Arriving in England

I arrived in England yesterday for a 2 week training course.  I have looked forward to coming this country as a number of my ancestors emigrated from here to the US generations ago and I have wondered what it would be like to come to the lands of my forefathers.  I never have felt much of a connection to the UK and only a mild connection with Germany (which is where the other side of my family emigrated generations ago), so I really wasn't sure what I'd think of it.

Anyway, my initial impressions are that the UK is much like other parts of Europe that I have visited such as France and Norway.  Everything is clean and in good working order.  I must admit it is refreshing to take a break from the chaos of Jakarta. Of course, England does offer its own uniqueness as well.

Yesterday, I took a long stroll down some country roads near the Gatwick airport.  I enjoyed walking along quiet roads lined with hedges and taking glimpses of classic cottages that are covered by vines.  I even saw a small group of deer as I walked along. 

I must say that my favorite part of the UK is its people.  They have such a gift of language and love to put words together in humorous ways.  At church today, I was invited to have dinner with some of the members and we had a great time.  We ate too much delicious food, and had some great laughs.

I even spent a couple hours tracting the streets of Crawley with some of the LDS missionaries serving here.  We met some interesting people, and I couldn't help but reflect on how my great-great grandfather (I think) had served his mission here in the 1890's and wondered if my ancestors had walked down these same streets in the distant past.  It was definitely an experience I shall treasure for a long time. 

Here are some pictures I took from my walking about: