Rachel's London Diaries

Digital documentation of my semester abroad in England.

[thelondontales]

Why England?

He asked what it was about England that I liked so much. I felt like I didn’t put into words why I love it so much enough to do it justice.

I love it for the feeling I get when I watch an English theatre production. The creativity I believe they have for the craft of theatre and willingness to take risk and stretch boundaries. British theatre creates art, it doesn’t just produce something commercially valuable.

But I also just love the simple things that others may take for granted but I so enjoy.

1. The ride on the tube holding on to the pole so the old lady who got on after you can have the seat, listening to the British woman announce “Charing Cross Station” (I don’t feel like I’m going to contract a disease like on the subway).

2. Sitting in a square or park with your meal deal lunch people watching.

3. Going to a pub midday and hearing the screams of Football fans while they enjoy their pint.

4. Hearing the British accents because come on, we all know they sound pretty sexy.

5. Shakey! The fact that I can go to The Globe theatre and spend 5 pounds on a standing ticket to see productions performed on a stage with history such as that one; it’s an English major’s dream!

6. I feel safe in London, I can always navigate my way back with the maps on ever corner and tube/bus stations always leading you back to where you need to go. People are also pretty friendly with giving directions.

7. There’s so much I still want to explore about the city, let alone the country… I need more time there for the art and the history and high tea experiences.

8. Traveling outside of London, I saw so many wonderful places like Whitby, Stratford Upon Avon, Liverpool, Chester, York, and more… these places have such rich cultures and history that I don’t personally feel like I have found in even the most historic cities in America.

I could keep going on, I really could. But I think you’ve gotten the gist. I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m trying to leave them but wanting England is something out of my control, I’m just so sure in my heart that it is what I want. I was struck by this place and I can’t ignore my gut telling me it is the place for me to be.

So for once in my life I’m gonna go with my baby sister’s advice, “You have to do what is right for you because it is your life, we’ll all support you in the end because we want you to be happy.”

[thelondontales]

I couldn't help falling in love with you

I left London 14 weeks ago. I couldn’t even bare to keep my eyes open when the plane took off because I didn’t want to believe it was happening. I didn’t want to leave the place I sincerely felt at home at more so than my university or my old sleep away camp or my yiayia’s house by the shore, or even the town where I grew up.

Something about the smell of the city after it rains when you’re walking through the streets with your best friend in the middle of the night. Something about sitting on that tube, relaxed because you know you’ve got quite a few stops before you get to yours… And because you actually found a seat. Watching the skyline at night on Primrose Hill… Or sunrise. Or sunset. The adrenaline high when you walk out of a London theatre after seeing a production that just took your breath away. These are things I must experience again because London and me; we just work, we’re right for each other.

I haven’t got it all figure out yet but with my passion and determination I believe in myself and I know that I will. This is what I want, what is going to make me truly happy. That’s what is most important in our brief lifetime, isn’t it?

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to you when we last parted because I have lists of places I still want to go or to return to. There are things I want to do and food I want to eat. We just weren’t ready for sincere goodbyes.

Each day goes by and I no longer get sad that it is one day more that has passed since my London adventure, because I know it is really just one day closer to my return. Whether it is in four months, or a year, or 10 years from now… We will meet again, my dear city, I am certain of that.

"Like a river flows surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things are meant to be." ~Ingrid Michaelson

[thelondontales]

Never say goodbye...

I'm afraid to write this last blog because I know that those who read it are my friends and family who have been anxiously waiting for me to come back to America.  The amount of calls, texts, facebook messages, and snapchats welcoming me home has been overwhelmingly amazing and it is so wonderful to know that everyone is happy for me to return.

But I want to be there.  I want to ride the tube, and shop at Sainsbury's, and grab a drink at a pub, and watch the sun set on Primrose Hill, and by a 5 pound dress from Primark, and eat english breakfasts, and go to the market- ALL THE MARKETS, and see more theatre shows, and hear english accents... especially Northern ones that I can make fun of when I secretly think they're cuter than Southern ones.

So now I'm here in America where I've grown up and created a life for myself.  It is where my family, friends, school, work, and memories are. I'm seeing family today and friends tomorrow, and in a week I'll be starting work doing theatre again, which I love. I feel guilty that I don't share the same joy of being home as my fellow classmates on my program. But it's just so hard because my heart is in London, walking down Bedford Place on a drizzly London night.

I am so grateful for this experience and I know that these last 4 months will always be some of the best times I have had in my entire life. I got to explore more of England than some of its residents do in a lifetime. I traveled to 6 other countries and got to experience different cultures, architecture, and of course food. I got to experience so many interesting places in London from a wonderful tour guide which most people only dream of meeting when they study abroad. He became one of the biggest parts of my London experience and made me the happiest I've been in a long time. Not everyone get's to look back on their abroad experience and remember wandering hand in hand through Hampstead Heath on Sunday afternoon after a delicious Sunday Roast, or seeing the quaint beauty that is a Northern hometown like Chester and feel like they can imagine what it would be like to grow up there.  I have the absolute best memories I could have possibly wished for when I wrote that first blog before I left for London.

There's a statue of Peter Pan in Hyde Park that to me represents London's eternal youth and a place where I can go back to and it will always have my memories of this semester. J.M. Barrie wrote in his book, Peter Pan, "Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting." I'll never forget you London, and hopefully we'll meet again sooner than you think...

[thelondontales]

Tuesday, May 7th The program rented out a place near my flat called "Tea and Tattle" for everyone to have a last afternoon tea together. There were tiny sandwiches, scones with clotted creme and jam, slices of cake, and of course tea. It's crazy how much time has passed and how we've all bonded so much as a group over the span of our time here. Erica, Cohen and I then went to Belgo for one last "beat the clock" meal. I got my usual mussels and frites. Since we had time to kill we went for a drink at Belucci's which I never got a chance to go to before so I was happy. Cohen and I saw Matilda and I was in awe of the amazing choreography and how well everyone, especially the child actors, were able to keep in rhythm and perform so well. While it obviously had a cheesy musical feel-good ending, I thought it was extremely entertaining and was so happy we were able to use our grant money to go see it.

[thelondontales]

Monday, May 6th You may remember me blogging about how my flat has our professor and his wife over for dinner earlier on in the semester. To reciprocate they took us out to lunch at this Turkish restaurant located in between our flat and FSU that we've all passed by all semester but never eaten at. We got this group menu deal that included a bunch of assorted tapas to share and a main course. There was hummus and cucumber sauce and falafel, and spanikopita, a couple other dishes that I wasn't quite sure what I was eating but it was all delicious. For my main course I got prawn casserole. It was a great way to wrap up the semester and spend part of the lovely Bank Holiday Monday. The rest of my bank holiday Monday was spent at Dave's friend Charlotte's house which has a small outdoor patio area where they had a BBQ with all their friends. They were all really happy to have the extra day off of work and I had fun meeting everyone and enjoying the weather.

[thelondontales]

Sunday, May 5th Dave and I got breakfast at the cafe near his flat with his flatmate James. I had a nice English breakfast and a strawberry mango smoothie. I'm seriously going to miss English breakfasts a lot when I go back to America. We took the bus to highgate and walked around the park and sat out in the sun. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and it was really relaxing. When you're in an area like Hampstead, you almost forget that you're in a city because it is mostly grass and trees and things are a lot quieter. At 3pm we went to the Star Pub for my first ever Sunday Roast. I was excited but skeptical because I don't particularly like veggies and roasted meat but every single bit of food was beyond amazing. We both ordered the pork belly which then came with carrots, broccoli, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and a bit of onion. There was gravy on the bottom and apple sauce on the side. I don't think meat has possibly ever tasted so delicious to me.

[thelondontales]

Sunday, May 5th Dave and I got breakfast at the cafe near his flat with his flatmate James. I had a nice English breakfast and a strawberry mango smoothie. I'm seriously going to miss English breakfasts a lot when I go back to America. We took the bus to highgate and walked around the park and sat out in the sun. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and it was really relaxing. When you're in an area like Hampstead, you almost forget that you're in a city because it is mostly grass and trees and things are a lot quieter. At 3pm we went to the Star Pub for my first ever Sunday Roast. I was excited but skeptical because I don't particularly like veggies and roasted meat but every single bit of food was beyond amazing. We both ordered the pork belly which then came with carrots, broccoli, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and a bit of onion. There was gravy on the bottom and apple sauce on the side. I don't think meat has possibly ever tasted so delicious to me.

[thelondontales]

Saturday, May 4th Once I got back from Liverpool Dana, John, Kieran, Cohen, and I took the bus to Camden Market for one final time. We got our beloved When Mac Met Cheese (I got mine with jalapeño hasn't London changed me so much?). And because I followed Mac on twitter in March I also got a side of free fried Oreos. Mac asked if Dana and I were single and wanted to marry him so he could live in America because New York is his favorite city. Dana says if she gets unlimited free Mac and cheese then she's in! ;)

[thelondontales]

Dear Uncle Norman,

I’ve just stayed the past couple of days with Aunt Stephanie and her family. They’ve been overly kind and have treated me as though I was one of their own.

I’ve heard so many stories about you and I’m so jealous of everyone who has met you and spent substantial time with you. I have only a single memory of you and that is of running to give you a hug in the hallway of my house when I was very little.

Aunt Stephanie says that you used to say, “if G-d had tried pork he would have made it kosher” and she tells me, like mom, that I have gotten bit by your theatre bug. She told me about an amateur production of a Neil Simon play you were in, in Hong Kong in which the play was set in New York so when you started speaking everyone just said, “oh that’s Norman.”

Every opening night for a performance during those 5 minutes when places have been called and everyone is scrambling to get where they need to be before the curtain goes up, I stop and I think of you. I would give anything to be able to talk to you because I’m sure you would understand that adrenaline rush during live theatre that I’ve fell in love with and plan to pursue even if I never make any money with it.

You were the first person in my life to die and I don’t think I fully comprehended it at the time. But now I am constantly reminded of your outgoing personality and sense of humor from those who were fortunate enough to know you and I’m proud that they think We share some of your similarities.

So I wanted to ease your mind that even though you’re gone I have been taken very good care of by the Kwok family throughout my semester abroad.

I promise to continue with theatre for both of us and always dedicate those 5 minutes of call time before a performance to my fellow thespian.

Love always with all my heart, Rachel

[thelondontales]

Friday, May 3rd

Aunt Stephanie and I went to the Museum of Liverpool and Maritime Museum this morning.

I didn’t realize before my trip here that there was such a large Chinese community and that Shanghai is the twin city to Liverpool. We saw Aunt Stephanie’s father on the wall quotes with old pictures. There was a section on theatre and a section on The Beatles.

In the Maritime Museum we saw an international slavery section and a section devoted to the Titanic. Listening to a video of interviews from survivors, it sounds as though the writers of the Leonardo and Kate Winslet film were spot on with the details.

We then went with Lisa an Aunt Stephanie’s mom to Chester to meet up with their cousin Roma. We had lunch at a restaurant called Sergio. I had mussels in a white wine sauce and vegetable lasagna. It was very tasty and extremely filling.

Dave is actually from Chester originally and happened to be home for part of the weekend visiting family so after lunch I met him and he took me on a tour of the town. We saw the amphitheater, the city walls, the clock, the river, we walked on the bridges, went through the gardens, saw the rows, and had tea at a cafe called Blue Moon.

When meeting back up with Aunt Stephanie and the rest of the family, they insisted that Dave come have a drink with us before we headed back to Liverpool. Everyone was very friendly despite the slight awkwardness. Overall I’m thrilled that it happened to work out that he could show me around where he grew up and tell me funny anecdotes from when he was a teenager.

After we got back to Liverpool, I went to dinner with Aunt Stephanie and her parents. Her dad is a very friendly and social able person as I’ve mentioned and they ended up bringing us this garlic pizza bread complimentary before our meal. I had a pasta dish with chicken, cheese, and vegetables which was so big I couldn’t even finish it.

Although I would have liked to spend More time in Chester and seen some of the sights we didn’t have time to go to, and have gone to the Tate Liverpool, I feel like I was able to squeeze in quite a bit within my short visit here.

[thelondontales]

Thursday, May 2nd Another "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" similarity... Breakfast table conversation between myself, Aunt Stephanie's mother Jane, and father Tony: Jane: Rachel do you want juice? Me: It's okay... Jane: Come on now, tomato or cranberry. Stephanie: Would you like some yogurt on your fruit? *before I can respond* Here you go, you can have the rest. Tony: Rachel have some cereal.. Stephanie please pour her some cereal. Jane: Rachel would you like some toast? *before I can respond* Okay I make you some toast. Point is they are extremely over welcoming here and I am so happy I made plans to come see them in Liverpool. After breakfast we drove to the Lake District are and Aunt Stephanie's father pointed out various landmarks along the way. We stopped near Windermere and walked along the lake, stopping for a mid day coffee. For lunch we met up with their Dutch cousin/family friend who recommended we go to this place called Langsdale Chase where there dining room has a lakefront view voted best in Britain. I had a steak sandwich on focaccia bread with caramelized onions and horseradish. For dessert Aunt Stephanie and I split a sticky toffee pudding (which is actually sponge cake, not American pudding consistency). One thing I love about Aunt Stephanie's father is that he will make friends with anyone and everyone. Throughout the course of the day he chatted with a Welsh couple at the cafe while the three f us were in the ladies room. He randomly said a couple Chinese words to these three Chinese people by the lake and ended up taking a picture with them and giving them his number. Then he was conversing with an old woman who was sitting alone while her husband was in the WC so she had someone to talk to. He's extremely intelligent and has been telling me information about history and politics and good life advice. After breakfast this morning he said, "you're going to go back to America and say 'I met this crazy old English man in Liverpool who kept trying to tell me all this useless information.' But really I'm trying to plant a seed of knowledge and maybe you think 90% of what I say is rubbish but maybe the other 10% will make a difference for you." On the way back from the Lake District, Aunt Stephanie and I got dropped off by the each and walked along the water back to her parents house. We took pictures with the iron men which are part of some artistic project where 100 or so iron sculptures of the same man area spread along the coast. From Lisa's house which overlooks the water, it appears as though there are men standing in the water. For dinner we has a poached egg on bread with cheese and a side salad. It was really delicious and made me want to learn to poach eggs (then of course id be able to make my own eggs Benedict and that could be dangerous haha) The four of us went over to Lisa's for tea and pineapple down cake and to solidify our plans for tomorrow. I'm trying not to dwell on the couple of assignments I have due next week, but when I'm not thinking of them this break away from the city has been very refreshing and wonderful so far.

[thelondontales]

Wednesday, May 1st

Instead of having class in the classroom for our last day, we met Joe Church at The National Portrait Gallery this morning and he gave us the assignment to find the paintings which coincide with the poets we read in Brit Lit this semester and choose one to write a response on. I chose a sculpture of Virginia Wolfe specifically because I enjoyed her poem, “The Mark on the Wall.”

At 3pm I boarded the train from Euston to Liverpool to see my Aunt Stephanie and her family. This is the ultimate test of my independence because the Rachel that started this semester would have never managed getting to a train station, printing the ticket, finding the platform, finding the correct coach, getting off at the right stop… Now I don’t even have to think twice about how to so that sort of travel tasks, it comes as second nature.

As soon as I met Aunt Stephanie and her sister Lisa, we drove to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral before it closed. You might be thinking, “hasn’t she seen enough cathedral’s by now?” But this one was unlike any of the cathedrals I’ve seen. It was built in the 60’s and has a lot of modern architecture and paneling and stained glass roof. It is completely circular so no miner of the congregation is more than 25 meters from the altar. There’s a sculpture there dedicated to Aunt Stephanie’s grandparents.

We then drove by the Protestant Cathedral but it was already closed by that time so we couldn’t go inside.

We ended up taking a ferry ride around to see a waterfront view of Liverpool. We lucked out with the weather today; although it was chilly because we were in the water, it was nice and sunny.

Then Lisa drove us around town a little more and gave us bits of Liverpool history. It’s interesting that Liverpool is twin cities with Shanghai, but also makes sense why my aunt’s family ended up in Liverpool.

For dinner we went to a Chinese restaurant with Lisa’s kids and boyfriend, Aunt Stephanie’s parents, and their cousin and her husband.(I’m not going to acknowledge the laughing those of you who know me well are probably soon right now imaging me in the situation). There were lots of different dishes on a spinning wheel that went around the table. Pretty much every type of dish was spooned onto my plate at some point during the meal. Somehow the dinner conversation got to talking about mushrooms and pot and ecstasy and Lisa's 12 and 16 year olds were very confused. I've never heard adults talk about drugs so openly before, but maybe that's another difference between America and England.

I love my Aunt Stephanie’s father; he reminds me of a mix between the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and my mom’s dad. He has all this random knowledge, specifically about Chinese and English culture and enjoys sharing that information. He also has the entertaining whit that my grandpa tends to use, especially when he is talking to my grandma.

After dinner we went to Lisa’s for tea and “English pudding” which means dessert.

All the salt from dinner has made me extremely tired so now that I have finished this post, I’m going to bed. 😴

[thelondontales]

Childhood dream- check!

Tuesday, April 30th For our last play as a program we went to see the Shakespeare poem, "Venus and Adonis" at the Globe Theatre. It was not the Globe Theatre actors performing but instead an all African theatre company that previously performed "Venus and Adonis" there last year for the Globe's big anniversary showcase and was only reviving the performance for this week. I was curious going into the production after having discussed the poem the whole morning in Shakespeare class because it is written with a narrator telling the story. This theatre company added music and dancing and drums to their interpretation. All were barefoot on stage and wore elegant tribal costumes. There were 6 different Venus' in addition to the main Venus. Each actress would pass on this white sheet to switch who was playing Venus. They were not always speaking English but between knowing the poem and watching their body movements I was able to follow the production pretty well. There was one part where there were two Venus' fighting for Adonis' love and Dana whispered, "it's like you, me, and John" which was hilarious and fitting. It was cool to be sitting in the Globe Theatre watching a production, imagining what it would have been like for people to have watched Shakespeare there back in the day. Dave and I went to dinner at Soho Joe's which makes very good pizza. I got the Joe's special with eggplant, artichokes, red pepper, mozzarella cheese, and Parma ham. Then we went to a blues bar called "Anything But." It's sad how close Soho is to my flat and yet I don't know about a lot of cool places in that area. Guess I'm lucky I have my own English tour guide to introduce me to these great places, haha!

[thelondontales]

Sunday, April 28th We said goodbye to York at 9am as we all piled into the coach and drove to Steaton Castle in Whitby where we would be staying that night. The program gave us a packed lunch with a sandwich, crisps, apple, kit-kat bar, and bottle of water for our six mile hike along the coast. The hike was pretty much what I expected; it was enjoyable but slightly difficult for me because I'm clumsy, out of shape, and am afraid of heights on cliffs. The wind was blowing most of the time but felt nice because it counter acted being hot from the physical hiking. We literally hiked along the coast the whole time so we got to look out at the North Sea as we walked. I was bonding with one of our program directors, Emma, because we both have short hair and once it is blowing in the wind, there's not much you can do besides embracing that your hair is flying in all directions. We saw the cliffs, graveyard, coast, stairs, and abbey that inspired Bram Stoker while he was writing Dracula. It is cool because I literally just read the book and watched the movie in one of my English classes last semester that two people on my program were on as well. This weekend was Whitby's bi-annual gothic weekend, so all around the town people were dressed in extravagant outfits with lace and dyed hair. There were cross dressers and masks; everyone embracing being gothic. Some of the people on my program talked to a couple who were dressed up and they explained that the festival was like their Halloween. They don't typically dress like that but find it liberating and enjoyable to do it twice a year. I thoroughly enjoyed their freedom of expression although I know if my dad or grandpa had been there they probably would have thought otherwise. It was just really interesting how many middle aged men and women were dressed up rather than younger folks. It is just one way that England and America seem to differ. For dinner I went to a fish and chips place with Erica, Mariella, and Annie. Mariella had her first fish and chips (it was cod so nothing too crazy) but I'm glad I got to witness that. I ordered probably the worst thing on the menu but it was absolutely delicious. It was called the Ultimate Combo: onion rings, chips, battered fish, chicken fingers, breaded prawns, breaded scampi, and fried mushrooms. Erica said there was no way is finish it.. I said I could do it all but the chips. I ended up eating everything but the chicken fingers which were too peppery. We then walked back to the castle (another almost 3 miles) so really my dinner was justified by all the walking and hiking. In the castle, our program was in double rooms all on the same floor and everyone was hanging out in the hallways and running from room to room like it was a freshman year dorm. Despite the fact that we have been together living, traveling, eating, taking classes, going out for the past 3 months but it felt like everyone was genuinely bonding for the first time which is both poetic and sad seeing as it was our last night traveling as a group. I ended up taking an extended nap because I was tired from the hike and huge dinner, but luckily Jeff and John came and woke me up to go downstairs and hang out with the rest of the program who was sitting in the castle's common room area. It felt very much like birthright and it was nice because our typically cliques seemed to dissolve for the night and we were all just one big group of friends ignoring the fact that it was the last time we could do something like that.

[thelondontales]

Saturday, April 27th Cohen and I went to the restaurant below our hostel because we got 20% off breakfast. I had a vegetarian English breakfast which consisted of tomato, mushrooms, potatoes, toast, beans, and a poached egg. The program split on half to go on walking tours of York, I went with the more theatrical tour guide even though he wasn't touring the city walls. There were already too many people for the other tour and I didn't particularly have a preference. I'm definitely glad I went on the tour that I did because the guide was a historian who has been in York since the 70's . We saw a cute little church, and owls. We walked through the Shambles and by the Minister. Adam and Matt started dancing in front of the stage where a bunch of musicians were playing for a festival and got applauded by the huge crowd. After the tour we climbed to the top of Clifford's tower. I went with Erica to lunch at this restaurant called Drakes. The food was wonderful but definitely overly portioned; neither of us could finish our meals. I had a smoked salmon and prawn salad and calamari. I then shopped around in the boutiques with Dana. I ended up buying my dress for the end of the semester boat party and it's absolutely perfect! We went to the York rail station where they filmed the scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone where Hagrid gives Harry his train ticket. (See picture above) I then did the York Brewery tour with a bunch of people from the program. I tried the different types of malt and held/smelled hops. We got 2 free half pints so I tried their Decade and Terrier brands. On our way back from the brewery we decided to go on this Ferris wheel that overlooks York. Eric, Dana, Jeff, and I were in one module and Matt, Eston, and Cohen were in another. Dana, Erica, and I had another girls night dinner. I got vegetable pizza and then a warm white chocolate and raspberry cookie with vanilla ice cream drizzled in raspberry sauce... I'm enjoying it now because as soon as I go home I'm going to have to start cutting back on the unhealthy but oh so delicious foods.

[thelondontales]

Friday, April 26th After about four or so hours on the bus and a pit stop at McDonalds, our program went to Haworth where I got to tour the Bronte museum. I walked in the rooms where Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre were written. I learned about the lives of the Bronte sisters and saw where they grew up. I also played dress up with the time period clothing as you can see from the lovely picture above. Our hostel in York is more like a nice flat than anything else. Dana and I are in a double room with two twin beds, a television, and it even has a chandelier. Then there's a toilet, shower, kitchen equipped with tea's, coffee, juices, and more appliances than what Acorn have us. Ava and Meg are in the other room which has 3 sets of bunk beds and a couch. This place should not be called a hostel. For dinner I went with Erica and Dana to this restaurant called All Bar One. I got crab and lobster burger sliders, fresh battered onion ribs, and chocolate mousse. Needless today it was absolutely delicious and with the money our professor gave us from the program budget... I didn't have to pay for lunch OR dinner with my own money. Our program then took a boat cruise through York. It was relaxing but would have been nicer if it hadn't started raining as soon as we got on the boat and only stopped when it docked at the end. I went with Cohen, Matt, Kieran, Jeff, John, Erica, and Dana to a pub called Terrace and hung out for a bit until it closed. It's weird how well we have all grown to know each other in just a few short months because when there's so few people in your classes you all get very close.

[thelondontales]

Wednesday, April 24th

Everyone met bright and early at Paddington train station to head to Windsor Castle for the day.  I was especially excited because I was going to get footage for my Brit Lit Final project which is focused on Thomas Gray's poem about Eton College.

We toured the castle first and I was really glad they had free audio guides because a lot of the information was very interesting.  I loved the Queen's dollhouses which were unbelievably impressive and probably cost more than my whole development combined.  We saw the castle grounds, inside the state apartments, and the cathedral where Henry the eighth was buried.

I had an unbelievably amazing avocado and bacon burger and a strawberry and elderflower fizzy drink at Gourmet Burger Kitchen with Erica for lunch.

The program then took a tour of Eton college.  It is crazy how many famous and influential men went to high school there.  A student that was American but fought in World War II for Britiain was mentioned and I actually went to his gravesite in Israel on my birthright trip.  It was cool to see the boys' carvings in the old desks and walls of the classrooms which make it feel rich with history.

Tonight Cohen and I went to the Young Vic to see a play called "My Perfect Mind."  Dave had recommended that I check out that particular theatre and I was extremely glad he did.  The stage itself was slanted on a diagonal.  There were trick trap doors and actors painting canvas, and the walls, and the floor; just throwing paint everywhere.  I was impressed with how many of the English jokes and references I was able to understand.  At one part one of the actors is reading lines from with the other and he does it like the Wicked Witch of the West so the other actor says that to him and then adds "I think she's been in the news recently" referring to Margaret Thatcher because those who don't like her have been saying "Ding Dong the witch is dead."  They also referenced that it was Shakespeare's birthday yesterday.  Half the time I couldn't tell what was improv and what was part of the production which made it even more hilarious.  

The BEST part though was one actor said that the way they bless the theatre is by- and then he demonstrated by sticking his tongue out, make odd noises and moving his body forward and backward.  He was talking about how there was a replacement actor for the role of King Lear because the other actor had a stroke (all part of the storyline) and so he walks up to Cohen (we're in the front row)...

Actor: What's your name?

Cohen: *quietly* dan..

Actor: What was that?

Cohen: Dan.

Actor: Hi Dan! What theatre did you previously play King Lear at?

Cohen: Um..

Actor: it's okay, He doesn't remember folks, how modest.  Can you come up here with me for a second? *brings Cohen center stage* Where are you from?

Cohen: Boston

Actor: Okay Dan from Boston can you help me in blessing the theater?

*they both stick their tongues out, make odd noises and move their body forward and backward*

The audience gave Cohen a round of applause.  At curtain call that actor winked at Cohen and on our way out of theatre, Cohen got asked by these old ladies if it had been planned and is he was considering a career in theatre.