Jet Lag and Reverse Culture Shock

I'm back in Colorado! As you might expect, everything has been cloudy since I left Madrid. I've been walking around in a jet lag induced fog since my return to America. An eight hour time difference is an enormous change, and I'm still feeling the exhausting effects of jet lag. I get tired at really weird times of day. Between sleeping away pretty much the entire past weekend of my life in order to realign my bodily rhythms with Colorado, moving into my new apartment in downtown Colorado Springs, and starting a new class (18th Century British Satire), everything has been a whirlwind of readjustment back to my former life. However, my life isn't quite the same as I left it back in April. The snow has (mostly) cleared from the mountains, leaving them a beautiful green that is such a privilege to stare at as I walk to class. I am now living on my own without a meal plan in a three-person apartment; having a room to myself is a very welcomed change. Having experienced city life, I feel like I am walking around with a bit more confidence than before. I could just be imagining that. Lastly, everything is quiet and calm on campus. My friends have left for parts both known and unknown, disappeared into the great blue of the real world outside of CC, most of whom not to be seen by me again until next year. The graduated ones, though, are out there for real. For good. Missing graduation was a decision I made in order to experience Spain and while I'm certainly glad I did it, I definitely wish I could've been there to send my senior friends off. They were a special bunch.

It's all quite weird, being back. It's quiet at night, I don't have a play (or two) to see each day, public transit is basically a myth, and on and on. I mean, I knew what I was coming back to, but now that I'm living it again after experiencing something completely beyond anything else I have done, it's a bit strange and unsettling. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I spend a lot of time thinking about London, Spain, and traveling abroad again. Good thing Semester at Sea isn't too far around the corner. 

Oh, well...happy summer!

The Rain in Spain

Hola. Estoy en España por la noche. Ok, that's enough Spanish. Anyway, Salamanca is an absolutely gorgeous city. Everything is old and big and beautiful. I could wander down the alleyways for days and find something new each time. More lovely than anything else, though, is the Plaza Mayor. In the center of the old portion of the city, the Plaza Mayor is the central gathering place, just like you'd expect any plaza to be. It's just so picturesque and perfect. Little cafés and gelato shops line the edges and it constantly is full of people, whether they are cute old couples slowly strolling, college students studying at la Universidad de Salamanca, or tourists taking pictures. It doesn't quiet down at night at all; Spain always seems to be awake. The lifestyle here is so unlike America and London, mostly due to the afternoon siesta. A few hours of rest in the afternoon may not sound like much, but it actually is an extremely smart and healthy scheduling choice. Rather than waking up at the butt crack of dawn and working all day to come home exhausted, the Spanish wake up around 9, work a few hours, take an afternoon nap, work some more, go home, eat dinner at like 10 or 11, and go out for the evening around 1 in the morning. Lunch is the most important meal of the day as well. It's a huge feast with meat dishes and bread and Sangria. Speaking of, I could drown in Sangria. It is so delicious! I mean, I'd had it before, but authentic Spanish Sangria is incredibly tasty. Red wine with citrus fruits and a dash of sweetner and liquor is the perfect drink to accompany a lazy Spanish afternoon of people watching in the sun (which is exactly what I have been doing the last few days). I want to see more of Spain—Barcelona, Cadiz, more of Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Pamplona, Granada, and others. To really understand what I'm talking about you need pictures. Too bad Blogger won't let me upload any tonight. I'll try again later.

I want to relearn Spanish. I took 4 years of it in high school and thought I would've forgotten most of it, but I actually remember quite a bit. I mean, I made it back from Salamanca to Madrid all on my own! However, the language barrier is making me so much more nervous for when I go to countries this fall where I don't speak the language at all. Plus, countries like China and India and such won't even have the same alphabet! Now THAT'S going to be scary. I'll get by, though...I hope. I was able to here. Eep. Maybe I should just learn a bunch of languages this summer. Good project, right?

My birthday was yesterday (well, 2 days ago since it is now May 25 in Spain), and it was beautiful in every way. I woke up relatively early to a beautiful sunrise and then spent the day eating delicious food, drinking amazing Sangria, and wandering around the city. Some friends of mine are there right now for a summer program, so I got to see all of them, too, which was great. Birthdays really are all about what you make of them, not how many gifts you get. The greatest gift I got was the chance to just be in Salamanca. I'm certain I won't be forgetting this birthday, despite the Sangria consumption ;)

It's 2:30 here. That means in about 9 hours, I will be on an America-bound flight. After a layover in Washington, D.C., I will board another plane, bound for Colorado Springs, my home for the summer. While my travels are taking a back seat for the next few months, everything I have experienced in the last month has prepared me more for my next big adventure on Semester at Sea. I've got the Travel Bug, folks, and I've got it bad.

People have warned me about "Reverse Culture Shock." We'll see how that goes, I guess. For now, though, I must say goodnight.

Farewell, Europe!

When You Give a Man a City...

This is it. Today, May 20th, 2011, is my last day in London. After 4 amazing weeks, I've finally come to the end, at least for now. I've seen some amazing theatre, walked along old streets of cobblestone, crossed over the Thames countless times on bridges, traipsed around the city with no real plans on some days, figured out the Tube and bus system, experienced the "necessary evil" of culture shock, ate good food and drank good alcohol (legally, mind you), experienced incredible diversity among people, talked to strangers, and fell in love with city life.


I remember the feelings I had going into this trip. Naturally, fear was one of them. Going abroad alone is vastly different from going abroad with family. Without fear, though, how would I have been able to learn from this experience? While my primary motivation in coming to London was to take a class I had heard nothing but amazing things about, I also came to London for a cultural experience—to feel something and create a life beyond anything else I had ever lived before. Some may say that 4 weeks is nothing, that it is hardly enough time to create a new life. I disagree. I believe an entire month of a year, especially at this age in my life, is a long enough time to come to call a place "home." And it's true—London has become home, at least temporarily. Kilburn Park is the neighborhood I live in, as well as my Tube stop. Tessco's is the grocery store I buy milk from. The Queen's Arms is the pub I frequent. No, I don't pay taxes, claim citizenship, or work a job, but I love this city with an intense, unbreakable passion. It has NOT been a vacation. Spain tomorrow through Wednesday will be a vacation; it will be a celebration of everything I have felt in the last month, as well as my 20th birthday on Monday. Has my goal of creating a life and experiencing something new been met? Absolutely. Am I upset that I will be having a comparative study abroad experience next semester, rather than an immersive one? Not at all. I have found immersion in London, and I will find comparison through the rest of the world that I see this fall. I believe you need both, at least to some degree, to have a complete study abroad experience. Or, at least that's what I think I need. And I'm getting that, which is really, really exciting.


I love the people here that I have interacted with. While my classmates have been great, I've talked to so many strangers while on the Tube and bus, at pubs and bars and clubs, in parks and stores, while at performances, and just during my everyday business. Having to identify as an American before clarifying which state is not something I have to do while in the States, so that's added a whole new level of identity for me while I've been here. Some people want nothing to do with me because I am an American (even going so far as heckling me), while others have an endless amount of questions (and would love me to teach them how to speak "American"). To that end, I have felt both intense shame and pride in my country—I don't expect that to change whatsoever while on Semester at Sea. For as many questions people had of me, I had just as many about their cultures, as well as plenty of ways to connect myself to them. Oh, you're from Ireland? I'm part Irish, performed in an Irish play earlier this year, and can do a fecking good accent, aye! You're Italian? I went there once. Fijian? Wow, that's far! And for as many questions I had going into this experience, I only have more now. Answers aren't always simple, and not everything is black and white. 


Has this trip changed me? Certainly, but not in the way I expect Semester at Sea to. I'm definitely a lot more adept at the business of traveling and getting from Point A to Point B. I also have a brand new appreciation for cities and urban life. I mean, last night, I got a falafel at 2:30 in the morning. More than anything else, though, I have a deeper understanding of human interaction, something that I hope will be even further expanded as I'm globe trotting. However, I still have much left to learn and experience, and have a ton of growing room to spare. Handling oneself while alone in a foreign country requires a level of skill and finesse, something not everybody in our class had, and something I'm still learning. It's an acquired art. Practice makes perfect.


Last night, I stayed out late again. I won't be able to do that once I return to Colorado Springs. Well, I mean, I technically can, but there will be far less activity at 3 in the morning. I returned to my flat to find my friend Dolo still awake as well. The black of the night was beginning its transition into the dawn's blue as the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. While in Colorado, I became so used to watching the sun slowly creep over the plains in the east and then set behind the mountains in the west, casting enormous shadows and setting the sky on fire with beautiful reds and oranges. While I have had a handful of nice sunsets here, they can't beat one in Colorado. As Dolo and I set in the dark of her flat, we reflected on our month here. It's been extremely difficult at times—I've seen homelessness, felt sick, drank too much, ate too much, didn't sleep enough, missed the familiarity of home and my family, felt guilty for being an American, and had a number of other hardships. That's the beauty of traveling, though—it's not easy. For all the troubles I had, I've had so many more beautiful memories I know I will remember with fond nostalgia. When the sky turned a light shade of blue (periwinkle, one might say), Dolo and I sat outside on the sidewalk. Though I never actually saw the sun rising because of a building being in the way, I heard birds chirping and felt the city return to life again. Cars and trucks rushed by, street vendors stepped outside, and the air felt fresh. I fell asleep sometime around 5 in the morning and slept until Noon. I have yet to start packing (SHIT). Though I'm fairly certain I won't be venturing out today, this last day, at least so far, has been bittersweet. I will miss this city in innumerable ways.

Samuel Johnson has a quote. It reads, "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." 

True. Absolutely true. I am not tired of London. I could keep exploring for months on end. I could wander down narrow alleyways and get lost on unmarked streets over and over. London feels like the type of place where you could never fully understand its breadth, making it hard to fully know and figure out, but it doesn't take much to fall in love with. I remember the moment I fell for this city. It was my first time in Camden. Although it's not fabulously English there, it has some of the most fantastic culture the city has to offer. And that's what this city is about. Culture. That's what this month has been about. Even still, though, London is a place that rejects the traditional binaries of a city. It's a melting pot of people and things. Perhaps the only thing I can definitely say about London is that it has something for everyone.

24 hours from now, I'll be in the warm sunshine of Spain, waving farewell to my teenage years and teetering on the edges of my 20's. This month has been the absolute perfect way to say goodbye to the last decade of my life. I will never forget London. Leaving is proving to be difficult.

Someday, though, when I'm older, I will be back.

Cheers.

Theatre, Not Theater

Class ended this morning, meaning I am now a junior in college! That's exciting. Scary, but exciting. Halfway to graduation and the "real" world!


I've spent so much of this blog talking about what I've been doing with my days and why I love London, but hardly any of it describing the shows I've been seeing, which was the primary motivation in coming here. As such, I've compiled a short review of each of them. Here they are:



Saturday, April 23rd, 2011—
Show: Hamlet
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
A wonderful modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s most discussed play, this production truly was a great introdcution to British theatre. It was almost full text, so the show was looooong. Fresh and smart, I loved finally seeing this masterpiece of English literature brought to life on stage.

Monday, April 25th, 2011—
Show: Clybourne Park
Where: Wyndham’s Theatre
The most recent winnter of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as a laundry list of other awards, this dark comedy dealt with racial tensions and demographics and their relationship with property values in suburban Chicago. Taking place in two acts, the second being 50 years after the first, the first official show of this class was wildly hilarious and thought-provoking, allowing for great discussion the next day.

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011—
Show: Wastwater
Where: The Royal Court Theatre
A drama dealing with the nature of choices and decision making, the three scenes featured unique characters in each, all related in different ways, as well as completely different sets, all of which were extremely impressive. Tense, shocking, and disheartening, I certainly enjoyed our first piece that veered more towards the darker side of things. It was one of the more polarizing shows we saw—some loved it, while others hated it. I loved it.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011—
1st Show: Brontë
Where: Tricycle Theatre
Just up the road from our flat, this drama was a biographical exploration of the titular sisters. Extremely ambitious in its goal, this was the first show that didn’t have me raving. It took me a while to get into it, and once I did, it still didn’t really hit home for me. I will say, though, that I want to reread Wuthering Heights because of it.

2nd Show: Pina
Where: Barbican Cinema
A film about dance and the titular choreographer, it was our first performance falling outside of traditional theatre. It was beautiful and interesting, though it seemed like an evening better suited for a class about film than live performance. But I'd see it again!

Thursday, April 28th, 2011—
1st Show: London Road
Where: Cottesloe Theatre at the National Theatre
Documentary theatre is vastly underrepresented in modern theatre, so I was thrilled to hear we had one on the schedule. Plus, it was our first musical. With very pretty singing and technical aspects, it was interesting hearing a documentary in this form. For our second trip to the National, it was well worth it.

2nd Show: Rocket to the Moon
Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre
The same stage we saw Hamlet on, the set was vastly bigger. Stretching all the way up to the ceilings and featuring several rooms, the folks at the National know how to go big. Though the story wasn’t particularly interesting to me, I appreciated the acting and set design.

Friday, April 29th, 2011—
Show: Electra
Where: Gate Theatre
An intimate setting above a pub, the 80 person Gate Theatre was the perfect place to see this chilling modern adaptation of the Greek classic. Staged in traverse, the audience could literally reach out and touch the actors. While most of the class did not enjoy the performance, citing the lack of variety in the acting and the loudness of the voices and music, I really enjoyed myself. The woman playing Electra was outstanding.

Saturday, April 30th, 2011—
Show: We Will Rock You
Where: Dominion Theatre
Completely on my own and outside the traditional confines of class, I was excited to see a musical with the lyrics of Queen. Though at times corny, the main draw was not its plot, but its music and visual aspects.  One of the more visually stunning shows I got to see while in London, it often felt like a rock concert. I even bought a glowstick for 3 pounds for the show-stopping, house-rocking finale. No wonder it has been running for 9 years.

Monday, May 2nd, 2011—
Show: War Horse
Where: New London Theatre
Absolutely breathtaking! The best show we saw! One of the best performances I have ever seen! Almost cinematic and an incredible lighting design! There were horse puppets! What more do I need to say?

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011—
1st Show: Pioneers of the Downtown Scene
Where: Barbican Art Gallery
An interdisciplinary art piece, featuring both visual and performance aspects, the 1960’s art scene of NYC was explored in this modern installation. The sculptures and photographs and such were interesting, but I could’ve gone without the performances. They weren’t very intriguing or bold, but at least they were short.

2nd Show: And the Horse You Rode In On
Where: Pit Theatre at the Barbican
Another ambitious self-written show, this was the first show we saw that I completely hated. It was boring, unfunny, childish, and extremely annoying. Perhaps I was taking it too seriously, but it was just so overwhelmingly annoying that I couldn’t enjoy it at all.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011—
Show: Iolanthe
Where: Wilton’s Music Hall
A Gilbert and Sullivan operetta about fairies performed by an all-male cast (all of whom were very pretty!), this show was extremely silly and fun. The space was unique in that it was very small, so the cast had to utilize the entire room, rather than just the stage. The singing was outrageously good; I forgot that there weren’t women in the show most of the time.

Thursday, May 5th, 2011—
1st Show: I Am the Wind
Where: Young Vic Theatre
Another new play, this show explored the relationship between two friends as they journey on a small boat at sea. I thought this one would get me more stoked on Semester at Sea, but it really just put me to sleep. Dull and unspired acting made one of the shorter shows we saw seem far too long. The writing was pretty and poetic, though.

2nd Show: A Delicate Balance
Where: Almeida Theatre
Edward Albee’s first Pulitzer Prize winning play, I had high expectations for this. They were met. Albee is my favorite playwright, so it was exciting for me to see one of his best shows be performed. The set and lighting design were absolutely perfect. Imelda Stuanton as Claire stole the show. I could see this one again.

Friday, May 6th, 2011—
1st Show: All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Globe Theatre
Seeing a show at the Globe Theatre is something every theatre fan should do. It’s so different having to stand up in the open air for an entire show. I had never thought planes and birds flying overhead would make such a difference. Plus, natural lighting is so refreshing. All that being said, the acting was good, but nothing to write home about, though they did make Shakespeare understandable, which is always the biggest challenge in performing his work. To that end, the show was a success.

2nd Show: Mark Thomas—Extreme Rambling: Walking the Wall
Where: Tricycle Theatre
A stand-up comedian who described his experience walking the border of Palestine and Israel, it was fun to see a comedy show after so many dramas. He knew what he was talking about and made some excellent insights into this long-standing situation in the Middle East.

Monday, May 9th, 2011—
Show: Chekhov in Hell
Where: Soho Theatre
Yet another new show, I had my doubts about this one. A comedy about Chekhov coming back to life after 100 years sounded a little out there, but it was actually quite fun. Though it wasn’t particularly difficult in terms of the technical aspects, utilizing a lot of mime, it was a well thought out show. Nothing to write home about, but fun.

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011—
Show: Trilogy
Where: The Place
Our first dance show! I absolutely loved it. Beautiful lighting and an interesting concept, the dancers brought their story of the importance of music to life. What I like about dance is that when words fail me as a writer, dancers can still tell a damn good story.

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011—
Show: The School for Scandal
Where: Barbican Theatre
The worst show we saw. The worst professional performance I have ever seen. Messy and convoluted, it seemed as if there was no concept or idea behind most of their choices. The sound was far too loud in it, too. It makes me angry just thinking about it because IT WAS FOUR HOURS LONG. FOUR HOURS OF CRAP.

Thursday, May 12th, 2011—
1st Show: Moonlight
Where: Dunmar Theatre
One of Harold Pinter’s later plays, it was exciting to see him brought to life after having performed him earlier this year. The show was beautifully lit and well acted. Though at times confusing, that’s the nature of Pinter’s writing, and I find the lyricism of the entire show enticing and engaging.

2nd Show: The Damnation of Faust
Where: London Coliseum
An opera! As you’d expect, I had my doubts; I don’t know the first thing about opera. It completely blew me out of the water—I had never seen such incredible technical aspects in a performance before. Everything from the sets, lights, costumes, and sound designs were absolutely over-the-top and perfect. The singing was, of course, lovely, too, even though I find male opera voices frustrating. Despite its length, it was wildly entertaining, a spectacle that one could only see to truly understand.

Friday, May 13th, 2011—
Show: Dutch National Ballet
Where: Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Another dance show, I was one of the few people in class excited to see a ballet—the way those dancers move their bodies is mesmerizing! It was just beautiful. The second portion of the show was especially riveting.

Saturday, May 14th, 2011—
Show: In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Where: Vaudeville Theatre
My 2nd venture to a theatre alone, I went because I heard nothing but good things. It was exceptional! It took place during a thunderstorm, so they had lightning crashes, power outages, and everything—quite the impressive lighting design. Matthew Fox from Lost played the male lead, and he did a dynamite job. Olivia Williams played his sister, and she was also wonderful. Some of the best acting I saw all month.

Monday, May 16th, 2011—
Show: Silence
Where: Hampstead Theatre
A quick bus ride from our flats, this show was anything but quiet, as it actually was exploring the nature of sound. Easily the best sound design of any show we saw all month, it had everything from quiet buzzing to ragingly loud music. The entire ensemble worked well together, though nobody really stood out at all, which was nice to see since some roles could have easily stolen the spotlight. I have to commend the stage manager as well because of how tight the running of the show was—nearly all the cues were timed perfectly.

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011—
Show: The Cherry Orchard
Where: Olivier Thetare at the National Theatre
Our last show! A drama by Chekhov, I was worried it would be boring, as Chekhov so often tends to be. Truth be told, it took me a little while to get into, but once I did, it was excellent. The second act was nearly perfect. However, it seemed like there were times where they just didn’t pay attention to accents—there were British, Irish, Scottish, Russian, and Welsh present. The set moved around a lot, which kept things interesting. A great last show.



And there you have it! I'm lucky to have gotten to see so much great theatre. As for ranking, that's difficult...
Best Shows I Saw:
War Horse
A Delicate Balance
Clybourne Park
In a Forest, Dark and Deep
Wastwater
Iolanthe

Worst Shows I Saw:

The School For Scandal

And the Horse You Rode In On

I Am the Wind

I'm glad that the number of best shows doubles the number of worst shows. I would've felt like this class was a waste otherwise. So, overall this was the perfect way to end sophomore year—in a beautiful city with wonderful people seeing amazing shows. With only 3 days left in London before I jet off to Spain for my birthday and then America for summer in Colorado Springs, I'm certainly counting my blessings. Plus, it's only 99 days until Semester at Sea. Until then, it's time to celebrate—it's summer, baby!

A Day By the Sea

This past week has been hectic, filled with a ton of performances and exploration. Today was a bit different. As a class, we ventured, via train, to Brighton, a coastal city on the English Channel. Part San Francisco, part Atlantic City, part London, it was a welcomed change of pace to the urban grit of the UK's capital city we have come to fondly call our temporary home.

A street in Brighton

Taj?

Truthfully, I'm not much of a beach person, and it was a particularly chilly day with cloud coverage, but I still absolutely loved the charm and quaintness of the city. The British have a fabulous sense of vacation time, calling them "holidays" instead, and Brighton is, essentially, a town that caters towards Londonites and other Brits to come and spend a day or two on the beach. Some even call it "London-by-the-Sea" because of its similarities to London. As for lines between it and Atlantic City, there's a pier with amusement park rides, junk food, and casinos. The 19th Century regent who coined the idea of a holiday by the sea, thus putting Brighton on the map, built a castle in the town, similar to the one in Atlantic City that's in the style of the Taj. I'm getting tired of seeing these replicas—I want to see the real one when I'm in India in October! As for the San Francisco element, Brighton has sizable performing arts, queer, and "alternative" communities. The crunchy folk live on the water! We came to Brighton for the purpose of attending the annual Brighton Festival, there were a number of gay venues and couples, and everyone seemed just a little out of their minds, albeit extremely friendly. Someone told me it was the gay capital of the UK, but I find that a little hard to believe, especially when you compare it to the mammoth city of London. All that being said, Brighton is not a mythical oasis of liberal free love and those tired of the daily hustle and bustle of true big city life (you can say that one about Boulder, though, that's for sure). It is a real city that real people live in that has real problems. It just happens to be a hot spot for tourists and nutters.

Side street

Most of the day was spent outside wandering around. I spent the first part alone, which was nice because I got to collect my thoughts and figure out parts of the city by myself. However, I was plenty happy when I met up with some folks from class. There's not a whole lot there that you wouldn't expect at a typical seaside resort town. Here are some pictures:

Brighton Pier

A church. I can't remember its name. It looks like Notre Dame, though.

The most important of my day actually came more towards the beginning, rather than the end. I spotted the water and the beach and headed straight for it. When I reached the end of the paved streets, staring down at the pebbles and sunbathers, I stood there by myself. I forgot that I was abroad, away from a country that I know and love so well, off on my own on an adventure like I've never had before. The world felt large and small all at once. I felt the sea breeze lap my face and heard the waves crash against shore. I contemplated what these last few weeks have meant to me, and what my next journey will bring me. Then, I smiled to myself, remembering that in 102 days, I would be setting out again, on an adventure that I still cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of.

And rather than being by the sea, it will be on the sea.

Woah, We're Halfway There!

You bet this is my second blog post that is starting with song lyrics! It's just so appropriate considering that today (well, yesterday at this point, since it's after midnight in London) marked the halfway point of my 34 day adventure in Europe. I don't say just London because I am officially going to Spain for my birthday once the class is over! I'm flying to Madrid on the 21st, staying in a hotel, taking the train to Salamanca, staying there until the 24th, taking the train back to Madrid, staying in a hotel again that night, and flying back to colorful Colorado on the 25th.

London has felt like a dream so far, to be honest. Cars rushing outside my window while I'm trying to fall asleep, the excitement of running through the Underground trying to catch the next Tube, people from all over the world coming to see the beautiful sites so rich with history. All I get in Colorado Springs are loud drunks singing goofy songs, speed walking to get to class on time, and the occasional tourist, usually American (usually also from Colorado!).  I'm nervous for the splash of cold water in my face that is reality once I return to the States. Having class the day after I get back is not going to be fun.

Tonight, I added a bunch of other students on Facebook that will traveling with me this fall on Semester at Sea. I thought to myself that maybe it's too soon, maybe I should wait, maybe I should focus on London for now. However, I've realized that the lessons I'm learning here in London will, ultimately, prove extraordinarily helpful when I'm strolling the streets of Casablanca, Ho Chi Minh City, and Puntarenas. I really am getting antsy to go.

On an unrelated note, happy Mother's Day to all you special mothers out there, especially my own. The selflessness and love you have given to me are something I have truly valued and hope to someday show my own children. Thank you for everything you have done. My life, in every respect, would not be possible had it not been for you. And thus ends my sappy rant :)

Why have I put off my 2 papers all weekend? I have class in about 9 1/2 hours.

Oh, wait. IT'S BECAUSE WEEKENDS IN LONDON ARE AMAZING.

Peace and love!

10 Reasons for London, 10 Reasons for Colorado

Preface: I saw Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance last night. Being that Albee is my favorite playwright, I absolutely loved the show. The end.

Yesssss!

10 Reasons I Love London:

• Hyde Park. It's really pretty. 

Lecturing about Shakespeare

• The theatre! Hamlet, Clybourne Park, Wastwater, War Horse, Iolanthe, A Delicate Balance, and so many more!
• The neighborhoods! Camden, Soho, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Kilburn, and so many more!
• Andrew Manley. Need I say more? 

• I can legally drink alcohol here. I've been exploring different drinks that I otherwise would have to wait to try until 21 in America.
• The Tube! It's always an adventure.
• People here are so friendly. And the accents! I am still swooning.
• There is always something to do and/or see.
• Matt Potter. He's a really good roommate.

The first day in the flats!

• Traveling on my own is an extremely humbling and maturing experience. I've felt more independent over these last two weeks than I ever have before in my life.

10 Reasons I Love (and Miss) Colorado:

Last November at the CC Cabin in Florissant, Colorado

• It's 8th Block, the last block of the regular academic year. I know my friends are having tons of fun.
• The small community I have found (and created) amongst my peers at CC. London is huge and slightly impersonal.
• The sunsets. 

• Hiking. Skiing. The general outdoors.
• Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Aspen, Glenwood Springs.

Colorado Springs from Cheyenne Mountain

• My friends.

Pikes Peak from CC Campus

Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker from Estes Cone

The Maroon Bells from Crater Lake

• Mountains.

The Mummy Range from Cheley

• Small towns in the mountains.
• Dan Lewis and Chinmay Mungi. They were really good roommates.

• I know that I wouldn't have the confidence to be able to jet off to London had it not been for Colorado.
• 11th Reason: It's home.

Loving it here, but certainly missing home. 

Countdowns:

11 Days—The last play, Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. It's at the National Theatre, which is where the first show I saw here, Hamlet, took place. Nice little circle.

12 Days—The last day of class. And sophomore year. Almost half done with college! AH!

15 Days—Spain!

17 Days—My 20th birthday!

19 Days—The return to America.

20 Days—Summer Session A. I'm taking a class on Satire. Can't wait!

24 Days—First week of my internship with the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission.

112 Days—Semester at Sea

I'm off to Shakespeare's Globe to see All's Well That Ends Well. Happy Friday!

Restorative Justice, and the Death of Osama bin Laden

Disclaimer: I am well aware that this post may offend people. Sorry. However, I am not trying to come across as arrogant, unpatriotic, or "holier-than-thou." My intent of this post is to try and explain my opinion, which, for all intensive purposes, falls outside of the "norm," or, at least the norm that I have witnessed via the news, Facebook, the internet, etc. Enjoy it or not, I'm saying it.


I woke up this morning about 2 1/2 hours before class, frustrated with myself that I had yet to start my homework. Before I could even sit up, my roommate told me Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces sent at President Obama's discretion. Osama bin Laden, the face of evil, head honcho of al Qaeda, terrorist mastermind behind the 9/11 Attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the world's most hated man—dead. Too shocked to believe what I had just heard, I left it at that for the moment and began my homework. Truth be told, it was extremely hard to focus on my assignment—a 2 page response to the play Electra that we had seen Friday evening. Of all my responses I have written for class yet, this one was probably my least favorite and most poorly written. I just couldn't write because it seemed so trivial and petty compared to the news I had just experienced. I don't use the word "experienced" lightly; I truly believe this news is something I will always remember, similar to how I felt on September 11th, 2001. Granted, I was 10 years old that day and unable to comprehend the severity and enormity of the event, but I at least knew it was a big deal. And this was a big deal as well, but for a number of reasons outside of the obvious, which I will not be explaining because they aren't quite that important to what I am trying to get at in this post.


I spent this school year living in an LLC, or Living Learning Community. Mine was entitled "Spirit of Nonviolence," so our main focus was discussing topics such as peace, justice, nonviolent thought and action, and spirituality. From living here, I grew a lot, and was able to experience many different types of nonviolent practices, ranging from the deeply religious and spiritual (we had a born again Christian and a Quaker in our hall), to the purely secular and humanist (one of my roommates was a proclaimed Atheist). One of the most important things my hall taught me, other than how to live in close quarters with so many varied folks, was the idea of restorative justice. Generally speaking, restorative justice is the idea that the offender should be rehabilitated into society, rather than severely punished for wrongdoings. It seeks to aid both victim and offender, and doesn't break things down into abstract legal concepts and principles. That's an extremely simplified explanation of the idea, so please don't think that that's all there is to it.


Why is this important?


There was a riot at Penn State University about Osama bin Laden's death. People were parading in the streets of New York City and Washington, D.C. There were demonstrations outside of the White House and the Pentagon. There were demonstrations on college campuses. My own beloved Colorado College had people launching fireworks into the snowy night sky. And for what? Celebration of the death of another human life. That's inhumane, if you ask me.


But, Sam, he's the man behind thousands of deaths! He's the man who cultivated fear through  brutal acts of terror and violence! He's evil! He's not even human!


Well, duh. I know he was despicable. I know he was a terrible detriment to society as a whole. If Hell exists, he's probably heading straight there, not passing "Go," not collecting $200. However, that does not excuse the fact that, as my friend Phoebe put it in her blog post about the situation (which you should all read here: http://saybye.tumblr.com/post/5138351549/thoughts-on-the-death-of-the-uss-most-wanted-and-the), that "almost everyone reacted like jubilant teenagers at the death/execution of someone." Though I did not witness any American reactions (other than of my friends here in the class) first hand because I am abroad, I have seen plenty of videos. Not a single one has had me cracking a smile or feeling proud. I have seen plenty of clever (and not-so-clever) Facebook status updates about the situation. Not a single one have I "liked," sans for the ones that were about how foolish some people are behaving. 


Growing up, we were always told that it was wrong to "fight fire with fire." That obviously has never sunk in with the U.S. government or U.S. armed forces. Yes, we were attacked first by covert terrorists that were extraordinarily radical, but we chose to flex America's testosterone-ridden bicep and invade half of the Middle East. Most of the people living there do not agree with al Qaeda and/or Osama bin Laden, and for us to forcefully derail their government systems in order to aggrandize our form of democracy was a completely bonkers reaction. We certainly fought fire with fire, though not in quite the same way. THE UN SAID TO GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE UNITED STATES MILITARY THAT WE COULD NOT INVADE FOREIGN SOIL. BUT WE DID. AND AT WHAT COST?


Vengeance. Nothing but bullshit vengeance that did nothing but harm innocent people and perpetuate violence, prejudice, hate, and propaganda. Will our country be any less Islamophobic? Will people suddenly want to spend vacations in the Middle East? Will the violence stop?


No, it won't. The general public proved that in its visceral reaction to the death of a symbol. A win in the name of justice and humanity? Maybe, in the sense that his fear tactics and mongering will finally be put to rest, but certainly not in the sense that humanity is saved. Until we can figure out a way to not react to violence with violence, this perpetual cycle of death and ignorance and hatred, we have not won.

Museums, Plays, Camden, A Wedding Fit For Royalty, and More!

I've been here for a little over a week now and, simply put, I've fallen in love. London is an absolutely fabulous city. I've done my fair share of traveling in my lifetime and I think it may be my favorite city. It'll be interesting to see if that changes while on my voyage with Semester at Sea. 

As far as history goes, London is fraught with it. I feel like I can't turn a corner or walk down a street without seeing some historical building. This richness has led the British to have some truly amazing museums, nearly all of which are FREE! Last week, I went to both the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. They are ENORMOUS. We spent a lot of time in each, but I still feel like I missed a significant portion of them both. I've still got plans to go to the Charles Dickens Museum, the British Museum, Madame Tussauds, and more. 

Since I'm here for a class about theatre, we've been taking in a lot of performances. At this point, I've seen: Hamlet, Clybourne Park, Wastwater, Brontë, Pina, London Road, Rocket to the Moon, Electra, and We Will Rock You. EVERYTHING IS SO GOOD. And, surprisingly, British theatre does differ from American theatre in quite a few ways. For one, all the sets here seem gigantic compared to the shows I've seen in America. Wastwater had three completely different sets for its three different scenes. Everything seems more experimental here, too. Brontë and London Road were both new shows written for the particular company performing them, something you don't often experience in America, at least with the theatre that I see. Plus, shows are so much cheaper! That may have something to do with the fact that program(me)s here are extra—they are included in the ticket price in America. You see a pretty large variety of folks at shows as well. All the shows here are making me appreciate theatre again. The classroom component is, surprisingly, perfect. We write responses/reviews to all the shows we see, discuss them as a group the day after we watch them, and generally, do a hefty amount of reflection. It's more work than I expected, but at least it's fun and easy. I love it.

The great thing about living in a big and vibrant city—especially having grown up in the stupid suburbs, moved to a small town in the mountains, and gone to school in a small excuse of a city—is that there is so much to do and see all the time. Late last night, I ventured out with some friends in a failed attempt to go to a club. I say failed because by the time we got there, it was VIP only. Instead of dancing the night away, we just explored the area and found a number of street performers and cool sites. While one person in our group was from New York City and has lived this life before, I hadn't experienced anything quite like it. This trip is making me want to live (at least for some amount of time) in a city like this. I love the buzz of life and activity. It's extremely exciting. I don't even mind the noise, the drunks, the bums, or the crazys.

More specifically, the great thing about London is its variety. All the neighborhoods are so different and beautiful. At this point, I've explored Pimlico, Victoria, Oxford Circus, Vauxhall, Kilburn, Soho, Leicester Square, the West End, Kensington, Brent, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Notting Hill, Camden, and probably others. They all have they're own unique character and are just lovely. I especially liked Camden. I ventured over there yesterday with my friend Matt. After nearly being trampled upon debarking the tube, I FELL IN LOVE. It's London's neighborhood for "alternative" counter-culture. Basically, punks and hipsters. The market there is absolutely fantastic. Everything is cheap, but fairly well-made. I bought a cardigan/vest/sweater thingy for 12 pounds after haggling it down from 20. I point to my father as thanks for that skill. As crowded and punk-ish as it was, people there are intensely friendly. It may be my favorite neighborhood I have been to so far. I also ventured into Soho yesterday for the first time, which is considered one of London's gay villages. Similar to Vauxhall, it was very gay friendly, but there were also plenty of straight people, which I appreciated. As for sheer beauty, though, Notting Hill was incredible. The houses and the trees and the history are all something to be experienced. Truth be told, though, Camden was my favorite. I want to live there. Also, though not a neighborhood, two friends of mine and I went into Harrods, London's most famous high-end department store. As three poor college students, we were a bit out of our league—I saw a pair of very simple shoes that cost 280 pounds! Anywhere else, they would have been much cheaper, but slap the Harrods name on anything and it instantly becomes luxury.


As you all probably know, Friday was the royal wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton. As you'd expect, the city was crazy. All week, when I have mentioned to someone I'm from America, they've asked me if I was in town for the wedding. I'd be lying if I said that it didn't interest me. It's a huge deal here. Unfortunately, because of class, I couldn't make it down to Westminster Abbey to see the actual event, but being in the city it was happening in was more than enough. People were extraordinarily patriotic and happy all day. You couldn't walk into a pub without seeing some kind of special on the menu that had to deal with the wedding. The crowds were outrageous as well. Certain tubes were shut down because of the incredible volume of people. Even though I didn't actually make it to the wedding, it's still pretty cool to say that I was in London when it was happening. Definitely going to brag about that one for the rest of my life :P

I'm laying kinda low today—all this exploration has worn me out. Plus, I have an interview later (via Skype!) with the Pikes Peak Peace and Justice Commission, so I want to be fairly well rested for that. We shall see what this week has in store! For now, though, it's time for a nap!