God's Country - OVER!

so a little update...the show is over!!!! I'm so excited for everyone here to be relieved of their duties of rehearsal and shows and can now start hanging out and journey around london with me!!! But it has also been an exciting weekend because Maggie's friend who is studying in Paris and her sister both came to visit!! Allison (Maggie's friend) and I went around exploring London the last two days which was great for me because besides being a mini tour guide, I was able to do fun things. On Friday night we went downtown london and walked around and then got concession tickets to Deathtrap! It was a play not a musical so I was a bit weary about it, but there was nothing to be weary about it was a fabulous show! The actors were amazing, a five person cast and a thriller. I am so fascinated by actors after observing the behind the scenes look into a play, there is so much to do and perfect before a show and then to have people sit and stare at you for two hours...all I can say is I'm glad someone does it and its not me. So to the actors out there, I appreciate everything you do and hats off to you! Anyway, so I loved the show and highly recommend it. Today its off to lunch with our president at Saint Mary's Brother William. I can't say I'm thrilled about the lunch, but I am thrilled to have a hot meal that is delicious, free, and not made by me :)
Hopefully pictures are coming soon...

So its been awhile

As you may have noticed I haven't blogged in awhile...well this is due to a busy part of my semester. Even though a semester abroad is basically a vacation with some studying for most people, I've loaded plenty into mine that makes it not so easy. I took my LSAT last Saturday and was busily studying for that and preparing as much as possible, so I'm hoping for some success. A few more weeks and I'll know my score, whether that will determine my future I haven't decided. Continuing school after graduation is something I desperately want to accomplish but immediately after graduation, I'm not so sure.

So studying for the LSAT took up a lot of my time thus far but also I chose to conduct an independent study with a professor back at school. I've chosen my own books and have been researching the White Supremacist Movement for this study. We talk about it all the time in class at SMU that our generation is so accustomed to the word and action of help that students basically cannot function without help. Well this independent study is doing more than allowing me to research my own topic, it shows that the previous point is correct. It is difficult for me to not have assignments to complete and basically make up my own schedule. However, it will be rewarding in the end to see my achievements.

Enough boring talk just had to vent a little and give a few excuses for not writing. But on the other had I have also had some fun adventures the past few weeks that you might like to hear about. The day before I took my LSAT I went to the park to relax and take pictures, trying to capture a day of fall in London, which I may have been succesful at because it is so gorgeous here. There is a lack of color that I'm used to back at home, but all in all it is still fall. So I decided to sit under a tree and read over a few of my notes for my test just to review, no hard studying, and I just picked a random spot in the grass - or weeds whatever, it was soft brown weeds. Everyone just sits whereever amongst the trails and because there is so much space you are never near another person. I did try and stay away from the "sickening/ cutesy" couples that are enjoying their significant others laying the grass, for both disturbing and jealous reasons. Anyway so just studying away and enjoying the sun on my back when a bird decides to shit on my book! Are you kidding me!!! At first I felt it on my head and thought I was going to have to leave, but in the end it was on my book only, DISGUSTING! So I moved, why I'm not sure because what are the chances that another bird will poo on my stuff again, more likely a bird would poo on my stuff wherever I move to, but I moved. Laughing at myself I tried to regroup and look at my notes again. That is probably the only day before a major test that I will never forget.

Then it was on to the test, which I don't need to write about, it was hard and the longest test I've ever taken. But then Sunday came, and while everyone else had rehearsal I had to take my mac to the apple store. So on an adventure I went hoping to get my computer fixed. I didn't, the genius bar is not as genius here as in the states. So with a bit of disappointment I ventured on to find an external hard drive. Walking through all of downtown London enjoying the beautiful day it was I came across about 20 people gathered in front of London radio in Leister Square. I was curious figuring some european pop star was there and some of their fans wanted autographs, but I stood around for a bit just observing. And then I asked a man who everyone was waiting for and he said, the rumor is Usher! I was a little shocked and a jolt of excitment ran through me. So I kept inching closer and closer, no one stopped me and there weren't that many people there, so I got out my camera, the one my mom told me not to bring because who needs two cameras?? ME for when USHER is in London and my other camera is dead!!! I thought I was going to have to wait for a long time, turns out it was about ten minutes and his driver turned on the car that was waiting for him and five minutes later out comes Usher! I kept zooming to take pictures when I finally realized that he was a foot from me and I reached out and touched him! Also snapping a super picture of him!! He was kindly giving out autographs but I was too frazzled to try and find a pen and something for him to sign, but luckily for me a picture and a memory is enough. Seeing an American pop star in London, never would have guessed I would have that experience!

No offense to Usher but it took me about 5 hours to tell someone because I forgot and then probably another day before facebook knew :)

A little catch up

A quick little update since I haven't written in awhile, but what can I say I'm in London and busy! We went to Canterbury on Friday and it was a long haul but worth it. The city is busy with people and shops everywhere even in the crummy rain which we experienced on Friday. We toured the town and the gorgeous Cathedral - I'll get pictures up eventually! The architecture itself is amazing and then when you learn the history that accompanies it, you have even a greater appreciation.

Unfortunately this weekend was full of studying and not much fun, but I did fit in time for a sushi bar and Hamlet at the National Theater. The sushi bar was great, the food just kept going by on a conveyor belt and you took what you wanted and paid at the end, what an innovative idea, the food just keeps moving around in front of you and you can take as much as you like! Then it was off to Hamlet, which is a Shakespeare play that I enjoy, however it was a bit long for my attention span that night. Nevertheless a good experience.

Pictures will come after my test!

Bath Time!

I have successfully completed two loops running in the city - it is a great accomplishment with all streets around here, I'm finally learning my way around!

Last Friday we journeyed to Bath where we experienced the Roman Baths. Well we didn't actually get to experience them by going in them, we just got to look. But it was amazing and most of the stone we were walking on was walked on by the Romans. It is so incredible that hot springs continue to flow and that this one was found out by a few humans who were able to create an entirely gorgeous city around. The inventions and tools that the Romans created are very interesting to see. It would have been nice to actually take a bath - sit in the water like a hot tub - but you are definitely not allowed to do that. They tell you not to even touch the water because it is unsafe or something, but of course I couldn't resist...I was only following the actions of an older man who also giggled at the no touching the water sign after he'd already dipped his fingers into it. It was amazing to see the steam rolling off the water and how it was hotter at the side closer to the spring.

The rest of the weekend was relaxing but fun. I saw two shows, Tiny Kushner and Laramie Project. Both were great playwrights and had very intimate theaters. Laramie Project is a heart-wrenching play and of course we saw it on my birthday! But I am definitely okay with that choice since I am interested in social an political justice issues. And looking at an issue from a Theater perspective, as we do in class, broadens my knowledge and thinking abilities even further.

Less than 2 weeks until the LSAT so hopefully I will be studying and not exploring and experiencing the country as much as I would like to be. Once its done its done! So good luck to me and I will have my head in a book until further notice :)

Some Culture of London, or so my thoughts

Got lost again today...but it was in a park! So no worries! Just ran around until I found my gate!

When I first came to London and moved into my flat the girls and I found out that we didn't have a cable for our tiny TV they provided us...I thought, no big deal who is going to have time to watch TV. As well our living room if you can call it that, was dungy and we never hung out in it. Therefore no need for TV or a TV room, well I was wrong.

Last week we asked our landlord if we could get a cable for the TV, and she provided one. This was even after Linda (cleaning lady) did not vacuum our bedrooms so we wrote a note politely asking if she could vacuum. Well we actually got back from our day trip when Linda was cleaning or was about to clean our flat, she was very offended by our note. She is Spanish and David (student) said do not offend someone with Spanish pride because they will get angry. The girls and I experienced this first hand and we were very taken aback. I guess it was our fault but if someone is supposed to clean and they don't I'm pretty sure its okay to confront them - maybe that is an American concept or maybe its just me. Oh well Linda still cleaned but did not vacuum our bedrooms - we decided she probably can't because of privacy or something. But then how are our floors supposed to get vacuumed when we don't have a vacuum!?!! I'll tell you...Josh grabs a vacuum that is sitting on the street at 11 pm at night and brings it back to our flat. If something is on the street its up for grabs right? Well I hope so...not sure if the vacuum works yet but I'm planning on trying it out today!

Okay so back to the TV issue. We received a cable and it is working awesomely! We have about 5 channels of terrible British TV! I never imagined that TV would be any different here than in the states, but it definitely is. The quality of actors and filming is not what it is at home. The shows are still entertaining to watch, more so we get a kick out of the production and not the actual show. However, I did discover American shows on channel 4! This has been my highlight the last few days, Charlotte's Web, Friends, Breakfast Club, what more can you ask for!!!

Even the news that is on in the morning is not up to par with American news. I don't particularly like saying bad things about the Brits but it amazed me at the difference between our two countries. The US may be one of the worlds superpowers and a lot was due to advances in technology and still is, but is it politics and the welfare of people that is taking over in importance? I think it is a huge change that maybe the majority of Americans are just grasping onto and showing in the last few years of politics. So will Britain ever catch up to the quality of American entertainment, or does it matter?

My theory is it really doesn't matter. When I go running in the gorgeous parks around town, especially on the weekend but also during the week, there are so many people around. Families, couples, runners, tourists, and friends all enjoying different aspects that the parks have to offer.

When I was just running in the Kensington Gardens which merges into Hyde park (yes where the Pope was this weekend and no I did not go see him) there were families playing kickball, friends playing soccer, tons of people walking and running their dogs around; which the dogs here, for the most part, don't have to be on a leash, they run and walk freely and never have come up to me to say hello - I find it shocking. There isn't the slightest bit of interest to sniff the people they walk past. Are the dogs different here?? I assume it's just the way they are raised but maybe they are different :)

I wouldn't mind if some of the dogs would say hello because I miss my Abby! I was impressed the last time I skyped home that she looked at the computer! Now I've heard different things about dogs being able to see computer screens but I think she saw me, she definitely cocked her head when I did! This is the dog that I went and said hello to, it was a police dog and one of the friendliest dogs ever!He was begging for attention so we asked the police if we could pet him and they were very kind and I think they even enjoyed the company. Any way the police informed us that Leo had just sniffed us for explosives! Of course we were all clean. Leo is about to retire and stay home, I believe he was 8 years old. Since the Olympics will be in London next the police need to train young and fresh dogs to do the sniffing so the old dogs will get to enjoy their retirement.

All in all analyzing the culture of London has been quite exciting. Changing my previous views and assumptions about the country that I held previously is very intriguing to me. There is so much more to see and experience; "I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is to keep your head clear enough to think."
Richard Pryor

Woo Woo Woo for Wicked

So I almost got lost again...but all the moms out there, friends included :) I turned around and followed my same path back!

This blog is not once again about running, but I find when I come back from a run I always want to write - hence all the running blogs; this blog is about WICKED! And my day at Blenheim palace, the extraordinary day I experienced yesterday. We started the day at 8AM and drove to Oxford from London which is about a 1.5hr trip. We arrived at the palace at the side gate and I was blown away. Our bus driver actually drove us around the palace before going up the long drive way and the land expanded far beyond you would expect.

Queen Anne gave Duke of Marlborough an extreme amount of land and money to build a palace on for winning the battle Blenheim. The palace has been handed down from generation to generation and each that inherits the palace becomes the new Duke. The 11th Duke and his wife currently live in the East wing of the Palace. When a certain flag is raised it means the Duke is in, yesterday he was in and Tom was the only one from Saint Mary's who saw him! There are a few months in the winter when the Palace is closed to tourists and the Duke has free reign (well mostly I assume there are restrictions - strange having restrictions on the Palace that you OWN) and invites family and friends to visit.

The grounds. The land that the Palace is built on is absolutely gorgeous. It consists of the world's 2nd largest hedge maze (I wasn't that impressed) but I did get lost running around it and finally found my way out. Also, there are numerous paths along a man-made lake which is enormous all owned by one person; the Italian Gardens but they are closed to tourists, but the Rose Garden is not, and it was beautiful. All the flowers were in bloom and it contained all the natural colors a rose could be.
There was an adventure land which was a wooden playground and reminded me of the wooden playground that St. Anne's had when I first attended school; it was great! I haven't even mentioned how gorgeous the garden right behind the palace was with its statues, hedges so neat, fountains and flowers awing to one's imagination. We kept saying to each other how imaginable it is to say, "this is My Garden and land." What a life some people live that most of us in the world can't even dream up.

While the Blenheim Palace was a major highlight of being in London, it was not the highlight of my day because I saw WICKED!!!! The show that I have been dreaming about seeing since Stauffer introduced the music to me our freshman year I was finally able to see! We had pretty good seats, but knowing me I'd love to be in the front row, but I was definitely not complaining, the price was student discounted and we got five seats together, Me, Maggie, Greg, Josh, and David! I didn't have a tall person sitting in front of me and we split a pitcher of Sangria before the show. I couldn't ask for a better setting, and then the show began. Having listened to the soundtrack so many times I was just dancing away in my seat and I don't think I stopped smiling the whole show...well maybe during the sad parts but they always got better and ended happily! The way that the actresses can belt out is amazing and I only wish I could sing half as good as them. The set was spectacular and the lights blew me away! My favorite was during the scenes that included Emerald City. It was absolutely amazing; ironic that Emerald City matches Alphaba's skin but she fit in perfectly. Also the costumes that the citizens of OZ wore were magnificent, I do wonder when we'll be seeing some of the designs on the streets of London and then the states, and then Wisconsin :) If you haven't seen this show and like the Wizard of OZ, you need to see this show and you will fall in love. If the music isn't enough the plot will surprise and entertain your mind, but the music is the BEST!

I am so happy to have seen Wicked I can't even explain it! I am so lucky to be here in London and to have the chance to see all the talent I have already witnessed and all that is to come. This is all thanks to the my wonderful mom and dad, and of course all those who pushed me to go :) Definitely the right decision!

Running my way around...not always the best idea

So far when I've gone for a run I've stayed on a pretty straight path knowing which roads I've turned on so I can find my way back. This has been an excellent way of touring the area that I'm living in and has given me a grasp on how the city is laid out. Well today I decided to just run. Not really keep track of where I was going and figuring my sense of direction would lead me back home when I wanted to. That was my plan, and for the beginning of my run it was fabulous! I was running in a gorgeous area where the houses or apartments (You can't tell the difference) were very well kept and a few even had patches of grass! Now outside of a park you don't find grass patches let alone yards, ever! So I just kept going and hit an even more secluded gated area but up ahead it looked like a gateway to a park, so I continued forward. I was right there was a park filled with trees and people and their dogs (which I absolutely love) So I ran around it and found a path that was on the outside of the park but it was paved and it had that narrow look to it with trees draping over the fence. The smell of the fresh air without any exhaust from a car was invigorating. I kept thinking how happy I was running down in this area. Well I kept running only to start running out of the park and into, what seemed like a not-so-nice part of London. But I just kept going assuming I'd see a landmark that would lead me back - I had thought I turned around in the park and even though I didn't exit through the same gate, I thought it was in the same direction as the way I entered. Well after going probably another two miles uncomfortably, I stopped to ask how to get back to Barons Court. The lady directed me back down the street I had just run for so long on until I hit Notting Hill Gate, where she told me to ask from there. Now, I know this is a long story but I eventually got back, obviously otherwise I couldn't be sharing my story, but it was definitely a good hour and a half run. I think this was my mind telling me that I haven't been running enough to satisfy this runners mentality I have built up in the past 6 months. Moral of my story, its okay to get lost in London as long as you aren't a pansy to ask for help when you are too lost to find your way back. Except be careful because two native Londoners had quite a bit of trouble explaining the rest fo the way from Notting Hill...maybe its a hint to the UK stop making streets turn into streets turning into other streets that you can never find your way out!!

Shakespeare and more Shakespeare

While the Globe Theater is an amazing place and I have learned all the interesting facts about it, like that it took an American to start the funding to rebuild the Globe after it had burned down...And it is and will always be only five pounds for a groundling ticket into each show produced. Yep I am learning a few things while I'm over here, but after my first show at the Globe which was Merry Wives of Windsor that I enjoyed very much, I really did not have a desire to go back and stand for another 3 hour play. Nonetheless it was King Henry IV. Not as entertaining as the comedy. So still trying to get my bearings around school and a new city, I decided that I didn't want to go to King Henry - as I believed it wasn't required for my class, Theater in London, but knew it was for the Page to Stage kids, oh boy was I wrong. It was after I took a nice relaxing trip down to Hammersmith (one tube stop away that has a few stores) to pick up a bottle of red wine and some pretzels, that I received a call from Gary. Well you can imagine how that conversation went, Gary - "where are you?" Me - "Hammersmith, the play is only required for Page to Stage right?" Gary - "No." To myself - SHIT, to Gary - "okay I'm coming." Well I booked it to the tube station and hoped for no delays on the way. However I then realized that I had just bought a bottle of wine and I would most likely not be able to bring that into the Globe. So I had to return it and then book it to the tube. I made the trip, sweaty, but I made it. OOO and for all the Harry Potter buffs I definitely booked it across the Millennium Bridge (6th movie) which was a little thrilling and annoying that I couldn't enjoy the view that it allows for. I suppose I don't regret the experience, not even the play, because fortunately for us it didn't rain at all! And since the Globe is an open ceiling, only the more expensive tickets will get you a cover and a seat.

Running in the city

Today has finally been a day mostly to myself. British politics was my first class at 2pm today so the morning and the night were free to fill with my imagination or my plans since I was still busy the whole day. Starting out at 8am I woke up and did an LSAT practice test. I’m very hesitant about the test, realizing trying to study for a major test that may affect the rest of my life is not the best idea when I am in a brand new country where there is so much to see. But I am still trying and I will take the test, if I don’t end up using the score at least I have the experience. After studying for 4 hours I needed to clear my head so I went for a run. My second day going on a run and it felt great; I mean, besides running in the heart of the city and filling my lungs with fumes, my endorphins filled my body and cleared my head. Throughout the day cars and taxis and buses are roaming the streets at unbelievable speeds, at least to someone from the US. While they have speed limits apparently no one follows them and cars zoom everywhere. Not to mention pedestrians do not have the right away anywhere, except one in about 30 intersections that are separately marked by yellow ball light posts. Good news – I haven’t been hit, although I think a few times have been very close!

Hair highlights

Alright so as much of a recap as I can accomplish I will, since I haven’t had internet since I got to London – or if I did I was paying a pound/ half hour, kind of ridiculous in my book. But so far the trip is totally worth everything! I have seen so much of London already and yet have so much more ahead of me. The second night I was here, Gary (prof), Darrell, (student) and I went to see the Westend play Hair! A little ironic that Hair would be the first big show I see, but nonetheless it was great! My absolute favorite is listening to the actors and actresses sing, and boy could they sing! Not being a theatre buff like Darrell and Gary, and basically everyone else on this trip, I wasn’t knowledgeable of the live actors in the play but I’m trying to keep up and retain as much information as possible. The knowledge and culture I’m receiving is for the most part all new and I love it! While we were waiting for tickets an hour before the show (in order to get the student discount 25 pounds!) we met two other students from Illinois who are also studying in London for the semester. While we got talking, while I was basically listening because they were theatre buffs chatting away with language I’m not all that familiar with, they brought up their favorite part of seeing Hair (this not their first time). The best part they said was at the end when everyone was invited to get on stage and dance. I didn’t even know what to think about this because I knew as nervous as I was, I was definitely getting up on that stage, and I did. The entire crew stays on stage and dances while the audience joins them. I lost Darrell in the mix but ended up dancing to the Age of Aquarius until the very end! Only being the second night in London I was still a bit jetlagged and got sleepy towards the end of the show, however when I was able to get on stage and just dance it was amazing. Being alone on stage, but yet a part of that moment was a good feeling.

While the show has been a big highlight of my trip so far, there is a lot I haven’t even touched on and it may have to wait until a later date. The time difference, lack of Internet, and chaotic days is road blocking most of my communication – but I’m not complaining, I am in one of the greatest parts of the world. In short I’ve walked most of central London and reached The Globe, where we went tonight to see Merry Wives of Windsor, which was hilarious except for getting rained on (not so funny, but definitely an experience) as well we saw Big Ben! London is full magnificent architecture that takes my breath away and it still surprises me that I am witnessing everything first hand.

Made it!

Finally after a delayed flight (only by and hour) but a really long flight after that I made it to London! I barely slept on the plane but that may have been due to the fact that I could not get a window seat, (no headrest) and the girl next to me kept her light on and read until we were an hour from arrival! Oh the joys of flying...nonetheless I made it! And besides being extremely tired on only 4 hours of sleep in the last 24 hrs, I am sooo excited to be here! It is a big sigh of relief! I miss everyone that I left back in the states but I'm not thinking about it too much and focusing on all the amazing experiences ahead of me!

Today Darrell, Gary and I walked all around central London...tiring! But I've seen a lot of cool buildings, a lot I want to buy, and have an even bigger drive to explore the city! That will all come in time, hopefully some tomorrow when I'm better rested!

Tomorrow!!

Tomorrow is the flight and I could barely sleep last night. I'm nervous and I'm not even sure of what yet, obviously not leaving the country or anything! Geez what I am getting myself into. But in all honesty I am terribly excited! When I finally get settled in I think everything will be fine. There is going to be so much to see and do I won't have time to be sad, or at least that's what I'm hoping for. Seeing all my friends at home and Winona is always good and I will miss you all very much. However, Miss Ashley is going away and not coming back for much longer than me, so no offense to you Ash, but it makes me feel better knowing I'm coming home in only 3 months. And I have a feeling I won't want to leave.

So for everyone that is worrying about me, don't! I will be having the time of my life! I leave MN tomorrow real early and then have the longest lay-over in NY so feel free to call while I'm wasting away in the airport!

oh boy!

So finally I'm getting closer to leaving! Nervous, excited, happy, sad, I've had all the emotions running through me like a train! But...Darrell and I have booked a hostel to stay at the first 2 nights we get to London, before we can move into our flats, and I am so relieved! And thanks to Gary checking out the hostel and making sure it would be the best fit for us, we booked! Something like 32 days before I leave and can/cannot wait! How strange it will be to not talk to my family and friends on a daily basis, right now I can't even imagine it. I know I will be in love with being abroad and never once regret it, but it's definitely scary! And not to mention staying in a hostel...weird for Americans, or just me??

First Post!

Getting the summer started and finalizing everything for next fall when I study abroad in London!! I just bought my ticket today and the butterflies are fluttering! Now hopefully I can get there a little early and get familiar with the new environment I'm going to be living in. I'm so excited it feels real now!