SWORDS SWORDS SWORDS!

I had combat class on Thursday. I HAD COMBAT CLASS! Holy poo. It was so much fun. We worked with rapier and dagger (combo) sword play learning this thing called the mystery circle. Everyone had a really good time and learned how to attack and parry. From there we had other classes, but I don't think anyone really cared. That kind of took the cake. The nerd in me died. Two young guys were helping the Globe's combat master, and they demonstrated some choreographed fights from various Shakespearean plays. Very cool. Very intense. I was jealous. The next day we had a costume seminar and we got to see the Globe's costume store. WOW. All the original practice costumes were in storage. Incredible. We were all drooling a little. A lot actually.  Saturday we went and toured a replica of the Golden Hinde -Sir Francis Drake's privateering ship -I studied him at the British Library. SO COOL! Also...pirates. Need I say more? From there I went into London and explored with my friend Jordan and we went to Primark on the street where Kate Middleton does a lot of her shopping. Places like Top Shop and the like. It was intense. Sunday saw Jordan and I at Fortnum and Mason's. It's beautiful. We did some more general exploring and enjoyed ourselves. This morning Meredith and I went on a run that was going to be short and ended up in a giant circle of London. An hour later we had seen Big Ben, millennium bridge, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Cavalry Museum -and the guards that have to be stoic and not move or show emotion, there were tourists taking their picture with him, poor guy -and St. Paul's cathedral. It was a wonderful morning. I finished out the day with classes at the Globe. More to come!

Let's talk about books...

When I last posted I think I had just rejoined my group. During that time we traveled to Keswick in the Lake District which was BEAUTIFUL! The town is right on Lake Derwentwater. It's beautiful. While there we had a class and mainly had free time to explore. It was so nice. We hiked to a stone circle older than Stonehenge called Castle Rigg. It was more of a walk really, and it was a lovely walk. It was very pastoral. There were sheep and kissing gates everywhere. Of course we made use of the kissing gates. What can I say, we're in college... Our last day in Keswick Meredith, Dalton, and I decided it would be a good idea to jump in the lake. It was really cold, but so worth it. So fun. In keeping with the theme of the abroad, which is English and Theatre, we saw a play in Keswick called Noises Off. It was so funny and I hope someone somewhere in the states puts it on sometime. From Keswick we traveled to York. York is beautiful and ancient. Here we also had mainly free time to explore and hang out. We were expected to get our interview of an English person done. We had to ask them what they thought it meant to be English. I interviewed two (very cute) street musicians who were working toward their Masters in Music. Super cool. Meredith, Hannah, Amanda, and I did a ghost walk which required audience participation so somehow I ended up representing a Catholic during the Reformation who had been pressed to death and Hannah a nun who had fallen victim to carnal lust. Don't worry I was canonized and Meredith was the one doing the pressing. (: Gotta love your friends. After York, we returned to Oxford which marked a week of intense class. It was crazy. A lot of Shakespeare and text analysis. Fun! It was the English stuff. Oxford was a great time with a lot of running with Meredith. Good week for running. We got to return to Blenheim Palace, although I was once again denied the Secret Garden. I did get to explore the Christ Church gardens (Christ Church's dining room was used for Harry Potter's Great Hall!) with Meredith and Amanda. We found a beautiful rose garden. While in Oxford we also were able to visit a china manufacturer who is a Christian Scientist -her company is called Isis. Her stuff is beautiful and I want her to do my dinner service when I grow up. She works in traditional 17th century methods. She served us high tea on her beautiful china. We were so grateful and the food was delicious. Now I'm in London and it has been wonderful. The first week we were at the British Library doing research on our characters in Pericles (I'm a lord, a pirate, and a ship captain -YESSSSSSS!). I researched Renaissance pirates because the others were being covered. Very interesting stuff. I was also researching Renaissance class distinction for my Shakespeare two class which only the English majors are in. Also some interesting stuff there. I loved the library. I touched books that are older than the United States as a country. CRAPPPPP! During our time at the library we were still able to come see a play at the Globe (a preview of this week's opportunities). We saw Dr. Faustus, which we had read at Keswick. Such a good production, and Dr. Who fans would recognize Arthur Darvill as Mephistophilis. Friday was our first day at the Globe with acting classes. We did a really fun movement class and an acting class. I, however, am biding my time for the stage combat class. Oh. My. God. Sword play. I am dying. I also think we get to walk onto the hallowed stage of the Globe. Wow. Saturday we saw the production of Much Ado About Nothing. It was so GOOD. And as groundlings (standing tickets) we got to be against the stage. Perfect. Also at the Globe the players interact with the audience and we got played off of. It was the same at Dr. Faustus. A few of us also saw a contemporary play called the God of Soho at the Globe and again against the stage. I was in heaven. Yesterday (9/11) I got to walk across the famous Abbey Road zebra lines (cross walk for us Americans). I died. This week is all intensive acting classes at the Globe so more to follow on what is to come this week.

Love always,
Sarah

Back in the USSR...er UK!

Well I'm in the jolly land that is the UK, and as the country has been drowned in rain and rocked by rioting in the streets I can only assume it's because of my presence here. A joke in bad taste perhaps, but then I wouldn't be me if I didn't at least try and make people laugh. England is quite literally fantastic. I'm tempted to live here forever. The countryside is picturesque, and to quote Anne of Green Gables there is so much scope for the imagination here. Perhaps I can finally start the novel I want to write someday. Who knows? Thus far I have ventured into London and seen the West End production of Wicked. Quite smashing really. I have taken the Tube (pronounced chube), queued up, and been utterly unprepared for the rain. The journey toward true Englishness continues. I have ventured into Oxford, Bath, and today the Cotswolds. Pretty much beautiful. I want to move here, except for the increasing national debt and the influx of foreigners who kind of mooch of the system. Sounds like home...Sorry for the cynicism. I had my first cream tea today. YUM! Gotta love the English and their tea. Also their love of dogs. Seriously though. Anyway I have to go engage in another English tradition -the eating of curry. No joke...

Cheerio!

Test

This is just a test to make sure this is working. Hope I can access blogspot from England!