I'm not there yet.

I spent my day climbing and descending steps today. I mean, literally I climbed/descended more than 1000 steps today. 39 Steps nothing! We live on the top floor of Manson Place so between class, rehearsal on Chris's exclusive semi-private patio, the Tube, a backstage tour of the Royal National Theater, checking my laundry a few times, and a tour all the way to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral, I think my quads would be happy never to climb any steps ever again.

In all reality, though, climbing all those steps was cool. I can't say this sign wasn't a bit unnerving:
But obviously we got down alive. Anyway, I was really proud of Annie, Jaclyn, Anna and I for making it all the way up without resting intentionally, fainting, or throwing up, and I was really glad we got awkward/cool pictures like this (awkward because they're awkward, cool only because we're on the top of St. Paul's Cathedral): Today I'm grateful for elevators/lifts.

So then we saw a play tonight called ...Some Trace of Her that basically blew my mind. It was a really crazy multi-media experience that is really, really difficult to explain-- basically the actors performed the play, based on The Idiot, on the stage, but it was filmed and projected onto a screen above the stage. It was very artsy in black and white with really detailed lighting and even more detailed effects. Basically it they filmed a movie with changing camera angles and close-ups and everything, in 2 hours. Seriously difficult to explain. Needless to say it was just about the most live theater experience I've witnessed. Very pretentious and post-modern.

Which is why I'm not surprised some of our group hated it. Most everyone appreciated it at least, but I kind of feel like I was the only one who really loved it. I mean, it's fine. I'm secure enough in my opinions that I'm okay loving it by myself.

Part of the reason I loved it, admittedly, was due to a beautiful performance by Ben Whishaw. Having seen a few of his movies (namely, Perfume and I'm Not There), I'm not surprised he was involved in a project like this. Perhaps part of the reason I liked this play was because I recognized someone in it? I can't say I'm a true "fan" of his-- not like, OMG BEN WHISHAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, you know?-- but I think it made it easier to invest in the production.

Because I was invested in the production, it made me want to be a part of the production. So I guess a part of me wants to be a Performance Art actor. Who knew? My parents will be thrilled. And at least my quads are in really good shape to be able to handle it.

The Snobbish Londoner

Well I've been here a little over a week. I've seen more London sites than I ever thought I could stuff into seven days, I've stopped taking pictures of every teeny thing I see, and I've accumulated some essential clothing items that help me to blend a little better. Obviously, you know what this means, right?

It obviously means I'm not an obvious tourist anymore.

Obviously.

You'd all kill me if you saw how trendy I look since we went to Camden Market and have visited H&M-- how London Boho Chic I am (ha). My week in London has altered my fashion, but I've also started to pick up/emulate some cultural idiosyncrasies. For these reasons: I'm starting to understand why locals hate tourists.

Pour example, I've noticed some theater etiquette in England that is slightly different from America. At least during the shows we have seen, it is understood that the audience does not clap between every single scene. You must wait until there is a blatant change in tone, or the music doesn't plow straight on, or at very least, if there is a hold in the pacing. We must be a selfish lot, us American theater actors, because if there's no applause then we feel like failures, but I've also noticed that the British make up for it by taking forever for curtain call. The actors bow and bow and bow forever, but the audience does not let them bow in silence. Curtain calls are as long as the audience will applaud, and they applaud for a very long time-- almost like they've added together all the times they didn't applaud throughout the show and are making up for lost time.

Not surprisingly, I feel uncomfortable and a little embarrassed when a somewhat inappropriate attempt to applaud during scene changes is made. Who knew my already snobbish expectations at the theater could raise even higher?

Getting about the city is another example. Being raised back East, and by parents who taught me well, I'm typically of the opinion that you get from point A to point B as assertively as possible. This is not to say I don't enjoy a stroll, because I certainly do. But if you are walking down a very busy sidewalk, or navigating a Tube station, there is not much room for hesitation. You must always be self-aware, and that means being aware of everyone else around you. Now that I know the rules, and have put them into practice many times a day, I glare at people who don't stand to the right of the escalator in the Tube. Hello? Can you not read the sign so clearly placed that says "STAND RIGHT"?

As for strolling down the sidewalk, well, I basically feel like strolling should be reserved for empty sidewalks, parks, and for people who are not around other people who might have places to go and are thus inhibiting the other people's ability to get there in a timely manner.

Museum etiquette is also a sensitive subject at this point. If you notice someone standing a few steps back from a plaque or an exhibit, this does not mean that person is just standing in the middle of the walkway-- it means they are (in many cases, I am) taking the time to explore it and don't want to get in the way of anyone else. Therefore, planting yourself between that person and the interesting exhibit in question is not appropriate.

In all situations, it is imperitive that you keep hold of your children. At all times. Even if they need a leash. Especially if they need a leash.

journal

Pros and Cons

There are certain things I'm finding that I love about England. One of them is how beautiful the weather has been. It's been kind of surprising, actually-- it's really warm, and really humid, and really sunny. Let me tell you, it's not my favorite thing whilst riding on the Tube (I can say things like whilst because the English use it in their billboards. On the Tube.), and I dare say it gets downright oppressive, but I'm glad not to have experienced "London weather" yet.

I love the great theater I've seen. Later I'll post a summary of the shows I've seen this week, but for now I'll just say that I've loved all the plays we've seen, and I've learned a great deal from them. It inspires me, and has changed me.

Also, I love the history in this city. Oh my gosh, you guys. I spent the entire day at the Tower of London today. It's fine that it was built 1000 YEARS AGO. I feel like a lot Americans can't even wrap their minds around that kind of time, you know? I mean, I can't even, really. That's a freaking long time. 1000 years? And to be surrouned by that kind of history in every part of the city is just so spectacular. I can't wait until the US can claim 1000 years, if we make it till then.

Other things I'm a fan of include

-useful coins in the money system
-my Oyster card

-being able to walk all over the city with ease

-parks

-restaurants EVERYWHERE

-Big Ben. But we knew that.

But for all it's charms and delights, there are also some things about England that I don't like. As much as I like the weather, I do not like the fact that England has not invented Air Conditioning yet. In the US, you go to a restaurant or museum to escape the summer heat. That's the point. But in England, you can't escape it, even in a super way cool fun place like Wagamama's.

Mostly though, what I don't like about England is how much everyone smokes. OH MY GOSH they're like freaking chimneys! For a country that is so environmentally conscious, I'm really surprised by how popular a trend it is. Also, it seems pretty much no site is safe-- people were smoking all over the Tower today. Maybe I'm taking for granted things like the Clean Air Act, but I seriously don't think Americans smoke NEARLY as much as the English. Shocking.

So I will miss a lot of things when we have to leave, but I will not miss smoking, and I will enjoy my air conditioning a lot, plzkthnx.

Across the world

As you may or may not know, I'm currently in England. Specifically, I'm living in Kensington in London. I left on Sunday and I won't get back till August 14. Surprise! We live in a nice little flat that probably doesn't meet the BYU Honor Code, but since I'm currently representing UVU, and since we're good kids and have Liz and Daniel-- who are married-- to chaperone or something, I'm not concerned. This is our street. I mean sure, it's a little Rear Window. You can absolutely see into all the flats, and I think I see a Ms. Lonely Hearts Club across the way, but it's a quiet, private street, and we don't spend all that much time here anyway. Also, it's right near the South Kensington Tube stop.

I've come to love the Tube. It's been three days and not only have I pretty much learned how to navigate it without my handy Tube Map (don't worry Mom, I keep it in my purse anyway), it's making me fall in love with public transportation. I'm sorry Provo doesn't have a subway system. We also do a lot of walking around here. Like, a LOT of walking. Within two hours of landing at Gatwick, we had walked all the way from Victoria Station to South Kensington, our luggage going bump-bump-bump all the way.

To be truthful, I was rather humiliated, particularly when we schleped past Tiffany & Co. with our gross airplane hair and sweaty faces, struggling to keep our luggage steady on the cobblestone streets. I held my head high, grateful for my sunglasses to keep me less recognizable. You know how people know me around these parts. Scott asked me why I was so worried because no one knows me, so who cares that we looked so obvious as American Tourists, all nine of us right in a row? I told him that it doesn't matter-- I know me, and I didn't love it. I would rather not relive that experience. But I do love this clock.

You know how sometimes people have little glass figures of a temple on top of their wedding cakes? It's not my favorite choice at weddings, but I dare say I'd like to have a little glass replica of this clock on my wedding cake. Better yet-- just make the cake itself look like the clock, to scale. All kidding aside, it's really overwhelming to me and I'm not at all tired of looking at it. Sometimes we just turn a corner and it's just there. The air catches in my throat every time. I'm also not tired of this building:

We went and hung out with a bunch of my dead friends yesterday at Westminster. It's convenient most of them are here, all together. I was glad see how many people had turned out to say hello, and I was even more glad to pay my dearest respects to my girl, Lizzy I. I wish I had been able to take pictures inside the abbey. Then all of you would have been able to make fun of me crying. Yes, I cried, okay? Have a laugh and move on. Meanwhile, I'm going to take another bite of this pasty I bought at lunchtime.

I kind of avoided pasties for a while because that's all my friends have been able to talk about-- pasties, pasties, pasties. Seems really touristy to me, and you knoow how I loathe to play the tourist (most of the time). Then I got one for dinner at the Cornish Bakehouse yesterday and well, my friends are on to something. I brought home half of my pasty today so I could eat it for dinner, and it is delicious. I don't begrudge my friends for chattering on about them anymore.

I love the group we're with. We all get along well, and we have no problems breaking off into smaller groups to do things. Assuming nothing gets dramatic by living together for three weeks. I'm glad I'm getting to know them, especially because I signed up for this program knowing only two people. 

Now I will have friends that will last a lifetime.

Is that a cheesy enough conclusion for an Introduction to England post?

Well, okay.

Someday I'll attract someone who's not:

1. weird.
2. young.
3. across the country.
4. weird.
5. stalkerish.
6. self-centered.
7. delusional.
8. weird.
9. poor.
10. just kidding about #9. Mostly, someday I'll attract someone who's not weird.


In the meantime, Bret Michaels and Rock of Love 2 winner Ambre broke up, so there's always that option.