west end.

The best way to solve crankiness is to get a Ben's Cookie and then go see Phantom of the Opera in the West End. Also, during intermission get a chocolate ice cream cup and continue to enjoy the splendor. Even though your pants are soaking wet, you wore your crocs and therefore your socks are soaking wet and you didn't have a hot dinner like you were hoping... The Phantom makes it feel less important and totally makes up for any crankiness.


I think I might be addicted to going to the theatre. Shit. I think I might go see Wicked tomorrow if they still have tickets. Oh yes. Two plays in a row. I have 2 and a half weeks left. I better do everything I want to do.


Thanksgiving is Thursday. Weird, right? I'm far away from my family, but thankful for such an amazing experience. Bittersweet, really. I miss my family each day and constantly have them in my thoughts. My family also extends out to my friends that feel more like family to me as well. I miss them every day, yet I don't take a single day for granted here. I'm trying to soak up (ha, literally too) as much as possible. Thursday after Thanksgiving dinner at the centre we're going ice skating at Somerset House and then I will be skyping with my family and then enjoying a nice evening of paper writing. Exhilarating. I secretly wish I could be indulging in my mother's perfectly cooked turkey and all that delicious stuffing. Instead I will be the one providing stuffing for our dinner and it will 100% be out of a box. Not nearly as awesome. Its okay though, in 2 and a half weeks I will be snuggling with the pups, lounging about, eating mum's food, and enjoying the company of my family.

I've been listening to the new John Mayer album non-stop for about a week. Somehow he always knows exactly how I'm feeling. He can sing emotions that I never knew I had inside of me or just how to express them. I will always love him. Forever. Maybe even try to stalk him someday...

I also saw New Moon (the next Twilight movie). I feel uncomfortable with how attractive Taylor Lautner is though. He's only 17. He's really attractive. Awkward.


I have some serious paper writing and exam studying to do in the next 2 weeks. But nothing is going to stop me from having a good time.

Also, because Thanksgiving doesn't exist here... it has been socially appropriate for me to listen to Christmas music for several weeks. I love it.





Cheers!
Kaitlin

Cranky?

I've been a bit crankypants lately. People are starting to get on my nerves and I'm fed up with worrying about others. The stress of finals in a few weeks is already getting to me. How ridiculous! I just can't seem to calm down, its a very weird situation. Experiences seem to be hindered by my frustration with those around me. Is that bad? Also, I would like to put this out there. Creativity is NOT being the most obscure because being the most obscure and then re-using that obscurity every single time does not make you creative. I think some people find themselves to be more intelligent and creative than they really are and it upsets me when they are so condescending towards others. VENTVENTVENT.


Instead of complaining I am going to write a list of things I NEED to do before I leave.


Things to do in the next 3 weeks:

1) ice skating at Somerset House or Hyde Park
2) see the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square/ sing along with carolers
3) go on a Christmas light walk through all of the massive areas with fantastic lights
4) Get a picture at Platform 9 3/4
5) red telephone booth picture
6) see Phantom of the Opera
7) see the buskers (street musicians) at Covent Garden
8) Winter Wonderland festival in Hyde Park (doing it tomorrow!)
9) marry Rob Pattinson
10) see New Moon
11) write 4 papers and study for 4 exams and pack. hmmm...


We went to Stratford-Upon-Avon for an overnight trip Thursday to Friday. It was fantastic being where Shakespeare spent a good deal of his time and to see the land that influenced his art. It was also fun learning more about him and just being where he had once been. It felt much more preserved than say The Globe theatre in London. It made me want to read more. I want to read more classics and explore what I have been missing out on. I want to read more poetry and expand my knowledge of literature.



Tomorrow I'm going to the Winter Wonderland festival at Hyde Park. It should be a blast. There will be tons of good food, amazing Christmas markets, and holiday spirit.


The program from the play we saw last night had the actors think of the question "what is love?" and they answered. These are a few of my favorites...

“Love is discovering, to your delight, that you are no longer one of two, but half of one.”

“Love is holding hands. You spend your life looking for a hand that fits yours perfectly and is just as sweaty.”

“Love is a silent but palpable roar of joy
barely contained within our chest.
It is a ripe fruit dribbling juices after years
Of boiled sweets and dry cake.
It is the blanket that consumes us
when desire strips us of our protective skin.
It is our witness, our judge, our clock,
Our matter.
It makes us, breaks us, kneads our soul,
It wakes us, shakes us, keeps us whole.”



Cheers!
Kaitlin

romance and poetry

So, I'm the kind of person that has quite a bit of confidence until it comes to flirting and actually making a move. This will explain why my experiences here in London with men haven't really existed except in small brief moments. I enjoy observing people which means while I'm on the Tube I'm looking around and waiting for people to make eye contact, so this allows me to notice people. and some of those people happen to be attractive men, I guess I just never expected them to notice me! One day we were riding the Tube to school and this cute college looking kid was standing across from me in a packed carriage. The ride was a bit bumpy and at one point it caught both of us off guard. He almost tipped over, noticed that I was watching and smiled at me. We had a moment. Our toes touched. Yesterday I was waiting at a station to get on to the train and this guy was staring at me. He was cute, so I looked back and smiled. We got on the same carriage. He got off a few stops before. While standing on the platform waiting for his next train he could still see me and with a goofy grin and a bit of a giggle he waved to me. The only thing I could think of to do was just smile back and nod my head a bit acknowledging that we both just shared that moment. My most promising (but of course I didn't follow up) experience was Tom from the theatre. He helped me and Shauna get amazing tickets to one of the most sold out shows in London right now. With exhaustion and stress apparent between me and Shauna he made our night. He sneaked us to the back door and got us tickets before the others in line. And he said I should come and visit him some time at the theatre. and he was really cute. So, as much as I complain about love not being there... I'm still attractive. I just haven't been in the right situation to really make it happen. I'm hopeful. All of these experiences have really just made me realize that not all men prefer ditzy skinny girls. They can see beauty in something other than what the media tells them to. Yea, I consider myself one of those quirky not perfect people. I'm glad that London has made me feel this way. It makes me feel less down trodden about my current "single" status. Am I really single when I have so many amazing friends and family?

Poetry. Sometimes I feel like our modern world lacks the poetry of past times. We went and saw Bright Star this past weekend. Its the love story of John Keats. Every moment to them was poetic. The woman falls so deeply in love with him and feels that their love is represented through butterflies so she catches butterflies and keeps them in her room. There is a scene where she is literally covered in butterflies. The sheer poetry of this moment makes me long for something like that. John Keats also talks about laying on top of treetops and there is a scene where he does exactly that. He climbs a tree and lays for awhile. What I am also finding is that poetry exists now. We just have to find it. There is poetry in the clacking of heels rushing for the next train. There is poetry in autumn leaves falling. There is poetry in letting the rain drops collide on your skin after a long day. There is poetry everywhere we just have to see it. Nature provides the perfect setting and nature can be found even if it is just a square foot of a barren tree on the edge of the sidewalk. I also love human interactions on the Tube. They're fantastic and allow for so many possibilities! We just have to remember that everyone that rides the Tube is human and has a story. Maybe they had a bad day. Maybe they've had the best day of their life. We'll never know. Sometimes I wish more people talked on the Tube. Maybe I'll strike up conversation. You never know.

I have one month left here. Time flies so fast. I also have incredibly mixed feelings about this. I cannot wait to be home and be with my family and then on to my second home at UPS. but I'm also just starting to really really love it here. I'm finally comfortable with all the people here and I truly feel like I've made some great friends. Its funny how it just suddenly happens like that...

This weekend I am going to Paris with Sara and Melissa. I CANNOT wait for some stinky cheese, wine, crepes, and baguettes. Also, perhaps I'll find some more poetry in the city of love.


Cheers!
Kaitlin

only human

I've noticed that London is full of smokers. Everyone here smokes. I feel like I can't step a few feet without getting clouds of smoke blown in to my face. Now, this is especially frustrating because I've had this 3 week sickness that doesn't seem to want to leave. I'm convinced the smoke and pollution in the air is irritating my lungs therefore making it impossible to recover. Thank you, London. What is nice though is that my chesty cough is subsiding and all that remains is some nasal congestion and a miserable headache, improvement! I got fed up and hit up SuperDrug for some medicine. I got Sudafed (They have it here!!) and some Vicks nasal spray. If this doesn't work then I will try the cold and flu medicine and if that doesn't work then I'll go to the Doctor. Hopefully I'm not dead by then.

London just recently decided to get cold. One day I was able to walk around in a sweatshirt and jeans and then today I felt chilled to the bone with a sweater and jacket. I am layering from this day on. This is perfect timing because the Christmas lights at Oxford street were just lit (by Jim Carrey!). As the Christmas decorations go up and the advertisements become more prominent it makes me yearn for some sort of romantic relationship. I wish I were holding someone's hand and taking in all the beautiful lights and carols and especially to go ice skating! I am quite an independent individual and haven't really been one to NEED to be in a relationship, but sometimes it would be nice. Its okay, I won't let anything stop me from having a good time.

Tomorrow is Guy Fawkes night and there are tons of firework displays throughout the city and there will be some on the weekend as well. Definitely going to be a good time.

This city is finally beginning to feel homey. Perfect timing, right? I have a month left...

Next weekend I'm going to Paris and then the weekend after that we go to Stratford-Upon-Avon and then its Thanksgiving and then we have like... 2 weeks? So, time goes by so quickly. You blink and the experience is over.


Cheers!
Kaitlin