Heatwaves and History

I'd like to give a big "HOWDY!" to all my dear Texans at home, especially those Aggies that are braving the College Station heat (and summer school).  I'm sure it's a typical summer for Texas, with daily highs in the upper 90's or over 100.  Like I said, typical.

Here in England, the nation is being shocked by a news-breaking heatwave (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23355833).  "It is the UK's first prolonged heatwave since 2006, with six consecutive days of temperatures above 86 F."  How unbearable!

DIVAS.

Mind you, these poor Brits aren't used to it.  But really, if the temperature was 86 degrees in Texas right now, everyone would be praising the Lord for sweet relief!  In London, however, all everyone talks about is how the temperature this week reached a nasty high of..........89 degrees!!!  

So despite what everyone else is saying, it's NOT that hot here.  It feels awesome, perfect summer weather!  I had a great weekend that consisted of quality time with friends, museum visits, and a colorful 5k run!

On Saturday, I ventured over to Sloane Square with my friend Mina (also an intern at the embassy) and her cousin Maimuna.  Just a side note: these girls are AWESOME!!!  We had so much fun together!  While in search of food, we stumbled upon a market filled with tents and tents of just about every cuisine you could imagine: baked goods, fancy cheeses, Indian curry, burgers, paella...the list goes on.  I enjoyed a huge Brazilian steak sandwich that was delicious!  Mina ordered a burger and learned the hard way that English mustard is super spicy!  Quite hilarious :)

Market at Sloane Square 

Natural History Museum

After lunch we meandered through the Natural History Museum.  The displays are pretty impressive, but we didn't stay long because the place was packed and it was like an oven inside.  I guess that's the big deal about the heat being so miserable in London: even though the weather itself is not outrageous, air conditioning is virtually non-existent, so there's no escape!  At least in Texas we can say the "ahhh..." of relief every time we walk inside a building.  In London, without ventilation, the heat gets trapped indoors and for real, it's hell.

Entrance to Earth's Treasures!

Anyway, our favorite exhibit was definitely "Earth's Treasures" - a massive hallway containing cases and cases of every precious gem, stone, and jewel that God dreamed up!  We saw huge rubies, diamonds, emeralds, opals (my birthstone!), you name it!  Definitely a girl's dream exhibit :)

After the Natural History Museum, we wandered over to the National Gallery, and to our surprise...AIR CONDITIONING!!!!  It was incredible.  We happily strolled among the Van Goghs and Monets, never so thankful for cool air and beautiful art!  Seriously, though, the paintings in there were incredible!  I am a huge fan of Monet and his gorgeous pastel landscapes, and there was nearly a whole room devoted to just his works.

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that photography is not allowed.  In the Scottish National Gallery, no problem.  But as I was raising my iPhone to take a snapshot of one of the paintings, I heard a loud, harsh voice booming across the room, "NO PICTURES MADAM!!!"  The voice of the stern old attendant echoed in the elaborate room...then silence.  When I turned around he was staring directly at me, and so was everyone else...oops.  I muttered an apology and tried to play it cool, but I definitely hung my head in shame as I passed by him and entered the next room.  Rookie tourist mistake.  I thought we were past that, Hayley!



In other news, Sunday was definitely one of the highlights of my entire trip!  It was The Color Run 5K!  It took place at Wembley stadium in northwest London, and the entire experience was amazing.  Everyone wears a white t-shirt, and at each 1 km point there is a color station where you get attacked by volunteers throwing brightly colored powder!  It sticks to everything - shirt, skin, and hair - quite messy!  At the finish line, everyone receives their own packet of the color powder.  They corral everyone in front of the DJ's stage, and as the music builds, the packets are ripped open, color powder flies, and everyone raves!  Definitely an amazing finale!  I highly recommend it if the event ever comes to a town near you.

I did run it by myself because none of the other interns signed up in time, so don't judge me on the number of selfies I took :) I had to capture every moment!

Before the color!

Yellow zone!

Orange zone!

I did it :)

Grand finale!

Messy messy messy

...But I wasn't alone the whole time!  My sweet friends Mina and Maimuna met me at the finish line :) I felt so loved and was really thankful for their support!

My cheerleaders!

After all the walking/running/raving that weekend...I was exhausted!  But it was so fun and I would do it all over again.  In the next few weekends, I have lots of friends/family coming to visit, and I'll be making a trip to Oxford.  Only four weeks until I'm home!  I'm excited to go back, but there's so much here that I still want to do!  Time has flown, I've sure been having fun :)

Much love,
Hayley

MUMFORD & SONS!!!

So....prepare to be jealous :)

As you're reading this, do me a favor.  If you have a bucket list, get it out.  If you don't have one, START ONE.  Depending on how much of a music person you are, choose an appropriate spot on your list.  Write the following: "GO TO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LONDON."  It is surreal.

Not only did I get to go, but I got to go with some sweet Aggie girls!  So happy that Steph, Ellie, and Natalie could fly in from France and Italy to come!  And of course Kelsey came too...we surprised her with a ticket :)

Venue - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Main stage

Amazing lineup (in the order they played):

• Bear's Dean (really good if you like the Mumfordish genre)
• HAIM (eh entertaining I guess...if you're into 80's girl rock)
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Sooooo good!!! Absolutely amazing voices!)
• Ben Howard (MARRY ME)
• Vampire Weekend (Another REALLY amazing band, love the new album!)
• Mumford & Sons (AHHHHHHH!!! LSDKFNOWEIFNLTKE SPEECHLESS!!!)

We spent the afternoon laying on a blanket in the grass, eating our picnic while the first few bands played.  When Mumford came on, we packed it all up and shoved our way towards the front.  We got pretty close!  Here's a few pics and even a video :)

Waiting for Mumford & Sons!

Name of the tour

Mumford & Sons!  Dream come true

The vibe was INCREDIBLE!!!  Not the best quality of videos, but you can definitely hear the music well, which is the most important part.  Take a look.... :)

And then for...

...the grand finale!

Such a fun day (albeit a HOT one, even by Texas standards...)!  I wish I could do it all over again.  Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros were a close 2nd place, tied with Vampire Weekend.  I really discovered a true love for all of them!  Definitely the kind of adventure I had hoped for in London.  And I'm sure there's more to come!

Much love,

Hayley

Exploring Ireland

My sweet sissy!

I'm a bit ashamed to say I didn't celebrate 4th of July in good ol' 'Merica this year...but if it counts for anything, I did spend the holiday in a country that has also fought for and secured its independence from the British Monarchy...Ireland!

Highlight of the week/month/whole trip...my mom and sister Kelsey came to visit!!!!  Our sweet little Avery was off at camp that week, and Daddy has been on a hunting trip in South Africa, so that left Mama and the two older girlies to explore the west coast of Ireland together!

I would highly recommend every aspect of this trip.  A lot of people think to go to Dublin when they are planning a trip to Ireland, but the west coast makes a much nicer vacation if you're interested in the authentic Irish countryside experience.

We stayed in Dromoland Castle, which was owned by the O'Brien family for centuries.  The O'Brien's were an ancient royal clan that controlled practically all of the west coast of Ireland, and Dromoland was their most prominent estate.  It's well-modernized, yet still has the medieval charm of grand galleries, elaborate dining rooms, and massive portraits of the O'Brien family.  The castle was on a huge estate full of ponds and gardens, and even a full golf course!  Here's some of the stuff we did...the highlights were taking a row boat out on the swan's pond and eating a delicious five-course meal!

Dromoland Castle

Me and my pretty Mama!

Bar at Dromoland Castle.  The lady with the guitar sang old Irish tunes every night and had a lovely voice!

Our gorgeous corner room!

Beware, living in England results in an obsession with roses

Our row boat adventure on the pond!

A stroll through the Walled Garden

High tea in the Main Gallery

We had a sweet little driver named Liam that drove us all over the west coast on July 4th.  Our stops included Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the Cliffs of Moher, and Quin Abbey.  We actually saw American flags flying right next to the Irish flag at just about every tourist attraction we stopped at!  I won't describe each one to you...pictures would be much more interesting :)

First stop...Bunratty Castle and Folk Park!

Bunratty Castle

The murder hole...boiling water was poured from above to keep out enemies!

On our way down to the prison

Next...and my favorite stop...The Cliffs of Moher.  Breathtaking views, strong winds, and ominous caves.

Cliffs of Moher

This is the only one of fifty shots in which my hair was not being destroyed by the wind...

Lastly, Quin Abbey.  Unfortunately it was closed by the time we got there, but there were plenty of windows for us to peak inside.  I love old churches...one of the best subjects for letting out my (virtually nonexistent) artsy side :)

Quin Abbey

An inside look

The biggest blessing of the trip was being with my family.  I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.  And I miss them!  We experience an overwhelming, abounding joy when we're with each other that melts my heart to think about right now.  I never worry about fighting or arguing about anything; we give each other constant support and affirmation.  I love the super touchy-feely way we interact - there are an infinite number of hugs, kisses, and "I love you's."  I'm totally not ashamed to say I held my Mama's hand everywhere we went, and Kelsey and I were almost always arm-in-arm.  I wish Daddy and Avery could have been there, but I know I'll see them soon!

Be safe in Africa, Daddy.  Avery, I hope you had some sweet and refreshing time with Jesus T Bar M! Mama and Kelsey, thank you for spending an incredible week with me.

Much much much love,
Hayley

Surprises!

I think the word surprise just about sums up last weekend!  It turned out so very differently than what I had expected and/or planned for myself.  As of Thursday of that week, I was looking forward to the weekend with no plans in mind, and I liked it that way.  Even though I am in one of the most entertaining and exciting cities in the world, I was content to sit at home and "relax," i.e. soak in the loneliness and boredom.  But my gracious God wouldn't have it; He is just good like that.  He is always turning the mediocre into something extraordinary and beautiful, whether we're ready for it or not.

My initial apathy towards the weekend can be explained; the homesickness started to creep in last week.  I was feeling low.  Not sobbing uncontrollably or calling my parents every five minutes, but a bit lonely.  The Aggie interns I had been hanging out with for six weeks finished their internships and travelled on to see the rest of Europe (y'all have fun and be safe!), so my friend count was low...and so were my spirits.  To be honest, I was all geared up to throw myself a little pity party this weekend, which is why I was content to sit at home alone and do nothing.  Does being alone sound like a good remedy for loneliness?  Hardly.  I'm so thankful for a Father who knows us intimately and has the power to bring us exactly what we need at exactly the right time.

Straight clubbin' in the USA

The first surprise came Friday night.  In the basement of the embassy is a bar and restaurant called the Regal Eagle (that name always makes me giggle), and occasionally they host themed parties to kick off the weekend.  Last Friday was "Caribbean Night," so some of the interns and I decided we'd check it out.  The first hour was predictable - not too crowded, and the music wasn't bad so there were a few people dancing.  By the second hour, the place was PACKED.  Empty bottles and glasses filled the tables, the DJ had his lights and music blaring, and the dance floor was completely full of people jumping up and down in their suits and ties.  In the basement of the embassy!  Me and the interns dancing and having a blast with government people, diplomatic people!  You can imagine my surprise.  I kept thinking to myself, "if the public only knew..."  I didn't realize the budget cuts would allow for a proper party, but what do you know, we actually had a lot of fun!  It was an amazing bonding experience for me and the other interns, and the perfect, blessed cure for loneliness.

New friends!  Mina and Amanda

On Saturday morning came the next surprise.  I woke up to a gorgeous, sunny morning (rare in London) and went for a run.  I ended up in Regents Park, and when I turned a corner I was fronted by some very regal gates.  I ran through them, music pumping in my ears, unaware of where I was going.  As I passed under the gates, I glanced to my left, and my mouth dropped open.  I stopped dead in my pace and stared in awe at all the ROSES.  Hundreds of roses.  Bright and fully opened, unlike any I'd ever seen in the States, all different colors arranged in a garden of concentric circles.  I had stumbled upon what I later discovered was Queen Mary's Gardens.  Completely abandoning my resolve to run farther, I admired God's workmanship and praised Him for the beautiful surprise that He had so lovingly placed in my path!  

Queen Mary's Rose Gardens

Being in much better spirits after my run, I decided to use the day to cross some of London's museums off of my list, and I invited a few friends to come along.  Amanda, an intern with the Department of State, joined me, along with my sweet friend Josh, who I hadn't seen in years!  He is a native Londoner, but he moved to the States and was a Young Life leader in Boerne for my last two years of high school.  We explored the British Museum, ate delicious Thai food, and even saw The Great Gatsby.  Such an amazing reunion!

Josh and I at the British Museum

Yummy Thai food

Very cool exhibit!

On Sunday night, I had another great dinner with the Browning family.  I met some wonderful girls that are studying at the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Art, a really prestigious theatre school in London.  They are all very talented actresses/singers, and they had lots of cool stories to tell about their experiences!  We don't have a lot of acting/singing types at A&M, so it was really fascinating for me to hear about.

This weekend absolutely blew away my expectations.  I went into the next week completely comforted and refreshed.  The Lord really cared for me when I was starting to feel homesick.  He brought friends, dancing, nature, and history all together and artfully crafted a cure for my loneliness.  I am ever so grateful!  Thank you, Father, for a wonderful weekend.

I'm really behind on my posts...the promise to make them shorter and more frequent hasn't really worked out yet.  I'm still hopeful though!  More to come soon on my mom and sister's visit!

Much love,
Hayley

P.S.  Skype me pleeeeease!