Jumps Around the World

Every English major knows at the end of the semester, you’re most likely going to have to write a retrospective essay about what you’ve learned over the semester and all those wonderful things. Those essays can be things to sigh about, but they always got me to sit and think about what I learned and how I’d progressed.

So that’s what this blog is. It’s my retrospective. I’m calling it: Jumps Around the World (I’m not committed to that title).

Before I get into that though, you’re probably wondering why I’m doing a retrospective now because I signed up to be here until August. But let me say that God knows better than we do, and there are many circumstances that have led to me coming home earlier. One being that the CreativeLab is ending, and two, in June I’m starting the English MA program at IUPUI.

This week is my last full week in the UK, and it’s over halfway over. I’m heading home in a week and it is absolutely perfect timing. God knows me better than I do and I’m ever so grateful for that.

The very first month (week for that matter) I was here, the team went to Northern Ireland. Maybe you’ll remember. I blogged about it. (It’s spiffy.) You should check it out. Anyway, on that trip, I did a jumping picture at Giant’s Causeway and from there I decided to take a jumping picture at every place I went. Wales, unfortunately, I think the picture didn’t turn out, so I’m standing instead. Just imagine me jumping. Sorry, Wales.

Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede 

Durres, Albania

Adriatic Sea 

Rome, Italy

Coliseum 

Kinsale, Ireland

Charles Fort

Grasmere, England

The Lake District

Cardiff, Wales

#Fail

England

The Roaches

Nottingham, England

Sherwood Forest

Edinburgh, Scotland

Calton Hill

Paris, France

Eiffel Tower & The Lourve

Amsterdam, Netherlands

As I sit at my desk on the broadcast floor of UCB, I don’t even know where to begin to describe my time here. It’s definitely bittersweet leaving. I didn’t get to go away to college and live away from home and with other people, but coming here I did. It’s so neat to see that I got to experience a bit of that when I didn’t in college. I know many of the relationships I’ve built here will last forever.

So many memories come to mind and many inside jokes and laughs. Coming to the CreativeLab was a dream come true. How many people can say they got to live in another country, anyway? England has always been my favorite country (besides America of course), and I love that it has remained so to me even after being here for nine months. Sometimes when we go places we think we’ll love, they don’t turn out to be what we expect. But England remains my favorite and London remains my absolute favorite city. I love the rolling, lush green hills and the pastures of sheep and little lambs in the spring and the blooming rapeseed. I love the history and buildings so old you cannot even fathom it with cafes and shops in them. I love Big Ben and the Eye and Tower Bridge. I love tea and Sunday roasts and curry and naan bread. (I even love double mini roundabouts because what does it mean?!)

I don’t remember what or if I expected anything in particular when I got here. It’s definitely been a journey of ups and downs. It’s been really hard at times and some days I’ve wanted to hop on a plane and go home. Sometimes I wondered why I was here and if what I was doing really even mattered. But when we’re in a season, we don’t have the luxury to look back and say, that’s why I’m here. There may be moments, but even now, I’m not really sure.

There are so many things I’ve gotten to be a part of, UCB’s Word 4U 2Day, multiple graphic design projects, building a website, and writing lots of articles and copy for various things, including a Bible App for Kids Book of Hope. I’ve learned about videography and photography. I’ve helped out at conferences. I learned how I like to enjoy and explore a new city. I feel more cultured and comfortable with traveling and hopping on trains, flights, buses, and bicycles in some cases. I think I always knew I would get to the places I’ve always dreamed of going (I’m pretty optimistic), but even so, it was so surreal. Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Belfast, Edinburgh, Oxford, Cambridge… the list goes on and on. I’ve gotten to experience many cities and see many historical sights. But those things would never be as great as they were if they weren’t experienced with wonderful people who I will miss every day, but who I refuse to say goodbye to because it’s not the end.

Here is a few pictures that I think show some highlights from my time here or they just make me smile. I have well over a thousand photos from being here and I'd love to show you each and every one, but sadly that would take a long time. 

 Left to right: me, Krista, Sam, Katie, and Darbi at C. S. Lewis' home in Oxford

 The team at Carrick-a-Rede in Northern Ireland. From one of my favorite CreativeLab trips.

 At The Eagle and Child in Oxford, the pub C. S. Lewis and Tolkien frequented.

 Sam, Darbi, and Krista fighting over a bench in Stratford-upon-Avon. I love these guys.

 Gelato in Rome! Gelato changed my life.

This is from my first trip with the CreativeLab. From left to right, Chad, Darbi, Bethany, me, Devan, and Sammy. Bethany and Devan allowed Darbi and I to stay with us while we were there. They'll forever be my Irish family.

I love this picture because it shows Sam and I's relationship to a T. Just before the picture was taken I think he put something on my head/hair.

 We played a "who can buy the best thing with 1 pound in a market" game. I won. I got those dog figurines completely for free.

An amazing library in Birmingham.

 Meeting my favorite animal in Chester. Franz if a boy and Penelope if a girl.

Alex got to come visit me! This is taken in London. I absolutely love this picture.

 This statue is near where the author of Sherlock Holmes was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

We met Robin Hood at Nottingham Castle. 

Oh you know. Just a photo with the bobbies.

Darbi and I waited outside in the rain to go into the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.

And lastly, here's a photo of me at the Tower of London with a guard. I have to say, this was extremely awkward to take. Most of the time I do not like feeling like a tourist, so this made me feel very much like a tourist.  

I really don't know how to sum up my time here, besides just like anything in life there were ups and downs and great moments that I never want to forget. It's hard to say goodbye to my lovely friends here, but I know we'll be friends forever no matter where life takes us. I'm so grateful for the memories I've made while here, and I know this experience has helped shape me into the person I am today and will continue to grow into.

Thank you to everyone has supported me. I truly appreciate every single one of you.