London likings

First, as dictated by Emma: We are having fun in London. We miss you. We are going to Costa Rica after we get home. I like to go hear Terry St. Clair play the guitar. I went to go see Mary Poppins on stage. It was so new. I really liked it.

Now from Mom: I think what she means by "it was so new" is that there were several new songs written for the stage production and there were a few new characters, too, like Mr. Banks' nanny, Ms. Andrew. Perhaps she appears in the book; it's been quite some time since I've read it. We called the box office on Tuesday afternoon and managed to garner tickets in the 9th row. It was just about perfect as the closer rows were all below stage level and this one was about even. The guy who played the role of Bert was fantastic, as was George Banks. Mary Poppins enters and exits the sky just like in the Disney movie, very cool. We learned a good bit about author P.L. Travers as well.

We spent Tuesday afternoon in the British museum (http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/explore/families_and_children.aspx). Emma checked out a children's backpack full of activities about Southeast Asia. We'd just finished several dealing with Buddism when we looked up and saw a group of Buddist monks. Wade went over to them and asked if he could introduce one of them to Emma. He came over and she began asking him questions. We were quite proud of her. In a "big girl voice" she asked him about his robes, why and how he meditates, and where he was from. He told her Burma and she pulled the globe out of her backpack so he could show her where that is. I wanted to take a photo, but wasn't sure if that would be acceptable. Fortunately, he returned to us a few minutes later and asked permission to take a photo with Emma, so we grabbed one for her scrapbook as well. Later, she was explaining to our college students the differences between Buddism and "what we believe". One of them, a fairly young Christian, said she wished Emma had been around a year or so ago to explain things to her so she could understand them.

It's been rainy, rainy, rainy since our arrival, but next week looks to be a little less wet. Still showers, but not as many all day. At least it's finally warming up a bit. Well, we're off to the science museum (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/agegroups/5_to_7.aspx). They have special kids activities this week since it's a school holiday (half-term). Tonight we're going for Indian food with Sherry and McKay.

Cheers!

Greetings from London!
After a rocky start, one where we left Tulsa three hours late and then spent a very short night in Chicago before finally boarding a six am flight for London via Washington Dulles, we finally arrived at London Heathrow just before 10pm Friday London time. We're currently typing this from the computer lab in Regent's College, where Emma was given her own computer login information, so she's on Barbie.com as I write! Yesterday was a fantastic day. Emma slept until 9:30am!!! We had breakfast at a Starbucks, before heading to the British Museum. There we stopped for a quick photo op with the Rosetta stone en route to an art workshop for Emma. She was able to draw and paint a birds with several other children. Next, we went to the reading room where she picked up what they call a kid's trail (she calls it a kid's quest) and follwed it to find several Indian art pieces -- very cool. We also hit a "hands on" station where she was able to finger jewlrey from the Massai tribe in Africa, including a necklace worn by donkies as a sort of alarm system to protect farmers from thieves. We grabbed lunch from Pret (Diana's absolute favorite sandwhich shop in the world) and took it back to the hotel to eat. Next stop? Regent's College to pick up our IDs and Tube Cards. Diana and Emma hit a children's playground while Wade took care of that. The we all hopped on the Tube to Picadilly Circus and walked from there through Leister Square to Covent Garden where we found Terry St. Clair (http://www.myspace.com/terrystclair1) playing . . . in the rain! Wade and Diana have been going to see him for nine years now and Emma since she was one! We managed to catch his final four songs and then visit with him a bit before going for Indian food. In addition to her traditional nan bread and rice, Emma tried Chicken Birani and Chicken Tikka Masala last night! Both are spicy dishes. There was mouth fanning and lots of water consumed, but she claimed to enjoy them both! We meet our students in just half an hour now for orientation and tomorrow will bring the Big Bus Tour. It's been raining since our arrival -- pray for sunny skies so our students can see London from the top of the double decker bus tomorrow!