London to Austin

Finally back home in Austin. Three weeks can seem like quite a long time. You think that while you're gone things in your everyday life might somehow evolve at light speed in your absence. Well I got home and even the little things were still the same. I swear the same Macklemore song was still playing on the radio when I got in Casey's car at the airport.

I don't think I ever got home sick while I was in London. What I really wished is that I could have had all of my people with me. I had an amazing time with my new classmates, but sharing a trip like that with my people would have only made it that much more memorable. Every place we went I found myself thinking of friends and family that would would have loved it. I needed Lindsay with me shopping at Harrods, Casey at the top of the Eiffel Tower, my Aunt Kay at Regent's Park, and Mom to follow directions for me so I don't show up to a castle the one day it's closed!

I'm so glad to be back in Texas with my Mexican food and air conditioning, but I can't wait until the day comes when I can go back to London with my people and show them the things I fell in love with and discover the thousands of places I could quite fit into my first trip. Until then..

“I've traveled all over the world, but I don't think there is any place better than Texas.”
Red Adair

London Photo Book

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London Lists

For my last London post I want to write a few lists of most and least favorite parts of the trip.

Favorite Royal Moments:

1. The Royal Birth! #Prince George
2. Touching the door at St. Paul's Diana walked through on her wedding day.
3. Meeting the press outside the Lindo Wing
4. Diana's Dresses at Kensington Palace
5. The Crown Jewels
6. Seeing the Queen's original coronation dress at Buckingham Palace

Top 10 classmate moments:

1. The few of us that made it to the top of St. Paul's that very first day of class
2. Primark dresses of the day
3. Being fancy at the Orangery
4. Daily Picnics
5. Falling off twin beds
6. Ladies dinner at Rules
7. The sport of taxi dodging
8. "Flying" kites on Primrose Hill
9. Martha's GPS
10. Annette and her eye candy

Things the USA needs to import from London:

1. Tea Parties
2. Street Waffles
3. PRIMARK
4. The Tube
5. Lunch in the Park
6. Wild Berry Cider
7. High speed trains from town to town
8. Boots! (not for your feet)

Things London needs:

1. Air conditioning!
2. Refills
3. Less confusing change
4. Less stairs
5. More trash cans 
6. Less smoking in Kristyn's little face

Tourist destinations worth the hype:

1. St. Paul's
2. The Eye
3. Regent's Park
4. The Orangery
5. Harry Potter Studio Tour

Least favorite tourist destinations:

1. Globe Theatre
2. Tower of London
3. Abbey Road
4. British Library
5. Museum of London

Bye London!

The Final Countdown

I can't believe my three weeks here are almost up!  I don't know the last time I've done this much walking, or eaten this many sandwiches. I'm not complaining though, the last 20 days have been some of the most memorable I've ever had. I'll never forget all those steps to the top of St. Pauls, riding the Tube for the first time, or being in the presence of Diana's dresses. What made this trip even more memorable was the people. Our group of 16 grad students is one of the most eclectic you'll find. We've come from all over, with very different backgrounds, but that is what keeps it interesting.

Group Video

Our group video showing what a day is like here in London, complete with a stellar soundtrack!

Midsummer's Nightmare

Tonight we went and saw a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre. I've never been a huge theatre fan and this was no exception.  At one point a classmate turned to me and asked, "do you have any idea what's going on?" All I could do was shrug.

What really confused me was the laughter. Maybe it all went over my head, but I never found anything laugh out loud funny. Headache inducing, maybe, but not funny. To add to this we had 'obstructed view' seats yet again. At Les Mis the top of the stage was out of view from my seat, and here we were so far to stage left that I never saw any of the actor's faces. I think I might have enjoyed the play a bit better if I had read it or knew anything about the plotline. It was a bit hard for me to follow.

After intermission my headache that had started earlier got worse, so I decided to sit out the second half of the play.  That might have been a mistake on my part because I was subsequently made to walk home alone at 11pm in a city I barely knew. I've always taken someone with me when I've gone outside the area immediately around my flat. Being all by myself so late at night was very upsetting. Luckily I could text my boyfriend so someone would know where I was in case anything happened. I found the Tube station a few blocks away and made the lonely trip back to the study center. I hope that tomorrow is a better day without incident. I'll be visiting Highclere Castle where they film Downton Abbey! (And of course I won't be alone. Buddy system with my roomie Melissa, a fellow Downton fan.)

London Street Art- Digital Story

How They Want Me To Be (Danceahol Rerub) - Best Coast by Danceahol is licensed under a  Creative Commons Licence.

Youtube Link

Check out the tour I went on: Street Art London

Accio Butterbeer

I've had a great time in London so far, but today was the day. Harry Potter Day. This was my number one thing I was looking forward to seeing while I was here. Castles and churches are nice, but I prefer a combination of children's books and film memorabilia. I still can't believe I was on the actual sets where the iconic series was filmed.

The experience starts off with a film narrated by the trinity, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, telling us about the 10 years of production and filming and all of the thousands of props, sets, and costumes that went along with it.  The tour itself featured all of the original sets decorated with props and costumes from the film. It was almost overwhelming to see my movies come to life.

One of my favorite features was the green screen room. They got you all dressed up in a cloak and you got to climb up on a broom and take pictures or even video of yourself flying through the air above the castle, or on the quidditch pitch. Did I care that most of the people partaking were children? NO. This is my day and I'll ride my broom if I want to.

And of course I finished off the tour of a lifetime with a nice frothy glass of butterbeer....yum.

"Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground." -Albus Dumbledor

Cuppa Tea

Today I tried tea for the first time.  Those of you who know me won't be surprised by the fact that I haven't tried a completely normal thing most people love. I can be a tad...picky. Let me just say it was amazing! I recommend everyone have their first cup of tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace. Is there really any better way to do it?

Afternoon tea, or low tea, is a small snack-like meal eaten around 4pm. It reminds me of eating brunch in America, just at a different time of day (and no mimosas..). The tea time tradition in England started with the upper class but by the nineteenth century it had gained popularity throughout the people. This is one more thing to add to the list of England-y things I will miss once I'm back home in Texas. Why can't we eat cute little sammies and cakes while drinking tea with sugar and creme? Sounds like a lovely afternoon break to me.  

Witnessing History

It's happening. The Royal Baby, soon to be known as His/Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess of Cambridge, is being born today at St. Mary's Hospital here in London. I can't believe I am actually here during such a special moment in history. I was shocked to find out that some of my classmates don't feel the same. One girl had the audacity to say it was all 'a little much'. Can you believe it!!!

After some class time touring Westminster and the National Gallery Melissa and I just couldn't wait any longer. We had to go check out St. Mary's Hospital and see what was going on. A quick Tube ride to Paddington and we were right outside. You would not believe the number of news vans, reporters, and excited people were gathered around the entrance to the Lindo Wing. We walked through the throng of onlookers just taking it all in. It was crazy to think that just inside the building was a little prince or princess being born.

Now we are just waiting to hear an official announcement from the palace, which should come sometime in the next day. I can't wait to see the city celebrate such a momentous occasion, and I'll be right there partying in the streets with them!

Update:

IT'S A BOY! And we went to celebrate at Buckingham with a few thousand people!

An American Girl In Paris

Oh Paris. Where do I begin?

I had such high hopes for this excursion. It's Paris. The name itself brings up connotations of romance, shopping, and all things beautiful. Well, I should have listened to Carrie Bradshaw. Paris was a mess.

It all started with the subway we got on after our train ride from London. I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. Packed into an airless car with the unwashed masses all I could think about was how much I missed the Tube. Compared to the Paris subway the London Tube was unicorns and rainbows puked up by puppies. With signs posted everywhere to 'beware of pickpockets' I was left with a general sense of unease. Something I had yet to experience while away from the US.

When we got off the subway and stepped in front of the Louvre I was hopeful. Maybe this day would turn around. I knew that the Louvre was home to many famous treasures I had wanted to see my whole life, such as Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Liberty Leading the People, and the Law Code of Hammurabi. These are just a few of the exhibits that the largest museum in the world holds. But I didn't get the chance to see them. We got about an hour and forty-five minutes to navigate the 15 acre museum. Just tracking down an English map was a feat in itself. In the end Melissa and I found Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. This required us to race through the museum dodging massive throngs of small children as we went.  When I actually got to the painting I was too short to see it. Story of my life. With no regard for the safety of my camera I asked a rather tall man standing next to me if he could take a picture.  He took pity on me, maybe because of the look of defeat on my face, and kindly took a picture so I could race back to meet the group. Knowing that I was in the same building as all of these famous and important works, but didn't get a glimpse of them, was crushing. 

We left the Louvre for an exhausting jaunt to the Eiffel Tour.  I don't think this walk would typically be so bad, but with a massive backpack and the heat wave bearing down I was slowly deteriorating. Regardless, the tower was breathtaking. It was surreal to be so close to something you've seen in so many pictures. 

At this point I might have lost my marbles. Many of us had decided that Paris was a let down. Maybe I had watched too many movies over the years and was left with unrealistic expectations.  When you hear about the stereotypes of Paris and the French you never expect them to be true. I'm from Texas, but I don't wear boots and drink moonshine while riding a horse, so why is Paris smelly and full of rude people who elbow me in the boob and blow smoke on my face? Life's great mysteries I guess...

Sometime around this point in the day Melissa and I had canceled our hotel reservation and my Mommy had booked me a train ticket back to London.  This was the first time I had used my phone during this whole trip, so I think she knew I needed some help.  With the knowledge that I wasn't staying in Paris for the whole weekend I was able to enjoy dinner. A dinner that featured a guitar solo by Miguel and many glasses of wine being drank by my classmates.

Getting off the train back in London felt like coming home.  I was no longer looking over my shoulder for roving gangs of pickpocketing children. Moral of the story; Carrie Bradshaw came to Paris and got slapped by a Russian, and I came to Paris and almost cried on the banks of the Seine because I thought I was going to sweat to death. American girls like me and Carrie don't belong in Paris.

Creepy Castle

Today we visited the Tower of London. The Tower has a very bittersweet history. While it is home to the fabulous Crown Jewels and formerly the Royal Mint, it is also the location of many violent acts from the past. This list includes the beheading of Anne Boleyn, the execution of Lady Jane Grey, and the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Thinking about all of the history that has taken place here since 1066 really makes me think about how young the US really is. Before I came here I thought any building built before 1900 was basically an historical landmark, but here in London I hear tour guides referring to something as 'nearly new' when its 200+ years old.

Also, my souvenir for the day is this lovely shattered iPhone! Thanks a lot ghost of Anne Boleyn..

Day of Dahl

Today was a day of Dahl. We visited Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote his beloved classics, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Witches, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Matilda. It was so interesting to see the exhibits in the Museum and Story Center that showed insights into his inspirations and creative writing process. My favorite part had to be seeing the school children on a field trip running around and experiencing it for the first time. Many of the exhibits are hands on and help to foster their young creative process, but they seemed the most excited about the doors smelling like chocolate.

On our way back to the train station a few of us stopped by the local public library. This was supposedly where Dahl imagined Matilda checking out all of her books to load up in her wagon as an escape from her parents. We even had the pleasure of talking to a young librarian and an older volunteer. We asked questions back and forth comparing American libraries and ones here in England. My favorite question the volunteer asked was if America had lending libraries. Lending libraries are what we know as public libraries where you can check out materials and take them home with you. Surprisingly many parts of the world don't let you lend. It was so nice to stand in a local small town library and realize how similar it is to some of the ones back home. They even had a handful of old ALA posters on the wall! For a few minutes today it felt like I was back in my library. Maybe I should have hopped behind the ref desk for a few minutes...

Oxford

We finally got out of the city today for a day trip to Oxford. This was my first ride on the high speed train. It was such a scenic trip through the English countryside. I really enjoyed getting to see some nature after so much time in the heart of the city.

Oxford is a city rich with educational history. Oxford University has been around since 1096 and has 38 colleges. It is also home to notable alumni such as JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and our very own Bill Clinton. Tolkien actual returned to Oxford as a professor from 1925 to 1959. It is surreal to think about how there are students who can say they not only attended Oxford but learned from such notable and esteemed professors.

I was also surprised to find out that many of the buildings on campus has been used as filming locations for well known movies such as Harry Potter. You all know I'm a huge HP fan so getting to walk up the stairs where Harry stood waiting to get sorted by the sorting hat, and seeing the Great Hall (minus the enchanted ceiling and pumpkin juice) was absolutely amazing.  Oxford was one of the places I was most excited about seeing here in England, and it definitely didn't disappoint.

Arkansas Girls

Since we basically had the day off from scheduled class activities, I had plenty of time to wander around and find things to do on my own.  The bookstore down the street, Waterstones, was having a signing by Charlaine Harris! Charlaine Harris is the author of the best selling series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries. If this doesn't sound familiar then you may know the show that is based on them, HBO's True Blood. I have read all of the books in the series so I was thrilled find out she was going to be here in town.

When you meet authors or other well know people you never know how they will be in person. When I got up to the signing table Mrs. Harris was extremely sweet. She took the time to talk to everyone as they went up to her. I knew she was from Arkansas, so I told her how I lived in Fayetteville for 5 years and graduated from the University of Arkansas.  I was surprised to find out her son is actually a student there right now and will be graduating this December. I really enjoyed getting to meet such a well known author and I can't wait to add this book to my 'signed' collection.

An Education: Podcast

Intro & Outro music:
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
Sir Edward Elgar

Colors of the British Museum

When I visited the British Museum for my color project I decided to not choose a color going into it. I would only photograph what I found interesting, and then, afterwards, see what color I was most drawn to.  Looking over my pictures I noticed pops of green in varying shades from many of the exhibits featuring civilizations from all parts of the world.

Since ancient times green has been characteristic of regeneration, rebirth, and growth.  From the birds, to trees, to faces, the green I found in the museum made them seem new and alive. Unlike the pale colors of the statues and tombs, green captures a vibrant youth and timelessness that keeps these treasures from becoming sad and glum relics of the past.

“Green in nature is one thing, green in literature another. Nature and letters seem to have a natural antipathy; bring them together and they tear each other to pieces.” 
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando

Fun despite failure

Today we visited the most beautiful park I have ever seen. Regent's Park, home of Queen Mary's garden, was enormous with perfectly landscaped gardens covering the almost 400 acres.

After our tour of the gardens we walked over to Primrose Hill for a picnic lunch, with an amazing view of London. Next, was supposed to be kite flying. I was extremely prepared with my Texas flag kite, but the lack of wind made for a very sad attempt to fly it. I've never seen 16 adults so determined to get kites to fly.  Katie, Melissa, and myself were literally sprinting down the hill in a struggle to get them in the air. The only thing that I accomplished was getting my leg tangled up in a string. Despite this failure at such a simple thing we still remembered to enjoy it.  How many people can say they sprinted down England's Primrose Hill with the Texas flag in tow? 

Books, trains, mummies, and red lipstick

Today I feel like I did it all. We started the morning off with a walk to King's Cross station. YES. The one from Harry Potter. I was in Harry heaven and I didn't care that I looked like a total tourist posing for pics at platform 9 & 3/4. This just made me even more excited for our Harry Potter Studio tour the last week we are here.

Then it was on to the British Library. I found this to be one of the least impressive buildings we've visited so far. It was built in the 1990's and just doesn't come close to the more historical buildings that surround it. On a more positive note, the treasures room, was amazing. My favorite pieces would have to be the Beowulf manuscript, and the original sheet music from Beethoven. 

We had the afternoon free so I decided to take a trip to the British Museum, which happens to be located just a few blocks away. It turned out to be quite the undertaking. I was there for about 2 1/2 hours. Some of the most interesting things I saw were the Rosetta Stone, Cleopatra, and vases from the Ming Dynasty. With such an overwhelming amount of things to look at I feel like I'll have to visit one more time before I leave. 

Last but not least....LES MIS at the Queen's Theatre! 

Surrogate Grandmother

The highlight of my third day here in London was the time spent in St. Paul's Cathedral.  As you might have guessed I am Royal's obsessed, so being at the very place where Diana and Charles were married might have gotten me a little emotional.

We started off at St. Paul's with a guided 'supertour' led by my new favorite person and surrogate grandmother, Janet. Janet is a South Londoner that volunteers as a guide, and even had the honor of guiding David Bowie and Iman last Wednesday while he was in town. She is basically a rockstar.

After our incredibly interesting tour through the cathedral we had the opportunity to climb to the top of the dome. Only seven of us were brave enough to tackle the 528 step climb. Our effort paid off and we were welcome to one of the most breathtaking views of London you can get. 

A Walk in the Park

After a day in the classroom, and dinner with the group at a local pub, Melissa and I decided to do a little city exploring. We walked up and down the streets looking at all of the beautiful and historic buildings with buses and taxis whizzing past us on the road. Then we happened to turn a corner to find a much needed surprise. Right in the middle of the hectic city was a beautiful park. Gordon Square Park, located near the University of London, had an array of blooming roses surrounded by green leafy shade trees.  With a city as fast moving as London it's nice to see a reprieve where anyone can go get a break and take in some nature.

I made it!!!!

After what seems like an eternity I have finally made it to London. My first impression is that London is much more about the hustle and bustle than I expected. From the small area around our dorm that Melissa and I explored London is very dense with both tourist and locals.  

I wish I had the stamina to recount more of my first day, but I haven't slept in over 36 hours so.....BYEEE!

Video Editing Exercise

Ready for London! 

Just a little over a week before my flight to Heathrow takes off. I could not be more excited to begin this adventure, and as you can see below I am very prepared as well. My amazing mentor, Jane Dance of the Round Rock Library, got me a fabulous pre-departure present. Jane is originally from England and she warned me I may be needing this umbrella, or 'brollie' as they call it.