Everyone told me so- this semester has gone by way too fast.
I leave London this upcoming Sunday. Tomorrow is Friday. I haven't actually processed that information normally into my head yet. It's not real. I'm not leaving. Even with my family here in London with me now and The Revenger's Tragedy opening tomorrow (for our only performance), there's no way I can be leaving. There's no way tomorrow is the last day I'll see all my incredible friends here. It's not real.
I can't think of leaving everyone without tearing up. I still haven't actually processed that I walked to BADA today for the last time- I've been making that walk at least once a day every single weekday that I've been here. The Landward is home. I'm confounded by the suitcases in my room and my inability to go to Waitrose to get more food, since I won't have time to cook it. I can't believe we open tomorrow either...
As this semester is wrapping up, I wish I could say there was more dynamic in it for you all to read about. Honestly, there has been huge mountains and valleys while I've been here, but they've all been personal or artistic (or both). I've learned more about myself than I thought possible and I hope I've become a better actor, because I sure feel like I have. I've found my favorite city and country in the world, and renewed my passion for my craft and what it is I want to do. I've also learned how susceptible I am to a cup of tea and a few too many biscuits to go with it.
So, I write this blog post, one of the last ones for now, with a feeling of dread. Later, I will fill the page with sentimentality and tears and memories, but for now, I need to share my reluctance and discontent and denial of reality that I'm feeling. It's a time when I feel I should be asked how the semester has been, and if I'm excited to go home, and what I miss about home, or what I'll miss about here. Well, the best I've ever had, a huge resounding no, family and friends sometimes, and everything, respectively.
So, before I go back to appreciating all the good things I have and my wonderful life in the USA, here's just a few reasons why I love London:
1. BADA. I love studying here- the staff, my incredible castmates and friends, the teachers, the beautiful walk there and back every morning and night, the Canteen, even the rehearsal room in the basement (Oh, Beckett...)
2. The Underground. It's convenient, easy, and goes everywhere. I would rather spend an hour on the Tube than 20 minutes driving in Los Angeles.
3. The food. Crumpets? Chips? Biscuits? Tea? Yes.
4. The weather. I told people at the top of the semester that I looked forward to London weather, and that I hate LA weather. Both of those things were true, and are still true. I love having seasons and walking through Regent's park as leaves are falling. I also love it in the rain, when I can walk down the sidewalk with my umbrella, avoiding puddles and playing a game of "who raises the umbrella out of courtesy" on a crowded sidewalk just outside the Tube station.
5. Afternoon tea everywhere. I never feel well after going to tea but oh my gosh is it so worth it. Those scones... and clotted cream... I've even started to like jam since being here!
6. The History. Nothing is old unless it's pre-Renaissance here. When you remember to look up and see the gorgeous old buildings sitting on top of the modern shops, it's a reward every time. There is so much that happened here, and all of it is rich and fascinating.
7. Free Museums. Enough said.
8. Cheap, frequent, theatre EVERYWHERE. I've never seen so many shows in such a short period of time!!! My total count is 20 shows: Measure for Measure, The Beaux Strategem, Miss Saigon, Three Days in the Country, Henry V, *Richard II, *The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, The Importance of Being Earnest, *Gypsy, Medea, *Hamlet, *The Orestia, A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes, La Boheme (an opera but it counts), *Matilda the Musical, In Arabia We'd All be Kings, As You Like It, *Les Miserables, Under Milk Wood, and the Sea Voyage. WOAH. PS: My favorites have an asterisk*
9. The People. People here are stoic, yes, but they're also beautiful and efficient and I could listen to them speak all day, all the time, always. And they only suppress emotions in public. If you manage to chat one up you can make a really great friend.
10. British slang: have a think, knackered, chat up, rubbish, chuffed, bloke, jolly good, cheers.
11. How much there is to do. I could be here for ages and never get bored. It's impossible to do and see everything, and if it is, then I don't know how but I've tried.
12. The simple beauty of the city and the skyline that words can't express.
13. There's still a shell of a monarchy and I think that's lovely.
14. It's so close to the rest of Europe. Travel is beyond easy.
15. It's not just for theatre! They film Sherlock and Game of Thrones and Doctor Who in the UK, you know!
16. Pubs. I don't even drink, I just like the atmosphere.
17. London has allowed me to love trains. I've never liked trains, but now, I'm pretty ok with them.
18. There's a river running straight through the city, and it's gorgeous.
19. The Parks- Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Green Park, and everything about them
20. Every day is an adventure, without me needing to try hard to make it one.
I'd better leave it at that. I have a 9:30 call tomorrow for my longest, and last day of the semester, and it's late.
Rest assured that just because I don't miss the States, I still think of and miss the people in it that I love. See you all much, much too soon.
Fight on, friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment