USA is AOK: Superbowl, Peanut Butter, and University!

The past couple months have also brought some big American moments for me. The first clear one was the Superbowl! Brandon threw a fabulous party complete with all the fixin's! We had an explanation of American Football (most of the audience was from around Europe), chips and dip, pretzles, PB&J Sandwiches, pigs in a blanket, betting games, and the good ol' standby, beer. I was really excited about the explanation part because I have never understood it that well. Plus, it was late at night (it sarted at 11 pm over here).

The next of the American moments has been my recent obession with peanut butter. PB is not that popular over here, and the PB&J sandwich is certainly controversial. Now, I have never been a huge fan, but lately, it's all I crave! My Mom sent little JIF to-go pots, SPEC has some generic PB, and I was given some delicious natural PB for Christmas in Scotland. In one week, I may have consumed 2 small jars of peanut butter - eating it like ice cream! I introduced Annika and Anthony to it and we had a grand time as you can tell :)

PB&J Sandwiches were my food of choice as I headed off to my most American event of all - going to America! I made a trip back for 2 weeks to see family and to check out and audition at the 3 universities I am looking at for next fall. I had a fabulous trip! I got to celebrate my sister Megan's 17th birthday and see the whole family, went to PLU on a surprise visit to see Daniel and all the PLU lovelies, had a day with Dad and a day with Mom - both of which included visiting my favourite Bellingham parks, taking walks, catching up, and just being together. I have missed spending this time with them so much - even just car rides are always fun and enlightening. I got to see Megan in her Sound of Music rehearsal - boy has she got pipes these days! "I am 16 going on 17" was sung absolutely beautifully! The rest of my Washington stay was catching up with friends, visiting Western Washington University, and preparing to audition at the other 2 schools in the mid-west.

Those visits were grand fun - I fulfilled my long standing dream of going to Minnesota (because of the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous) and stayed with a friend from camp when I visited Concordia where we visited the Mall of America (my reaction: HUGE), and hung out with Aaron, who I haven't seen for a good year and a half! Aaron came with me to Illinois Wesleyan and kept me sane through the interviews and auditions. Then we went back to St. Louis (where he lives) and participated in a talent show fundraiser at his church. It was such fun to perform with him again! Homecoming came way too soon, but I really missed my friends back here at SPEC - we really form a family.

There were 4 stores devoted to Minnesota!

(Mall of America)

So - The main reason for this visit was to check out schools! My current ranking is as follows: 1:Illinois Wesleyan University, 2: Western Washington University, and 3: Concordia University, St. Paul. I don't think Concordia and I are a great match - It's a little too small, and the city a little too big. But the people were absolutely lovely - I felt very welcome the whole time. They have created a great community. Western was a really fun visit. Both the music and theatre departments had a real family atmosphere, while still obviously working hard for quality rehearsals and performances. Plus, it's in Bellingham, which is very possibly my favorite city so far! The only drawback is that it is so close to home (Love you Mom and Dad!) and I'm not sure if I could continue the great growth that has begun this year in a place where I have already established a bit of a different life than the one I'm living now. Maybe I could, though - It would be an adventure. Illinois Wesleyan was my favorite! Again - great family atmosphere in both music and theatre, and a theatre program and faculty to die for! I really would like to be a part of their BA program, which encourages a well rounded theatre education with a self-created emphasis. Basically - work on what you love and what you want to learn - without losing any performance opportunity. It really fits me. Unfortunately, this is also the audition I feel went the worst, so I guess we'll see what happens... I'm working hard to keep positive and open to wherever I am called for next year, but it's hard sometimes!

Aaron and I had a lot of fun in IWU's gorgeous Ames Library
but who couldn't with a Beauty and the Beast ladder!?

Coming back to SPEC has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I was initially really excited to see everyone, give hugs, tell stories, and enjoy England. That subsided pretty quickly as I became rapidly tired and have been working every day since my arrival. I am having bit of an identity struggle. I was just beginning to feel 'English' ish when I hopped back to my old location and self. But when I got there, I felt more English than American, and then coming back, the same. It's a crazy process, but I'm getting there. I'm excited to return to England with new eyes - refreshed with an American perspective so that I can truly appreciate all the little intricacies of the English culture that are so subtle I wouldn't notice till I left. i.e. tea breaks - I didn't like them at first, but found myself missing them in the states.

Continued prayer for patience, strength and perspective are always welcome. And thank you all so much for the plethora of post that was waiting for me upon return from the states. Post is still one of my favorite things to get! It's so exciting! Keep me posted on your lives - I love and miss you all!

For more pictures of the Superbowl party and other SPEC events, click here.

For more pictures of the first week in the USA, click here.

For more pictures of USA week 2, click here.