Transatlanticism.
In the past 10 days I have:
Met and hung out with some incredibly cool people. Walked more than I ever have in my entire life (or at least it feels like it). Drank enough coffee to already fill up a frequent drinker’s card at Caffè Nero. Proven my theory that caffeine does absolutely nothing to keep me awake. Eaten fish and chips (twice!). Had my feet blistered beyond belief (twice!). Become comfortable commuting on my own. Become frustrated with the bus and Tube delays (WAY more than twice!). Learned to love the bus and Tube regardless of delays. Learned to take the first opportunity to get a seat on the Tube when you’ve got more than a few minutes’ journey on any given line. Learned that weekend plans WILL be disrupted by Tube rail maintenance. Learned not to care about said rail maintenance, because using alternative bus routes will still be better than not going anywhere on the weekends. Accepted the fact that I will probably never properly catch up on sleep. Been pleasantly surprised with pepperoni-green chile pizza (must ask host mother where this was from…). REALLY missed New Mexican food. Missed cooking for myself as we are not allowed to do so. Ditto laundry. Discovered that I DO like Indian food. Discovered that London pigeons are exceptionally bold. Missed Willamette a little bit. Missed family and friends a lot. Started planning to (hopefully!) live off-campus next year. Been invited to join Mortar Board for the top 30% of rising seniors. Been discouraged by the service & leadership requisites for said Mortar Board membership. Have not decided on applying yet, for multiple reasons. Been given slight boost by said invitation to join. Missed Willamette a little more. Worried about missing Willamette when I’m in the coolest city in the world. Found Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery entirely on accident after wandering through sketchy parts of Chinatown and SoHo. Gotten used to “military time.” Been asked for directions in the Tube station by a British person. Learned that the British “tradition” of politely queuing everywhere does NOT apply to Tube stations. Learned to push my way onto the Tube like a REAL Londoner. Been surprisingly not overwhelemed by this whole crazy experience (probably too busy to). Become emotional about being in London for the first time when walking through the National Gallery and being surprise-attacked by Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne (quite possibly my favorite Titian and the cover of my first Art History textbook). Wanted to move into the National Gallery. Taken a LOT of pictures. Fallen behind on emails and blogging (sorry…).
I Have Visited:
Regent’s Park, Hyde Park, Wellington Monument, Buckingham Palace, The British Museum, Russell Square, Covent Garden (twice!), The Embankment/River Thames/Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, Chinatown, SoHo, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery (twice!), Leicester Square, the Novello Theatre, the Hampstead Theatre, Church of St. Sepulchre, St. Etheldreda’s Abbey, and many more places in passing that I will eventually dedicate more time to (if they ever give us any time to catch up!).
I Have Seen:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Private Lives (the latter of which was especially entertaining).
This Weekend I Will:
Wake up God-awfully early to Tube into Paddington Station by 8:30 and spend the day Friday in Bath visiting the Roman Baths, Georgian Bath (supposedly Jane Austen’s bath?), and the city itself, which is apparently the oldest planned city in England. Then will hopefully catch a train to Wales and stay overnight with a few friends. Will, at some point, hopefully get at least one night of decent rest.
I Eventually Intend/Hope To:
See a show that isn’t part of the AHA program schedule (hopefully La Cage Aux Folles). See a ballet or opera. See a rugby match. Try to see a concert (hopefully Jason Mraz!). Have high tea somewhere. Go to Madame Tussaud’s. Go to Abbey Road. Actually go to see Big Ben & Parliament, and stop taking pictures from afar. Ditto the London Eye (will hopefully get to go on it!). Visit Platform 9 3/4 to take my obligatory nerdy picture with the cart stuck in the wall. Visit a museum once a week (outside of the visits we make during Art History class). Visit Wales (hopefully this weekend), Scotland (in two weeks!), Ireland (on some weekend), Paris/Versailles (ditto), and Florence (hopefully for spring break!). Do something “normal” like see a movie or read a book in a café and not feel completely guilty about not spending every single free minute exploring the city. Think of more things that I need to do while I’m here.
Post more pictures on this blog (soon!).
Just one for now:
(this title courtesy of Death Cab for Cutie)
