Here I am in London Town, more specifically, in Golders Green, the super Jewish part of the city. I arrived Thursday and my friends immediately took me to a shwarma place, followed by a bakery where I got rugelach (I love friends who feed me). Everything was delicious and reminded me of the *ahem* good ol' days back at Tehiyah. I'm staying with my friend, Abi, and hanging out with a lot of my friends from Warwick... lots of them live in or around London.
I saw Liz for little while on Saturday... We went to Platform 9 3/4, to the Tate Museum (not my favorite museum here, as it turns out), and to St. Paul's to feed the birds. She has good Granada stories... I wanna go there. It sounds warm and sunny... I wonder what that's like...
My friends had a little get together the other night... made some bolognese, drank some wine, went to Tesco to grab some dessert. It was really nice... I like London. Maybe I'll go to grad school here? King's College has a Shakespeare Studies MA... you take classes at the Globe and the program's students get the stage all to themselves on Wednesday nights. What a life that would be.
Now I'm hanging out at Abi's house. Watching some Pride and Prejudice. Swooning over Colin Firth. Eating some kosher for Passover chocolate. Snuggling on a comfy couch.
I spoke to Bethy and Eyal on Skype the other day, who made me realize that while I haven't picked up the accent, I have picked up the intonations. I can hear it, I just can't control it! It'll go away once I get back to California and people make fun of me...
Silby out.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sort your life out...
That's one of my favorite sayings here.... and it's also what I need to do.
For the past two weeks, I felt like my life was spinning wildly out of control, but in a good way. The Taming of the Shrew performances were on Friday and Saturday and I had 8500 words due in for Monday... so for the past two weeks, when I wasn't in rehearsals, I was researching and writing. I haven't been getting much sleep, my room looks like a tornado hit it, I have no food left, and I think I'm getting a cold. But it was all worth it. The performances went so well (lots of people told me afterward that it was their favorite thing they'd seen this year), and I handed in my essays yesterday, on time and with more than enough words. Now I can relax and write my blog again.
I have a lot of great things planned for the next month, so I'm pretty excited. I'm going to Stratford with friends to walk around and then see King Lear, followed by a sleepover. Next weekend I'm staying with a friend in London and doing Passover dinner with her and her family and seeing some musicals. Also, that weekend Liz will be in London so I'll get to see her and we can explore London together! I haven't seen her in what seems like years. Then, my friend Meagan and I are going to roam around England... maybe do some Lake District, some Cotswolds, some Brighton, we don't really know yet. AND THEN (drum roll please) Leah and I are going to Amsterdam in April!
More fantastic events coming up in my life:
I think I can travel around during third term as well, when I'm not taking tests, writing essays or "revising" (which basically means studying). During third term, there's this festival called Warwick Student Art Festival, where students can show some art, dance, and of course, put on plays. I'm already signed up to dramaturg The Canterbury Tales and The Servant of Two Masters, which I saw in Ashland last summer. There's also going to be a Shakespeare Week in third term. For that, I've been dramaturging Julius Caesar and I'm teaming with my friend to direct a sonnet and a scene.
So, yeah. That's my unsorted life. Today I'm going to return my library books, go shopping for food, clean my room, and maybe do some laundry.
We've been quoting Extras a lot lately and I thought I'd share it with whoever is reading this. Extras is possibly one of the most painfully hilarious shows ever made.
For the past two weeks, I felt like my life was spinning wildly out of control, but in a good way. The Taming of the Shrew performances were on Friday and Saturday and I had 8500 words due in for Monday... so for the past two weeks, when I wasn't in rehearsals, I was researching and writing. I haven't been getting much sleep, my room looks like a tornado hit it, I have no food left, and I think I'm getting a cold. But it was all worth it. The performances went so well (lots of people told me afterward that it was their favorite thing they'd seen this year), and I handed in my essays yesterday, on time and with more than enough words. Now I can relax and write my blog again.
I have a lot of great things planned for the next month, so I'm pretty excited. I'm going to Stratford with friends to walk around and then see King Lear, followed by a sleepover. Next weekend I'm staying with a friend in London and doing Passover dinner with her and her family and seeing some musicals. Also, that weekend Liz will be in London so I'll get to see her and we can explore London together! I haven't seen her in what seems like years. Then, my friend Meagan and I are going to roam around England... maybe do some Lake District, some Cotswolds, some Brighton, we don't really know yet. AND THEN (drum roll please) Leah and I are going to Amsterdam in April!
More fantastic events coming up in my life:
I think I can travel around during third term as well, when I'm not taking tests, writing essays or "revising" (which basically means studying). During third term, there's this festival called Warwick Student Art Festival, where students can show some art, dance, and of course, put on plays. I'm already signed up to dramaturg The Canterbury Tales and The Servant of Two Masters, which I saw in Ashland last summer. There's also going to be a Shakespeare Week in third term. For that, I've been dramaturging Julius Caesar and I'm teaming with my friend to direct a sonnet and a scene.
So, yeah. That's my unsorted life. Today I'm going to return my library books, go shopping for food, clean my room, and maybe do some laundry.
We've been quoting Extras a lot lately and I thought I'd share it with whoever is reading this. Extras is possibly one of the most painfully hilarious shows ever made.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Kissing the Lipless
I have made a change in my life, a significant change.
My friends and I were having dinner a little while back and as we were eating I received a text message. I said something along the lines of, "Aw I love how English people put an 'x' at the end of their text messages," to which my friend replied sadly, "Yeah.... you don't."
Almost every text message I get, or facebook message for that matter, has at least one 'x' at the end, typically more.... Sometimes it's 'xx,' 'xX,' 'XXx,' etc. I never really thought too much about it, just thought it was cute, but apparently not putting at least one 'x' is a bit of a faux pas. My friends told me it was fine, since anyone who text messages me knows I'm American and may not know the ways of the 'x.' I went home and asked my flatmate Grace why she had not informed me of this cultural difference, as she usually does. Here are some rules she explained to me:
I keep wondering how this evolved.... I mean, really. How long have text messages been in existence? Less than ten years? And already there are so many rules and standards involved. Do we have stuff like this in the States?
It took a while to get into the habit, but I now put an 'x' at the end of my text messages. At first, my friends would message me back, "Nice x!" --- even the friends I hadn't spoken to about it.
I feel like a much better human being now, and a much better Anglophile.
My friends and I were having dinner a little while back and as we were eating I received a text message. I said something along the lines of, "Aw I love how English people put an 'x' at the end of their text messages," to which my friend replied sadly, "Yeah.... you don't."
Almost every text message I get, or facebook message for that matter, has at least one 'x' at the end, typically more.... Sometimes it's 'xx,' 'xX,' 'XXx,' etc. I never really thought too much about it, just thought it was cute, but apparently not putting at least one 'x' is a bit of a faux pas. My friends told me it was fine, since anyone who text messages me knows I'm American and may not know the ways of the 'x.' I went home and asked my flatmate Grace why she had not informed me of this cultural difference, as she usually does. Here are some rules she explained to me:
- If you send a message to someone and you don't put a kiss at the end, it implies that you are upset with them.
- It is okay not to put a kiss at the end if it's something like, "see you in five," but it's better to just do it anyways.
- Some boys do not put a kiss at the end, in which case it is appropriate to refrain from placing a kiss at the end of a message.
- If you are texting a boy and you don't know him well, it is also appropriate to refrain from kissing. If he responds with an 'x,' you must end with a kiss from thereon out.
- Many people have trademark kisses. For instance, my friend ends her text messages with 'XxX,' another with 'xxx,' and my friend James ends his with "jx."
- If you are having a long texting conversation with someone, it is acceptable after a while to ceasefire on the 'x's. But you still should just in case.
- Basically, just always put an 'x' at the end of your text messages.
I keep wondering how this evolved.... I mean, really. How long have text messages been in existence? Less than ten years? And already there are so many rules and standards involved. Do we have stuff like this in the States?
It took a while to get into the habit, but I now put an 'x' at the end of my text messages. At first, my friends would message me back, "Nice x!" --- even the friends I hadn't spoken to about it.
I feel like a much better human being now, and a much better Anglophile.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Stop looking at me, swan!
Just got back from a weekend in Paris.... man my life is tough.
I was only there for a few days, but it was wonderful and relaxing.
I love the really well dressed businessmen on the train to London, who set up shop with their businessmen friends (not being sexist... I've only ever seen men). They have newspapers out, working on some chart things on their laptops, talking on their cell phones. Then I follow them off the train and walk to St. Pancras... passing by the British Library, some red telephone boxes, and nice looking pubs. This time, after I went past security and passport control in London, I saw that they had some performers set up in the Eurostar... terminal? Is that what you call that? Where I wait for my train. They were playing jazzed-up Disney songs to entertain the children who were waiting to go to Disneyland Paris.
Yesterday when I got on my Eurostar train in Paris, there was someone standing at the door to check my ticket.... which has never happened before. I thought maybe they upped the security for some reason. Then I got into my train and saw that the seats were bigger than the ones I usually sit in and they had leather headrests. I thought maybe they changed up the seats in the past two days. Then I fell asleep for a few minutes, woke up and saw people drinking wine and soda all around me. I never get wine or soda on my Eurostar trip! I kind of let myself accept at that point that I was in a higher class seating.... but how the hell did that happen? I don't even know how to book first class seating on the website and I certainly did not pay for a first class ticket. So I started feeling guilty, like I had done something wrong and at any minute someone would walk past, see I was an impostor and kick me off the train by the coast of France. Next thing I know, a server walks by and hands me a tray with delicious food on it. I didn't respond at first because I thought I didn't deserve delicious food after conning my way into first class, but then he motioned for me to put my tray up... and I didn't want to look silly. This will remain a mystery for the rest of my life. Was it just a glitch in the matrix? How can it happen again? My seat was so big I could curl up in the fetal position!
Back in Warwickland now... and my workload is getting pretty heavy. In order to stay on top of things, I'm going to need to read about 200 pages a night, while attending lectures, rehearsals for two plays and one radio show, production meetings... and hopefully I'll find some time in there to eat and breathe. I'm not hoping for much sleep, though. Sleep will be put on the back burner. Anyone know a way to increase the number of hours in a day to 30? Maybe 32? It would be much appreciated.
Good to be back, though. Even if I was threatened by a swan today (and yes, I stood my ground and acted tough, but it was really big and wagged its tail at me, so I ran away). They aren't as pretty when they're out of the water.
I was only there for a few days, but it was wonderful and relaxing.
I love the really well dressed businessmen on the train to London, who set up shop with their businessmen friends (not being sexist... I've only ever seen men). They have newspapers out, working on some chart things on their laptops, talking on their cell phones. Then I follow them off the train and walk to St. Pancras... passing by the British Library, some red telephone boxes, and nice looking pubs. This time, after I went past security and passport control in London, I saw that they had some performers set up in the Eurostar... terminal? Is that what you call that? Where I wait for my train. They were playing jazzed-up Disney songs to entertain the children who were waiting to go to Disneyland Paris.
Yesterday when I got on my Eurostar train in Paris, there was someone standing at the door to check my ticket.... which has never happened before. I thought maybe they upped the security for some reason. Then I got into my train and saw that the seats were bigger than the ones I usually sit in and they had leather headrests. I thought maybe they changed up the seats in the past two days. Then I fell asleep for a few minutes, woke up and saw people drinking wine and soda all around me. I never get wine or soda on my Eurostar trip! I kind of let myself accept at that point that I was in a higher class seating.... but how the hell did that happen? I don't even know how to book first class seating on the website and I certainly did not pay for a first class ticket. So I started feeling guilty, like I had done something wrong and at any minute someone would walk past, see I was an impostor and kick me off the train by the coast of France. Next thing I know, a server walks by and hands me a tray with delicious food on it. I didn't respond at first because I thought I didn't deserve delicious food after conning my way into first class, but then he motioned for me to put my tray up... and I didn't want to look silly. This will remain a mystery for the rest of my life. Was it just a glitch in the matrix? How can it happen again? My seat was so big I could curl up in the fetal position!
Back in Warwickland now... and my workload is getting pretty heavy. In order to stay on top of things, I'm going to need to read about 200 pages a night, while attending lectures, rehearsals for two plays and one radio show, production meetings... and hopefully I'll find some time in there to eat and breathe. I'm not hoping for much sleep, though. Sleep will be put on the back burner. Anyone know a way to increase the number of hours in a day to 30? Maybe 32? It would be much appreciated.
Good to be back, though. Even if I was threatened by a swan today (and yes, I stood my ground and acted tough, but it was really big and wagged its tail at me, so I ran away). They aren't as pretty when they're out of the water.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Antarctica, my only living relative...
One of my favorite songs in the entire universe.
Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day, everyone!
Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day, everyone!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool...
"The sweat wis lashing oafay Sick Boy; he wis trembling. Ah wi jist sitting thair, focusing oan the telly"
Who knew I would learn how to read another dialect while I was studying here? That's the first line from Trainspotting, by the way. I just started it and, minus the freaky cover, I'm liking it a lot. In my Devolutionary British Fiction class, we read a lot of novels written in different dialects... just read one written in Glaswegian, which was easier to understand than these junkies, but I guess my professor was just easing us into it.
Tonight, I walked into my kitchen, starving, and tried to cook something in the microwave.... which wouldn't turn on. I then looked to the television, which would also not turn on. Everything, minus the lights and stove was dead. I kicked some chairs and tore down the fliers on our billboard which were covering up the number I needed to call.... you know how I get when I'm hungry. I saw that I needed to call the security desk, since it was past 8pm. After ringing for about five minutes (what if there was a serious emergency??) a man picked up.
Security Man: Hello, Warwick Security.
Me: Hi, this is the number I'm supposed to call for kitchen power outages, right?
Security Man: It appears so.
Me: Um.. right. Well my kitchen has a power outage. Not the lights, just the TV, microwave, toaster--
Security Man: So anything connected to a socket?
Me: Yes. I live in flat --
Security Man: Are you American or Canadian?
THIS. THIS IS WHY WHEN MY FRIENDS ASK ME TO CALL SOME KIND OF SERVICE, I SAY NO. Why is my nationality in any way related to my kitchen not working properly? Shouldn't you get me off the phone asap so you can call someone to fix my kitchen before my food spoils?
Me: I'm American.
Security Man: It's obvious.
Me: Right. Well I live in flat tw--
Security Man: It's a lovely accent.
Me: Thank you. Will someone come to fix my kitchen soon?
Security Man: Well, you're going to need to tell me what flat you're in first! Hahaha!
Not funny, Security Man. Not funny. I was very hungry and on the verge of a meltdown. You did not help me. You are a bad Security Man. Terrible, some might say. The worst.
Other than that unfortunate incident, life is pretty damn good. Too much fun is being had here... I went out Friday night with some friends to see a stage rendition of The Triplets of Belleville and then went out dancing at this event at the union. At the end of the night, the DJ said, "Alright, well we need to close up now, so we thought we'd play a song we can all sing a long to." They then proceeded to play "Hey Jude," and everyone got in one big hugging circle. I took a little video. Sorry about the shaking...
Who knew I would learn how to read another dialect while I was studying here? That's the first line from Trainspotting, by the way. I just started it and, minus the freaky cover, I'm liking it a lot. In my Devolutionary British Fiction class, we read a lot of novels written in different dialects... just read one written in Glaswegian, which was easier to understand than these junkies, but I guess my professor was just easing us into it.
Tonight, I walked into my kitchen, starving, and tried to cook something in the microwave.... which wouldn't turn on. I then looked to the television, which would also not turn on. Everything, minus the lights and stove was dead. I kicked some chairs and tore down the fliers on our billboard which were covering up the number I needed to call.... you know how I get when I'm hungry. I saw that I needed to call the security desk, since it was past 8pm. After ringing for about five minutes (what if there was a serious emergency??) a man picked up.
Security Man: Hello, Warwick Security.
Me: Hi, this is the number I'm supposed to call for kitchen power outages, right?
Security Man: It appears so.
Me: Um.. right. Well my kitchen has a power outage. Not the lights, just the TV, microwave, toaster--
Security Man: So anything connected to a socket?
Me: Yes. I live in flat --
Security Man: Are you American or Canadian?
THIS. THIS IS WHY WHEN MY FRIENDS ASK ME TO CALL SOME KIND OF SERVICE, I SAY NO. Why is my nationality in any way related to my kitchen not working properly? Shouldn't you get me off the phone asap so you can call someone to fix my kitchen before my food spoils?
Me: I'm American.
Security Man: It's obvious.
Me: Right. Well I live in flat tw--
Security Man: It's a lovely accent.
Me: Thank you. Will someone come to fix my kitchen soon?
Security Man: Well, you're going to need to tell me what flat you're in first! Hahaha!
Not funny, Security Man. Not funny. I was very hungry and on the verge of a meltdown. You did not help me. You are a bad Security Man. Terrible, some might say. The worst.
Other than that unfortunate incident, life is pretty damn good. Too much fun is being had here... I went out Friday night with some friends to see a stage rendition of The Triplets of Belleville and then went out dancing at this event at the union. At the end of the night, the DJ said, "Alright, well we need to close up now, so we thought we'd play a song we can all sing a long to." They then proceeded to play "Hey Jude," and everyone got in one big hugging circle. I took a little video. Sorry about the shaking...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Brussels: A Two-Part Tale
All their personal belongings have intertwined.... a.k.a. part one
I hopped on my train to Brussels on Thursday night, which ended up being delayed half an hour because *I think* the train before us got stuck under the ocean for a bit? But thankfully, we exited the ocean safely and quickly.
It was really nice to see Leah again. And the house she lives in is fantastic, minus the lack of heating which was compensated for by some snuggle time and lots of blankets. The first night we ate dinner, drank maybe too much, went to a karaoke bar.... it was really really fun.... I sang "Mr. Big Stuff" and...yeah. Enough said.
The next day, we had a lazy morning... drank some coffee, ate some cereal, etc. Then we went downtown with Leah's super sweet roommate, Jess. We went to the Magritte Museum, which was really interesting. I had kind of the same feeling I get when I go to any art museum, which is, "Well, it's pretty... I just don't understand what they're saying." I kind of got Magritte though. Something about defamiliarization and disassociating words with images... I dunno. I'm not an art history person. I got some nice postcards though, including the "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" one... it was a must-have.
We walked around some more, went to a bar that has two thousand different kinds of beer, and then fell asleep early, as we had to wake up at 5:30am the next day....
I got soul but I'm not a soldier... a.k.a. part two
Leah is on a CIEE program, meaning she and all the other participants from across the states get to go on occasional excursions. Luckily, I was allowed to accompany them on their trip to.... The Battle of the Bulge!
The bus left Brussels at 7:30am, so I fell asleep pretty much right as I sat down, with my head against the window and one of Leah's earbuds in my ear. I woke up to the sound of bombs, screaming, and gunfire in my right ear and Joni Mitchell in my left. Turned out they were playing an episode of Band of Brothers on the coach bus to get us in the mood.
It was a long, war-themed day, complete with cemeteries, army bases, and foxholes. It was also the first time I had been around a large group of Americans in about five months. Reverse culture shock? I think so. But they fed us well and it was nice to sit and eat with Leah, Jess, and their French friend who, when unable to remember the word "robe" said, "you know, like Big Lebowski?"
I was sad to leave Leah, but I think we're going to travel somewhere exciting over spring break.
And now I'm back in England, on campus, on my computer, with my coffee. I had a crap day yesterday but tea with the flatmates and drinks with the Shakespeare folks made it all better.
I'm going to go do some research now so I can sound smart in my first rehearsal today. Last night, I actually got my friends admit that I am always always right.
I like it here.
I hopped on my train to Brussels on Thursday night, which ended up being delayed half an hour because *I think* the train before us got stuck under the ocean for a bit? But thankfully, we exited the ocean safely and quickly.
It was really nice to see Leah again. And the house she lives in is fantastic, minus the lack of heating which was compensated for by some snuggle time and lots of blankets. The first night we ate dinner, drank maybe too much, went to a karaoke bar.... it was really really fun.... I sang "Mr. Big Stuff" and...yeah. Enough said.
The next day, we had a lazy morning... drank some coffee, ate some cereal, etc. Then we went downtown with Leah's super sweet roommate, Jess. We went to the Magritte Museum, which was really interesting. I had kind of the same feeling I get when I go to any art museum, which is, "Well, it's pretty... I just don't understand what they're saying." I kind of got Magritte though. Something about defamiliarization and disassociating words with images... I dunno. I'm not an art history person. I got some nice postcards though, including the "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" one... it was a must-have.
We walked around some more, went to a bar that has two thousand different kinds of beer, and then fell asleep early, as we had to wake up at 5:30am the next day....
I got soul but I'm not a soldier... a.k.a. part two
Leah is on a CIEE program, meaning she and all the other participants from across the states get to go on occasional excursions. Luckily, I was allowed to accompany them on their trip to.... The Battle of the Bulge!
The bus left Brussels at 7:30am, so I fell asleep pretty much right as I sat down, with my head against the window and one of Leah's earbuds in my ear. I woke up to the sound of bombs, screaming, and gunfire in my right ear and Joni Mitchell in my left. Turned out they were playing an episode of Band of Brothers on the coach bus to get us in the mood.
It was a long, war-themed day, complete with cemeteries, army bases, and foxholes. It was also the first time I had been around a large group of Americans in about five months. Reverse culture shock? I think so. But they fed us well and it was nice to sit and eat with Leah, Jess, and their French friend who, when unable to remember the word "robe" said, "you know, like Big Lebowski?"
I was sad to leave Leah, but I think we're going to travel somewhere exciting over spring break.
And now I'm back in England, on campus, on my computer, with my coffee. I had a crap day yesterday but tea with the flatmates and drinks with the Shakespeare folks made it all better.
I'm going to go do some research now so I can sound smart in my first rehearsal today. Last night, I actually got my friends admit that I am always always right.
I like it here.
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