Wrapping Up

Leaving RHUL was... weird. I had a great last night out with friends. Packing went pretty smoothly, but actually saying goodbye to some particular people was especially difficult. Even as the plane was landing into JFK, I couldn't believe that the whole adventure was over. But once I collected my bags, it hit me that I was going to see my family again! Even the dog came to the gate to greet me. We stopped at a diner in Yonkers on the way home for my first American meal in 10 months. A pastrami on rye has never tasted so good.

I've been home for a couple days now, mostly having good food and catching up on sleep. I haven't even started unpacking. I still can't really believe that I'm home again. Its starting to feel like my life in Europe was just a wonderful dream. But there are a few things that are different. I've learned some life lessons and in some ways I've really changed. I have a better appreciation for history, art, music, theatre, and even my own "American-ness". I think now I know how to create my own art and tell my own stories. I'm looking forward to the things I will do in my last year at Sarah Lawrence.

And I can finally have real Mexican food. All is well in the world.

Rude Britannia

Candace left on Saturday morning :-( And then Jessica left on Tuesday :-( I'm the only American left! But its OK because I have plenty to do. As a last venture out, Jessica and I went to the National Gallery. This was my second visit, but I took a lot more time and discovered so many more pieces of art that I didn't really pay attention to before. Some new favorites include Jan Steen, Salvator Rosa's "Witches at their Incantations", Friedrich's "Winter Landscape with Church", Delaroche's "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey" (you have to see this one in person), Goya's "El hechizado por Fuerza", Monet's "Water Lilies, Setting Sun", Caillebotte's "A Man At His Bath", Degas' "Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando", and Odilon Redon's "Ophelia Among the Flowers". And of course, I stood in front of Vigée-Le Brun's self portrait for a good ten minutes.

At the National Portrait Gallery, I was super excited about the Tudor wing. There were some really incredible portraits of Elizabeth I. Some other favorite portraits included Catherine Stephens, a 19th century soprano and actress, Sarah Siddons, a very famous Shakespearean actress of her time, and Dame Ethel Smyth, a composer. I also really loved the portraits of Fiona Shaw, Sam-Taylor Wood, Paul McCartney, and William Blake.

Today was my last day in London. I went to the opening exhibit of "Rude Britannia" at the Tate Britain, which was all about British political cartoons and satire. I was so happy to finally see some authentic work of James Gillray. I was also really excited to learn about William Hogarth, Alley Sloper, Rowlandson, Pellegrini (Singe?), and Cruikshank. This work was just fascinating to see alongside the celebrated extravagant portraits hanging in the rest of the museum. I love the grotesque and dirty quality of the cartoons. No one is safe. I guess you could compare it to the history of comedy in theatre as it parallels to tragedy and drama.

Then I got my last Yuforia.

Well, this was a bit of a rushed entry, but I have to go pack. So sad to be leaving. I'll probably edit this later. And I'll still be writing entries over the next few days as I leave and arrive at home.

How Do You Hold A Moonbeam?

On Wednesday, Candace and Jessica and I had a big, but relaxing day planned. We tried to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace in the morning, but this was only slightly successful. It was very crowded and too difficult to see much going on behind peoples' heads. But I caught a couple glimpses and enjoyed the excitement of the event after all.

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From Pick Sure and Place

Next we went to the Natural History Museum. It's very similar to the one in New York, but I thought this building is much more elegant. First we saw the dinosaur exhibit, then browsed through mammals, primates, insects, birds, and took a quick run through of the human biology room. I wish we had stayed there longer because the exhibit on the brain was a really fun interactive way of explaining the things we had learned in Biological Psychology.

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Lyrebird!

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After the museum, we walked through Kensington Gardens to reach The Orangery, which is part of Kensington Palace. We had a lovely afternoon tea, which for me included chocolate infused tea and their specialty Orangery cake. It was so good, I had every last crumb.

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Next, we took a lengthy tube trip up to Hampstead Heath Park. The town itself was adorable - like a mix between Greenwich and Montemartre. It was set on the hill and had twisty roads and alleys and loads of up scale shopping. The park was the real gem though. It covers 790 acres (thanks wikipedia) and is simply rolling hills, forests, and ponds. Only a few paths here and there mark it. The views were stunning and it was so fun to explore. I just wish I hadn't saved this visit to the end.

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After Hampstead Heath, we headed back down into London to have some great Indian food on Charlotte Street. It was a thoroughly satisfying day for the mind, body, and soul.