1 month since departure...

One month ago, exactly, I left my mama bear and brother at the departures gate of Logan Airport. Time truly has flown, as I look back at the last month and all I have accomplished since arriving here in London. I've completed four weeks of study and found these classes to be everything I hoped they would be. I've travelled once but experienced one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. My blog has been visited over 700 times! This month has been one to remember for sure.

Yesterday, we spent our morning in the National Portrait Gallery. This was part of my class where we visit a London object each week and learn about the portion of history surrounding that object. This week we saw the painting of a renown slave trader. He is known as Job ben Soloman, as the English name, but is truly Ayuba Suleiman Diallo. Check out a copy of the portrait I found online:

He was a slave trader who resided in Africa. He was accidentally sold as a slave and ended up in Annapolis, Maryland. After finding someone to translate for him (this is the short version of the story - but be proud mom, I'm learning history!), he explained he was not meant to be there and was sent back to Africa. Where he continued to sell slaves!! We learned about this particular man because of the prevalence of the slave trade here in London and their role in the Triangular Trade.

I then headed to my second class of the day regarding religion. This class spends a lot of time talking about how many religions are returning to fundamentalism and how America is actually one of the most churched nations. We'll see what turn this class ends up taking and how many arguments it starts! (we'll see how long I can keep quiet...)

Today, Thursday, was spent at the gym, doing work, in class, and at a play! Phew.

The gym is one of my favorite parts of the day. It's not usually too packed, which allows me to get my workout done in around an hour! I take the tube, walk to the gym, knock out a workout, take the tube home and continue along my day. I like this "me" time, as I discussed yesterday. But I'm also proud that I will most likely be coming home looking better than when I left. YAY!

After class, we attended a play called the Nether.

I'm not really sure how to describe it... besides the virtual effects were INCREDIBLE. It was an hour and a half long play that truly made you question the internet and how it affects your interactions with other human beings. If you meet someone on the internet, are they really who you think they are? Do people use the internet as an escape? As a way to be someone they aren't? To let out their fantasies? I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this play but am truly glad I was able to go see it! Check out the synopsis here: Nether Information. 

So now, here I am, at home watching some Netflix. I quite enjoy the nights I have to myself (well, Jake is here too - I promise I'm talking to him as well!) because they allow me to do the things I enjoy. My knitting needles are calling my name and so is that Kindle with a long queue of books waiting to be read. 

Happy Thursday my friends. Happy one month since I left America and Happy 78 days until I return.