We say Goodbye, but You say Hello.

The next day we woke up around 7am, took a 2 hour bus to Zurich for a 2 hour flight to London, where we flew for 11 hours and arrived in Los Angeles, United States of America. In European time, we traveled from 7am-6am; 23 hours. 

So be nice to your long lost ones who are probably really jet lagged at the moment. Don't try to get all the information out of them as they are exhausted, but do make them tell you all about their adventures. Ask us lots of questions but be patient, as we still have a lot to process but talking about our time can only be for the good even if we may get overwhelmed. Perhaps, that is why I wrote this blog because our bodies can only handle so much - and we went through a lot in a month. 

But oh so worth it!

I would like to take this time and thank 

0- G-man    1-Dash    2-Sondra   3-Tim   4-Rachel   5-Kelly   6-Sarah   7-Bridget   8-Margo   9-Mano   10-Me       11-Taylor   12-Jason   13-Kelsey   14-Jordan   15-Laura   16-Rebekah   17-Lucas   18-Stephany    19-Elisabeth    20-Chris    21-Jimmy    22-Kaylan    23-Ryan     24-Johnathon     25-Millie

(26-Mary     27-Amy)

Each and everyone of you has made this trip spectacular for me as well as for each other I know. Without anyone of you, it would not have been the same. 

And thank you all for your prayers, as God clearly answered them and walked with us every step of the way protecting and opening our eyes. 

Goodbye, Auf wiedersehen, Cheers, Ciao, etc. 

"I Want to Thank You very Kindly for this Good Good (Food/Day/Trip)"

The title of this post is the lyrics to the song we all sang in a capella to before we ate dinner, during our hike, and then to thank G-man and Millie for everything they did for us - and now to you parents for allowing us all to have these amazing experiences all through Europe.

But I am not done with Switzerland yet!

So I last mentioned the day that we walked in the rain to the waterfall. I don't think you got the picture that fully that we walked in the rain. So much so, that many of us found out our jackets really are not waterproof. But oh, being cold and wet just made Swiss hot chocolate even more wonderful. It was the perfect day to try out sweet potato red curry soup with sun dried tomato, mushroom, and chicken pie. The cafe I ate at, advertised Paragliding, Canyoning, Skydiving, White Water rafting, etc. a lot there.... plus when hearing of Amy's, G-man's, and Millie's experience of paragliding...all helped to fill us with desire to go experience Switzerland in a new way other than walking on solid ground. The way things worked out only two people, Chris and Kelsey, went Paragliding amongst the Alps. Their experience was great, so check out their facebook!
That same day we all took a gondola up past Briig (where a bunch climbed up to the other day) and to the Shilthorn (where a James Bond was filmed and a revolving restaurant sits). Yeah the restaurant was cool, but we spent our whole morning having a snow ball fight. It was anywhere from -1 to -6 degrees celcius (below freezing). Early on the clouds covered all the mountains. But later - when Dash, Mano, Chris, Stephany, Jimmy, Jason, and I went down on the actual mountain to play in the snow (one of my funniest memories on the trip) - the clouds started to open up. Words can not describe what our eyes saw. It was better than any imitation Disney could create. If you think about what Awesome means in all its worth - that would be a good word to describe it. But it is crazy how much the clouds can block out the  massive mountains as if the never existed. So much so that is was always so shocking there "would be a rent in the veil of mist, and then, as though framed in an open window, would appear a dazzling whiteness". As Hinds' Feet on High Places records,

 "For a moment one of the vanished peaks would gleam through the opening as if to say, 'Be of good courage, we are all here, even though you cannot see us'

The Shepherd said to Much-Afraid, ' When you continue your journey there may be much mist and cloud. Perhaps it may even seem as though everything you have seen here of the High Places was just a dream, or the work of your own imagination. 

But you have seen reality and the mist which seems to swallow it up is the illusion.

Believe steadfastly in what you have seen. 

Always go forward along the path of obedience as far as you know it until I intervene, even if it seems to be leading you where you fear I could never mean you to go.'

Later that day we were let loose to hike on our own (don't worry parents - we were in groups of at least 3). Jason, Jimmy, Stephany, Dash, and I ended up going on our own path (as opposed to the recommended Flower Path), where we met more of our cow friends as well as an older man in the tradition Swiss clothes (that one would imagine a Yooderler wear...like in the Grinch), with one dangling earing, sitting on a bench that over looks the town and mountains. As we tried having a conversation with him despite the gap of our languages, it ended up with him Picking up his 10 foot Alphorn instrument and played for us. It was beautiful. I was expecting it to be of a low pitch in which my heart would vibrate with it, but instead it was of a high pitch with a lovely melody - as if playing a lullaby to the town below. Other hikers gathered around so we left. After meeting and talking with other passing hikers, we ended up sitting on a bridge just enjoying each other's company - and laughing continuously as Dash blames our silly mindset on the altitude. 

Over all Switzerland was just a lovely place. A little peace of Heaven. If one can not see God's magnificence in their own lives right now, taking a hike in the Alps will open your eyes to  how narrow minded and short sighted we really are. 

Cow Whispering

     After 8 train rides and 1 gondala we have landed at our final stop at Murren, Switzerland.
If 8 train rides seem a little ridiculous, you are right but we never planned it to be like that. And in case you were wondering how riding a gondola could take us up the Alps, do not be confused with the romantic boat gondola on the rivers of Florence. It is actually a ski lift that can hold all 27 of us and more with glass walls as it flies us across valleys and waterfalls to reach our stopping point in the midst of the Alps. We have become great friends w/ the gondolas as that is the only way to get around in the Alps besides walking (which we did plenty of as well). The view was "drop dead gorgeous" as Millie expressed not realizing she was holding hands with those who were afraid of heights. Luckily her expression was not too accurate in the literal sense.

I am sure you realize by now that our trip is actually over and already know all about our adventures now that your daughter/son/friend is home (except for my parents as I am still not home yet). But I am still going to finish off where we finished the trip, so feel free to keep reading in case my story is a little bit different than others oral account.  But I am sorry for all of you who have been eagerly waiting to hear of our adventures without any reward for the past week. I guess you could say Switzerland was just that amazing I could not write to you.


So let me begin.
Our hotel was on a mountain that was surrounded by Mountains even higher. Mountains covered with snow. Our view from our rooms was exhilarating as one could gather by all our expresses when we first arrived, and one by one people stepped out onto their porch with using the same expression as "O MY GOD" (in the good sense). It was a sight to see with all of our heads poking over our little balcony's laughing and calling out to each other from excitement of our view.

Our first night started the same routine we would do every night while we were there. 6:30pm dinner at the hotel, in which they would serve us all the same meal with a soup, meat dish of some kind, and then desert. For not having an option for food, it was not all that bad and for the most part everyone ate everything off the plates. Even those who are more picky than others (we won't mention the trading of foods around or the hiding the spinach in the tarter sauce.....). We would end dinner every time at 8:10 than play some cards or rest in the lounge before we all met at 8:30pm for testimony's that would go until 10:30ish.   One may think we young college students would complain about having our night taken away from us, but really there was nothing else to do after 5pm in the small town we were in.

Our first day we went hiking on the North Face trail where Dr. Afman and Tim Bumps secret talents were unveiled when our path was blocked by a few cattle. Tim Bump started playing with the cow, in which we all thought the cow was angrily head butting him (as we were running away naively  according to the other cow experts in our group - in which I slipped on a lovely green cow pie...but it is okay because everyone had stepped on cow poop by the end of the hike anyways). So G-man stepped up to the cow and started whispering to the cattle, while we all walked past...I holding hands with Mary, G-man's wife, who was holding onto Millie, who was holding onto Lucas and etc. Tim just continued playing with the cows.
The rest of the path was perhaps not as exciting as dodging "stupid" cows, but it was just amazing! Wild flowers were everywhere (though no Edelweiss), which many ended up as bouquets or decorations in the girls hair. The beautiful, fragrant flowers covered the entire mountain side. It was as if "All had their faces and golden crowns turned down the mountains as if looking at valleys, multitudes upon multitudes of them, which no man could number, like a "great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12), all stooping forward to watch what was going on in the world below"(Hinds' Feet on High Places - it is the book I am reading for our PEA credit). We sang How Great Though Art in several different spots along the mountain side which could not have been any more appropriate, and filling me with such joy and praise as we all joined in unity - giving glory to the God who created everything our eyes could take in and more.
Later we had lunch at a restaurant on our path - that was owned by former California residents - and got $20 hamburgers. But the price was more for the scenery than the food. Then our group split up, those who went back to the town and those who continued up the steep path to Braig. And it was steep. But the view was just outstanding as the mountain sides continued to grow the more we climbed up. Beka, Elisabeth and I returned back down the mountain after an hour of intense incline. If we continued just 15 minutes more we would have hit snow and experienced Dash's first encounter with snow. But alas we had a great walk down surrounded in peace and tranquility and good conversation. The rest of the group that continued up - Ryan, Stephany

The next day we all hiked down the mountain + a gondola in the rain to see the most powerful waterfall I have seen up close, that was inside a mountain. It was more than amazing. The crevices and pathways that the water formed filled me with fear and I was safe on dry land (for the most part). In the book that I am reading, it is about one's journey of wretchedness and fear to glory and joy - from our selfish, natural lives to loving and being loved as God hopes and intended us to be. Though right now following the Lord may seem full of suffering or pointless - in the end where we will be filled with such glory and peace in the High Places, it makes every hard step worth it. That is where true love comes from, where self-giving is fueled. And that is where the books analogy (which takes place in Switzerland) of the Falls of Love - relates to one's own life and passion to follow our One True Love -  applies with this very own waterfall I have mentioned.

  "It is beautiful and terrible beyond anything which I ever saw. 

Terrible...it is the leap which they have to make, the awful height from which they must cast themselves down to the depths beneath, there to be broken on the rocks. I can hardly bear to watch it."

"Look closer. Let your eye follow just one part of the water from the moment when it leaps over the edge until it reaches the bottom".

"Once over the edge, the waters were like winged things, alive with joy, so utterly abandoned to the ecstasy of giving themselves that she could almost have supposed that she was looking at a host of angels floating down on rainbow wings, singing with rapture as they went.

"It looks as though they think it is the loveliest movement in all the world, as though to cast oneself down is to abandon oneself to ecstasy and joy indescribable."

On reaching the rocks below, all the waters flowed together in a glorious host, forming an exuberant, rushing, torrent which swirled triumphantly around and over the rocks. 

Laughing and shouting at the top of their voices, they hurried still lower and lower down through the meadows to the next precipice and the next glorious crisis of their self-giving.

"Self-giving is its life. It has only one desire, to go down and down and give itself with no reserve or holding back of any kind. you can see that as it obeys that glorious urge the obstacles which look so terrifying are perfectly harmless, and indeed only add to the joy and glory of the movement"(186-187).

"Brought like herself by the King to the Kingdom of Live and to the High Places so that they could now pour out their lives in gladdest abandonment, leaping down with Him to the sorrowful, desolate places below, to share with others the life which they had received. 

She herself was only one drop among the glad, exultant throng of Self-givers, the followers of the King of Love, united with Him and with one another, each one equally blessed and beloved as herself." (253)

David...David...David...David

No David is not a charming Italian man that I met in Rome, but the 17 foot statue formed by the Michelangelo was everything I dreamed and more. Where did we come across this magnificent art form of the image of man, which was a great representative of the Image of God through His power that was revealed via in it, it was in Florence.

We have arrived in Florence. On the train from Rome, we met our next tour guides, Zack Irvine and Joshua who are Westmont graduates.We had a great time getting to know them and talking about Spring Sing. The day we arrived and dropped our stuff in the convent we were staying in, we toured the city learning about the history of Duomo  and saw Paradise Doors that took 40 years to make. We later climbed up these steep stairs up to the Piazza of Michalangelo. We all ended up there the next to watch the sun set and listen to this duet band...which our group may or may not have started the electric slide alongside them. Needless to say it was a good night to a good day of lots of shopping around the Leather Market. Everyone's bags have abruptly gotten bigger when we left for Switzerland.

It was a lovely time in Florence, Italy.

Is the Pope Catholic?

Bonjorno! Surprise friends, this monastery has the internet! It is quite expensive but thank God in everything.

So I left you off in Austria. Before we entered Rome in our dreadful, smelly, hot, small sleeping cars we had a great time singing "My Favorite Things" around the horse fountain in Salzburgh and frolicking in the field below the real Monastery that the Sound of Music took place. The Gazzebo was just as beautiful as in the movie, but we couldn't enter it because it is now locked from everyone hurting themselves by jumping from bench to bench. If you could have just seen us all riding along in our cruise bikes through the country of Austria with the mountains in the background, you wouldn't be able to resist smiling in peacefulness.

So we arrived in Rome, and immediately met our new tour guide and roamed around the Vatican with the Sistine Chapel and  St. Peter's. I wish I could explain to you all the meanings and beauty that is within these structures that goes beyond the eye, but alas I do not have enough time to mention everything! But let me tell you, being able to witness both the Sistine Chapel, especially seeing the Last Judgement and participating in mass in St. Peter's during  Pentecost Sunday with the Pope, was quite extraordinary.
Did I just say I say I took mass with the Pope?
Yes, yes I did. In fact Mano, Chris, Rachel, Margo, and Dash all got free tickets and got to sit 2\3 back from the front in St. Peter's. I saw the Pope pass by like 15 feet away, but Margo got a video of the Pope coming directly in front of her to bless a baby. Literally right in front of her in all his gold splendor and humility. It was glorious. Listening to the boys and men choir and the two huge organs while seeing the sun light coming down onto the alter and joining in the chant in Latin, was a humbling and graceful experience to partake with people from all over the world.

The next day we ventured into the Roman Forums, where one would think it is filled with ruins, but according to our tour guide is filled with meaning and continuity. Again, the things we learned from Romans were lessons that only experience can find, and I do not have the time to try and enlighten you. But I hope in the near future to come back and fix that.
We also saw the contrast within the Roman culture (and ourselves) - in engineering marvel and man's potential for evil.

Later we took a night walk around Rome, had an amazing gelatto, threw coins over our shoulder in the Trivey Fountain hoping for love, and are planning to continue our romanticised travels tonight.
I won't even mention our academic time in the University of Rome, by the Olympic stadium, practice track, and the beach volleyball tournament- where we learned all about the new technology and research concerning bio mechanics. Plus an extreme tightly, packed bus ride, in which most Europeans don't wear deodorant...

Chao from those blessed from the Pope

Just Sit Back and Relax

Well I think the professors preferred that I don't leave the trip on terms of being too intense from Berlin, and so for the past few days all we have been doing is enjoying the lovely scenery and eating lots of gelato ice cream in Prague and Austria.
The past two places we have stayed at were the cutest darling little places I have stayed at.
In Prague, we stayed at Casa de Italia (yes Italy in Prague, though we will be staying in Italy as well, but that is okay). I think you could say it was a hostel, but the finest hostel you could imagine. Each room had its own personality with a little kitchen area. My room had a kitchen, with a love seat, a loft with another couch and an antique sewing machine, a bathroom that had a tiny shower with a sink in it and then another shower spout in the bathroom with below my knees next to the toilet. We did not take two showers at once. Our bedroom area had another loft with a double bed, and then a bunk bed. Under the loft was another couch. Everything was made out of wood and it just so cute! I loved it all. It was also a great atmosphere for girl talk as my roommates Elisabeth and Kelsey had a good debriefing time with Berlin, and then had a fun time eating snacks with the rest of the girls....while all the boys could hear us talking from across the courtyard.

The day we arrived in Prague we toured the city for about 7 hours with Gabriel. He of course expressed all the history he could possibly fit in, but as he said the history isn't too extensive because it actually is a rather new country.  It was a beautiful city. Jason, Jimmy, Chris, Dash, Sarah, and Stephany had dinner at the Cafe de Louve. A nice but reasonable price french restaurant where we had a range of salmon and rabbit.
After walking around some good shops, we all ended up on the Charle's Bridge during sunset where the castle is in sight and all lit up. Very romantic, if you were looking for that type of thing.
However, around Prague were beggars, but they would be on their knees bending over with head down and arms over their head while holding out a hat. It was the saddest sight that would just stab your heart more than anything.

The next day we left for another city in Prague called Cesky Krumlov, which Gabriel claims is the most Romantic city in Europe. Very beautiful and light hearted. I spent most of the day with Sarah, Elisabeth, Beka and Stephany exploring the castle and skipping down the formal gardens. The pet bear at the castle was very fascinating, and we made sure we checked out all the antique stores in the area. We got lunch at this "collective hole in the wall" cafe (according to Elisabeth) with the dandiest objects and decorations. So cozy yet artsy. And great panini.

We then continued on our trip towards Austria!! A total of 5 hours of driving in our private coach bus. I remember waking up one time to this huge grayish, white cliffs across from a glassy smooth lake surrounded  by green pastures and cute farm houses and lodges. It was so beautiful I almost teared up.
I may just be so bold to say that Austria is my favorite so far.
We have been staying in Halllstatt, Austria for these past two nights (this is the second night). We are staying in a building that is over 400 years old. And I love it! I am staying on the 3rd floor where every wooden floor creaks. I have a room all to myself, and not going to lie but it is great. I open my door with my skeleton key and these white lace curtains are blowing in the wind from my glass door that opens to my porch that over looks the glacier lake that is surrounded by mountains, with a white castle directly across from us. I fell asleep to the sound of rain. But that was after I sat outside on my porch journaling while the girls all piled onto Millie's and her daughter's (who joined us on the trip) bed and sang along while watching Sound of Music, to get us ready for the day we take our bike tour around the Vantramp property on Friday! I later joined them, how could I not!  Early this morning Ryan and I went kayaking on the lake in the fog in the cold air. But oh, it was so worth it. Everything was still and we were the only ones making a ripple on the lake. Granted that the kayaks may not have been fully functional as it was impossible to paddle straight for more than 3 strokes. But that is okay.  I then finished off the morning with a lovely
This afternoon we all rode this cart thing up the mountain to the oldest salt mine in the world. What a unique experience. The best part, as I am sure all would say, was sliding down the slides that take you to a lower level under the ground. The last slide was 65ft long and Prof. Afman and his wife (who also joined us) reached 34.7 km/hr.
After lunch John, Chris, Millie's daughter Amy, and I went hiking to this massive, powerful waterfall. It was magnificent. We walked through the local neighborhoods which were what you would picture old houses in the middle of mountain forests. Each house had at least 3 piles of stored fire wood. We passed by horses, and fields of flowers, and just beautiful scenery. On the way back we saw the weirdest looking sheep...maybe goats...but with long strangling tails, which started to head bump each other pretty hard.
In the mean time the rest of the group just relaxed by the lake kayaking, swimming (in the cold refreshing water), shopping in the cute stores, reading, or sleeping.
For dinner the whole group basically all ended up at the same resurant (1 out of 3 choices). The food may not be the greatest thing, but it doesn't need to be because they got Hallstatte Austria! Basically the most beautful place I have seen thus far.


Tomorrow we are off for Salzburg, Austria, where Sound of Music took place. Yes we are taking a bike ride around there and will be singing Do Re Me Fa So La Te Do without a doubt. We then will be leaving straight from there and traveling on an overnight train to Rome, Italy!
Do not be surprised if you do not hear from me in a long time. In bother Rome and Florance we will be staying at Convents. Then we are off to Switzerland in the Alps, and who knows what the internet situation is up there. But perhaps I will be able to find an internet cafe in the city before I shun out the world for the night.


But take joy all of you back in America staying intact with reality and takign care of the practical situations, for your loved ones who are just having a blast wondering around little bits of heaven for a month just spending (your) money, will be home in less than 2 weeks now. We have reached the half point and we have all made it alive thus far with no lost passports or any complications. Praise the Lord!

How to Conquer Death

Before I begin, I would just like to apologize for any misspellings or grammatical errors, as 1) I am a kinesiologist student and not an English major and 2) I have constantly been rushed in my wrighting. But as those of you who know me have already learned to do, just go with the flow.

Speaking  of going with the flow, our group is superb at that. Not only does Gabrielle keep us constantly on our feet taking us to who knows where ad we just follow with eagerness, but also considering that one time when our train from Holland to Berlin had a broken air system and we rode for 4 hours without complaining (some even tried to identify slightly with Corrie Ten Boom and the other holocaust victims who had to travel the same journey only in much worse and stuffier train conditions. But then when we finally moved to a different car of the train that was slightly cooler, the train stopped and confusion filled the train. Next thing we know Afman is pointing to get off the train while Mano is leaping over the seats yelling GET OFF THE TRAIN, everyone with out a flinch grabbed their stuff and got off the train I think in less than 10 seconds. Don't worry parents there was no fire. We just found out that we had to switch trains (probably because of the lack of air). But don't let me scare you, we were in good hands and resulted in lots of laughter in the end.

But now to the serious stuff. The very day we entered Berlin, Gabrielle hit us with the Bradenburgh Gate and the history of the Berlin Wall with East and West Germany. Gabrielle ended our tour of the day, by anticipating how Berlin is actually a city of resurrection and is quite beautiful. But that was just a taste of Berlin. But not until we had a taste of Gelato ice cream, of course. (I love seeing the terror or shock on the servers faces when our whole group first walks in - but then softens quickly when they find out that Prof. Affman will be paying for the whole bill. (which is of course our own money, but at the present time it always feels like a little treat.)

The next day, we started right off touring the sights of Berlin, including: Museum Island (which no other group of Westmont, not just Kines mayterm, has seen so up close an personal to the walls of museums decorated with bullet holes from the war); the Berliner Dom (First Church), Humboldt University (where Einstein tought and Karl Marx went), memorials including the Holocaust Memorial (which is a memorial of 2,400 some cement pillars that get taller and bigger towards the middle of the area, but yet are still not perfectly mathematically placed, but walking into it gives one (and not just me) a sense of the unknown, lost, alone yet a sense of being watched, consumed, and loss of identity among other vast emotions. My sister informed me that this was her favorite memorial of all memorials, and though it is a sad and depressing memorial I understand what she means. Obviously we have no clue of what it was like to be a victim of World War II, but that memorial gave a stronger sense than any movie or book you can read. We also, went the place where Hitler hid in his barracks while Russia was storming into Germany and where his body was found with his wife. I could not get over just how neocenrtic Hitler was!
Our trip in Berlin had made it just so clear how much love and relationships with other human beings bring about the real intentions we were meant to be. I am not sure if that last sentence makes sense, but being a human and flourishing in the ways that we were created brings out only more purity and richness in others and yourself. We are meant to love and converse and sacrifice for others. If not we will never be able to experience the true happiness and joy that comes from the Lord.

It was at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp that this truth was drilled into us by our very own tour guide. I could not believe I was standing in the very place where millions of people were killed. I never imagined I would have the experience to visit such a place. In a sense I wish I never did, but I am glad I did. I am glad that we got to be faced with the truth that their is evil in this world, that there is nothing in this world that we can put our trust in. Nothing of ourselves that will get us through deception or trouble times and come out right. In fact, the only way we can overcome the trials and misery is by not being persuaded and conformed by 1) boredom 2) power 3) youth 4) gender separation 5) organization 6) alcohol 7) dehumanization etc...(which can produce evil), is through finding joy and being committed to your family, friends, and God. It is those who did not give up, but took what they had and found God and held onto.

It is getting really late and I know I did not do what we have learned justice at all, and I so hope i will be able to come back and edit this post, but as of right now all the stories and tears I experienced will have to stay in my head. Yesterday, we saw so much suffering, yet hope, that it was so hard to process everything, and I pray that I will not forget what we saw that day.
But one thing I do know, though how hard it is to say, is that from the terror that Hitler brought onto the world, we have learned great measures of what evil is capable of, and how important it is for us, individually and nationally, to continually search our hearts and motives and what our actions are leading us towards. I good and faithful is our God that He can overcome all Evil and use it for His good!


I will now just quickly mention that afterwards, we went to our tour guides flat and had a precious Vesper worship session all together. Like I said it was precious. We then went to a Mediterranean dinner, where it was a great test to see just how much we really do love each other, as we were crunched together with our shoes off and all being sweaty and smelly from the very very hot day.
It was a long day but a good day.


Quickly, for our last day of Berlin, we listened to a lecture by a well respected Professor, Doctor Gudrun Doll-Tepper concerning the Adaptive Physical Activity internationally, at the Freie University of Berlin. We then past  by the Berlin Wall where graffiti was recreated capturing powerful messages, and ended up at Body Worlds. We then got our own dinner and then listened to our tour guides personal story, which was beautiful to hear the hand of God in his life even when God was not in his life.

By the end of our stay in Berlin, I had enough of going with the flow. Going with the flow was to intense and emotional for me. At this point I don't see how I will be able to keep myself together if every counrty from now on is going to be so filled with passionate history of both richness and wickedness.





To fill you in about our last day in Haarlem, it was the perfect day to have a birthday. The bike ride to the North Sea was such bliss. And Ryan and I did not go to sleep that night not feeling loved. The lovely pink flowers, and Ryan's Dutch socks, plus our fantastic pastries, and dinner, was wonderful. Could not ask for anything else.

Well, goodnight all.
If you read down through all of this....
...good job. I wish I could give you a prize, but alas, I will be in Austria. But I do hope it was not to boring or confusing.

Take note that you are all dearly missed and loved by your own loved ones.

BIKER!!

I am back my friends. Sorry it has been a while since my last post, but be comforted of that old saying that "No news, is good news". But let me tell yeah, that does not mean we have not been doing nothing. As of tonight, I am exhausted. Though we have been very busy since since my post, today has been the most meaningful. Today, we were in Amsterdam.

A brief description of Westmont taking over London includes: British Museum, National Gallery, Library of History, shopping (Nike, the famous Top Shop, Soccer stores, and the Beatles store), Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's, and who knows what else. OH and Les Mis. Which was outstanding. I hear that Wicked was outstanding too, after the groups 3rd or 4th time trying to get tickets. I, Kelsey, Stephany, Laura, and Dash visited 9 and 3/4 platform where Harry runs into to enter the wizard world, and we re-enacted the Abbey Road album cover...which was quite worth dodging the cars. I won't even mention all the food we have eaten. But the girls had a grand time taking Millie out for British dinner while the guys took G Man out to a pub.

I only have ten more minutes, but let me just saw that Haarlem, Netherlands has brought out the giddiness out of everyone. Besides having to always be on the look out for the killer bikers, it is the prettiest little city I have seen. So cozy and such TALL people! I love the culture here, and the very first day we arrived I already managed to buy little vintage, old objects from people selling stuff from their homes. I am a sucker for rummage sales...runs in the family.  But hey it's legit Haarlem  souvenirs right??
Today we arrived in Amsterdam, were we had our first encounter with the infamous tour guide Gabrielle. Other than just looking around the city from the surface, the guide brought out such beauty and suffering of the city. We all know about Amsterdam and there drugs and prostitutes, but I don't think the world is aware of the pureness and (again) beauty that Holland was built upon. I wish I could transfer his words onto this blog, especially since I am running out of time, but let me just tell you that we have all left with a heavy heart and have had great reflections with one another. Both lead  by our teachers as well as independently on our own.
Our group is already becoming more than a group. We are in the process of forming the body of God together, and I can not wait to learn more of the world with each other.
But let me tell yeah, you are going to meet cultured, mature, and empowered daughters and sons who are going to change the world and solve world peace, just from the month we have been traveling.
But what inspired all this talk was first the Red Light District, Anne Franks house (who Millie, I, Chris, and Mano saw), Reicks...Museum (where Rembrandt's paintings are), The Resistance Museum, and other lovely things.

I must go, but I dearly wish I could express all that we are experiencing. Much more intense than I expected this trip to become.
Tomorrow we are looking forward to Corrie Ten Booms house and a pleasant little bike ride.
 And not to mention Ryan's and my birthdays ;)

We our now 9 hours ahead of you all instead of 8, in case that interests you.
Oh and take head, make sure you always check the dryer's lent bin, as our very nice hotel with laundry has not dried any of our soaking wet clothes (and i mean soaking because we could not read the dutch language saying that the spin cycle was off)...so there is a lot of piles going as there is backup in our laundry line.

Goodnight

Let the Games Begin

Starting at 9:30am (for some 7:30 who think they need even more exercise) and ending until 10:30pm was go go go.
After a hardy English breakfast (the food not the tea) we were split up into 4 team and entered the Amazing Race around London. It was intense. Though our goal for this trip is not to look like obnoxious, American Tourists today gave away our identity immediately.
We had to take our teams picture in 5 landmarks: Big Ben, London Bridge, Piccadilly Station, Phantom of the Opera and Lord Byron. The intent was to get us familiar with the underground Tube as well as have a rough idea of the layout of London. Well, it worked. Not in the sense that we got to enjoy and soak in the scenery, but we did figure out London's system quite quickly. I am not going to lie, I was quite sweaty. It was so intense that when my team (Jimmy, Sarah, John, and Jason) and the team(Stephany, Lucas, Margo, Bekah) ended up on the same train to head back to our bed & breakfast, we bolted out of the train and up stairs, and then shoving to get into the harry potter portal looking elevators. As soon as we were out of the station it was all madness. Get out of our way London, Westmont Kinesiologists  are coming through. Turns out that neither of our two teams were in 1st place. Though the 4th team who came like 15 minutes after all of us thought they were the winners and started cheering and hugging each other. the real winners got a little London key chain that was a nail clipper. We will do anything to win competition.

I do not have a lot of time until I have to leave for church. But I will inform you, mostly to let my grandma Mom-Mom know that I saw Phantom of the Opera last night!! Unbelievable. I saw it with Rachel in the front row seats on the 1st balcony. Great seats for £35. We almost got ripped off by a "discount seller" who would had us pay £50 for seats on the corner in the 3rd balcony...terrible seats. We paid it, because he was lying and expressed it in a good way. But we were smart and returned our sketchy tickets without even a fight like we were prepared to do (the lady just grabbed the tickets out of my hand and threw the money back at us). So after 2 hours of going back and forth from the theater to the "discount place" like 3 times, we save about £20 for great seats. Granted we missed the Manchester vs. Barcelona futball game...but we still got to experience the crazy fans (not too crazy parents, but crazy) fans. The rest of the group went to pubs or the park to watch the game. It was great fun yesterday.
In between those events, we had a free day where most of us explored the British Museum (which I found a whole section of Greeks in Italy, which is my very own heritage, that was interesting) but there were also mummies and the Rosetta Stone and the Pantheon and oh so much more! Before that, Rachel and I ventured into the National Gallery where we saw paintings from the 15th century to the 20th century. It was outstanding.
Needless to say, I was quite satisfied sitting on my bum for 3ish hours during the Phantom of the Opera after a long long day of running all around!

Well, I must go. I will fill you in on the other days you have missed as well as future events!

Tah Tah

Aerials Asault

Good news, I got my Scottish sweater. I know you were all worried for me.

On the less exciting side of news, we have conquered the World's Biggest Rock climbing gym.

Not only did we rock climb. OO noo. We um...hung from 100 feet in the air climbing over logs and ropes dangling by chains. Not going to lie, there were many who thought we were going to die. Not saying I was one of them. But it was a wee bit frightening. However, my favorite part was jumping to the end of the course while being pulled from the hook I was on...(kinda of like a zip line roller coaster) I got to strike my peter pan poses and pretend I was actually flying. For most though, it seemed like the end of our lives, really enjoyed this course over everything.

We then were split up into groups to climb up the 80 ft rock wall. It was a lot of fun, and I finally got over (well at least for today) my fear of rock climbing. Something about it freaks me out. Not heights, not rocks, but climbing rocks does.
But I must say the best part about the whole surprise that Chris Milner put together for us, were our guides. They were a lot of fun and joked around with our whole group. You never are sure what one may be like who has blond hair with a pink mullet while wearing a little panda hat. But they were just really cool guys who knew their stuff about climbing. And who didn't mind showing off either. But that was just part of the great experience. There favorite, we all could tell, was Stephany from her non stop laughing even while climbing on these tiny little stubs of fake rocks.
We all had a blast.

OH but what was amazing about it all, my Mom will appreciate this, was the path we had to take to get to the gym hidden amongst the rocks of Scotland. After our 45 minute bus ride into the country side, we walked next to a canal for 15 minutes. A little sprinkle here and there. But the most charming little place. With flowers (that may or may not have gone into my hair) and adorable canal boats along the river. It was just what you are imagining Scotland to be like in the country side. Loved it. And I am sure the neighbors enjoyed our singing as well.

I think the most entertaining part of the day was when we were doing our countdown, and I didn't hear my turn to yell TEN. So when someone was like MONICA, I got startled and screamed ten while losing my grip on the wet wooden floor and started slipping and sliding all over the place, for probably about a minute. Yes...yes this did happen.

I have 3 minutes before I get kicked off, so I will warn you not to expect a post for tomorrow since all we will being is riding on a bus for 8 or so hours stopping to talk to the best sport scientist in the UK and on to London.

Goodnight from Scotland.

Cheers, from Scotland

Hello all,
Sorry my last post was quite short but I did not have a lot of time, but I wanted to calm all the nervous families that we arrived safely and especially for my family to emphasize that no passports or people were lost. Praise God.

A lot has happened since that very short post. Tuesday we toured the Edinburgh Castle, where many were ecstatic to see the royal jewels and honours. It was fascinating. They also had on display wooden doors that the Prisoners of War would graffiti on to mark their identity. There were many Americans as well as other countries represented on those doors.

I along with Kelly, Sarah, Margo, and Rachel plus Professor Milnar and Afman had lunch at the very own birthplace of the Harry Potter. Elephant House was a charming little restaurant and cafe, and I am sure J.K. Rowling agreed since that is where she wrote the first books of Harry Potter while she looked out the window at the Edinburgh Castle. I thought all you Harry Potter fans, as I, would be interested and jealous to hear that.
I also found out the secrets to parenthood from our wise professors, telling us their ways to potty train and prevent under age training. I will be a great parent, but do not worry not until far into the future.

We then explored the oldest school of for surgeans, where we looked toured the Museum of History. It was extrordianary. Not only did we learn that surgeouns first went to school with barbers, but we saw specimens that were over 200 hundred years old! We were given special access to view the upstairs where preserved body parts with severe diseases were held. Ask your children what struck them the most. But they ranged from worms, goiters, lymphobia hodgkins, rickets, tuberculouses, and wounds from war. That may sound disgusting, but to us esteemed scientists, it was really fascinating to see with our own eyes the reality of our mortal bodies.

Later after some testimonies a few people went out for a Ghost Tour. I did not, as those who know me know I do not do well with being scared. Turns out it was just a tour of the town at night, while learning all the creepy things about Ediburgh's past.

Speaking of Edingburgh, I fell in love with it as soon as we arrived. Yes the wind was blowing us all back (do not worry we were not affected by the ash cloud from the volcanoe in Iceland), but the little cottages and the green grass everywhere answered my dreams of what I hoped Scotland to be. I could not contain my excitement as we rode the double decker bus to our hotel. Then, at least near the Royal Mile, all the buildings are old stone, like you would picture in the middle-ages. That makes sense since there are castles and cathedrals everywhere.

The people here are nice. Though I was told that I bond well with the Scottish people (told by a real Scottsmen), I am afriad that is not the norm I am sure. But what can I say? We are a big group of tourists. But with their lovely accents, I think they could say anything and we all would fall in love with them!


Today was a different tone then the first day. We spent the morning and afternoon at a university where we heard from Nick Watson and Alan MacPherson. We learned about what it means to be a humble athelete but giving God the glory through our excellence from Professor Watson. We then listened to Dr. MacPherson about his research concerning the use of rhythm with performance of athletes. It was very informative and interesting.

Afterwards we watched Chariots of Fire and then hiked (and I mean hike) up the mountain that Liddle talked to Jenny about his purpose in life and that God made him fast, so he will run and win for God.
It was BEAUTIFUL. Yes, we may have climbed up the harder path by accident, but we all made it alive and were able to do the Watermellon Crawel on top of Author's Seat (the name of the mountain) that Chris taught us earlier that day. It's a line dance for all of those who are not familar with that dance culture. None of us were eaither.
But the view was extroardinary and we all took more pictures on top of the mountain than all of the trip so far. My favorite was on the way back down through a field of yellow flowers all along the hill sides. (Yes I know fields are not hills, but just go with it). To me it was exactly what I expected Heaven to look like when I was young. And yes I did frolick in the fields.

Well that conlcudes tonights adventures, though Professor Milner (Millie) and Afman (G Dawg) threw out their surprise they have for us tomorrow. I would say guess what it is, but you won't so I will tell you.
We are going to the biggest? maybe the best? rock climbing facility in the UK? maybe of all the world? Not too clear on those detials...but they did leave us with the words Aerial something or other. It should be a lot of fun. Scary at some points I am sure...but parent's do not fear there are safety belts and bungie ropes (I suppose).

So look forward to hearing about that adventure and then we are off to LONDON!

p.s. I still haven't gotten my wool sweater yet and the guys have not gotten their kilts yet, but our time in Scotland is not over yet.

We Have Arrived

We left the United States at 3pm Sunday afternoon and arrived in Scotland 3pm on Monday.

All went well and smooth.

Checked into our hotel on the Royal Mile, had dinner, spent time at the St. Guiles Cathedral, and are ready for bed at 8pm.
Thank you for your prayers during our traveling.

Look forward to a more detailed post in the near future as there will be some exciting adventures awaing us!

-We all send you our love from Scotland.

Who We Are and What We Do

Currently, you are looking at the blog for Westmont College's Kinesiology Mayterm who are journeying across Europe. 

We will be adventuring through:

Edinburgh, Scotland 

London, England  

Haarlem, Netherlands

Berlin, Germany

Prague, Czech Republic

Halstatt, Austria

Rome, Italy

Florence, Italy

Murren, Switzerland

Despite what it may seem, our trip is more than just exploring the world for the sights, food, and hiking the Alps.

Before lift off we completed the class Special Populations where we learned to see the beauty that comes from "disabilities". Through an intense academic schedule and volunteering at various places we have grown immensely from those who live with what society calls, an impairment. 

While traveling, we will be covering the topic International Sport Issues, as well as listening and talking with top leaders in the field.

Join me and the other 24 Kinesiology students and professors as we expand our horizons.

As Greg Afman constantly reminds us, our trip in itself is a great trip; but it is our relationships with one another living under the grace of God that will make our experience great.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated for our safety, unity, and open eyes to God's creation during our time overseas.