My life should be a musical!

On Monday, I returned from Paris by 11am! I unpacked, tidied up my area of the room and then headed to get food before class. Since the weather was fantastically wonderfully sunny and hot, my flatmates and I went to class in skirts, dresses and capris! We had to take a picture for proof... this never happens!! This week's class is our second to last class, but for me it is my last class. I have maybe refered to this before, but I have been informed that I did not properly explain it. Let me go on a tangent and explain!

    When I began my second internship at the beginning of July, I was informed that the organisation I would be working with has a summer music camp in Bangor, Wales during the last week of my internship (July 31 to August 2). My placement agency said that they would work to find something else for me to do during my last week. I decided to ask my new supervisors about attending the camp and participating in any form they needed as the intern. This opportunity quickly became a success, and I will be going to Wales next week Monday until Saturday (longer than needed, but I was told it would be the best experience). Our founder was able to locate a trombone for me to use while at the camp! So when I am not working as an intern in various capacities, I will be able to participate in two ensembles on trombone (because of course they need another)! This fact also makes this week, my last week in London. Next week I'll be in Wales, and then I will return to London in the afternoon of August 4, I plan on packing/repacking and going out to celebrate with the others in my group leaving the next day!!  It's a crazy, busy life to lead, but I am loving every second of it!!

After the lecture portion of class on Monday, a couple of us headed to the British Museum to see the William Shakespeare Exhibit! There were all sorts of recovered bits and pieces from the theatres on display, tapestries and costumes, manuscripts and important documents. There were small interactive parts of the exhibits where you could listen to or watch a scene or monologue previously recorded by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The intensity was just breathtaking. There was so much information, one of my favorite parts were the quotes from various shows all over the exhibit. The entire presentation of the information was absolutely wonderful.

Before we were to leave the museum, my friends and I made sure to go through a couple of the gift shops. I have had my eye on a particular item since the first time I toured the museum during one of the first weeks of this trip. I knew I needed to go and get it before leaving. This item is a ring. Engraved on it is latin, which translates to: Love conquers all. I have been doodling this statement all over my class notes since the day I noticed the ring. I looked it up online to be sure it was the best price to get it and that the sizings would work. With all the anticipation, I knew it had to work. I went in to the particular gift shop and asked to try the ring on. The salesman brought the three sizes they have available (small, medium, large) and I began with the smallest, knowing they would not fit my fat fingers!
In hindsight, I like to think that I handled the situation well and that I should blame the heat wave we've had this week (all sun and heat with no rain) on the fact that my fingers were extra swollen or something. Unfortunately, none of the sizes worked to fit the finger I wanted and I held my composure. I did not fall to the grown kicking and screaming like the child in the candy store who isn't getting what it wants- although I wanted to do such an act. I just took a deep breathe and thanked him for his assistance.
After talking with a couple friends from home, they helped convince me to go back and try it on again, and not be so picky as to which finger it fits, and if I want it so badly to go back and get it. We shall see how this portion of the story ends another day!

After our adventures with Shakespeare and latin rings, we headed back towards home. We picked up a craving for falafels and sprang on the first Mediterranean restaurant we found. How perfect was it that it was next door to a gelato place?? Oh the irony. After treating ourselves to delicious falafel and panini sandwiches, we headed next door for three flavors of gelato in a cone! It was the most magnificent. Since the temperature was not seeming to budge much from 85F, we had no choice but to consume happily!

Once back to our flat, I worked a little on blogs and pictures to pass the time before I went to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre. As for a long story short, I set off to the show with not enough time to get there, I looked up the location of the theatre, and realized once I found the theatre, that it was not the correct one. Landing in theatre district with less than 45 minutes to find the right theatre and internet is failing you? Not the right choice. My only suggestion is that you be sure you verify your email and double or triple check what your plans are really to be. I mapped it out afterwards, I walked between 2 and 3 miles until I came to the right theatre. Thankfully, the show started at 7:45 and not 7:30, as I had also thought to begin with! I was only one minute late to the performance... I don't want to do that again!

Tuesday I headed to work-- I actually look forward to work in the morning, it's slightly unnerving. I love the people that I'm working with and what I am doing for them. For the sheer fact that I cannot remember if I shared where I work or not, I am an intern for the Contemporary Music for All organization. To begin with, I started going through past documents regarding grants. I put together a database for them of past grants they have applied for and received or not received. I then extended the list to future potential grants they could apply for and put together their due dates for the coming year! My next assignment was to put together the newsletter for August. With much help and guidance from my supervisor, Ella, I was able to do just that! The next project? Working diligently and strenuously towards the Summer School in Bangor. Whew!!
When I finished work Tuesday, I headed towards the West End theatre district again. This time? To see Chicago. I knew right where the theatre was, I've taken busses past it dozens of times!! It's just around the corner from Trafalgar Square. I picked out a place for a quick bite to eat and then headed to the theatre. I loved the presentation of the show.. the big band was on a bleacher-like platform and there was never a proper set. The could see the other actors waiting in the wings... it was very raw, but exactly what it should be when you think of Chicago. Besides the obvious fact that these actors are all British, and when they try and speak in an American accent, it seems to always turn a little bit southern.. I have no complaints! It made the show that much more fun!

Wednesday was my last day in the office!! Since the summer school begins on Sunday in Bangor, our team had to get to Bangor to begin the set up for the camp. Since I had a class tour Friday, Olympic tickets for Saturday, and class Monday I could not join them yet. My train to Bangor leaves Monday during class time, once I spoke to my professor about it, he told me to not come to class that Wales and work would be much more important! Today was one of the most high stress work days I have experienced since opening a residence hall at UW-Stevens Point! We worked down to the wire to be sure we got everything completed for Bangor. We needed to put all the supplies together by 3pm, I needed to complete all portions of the newsletter before I left, and collectively we needed to print music and not loose our heads before the end of the day! Just so you know, we were rockstars and finished everything by the end of the day-- even with the fire alarm going off!!

Without work on Thursday, I wanted to be productive and go experience one of the last 'less busy' days  of the week without the full onset of the Olympics. I purchased a wonderfully priced, decently located seat to see War Horse for the afternoon matinee. I packed up the Jimmy John's take-away box my mom sent to me and proceeded to mail it home full of souvenirs, and had a handful of souvenirs left to pick up before the end of the day. It was going to be perfect.
To begin with, the package I packed (containing items from all over England, Dublin, Paris and a few odds and ends things I won't need in the next couple weeks) was close to 7 kilos. Which, when converted is equal to 15 pounds. Yikes. Sorry Mom and Dad. But you still cannot open it until I get home!! One of the funny things was for customs, you had to claim what was inside and they only give you five lines. So I fudged it a little... I put in the most numbers of the larger items and then claimed the rest as general various souvenirs!
I picked up some lunch to eat outside of the theatre and headed there. Once I arrived, the woman at the desk said I still had another 20 minute walk to get to the theatre, that this is only where you pick up advanced tickets. I showed her my email that told me to come here for the tickets and performance, she apologized and sent me to get the tickets and performance at another venue. I hate it when being lost between theatres becomes a habit. Considering it was 2:10 with a 2:30 showing, I did my best to get there in no time flat. And sure enough, I made it by 2:27. Which is not enough time to eat lunch. Instead I downed some water and made it until intermission for the food! The show was fantastic. I never thought puppets of that size could be so life-like. After a while you just don't see the people inside and around it working it, and at the end of the first act I seriously thought they were going to jump off the stage and over our heads. It was purely phenomenal.
I knew I needed to head to a couple specific stores for family gifts but I wasn't sure where exactly to go. I picked up wifi from the apple store in Covent Garden and skyped with my brother, Andrew. I had him look up the places and he gave me the directions. Flawless. I was there in no time and was off on my jersey hunting! I found a nice one for my brother and another one for me.. I'll be wearing it to the Olympics on Saturday!

This is a lot of text with not many photographs. I'll stop here for now and keep you updated on life after the Opening Ceremonies next!

Cheers!
Sarah Marsh