Week 3 =)

YAY! The picture finally uploaded successfully! =)
Here are my roommates from left to right: Lorea, Angelique, Catherine, Tamara, Korina, Maggie, and me! =)

Well, here we are again, talking about another week in the life of a Capernwray student. And again I still have the same feeling of “I can’t believe it’s week #3!”

This past weekend was full with fun activities and bonding experiences. The weekend started on Friday evening when all we knew about the evening’s event was the title “Capernwray Story” and that it was mandatory. It turned out to be simply a lecture about the history Capernwray…I know who would have guessed? I was hoping it was going to be something a little bit less predictable from the title. I was starting to get a little antsy when Mark Thomas started doing a lecture presentation about the history of the castle. I was not in the mood for yet another lecture but decided to endure it with a good attitude since I had been wondering about the castle’s history. And then mark asked us if he could introduce us to somebody at which point he turned around and starting taking off his coat…then put on a mask…and turned around looking like a british Abraham Lincoln! =)

Mark then proceeded to tell the story in 1st person as the man who brought the property and built the castle (sorry I don’t remember his name). so that was a nice (and funny) surprise =) the real treat of the evening was when Mark really did introduce us to somebody else to tell us more about the castle…his mother! It was really exciting to meet Mrs. Thomas and hear how she had bought the castle and property at her husband’s instruction when he was away (as he was a traveling evangelist) at an auction with a family friend. In fact, she almost didn’t buy the property because it went over the amount she was supposed to bid! They also showed some pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas when they were young and were just starting the school, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Another highlight of the evening was when they showed an old “home-made” promotional video that the school had made in the 60s. What made the footage even better was that it was accompanied by a recorded track of the voice of the man that used to do the promotions at groups for the school and would say funny things (essentially making fun of the footage) when he showed it at promotions in the 80s. I’m not sure if that description made sense, but it was really funny.

After the evening program was over we gathered for hot chocolate in the dining hall as we do every evening and then I visited another dorm’s pajama party and watched 27 dresses with a small group of girls. =)


Here was my experience of the Lake District in a photo (pictured with my roommate Tamara). It was cold, wet, misty, and we tried to have a good attitude =)

Whoo…
Now THAT was only Friday *night* and I have a lot left to tell! =)

So, Saturday is the only morning we can sleep past 7 since we don’t have brunch til 11! It’s very nice =) I think I slept till 10:40…
Most mornings one can tell a majority of the students don’t wake up till 5 minutes before breakfast and they stumble in the room (cus breakfast is mandatory). But despite the mandatory rule, there always seem to be people missing and the dining hall is by far the quietest during breakfast.

Anyway, Saturday afternoon we played the game of “hats”. This was an optional activity that resembles the idea of capture the flag except I think it was more fun. =) People are split into 2 teams: one with hats, one without hats. The team with hats has to get their hats into the designated area (tennis court in our case) while the non-hat team is trying to obviously prevent that from happening.

It was so much fun! My team won both when we were on the defense and offense! we totally dominated! =) we tackled or used whatever means necessary to defend and when on offense, we just ran our little heart out. I was strategic and crept around the back of the castle and then waited till the defenders were distracted with another person. I think people always underestimate the athletic ability of small girl. ;) It was lots of fun.

Then after we were all sweaty, dirty, and tired the RAs put on a movie in the lecture hall on the projection screen. We watched the movie, “The Count of Monti Cristo”. And my roommate Korina even made some popcorn and shared with me! =)

Later, in the evening we were treated to some Scottish dancing!! Dougie, one of the staff members and my family group ‘Dad’, is Scottish so he taught a couple of folk dances. They also mixed it up by ending with a couple of upbeat, non-Scottish dancing songs. Everyone was sweating really hard long before the evening was over and the gym was extremely hot!


This gives you an idea of what the gym looks like =)

On Sunday, I woke up extremely sore and had trouble getting around. I thought it was from tackling in the hat game but thought it unlikely since it really hadn’t been too hard of a game. However, I now think it was a pre-cursor to getting sick because…(drum roll please), I was feeling sick as a dog by Sunday evening! (Sarah sick?! Never!) haha. I could feel I had a really high fever and just put myself to bed with lots of vitamins and some pill that the RA gave me. weirdly enough, Elise (the RA) didn’t have a thermometer (what kind of school nurse doesn’t have a thermometer? I don’t know!) but praise God, I woke up feeling much better in the morning, stayed in bed till the afternoon and was almost normal by evening. It felt almost miraculous. I don’t remember the last time I recovered that quickly (ever)! However, yesterday I started coming down with a cold again and am not feeling well now so I’m not sure if I ever really was totally well…

Anyway, although being sick has kinda been the theme of this week, Tuesday I went to the nearby town of Kendal. It was a 45 min. bus ride and I was able to get several items that the tiny town of Carnforth doesn’t have. I purchased several items of snack food to save for the future as well as treats for my secret sister, a badly needed watch, and other items. I also found a hooded vest at a thrift shop for US $10. I was very happy since I realized I only brought 1 sweatshirt. (I have other outerwear but the vest will greatly multiply my wardrobe) =)

I have a feeling this weekend will be less exciting since I have a lot of studying to do. We have several papers to write in addition to lots and lots of reading.

One last item of news, I am going to Edinburgh over the travel weekend, Oct 31-Nov 3. I was able to find several other girls who were making reservations at a hostel and was able to book with them. It was very much a God thing since I didn’t want to make reservations with the school’s offered B&B because it was so much more expensive. My roommates Tamara and Angelique will also be rooming with my group at the hostel. I am looking forward to it!

As I believe I mentioned, I joined the worship team here. We practiced this afternoon because we are performing for the first time on Sunday morning for church. I am a bit nervous because everyone in our group has so little experience. But I am trying to have a positive attitude and we'll be practicing a lot tomorrow!

I wanted to be able to post more pictures but the connection is not working well right now so they will have to wait for another time unfortunately!

I hope you all are doing well.
Lots of love!!!!
~Sarah