Words don't do justice

I realized today that so many things go through my mind to write about each day and then when I sit down to type my blog I go blank. So I'm going to try to remember as much as possible today.

Today was a day of many firsts for me. I went to my second rehearsal today and afterwards I went to my first English pub! Can you believe that I have been here for a month and not been into a pub? England has a very social culture that revolves around pubs. There was a very nice group of people from Sing Live there that we talked with for a while. I learned that people won't leave you alone at a pub until you have a drink in your hand. I got away with it for a little while but then someone told me that I couldn't come into an English pub and not get a drink, so i sipped on a coke. Then for dinner tonight (I call it dinner because I was with a converted American) we had Indian food. John has talked about Indian food for as long as I have known him and I have yet to have it. It was a very distinctive flavor, but very good. We had a wide assortment of wonderful food that I think counts for my food quota for the next couple of days. I am still so full! While we were waiting for our order we went to another pub (this time I got away without a drink) but what was cool and unique about this pub was there was a plane in the back! I got a picture with my phone but I can't figure out how to get it onto my computer so I will have to keep you in suspense for the time being.
On the way back from Leeds (which is about an hour away) we took the "scenic route." It was amazing. Words just don't do justice to the beauty of the countryside here. It's not flat like Florida, but the hills aren't densely covered in trees like the mountains in the Carolinas. A camera couldn't capture the feel of driving though the country roads lined with quaint stone walls and vast countryside as far as you can see. Nothing beats it.. it was a wonderful ride that made me appreciate where I was. On our drive John pointed out some million pound houses. (What a vast difference to what 1 mil American dollars would buy!)
This week will probably be the busiest of my trip here making final preparations for the ball. A group from Sing Live USA will be arriving on Friday morning. I am looking forward to that!