Tomorrow is the big day!

WOW tomorrow is a big day for sure! Tomorrow is my last day of work here at Pax Lodge. I can't believe it, but somehow I finally managed to make it to the end of my Journey here... Or perhaps the beginning of my journey here depending on how you look at it. The time has crept, the time has flown, the time has sprinted, the time has slogged, the time has swam through raging currents and the time has floated aimlessly in stagnent disease laden water. Overall it has been an experience that I would repeat in the bat of an eyelash. One of the hardest things is knowing that I won't ever be able to truly explain my life here to anyone who hasn't lived it. No one will ever fully understand the adventures I have had, the people I have met or the things I have accomplished. I guess unexplainable personal experiences are what make each and every one of us unique, but I wish I could share this place with the whole world! I can only hope that I will be able to bring back a little taste of what I have learned from each and every person I have crossed paths with in my 161 days here. In return I hope that a little bit of myself has rubbed off on everyone here :)! Am I ready to leave? That's a trick question. I have learned, grown and changed in SO many ways, but there is only so much that one can absorb here. It is my turn to be "set free" (as Sally would say) in the world to share the experiences I have had with other Guides and Scouts all over the world.

My friend Maya got here on the 21st and I've been having a stellar time. We leave tomorrow night to catch a plane to Brussels where we will spend a few days. We'll take the train up to Amsterdam before heading back to London on the 30th. On the 30th I get to attend the 21st Annual International Scout Jamboree just outside of London. We're celebrating 100 years of Scouting so it should be extra big this year - I'm really excited! After that I will be back in London for a day before jetting back to Oklahoma late at night on the 31st/early in the morning on the 1st. I get into Tulsa around 5 O'Clock and I can only imagine that I will be EXHAUSTED :)!

I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone.

So much to do, so little time!

I can't believe it's already July 7th! Time is flying and I move back to Oklahoma in just 3 short weeks.

Last Monday our London Experience III session began so things around the house are as busy as ever. Every session we have an international evening program and this time around it just happend to fall on the 4th of July. We had a big party and taught the canadians (plus all of our international staff) how to celebrate the 4th in true American style. Erin and I sat up a watermelon seed spitting contest which was lots of fun.

Last week I went to the Harry Potter premiere in Leicester Square which was WAY cool to be a part of. Erin and I got there really early (although we didn't camp out the night before as we had previously planned) and actually managed to make it inside the square. I got a really great seat.. errr.. .stand! I was the third head from the railing, but the guy behind me felt bad that I was so short and let me stand on his chair so I could see everything. I kinda felt sorry for everyone who didn't even make in the square, but I guess that's their own fault... I saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Prof. Flitwick, Prof. Umbridge, Bartie Crouch, Mrs. Dursley, Dudley, Fred & George, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Cho, Seamus, Prof. Filch, JK Rowling and probably some other people who I can't remember right now. It was certainly an experience :)

Yesterday I walked alllll over souvenir shopping for friends and family - Does anyone have any requests? Today I'm hanging out at home cleaning my room, doing laundry, catching up on sleep and going through stuff in my room that I don't plan on taking back with me.

My friend Maya is coming to stay with me July 21st - 31st and I'm ready for an amazing time with her. Out of the 10 days she is in town I managed to get 7 of them off which is really exciting. We're going to Brussels (Belgium) and World Scout Jamboree among other things. I'm also going to Norway this month - EXCITEMENT!

Now for a couple of pictures:

My not-so-new room pictures to start with I suppose...

This is my bed area:


My lovely decked out door:


The view from my door - that's my desk, dresser, tv, etc:


Another view from the door (this one looking towards the right):


I'll spare you my closet and sink area pictures as it is a mess ;)!

Pax Volunteers from left to right - Texas, Illinois, Australia, Germany, Canada, Armenia, South Korea, New Zealand, Belarus, Ghana, ME and Russia (I'm not the shortest anymore!):


Team America! Texas, Oklahoma & Illinois:


Erin and I after hour 4? of waiting get a glimpse of Harry Potter:


Harry Potter:


Hermione:


Yeah, so, that's about all for now. See you guys soon!