December 16-17

       Well, these past 2 days have been interesting ones. Thursday morning, I showed up for class where I was supposed to perform "Danny Boy," but class didn't happen. It's like class is optional over here, even for professors. The main professor was sick, the secondary professor had other plans, and the substitute professor didn't show up. Why can't you just email the class to let them know, people?! Whatever, I didn't practice "Danny Boy" until about an hour before I was supposed to perform it, so it wasn't a big waste of time. I spent the next hour and a half preparing for a musicianship test I had at 11:30. That was interesting. I had to sight sing, sight read, make up a harmony for a melody, and answer questions about a certain score. It was just me and one of the professors because all my other classmates will take the exam after winter break. Today, I heard that I apparently did very well which was a surprise. I still don't get the schooling system over here. For one thing, why do MDX and CSUS team up for a 1 semester exchange program when England's university system is most definately NOT based on the concept of semesters? Everything revolves around a 1 year academic calendar. It just makes things way more difficult for me, having to do everything earlier than other people, and having to keep track of everything that is required of me because people over here don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing. Seriously, people. Get it together or don't offer the option of a 1-term exchange program. Thanks.
       After my musicianship test, I had no idea how well or badly I did, so I just decided to forget it and move on for the day. I spent the next couple hours working on my song set for Blend that night which was fun. My neighbors and I had planned on having a goodbye/Christmas/birthday dinner that night before my gig. I hadn't really heard much about it because I had been in Vienna, but it turns out that they were throwing it in my honor! Yes, we all got to celebrate together, but they made sure that I didn't see the decorated room before dinner time and they put some gifts together for me! Before all this happened, I spent a couple hours just hanging with them all in the kitchen (where we first met) and soaking up our last night all together. It was sad, but I tried not to think about it too much. They were all so wonderful and cooked us a fantastic traditional English Christmas dinner! We had turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts (I only had one. I'm not a fan.), broccoli, cheesy potatoes, sausage pies, bacon-wrapped mini sausages, veg (as they call it, not veggies or vegetables - it was carrots and squash in a delicious honey and mustard sauce), English chocolate pudding, and trifle (which is like a layered fruit and custard dessert). It was beautiful! (Look for pictures on facebook). They had Christmas music playing in the background and Christmas crackers which are kind of like the American equivalent of breaking the wishbone of a turkey on Thanksgiving except crackers are just paper poppers with a fortune, toy, and mini hat inside. They're silly, really, but very English. After dinner, my friends showered me with gifts and trinkets and cards. I couldn't believe it. It was an unforgettable night.
       It gets better. They all cleaned up after our huge feast as I went ahead to Blend to set up for my gig! Of course the shuttle bus took forever to arrive since I was in a hurry. We all met up at Blend later, and I played 7 songs. It was a lot of fun! Before I went on and while we were waiting for more people to arrive, my friends and I took a bunch of ridiculous pictures and laughed our heads off! What a night. Great food, great company, great music (I hope), and some great sangria afterwards (thanks to Marta). As a number of us chilled in the kitchen and sipped on our sangria, I mixed together some pancake batter to make pancakes for everyone in the morning as a goodbye/Christmas present. We were all still trying to put off our goodbyes.
       I overslept again this morning, but it worked out fine and I got 2 skillets going in the kitchen for double-time pancakes! The others filtered in looking sleepy (it was about 915), and we enjoyed our last meal all together. Finally, I had to say goodbye to 2 of my neighbors who were leaving this morning. That was rough, but it got worse when I had to say goodbye to 2 more later today. Sure we still have facebook, but these goodbyes weren't your usual "see ya around" goodbyes. We will probably be an ocean apart for most of our lives. Still, everything is happening in good time. Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said there is a time for everything under the sun. There's a time to make new friends, and there's a time to say goodbye. (Did anybody else just have Andrea Bocelli pop into their head just then?). Here's another guy who knew what he was talking about - Plato. He said that when humans find "the good" in life, they want to keep it forever. It's true. We have hearts that long for eternity, but our lives are temporary. It's weird to think that I'm saying goodbye to a chapter in my life that has been unlike any other. I don't have a plan for the next stage of my life, but I'm glad that God does, and He knows way more about life than both Solomon and Plato did.
       I'm gonna shatter the mood and say, of all the people I wished would stay in halls during Christmas break to keep me company, the musicians downstairs were NOT any of those people. Once again, they are jammin' away with that fancy jazzy stuff and banging stuff around. They should go home, but I must say they have also been part of my memorable experience of living in halls.
      Ok, on with today. After pancakes, I rushed off to class. I was checked out most of the time, but I kicked it into gear afterwards. My professor gave me some tips on my big assignment, and I spent 4.5 hours this afternoon working on that and another assignment that I was hoping to finish today. What a mess. I don't regret spending time with my friends last night, or doing my gig, or spending 5.5 days in Vienna, but all that sure did make my schoolwork harder. I stayed in the library right until it closed (at 7), and I still didn't get everything finished. I hate that feeling, but I'm getting over it quicker than I expected. There's not much I can do until January 4th because the library is closed starting tomorrow. That's another stupid thing about this school. They straddle the term over Christmas break so that we all have assignments due sometime during the first 2 weeks back after break, but the school doesn't open the facilities we need to complete our work . . . ? I'm not saying I want to spend my free time crunching in the library, but I could definately use another day or 2 to finish my assignments that I have to turn in earlier than my classmates. Wow, I'm sorry that this blog entry has become a venting session.
       After I got kicked out of the library, I made pizza for dinner and put in a movie. Thankfully, there were a number of people mingling around in the kitchen so I wasn't lonely, but it already feels empty here. I watched "500 Days of Summer" which Marta gave me and sipped on some camomile tea from Fortnum and Mason. It was a welcome relief after all the cramming I did today.
       So, here I go. No more class in London! It's time to start having some more fun (and spending the rest of my money)! Natalie comes on Sunday, and Ash comes right after she leaves. It's gonna be a whirlwind 2.5 weeks, but I'm so excited!

Prayer Request of the Day: That I be able to finish my work well but not worry about what I can't change. Also, that I wouldn't have any regrets when I come back to CA.