Homesick.

I think I've finally gotten homesick.

I've been missing London: a lot. Most days I get by just fine; but, then there are times when I feel like there is a gaping, aching hole in my chest. And I don't want to do anything other than lay in bed and look through the pictures and talk to my mates. It is the strangest feeling...I was in London for a mere six weeks; and, as soon as my plane left the runway something didn't feel right.

Don't get me wrong, it's lovely being back in Colorado. I missed my family and friends like crazy while I was away. It's been great reconnecting and reliving my incredible adventures; but, now I feel completely foreign and out of place. I cross the street without looking or pausing, I consume an ungodly amount of tea, I still use British slang, and desperately wish to take the Tube instead of driving (which I have come to despise)...

This may sound like a list of bad things, but it depends on your point of view. For me, it has been the greatest motivation ever. I feel like I belong in London. Although the words are bland from being used endlessly, it is one of the most amazing cities in the world. And even though I don't know how, I am getting back there soon. I've been putting a ton of energy into the monologues I'm going to use this year, I'm going to work my little butt off to save up money to hopefully make it back to London next summer, and the new game plan is to attend a university across the pond to get my master's in acting. Looking towards the future helps make that gaping hole ache less.

So, don't worry friends. I won't be homesick for much longer.

The Temporarily Bed-ridden,

Steffanie

London Update.

I wish I had some cool newsroom-style music to insert after the title. But anyways...

It's been awhile since week two, but hopefully you have been staying updated through pictures. So, if I leave anything out, you can go to Facebook and see it. Week 2 was another adventure-filled week. We did a backstage tour of the Globe, went on a walking tour of the 2012 Olympics, had a party boat cruise on the Thames, saw Doctor Faustus, checked out the original Hard Rock Cafe, went to Harrod's, and on Friday (June 24th) I went to Amsterdam!! Holy hell, what a crazy place. Vegas doesn't even hold a candle to Amsterdam. It feels like the city where everyone goes to flesh out their vices. We drove there through the chunnel, and stayed there all day Saturday. On our way back, on Sunday, we stopped in Bruges, Belgium which was absolutely gorgeous. Which reminds me, if you haven't seen it yet watch the film In Bruges. It's fantastic.

Week 3 was another whirlwind. We went to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Abbey Road and took the classic Beatles picture, and we went to the theatre exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum. One of the highlights of the first three weeks was seeing Kevin Spacey in Richard III. Ahhh, "my kingdom for a horse"!!! It was the BEST piece of theatre I have seen to date. Simply brilliant. I saw it twice, and the second time I was in the second row. He looked RIGHT AT ME as he started the show "Now is the winter of our discontent..." I get chills just thinking about it! We saw Much Ado at the Globe which was also amazing. Eve Best was Beatrice, and she was Geoffrey Rush's wife in The King's Speech. For class, we went and saw the exhibition sight where the original Rose Theatre was. The Rose was the direct competition of the original Globe, and they were literally right across the street form each other. But our last class and final performance was on Thursday. We had so much fun and it turned out pretty well. Everyone left on Saturday and it was really hard saying goodbye. Thank goodness David, Julian, and Tyrone stayed behind or else I would have been a complete mess. I spent Saturday in Crawley again with Jack and had some time to get my mind off of the fact that my little Shakespeare family had left.

This week was nuts. I started my new class, Script Writing. We get a lot of hands on experience and my professor, Murray Woodfield is a playwright, director, and used to be an actor on the West End. So that's really cool. He knows what he's talking about and a lot about the business. Monday was the 4th of July and we partied like right Americans. We started at Trafalgar Square at the George Washington statue, went to Parliament and Big Ben by the Abraham Lincoln statue, went to Piccadilly Circus, and all of the other big spots where obnoxious, intoxicated Americans could show off their patriotism. It was one for the books people. Tuesday night we went and saw Othello at the Rose Theatre. It was a tiny stage, but the exhibition sight was right behind the performers the entire time! It was an awesome experience to say the least. Wednesday night Tyrone and I went and saw Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre. It was fantastic, and all that jazz (sorry, I had to). Thursday was the Harry Potter premiere. SHEER MADNESS. But we snuck in for a little bit so I can formally say I was there. :) Then we went and saw Hamlet at the Globe. Friday morning Julian and Tyrone left so now it is David and myself left. I saw Betrayal Friday night and met Kristin Scott Thomas! And this weekend I've been catching up on some much needed sleep and doing homework.

Another London Update to come soon :) Plus, it will include my upcoming weekend in Paris!!

Cheers,

Steffanie

Friends.

Aren't relationships an interesting thing? Whether we want them or not, relationships have a way of sneaking up on us. Going into my study abroad experience, I knew I was going to make a couple of friends to have some good times with; but, I never expected what I got. As cliched as it sounds, it was a life-changing three weeks. During the first half of my amazing trip to London I have made some of the best friends I could have possibly imagined.

We were discussing this last night, and it's so unreal that a friendship so strong could develop in such a short amount of time. It just adds to the meaning of our incredible experience. If standing on the Globe stage, working with incredible mentors, meeting some amazing actors, and being in London wasn't enough, I was lucky enough to meet 10 amazing people. They are all talented, funny, happy, and compassionate people. Thank you so much for filling my life with such joy and incredible memories. Our last night was truly a send off in the usual fashion. Some drinks, good music, good pasta, and dancing of course. Saying goodbye this morning was really hard, but I know that we will stay close and see each other again sometime.

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow."