First Week of Classes

I am slowly becoming acclimated to London. I have learned to walk on the left side of the sidewalk, because British people apparently mimic their cars. Details like this constantly remind me that I am in a foreign country. Also, a few nights ago I saw a bicycle rave ride past my window for about five minutes. All the bicycles had neon, flashing lights attached to them and one rider had speakers attached to his bike pumping loud club music. There were some skateboarders and rollerbladers, too. I have no idea if this is a uniquely British tradition or if it started in another country, but either way I am happy to have witnessed such a thrilling, if slightly silly, sight. Another odd thing I noticed is the college nearby my dorm. I walked past it for the past week without noticing its name. Take a look at the picture below:

Leanne in front of our (prideful or humble?) neighbor.

My classes are wonderful. It is abundantly clear that all of my professors are qualified and excited to be teaching their subjects. My Studies in Shakespeare teacher has an extreme wealth of knowledge on the subject and I cannot wait to learn from her. My RADA classes are as informative as they are enjoyable. I am taking Clowning, Armed Stage Combat, Singing, Dancing, Sonnets, Monologues, and Physical Performance. All these classes will prepare me for a performance of "Shakespeare's Arts" in four weeks' time. I am already being immersed in Shakespeare's world, as all my classes pertain to the arts and skills that he and his peers knew. Finally, my Theatre in London teacher was actually Vice Principle of RADA for a decade! 

Speaking of Theatre in London, my class saw its first performance this past Wednesday. We went to see She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre. Half the treat was the walk there. Leanne and I saw most of the Theatre Section (London's Broadway) on our way, with the flashy facades and bright lights. The walk across Waterloo Bridge was beautiful, if not a little windy. We had a lovely view of the London Eye and Parliament all lit up. When we reached the theatre, we were glad for its warmth. She Stoops to Conquer was a light-hearted comedy about a woman of high-class who pretends to be a lowly barmaid in order to win the heart of a man who is scared to talk with well-bred women. The lead actress is none other than Katherine Kelly, a RADA graduate! It was a fun night out at the theatre.

Katherine Kelly and Cush Jumbo in She Stoops to Conquer, a delightful farce by Oliver Goldsmith.

At RADA, Thursday after class we had a fun surprise: a tour of the RADA theaters and technical space. We were shown all three theaters that RADA has to offer, as well as the space where the technical track students work. The resources these students are given are impressive: huge rooms to work on scenery, costumes, and props. I can't wait to see one of the RADA productions (that we are allowed to see for free!) and admire the students' handiwork. We were also allowed to try out the suspended tight-wire floor that the techies use to hang lights. This floor, made up of many flexible, yet strong wires strung across the ceiling, can hold up to seven people at once, and is unbelievably scary. I only went on it for about ten seconds, and only about a foot away from the safety of the landing. Other students were a bit more adventurous:

I'm glad my mother couldn't see me here!
(Photo Credit: Stacy Shirk, fellow RADA student)

After I faced my fears on the dangerous lighting rig, I was more than happy to go back to my dormitory with a few friends and watch An Idiot Abroad, a British TV show hosted by Ricky Gervais, about a simple-minded man named Karl Pilkington who is sent to the Seven Wonders of the World to give his unique perspective on these historic landmarks. We all had a good time laughing, and unwinding from our busy day.

Saturday night I was able to go to Sadler's Wells to see a ballet: Ivan Putrov's Men in Motion. We were made aware of the tickets by RADA and they were free courtesy of the Tisch London program and its director, Mary Jane Watson's, generosity. We American students in London are so fortunate that NYU and RADA work together to help students see as much free/inexpensive art as possible. It feeds my soul and broadens my mind. The ballet was gorgeous. It celebrated men's bodies and the expressive abilities they have. Some pieces were beautifully choreographed and the stage elements were also very impressive: a spotlight on a dancer so that his shadow danced with him; lights that made the floor look water and smoke at the same time, seemingly disrupted by the dancer's movements. It was an incredible experience and a wonder to behold.

It is Sunday night and I am well-rested and ready for another week of classes. My friends and I are loving every minute of our time in London and cannot wait to see more of what this city has to offer. When I post next Sunday, I will be able to tell you about Traveling Light at the National Theatre, London's most famous club, Fabric, playing football with the Brits, my visit to Oxford, and my experience watching the Superbowl in England, which are all coming up for me this week. For now, I will leave you with a picture of my friends and me at Buckingham Palace.

Katie, Me, Emily, Adriana, and Stacy outside of Buckingham Palace.

Arriving in London

I've been in London for five days and I think I've gotten over my jet lag and settled in nicely. The staff here has done a wonderful job making the transition easy and fun. Whether it's free meals, seminars about safety and travel in the area, or a panoramic bus tour to show us all the area has to offer, NYU in London has helped us seamlessly integrate to our new surroundings.

Speaking of new surroundings, my dorm room is absolutely beautiful. My roommate Leanne and I live in a double with two other suite mates. We all share a bathroom and a beautiful kitchen. Here are some pictures of our room.

Our kitchen: Fully equipped with appliances and dinnerware!

Our bedroom: Huge, right? We each have a wardrobe, a desk, and a bed.

Wednesday was mostly a moving in day. The only event they had was a walking tour of the area, which Leanne and I decided to take advantage of. We learned where there was a tube station, a supermarket, and a small shopping area that included a cinema. Later that evening, my dorm (Byron Court) had a pizza/movie night. It was a great opportunity to meet other people in my dorm. I made some new friends and we all watched Love Actually in the TV room.

Thursday and Friday were a mix of orientations and social events. We learned all about our programs, our housing, and the area. Thursday night there was a Pub Quiz at the University of London Union (ULU), a place where all students studying in London can come to relax, eat, and take part in clubs/societies. The Pub Quiz focused on UK trivia and so the best score was far from perfect. However, we all had fun guessing and learning more about the country we'll be living in for the next four months.

ULU is directly across from the theatre entrance of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), the studio in which I'll be studying acting this term. My friends and I couldn't help taking pictures by the front door. Here is one of me.

Friday and Saturday night my friends and I decided to explore the local night life. Friday night we went out to a gay club called Heaven. We all had a great time. There were two floors: the first one featured music from the 70's, 80's, and 90's and the second one featured more contemporary music. On both floors there were laser shows and platforms in the middle of the floor that we climbed upon and danced overlooking the whole dance floor. It was wonderful to take part in the London nightlife community. We met many Londoners and all were friendly and interested to learn about where we were from and what brought us to London.

Saturday night we went to a pub called The Big Chill House that had a large dance floor and a DJ who played contemporary dance music. We had a great time dancing and celebrating the last weekend before school starts on Monday. I felt so blessed to have made such great friends so quickly.

Today we went on a panoramic bus tour of London. We drove all over the city, feasting our eyes on all the impressive landmarks the city has to offer. Our very patriotic tour guide loved boasting about the beautiful buildings and impressive history that London enjoys. Seeing all the wonderful sights, I grew impatient to start exploring this gorgeous city. I am struck by how old the city's buildings are, how rich the city's history is, how deep its roots grow. I cannot wait to discover all it has to offer.

I will leave you with some pictures taken on the panoramic bus tour. Unfortunately, I left my camera's USB cable at home, so these pictures have been graciously donated by my roommate Leanne, who helped me out while I'm waiting for the cable to ship. Enjoy!

Buckingham Palace

Tower Bridge

Westminster Abbey

A beautiful view of Parliament backlit by the sunset.