September 30

       I woke up to the sun shining through my window which made me very happy. I'm rarely happy when I wake up (no matter what the weather looks like), so I knew I was off to a good start! Even though my hall mates decided to have a party until 1:30 am in the room right next to mine, I still managed to get a good amount of sleep. Orientation officially started today, and there are a lot of international students! As I was sardined among this rowdy crowd in a large lecture hall, I realized that student respect issues are a universal problem. Some things never change.
       [Dear educators, I commend you on your patience and willingness to work with high-maintenence students. I'm pretty sure that I, if placed in that situation, would lose my cool.]
       During break, I met a girl from Dublin and a guy from Romania! I also met 4 more Americans which was rad at first until I realized that people from other countries are more interesting (at this point anyway). I later signed up for 3 social outings offered by the orientation program: 1) A guided tour of London and Covent Garden, 2) A trip to Brighton, a seaside resort, and 3) A riverboat disco along the Thames (I don't really know what that means, but everyone highly recommends it).
       This is a bit unrelated, but did you now that it is impossible to (safely and legally) watch a full episode of Glee online from the UK? I know this frustration makes me a nerd, but I was pretty upset. What to do... iTunes rental??? Also, you have to buy a tv license if you want to watch broadcast tv here. Strange, I guess it's like buying cable back home.
       Anyway, after waiting all day for my luggage to arrive, I finally got it at 8:45 pm! God is good, and He provides.
       It amazes me that the Lord creates so many different kinds of people in so many different places and yet we all are share the same need for friendship, community, etc., but especially for love. It is my prayer that I can show His love even in the smallest of opportunities. A smile and some brief encouraging words go a long way.

Prayer request of the day: That I would show God's love to the lonely, specifically.