English Immersion

I really hit my stride in August in my new role as a lady of leisure. I spent the first week or so of the month camping on Bronwyn & Trevor's couch in Cambridge, with occasional forays into London. This was my first time in Cambridge, and I was taken by its quaint cobblestone streets, grand stone buildings, idyllic greens, and meandering river. I spent my days exploring Cambridge (often on a 'critical' mission such as a hunt for Tarragon vinegar), binging on *English* magazines, and partaking in *English* group exercise classes (my favourite was a long-awaited kickboxing class with Bronwyn where we finally donned gloves together). I greatly enjoyed food, drinks, and conversation with B&T in the evenings, either at home or at one of Cambridge's many vibrant locales. I particularly relished our cider and chips picnic at Mill Pond - picture our wedding spot at Jericho beach and add a gaggle of Brits having a pint! The (not so hidden) geek in me also relished our late night jaunt to the flat where Darwin once lived, a mere few blocks from B&T's abode. Another highlight was an outing to London with Bronwyn where we treated ourselves to dinner and a show - the Jersey Boys (musical) - which I highly recommend.

I also spent a fun weekend in London with Jerel, his parents and sister (who were in town for a 10 year Pepperdine exchange reunion). We all enjoyed a scenic sunset cruise, passing under London Bridge, and an afternoon strolling the city (Hyde Park, Camden market) and cruising the canals. Our friend Peter who works with Jerel and is also doing the program abroad generously let us stay at his place in London, and gave us a taste of what our life could look like 3-6 months from now. We both came away excited about the possibility of being based there for Part 2 of our year abroad.