Penny for a Smile

Camden Market is incredibly cool and much more enjoyable than Portobello. Camden is on a canal with bridges crossing over and adorable canal boats chugging up and down the lock. The Market is much more spread out than Portobello so the crowds, though numerous, did not seem as bad. I was also glad that I didn't buy anything at Portobello because they had some of the same stuff at Camden so now I know I can be picky about prices. There was so much stuff that I just wanted to snatch up right away but I restrained myself and after seeing a lot of the market, I have a pretty good idea about what I truly want more than others. Like Portobello, there were food stalls as well selling the most delicious smelling ethnic foods.

There was an odd incident where a man came up to me and said "Penny for a smile". He had a British penny in his hand and I just kind of stared at him. So I gave him a smile and he gave me the penny. And that was that. It was really strange and I couldn't really see why he did it unless he really had the desire to see my serial killer, I'm-massively-uncomfortable-right-now smile. If so, well then I guess he got what he wanted.

We also found some of the most hilarious birthday cards. Just some of the colorfully humored cards were "Fancy a tit wank", "You're a huge fucking rug muncher", and "Fuck me senseless". We were bursting out laughing at how blunt and funny these cards were. Plus the sign that said "Blow me and watch me wiggle" next to the pistachio shell collectibles. College has obviously made us very mature adults. I also enjoyed the T-shirt that said "Swine flu: bacon's revenge" but the stall man got mad at me when I took a picture of it and made me delete it so sadly no photo for the blog.

Some girls and I went out to a local pub for dinner to just chill the night before most of them were to start their internships. My boss still hasn't contacted my internship coordinator or myself about when I am working so I am assuming I will not have work tomorrow. The situation is kind of nerve racking for me so I really just want to hear some word soon. Back to the pub, I ordered a hot sandwich called Cheddar Cheese on Toast which I assumed was like a grilled cheese. I got two slices of toast with cheese on them, so not really a sandwich, still delicious, but kind of odd.

I am also definitely for sure now going to Paris in two weeks with five other people from the program. We have one triple bedroom for the girls and one triple bedroom for the guys and we're taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Hours tonight were spent trying to find the cheapest transportation and then the cheapest accommodations and then we accidentally booked two female triple rooms so we had to cancel that and do another one and it was chaotic and stressful. However, we have emerged with what seem to be cheap but decent lodgings for two nights. We have to leave Palace Court at like 4 in the morning to get to the train station in time but I figure I will just sleep on the train and go to bed at 8 the night before. I sleep much more easily and earlier here in London. I am really excited to plan what we're going to do and just to get back to Paris after 8 years and see it with fresh, much less bratty eyes.

Stories from a Pub Crawl

So I just had one of the most surreal moments of my life. There I was sitting there in the middle of The Champion with Lacey trying to sign with two gay deaf men, one of which was from Dubai, Jessie was screaming about Miami to some dudes from North England, and Brittany was trying to make out with a guy, any guy, because she was just that drunk. Wow. Pubs in London are incredibly happening places. I just sat there in the middle of the chaos and laughed. That is what life in London is like, especially for an American. We are regarded with so much interest, not as much as China, but we're still fairly popular. This was only my second night out, but I look forward to many more.

Today was a pretty chill day. We set off with Philip for Portobello Road Market, passing some of the coolest vintage shops I have ever seen and some of the prettiest brightly painted houses. Portobello is a huge chaotic mess. We walked up the street for 1.5 hours and we still didn't reach the end. There are antique booths selling rings and clock necklaces, produce booths selling the reddest strawberries you have ever seen, and every sort of delicious smelling food known to man. It is incredibly overwhelming and crowded, which I, no big shock here, was not a fan of. I didn't buy anything, feeling that it would be like the Silk Market in that you should go once to see how it works and then come back a different day to do the actual purchasing. I heard so many languages while I was there, but that is just a general feature of London: rampant multiculturalism. There were street performers playing Jamaican drums, a dude in a yellow clown wig lip syncing to Journey, and an old man walking around with his dog on his shoulder. It was utter insanity.

The afternoon was spent trying to figure out when everything I wanted to see was open and how much it cost so that I could better plan for future days. A majority of us then had a picnic in Kensington Gardens for dinner. Strange note about London: you can be approached by a salesperson anywhere. Anywhere. Some guys pitched Victoria Jackson cosmetics to us (The lipstick is also a nail polish!) in the park and the night before we had been approached about massages and giving to the poor while at The Champion. It usually makes for a pretty bizarre experience. It was really lovely in the park with what seemed like the whole population of London out on the warm, sunny day.

After dinner we started the previously described pub crawl. The Phoenix came first, which was quiet so not best suited to a large group of American college girls, so we moved on to the Prince Alfred and spent a few hours there. I got yet another cider, Blackthorn, which was delicious and large and cheap (cheap being relative in London of course). We then had an interesting episode with Clare. She ordered a vodka cranberry and the bartender asked if she wanted a single or a double. She asked for the difference in price and he said nothing since she was a pretty girl and he was a bartender. So she orders the double...and then he charges her double. He later came to our table with a free Snakebite which he said all the American girls love but which none of us liked, so it was a rather pathetic attempt at sorry. Men are confusing even over here in England. Speaking of men, Lindsay's friend from home who is also studying in London came to meet us so we got some male company for once. It was really nice to just sit and talk with a smaller group of people, sharing guy stories and the like. The Champion came last of the night and after that experience, I felt it best to retire. What a way to end an evening.

Third Time's a Charm

It finally happened. I finally got to go inside Westminster Abbey. I failed 7 years ago and I failed yesterday but today, today I succeeded. Man was it worth the wait. I also think I know why I was meant to go in alone: I spent 2.5 hours there. While I was off being a history geek, anyone with me would have been like "OMG CATY COME ON!" At it was, I was able to utilize my audio tour guide (narrated by Jeremy Irons) and take my sweet time.

I got to the Abbey at 10, so only half an hour after it opened. It was amazing first stepping into the Abbey and there being virtually no people in it. The enormous vaulted ceiling, the gorgeous stained glass windows, the numerous marble monuments, and best of all the High Altar where every monarch since 1066 has been crowned; all virtually to myself. OK, I will admit it, I cried a little bit. I'm sorry but it was just so amazing to be in a place that has been around in one form or another since the 1050s, so much time, so many stories, so much history. I couldn't believe that every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned in the same spot (well minus Edward V because Richard III killed him and buried him and his little brother under some stairs in the Tower and Edward VIII because he decided to marry Wallis Simpson for some inexplicable reason).

Another huge nerdy confession here: I took notes. Yes, I carried around my journal and paused the audio tour and wrote down what he had said. I had no choice, you aren't allowed to take pictures, so how else was I going to remember what I had seen? Some guy with an accent (Italian? Spanish?) laughed at me for taking notes in one of the chapels. Whatever, I wanted to remember the large black and gold fireplace-esque memorial was to Lord Hunsdon, one of QE1's favorites, and is the largest in the Abbey at 36 feet.

So Westminster Abbey is covered with memorials and tombs. I don't know how they find room for new ones. Every bit of wall and floor is inscribed with a memorial to somebody, extolling how awesome they were. In some cases, the people were only children when they died, yet their relatives were rich or important enough to get them a spot in Westminster Abbey. Personally, I feel you should have achieved more in your life than living to the age of 6 and then croaking to get a tomb in the Abbey, but maybe that is just me. Some of them are really quite interesting. Lady Nightingale's portrays her husband trying to fight off the skeletal form of death that has come for her. Romantic, if a bit macabre and strange. Lord Norris, another QE1 favorite, has his six sons kneeling around his and Lady Norris's effigies and since only one of his sons outlived him, he is the only one shown looking up towards the sky. Really, most of the people in the Abbey get more elaborate memorials than royalty. Some monarchs, such as Edward VI, Mary II, and Anne have nothing more than a slab on the floor with their name and the year to mark they're buried there. I actually missed them the first time around because who would think to look at the floor really?

Poet's Corner wasn't all that exciting. I mean come on, Jane Austen and the Brontes only got inscriptions? No busts or anything like the other dudes? So not cool. Scientist's Corner I also found interesting. There is this huge memorial to Darwin, yet isn't he supposed to be the blasphemous enemy of all that is Christian? You would think the guy who came up with the theory of evolution wouldn't be celebrated in one of Christianity's greatest churches.

I could go on (I took notes remember?) but I will bore you all no further. After returning from the Abbey around 1, I ran into a large group of girls waiting for some others to go out and just walk around. I decided to go with since I had been headed for Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park anyways and that is where they were going first. All of us then proceeded to walk the entire length of Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace to Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square to Chinatown. Basically, we walked A LOT. It was a gorgeous day out though, so it was very pleasant. Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park is incredible and definitely worth more exploring. The best part is that it is a 5 minute walk from Palace Court so any old day you can decide to pick up and go there. I still years ago. We also came across an open-air market in Piccadilly. I was shocked when I was able to browse through the stalls without anyone grabbing me or calling me "Pretty lady". It was slightly unnerving I must say. Also there is now a Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Piccadilly Circus. I love a Ripley's as much as the next person but they should be reserved for cheap, tacky, trashy places like Myrtle Beach and the Wisconsin Dells, not London.

All in all, it was a great day. I was glad to finally be getting out and doing things whereas the past few days have been more have to do this, have to do that. Tomorrow our graduate resident Philip is leading us to Portobello Road Market which I am incredibly psyched about. Haven't decided what to do with the rest of my day from there but that will at least cover my morning. So cheerio from bright and shiny (no one is shocked more than I) London.

BAC in London

Interview day. Shudder, twitch, shudder. Even 12 hours of sleep couldn't prepare me and I set off two hours early because I was sure I would get lost. Miraculously, I didn't. I got on the right bus from the Tube station and got off right in front of the BAC. I was an hour early so I sat on a comfy couch and read Sense and Sensibility until Luke arrived. He was still a few minutes late so I was told to go and wait for him in the cafe. The BAC has their own cafe where besides coffee and tea they serve food as well. I just continued to read.

Luke arrived and asked me if I had my CV...I didn't because no one told me to bring it and he already had it from Arcadia. I thought great, what a first impression to make, no CV at my interview. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind so much. He asked me a series of questions about what I had done before, what my favorite show was, why I was in the theater, etc. It was all pretty informal and nice; he seems like a nice guy. I must have said the right things because he took me on a tour of the building.

Dear god, the BAC is effing huge. He kept leading me down passageways, up and down stairs, through doors, with no discernible direction. He didn't even show me the whole place because that would have taken about two hours he said. There is no one theater space, in fact, every room is considered a space. Then there is the Grand Hall which has the biggest organ I have ever seen. Phantom eat your heart out. He says they do all kinds of things in there from shows to weddings to Caribbean funerals which are like weddings to banquets and conferences. It's all very alternative and different, not like anything I have really ever worked with before. Except that he wants me to work with the BAC's youth program, which is very familiar territory. At least, that might be what I am doing. He said he doesn't know exactly when I will be working because he hasn't decided where to use me yet. Oh and I can wear whatever clothes I don't mind getting a bit dirty a.k.a. I don't need any formal work clothes or shoes. Good thing Mom and I went to Goodwill and didn't spend that much money. I am of course thrilled at this development as we all know I am most comfortable in jeans and Chucks anyway.

To make sure the universe didn't turn inside out from me flouting God's law, I got lost on the way home. I got on the wrong bus and when I realized it, it was too late to do anything but take a kind of roundabout way back, thus ensuring it took me a lot longer to get home then to get there. The bus system is not so second nature to me as the Tube but I have it figured out for next time. No worries. I was able to get to Leicester Square to get a half-price tkts ticket for Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre, more on that to come.

I chilled out, took a nap, and ate a dinner of a turkey sandwich and Walkers potato crisps. My whole scrimp-on-food plan to save money is working but my stomach is NOT happy with me. Right before writing this I was so hungry that I was forced to snack on dry Frosted Flakes (Frosties in the UK). I haven't eaten lunch since I got here and all other meals have been pretty small as well. I am so splurging this weekend on some yummy, fatty, calorie filled meat pie or something at a pub.

While everyone else set off for Wicked (shudder, twitch, shudder, twitch), I went to see Blood Brothers. I also was able to find this with minimal time spent lost, in fact I had to hang out at a nearby book shop because I got there with too much time to spare. I forgot some very important things about London theatre: you have to pay for the programs and binoculars are available for rent for 1.5 pounds. I had an odd assortment of coinage on me so I was unable to purchase either.

The show though was AH-MAZE-ING. The lead actress was just about one of the most talented women I have ever come across. Most of the actors had to spend the first act being 7 years old which they did well with. The only real down side was the accents made it hard to understand sometimes and the sound was highly electronically altered, which was effective sometimes and distracting at others. Overall, it was really moving though and I did NOT cry at the end. I gave a standing ovation, which I never give lightly, as did the rest of the theater. The cast had to come back for four encores before we all left.

Amusing story time now. There was this loud Southern woman two rows ahead of me with two underdressed Biff and Boff sons who were listening to their IPods when they walked in and had pants too far down their asses. She, remember loudly and Southern, asked the Brits in the row in front of me how to get back to Gloucester Road station. They were not from London so they didn't know, but this lady just kept talking anyway so finally I got up and showed her the best route to take. She, Biff, and Boff had walked from a station far away when there was one right up the street. I told her this and she just seemed stunned. I drew on her Tube map how she was to get back to Gloucester and gave directions to the nearby Tube station as well. She was very grateful and the Brits in front of me seemed stunned that an American was able to help where they were not. I was just glad the lady would shut up and I didn't have to look at Biff and Boff's indifferent stares anymore.

It was a highly stressful day but my evening at Blood Brothers was thoroughly enjoyable. I am already starting to stress about a topic for my academic project (you know, just the 5,000 word paper I have to write) and if I am going to be able to do well at my internship. It's been harder than I though being here but I just have to wait to settle in, find my footing, and hopefully all will be well soon.

I'm Pretentious

It's happened. I have become my own pet peeve and it is all Beijing's fault. Some people today were complaining about how crowded the Tube was, how much walking we had to do, and how janky our accommodations are. None of these things phase me anymore after China and I found myself saying so every time someone said anything. Thus, I became the pretentious bitch who tries to one up everyone and looks down on others for not being like her. I recognize this. However, I still want to slap anyone who complains in front of me. They have no idea, just no idea. The Tube was not anywhere near Beijing subway levels of crowded; in fact I found myself plotting in my head how to fit more people onto the train. At one station today, we let two trains go by that we definitely could have gotten on if only everyone had Beijing skills. When we had to push into the third car, I was the first person in while everyone else tried to be polite. Living in college town Indiana, I didn't realize how invaluable my time in China was in helping me to adapt and survive, but it has definitely come in handy here. I really must quit talking about it though or no one will ever want to talk to me.

Today was another administrative day. We left here at about 7:45 in the pouring rain to venture to City University to meet our internship coordinators and learn about the class we will be taking at City. The Circle line was closed due to someone throwing themself under a train so we had to take a more roundabout route. Apparently, the Tube has all kinds of delays and such nowadays, which I don't remember happening last time. City is several tube stops and one line change from Palace Court. The trains and stations didn't seem to be air conditioned like I remembered them being as I was exceedingly hot despite it being rainy and cool above ground. I got to hear "Change here for the Piccadilly line" which made me happy despite it not having the same inflection it did 7 years ago.

Our intrepid graduate resident Philip got lost leading us and we were late. It wasn't a terribly big deal but my still jet-lagged body and sore calves were not fans of the extra walking. We got more packets of copious amounts of papers to sign and read and know, which was overwhelming. We also met with our project supervisor, Mo, to talk about the academic project that is the major component of our academics besides the class. This is a roughly 20 page paper or project of similar magnitude. We have to have an idea by June 10th and I have to say that I am completely at a loss for what to do. Hopefully my internship will spark some creativity in me otherwise I am going to be in very big trouble.

That meeting was over with at about 10:45 but I was assigned to the last group of internship coordinator meetings at 12:30. I went with a group to get our City University IDs and I am happy to say mine is not truly terrible, nowhere near my Olympic pass photo. Sign-ups for the Arcadia side trips were also today. I noticed I was only about the third person to sign up for the Wales weekend but as long as they don't cancel the trip, I don't really care. I am pumped to be coasteering and sea kayaking on my birthday this year. The last hour before the meeting was spent sitting in Costa Coffee talking with some girls from my housing and some from Redcliffe Gardens in Chelsea.

David, my internship coordinator, informed me at our meeting that Battersea just had a really excellent intern also named Caitlin, so I now have to try and be the as good or better Caitlin. My interview is tomorrow at 11 am with Luke the production manager. It sounded like I will be doing a lot of practical tech work, though alas they have no costuming department. I have to take the Tube and then a bus to reach it, but it is still within District 2, so not nearly as far as some others. David also informed me of a previous intern who got to work Hairspray on the West End because he used to have a contact in the show who is no longer with it. Why he felt the need to tell me this I don't know. He also didn't believe my field work request when I said I would work in any area of the theater, but I assured him that was true. There is no diva here.

After the meeting, I led a Palace Court group back. I know, Caty Natt, daughter of Jane "They moved Winston-Salem" Natt, actually remembered how to get somewhere. It was pretty astounding but then I had been paying a lot of attention due to my love of London and its buildings. I went to Queensway, the nearby shop road, to buy a cheapy cheapster mobile phone and to get groceries. Most importantly I bought four bags of Walkers Cheese and Onion potato crisps and nearly cried with happiness. Now I am preparing to go to bed and sleep 12 hours before getting up to go to my interview in the morning and to buy TKTS at Leicester Square so I have something better to see tonight than the poor souls using the free Wicked tickets we were given yesterday. I really want to stop being jet-lagged so I can actually start to enjoy myself more. Cheerio as they say here.

Am I There Yet?

I sit here and the whole feeling I can muster is dazed. I am here in London but I have yet to feel like I am. Then again, I don't really feel anything except for the overwhelming desire to sleep and various aches and pains resulting from travel and very large suitcases. I must stay awake so that I fall asleep tonight but it is exceedingly difficult, especially as everyone else in the building, including my roommate, seems to be slumbering. I will try and clear my foggy brain to relay my story.

Well, I left on the 8 am train for Chicago yesterday. The ride was uneventful; I drank my last two Diet Dr Peppers and played the Sims 2 for the entire time. After another heinous battle with my luggage, I found Aunt Lori Sue, Iz, and Em with no trouble. We proceeded to have a wonderful afternoon dining at Giordano's, recalling past memories, and catching each other up on the latest gossip of our lives. I always have a great time with those girls and it was much better than sitting in the airport all day.

All of us on Arcadia's program basically made up the entirety of the airplane and we most definitely dominated the gate area. I, of course, had a difficult time talking to anyone but I haven't been a complete recluse. Not that it mattered because once we got on the plane I was seated next to old Indian lady whose sari scratched my skin on several occasions and who spilt apple juice on my pants. Better than vomit leaking from an air sick bag, but still not pleasant.

Ok, have any of you ever ridden Virgin Atlantic before? BECAUSE IT ROCKS! They have video games, several different TV and movie channels that play continuously through the flight, and food that is actually edible. It was actually not excruciatingly boring to be on an airplane and I enjoyed myself thoroughly playing Inflight Trivia Tournament and watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Of course, after the 13.5 hour United flight to Beijing, all other flights are a cakewalk, but this was really a superb flying experience.

We landed at Heathrow an hour ahead of time and were forced to wait in a hideously long line at Customs that I swear did not have air conditioning. Then the baggage carousel broke down, causing delay, and after almost having a coronary that my bag had been lost, I found both of them to my joy. We then found our Arcadia staffers and waited for our buses to arrive to take us to our housing.

I have to say I was slightly frightened when I stepped outside and the sky was gray. Terrible flashbacks to Beijing. They were only clouds here, not smog, and there is definitely blue sky out my window right now, thank the lord. I, naturally, managed to rip my right big toe's nail off as I got on the bus, and thus bled through our drive.

I live in room 12. The very top floor. Up five flights of stairs. With no air conditioning. Getting the bags up and unpacking was, as you can imagine, a great joy. I will be skinny as hell with toned legs after 8 weeks of climbing up and down the stairs every day. I only have one roommate, Lacey, which is unusual for Palace Court and my window looks out onto the backs of houses. My favorite part is the spikes on the roof right outside my open window to kill any birds who try and land there. The day when I look out the window and see impaled pigeon is going to be a savory one. The room is quite large and has its own sink. However, we must go down one flight of stairs for the nearest toilet and another half flight for the nearest shower.

I bathed after unpacking and it was comedy at the levels of Lucille Ball. The shower is very small, so that you have to strategize about which part of your body will be wet when because it is impossible to get completely out of the water. It has a rain shower head so there is no moving it out of your way. Shaving your legs is only possible if you are fine with most of your shaving cream washing away before you get a chance and if you can stand like a flamingo and not die. The water temperature is also tepid at best no matter how far you turn the handle towards hot.

All in all, the accommodations are much as I expected and I am happy. I have a mattress and the shower and toilet are separate so it is already much improved from China. We are all laying low until 4 when we have an arrival meeting, followed by dinner, followed by a tour of the neighborhood. I would go out and do some shopping as I need sheets and groceries but I haven't gotten to a currency exchange yet plus I am really and truly exhausted.

I am so tired that everything has this surreal quality to it. My brain cannot function enough to process that I am really here and these are the people I am going to be living with and this is going to be my life for the next two months. It just feels like some kind of dream or limbo. An 8 o'clock bedtime tonight will fix me up nice and allow me to truly soak everything in and give me the necessary energy to go out and do something notable. An hour of airplane sleep and an hour's nap just won't do. Tomorrow, tomorrow...

Before I Go

Well, I have to be on a train to Chicago in roughly 9 hours, en route to London, England to spend the next two months of my life there. This is my second time being in London but the last time was 7 years ago and I had my parents and sister with me. Now, I am going all alone. I know no one on the trip, no friends, no family, international travel, life in a foreign country, and my first real world theater work experience. This is a little daunting especially for someone as shy and passive as myself. I am really, really excited but also slightly terrified and anxious. I feel this is entirely appropriate but I'm still biting the inside of my lips raw.

I have decided to commit to this blog a few summer goals, some of which have to do with my trip and others that don't. This will either motivate me to accomplish them or be an embarrassing show of my failure. I hope the former rather than the latter.

1. Stop biting the inside of my lip
2. Beat my dependency on daily diet soda
3. Make friends despite my socially fearful nature
4. Go for a jog/walk in Hyde Park every day that I am not touring
5. Take full advantage of my 18 days working at Battersea Arts Centre
6. Try new foods that I ordinarily wouldn't, especially British Isles specialties
7. Acquire a working knowledge of British slang much like Australian last summer
8. Go to Paris, Dublin, Cornwall, and Chawton
9. Keep a private journal in addition to this blog
10. Have the time of my life

10 seems like a nice number doesn't it? Well I have dreamed of studying abroad in London basically since I left 7 years ago and now my dream is coming true. Only Hannah knows how it will all go from here. I'll be writing next time from London, cheerio till then mates.