The City of the Theatre

After tonight, I will have seen 3 plays in 3 nights.

I'd say that makes nights well spent. The first night was Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. It was fantastic! For those that don't know the story, it's essentially a murder mystery. Within the play are themes of identity and knowledge, and there's a slight fuzziness between good and bad. The actors were incredible-- I was legitimately terrified in one spot, and then I was so excited once I realized that I had been scared and that they had been able to elicit that in me. There was wonderful use of lighting, and the radio within the set was cleverly used to heighten the suspenseful mood. And yet, there were also plenty of light-hearted parts that just begged for our laughter. They provided a welcome, although brief, respite from the darker considerations right at hand. For this play, I went by myself. When I went to buy tickets, everyone else in my group at the time wanted to see a play that hadn't made my personal list. Having heard other tales of independence, I proceeded to buy a solo ticket. It was a thrilling experience in which I got to flex the muscles in my wings. I found my theatre just fine, and found my way home to, always being cautious and clever of course. My seat was also amazing, for no one sat in front of me and I had a clear view of the stage.

Last night, I saw Marlow's Dr. Faustus at the Globe! Another girl and I trekked over, using the hour walk to chat and drink in the city. There, we found others of our group, and we all buckled down to wait for returns. It was a 7:30 showing, and all the tickets were sold out, but after calling the theatre we learned that if one gets in the returns queue by 6:00, one has a good chance of getting in. Well, needless to say, we did. For only 5 pounds we were let into the yard, the area that surrounds the stage and that the stage juts into. As groundlings, we had to stand for the entire 3 hour play. Insane, I'm sure you're thinking, and so was I. However, it's not nearly as arduous as it sounds. You are being entertained, and so part of the time I wasn't even thinking about my feet. You are also incredibly close-- we could have touched the stage, and the actors too. We even got some water spat out at us at one point-- gross, but still kinda cool. You can feel the play more, when you're that close, b/c you can't possibly dissociate yourself from what's going on. It was a great experience also because that's where I would be, if I lived back in Shakespeare's day. I would be a groundling in the yard... of the Globe! I still can't really believe I was in the Globe! Then again, I can't believe that I'm doing most of what I'm doing, so I really shouldn't be making such exceptions. About the play itself... twas wonderful! Creepy and uncomfortable and enticing and revolting and comical. In all the right places. There were so many ideas and emotions elicited from me... my head is a whirl!

Tonight, I will be seeing Much Ado About Nothing. The entire group of WIEers is seeing that at the Globe on Friday, so why am I seeing it now? I am seeing a different, wonderful version that has David Tennant and Catherine Tate in it! For those who don't know, those two actors were the stars of the television series Doctor Who. Tennant is the 10th doctor, Tate is his companion, and they ran through time and place for series 2-4. I am amazingly excited!

Also, today I booked my ticket for........drum roll please....... France!! Next Wednesday, I will be taking a day trip in to Paris.

Don't wake me up, because I love this dream.

It's London, Darling!

Wow! After having thought Wheaton was a whirlwind, I have been informed as to the proper definition of the term. Haha London is fantastic! We're trying to cram in as much as possible. Truly for lack of time, I must keep this post short and pretty uncreative:

So far I have been to Sung Eucharist and toured at Westminster Abbey, wolfed down fish and chips, been in Trafalgar Square, seen Big Ben, ridden a double decker bus, raced through the British museum before closing, seen London's Eye, stood on the prime meridian of the world, visited King's Cross station (where harry potter was filmed), consumed a wonderful steak and ale pie, enjoyed an Evensong service at Great St. Bartholomew's Church, been in Greenwich, stopped in at the best book store in the world- Foyles, and enjoyed The Mousetrap at St. Martin's Theatre.

Whew, I think I got it all. If it needs to be said, I am enjoying myself immensely. I must find time to do some homework though, because I have to have completed an assignment for when classes start back up. I do wish I could write more. If it's any consolation, my journaling has sadly dwindled too.

I haven't as of yet picked up an accent, but I do think I am better at faking one, haha. The first step is picking up the sayings....

Cheers!


(also, the internet is painfully slow and there's no ethernet plugin for our hotel, so pictures seem to be a no go. so sorry!)

Take a Breather

Whew! What a whirlwind of days!

After trekking through the airport, trying to find the friends who were sharing a ride, staring at different signs and asking various people, I finally got where I needed to be. Another friend picked me and 2 other girls up, and then confusion struck again as we tried to make our way back to Wheaton. Eventually though, we got there. Back to Wheaton, back to my other home. The smell of Blanchard curls through my nostrils every time I walk in, pulling up my lips as well.




               Oh Wheaton! Did I mention that I missed thee?
               Thy cool fingers' brush across my cheek
               A touch too soon forgotten.
               Your warm embrace
               A cold counterfeit elsewhere.
               Oh Wheaton! Did I mention that I missed thee?
               Thy wild and perfect perfume
               That enchants, ensnares my mind
               Sharpens my senses
               And beckons me to sing.
               Oh Wheaton! Did I mention that I missed thee?
               Thy pulsing organs so full of life
               Overflowing, intermingling
               Overlapping and separate
               A glimmer that stretches its fingers out.
               Oh Wheaton! Did I mention that I missed thee?
               Nay, but it's your heart I missed most of all.

The Saint & Elliot apartments where we are staying are wonderfully nice. Still decked with the classic dorm furniture, they have me wishing for next year and for my roommates - Jessica Witten and Juliann Tate - whom I miss so much. The girl who I am sharing a room with now is so sweet though, and I have really enjoyed starting to get to know everyone.

The program kicked off with dinner at Dr. Jacobs' (my C.S. Lewis professor) house. It was classic pizza, and we all just lounged around in one another's company. Sunday ended slowly, lulling me into a false sense of eaze.

The week struck with a bang, both good and bad. I have Shakespeare every day with Dr. Foster, and then Poetry and Place (with Dr. Foster) and C.S. Lewis alternate days. The classes are great! The atmosphere is warm and close, and questions of any type are welcomed. We have chapel too, which is a time for information about the trips cogs and inner workings, encouragement and calls to action, and even some singing. So, everything is fun. The classes, and the meals, for which we all group together at a bunch of tables. I can feel our little group making intentional efforts to morph into a tiny community.


There's also a lot of time within the days, because I only have 2 classes and chapel per day. However, I usually need to use every minute. There is a ton of reading, which naturally I love, but it's really time consuming. And a little too sedative if I'm already tired. On Tuesday, the stress began bubbling to the surface, but I tried to quench it with a flurry of productivity. I think I hadn't shifted to school-mode, and so was thoroughly shocked. Today though, I have managed to throw my work to the ground and get on top, and even get a little ahead. The hard part is that, since I'm reading such great literature, I have all these ideas bouncing around in my head, hitting the sides, trying to break free. I just don't have the time to get them out. I'm going to have to figure out how to parcel my time between homework, creative expression, journaling, and enjoying the wonderful country of London!

I'm still trying to get used to seeing people so much. It's a little more socializing than I'm used to, and my prayer is that I would handle that well. So far I still am managing to get daily time alone, and I have time to spend with God every day too! He's letting me be busy, but not so much that I delude myself into thinking I don't have time for Him.

There's one more day of classes tomorrow, and then on Friday, we leave for London!!!

Chomping at the Bit

Jittering. Fidgeting. Anticipation mixing with excitement.

By this time tomorrow, I will be back at Wheaton College. Back to meet my fellow travelers, and back to start classes. Is it odd that I'm excited for studying? I'll be taking Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, and Poetry & Place. In short, I'll be learning this stuff where it actually originated, save for the 5 days I'll be in Wheaton. I can't wait to do my homework!

Also while in Wheaton, the school's rock climbing wall will be open for at least one of the days! Hopefully I haven't lost too much of my strength from a month of not climbing, because I plan on jumping right back into it. Bring it on!

Well, I suppose it's time to get back to wrestling with my clothes. With any luck, I'll be able to fit all that I need into carry-ons. If the choice is between books and clothes though, I already know my answer too well.

From here, it's just a short hop and a skip to England!