I am officially on vacation. My last day of work was yesterday and school ended the week before. This christmas break has been all about recuperation. I got a bacterial infection in my throat two days after school ended and so I am currently eating penicillin four times a day. Also, I haven't had the urge for the past week to drink and be merry. I have mostly wanted to be at home, make a good meal and share it with two or three friends. Maybe that has something to do with the being sick thing. I'm a little messed up emotionally in all the right ways. I miss my family and friend in Oregon, I miss my family and friends here, I miss my good health and I miss school.

Anyways, it has become freezing here. Below zero in celsius, which is the temperature at which water freezes. You can see your breath, you don't see the sky, and there is fog everywhere, this isn't helped by the fact that everywhere in the news here in London (DISCLAIMER: MOM don't worry.) there is news about a guy who is copying Jack the Ripper by killing prostitutes. (MOM don't worry because I'm not a prostitute.) The police have arrested four men (each one gets a disgusting tabloid splash of press) but they haven't said that they think they have captured the guy. But the whole thing, combined with the weather has made me feel like winter is here and I'm really in London.

I'm in love with this city. There are beautiful contradictions everyday from simply the mix of Architecture, the mix of people and cultures, to the hundreds of dramatic moments I experience on the tube, in the street, and with my friends. It's lovely here. I want to stay forever. I've never felt at home in a city so quickly, nor have I ever had such a loving support family of friends so quickly. Natali and Marta, two of my flatmates, have gone home for Christmas and won't be back till January. It's just me and Ruben in the house.

A bunch of my classmates are getting together for a slumber party for Christmas. Food, drink and lots of people sounds like a good time. I do miss my family and I'm sad I won't see them, but I'm going to try to video chat with them if I can find someone there that knows about computers a little. Maybe my brother. I miss the Patterson De Tarr family as well, I've spent the last three years at their house for the holidays and so I have to admit that I miss their festivities as well. I hope they are happy and doing well.

Now I have two weeks of nothing to do. I thought I would go crazy and do silliness but I find that my usual partners in crime are either sick like me or out of the city for the Holidays. Recuperation is good. I think I'll go to Museums. Ruben wants to rent a car and drive up to Stonehenge between Christmas and New Years. Sounds kind of fun.

I love you all and have Happy Holidays. I wish you warm homes, happy hearts, and good health.