have kindly sponsored

Well I have arrived. No marching bands played in my honour or royals greeted me at the gate, but seeing Gareth was pretty much fanfare enough.

After weeks of stressing out about finishing my job, getting all my things in order, packing, and, of course, planning the wedding, I stepped on the plane and put it all behind me. And I must say, a week now without anyone badgering me about the colours for the bridesmaid's dresses is a bit of a relief.

I did however show Gareth photos of a place I had in mind for the wedding if we do it back in the States. It is too bad he could not visit it with me because it is a beautiful ballroom designed by Henry Ford. Apparently he was a big ballroom dancer (never would have thought it would you??) and he created it back in 1931 for his employees to dance and party in. Which are of course my intentions as well.

Being back in London is nice but I have to admit I am pretty homesick. It is so different here than at home. I wonder if I ever noticed it before when I was all caught up in the excitement of studying overseas. It seems I am seeing it with new eyes now. I do remember that when I first came over for my MA three years ago, everything had seemed alien to me. I had just not expected that this time around it would take some getting used to as well. This next weekend Gareth and I are going to visit his parents in Wales. I really love going there and it will comfort me a bit since for all my moving around, their home has remained a constant for me the past few years. It will be my inaugural visit as a future family member as well. I have not seen them in about six months and they are wonderful people so I am really looking forward to it.

20 September 1999, Stacie Lewis