EUROTRIP TIME

Good evening!  This will be my last Internet blog post for twelve days.  I will chronicle the next twelve days in writing, hopefully, but no computer for a while.  Must learn constraint, and will not schlep a heavy laptop around Europe.

YES I AM GOING ON SPRING BREAK THROUGH EUROPE TOMORROW!!!  Our destinations are: Madrid, Milan, Florence, Rome, Bari, Patras, and Athens!

We will spend 2 days in Madrid, 1 day in Milan, my birthday in Florence, Easter Sunday in Rome, and coast the rest of the way across the Aegean Sea.

I am so excited for this, but also so anxious.  I guess I get anxious before any big change in my life.  This is a huge change, in fact; we are foreign students in London to being with, and we have to plan this enormous trip around so many people and differing schedules and itineraries.  Plus, we've had massive headaches with booking plane tickets, hotels, hostels, all with credit and debit cards online.  We are only allowed one carry on and must live out of it for twelve days.  Urgh.  I've mostly packed already, just the last few things in the dryer right now.  Speaking of which...gotta go collect laundry in 10 minutes or so....

My dream vacation would see me at a cafe somewhere with the sun high in the sky, me sipping a cappuccino (I've given up coffee for all of London, but...London is not Europe!) and writing in my journal or sketching in my sketchbook.  I could even go without seeing all the museums.  We're sacrificing Santa Maria della Grazie (The Last Supper) in Milan, the Uffizi and the Accademia in Florence, and probably we will miss a lot in Rome due to the hectic Holy Week.  But I'm willing to absorb Europe in other ways, like living la dolce vita rather than la vida loca (don't know how to speak Greek just yet).  I mean, when else can I spend Easter in the biggest Roman Catholic site in the world, spend my birthday in one of my favorite cities in the world, see the Acropolis ruins that I've longed to see since I was in 6th grade...!!!

Hopefully when I come back and recover from jetlag and heartache, I will transcribe my doodles in my journal and sketchbook for you guys.  But for now, ciao ciao, Europe awaits.

Kangaroos and Rhinos and Europeans, oh my!

Wow, what a weird, eventful couple of days it's been!

First, sad news to report: yesterday, a man was found "expired" in Bedford Square Gardens, which is literally across the street for 6 Bedford Square (hence the name).  It is a key garden, so you'd think only the residents have a key to the gates.  It's all quite mysterious and spooky...I hope they resolve it soon, but meanwhile, it feels quite safe because there are constables at every corner of the park.  We saw them there even patrolling last night around 10:30pm.  Mom, if you're reading this, don't worry, I'm safe and everything!  People have died in worse ways back in New York...

Then, way better news: I went to see my first West End show last night!  LOVE NEVER DIES, and oh gosh, my love for Phantom-related stuff will never die.  I have a feeling that only fans of Phantom of the Opera will actually understand and enjoy this play, but boy am I a PHAN!  The music is beaaaaaautiful, as are the props and effects.  I won't give anything away; you'll have to see it in November on Broadway!  The only thing: I was still a bit sick and I was sniffling the whole time through my stuffy nose, but the end does have something to sniffle/cry about.  !!!  Overall, it was an amazing experience and I am listening to my newly-bought soundtrack.  Over and over again.

Today, we did some London sightseeing before leaving for holiday.  Our first destination was St. Paul's Cathedral, just to peek around the front for a photo opportunity.  Then, we walked across the Millennium Bridge towards the Tate Modern.  The Tate Modern is honestly not so impressive.  The only things that were cool, I suppose, were the building itself and the one Monet Water Lilies painting, Roudin sculpture, and Andy Warhol prints.  Otherwise, meh.  Then, we walked to the nearby Borough Market.  It's basically like the Union Square farmers' market, but bigger and badder.  London has several famous markets, and I still have to visit Portobello and Camden Markets.  Borough is really cool.  I actually had a mindblowing experience here: I ATE A KANGAROO BURGER.  YOU READ RIGHT.  There was a stall that sold exotic meats like ostrich, kangaroo, zebra, antelope...!?  I think it's quite unethical to kill these sorts of animals for their meat, but my friend bought a burger and offered me a bite.  It didn't taste like anything in particular, just meaty and gamey.  I couldn't get over the fact that I was eating kangaroo, and the thought still makes me kind of queasy...

Then, we made a long trek up the Strand to Chinatown.  Meanwhile, we stopped at Twinings (love) and Covent Garden.  I busted my foot a little and lost a shoe on the street, but it's all good.  At Chinatown, my friends ate at a strange Malaysian place while I planned the next leg of my journey.

I have been planning to meet one of my mom's colleagues who lives here in London and goes to New York City every so often.  She was a consultant at the place my mom used to work, and she offered to be a contact for me here in London.  I figure it's about time to meet up with her, so we decided 7pm tonight.  Incidentally, my roommie and I got to South Kensington by 6:50pm, but my mom's friend arrived at 7:40pm.  In her defense, there was traffic, and her husband drove.  We piled into their car (my first time in a UK car!  BACKWARDS STEERING WHEEL, SO ODD) and they took us to Fulham for dinner.  We ate at a nice burger place with several of their other adult friends.  It was a great dinner overall, a fantastic new experience for my roommate and me.

First of all, my mom's friend is an amazing and admirable woman.  She was born in France/near Germany; she is Arabic/Moroccan by ethnicity; she was raised in Paris; she lives in London now.  Her husband is Iraqi.  Her friends who dined with us were: a German, an Iraqi woman who looked absolutely German but spoke fluent French, a British-Italian, a Frenchwoman, and a British-Lebanese.  What an absolutely diverse dinner table (plus these two Oriental Yankees - not the baseball team, as we learned the hard way)!  My mom's friend warned us beforehand that her friends were definitely very rowdy, but I found them hilarious and fun.  I mean, undoubtedly, it was a bit awkward because we were the two outliers eating dinner with them.  Still, they were totally nice when we met, giving us both multiple European-double-cheek kisses.  They even (jokingly) invited us to Spearmint Rhino with them for the afterparty.  I think Spearmint Rhino is a gentleman's club/strip club.  It was fun for me to just watch their conversation, and hope that in 20 years or so, I'd have such great friends with whom to share such a dinner.  Finally, dinner wrapped up around 11:40pm, and they drove us back to the Tube.  We were a bit frightened since the Tube closes down at 12:30am (no 24-hour trains, can you believe?!) but we got home really quickly and safely.

What a night!

Hell Week, Pt. II

Good morning, kiddies.  I have some bad news to report.  I think I'm getting sick.

I mean, it's kind of inevitable.  Everyone catches a cold sometime.  It just sucks that this week is going to be really, really, really busy.  First off, we have our orgo exam tomorrow.  Then, we have to work on a social psych research survey: basically we have to compile an online survey and send it out to Facebook groups and we want Brits to fill it out and we have to analyze the data.  Finally, we have a paper for the same class due on Thursday.  I'm not doing too hotly on written papers this semester, probably because I'm a bit rusty at paper-writing, but I really need to do well on this one...!

Then, on Thursday night at 5:00 pm, SPRING BREAK OFFICIALLY BEGINS!!  At 7:30 pm, I am going to see Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theater.  It is the sequel to Phantom of the Opera.  So excited!  Then, Friday I am planning to visit the Tate Modern, Borough Market, and meet up with my mom's former colleague in South Kensington for a quick tea/coffee break.  On Saturday, I want to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, the [free] chocolate fair at the Royal Festival Hall, and then do some shopping at Primark before spring break.  Then, we have to pack pack pack that weekend and get ready to jet!

Suppose I should get back to orgo studying now...

You are college-bound!

I'm in the computer lab in 6 Bedford Square, with 15 minutes to go before my class...organic chemistry recitation and lab, fantastic.

It's about time for college acceptance letters back home for my sister and her classmates.  The class of 2010 has not had an easy year, especially at Stuyvesant.  I really wish I could be home to cheer her on, or lend a shoulder to cry on, or give out hugs in general.  Although, I highly doubt my sister will need a shoulder on which to cry, since she is massively smart and bright and will probably get accepted to all the schools to which she applied.  Still, I wish I could be home to share in this milestone in her life.  I remember the time of my college acceptance and rejection letters was one of the worst times, since it came the day before my birthday.  Yes, I was rejected from a lot of colleges just before my 18th birthday.  It's a big time in a high school student's life, and I really really really wish I were with my sister right now!  K, I know you're like the only person who reads this blog anyway, so: SHOUT OUT.  I miss you, and it's probably too late to wish you luck, so now I offer you congratulations.  <3<3<3

God save the Queen

UPDATE: QUEEN ELIZABETH II WAS IN RESIDENCE AT WINDSOR CASTLE YESTERDAY.  I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ROYAL STANDARD LOOKS LIKE (WELL, NOW I DO) BUT IT WAS FLYING.  IF SHE'S NOT HOME, IT'S THE UNION JACK.  THE ROYAL STANDARD WAS DEFINITELY FLYING YESTERDAY, I HAVE PHOTO PROOF.

 

Yesterday, I went to Windsor Castle as one of the NYUL programming events!  (FOR FREE...nearly)

My confederate and I got to Waterloo Station at around 10:30am to organize ourselves and meet the students who were supposed to arrive by 11:00am.  The train was leaving at 11:28am, and these trains do not joke around.  While we were waiting, a woman with long, straight blond hair was dragging a rolling luggage and running to Platform 1.  She had on suede aqua-coloured boots and was running as fast as she could in them...but those boots ain't made for runnin'.  Eventually she slid, fell on her bum, and watched miserably as the train pulled out of the station.  We were musing that it looked like a scene from a drama/romance movie; her boyfriend was probably on that train and she had to profess her love to him before he went off to marry another girl...or something like that.

We had one too many people show up, so I had to use NYUL's money to buy a ticket for the rail.  We got to Windsor in about an hour, and then had a little mix up with the tickets there, so we ended up having to buy two extra tickets, thanks to some people who are dishonest and ran away with tickets that did not belong to them....

Anyway, my confederate and I were now free to wander around the castle!  We went to St. George's Chapel, which is absolutely beautiful.  I just rue the fact that in London, you can't take photographs in some of the best places.  The ceiling of St. George's is composed of awesome fan vaults, though I must say, Bath Abbey's fan vaults are THE most beautiful ever.  The fan vaults at St. George's are interesting, though: they look like they're growing from the ground up!  In the chapel, we saw the burial place of King Henry VIII, next to his favorite wife, Jane Seymour, and the burial place of the present Queen's family: King George VI, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret.

Then, we went to the Queen's Dollhouse, which was a gorgeous replica of a palace presented to one of the Queens (too many to keep track of...).  Next was a gallery of drawings and sketches by famous artists.  I actually spotted a famous drawing by da Vinci that is supposed to be on display at the British Museum in late April, and that exhibit costs like £12, so haha, I got to see it at Windsor Castle.  Also, I saw famous sketches by Hans Holbein the Younger of Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More.

Finally, and the best best best part of the whole trip, were the State Apartments.  First, we went up a 'grand staircase' which was not so grand, but you could kind of fell the grandness of what was to come.  There was a room decorated with swords and rifles and, behind glass cases, gifts from world leaders to Queen Victoria, including royal headdresses, weaponry, and a solid gold tiger head...?  Then, upon more wandering, we saw the king's and queen's drawing rooms, some bedrooms, waiting rooms, dining rooms...oh God, what it must be like to be a royal!  The whole building reminded me a bit of Palazzo Pitti in Florence, but more English.  The rooms had sumptuous (is it just me or is sumptuous a really strange word?) velvet wallpaper, gold-leafed this and silver-plated that, lavish furniture, famous/expensive paintings, dazzling chandeliers...I have run out of adjectives.  I was most impressed by the dining areas, which were ginormous rooms fitted with long tables and neat chairs.  You can just imagine heads of state coming to meet with HRH at big parties.  AHH I WANT TO BE A ROYAL/HEAD OF STATE.  HRH also holds sleep overs, apparently.

To think, yesterday I was treading the same ground that THE QUEEN has walked on.  I felt her presence at the castle, though I don't think she was officially home.  Windsor Castle is her preferred weekend getaway.  I have long admired Queen Elizabeth II.  I hate when people say she's only a figurehead.  I mean, I guess it's kind of true, but c'mon, she's the freaking Queen.  She looks like an old granny, but I think she's epicness embodied in one person.  God save the Queen indeed!

After Windsor Castle, I stopped at McDonald's for a quick lunch and realized their fries are not very tasty.

Then, I wandered across a short span of the Thames over to Eton College, alma mater of Princes William and Harry (!) and Hugh Laurie (!!).  On the way, I saw some Etonian schoolboys in their tailcoats and white bowties.  Teehee.

Walking around Windsor was a great experience.  The weather had been cloudy and chilly for much of the day, but by this time, it was sunny (nearly sunset) and peaceful and mild.  I was walking by myself as my fellow group leader went home.  It was a great introspective moment, nice quiet time for myself, always welcome.  Love, love, love.

You can stand under my umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh...eh wait it stopped raining!

What a crazy, great day!!

This morning, I woke up veeery early to go to the American Church in London on Tottenham Court Road to use the piano practice room.  NYUL arranged for me to use the practice room.  When I got there, it turns out the "practice room" is actually the entire church sanctuary, and there is a piano in the middle.  At first, I thought it might be odd, playing in a silent church.  But, it was so soothing once I pressed the first key.  I practiced Fantasie Impromptu, Bells of Moscow, and Liebestraum for about 30 minutes before work.  Oh, God, it was so calming.  I wish I had a piano in NIDO.

Then, I headed to work but my supervisor was out sick.  I begged the other people at the NYUL office to give me work, but two hours later they gave up and I went to Hummus Bros for lunch, walked through the British Museum really fast, and headed home.

Of course, on my way home, it started drizzling...then pouring.  It was the first time it rained in more than a week and a half!  Yet...now here as I'm sitting at my desk, it is ABSOLUTELY SUNNY outside.  Oh, God I am so deliriously happy right now, looking out at this beautiful bright LONDON.  I just wish I had an excuse to go outside and walk around.

Tomorrow, I volunteered to be a program leader for a trip to Windsor Castle.  Basically, I have to meet 25 people at Waterloo Station and give out tickets, take them to Windsor, and give them tickets to the castle.  It's quite a lot of responsibility, but I think I can handle it, and I am very excited that I can get into the castle for free!  I ALSO GOT ONE OF THOSE YELLOW NYUL ORIENTATION T-SHIRTS, BALLIN'.

Gonna stare out my window and enjoy the weather from inside now.  Ta!!

Look, a rice-berg!

Today was the first time here that I felt profoundly unhappy.

For lunch, I had free Hare Krishna food on campus.  It's a free/non-profit thing where this guy doles out nearly-expired vegetarian food like rice and beans and cakes.  Often, it's a gigantic dollop of each (today the guy gave me a huge chunk of rice and said, "Look, a rice-berg!"  That kind of made my day) that you cannot possibly finish.  Anyway, today was some vegetables and beans and potatoes and mystery stuff on rice.  An hour after I ate it, I had the worst combination of cramps/stomach ache/food poisoning (?).  I had to drag my ass 30 minutes back home to NIDO, where I downed two Tylenol and tried to nap.  Thank GOD my class this afternoon was canceled, otherwise I would have thrown up while seeing London's architecture.  It was hard falling asleep because I was curled up in a fetal position and sweating profusely.

And then I woke up from my nap 3 hours later feeling absolutely fine!  Oh the magic of modern medicine.  And sleep.

p.s. As nice the prospect of free lunch is, I AM NEVER HAVING HARE KRISHNA FOOD FOR LUNCH AGAIN.  I would rather violate my rule of life: free = good.

It's a brand new day, and the sun is high

Today was absolutely the best day so far in London, I reckon.  The weather was beautiful, blue skies, sunny, and warm-ish!!  I walked all the way to the Strand, like a 1-hour walk.  First, I bought tickets to see Love Never Dies, then we went to Trafalgar Square, whereupon I attempted something I thought I could never achieve:

I climbed the lions around Nelson's Column!  It's a big tourist thing where you climb up onto the pedestal of Admiral Horatio Nelson's Column, where there are four bronze lion sculptures.  I thought I could never do it because it is quite high up, but with the help of friends hoisting each other up, we managed to get to the lions.  One of my friends even rode the lion like a lion/cowgirl!  It was most excellent.  We then wandered in the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery a bit.  The strangest sight of the day was seeing a guy's...self portrait at the NPG.  It was a sculpture of his head, made entirely of his own frozen blood.  It was kept in a plexiglas container kept at -1.5 C.  What.  The.  Eff?

Then, after a really filling lunch of Chinese food and a delicious Costa Earl Grey tea, I walked all the way back.  In 30 minutes, my friends and I are having our Pasta Night, in which we do a potluck of pasta and sauces.  We're doing tagliatelle with pesto!  I'm very excited and hungry!

I only had eyes for the pianist

Good morning kiddies!

I'm sipping a chai tea from Twinings in my room, looking out at the CLOUDLESS BLUE SKY from my window.  Okay, I'm not gonna lie, there is a layer of smog over the buildings, and a skywriter, haha.  Otherwise, it is seriously a gorgeous day.

Last night, I went to the London Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall!  It was free, though it counted for £5 of our NYUL programming money.  I was really ashamed because, just before leaving, I forgot my ticket in my planner so I delayed our traveling by having to go upstairs and collect my ticket.  In my defense, I never go to big shows, so I nearly forgot that the ticket is, obviously, a crucial part.  Ergh, face palm.

Anyway, we arrived just in time, 7:18 pm, for seating at 7:20 pm.  The Royal Festival Hall is a great modern feat of architecture (yes, Seeing London's Architecture is getting to me).  It is just across the Hungerford/Golden Jubilee Bridge on the South Bank.  It has giant modern strip windows overlooking the Thames and the North Bank, which is beautiful at night.

We were in the balcony overlooking the stage.  The seats were not fantastic, but considering they were free, yay!  The program was:

Stravinsky

Rachmaninov

Wagner

Shostakovich

The pianist for the Rachmaninov concerto was absolutely insane and inspiring, a virtuoso.  To be perfectly honest, when he played the first few notes on that huge and shiny grand piano, I swooned into my roommate's shoulder.  I said, "Ohhh, my God, it's so beautiful!", with a hand over my heart.  I am not melodramatic.

I can't believe I've played piano for 14 years but have never seen a real orchestral performance.  I guess I always assumed it'd be too expensive, but that is not the case!  Balcony seats are only £8 here, without the group discounts.  I am sorely tempted to see Yundi Li (my Fantasie Impromptu hero and idol) perform at the Royal Festival Hall on 16th March, but the only seats that are available are £13 or more...£8 would be okay, but I have to draw the line somewhere I guess.

About to walk all the way down to the Strand to buy theater tickets for Love Never Dies, the Phantom of the Opera sequel.  Cheers, you lot!