Entry 4: July 26, 2009

The impossible has been done!

I have seen shows that have been sold out since the day tickets went on sale: Hamlet- with Jude Law, Doll's House- with Gillian Anderson, Waiting for Godot- with Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Simon Callow, and Ronald Pickup, Street Car Named Desire- with Rachel Weisz. These are just a few of the shows we have had the chance to see that have been very good! As our trip comes to an end, I am still trying to take in all the city of London has to offer. The museums, the people, the pubs, classes (can't forget that part of study abroad), and most recently our day trip to Bath in which I was super excited to see Betty Webb and John Rose, who I will get to see again in not much time in Italy.

Hanging out with the girls, and venturing out on my own I have enjoyed London and so much more it has been great getting to know the city, I love it some have even come up to me to ask directions and I feel at home here.

Some other highlights that I have not mentioned yet (or at least I don't think I have).

We went to the Globe last week and boy did I want to jump up on stage and recite any and all Shakespeare monologues I have done (I resisted, shockingly). I then stayed with a group of girls to see the afternoon show of As You Like It (yet again, a show that was sold out when I first tried to get a ticket, yay for returns). I stood for the entire show, (I was a groundling). It was a very good show and after I went to the pub that I soon found out the actors went to as well. I think I may have gotten a little too happy, it was like my birthday hahah not really, but I just felt so cool to see the cast members in the pub, and of course I asked for some autographs, and tried to talk with them all. The show was very good, I really liked how simple everything was, and now want to see how I can audition for a season at the Globe, basically I think I am looking for any and all ways I can possibly return to London.

Also I went to Bath and saw the Roman Baths and the fashion museum it was a super fun day, and then the theatre girls had dinner with two Meredith alumnae and it was super fun to see and get some grad school advice as well.

1st picture- the GLOBE!
2nd- Jude Law taking his Bow at Hamlet
3rd- some of the girls and I throwing our coins in for luck and to return like I did last summer at the Trevi Fountain

Well there are other girls waiting for the computer, and I need to run to do HOMEWORK, it may be the death of me, so I will write more later probably once I return. It is hard to cover all that I have done; I have packed so much into everyday it seems like that I could go on forever!

Thanks for getting all the way down to here,
~Amanda

Entry 3: July 19, 2009

The morning began with Lauren and me heading to Westminster Abbey for church, and again another outstanding performance by a church choir (I probably shouldn't be praising a church for its "show" like qualities) and then back home to check on one of the other girls who had stayed behind in London this week instead of venturing out. Sara has felt under the weather the last couple days and today has not been the best, so hopefully with lots of rest she will soon recover and be back out there tomorrow for class and the rest of the trip which is really just about 8 full days left! Some of us can't wait to return and I am sadly (or not) one of them.

As promised the first picture is of one of the many cute men I have fallen in love with (my husband that doesn't know it) the Phantom from “Phantom” that I saw the first week! It has been great stage dooring after shows as not many people do it over here, except for the big names like Jude Law (in “Hamlet”) who I happened to see last night sneaking out the front doors of the Donmar West End Theatre to his car not signing any autographs, as I walked to the tube from “A Little Night Music.”

Thursday afternoon the 16th the four that stayed ventured up to Oxford after class to see the university (I want to know what to do to go there) and see the town. We even saw some of the locations of where they filmed “Harry Potter”! It has been a "potterful" trip (hahahah) from seeing the stars in shows, to seeing some of the sights, to the premiere! The next two pictures are from Oxford, one with me in the center of the "main campus." The school is really spread out across the different parts of the city. It was so much fun. The other picture is of the Radcliffe Camera (housing the school’s science library). We really saw a lot in the town and then headed back to London to our home, and some fun.

Friday was a day to explore and our big event of the day was going to see “War Horse” I have never seen anything like it, from the set, to our amazing seats (front row house left), the acting, and the PUPPETS! I never thought I could get so attached to a puppet and all of us cried as the horses died, and one was shot right in front of us; I think my heart leapt. The cast was super nice, and we stage doored after the show, and the lead (a super cute and nice young man) came out and said he was not very good at autographs, and said he thought he could see us from the stage. (AHHHH) Also the actor who shot the horse in front of us apologized (sadly he couldn't change the blocking, and he had to do it) I was amazed by how friendly the entire cast was, and personable.

Saturday was back to Portobello Road and we found the Travel Book Shop made famous by Hugh Grant working there in the film “Notting Hill”. Also our show for the evening “A Little Night Music”, another great cast that were also very nice, and I enjoyed stage dooring the other night.
Others are waiting so these are just a few quick highlights; I will have to get up early tomorrow to get more before the others wake up.

Pictures:
1- Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom and me, he was amazing!
2- Me in the center of Oxford! A fun afternoon
3- The Radcliffe Camera, Oxford houses the science library
4- The Travel Book Shop, I walked the streets of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts!

That's all for now folks, stay tuned for the next few days as my trip sadly must come to a close.
~Amanda

Entry 2: July 10, 2009

It has been too long since I last posted an entry online. I am trying to do better, I guess if I would just slow down I could write more often, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon. So to give some of the highlights of the last few days, Cathy Rodgers’ family has arrived! Monday night I went to see "A Doll's House" at the Donmar Warehouse with Sara and the Rodgers standing room only. However it was thanks to the Rodgers that Sara and I got to go cause they went and cued in the morning to get our tickets as it is one of the many sold out shows we wanted to try to see. If there is one thing that I have really enjoyed so far and know I will continue to enjoy is seeing the shows I have seen, and going to the stage door after. It is something not many people do here in London.

From "Phantom of the Opera" and meeting the "phantom" after the show (he just might be my future husband but doesn't know it yet). To classes and homework to the many museums I have squeezed in and trying to accomplish it all yet still be more on top of the "study" aspect of the trip, it has been a long two weeks. I am working this weekend to get caught up and ahead. We don't have class today Friday July 10. It is a travel break and some of the girls left yesterday for Ireland, and others to Venice, and Paris. I know they will have good stories to tell when they come back on Sunday.

For me I am staying around London going with a group to see Sir Ian McKellen in "Waiting for Godot" with Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek) a sold out show that we had to check daily to see if any seats had been turned in, on Saturday. As well as HOMEWORK, (oh what a joy) I also am looking forward to re-charging and gearing up for another packed week of classes, museums and more homework (that I will do daily!). I don't want to think about leaving London, I just need to marry someone over here (haha, if you know any single guys here let me know) but it is only week two so I still have time to enjoy it. Even if there are less than 20 days left, I am going to make the most of it and have a great time.

Look for more photos on the next entry, the computer here is not cooperating with me.

Entry 1: July 1, 2009

So after doing the first half of the trip last summer I decided to jump the pond (the Atlantic Ocean) and finish what I started! Jet lag has still not worn off everyone yet so it makes for interesting travel, I made sure I would be awake when I got here and make the most of every waking moment I have, and thus far I think I have done a pretty good job. From the big bus tour fairly soon after we arrived on Monday June 29 after a "long" 12 hours of travel from RDU we arrived to Heathrow airport about 7:10 a.m., and got through customs, and to the tube and the journey had begun! From many steps and escalators we made it to Heythrope College, in one of the nicest areas of London and oh so close to Notting Hill (one of my favorite movies!), and just a tube ride away from the various attractions and historical sites to see.

Monday was go-go-go which was to keep us awake so we could adjust, no naps for me even if it was hard to resist. After the big bus tour, and a little down time I joined some of the girls at a pub around the corner (a must if you are in England) for fish and chips (French fries) and we watched Wimbledon! It was the Murray match and it was great to be there at a local pub watching such a fun and exciting tennis match (I am just waiting to find time to get to center court). After our later dinner we returned to get some homework done, and then get to bed.

Tuesday was full from convent garden market place, transportation museum, to theatre (“The Woman in Black”), Piccadilly Circus (a lot like Times Square in NYC), class in the morning and fun, I knew Wednesday would be just as long.

Wednesday came oh too quickly it felt but I woke up early to go for a morning stroll with Sara, and our program leader Cathy through Kensington Park. It was nice to see the locals out with their dogs (which they are so proud of) and get out early before it got hot! It has been unseasonably hot here the past few days for London, I can't wait till it cools down a little but I can't complain there is little to no humidity! The afternoon was spent in the National Art Gallery, and that will be saved for another day. Dr. Boyles took us through and gave us the quick tour and the highlights. It is a huge collection they have and they even have a Pierro (a native Sansepolcro, Italy artist I studied last summer).

I have only been here a few short days, and I am so excited to see what else will come in the upcoming weeks and hours, shows, sites, fun times and many memories, stay tuned!