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Today was interesting, to say the least. I realized that my time in London has passed the halfway mark, and that maybe instead of staying inside and working all day I should go do things. Since I've wanted to go to the Natural History Museum since I got here, I decided to finally cross that one off the list. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was the Saturday of Easter Weekend. Needless to say, the wait to get into the museum was insane - the line stretched out the door and filled the entire courtyard! There was no way I was waiting in that, so I decided to just keep walking until I found something - it's suited me in the past. I ended up getting lost in this gorgeous neighbourhood which looked like what I kind of pictured England to be like. I stopped in a cool little coffee shop and kept walking until I found a little park, which I sat in and enjoyed my coffee, watching life go by. As I was sitting there taking everything in, I noticed a mysterious little gate at the other side of the park. As per my favorite style of adventure, I went through. What I found on the other side was called the "Chelsea Farmer's Market", which was nothing like the Farmer's Markets I have at home in Boulder. It was a collection of independently-owned stores, one of which was a nursery! I decided that in this gray city, it would suit me well to have a plant in the house. Any burst of life in an area with little nature was a good plan. After aimlessly wandering aisles of bright, happy plants, sniffing the flowers and trying to find something with low maintenance and no need for constant sunshine, I settled on a succulent. It was a tiny little thing, pretty simple, but I was instantly in love. It was at this time I decided to go home, so I protected my new plant (which I named Toby) feverishly as I was shoved every which way on the tube.
After showing Toby off to my housemates, we celebrated Emerald's birthday at a place called Tiger Tiger. It was immensely fun, my favorite level was "Groovy Wonderland", but there were so so many creepy guys there! We still were able to dance in a group and generally fend off the sleazy suitors though, so I had an amazing time. Happy Birthday Emerald! It's my first week in London and I am so excited to be here and see what the city has in store. My goal during my time here is to really try to explore London in its entirety, not just the touristy spots. I feel like that is doable, but I guess my journal entries will be the tell all. Today I went to Westminster to see The Elizabeth Tower (the tower commonly misconstrued as Big Ben) and The London Eye. Seeing these famous London icons was cool, but I think what made this experience special was the fact that I saw them within my first week of arriving in the city! On the way back to the house, I also came across The Globe Theatre. As a theatre major, seeing The Globe was like seeing the birth of English Theatre. It was unreal. I'm already taking steps to familiarize myself with London and it is really amazing.
Aside from the sites, I'm already taking steps to familiarize myself with London and it is really amazing.I also feel as though I am getting the hang of using The Tube. I feel weird saying that because I have only used it a couple of times, but it is a lot simpler than I would have expected. Only time will tell if this is true, although if I do find myself to be lost somewhere, I'm sure it will be a great experience. I am in London after all! London not only welcomed me, it changed me. And since I'm always up for some thoughtful introspection, I thought what the hell, why not. Coming to London has changed me in ways I could never have imagined when I first came here. As I sit in the library now, watching my friends laugh and talk outside in the garden, I don't have to wonder where we'll end up. It used to be that my friendships, with the exception of two, have also been fleeting. Whether that is a reflection of me or them is a story for another day. But I know that the people I have come to love while I've been here will stay in my life, at least for a while. Emerald. Carina. Alex. James. Andie Rose. Chopan. This is the crew I run with here in London. And they make a great one.
Here, I've contemplated my life, and the road I've been on to make it to where I am now. I've complained about how tired I am of the triviality that is college, and wishing I just be grown and leave all that behind. But in small ways like this, I'm learning to appreciate the trivial things. To enjoy being young. To laugh with my friends like I haven't a care in the world. To not worry so much about the future, and love, and the MFA I need to get. London taught me to breathe. And with the help of my friends (Beatles reference whaaaat?), London taught me that everything, not matter how hard it seemed, was gonna be alright. "I'm like low-key your soulmate" -- Mereysa
Mereysa and I had known each other from previous classes in both freshman and sophomore year, but I never spent time with her outside of class and so I didn't have the chance to really get to know her prior to us arriving at the London house. And though we did spend some time together when we first arrived, we still weren't very close; the first two weeks were a strange time as everyone -- who were not already friends before the trip -- tried to navigate the social dynamics of the house. Looking back at it now, neither one of us can determine the moment our friendship began, but we believe it all traces back to one night where we bonded by bitching (the way all true friendships are formed). Then soon after we traveled to the Isle of Man, where we shared a queen sized bed for all of excursion week -- and that's when our whirlwind romance truly began. Now I have to emphasize now that we are not actually dating -- sad, I know. But over excursion week, it being just the two of us, we got very close very quickly. Now we are kind of inseparable. It has reached the point where our "relationship" is a running joke throughout the house, a few members in the house asking me, "Where's your girlfriend?" in the rare moments we are apart. And now we automatic respond to bae, baby, and babe without hesitation. In the 11 weeks we've been in London, she has easily become one of my best friends. With her I get to carelessly be my goofiest self, talking in baby voices when I'm tired or grumpy, or grunting at the computer when I get frustrated -- she thinks it's hilarious. We have also had some serious life-moments and conversations (some until 5:00 in the morning). She has been there for me for all of my "moments" -- even when I'm hoping she doesn't notice, she always does. I have to admit, she has been one of the few people to actually help me break through some of my unhealthy approaches to my own sanity (but I must say that this in no way a reflection on my other relationships, they were always there for me, and still are, I am just a very stubborn individual who needs to be called out on it). She's just a very blunt person, who's never afraid to speak her mind or be a little sassy, and I absolutely love that. All in all, I see this friendship continuing long after London, and hope it lasts even after Eckerd. It’s hard to believe that we have been in London for a little over six weeks. But what I find even harder to believe is how close I have gotten with some people in this house. I guess it was bound to happen, especially with nineteen of us being crammed into a flat with three bathrooms, and my two roommates and I sharing a room that only has two desks and two and a half boroughs.
Although unsurprising and yet surprising at the same time, I am thankful for the friends I have made on this trip. The past six weeks have been a whirlwind of navigating the city, conquering the Tubes, and slowly learning how to be ourselves in a different country. I cannot thank the three girls I have bonded with enough for helping me. Ashleigh, Paige, and Kaley, the three of you have saved me from getting lost and every time I think of our late night fangirling sessions over Les Mis and other musicals (cough Hamilton cough), my appreciation and love for you only grows. Yesterday, sitting alongside one another on a bench in the midst of a garden in Kensington Gardens, the four of us talked about future plans. Grad school, moving to Orlando, publishing, there didn’t seem to be a topic that didn’t stray from our conversation. And it seems to always be that way with you guys. It’s easy with ya’ll. We can talk about anything, everything, and even though we may talk too loud sometimes (whoops. Although it is kind of funny when our neighbors have to bang on our doors telling us to be quiet the night before literature class), I am grateful to have you by my side as we spend this semester abroad. Because, in a sense, you need to have someone when you travel. At least, in my opinion you do. Otherwise traveling, exploring, becomes lonely. You spend dinners alone, and you’re pictures are of things, and not people. And while people may come and go, what is the value of a location or an object if it doesn’t have a memory attached to it? So, this journal entry is a simple shout out to the three amazing friends I have gained over this semester. Thank you for the face-mask nights, for the laughter, for ensuring that I have pictures of the pretty things of London, but also with your faces outshining the pretty things. I cannot wait to go home and look through the photos that have captured my heart as well as this city, and I only hope that this trip isn’t the start and the end to these friendships; I’m sure that it won’t be, because hey, after conquering London, I’m sure there’s a full road ahead for all of us individually, as well as a team. And just think, if all goes to plan we get to spend a month, just the four of us, writing in a cute cabin in North Carolina! Ultimately I would just like to give a big cheers to newfound friends, a boatload of memories that only keeps on growing, and a laughter six pack. I am forever grateful. Weeks ago, I came up with a concept for a story, this is only the background information on parts of it, but comments would be appreciated.
The world of Limbo is one of the past, the present, and the future, melding into one as we follow the protagonists as they each descend into madness. Limbo isn't really a world, but rather, a zone where those who are unremarkable go when they die. it is where we see the soldiers under Roosevelt and Washington reside. Where the servants of the Tudors live. Where the second caveman makes his home. Its where the 99% of the population go when they are no longer among the living. In Limbo, the dead no longer feel, but they can speak, and because of that ability, our protagonists, who through the as of yet unexplained ability, can travel and speak to them. A funny thing about Limbo, because the dead don't have emotions, they don't have the ability or even want to lie. They always tell the truth, no matter how embarrassing or hurtful it may be. The protagonists of Limbo are humans, ranging from young children to full adults. Each has learned or is learning to deal with Limbo, but something about the land of the dead creeps into your soul, changes you. You hear the voices of those who have died and you can't help but remember, you are unremarkable. You aren't worthy of getting out of Limbo. When you die, you will be one of the people in Limbo. One of those unremarkable souls who no longer feel love or loss or joy. It drives them insane. The ultimate ambition is to not be one of those people. And they will do anything to get out of the situation. That the whole drive of the plot. We watch as these characters move about their lives, trying to bring a greater meaning to them. Some try and become world leaders, while other become serial killers. All in an effort to be remarkable. I’m nineteen. I know this. I’m well aware of the fact that I’ve been a parasite on this earth for almost twenty years and counting, but it’s really easy to forget just how long I’ve been alive. There are kids growing up right now who’ve had cellphones and iPads since they were born. Sure, I got a cell phone when I was in third grade, but that was the result of a bet between my brother and his girlfriend to see how long I’d go before losing it. I went four months. And yeah, we had a computer in my house from the time I was like four, but I didn’t get my own for a while (I think I was like eleven, and I don’t even know why I got one). This is getting off track.
What I mean to say is, when I think about how much time I’ve actually spent living, I’m kind of shocked. I still think of myself as a thirteen-year-old girl with barely a handle on anything. In reality, I’m a legal adult that’s about to graduate college and enter the workforce (if I decide not to go to graduate school). That’s terrifying. How am I supposed to be an adult when I still feel like I child? Within the next few years, I’m going to have to go from permanently dependent on my parents to becoming an independent workingwoman living on her own. How the hell do I do that? Bakerloo Line
It's named for the stops it makes at Baker Street and Waterloo. How very clever. Anyway, hop into the sardine can of your choice, and pick the 80's- print cushion seat with the least black mould and unknown staining. Now, be prepared to be -propelled across the city, thinking- "Wow, why didn't I just take the Jubilee line or something? Or walk? Or anything?" If you hear a strange scraping sound, as if the train is struggling to fit through the tunnel, don't worry! That's just the train struggling to fit through the tunnel. Similarly, do not be concerned should the lights flicker off, or the capsules jerk around corners at top speed. The great thing about the Bakerloo line is that it's nearly always empty, because people are busy taking vastly superior railways to get around London proper. Therefor, you can almost guarantee that when you take the train to whatever godforsaken hole of the city you need to reach, you'll find at least one car is desolate and even quieter than usual. You can and should take good advantage of this, to do what you please. By all means, all the car is now yours for reading, picking your teeth, or... Well, just remember, that given the current state of the seats, including their aesthetic, they probably haven't been replaced for at least 20 years, maybe more, and will remain for as long as the operators stay ignorant. You'll notice that the Bakerloo colour scheme is a very appropriate brown, which you shouldn't mix up with the better Metropolitan line. It also seems to be, for some reason, the only way to get to tourist destinations such as Paddington Station and Regent's Park. At that point, though, you might as well walk it. Jubilee Line If the Bakerloo line is the shitpile of the London Underground cesspool, than the ill-named Jubilee line is the stanky pee in second place for least enjoyable. The line, for what's it worth, is likely as efficient as the rest of them, but it has such random malfunctions that you'll start to wonder if you're back on the Metro in the States. For example, the lights will flicker at certain jolts, turning off and on in waves as the train speeds down the tracks. The line is represented as the colour grey, as a reminder that it pales in comparison to the Northern line, it is boring and long, and you'll often forget it's there on the map at all until you need to access: Hilariously designated St. John's Wood, where Abbey Road is; Southwark, where you'll visit for and only for the heaven on earth of Borough Market; and Canary Wharf, a light rail away from Greenwich. Much like the Bakerloo line, it wraps about the central areas of London but doesn't seem to have much purpose besides diagonally connecting Waterloo to Green Park. Good job, Jubilee line. According to its Wiki page, the line is the newest of London's Underground passageways, and actually a previous section of the Bakerloo line, which just explains everything, doesn't it? What kind of line even is this?? Metropolitan Line Just a real monkey-ass waste of space of a line unless you live in Northwestern London and need to get back and forth between the central part of the city. It's purple, probably because they ran out of colours to dispense. Fun to look at the spokes of the Underground you'll never see, like Rickmansworth, Watford, and my favourite, Chorleywood. Oh, Chorleywood, pristine and abundant are your secrets. One day you're fine, and the next you have sharp pains in intervals all over your stomach and some really nasty stuff happening in and outside of your body.
I went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour and I was fine. I was having a good day with good friends and one of my favorite movie series. Then the next day, I was practically immobilized by pain and irritation. I stayed in bed all day, hoping to preserve some energy to go see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe theater. Problem was that my stomach was so knotty that I couldn't eat anything. Another problem was that the train wasn't stopping at the station we needed to get off at. Instead of a 10 minute walk to the Globe, we had a 20 minute walk that was rushed, and I was NOT feeling it. I made it into the theater and through about the first twenty minutes of the play before I had to leave - I desperately needed water, and the little contents in my stomach were not about sitting still. Well, at least I can say - though I don't really know why I'd be prideful of this - that I'm the only person I know to vomit at Shakespeare's Globe. Some nice Globe employees, one of whom I'm sure was an EMT, brought me to the First Aid room and let me lay down in private for a while. I missed a good thirty minutes of Midsummer, but it was for the best. I needed some time to let my stomach rest, to drink some water without everyone in the theater near me. Ultimately, I got to enjoy the majority of the show. I was stubborn and made some not so great choices, but I was taken care of, and I made it home safely. Also, the show was so, so worth it. |
The Idiots AbroadThe Idiots Abroad will be keeping a journal about our time in London and in the London house. These journals might describe excitement, disappointment, homesickness, the desire to remain in London forever. The objective is to say something meaningful about travel for friends, parents, lovers, pets, lawyers to use as they consider leaving home for parts unknown. However, these journals will not be simple, will not simply list the daily goings-on. Instead, the objective is to reflect, to meditate, to allow our time away impact the ways we come to speak, honestly, about ourselves and others. ArchivesCategories |
idiotsabroad | London journal |
Photo used under Creative Commons from cold.tea