To-Do List

Things have definitely picked up here in London...and moving fast. Assignments are beginning to catch-up with me, rushing from class to class, struggling to find the balance between socializing and studying..the normal challenges every semester brings. 

Everyday I'm completely amazed at the crazy things I get to partake in for class. Although I am not enrolled in the Rock & Roll Class, I did tag along to the Snow Patrol concert a little over a week ago at the O2 Arena. I love going to concerts, and Snow Patrol was amazing to see. The arena was packed out!

The Rock & Roll group outside the arena, before Snow Patrol.

SNOW PATROL

On Tuesday of last week, Ian, our theatre professor, arranged a tour at the National Theatre and a meeting with John Heffernan, who played Hastings in a production we saw at the National earlier, She Stoops to Conquer. There is a photo on Facebook of our group and Heffernan after talking with him, if you'd like to track it down. I was very excited to have a chance to hear from Heffernan, because I thought he performed so well! The theatre in London is just magnificent, and the respect it has in society is wonderful for me to see as a sort of outsider. Our tour at the National was great as well! We were able to go backstage at two of the three stages at the National and see props and set design. We were even able to see "Alice", which for those of you who know anything about War Horse know she is Joey's mum. That was so cool to see! Although Alice is made of gauze and bamboo the movements of the puppet were absolutely true to reality!

Thursday through Sunday was our spring break, and I was so blessed to have my family come visit me!

On the River Thames, and yes, that is the London Eye behind us.

While they were here, I took them to see all the big London spots. I've been here a month, and I still feel green when it comes to getting around at times, but compared to this bunch...I'm pretty good. At the very least, I know to stay out of the way of the cars, buses and cyclers...can't say the same for them. They were almost ran over! Seriously. I'm telling you the truth. Really, I'm quite lucky there were no injuries, considering cars were whizzing past on either side of them. In classic British fashion not a single driver honked at my trapped family members as the sped past within inches of their bodies. You know, they were probably hoping to hit one of them so they could get a little $$$. Anyway, they made it across unscathed. Lucky.

...Ok, maybe it was my fault they got caught in the middle of the road. I mean it was their first day...and they were probably jet-lagged...

My favorite place I took them (and somewhere I hadn't been yet) was Primrose Hill. It's located just North of the city above Regent's Park. It's a hill that overlooks London, and although I haven't rode the London Eye, I'm willing to bet the view from Primrose Hill is better. I'll let you know after I ride the Eye. Regardless, Primrose Hill won't cost you a dime ;)

Primrose Hill view of London

My family's stay was too short, but real life decided to poke it's unforgiving head and took them away! 

Monday, my archaeology class went to the Mortimer Wheeler Archaeological Archive...which is kind of intense. We received a tour of the archive, and we were given hands on experience of the archaeological process when it comes to finding artifacts. I saw real human bones. I saw human bones in perfect condition that had been sealed airtight in a roman vessel. We were even allowed to touch a few real artifacts, like pottery and dishes. As I said earlier, I get to do this kind of stuff for class. 

Monday afternoon for British Life & Culture we went to the Old Bailey and sat in on a court case. The Old Bailey is the equivalent to our Supreme Court, and it's the number one target for terrorists in the U.K. Something I didn't know, and I'll bet you didn't either, the lawyers and judges wear black robes and WIGS! Yes, the white curly rat-tail wigs you're picturing. Tradition I'm sure, but seriously. A murder case is kind of a serious thing, and it's ironic that wigs must be worn by the people defending you. 

Yesterday, my theatre class met at the Victoria & Albert museum to tour the Theatre & Performance section of the museum. First, the V & A is the coolest museum I've been in by far! If you ever come to London, you must visit. We were given a tour by curator of the Theatre & Performance collection, I apologize for not remembering his name. To start off our tour though, he took us to see Shakespeare's First Folio. A journalist had been looking at it, and since the museum had it out he thought we might like to see it...UHH YEAH!! 

Homework: if you have no clue what Shakespeare's First Folio is, look it up. You won't be disappointed. 

This is what I'm talking about though. I was standing a foot from this invaluable, centuries old jewel. And I get to do things like this for class. I don't want you to think I'm bragging...it probably sounds that way, but I'm not! I just can't believe it. 

The tour was amazing! He just had so much knowledge and information trying to get out of him...it's like he was about to burst. I loved it! I absolutely adore the circus. Loved going as a kid, and for my birthday this past year I asked my mum for tickets to the circus...and I went :) I love it. Well, on this tour of the V&A I learned that the circus started, had its beginnings in London, England. Of all places! I bet you wouldn't have thought that. I know I wouldn't. 

This is a bill for the first circus, which was not called a "circus" but Astley's Amphitheater. Astley was the guy who started all this wonderful entertainment.  

Unfortunately, Russians are the people to go to now when it comes to seeing a top-notch circus performance. The English have kind of let go of their circus heritage, and the Russians have perfected it. Needless to say, going to a Russian circus has now been added to my bucket list. 

And finally, last night we went to theatre at the Adelphi to see One Man, Two Guvnors. HILARIOUS. I'm not just throwing that word out there...the show is hilarious. Wonderful. The play was written for the National Theatre, and it won the Critic's Circle Award for Best New Show last year. Since then it has moved to the Adelphi, and the theatre was packed last night. This is a show to see people. If you ever have to opportunity to see it, you must. 

So many things you must do!! Primrose Hill, The Victoria & Albert Museum and One Man, Two Guvnors. I'd say it's been a good week so far. We've got Billy Elliot tonight, so hopefully it only gets better :)