Hey everyone!

So I last updated with what had happened the previous week and ended on Monday just basically doing homework and boring stuff like that. Well mom, you will be proud to know I got a 95 on my first paper, so to answer your question, yes I am going to class and doing homework lol.

This past tuesday was just class all day and Wednesday was more class. Our cultures class was interesting because we got to meet Arthur Edwards who is the photographer of the royal family for the Sun newspaper. He showed us some exclusive pictures of the royal family, diana and stuff. It was interesting. His pictures were incrediable! After we watched a video on more or less the history of Britain which was good because frankly the history and the royal line gets really messed up after Henry VIII. That night we just hung around, drank and just had a good time.

Yesterday was kind of a recover/get some rest kind of day. I started doing research for my trip to Italy and Germany which will be happening in mid October. I'm excited!

Today I am leaving for the weekend to go spend a weekend with an english family. They encourage us to spend a weekend with an english family, so instead of spending it with someone random, I asked Jon (the guy pictured) if I could stay with his family. His mom is apparently really excited to meet me. lol. I'm excited and think it will be a good experience. I have learned a lot from Jon already, so I am sure I will get a better understanding of how an english family functions on a day to day basis.

Being in london has certianly changed my outlook on my own country and how my own family functions. Jon says that his family and most british familys dont usually eat dinner together which I found odd, since that is a huge thing in not only my family but in a lot of American familes. Being here has opened my eyes to my own culture more than I think to the British culture. While here, I have recognized a lot of things I am not necessarily proud of back home. I will never say I am not proud to be an American, and I am very aware I take that privledge for granted, but there are some things that are disturbing. We are a very loud and frankly, obnixious culture. We are a nation of overweight people also. It's really sad. We are a very impatient culture and are very demanding.

Everything here is much more laid back. The pace is slower, everyone seems a lot calmer. They eat healthy over here as well as exercise a lot more. In a resturant you have to ask to order and ask for things. In our resturants it is expected that the server will wait on you hand and foot. No wonder people hate their jobs. Everyone is so demanding. Nothing is ever good enough for them. We have such high expectations on how we should be treated. Its kind of disgusting some times.

I can only hope that by staying here longer that I will be able to get a more well rounded view of the world that I can hopefully bring home with me.

I miss everyone terribly! Please write and keep in touch!

Love you,

Sarah