The last few weeks have been filled with reunions old school friends coming back from uni has been a treat and then my cousin Jo from South Africa  who I haven't seen since I went about six years ago came over for a few days with her new husband so I got to spend some time with her which was great...yeah It has been a very interesting few weeks got caught up on what's been going on since I have been away as I have seen friends that I haven't seen since I left for America four years ago. Its made me think a lot about my leaving and how lucky I have been to have the opportunities I have had. Most my friends from school here are at uni others are working some distant friends are not doing so good..one I found out is in jail a couple of others homeless a lot really messed up on drugs...its been strange and sad  finding out about these things and hard to even begin to share with people what my experience in America has been like...life is so different here especially student life compared to Malone and the richness of things I have experienced there like getting to go to Hong Kong and China for instance... its hard to begin to explain or to talk to anyone about it here...I find myself going around in circles with it all...two different worlds. On the same note of reunions I was thrilled to be reunited with an old friend Simon...I wrote about him in one of my first entries on here last summer...he has been struggling with heroine addiction for years...well I saw him at my sisters church and was able to give him a huge running jump hug.. he is doing much better..still struggling but he is back at church and getting the help he needs which was just glorious to see....yeah so its been an exciting and interesting few weeks...I am getting stuff ready for my floor at Malone and praying and thinking about how I want the year to look..I am looking forward to it and to being back which is coming up really soon..  

I am coming back on the 7th of August...wahoo- I have mixed feelings as usual...I am very excited about being back in the States and seeing everyone again and about being an r.a and being back at church and interning etc but also sad to be leaving...its been a wonderful summer and I have loved being with the family and my beautiful beach  So yeah two weeks and I am going to be flying across the ocean wahoo...I cant wait to be around people all the time again...its been nice to reflect and have a lot more time then usual to myself...but I definitely miss hugs alot and I think my niece and nephew have had enough of my constant squeezing he he

see you all soon!

Today England lost the quater finals of the World Cup to Portugal (who like to dive and are a bunch of babies) after extra time and penalties. We had ten men...(thats one man down) because like I said Portugal like to dive and are a bunch of babies (especially one man Ronaldo who is now the arch enemy of every English man alive)

The whole country is gutted and tonight most likely very drunk and bitter...

AND Brazil the favourites to win got knocked out by France 1;0 unbelievable.

Back to normal life again around here and no more football blogs for those of you who could not care less and wish I would shut up about it :sigh:

...October -qualifying for Euro 2008 begins

So I am back in England now and having a great summer so far… I went on a service learning trip to Hong Kong and China which was incredible on so many levels and now I am home and able to enjoy my family and friends in a place I appreciate more and more every time I leave and come back… here are some highlights since being back particularly related to my growing appreciation for my mother land…

-Spending a whole day celebrating with my family who were all decked in English footie attire on my birthday…not just my birth but England’s victory over Paraguay and then bouncing around on a castle and jousting each other after a proper English bbq burnt burgers and all

-Going to a church to watch football (soccer for most of you) on big screen in a building which has been decorated like a HUGE English flag in honor of the world cup, and spending the evening jumping up and down with dozens of others when our English lads deliver the goods for a second time running (that was tonight).   

-Eating what I am convinced are the best fish n chips known to man on the shore front with one of your best mates and having a seagull poo on her fish, only to see her peel the batter off and carry on eating (ha yes that was our fury friend Fleur)

-Scoffing strawberries sweeter then sugar that were purchased in the middle of the street during a walk through town.

-Watching thousands of people flock to the beach as soon as the sun comes up and staying there all day to make the most of the incredible 70 degree weather (ha ha ha note the sarcasm). Continuing to notice these people and their patriotic football tattoos “made in England” “thugs life” beautiful football motives the works….only in England.

-It’s the queens b’day today and any visitor to England would think that that’s why there is a flag flying literally everywhere you look…little would they know that the only time that England waves her flag and is full of patriotism is during major footie comps and this month is the world cup….. the passion and the intensity at the moment is something that can’t be described it’s so much fun

-Eating scones with delicious clotted cream made fresh in the beautiful land of Devon, and delightful strawberry jam, with a nice cup of tea to polish it off.

Ahhh I could go on forever but I won’t make this any longer…all this to say that this summer is going splendidly and I am having a blast soaking up the beautiful weather and atmosphere here at the moment….and its about to get even better as I am off to London tomorrow….he he he stay tuned for more extreme excitement from me J

Missing you all!!!!