on the road again...

Sweet Home America

I miss a lot of things...below are just a few...

 

Well, as we prepare to begin hosting our interns, I'm reflecting back over our week. We did some random things...one of them being shooting a bow and arrow (Dad would be proud!). Some of the UCB staff gathered after work to shoot a little on the property. Notice Michelle's enthusiasm.

Also notice my "ace" stance and form (I made one bullseye out of 9 shots). And take rare note of the sun - it does not show itself often here. :( 

We also had opportunity to drive around on our own and partake in a variety of British delicacies...Cadbury's chocolate, Costa coffee, and at least see a sign for...Wimpy Burgers???

But the most common is, of course, "pie". Americans know it as "pot pie", but all the same it's delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

Randomly...this blog entry looks weird and it's safe to say I am homesick (see next post). So please let me know if you're reading these things!

Love, Vanessa

 

 

I Have Arrived!

Well, after a long flight which involved trying to get a 4 hour nap in the Amsterdam airport, I have arrived in England! Our drive out to what is literally the country, in my book, was a bit foreboding...cold rain, soon to be the typical daily weather. But nonetheless, it's beautiful...rolling green hills, sheep dotting the hills, quaint flower-boxes and gardens, polite kind people. It feels good to know this place a bit, having lived in London for awhile. But, I'm always amazed at how homesick I am initially and how much I have to learn about other cultures. It's a constant growing process.

The past few days have been getting settled and taking care of basics...lodging, grocery shopping, working out details before our interns arrive, etc. I found out I will have to learn to drive a 5-speed car...on the other side of the road...in a new country...should be fun...but that I get to do it all with just my Florida's driver's license! I'm also realizing that any hot-weather clothes I may have packed will never see daylight. :( At least I came prepared with many layers to ward off the wintery weather.

We also toured the UCB offices and studios today...great ministry! They are also renovating the cottage we will be staying at on the premises, which we also took a look at today. The ministry facilities are split between two buildings and we get to stay at the very historic-looking building that is reminiscent of a gingerbread house. :)

And last but not least I get to share it all with Michelle, my fellow RT missionary and intern leader. She has been a blessing to fill me in on the last internship she led here. We are likeminded in many ways and she likes chocolate chip cookies. She's tall and can put my baggage in the overhead compartment of a plane...I love to cook meals for her. It's a match made in heaven.

I will keep you posted on more spiritual things besides chocolate and cottage renovations, but for now enjoy being in the world of a missionary: Part vagabond, part homemaker, part diplomat, part historian, part teacher, part student, part MacGyver meats Jason Bourne, part mom, part...everything else. A Jane of all trades...but I like it. :)

~Vanessa

P.S. For those of you who were interested in sending mail, here's my address. And here's an overhead shot, just to get an idea of my surroundings :) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=hanchurch%20lane%20stoke%20on%20trent%20ST48RY

Vanessa Mitchell
c/o UCB Broadcasting Center
Hanchurch Lane
Stoke on Trent, England,  ST48RY