I feel like a whole lot has happened since my last post… but at the same time, I feel like I have nothing to write about. So I’ll try to make this interesting; just bear with me. As you know or don’t know, we’ve been getting a butt ton of snow here. Maybe it’s not a butt ton to them, but for this girl it is. By Friday of last week it had finally slowed down a lot and the snow was melted on the sidewalks and almost melted everywhere else. So, I googled “touristy stuff to do in Leeds” on Friday and discovered Hyde Park Picture House, a movie theatre within walking distance that I had actually read about a while ago. (Everything is “walking distance” here. As far as I’m concerned, none of it is actually “walking distance.”) So we moseyed on over there to see Django Unchained and it was lovely. Really old school and fancy on the inside.

I pouted about going to see that movie because I pretty much hate anything that isn’t scary or funny or romantic or that I think will be hard to follow, but turns out it was really good. Well, when we came out (it was a 3 hour movie), it had snowed/snown? several inches and was still coming down blizzard-style. This turned out to be a blessing because I would have been scared of being mugged had it not been a winter wonderland outside. If I’m not paranoid about one thing, I’m paranoid about another. Roll with it, folks. So that was that. And it was the last of the snow we’ve seen. So here are some visuals for ya:

Then on Saturday at the crack of dawn, we boarded a bus with some of our friends (4 busloads full of ‘em, to be exact) and headed to Liverpool for a little mini vacay. We pre-booked a Beatles bus tour and with the help of Rick Steves (look him up—he’s awesome) we perused through the town. We visited the homes of the Beatles, Penny Lane, Strawberry field (they added the “s” to “field” for the song’s sake– It’s really just field), their high school and elementary schools and lots of other places having to do with them that obviously weren’t that important to me because I don’t remember what they were. Also, the world’s largest Anglican cathedral that was ridic. I really liked the Beatles tour; with or without the water that was leaking from the bus ceiling onto my head. Then we came back and went out to some bar and celebrated Australia day; affectionately known as “Straya Day” by the Aussies. We had to honor their special day since it was part of the bargain—even though they don’t know what ‘Straya day is even honoring. “Something about the first fleet or something. We don’t know.”

On Sunday, I found a good church. So, yay for that. Not pointing any fingers, especially not at the guy sitting in front of me, but someone smelled really stinky in there. Like, really really stinky. And whoever it was, maybe or maybe not the guy in front of me, had me super paranoid and sniffing myself the whole time thinking it was me. Bottom line: I always smell delicious. Jesus loves everyone. Even the stinkys.

Since then, I’ve been going to class (not my idea of a European extended vacation) and feeding my young brain with all kinds of valuable bits of information. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have one class from 9:30-3 (have I mentioned that?). Dramatic, I know, but that is a LONG time to sit in one room. I feel like I’m in elementary school again. Except this time with a whole bunch of British nursing students who ask me questions about American health care just to hear me say things like “y’all” and “over pronounce the r sound.” I’ve also been learning to appreciate the little things in America like free ketchup, my once naturally moisturized and now super dry face, and my own washing machine (I still haven’t done laundry—really learning what my clothes limiters are…) Also, I’ve gotten two pieces of mail so far. One from my great grandmother that was literally the cutest thing ever. And one from my mom-ster. What’s better than getting a card in the mail from mom? A card in the mail from mom with a credit card included. Boom! Youda, youda best, Tam!

That was lengthy. Sorry. Working on getting some loving postcards sent out to some of you folks back in America. Which I guess is technically all of you. So hang tight and wait for it! I’m sorta broke… post cards ain’t no cheap investment, y’all.

~ Gabrielle Campo