It's hard to believe that two years ago I wouldn't even get on an airplane and hadn't for about 7 years. I made my first trip off the North American continent in June to visit and interview at Winchester University in Winchester, UK.
I want to study there with Lisa Isherwood and Elizabeth Stuart, pioneers in Feminist and Queer Theologies. My great good fortune is that I was accepted to study there and hope to begin my research in the fall of this year. I'll write more about my project at a later time. 
My trip was a wonderful blend of visiting friends in Leicester, visiting Winchester, and visiting an MCC colleague in Brighton. I arrived on Monday, June 9 and flew out of Heathrow on Friday, June 13. (Yes... I got on an airplane to fly back to the states from England on Friday the 13th.... that's progress.) 
So most of my trip was travel. And there were challenges like..... which numbers do I use to make a call to my friends when I'm IN England rather than in the states or Canada? And what on earth are these coins in my hand? Which ones are which? Imagine if I'd been in a country where the language wasn't English! I've gotta get a better grip on international travel. But it was so good to visit my dear friends Lon and Jan in their home. They have visited us in the US and Canada for the past 10 years and we had never managed to make it over to visit them. So that was a great treat and wonderful to see them.
Traveling on the train from Leicester to Winchester included two changes on the Tube in London during rush hour. I had 50 minutes to make the connection and "just" made it because one of the Tube lines was closed, etc. But I managed to make it, get a taxi to the university, get checked into my very comfortable accommodations on campus and get a burger and a coke at a pub across the street while watching a cricket match. I was able to follow the action and enjoy it due to the excellent instruction my friend Lon had given me on the rules of the game the day before.
After my very successful and enjoyable interview at Winchester I traveled down to Brighton to visit with an MCC colleague who graciously made time for me in her busy schedule. The ride to Brighton was wonderful in itself.
And the train station at Brighton was amazing. I really enjoyed the train, even the changes, looking at the stations, seeing the differences from city to city.
I really look forward to my next trip. I've fallen in love with England at first sight.
But life moves quickly and it will be several months before I'm able to go back. In the meantime there's plenty to do in the US and Canada. 
