Beginnings

Tucked into the corner of my bedroom, my bed bears the weight of two months. Two red suitcases - one large, one small - a small backpack, and a black bag stuff with the biggest blanket you've ever seen are ready to go, making quite the indent in my covers. I sit in a small alcove in one corner of the room, the corner opposite the door, facing the wall writing at my desk. I've turned off the air con box which takes up half of the window to my right. The top half still allows a good deal of light to soak through and illuminate the dresser, small couch, and book shelf that make up the room's furnishings. The red orangeish walls make the room seem both clean and homey.

I can hardly believe that in seven short hours, I will boarding a plane headed straight for London. I'll fly all night, and arrive mid-morning tomorrow. If all goes according to plan, I will arrive at my first host home in time for church at 4pm.

Seven hours may seem like a long time, but I've waited so much longer than that for this that it seems mere seconds. A little over five months ago, I discovered I'd been accepted to a summer program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. But I've been waiting longer than that.

It's hard to explain, but in many ways I feel like I've been waiting for this my whole life, or at least since I can remember (this isn't saying a whole lot though since my memory really only goes back to age 11 when I saw Midsummer Night's dream performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival - when my eyes were opened wider than they had ever been before). To get the opportunity to train for Shakespearean acting in one of my favourite cities in the world, from teachers who have trained some of the best actors in this day and age is such an honour. To be honest it's also overwhelming and terribly frightening.

Part of me almost wondered if I would even make it to this moment, and I don't mean getting accepted. Long after I was accepted, I still had doubts that I would ever really get on that plane. The last few months have been trying. It's taken almost 10 weeks to finally recover from a semester that nearly shook the very foundations that I rest in - namely my faith, and my relationships with others.

But here, finally rested, packed, well-fed, and put together again (even if a bit haphazardly) I embark, Lord willing, on possibly one of the most exciting trips I've taken yet, and I've traveled a lot during my brief twenty years on this earth.

I haven't much more to say at this point. I'm too excited to do anything, which is why Sydney (my housemate) and I are going to a free food and wine tasting event that's taking place on Main St. Unfortunately, I won't be able to partake in the wine tasting bit, but I'll be in England soon. ;) :)

I look forward to recounting my journey as often as I can if only to have something to look back on at the end of my trip.

"Oh, my darling, let us not be afraid of this journey
given us to travel. Rather, let us pray and prepare for the day
that, at the end of our patient persistence,
sees us walk
hand-in-hand, without any distance."