Fifth Post | Magnificent

It's been almost 2 weeks since my last post and time has absolutely FLOWN by. I have danced, walked, sang, "meow"-ed, laughed, cried, "moo"-ed, and pondered. Here's the thing about being in a 14 week conservatory-style acting program--the pace is lightning fast and it is impossible to learn everything. Many of the professors here at the London Dramatic Academy have also taught at RADA and other British acting schools, where they devote 3 years to learning "the craft" of acting. Attending a 3 year program wasn't in the cards for me, but I feel extremely lucky that these magnificent professors and coaches have taken on the gargantuan task of imparting the most amount of knowledge in the least amount of time.

In the past two weeks, I have been to Buckingham Palace, experienced high tea, seen a show at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and delivered a monologue at the Rose Theatre, the first official venue to stage a production of a Shakespeare play. I FINALLY got my Student Oyster card that allows me to ride the Tube at a discounted rate. I visited Covent Garden where I bumped into my American friend TOTALLY ON ACCIDENT because the universe is magnificent and magical. I went to Camden Market and experienced all of its Seaside-esque grime and magnificent energy. I met my Shakespeare professor and he is magnificent. I wish I could pack up all this magnificence into a box or a locket and keep it with me always.

Here are some quotes that I heard/experienced:
"He's not a bloody sloth!"
"Don't talk to me while I'm not here"
"Chicken run is literally the best"
"Ha ha! It looks like he's smoking a spliff!"
"I don't want to see 'kitten on a happy day'"
"The reed that bends is stronger than the oak"

Fourth Post | London

These past two days have been a blur. After arriving safely at Heathrow Airport, I traveled with Thom (another student attending LDA) from Terminal 1 to our designated "meeting spot" in Terminal 3. Towing over 100 pounds of luggage after a 6 1/2 hour flight is not something I would recommend. Then the LDA gang met up, and after some official introductions, we all hopped on a bus that took us to our new home. We chatted and had a mini-orientation with our Resident Directors and RAs. Later, we ventured out to get adapters and other miscellaneous items. The night ended with a trip to a nearby pub (is pear cider a thing in America?) and then I think it took me all of 10 seconds to fall asleep once we were back in the dorms.

Today we met up with the LDA's director, Ellen Newman, for a walking tour around Hampstead Heath, an absolutely gorgeous park that's nearly 800 acres! Of course, this trip required riding The Tube, which is essentially a cleaner version of the NYC subway system. After our tour, we headed back onto The Tube and traipsed around Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Then, we came back to our neighborhood (via Tube) and found a diner with Wifi and French Toast and all was right with the world. We all met up again to try out a nearby bowling alley, which I think I would have enjoyed more had I not been so cranky--I really should have taken a nap today.

This is the Cliffnotes version--hopefully I'll write up a more fleshed-out description of everything this weekend. Also I can already tell I'm amongst an extremely talented group of artists/actors/cool people and I just can't wait to work and play and act and yeah.

Here are some pictures!

Third Post | Day of Flight

"If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough." That is the message on one of the pictures I am taking with me to London, along with some photos of my friends and family and two (slightly) overpacked suitcases. In 9 hours I will leave to go live in a country that I have never visited before. I am both excited and terrified, so I figure I must be doing something right. More info to come from the other side of the Atlantic.

Second Post | 8 days

Only 8 days left in America. I'd like to use this lazy Sunday to share with you a few quotes about traveling:

1. "The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see" --Gilbert K. Chesterton
2. “A wise traveler never despises his own country” --William Hazlitt
3. “One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things” --Henry Miller

First Post | Still in USA

Hello! Starting in September, I will be posting photos and info about my study abroad experience in London. Since this is my first crack at a blog, I figured I'd post a little something about myself:

1. Born/Raised: Northern New Jersey

2. Something You’re Really Bad At: Math/ Peeling Potatoes

3. # of Siblings: 1 (younger sister)

4. Most Visited Websites: Buzzfeed. Facebook. Youtube.

5. Favorite Cities: New York & Paris

6. Favorite Books: Harry Potter Series, Slaughterhouse Five

7. Pop Culture Guilty Pleasure: Mob Wives

8. Leading Ladies You’re Dying to Play: Eliza Doolittle, Elphaba, Belle, Penny Pingleton, Wendla

9. Leading Men You Wish You Could Play: Jean Valjean, Sweeney Todd, Gabe (Next to Normal)

10. Favorite Showtunes: “Forever Yours” (Once on this Island), “No Good Deed” (Wicked), “What Am I Doin’?” (Closer Than Ever), “Welcome to the 60s” (Hairspray), “I’m Alive” (Next to Normal)