Guess who's back?

Life feels much better now. Ted came back last Saturday morning… Yey! All I really cared was to see him again and make sure he gets some rest. As soon as he got home, he started opening his suitcase with excitement. It was like Christmas in April! He bought me a big bottle of the new Valentino perfume, which is perfect for this London spring weather. I love it! He remembered I needed a watch, so he brought two cool silver watches for me. I love them! He also bought me two pairs of sunglasses (very posh) and a mini iPod for my morning exercises… what else? Oh, a C. S. Lewis book and some body lotions. Oh I love all my presents. He is the BEST!


Ted had a great time in Houston. He went out for dinner with my parents, my sister and her boyfriend Tom. Ted also went out with Emilio, Yadira, Marcela, Omar, and Kenny. I can't wait until these people come to visit us in London.

Speaking of my family, my precious sister sent me a University of Houston sweater and a t-shirt for Ted. My super mother sent me spices I haven’t been able to find here. I am sure London has its equivalent, but I just haven’t figured it out yet. She also sent other goodies for my kitchen. Thank you girls!

Look, I already made dinner with the colorful spices you sent me mom!

After Ted took his jetlag nap, we went out for dinner at “Luna Rossa” in Nothing Hill. The day was gorgeous, and we got to sit outside to enjoy our yummy metro-pizzas.


Sunday was the last day when Richard’s family was in town, so they had a BBQ and invited us over for dinner. I had the most amazing lamb chops ever! Thank you guys, we always have a great time together.

All by myself

So, what happened this week? Living in London “solo” was kind of enjoyable the first three days. I spent most of my time at home walking in my pajamas, eating lots of junk food and watching re-runs of “Wonder Years” on Slingbox. On the fourth day, the sudden realization that Ted was gone hit me really bad. I had to constantly remind myself that everything was under control: I had people who loved me, I was living in London, and I had food in my belly. I thank God for our U.S line with Vonage, which kept me connected with the world on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. I spent several hours talking to dear friends I haven’t called in years. Many had suggested me to go out and explore the city, visit museums, do some shopping. Yes, those were great ideas. What they didn’t realize it’s the fact that this humble servant is a big time people person. I can’t go out by myself and enjoy places unless I have people with me. I mean, I could, but I just rather do stuff with friends. Perhaps time will teach me to appreciate loneliness. Right now, I don’t.

In the mist of my loneliness, great people came to the rescue. On Easter Sunday, Richard’s family came from the U.S. to visit. The weather in London was just perfect. (Note to self: Easter is the best time to visit England) I was invited to have dinner at their house. Before dinner, we all walked to “Little Venice”. Did you know London had a neighborhood called like that? Look at these pictures of the dusking sky!






Every time I go to Richard’s house, he is always cooking for a lot of people. This time it was his own family who he cooked for, so the food was even better than ever!


I also got to meet a family of expats from Houston who just moved a little more than a month ago. They are living in the same building where we live. The husband knew Ted from work and they knew I was alone, so they invited me out for dinner on Monday night. What a joy! On Thursday, Stephanie and I walked from our place all the way to High Street Kensington. It was so much fun. I love our gorgeous neighborhood, and there is nothing better than having a friendly neighbor to explore the area with.

On Friday, Richard’s aunts were checking out the city, so I joined them to visit the British Museum, the British Library and Harrods. That was also fun. I didn’t know that Harrods had a little memorial for Princess Diana and her fiancé. Thank you girls! It was great to see the city with you.


Look at these kids sketching some 3,000 year-old Etruscan ceramic at the British Museum. I thought it was a great sight. I want my kids to do that!

"Have you seen the one my heart loves?"

"All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked from him but did not find him."

Song of Songs 3:1-2


This morning Ted and I took the Gatwick Express train to the airport. We checked luggage, walked through the lines, and only one of us crossed the security checkpoint. The other one came back home "alone".
Yes. Ted had to go to work in Houston. He will be there for 7 long long long long long days. I know I’ve said I’m not sad because I feel part of me is going with him, but it was actually really difficult to see him leave. He has being out of town many times before, but never for so long. Of course, I pretended I was fine. However, when I left the airport and came back in the train, for the first time in many years I felt alone.
But it was only a couple of minutes until I realized I am not really alone. God is with me and that is enough. Actually I realized it was my father God who gave me such a wonderful husband who loves deeply, who got this amazing expatriate assignment, and the opportunity to live in one of the greatest cities in the world. So, in spite of the fact that this post might sound extremely cheesy, I have to say I love my husband very much. Even though I am going to cram the following seven days with time consuming activities (read: gym, movies, going out with friends) I am certain I will miss Ted immensely. Not because I am feeling lonely, but because I love him.

Two-months anniversary

I just realized we landed in this island two months ago. Can you believe it? It seems like less time to me. We have been very blessed and I can't complain at all. The city is amazing, and Ted continues to be the perfect husband he is. I do miss my family. However, I've also realized that we now talk on the phone more often than we used to when we lived in the same city. Our parents are the best! It's also great to call friends using our Vonage line. I spend lots of time on the phone catching up with old buddies. Maybe that's why I don't feel like I am away from anybody. Thanks to all the people who have called us already. I told you I won't cost you anymore than a regular phone call to the US!

Now, Ted is going to work in Houston all next week, so It will be his first time back in the States. Yey! I know I should be sad because I am not going with him, but actually, I feel part of me is going when he goes. Which makes me feel that I am going too! I already told him to go to our favorite places: Churrascos, Azuma, Ra Sushi, Fadis, uhmmm my mouth is watery already. His task is to go check out those places, eat as much as he can, then come back to London and tell me everything about it. He will go visit my parents and friends. I really hope he has time to see them all. I will miss him a lot, but I know he is going to have a great time and I want him to enjoy it as much as he can. Besides, I will get to go to Houston in the summer :)

What am I going to do by myself in London? well, I have already added several chickflicks on our movie rental list. So, I will be busy catching up with Hollywood. I also have my list of books I've been wanting to read, so that will keep me going for a while. Richard's family from New York will be in town too, so maybe I'll go hang out with them when I get really bored. Actually, I am going to look at this "home alone" week as an opportunity to be isolated and let God teach me new things. Let's call it "Geo's Sabatical Week". How many people get to do that?

Where is the campus?

Last Saturday, we visited Oxford, the "City of Dreaming Spires" with our friends Richard, Taha and Maria. Taha was very kind to book our train tickets online, and off we went for a one-day exploration.




Oxford is home of one of the greatest universities in the world. It is in fact, made up of 35 colleges sprinkled throughout the town. To tour all of these would be a formidable task. We thought it was best to focus on just taking a walk by the better-known colleges, checking out the pub scenes, admiring some of England's greatest architecture, and "punting" the River Cherwell. (I learned that punting is just a snooty word for rafting/boating)




The whole trip I kept saying "hurry up, I'm going to be late for my class." Yes. I was pretending I studied at Oxford University... It made me feel so smart! Another cool thing about this town were the old pubs where famous people gathered to hang out. Every college town the world over has a fair number of bars, but few can boast local watering holes with such atmosphere and history as Oxford. Here is Ted at the entrance of "the Eagle and Child." For at least a quarter of a century, it was frequented by the likes of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. In fact, The "Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Hobbit" were first read aloud at this pub.



It was a wonderful day! We were afraid about the weather, because last week was pretty cold and rainy. Fortunately, we were allowed to enjoy a sunny Saturday in Oxford. The whole trip was fun, but the punting experience was soooooooo hi-la-rious! In spite of my pleas for hiring professional assistance, the guys insisted that we didn't need any help with the boat. I suffered thinking we were all going to end up at the bottom of the River. Imagine 3 guys switching places to maneuver a flat-bottom boat by a long pole and a small oar! The good news is that we made it safely. The ride was a blast and I could not trade it for the world.