Living life...

I've been so busy living my life these days, that I haven't found the time to blog about it!  So I apologize, first of all. (You all know this apology will eventually come at one point...really...because I'm terrible about keeping consistent at blogging.) But here I am, making amends. Please, forgive me. Alright, now that you've forgiven me, lets get on with it.

A brief recount of some of whats happened.

I...

Travelled to London, Rosslyn, Paris, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Stirling, and Glasgow.
Met and was kissed on both cheeks by the first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.
Went to church in Notre Dame.
Rode in a British taxi four different times...paid for courtesy the Scottish Parliament.
Saw Phantom of the Opera in West End, London.
Got hit by a driverless car and got a bruised and swollen leg. Yea, hurt pretty bad.
Then I accidentally got seriously drugged up from the medicine. <---That was embarrassing b/c there were many witnesses...
Saw the Queen....of England.
Went to an MSP (member of Scottish Parliament) only dinner. I get to do what very few other interns do because my MSP is blind and often needs someone with him.
Saw the Hunger Games twice.
Gave a talk in church.
Took a boat tour on the Loch Ness.
Have written endless Parliamentary Motions, one that was picked for members debate!
Was almost pick-pocketed in London.
Have explored cathedrals and castles and ruins galore.
Was on the Scottish Parliament Chamber version of C-span multiple times.
Walked along the misty North Sea Coast in Edinburgh.

I think...

      ...that the British culture is my favorite culture. And Scottish people are the nicest people in Europe.

      ...that time is going by way too quickly and Im not so happy about it.

      ...that because I've now had 3 different guys tell me Brea means beautiful in gaelic, it really must. At first I thought it might be a Scottish pick-up line but I'm convinced it's actually true. Which is pretty cool, right?

      ...that reading up on the politics back home is a very enjoyable part of my day.

      ...that I might be a little crazy for buying plane tickets to Paris.

      ...that I like being a little crazy. Because now Im going to Paris.

      ...that my favorite combination of colors has changed to lush green and dark gray... because of Edinburgh.

      ...that I need to start going to bed earlier.

      ...that the Scottish Parliament is wonderful and inspirational.

      ...that parsnips are my new favorite vegetable.

Enjoy your weekend friends!

Cheers,

Brea

Close...

{ In a position so as to be very near to something or someone; with very little space between. }

This word has been very effective in describing my life lately - even though Im far away from what I normally call home. Why, you ask?

• I'm closer to my future - I've only been interning at the parliament for a week but I already feel like my future is clearer, or at least more feasible.
• I'm closer to God - He is everywhere and always with me. I've been feeling that I need Him more and more. To help me, to lead me, to teach me. It's been a long time since I last felt this close to Him. What a difference starting a new adventure can make in one's spiritual life.
• I'm closer to nature - Edinburgh is gorgeous...I can't get enough of it. As the picture I took above shows you, beauty is in every little part of this city.
• I'm closer to my passions - Adventure, politics, friends, learning, music, travel, photography....just to name a few.
• I'm closer to the world - I had never been to the United Kingdom before. Its a place that I've never dreamed about coming to because I always knew I would come here. Does that make sense? I love this country. LOVE. In February I will be taking multiple trips to explore more of it. And as the months go by I'll see more and more. I'll go to other countries in Europe that I've never been to - making the world smaller but bigger all at the same time.

I guess you could say that my life is pretty wonderful right now. Want to know how I've gotten to this point? I used this inspiration from writer Anne Sexton:

"Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard."

While we are young...

Edinburgh, Scotland

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves.

We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.

We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed.

And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again -- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.

See you tomorrow Edinburgh!

Lately...

.... I study at the library from 9pm to midnight every week night except Friday.

.... I eat oranges all the time.

.... I can't stop thinking, dreaming, or drooling over everything Scotland.

.... Im doing fairly well in classes.

.... I wear scarves practically every day. And I freaking love the Autumn/Winter weather!

.... I listen to Coldplay, Brandon Flowers, and Gnarls Barkley all the time.

.... I find myself to be extremely funny.

.... Half or more of my time on Saturdays consists of watching football. Go BSU and BYU!!

.... I haven't been hanging out with my girlfriends. I need to change this!

.... I've been taking lots of photographs. And I've fallen in love with Instagram. (Hence the picture I took above!)

.... Im always in a weird "is life real?" mood....mostly b/c I can't believe Im going to Edinburgh.

.... I have become obsessed with the shows Revenge, The Secret Circle, and Modern Family.

.... I can't stop dancing while I listen to music on the way to school.

.... I talk to some member of my family every day. (My brother and sisters are like the most hilarious people on this planet.)

.... I have been reading the history of Scotland. Its some pretty fascinating stuff.

....