Bestest Run Ever!! *am i in a movie?????

ok so the title of this entry is a bit strange, i know.

But, this morning i woke up (after some crazy dreams...) and was SO EXCITED to go running and skip swimming. (gasp!). the sun was shining and it wasnt very cold out, at all!!

i started my usual running route, and started getting a bit down cuz my shin splints were acting up again, and i most certainly did NOT want to quit early and head back. so, i kept on truckin.

going up hill somehow seemed to relieve the pain. after about 15 warm up, i decided to try some new territory and headed down a couple new roads to see where they lead. Also, Barbel told me about some nature running area near Beachy Head/the coast...and i was in search of this mysterious nature for my run!

I found it and started running through the path from the road along the coast. Once i got past the shrubbery and trees and hills blocking my view, it was breathtaking!! felt like i was in a movie or something and just running about free and easy on the beautiful coast of some magical place.......

Now, it is important to remember that i had been listening to Coldplay songs all along my run today. The funny/awesome part about my run (other than it lasting 55 min ;D) was that at certain times during my running a certain song would play or lyrics being sung and would coincide with where i was running!
*For instance, as i was pushing myself up a straight grassy path towards the top of a hilly path in which i could only see the top of the hill and sky, i heard "and in the end we lie awake and we dream of making our escape" which seemed really cool cause it felt like i didnt know where the path would lead, but it sure was gonna be beautiful!! *and then the next example, is when i was heading back to the start of the path and i looked up in the distance and saw a pretty steep hill that i would need to run up.....at this moment a song played 'when you try your best but you dont succeed'....which summed up how i felt about that stupid hill (though, in the end, there was a less steep hill that i decided to climb ;)

so, sorry if this entry was lame for reading, but the entire experience this morning was unreal. Standing at the edge-ish of a cliff with eyes closed, coldplay singing, and the warm breeze was a personal encounter with God. and i just couldnt keep the amazingness to myself!

peace out home dogs.

coldplay, 5 feet away........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The morning started with a quick episode of a mere heart attack when i almost couldnt check out books from the library due to an outstanding debt of 3 pounds from overdue books. i quickly pretended to search my book bag for money (cuz i didnt bring my wallet with me) and somehow, by God's grace and sheer awesomeness, i pulled out 3 pounds!? wooooooooh. that was a great start to the day i would go see my favorite band ever COLDPLAY in concert in LONDON. a dream of mine for quite some time!!!

Barbel and i left eastbourne around 3:30, and arrived in london at 5. made great time on teh train, too. so, we took the 'tube' and got off near parlaiment, searched thru a couple restuarants before deciding on a Latin one that was just amazing! I got some kind of beef curry/casserole thingy with fried plantains.......DELISH!! we both had long islands to prep for the awesomeness that awaited us. little did we know it was going to be one of the craziest, greatest nights ever. (i mean, we could have guessed, but not for what actually happened...........;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDv7G0d6Mqs
actually, this link is better. this is seriously about how close we were....only imagine straight behind them, not to the side....and that's what it was like! CARAAAAAAAAAZYYYYYYYY.
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pa8gFeFH38&feature=related

this was taken by the guys next to us!! so really, this is how far/close they were to us!!!!

oh man. so afterward. we were floating all the way home. im still processing what just happened! it was an unbelievable performance, yet again. and i cant wait till the next album comes out!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

We arrived at the O2 areana and found our seats. they were VERY good! much closer than i thought they would have been. and we had 2 free seats next to us, which was nice cuz we had more room to jump around, flail our arms, and go nuts (that may have been more me than her, but we still both rocked it out). the concert started with the first song of their album "life in technicolor" which is just insrumental, but totally amazing (and i called that that's what theyd open with...man in so good!). then it was "violet hill" and after that i really cant remember. to enthralled with being in england/londong/seeing coldplay for a 2nd time!!!!!!

so, rewind a bit, to before the band actually started performing. there was a little platform like, 5 rows ahead of us that was covered in a black cloth. and some security guys were telling the people around there that the band was going to come out of it/come sing on it....we were a bit skeptical. does this stuff really happen??!

sure enough, about 1/2 way thru the concert. there was a quick pause on the stage, and then they started running off and over to where we were sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the four of them got on the little platform and talked to the crowd, and then Chris introduced some guy who they had play along with them on the platform with his harmonica. Once he said his name, the crowd erupted....it was Simon Peg!!!!!! you may not know him, but he's the English actor who starred in 'sean of the dead' and 'run fat boy run'. very funny! He is very short and small in real life. so we saw him up close as well as the band. and you know what the cherry on the top was?! WE DIDNT BRING OUT CAMERAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:o

Afterwards, we both exchanged emails with the two people next to us who videoed/photoed almost the entire concert. so im reallly hoping/praying that he comes thru for us!? anyways, at least we actually go to see them so close up! it was crazy. and i thought the seats were gonna be bad. pshhhhhhhh.
here's also a pic of the O2 arena. very cool. http://www.theo2.co.uk/inside/the-o2-arena.html

here is a link of a video someone took of the band near our seats. if you figure about 4-5 rows up from where they are standing, that's where we were!!!

Livin on a prayer.....

here is the countdown:

5 more days till COLDPLAY
12 days till i leave for GERMANY
14 days till CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

exciting stuff.

recently ive had another small bout of weird sinus junk, but its clearing up pretty quickly so i expect/ (will no matter what) to hit the pool tomorrow (friday)....if i can still swim, its been a while. which is unfortunate cause ive been building up my endurance and whatnot and was pretty pleased with my progression.....God loves throwing curve balls though, just to make sure we're paying attention, though, i suppose.

Yesterday when Anna and i went into town for groceries/finishing up christmas gift shopping, in one store i heard some really great tunes, and as i usually do, i wrote them down in my phone to look them up online later and try to figure out who its by. well, i came across a little (and fairly new) Irish band called 'The Script'...they are alternative/rock and have a really great sound!!
so, here are some links to their hit songs.......or just the ones i really like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi7kHvM-ivI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-J8kC5DHo&feature=channel

and also, here is a little clip of the 'English Seagull Jig' taking place in our garden this morning....if you dont laugh.... that's just unfortunate!

Well, i suppose that's about it. as you can see, studying and writing so much has fried my brain, that a dancing bird in the yard is my entertainment.wow.

Scootily-Tootily

ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be open, order your food then eat it!

I have only visited 2 other churches during my 3 month stay here so far, and this past Sunday (well, yesterday) i visited a church called 'kings church' with my flatmate Mila. First, i was very excited that she was willing to try it with me, and second there are many other reasons why the Sunday was so spectacular!

1). i had a really great night out with some friends for a quiet saturday night, and the weather had been delightful for the past couple of days (warmer than some days in november!)
2). sunday i woke up before my alarm just cuz i was soo excited about trying this church!! the website looked kinda like Zach and Amy's church back home, which i visit with them once in a while, and in the pictures of the church and groups there were students! woohoo!
3). the sun was blasting wonderfully through my window on sunday morning!! it always somehow tendto be cloudy and dreary on sundays, but yesterday was wonderful!
4). i looked out my window and saw that there was 'frost on the pumpkin', the first frost ive seen here, so i got kinda excited for some reason.
5). i had good sleep, so i was fired up and ready to go!
6). the church provides a FREE private bus service for pick ups and drop offs, which means i dont have to worry about looking up where it is located/pay for transportation!!!

so, mila and i made our way down the slippery (remember, frost) brick sidwalks to the bus stop near the campus and waited for the bus. i couldnt contain my engergy!! i kept smiling and laughing and jumping up and down, cuz the weather was just breathtaking for a new december day and the sun was out and i was going to church! i just had a good feeling about it! as we were waiting, 2 other students came and stood with us and we all ended up riding the bus to the church! once we got there, i was a bit skeptical cuz it looked kinda like a warehouse from the outside, but inside it was very contemporary with a little 'cafe' like eating area, and then further ahead was the auditorium where the sermons took place. i just loved it because it reminded me of home, but mila (catholic) was a bit freaked out from all of it, but handled it well.

the sermon was a woman who had traveled to 5 different countries in Africa and was helping with relief there from religious persecution. she explained very well all that was happening there and the powerpoint pictures were really moving. the stories of the Africans there was the most powerful story of christian faith and dedication that i have ever heard. it really made me think about how seriously i take my faith!

afterward, mila and i stopped in at the 'visitors cafe' where we were greeted and met with a cup of coffee. we sat and talked a bit with an older woman, before being greeted by a younger lady (maybe mid 20s?) who told me about Life Groups that the church had each week where students got together at a leader's house and worhsiped, ate, and just had time for fellowship. she was really nice and friendly, so i have her my contact details and now i am going to the meeting tomorrow night!! i looked online the address of the meeting place, and (PRAISE THE LORD) it's right in town!! so its not too far at all, and easy to get to; which is fantastic b/c my class gets out late tomorrow so i wont need to worry about busses and trains!! yayayayayay!

so, needless to say, i am really pumped for what God has in store through this church and the people that i hope to meet along the way! It is amazing sometimes when i know i miss going to church and hearing sermons and singing songs, but i dont realize how vital it is in my life until i reunite with other Christians and get that giddy, fluttery feeling deep inside that i remembe why i love it, why i need it, and why i am a Christian!! GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so, i suppose more to come after tomorrow with news of how the Life Group went!
ps. if you have a spare second, please toss up a couple prayers to the Big Man for me, so that i will not be stressed over essays and be able to concentrate and git shiz done before the break!?

Just having a good tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime.....

this past week, i had a kind 'week off' since there were a few festivities i decided to take part in with my friends! obviously, thanksgiving was the main one, but also there was a trip to London for the German inspired Christmas market in Hyde Park complete with ice skating and glühwein (mulled wine). then, on saturday there was a black and white dance party at a student club in town. That was a lot of fun cause a) i saw undergrads who i dont get to see very often cause they have a diff. class schedule, b) the music was sweeeeeeeeeet and c) a smirnoff and a g&t make me happy ;) not to mention the fact that im burning so many calories from shakin my thang for nearly 3 hours :D

so, that was the most recent activity i can think of. the next 3 weeks will be hittin the books hard again and trying to finish stuff up before i leave for Christmas break in Germany. although, the closest light at the end of the tunnel right now is the Coldplay concert on Dec 16.......cant wait! but that also means i cant let up and slack off till then........boo.

Mila, Me, Ludka, Amelie, Anna, & Bärbel