The Question Resoundingly Answered: To Be (at the theatre) Is Great

Oh goodness, what a bunch of extremely full days. Following the epic marathon of Wednesday, which lastest into the early part of Thursday, I had another full day. My Shakespeare midsem was due Thursday morning, and I then spent the afternoon cloistered in the library studying for my History exam at 4:30. I think it went pretty well, but we'll have to see. From there I went to dinner at the home of a couple of friends from church, Katherine and Leslie, who are over here with their parents and brother. It was so nice to be around a family, especially a Mormon one :). After that we went to the church to register for our institute class. It looks like I'm going to be taking a class on the New Testament on Thursday, which I'm very excited about, both in the unparalleled opportunity to learn from the amazing institute teachers, as well as because it will give me an additional chance to meet people at church.

We got up early for our Stratford trip and piled on the bus from the site. We got to Warwick Castle around lunch time. It was lovely wandering around the castle, climbing up the ramparts and exploring the grounds. The weather was blissfully perfect and it was just great to be outside and in the country. We got to Stratford later in the afternoon and visited Shakespeare's grave in Trinity Church before dinner. Vinter gave us a talk about Shakespeare's life in Stratford and it was really cool - I just love to learn things, about anything really. We ate a cheap and easy dinner of bread and soft cheese overlooking the Avon River before heading of the the Courtyard Theatre for the best theatre production I have ever seen. It was Hamlet and it was absolutely amazing. Hamlet was played by David Tennant, who was perfect ( I mean it) and Patrick Stewart played Claudius. It was kind of surreal to be a matter of yards from someone so famous (I was in the fourth row), but it was really Tennant that made the production so fantastic. He captured the beautiful intricacy of Hamlet's lines so well and made them so understandable and poignant. He also did a really good job of being a sane person acting a sane person acting crazy, which is a very difficult thing to do and not omit the middle man. (Also, for those who care, I never realized how amazing Hamlet's monologue after the players arrive is. I <3 Shakespeare!) Needless to say, I spent the reast of the evening in the most wonderful theatre euphoria. The production made me cry like four times, which even for me is impressive. It was so great.

Saturday morning we did a bunch of touristy things in a hurry, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shakespeare's Birthplace, and the home of his daughter and son in law. We went to Merchant of Venice in the afternoon, which was by no means as amazing as Hamlet, but it was still quite good. I had issues with some parts of it, but I really liked the protrayal of Shylock, which is pretty tricky. I liked Portia too, I thought she did a good job of being the witty sharp female but also the girl in love. Last night once we got back from Stratford we went out for dinner for Erin's 21st. We went to an American-style burger joint that was absolutely delicious. I can has cheezburger! We were all pretty exhausted last night, and after a lovely conversation with my daddy-o, we flopped into bed rather early.

Church today, like normal. Next week is general conference, which is going to be weird because it's broadcast live, so that last session ends at like 11. We'll see if I'm going to be willing to take the tube that late or if I'll just listen to it online. I read part of a book today for Globo that was pretty much about the hooligan culture of football [soccer] in europe. We're going to a match next weekend, so we'll be able to do some first hand research.

There's an earfull!

I love the Office. I can't get the new season over here, so I'll have a lot awaiting me when I get home.

Nighty night!

Midsems?!? Already!?!

Yes, it's that time already. Because my program is set up with 9 weeks of classes followed by 6 weeks of internship, midsems come along pretty quickly. My life has been a bit of a black hole of late, but by this time tomorrow it will be blessedly over. I have a complicated (and rather scary) in class exam tomorrow for History, but in the morning I have to turn in a Shakespeare take home exam that included three long quote interpretations and a 900 word essay. Seriously? This weekend we're off to Stratford, which should be a lovely reward for this week of stress. Because of all the work, I have little to report from over here, other than a rising sense of doom wafting over from across the pond. Of course I pick the time for the biggest financial meltdown in decades to be abroad. I hope there's still a country when I get back! The latest I've heard is that Wall Street is asking for 700 billion dollars from the government. That is absolutely mind boggling. How did this happen? I'm dying to hear about what it's like over there; I've been reading the newspaper regularly here, but I want to know what you guys think.

Insanity

OK nose, let's get back to the grindstone.

There and Bath Again

Oh my goodness, what a weekend. Thursday on it's own was a totally crazy day - Shakespeare, hurried packing (rush # 1), walk for History, getting back to the flat before the play (rush #2), play (which wasn't very good) and we haven't even started the Bath adventure yet. So after the play, we went to Waterloo station to catch our train (#3). We had about 45 minutes between when we left the play and when our train was supposed to leave. We got to Waterloo in plenty of time, only to discover that our train was actually leaving from Paddington. So we get to the right station (#4) a matter of moments after our train has left. We had to buy new one way tickets to get there - they were supposed to be 46 but the nice ticket guy gave us a break and they were only 37. Still, not a expenditure I was foreseeing, but such is life. Well, the train ended in Swindon, which is obviously not Bath. Time: about midnight. So the next part of our journey was supposed to be on a bus, but there was no bus there. And by no bus I mean no one, at all, completely empty station. We waited for a while and eventually a train station guy showed up and we found out that our bus would be arriving around 10 to 1. The bus, once it arrived, deposited us in Bath around 2 - we scrapped our original plan of walking to the hostel and took a taxi instead, a good plan since it turns out that the hostel is a few miles from the train station and at the top of a very large hill. Finally, 2:30, we flop into bed and sleep like dogs. For being a crisis, I had a pretty fun time. I figured mom would be proud of me for dealing with such an adventure.

The first day in Bath was very full - walking all day. We visited the Roman Baths, which I just think are amazing. How is it possble that a civilization could create something that works so well so long ago. Fascinating. We also visited the Jane Austen Centre, but we didn't end up going inside because it was too expensive to seem worth it. The rest of the day we just wandered around Bath. In fact, that activity made up a large part of Saturday too. There was a lovely country walk, a large park, and just general nature that was so nice to be around. Don't get me wrong, I love living in the city, but it was so nice to see huge trees and to smell green things instead of cars. Saturday we also say the Fashion Museum, which was pretty cool, and then more general wandering. Our train left Bath at about 10, too late, but they were cheap tickets. Unfortunately, that also meant that we had about 5 hrs between when everything in Bath closed and when we actually left. We got to know the train station pretty well.

All told, a very fun adventure, although my legs are still protesting. I'm doing the dad thing where the first three steps whenever I stand up are accompanied by "ow ow ow."

Today was church, which I just love. I've made a couple of friends there, two sisters from MN who are here with their parents for a few years. It's nice to have someone to sit with and talk to and they're fun. I good part of our congregation is from the states - apparently a large part of the singles ward is usually transient types because most londoners stay in their home wards. Lots of brits though, too. I love being able to go to church because it's so familiar and safe. Yea.

It was so good to be home. I'm so attached to our flat already, and it was also really weird being away from most of my flatmates (except Molly, who was with me). When you spend so much time with the same people, it's weird when they're not there.

Phew!

Good times

Already a Month

It's hard to comprehend that I have already been here a month. Time has just flown by! I hope the rest of this adventure don't go so quickly - it'll be over before I know it! Lonodn is so amazing, I love it here.

Last night we saw a play called War Horse, and it was totally amazing. It included these horse frames that were manipulated by three men, one for the back legs, one for the front, and one for the head and ears. They did the best job of making them move like real horses; a few times during the play I actually got convinced that they really were horses. They even mastered things like the subtle shifting from foot to foot and the breathing that are so intrinsically horse. It made me miss Chloe and Mickey! Over the course of the play, one of the horses died and the men who were manipulating him slowly climbed out of the frame and walked away - it was such a heart rending moment. Unfortunately, the evening once again included the tag along; we just don't know what to do about that issue. Ah well.

Today continued the crazy busy week - I had my interview with the company I'll have my internship with. It wasn't a real interview, more of just a meet and discuss the position thing. The company is rather small and specializes mainly in nonfiction and stationary. It's not quite what I want to do, but it'll still give me useful experience in the industry.

Molly and I are off to explore Bath tomorrow after yet another play. This means that I won't be near my computer for a few days, but never fear, I will have much to report come Sunday. I'm excited; we're taking the train out, which I love, and we're staying in a youth hostel, which I am intrigued about.

Happy monthaversary!

Donkey on the Edge

Church like normal yesterday. There are a couple of girls there who are also from MN who I got to know my first week (it was their first week too). They seem really nice and I'm glad I have someone to talk to and hang out with at church; it's not just me sitting by myself and reading my scriptures. I was a little hesitant about church my first week, not wanting to get super involved and commit a bunch of my time, but I think it's going to be a really good thing.

Globo today - I did all the reading but I had nothing to say in class. I've probably said this before, but I wish I could just sit and listen in that class and not actually be expected to add anything intelligent to the discussion. We're reading this book right now that is absolutely awful. The author's prose style is just abysmal and he's always tossing out these convoluted phrases without ever explaining what they mean. Tonight we went to Twelfth Night and frankly, I thought it was stupid. I liked Viola, and Sir Toby, but the rest of the actors were way too much and the production kept going off on these weird tangents that totally detracted from the continuity and flow of the story. That, and an infuriating tag along made the evening rather taxing, but back at the flat we were all giggly and silly, so I'm feeling good now. More busy week ahead - two more plays, an interview for my internship, and then off to Bath with Molly for the weekend. Tons of fun!

Busily yours,

More Than a Walk in the Park

Yesterday we had a grand adventure, in other words, a really long day. It began with a walking tour of southwark led by Vinter, which was really cool. It was focused on Shakespeare's London, what was there physically as well as the culture. We spent the afternoon at the Tower of London and I think we saw EVERYTHING, except for the torture exhibit because that is disgusting. I was with Beth for most of it, so she understood my desire to take pictures of really random things. I ended the day with Live Free Die Hard, adrenaline pumping, but still asleep by 10:30 after an entire day of my feet.

This morning was entirely devoted to Poli Sci homework. I went to Regent's and read for 4 hours and only got anout 55 pages read. It takes me so long to read this stuff!! It was an odd because when I was in the sun I was too hot, but in the shade the breeze made it too cold. Ah well. Tonight we went to the Globe again, The Merry Wives of Windsor. The play was really fun, but we were groundlings again and my feet are tired! More homework tomorrow and then church.

This post was mostly just solid "I did this and then I did this" but hey, I'm going to bed :)

Toodles

Ok, I Wrote the Paper

Tuesday night we went to a play about American politics. The acting was overall rather terrible, but I thought the philosophical issues they dealt with were really pertinent and interesting. After the play I had to write the dreaded Shakespeare paper. I have discovered something interesting about myself in the last week. I had suspected this before, but now it has been proven. Even if I don't like a book when I read it, if I study it in class enough and delve into the intricacy and artistry of the text, chances are that I'm going to like the book once we're done talking about it. Ok, I admit it, I like Timon of Athens. Sorry flatmates.

Well, the paper's written. It took me staying up until 4, but in fact, I don't actually hate it, but will see what my prof thinks. I met with her about it on Wednesday, which was helpful in clarifying and unifying my thesis. I ended up just chatting with her about productions of Shakespeare for a while afterwards, which was lovely. I really do like her.

Yesterday was a pretty chill day, just class and a meeting about my internship later on. I'm excited about it, another new thing to explore and more new things to learn. I'm working for what appears to be a rather small publishing company, which is good because it means that I'll be given responsibilities beyond getting coffee etc. Last night we watched August Rush; that's such a good movie. It's good for my soul. I remember seeing it in the theater and being so wrapped in the world because no part of that movie is silent. There's always some sort of noice, the city or light music or something else. It's the kind of movie that makes me more aware of what's around me, aware of the music inherent in everything.

Tonight I went to Institute at church. I didn't find out until I got there (late, thank you tube) that it was actually the last day of their summer semester, so instead of a lesson, they were just having a dinner get together. I'd already eaten, and I almost ran away, but I ended up just staying there and meeting a bunch of new people, which was perfect. We have a big day of stuff tomorrow, a tour of Southwark and then the Tower.

Even 7 years later, I still spend this day holding my breath.

Sleep tight!

The Thinks I Think

Nothing particularly of interest today, class and homework. I went up to Regents Park for a little while this evening to continue to plough through Twelfth Night and it was really nice to just be around green and away from the noise and smell of the city. Don't get me wrong, I leave my window open at night because I love the sounds of the street, but it is also quite lovely to get away from that.

It is amazing how much I walk here. No day includes less that about an hour of walking; last Thursday I think I figured that between a walk for History of London, standing through Timon, and talking on the phone with Ben, I was on my feet for almost 7 hours. Goodbye lethargic life of summer!

The lights in our living room are too dim. It's kind of like the bedrooms at the cabin (for those who know). There are a few wall sconces and a couple table lamps, but all told, not enough. I'm going to need to find a library or somewhere like that to study so that I can actually concentrate and not be distracted by my oh so fascinating flatmates and the internet.

I have a paper that I should have been writing tonight. I know what I want to write it on (Apemantus from Timon) but I have no idea what an interesting thesis on that subject would be. Hopefully I'll figure it out by tomorrow evening because I want to have a draft by Wednesday so that I can embark on my masochistic practice of taking everything I write to my prof. Good luck to me.

Welcome to the things I think about when there's nothing else to think about!

My love to everyone at home. You have no idea how little things remind me of all of you. I hope all is well.

Hugs

Adventures, Sorry

Greetings All! Sorry I've been lax in my duties; a series of long days led to exhausted nights and no interest in removing myself from my cozy bed to blog once I'd realized I'd forgotten.

Thursday we were groundlings. We saw Timon of Athens at the Globe, standing in the middle. Considering the raw material they had to work with, the play was actually pretty good. The guy who played Timon was quite good (he managed to make me like the character) and Apemantus was everything I could have hoped for. Being on the ground meant that many of the actors entered and exited through us. We all happened to be standing right on a line that they used a lot, so we were stepping out the way for actors coming through. It was very odd getting so close to them, but it was also really cool. The set was also really cool; there was a net suspended above the audience that actors on ropes dropped through into the groundlings. Pretty sweet.

It poured on Friday - Erin and I walking to the British Museum got completly soaked. After slogging through wet all morning, our afternoon visit to Fleet Street was actually quite pleasant. All told, not the most fascinating of days.

Yesterday was a grand adventure to Hampton Court Palace. I know I'm a nerd, but it was totally cool getting tours around a place where Henry 8 lived. We traveled there by train and I came to the realization that I love travel, just moving in general. Driving, train, flying, the tube, I love it all. Hampton Court was rather expensive, but it was totally worth it.

Church today, that and trying to get myself to do work. Homework on the weekends really just doesn't compute. Ah well. I'm going to try and figure out how to post pictures on this to share my adventures with you visually. I hope all is well in the states!

Love,

A traveling groundling

Another Day, Another Pound

Only one more day of classes this week. I love not having classes on friday. Poli Sci was my only class today. I struggle with that class because I find the reading fascinating, but when I have to say something it just sounds stupid. Could I please just sit in class and listen to the people who know what they're talking about? I didn't have homework for tomorrow, so I spent a large part of this evening in the park north of our flat. After class I read Timon of Athens there for about an hour, and after dinner I walked around for a while. It's nice to escape so much city for a while and walk around in actual trees. I sware, half of London jogs and they all do it in Regent's Park. Also, all of the males between 15 and 30 are there playing some sort of sport. I managed to only get hit by one football :).

Tomorrow we visit the Globe again, this time for Timon. The play itself is rather lame, very simplistic and boring, but we'll have to see what it's like performed. We're going to be groundlings; whoo hoo for standing for hours. And then the weekend. I want to visit Parliament before it gets back in session and maybe Hampden Court, although it's rather expensive. Do I really want to pay $25 to see a palace? I'm not sure.

Goodnight all, I hope you had a lovely Wednesday.

Tacos! (and Palin, I mean Pain In my...)

The highlight of my day today was, you guessed it, tacos. Yestereday I was talking to a friend and I mentioned a chocolate bar, but she thought I said taco bar and was quite curious as to where we had found one. Unfortunately, we hadn't, but the conversation really make me want tacos. So tonight we performed a culinary experiment and it paid off quite well. Our dinner consisted of tacos of seasoned beef, cheese, and carmelized onions and it was absolutely delicious. It was the first time that we'd eaten beef here, so it was quite a treat. So parents who are worried that all we are eating is pasta, never fear.

I know this isn't a very interesting post, but dudes, do you know what's interesting? Globilization, political science and economic theory. I'm sincere. You know what else is interesting? The amount of coverage the US elections get in the papers here. The headlines of a couple of the main newspapers today were all about McCain's running mate and her pregnant daughter. Hopefully that combined with the scaled down Republican National Convention as a result of Gustav will be the beginning of the end of dear old (old, older than water) McCain because seriously we can't elect him.

Amazed? I am.

Sleep tight!

Out of the Weekend and Into the Week

First of all, a formal apology for the title; it was not intended to be so lame, I'm this way naturally.

Greenwich this Saturday began with visiting the Painted Hall, which was absolutely amazing. It was this great giant hall and almost every inch of it was covered with beautifully articulated paint. We also visited the Observatory and did the whole standing in two hemispheres at once. We also looked at a museum thing about how they discovered an accurate way to measure longitude so that sailors would stop getting lost at sea. Pretty interesting, but that was the place at which we spent waaaay to much time. Once we split up, Erin and I went to the Queen's house (Anne of Denmark, I believe, James I's wife) but it wasn't a refurbished home, it was just full of a collection of nautical paintings. We also wandered through the Maritime Museum, full of all sorts of stuff about ships. Anna would have loved it.

Yesterday I went to church for the first time over here and I give it mixed reviews. On the one hand, I was so relieved and happy to be somewhere so familiar that I cried during the opening hymn and passing the sacrament. It felt so good to be doing something that is the same as at home. I brought on a wave of homesickness that I haven't really had to deal with yet. On the other hand, church stressed me out a bit in terms of the responsibilities they might give me and all the activities they want us to do. Sorry guys, I'm not interested in three or four activities a week - I'm busy having a great time in London thanks. Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

For my Poli Sci class today, we went to Reuters, which is a giant news conglomerate here in London. It was a really cool field trip - I learned a ton about the global media industry. Like, this company that we visited makes the majority of their revenue through selling information. In general, and especially in the states, newspaper readers are less and less interested in international news. So because it's so expensive to fund foreign correspondents, they're cutting down and instead buying their stories from companies like Reuters. They also do tons of business news, stocks and prices and stuff. I'm so lucky to be part of such a cool program that arranges stuff like this for us.

Tonight we went to Fragments, which was a group of short plays be Samuel Beckett. Weird stuff. I think I figured out parts what I was supposed to, but on the whole, I don't really know why people clapped forever at the end. Once again, there's a gap for me between what the product is and why the creator was famous.

Well, we're reading Timon of Athens for my Shakespeare class (pretty stupid, if anyone's wondering) and I still have 50 more pages to read before tomorrow. I miss you all so much.

Good luck with school!