolutely incredible! I'll try to post
at least one more time before heading home this Sunday.
Otherwise, I'll tell you all about it when I get back to the
States. Meanwhile, pictures!
    
[florence skyline at night, ponte vecchio in florence at night, feeding
the pigeons in st. marks in venice (yes i was freaking out), on
the overnight train to paris, eiffel tower at night]
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