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??