Monday Recap 6/29

Hi All,

So I know I update this compulsively but 1) The days are long and I don't want to forget anything and 2) this is an English program so I feel it is necessary to embrace my inner journalist.

Today I had my first class, london through film. We discussed Shakespeare in Love, and I discovered that in this film, the music acts as a third dimension. In saying this, I mean that the music invokes emotion that can't be attributed to action or dialogue-I am currently working on a journal entry for class on this argument.

After class (11) I went to the park to read. I was interrupted by a 30-something year old man from Turkey who asked me if I would mind helping him with his English. He said he just wanted to talk for 10 minutes, and I know how useful dialogue can be in learning a language so I agreed to help. It turned out that he worked for the Turkish government and they were paying for him to get his masters in English so that he would be able to help modernize Turkey (according to the man, science requires English so to make technological advancements he needs to be proficient in the language). We ended up talking for about an hour and I found the experience very entertaining and informative. I then left, grabbed a quick lunch and headed back to the house to meet some friends.

Then, two of my friends and I decided to take the train ( I bought an oyster month pass so I have unlimited access to the trains--super useful) to Westminster. We walked around the parliament building, saw Big Ben and looked at the outside of Westminster Abbey. We decided that we would either do the London Eye or Westminster Abbey, and decided to get a view of the whole city while the weather was pleasant. The view from the London Eye was incredible. After just a 30 minute wait (caugh caugh Eiffel tower should take a hint) I was flying high over all of London. I saw Buckingham Palace, a beautiful panoramic view of the city, and took some quality tourist pictures. 

After this trip we boarded the train for Shepherd's Bush for the play. We arrived at 6 for the 7:30 show, so we had just enough time for dinner. The location of the play was very interesting in that it was at a theatre located above a bar. The place seated maybe 40 people, so it would definitely be considered an intimate performance. Apologia is, in essence, the story of a dysfunctional family. The entire play takes place at the dinner table, so it was like nothing I have ever seen before. I really enjoyed the performance, some parts more than others, but overall it was a great first trip to the theatre. OH and one of the women in the play was in Love Actually- she played Hugh Grant's secretary (not the one who becomes the girlfriend...minor roll but still cool)

We decided to walk back as a group (about 10 of us) and on the way we saw Claire Danes and Hugh Dancey (yay london celeb sightings!)

Tomorrow's itinerary: theatre class 9-11 followed by an afternoon performance at the Globe Theatre (SO EXCITED!) of As You Like It. The play ends at 5 so I might just hang out and do work tomorrow night, but I have learned to expect the unexpected.

Other fun things to look forward to this week: Wednesday-possible trip to Wimbledon (Men's quarterfinal so may not be possible to get tickets...we're looking in to the queue) Thursday-exploration of london (Buckingham palace and/or London Tower) OR trip to Belgium. Friday- PARIS!

Yes, I am aware it is late but I am still adjusting to the time and I figured your desire to have another blog will outweigh your disapproval of the ungodly hour at which I have chosen to write it. 

xoxo, You know you love me :)

Hope

Monday, 6/29

Greetings Family,

Let me begin by saying that London is incredible. The weather has been beautiful (warm and sunny with just minutes of rain each day), and the city provides a seemingly endless number of activities and attractions.

Yesterday, I got up and had breakfast (yogurt and berries-and fruit is better here and the kitchen in the house is lovely) and then attended orientation with the GAs of the house and then our professors. Following a quick lunch we headed to Hampton Palace (Henry VIII's favorite castle and home of the famed Ann Boleyn/ the Tudors. The castle had very interesting decor (tons of animal heads) but my favorite attraction was the Royal Tennis Court, it is indoors and you play off the walls so it seemed to combine squash and tennis into one very amusing game. 

I start class in a half an hour and the plan for today is to go, with some friends, on a tour bus around the city so that we can orient ourselves. We will probably visit the London Tower (yes one day Ann Boleyn's house, the next where she was beheaded), and then tonight we will be attending our first performance,  Apologia at Bush Theatre.

Some of my friends do not have class on Wednesday and I have class 9-11 monday to Thursday so that will be the day for Wimbledon-my friends will get up early and queue up and I'll meet them after (sadly Roger is playing today so I don't know that he will be there but hey, its Wimbledon so I cannot complain). 

Needless to say, I love it here, all is well, and I am having quite an experience. 

Love,

Hope

day One

Dear Family,

I intended to write emails but I figured creating a blog is easy enough and it makes it very simple to keep everyone on the same page. With that said, I just had my first exciting day in London. It began with a long flight (which was delayed on the ground in London for some time). Then I took the train to Paddington station, and being the tourist that I am I took pictures (will send those along later). Then it was just a short cab ride to the "hostel". I use quotes because there is nothing hostel about this place, I allegedly am living across the street from Stella McCartney.

After unpacking my belongings and getting to know some of the students on the program, we all decided to go to lunch. I spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around the park (Kensington Gardens), and lounging by a lake with some friends- needless to say the weather cooperated. 

When I got back to the house the kids I have gotten to know thus far decided it would be a good idea to discuss weekend excursions. We planned for paris this weekend, rome and venice the following, staying in london the third (we have to stay to see a play for class) and finally a boat trip to amsterdam for the last weekend. 

After a much needed nap, the gang and I went out to get pizza for dinner. They had this interesting dish where I was able to get a pizza that had the center cut out and instead of pizza there was salad-I thought that was clever. Then I stocked up at the grocery store, so I am set for breakfast for the next few days. Now, I am back at the house just hanging out with some friends but I will probably be heading to bed soon. All in all it was a great first day.

Everyone seems very nice and I am really looking forward to exploring more of the city and I am sure there will be more to report soon. Thanks again mom for putting so much work into making this trip hassle-free, I really do appreciate it.

Love, Hope