"It had always seemed to Emily, ever since she could remember, that she was very, very near to a world of wonderful beauty."

-L. M. Montgomery

back to posting in deep delight

Tonight, just before midnight, I coasted home from school on my bike. For expediency's sake, I must have ridden my bike more in the past month than in the previous 10 years of my life altogether. It was misty over the soccer field, and there was a delicious woodsmoke smell in the air. I could only see one star. And I was playing out loud with words, and thinking, for some reason, that God sometimes shines like a blacklight, making everything good and true visible. I went off the sidewalk, past the boulder, through the fence, and up over the gravel onto our street. As I pedalled up to our house, there, on the grass just to my left, I saw a rabbit hopping along, keeping pace with me.

I went in and told Annie.

the internet

Today, we got hooked up.

By Cogeco Cable Internet, that is. So I am going to tryyyyyy to live up to my promise to start blogging again.

I've been back at Redeemer for a couple weeks now, and I'm living in a sweet little bungalow we call "the Cottage", on Springbrook Drive. It's perfect, being just around the corner from the school, and on a side street with virtually no traffic. I especially love that it's practically in the country. At least, it's right on the outskirts of a subdivision, but not in the subdivision, so we have a huge, park-like backyard, and we're not crowded too close to our neighbours. We also have two fireplaces, a hammock in our gazebo, and more outbuildings than we will ever need. Annie has put up posters from our semester in Europe all over the walls, which bring back lovely memories. And I even have my own [pink] bedroom, with an inflatable bed from Canadian Tire, a dreamy bookshelf from Ikea, and a bean-bag chair from my dad's university days. I've decorated the walls with Bangladesh stuff, some given by our friends there and some bought from the HEED (Health, Education, Economic Development) store. It's very cozy here, and I love it. Not to mention that the people I live with, Annie, Joanne, and Sarah, are fantastic.

travelworn

So, I've been really slack about updating my blog in the 3 weeks I have been home from Bangladesh. In fact, I have been really slack period. But there is nothing sadder than a dead blog, so I am going to start updating again. It's been an amazing year and I have a lot to share.

My favourite thing ever

 

It is very ornate and patterned, but does not portray images.

 

The Moorish style is in keeping with their Islamic beliefs.

 

 

 

Built by the Moors who once ruled Spain, the Alhambra has a commanding view of the city below and the mountains beyond.

 

The Alhambra is such an incredibly popular tourist attraction that we had to buy our tickets weeks in advance, andeven then they only entitled us to an afternoon in the place.

 

Kristen gathered dirt everywhere we went (an air cadet tradition).

 

Enter the gate of the Alhambra. . .

 

Gaze upon the creativity of local artists. . .

 

Taste the delight of paella. . .

 

I only got swindled a couple of times. . .

 

 

Yes, that's an orange tree!
Yes, it is ripe!
No, don't eat the fruit!
Trust me.

 

Granada

The first stop on our whirlwind tour of Europe was Granada, Spain.
We arrived in the middle of the night and had to pound on a ten foot tall wooden door with a huge brass knocker to gain admittance to the locked building in which our hotel was situated.

 

Eileen, my wonderful hostess.

 

Magdalen stained glass.

 

Not to be maudlin, but I really miss these girls. And Emma was such a great prof!

 

More of the same.

 

Magdalen College, where Lewis lived.

 

Violinist on the street in Oxford.

 

So, I'm not the only famous person who has been the the Saxon Tower. Shakespeare was too, when his god child was baptized in the church below. (Baptistry seen here.)

 

Cornmarket Street from above. A pedestrian street in Oxford with great shopping!

 

On my last day in Oxford, I finally got to go up the Saxon Tower, which has an amazing view of the city.