Lazy Sara...

Hey, all you out there who read this. I know I need to finish this little blog off with a description of my last adventures. I have it all written down (which is good, because I have a terrible memory) and ready to be inputted, but I've been enjoying a lazy break at my home sweet home and haven't even started yet. :P

But never fear! I'm starting to get back into productive mode and I'll be at it shortly! :)

Off on an adventure...

with Patrick! XD

Patrick got here safe and sound. He's at his hostel right now and we'll meet tomorrow at the station to go to Paris for a couple days before heading back to London. I'm so excited! (And nervous-- I hope all my plans work out!) We won't have a computer with us, so I thought I would type a little note before I begin the last leg of my journey. This has been the most amazing experience. I feel so lucky to have been able to live here for three months. It's like nothing I could have imagined. I can't wait to get back and share some it with everyone. I'm excited and nervous to see if/how I've changed. I'm already noticing some subtle differences, but I wonder if anyone else will... Either way, I am packed and ready for the rest of the fun to begin! I'll see you all on the other side! :)

Done with Finals!

Monday

AAARRRGGGHHH! PAPERS!!! I had two due on Monday, that I thankfully finished them in time.

We got to school early, Anne and I stocked up on some sweets to bring home for people to taste. We had our last Shakespeare class, which basically consisted of talking about our final and watching the end of Shakespeare in Love. It was fun for those of us who went to the plays this last weekend, because Judi Dench and Simon Callow are in it and we just saw them! Then I edited my papers while I waited for my last Novel class, where we again talked about our final and watched something (this time part of The Buddha of Suburbia). Then I went home.

It was so weird commuting today. It's a Bank Holiday so hardly anyone was going anywhere. It was like London was asleep or a ghost town or something. Kings Cross station wasn't busy at all--which is insane. It made the journey very quick and easy though. It was kind of nice, but weird.

Tuesday
I went for a run this morning (even though I had a lot to do). I was so happy I did, because I had been feeling really bleh. But I think it was because of stress and lack of exercise. It felt good to let off some steam through physical exertion. Then I got back and continued studying for my Novel final.

I went and took the final in the afternoon. Then I thought I'd look for some souvenirs, but I didn't find any. :( Then I went home and packed and finished my theatre journal and my theatre paper and other stoof.

Wednesday
On this day we had our last Theatre class, which was stupid because we just had to turn in stuff and then listen to a lecture that didn't mean anything really. It was nice to talk about the plays we had just seen and read, but it was really rather pointless. :P Then I had a long break before our Britain Today final. I spent it filling out a survey for AHA and studying and maybe a little napping. I had fun right before our final, because a bunch of started talking and quizzing each other on topics that were going to be on it. After the final (which I felt fairly good about), we signed some cards for all the professors and staff. And then I went hooooommmmeee!

Thursday
I had my last final in the morning. It was for Shakespeare and we could bring in a draft to copy for the in class essay, which I did (thankfully, because my brain was so tired and fried by then). Then I did some running around for errands, but didn't really get anything done sadly. Oh well. In the afternoon, I went to the post office and then to our end of term party. There were lots of sweets and lots of picture taking. It was a punch party (but I don't think anyone got tipsy). :) There was lots of hugging and goodbye-ing.

After that, Beth and I went to check out Abbey Road! I didn't really get a picture of it the way it looks on the album, but we did take pictures-- so they're like behind the scenes shots. yeah, that's right. ;)

I know it's not the right angle, but it is the right crosswalk!

Then I came home and collapsed! I'm soooooo tired! I need to finish packing. But Patrick is going to be here so soon, so I'm really excited!!! XD

Papers and plays... papers and plays...

Saturday
I saw Dame Judi Dench in a play on this day!!! It was SO cool. And I saw Rosamund Pike and Deborah Findlay. It was a very interesting show, called Madam de Sade. Not like anything I've ever seen before. I'm not sure how I feel about it. There were some very... explicit descriptions...at points... It had an interesting cadence to it. At times I felt like I was at a very elaborate reading for a very intense novel. But the costumes were amazing and the actresses (it was an all female cast) were very talented. I'm very glad I went.


They're doing work on the tube this weekend, because it's a long weekend. The Monday closest to May Day is a Bank holiday here. Consequently, it took us a long time to get to where the tube was working and we were very close to being late to the play. But we made it! yay!

Other than that, I mostly worked on papers. yay. not.

Sunday
We saw Waiting for Godot today!!! SO AMAZING! Ian McKellen is such a talented actor. And Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow were great, too. And Ronald Pickup (but I've never heard of him before). It was such a great show. And afterwards we got to have the cast sign our programs! SO cool! Plus, while we were waiting for the cast, Morgan Freeman came out the stage door. ?!?! Apparently, he was there to see the play. Random! It was so surreal (I use that word a lot, don't I?) to be in the presence of such incredible talent! There's a reason these people are famous. :)

Before the show, Anne and I walked around Leicester Square and looked at all the famous people's hand prints that are there. They had two of my favorite actresses (Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet!) and some great actors (such as Sean Connery, Billy Crystal, Micheal Caine, and... Ian McKellen!). :) We took some pictures. It was fun.

One of my very favorite actresses! (or her hand prints, anyway)

Morgan Freeman! Surprise guest. heehee. [photo by Jamie Kluth]

Simon Callow! (seeing him really made me want to watch Four Weddings and a Funeral again...) [photo by Jamie Kluth]

Patrick Stewart! (the guy in the glasses was escorting them all. does anyone recognize him? I think I do, but I don't know why...) [photo by Jamie Kluth]

Ian McKellen! Signing my program! awesome.

Yay! We got our programs signed! :)

Overall it was a great day. Now back to paper writing. :P I have two due tomorrow. Then two more later in the week and two finals. It's so crazy! I have to pack, too!

Weekend before finals = Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow, and Morgan Freeman. wow. awesome plays, awesome actors. London, I'm going to miss you.

Wow, this week has gone fast...

Wednesday
This day was actually not quite a normal Wednesday, because we didn't have a normal theatre class. (yay!) Instead, we paired up and had 15 minute sessions with him to discuss the topic for our final paper. This was much less painful than a full class and we liked my idea, so that improved the day immensely. Our Britain Today class was different as well. Since Martin is still in the States, we had an expert in EU affairs come in and teach us about the history and nature of the EU, as well as Britain's connection (or lack thereof) to it. He was really funny and had interesting stuff to say, so it was a nice class. Then we all headed down to the Globe where we were going to see Romeo & Juliet that night. The group I was with ended up eating at Nando's beforehand. It was a nice place--lots of tasty chicken. mm mmm. Then we went to the play! Everyone had predicted rain (which, in an open ceiling theatre, is not fun), but the sky was clear and it was even a nice temperature. And it was SO cool to get a glimpse at what shows must have been like back then--totally different than your average theatre experience today. The play was better than I had anticipated (R&J isn't my favorite), but it was very tiring to stand for three hours in the groundling area. :P The play itself was alright. The rhythm of the production was good (it flowed smoothly and quickly). The leads were so young looking! And unfortunately they had absolutely no chemistry, which--when you're watching a play where the leads kill themselves for love--is kind of important. Oh well, there were other parts that were admirable. Like Benvolio. He as super cute and talented and funny. And it was the actor's professional stage debut! Interestingly, the production was able to bring out a lot of the humor in the play, which is there in the lines but is often skipped over in favor of keeping the tone completely serious. At the end of the night, I was glad I was able to experience a play in the Globe (eeekk!), but sad that my feet and back had to suffer for it. :P

Me and Beth at the Globe!

Thursday
After a normal Shakespeare class in the morning, I was very proud of myself, because I went to work on one of my many papers (Britain Today, to be exact) that are due next week. (yuck.) I basically spent all afternoon on it. It was nice to have a solid rough draft under my belt. After that I went with a few people to o'neills for dinner. We hung out and talked, which was nice, but unfortunately we were almost late for our play. Anne and I ran. It was not nice being hot and sweaty in the auditorium. :P But at least we got there in time (barely)! The play was Time and the Conways. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I get it. Not yet anyways. I've been contemplating it... It was to do with this family and time and lives... it's very strange... I'm looking forward to discussing it more (especially the ending and the final message...).

Friday
Today we went to Cambridge! It was a nice day (mostly sunny, with occasional cloudy moments). We saw lots of buildings and churches. It was mostly just nice to walk around the streets. It's a very pretty college town. I was excited to discover (or rediscover, maybe?), when we were in the Wren Library at Trinity College, that that's where A. A. Milne went to college! So cool! :)

At the top of the tower of Great St. Mary's (church) over looking Cambridge.

Me and Jessica in the Great Court at Trinity College.

The Round Church. cute, eh? :)

So now I'm writing papers and doing last minute things (like seeing plays!). But mostly papers. :P