bennifer.

Last night i met up with one of my best friends rupert! rupert interned in senator reids office while i was in DC with the senate republican conference. (i miss that like crazy ps) AND HE IS FROM VICTORIA!!! so last night i met up with him and his brother for dinner at wagamamas and we went to the "cinema" which was so much fun! they made my birthday great. it was also great because it made me stay awake till late and i was able to sleep THE ENTIRE night. amazing! it was just lovely. this morning we had a little orientation and the professors sent us out to get familiar with the tube. it's really quite simple, and reminds me of DC more than anything. we stopped at big ben, northanger abby etc. After that i met up again with rupert and his brother (they're leaving to "uni" aka school on sunday so we're trying to get together as much as possible)! We met up in south kensington and went to the natural history museum. it was the greatest time. afterwards we went to the Victoria and Albert museum- AMAZING. Rupert and his brother, Jamie, told me all the history behind everything there. it was so much fun to not just look around but to learn all about everything in the museum. ruperts godmother is the deputy curator for the museum!! my favorite part was learning all about the kings and finding out their little secrets. afterwards we went to lunch at a hole in the wall chinese restaurant and it was probably the most amazing chinese food i have ever had in my life. it was kind of like a mix between thai food and chinese noodles... i WILL be going back there. hanging out with rupert and jamie has been so much fun because they harass me for being american and teach me all the british ways. i'm grateful more than ever that i know them here and they are helping me feel right at home. We had more meetings this afternoon- i found out i will be attending the crystal palace ward! Later in the evening i met up with rupert and his family for dinner at their house in victoria... i ate lamb. enough said. we watched the prime minister debate and i had the most fun i've ever had. Rupert's dad is an absolutely amazing man and i am so happy i met him. british hospitality is the greatest thing in the world i think.

ps. i got SO many texts and messages from all my friends and family saying happy birthday and it made me feel so great. so thank you!!