On an afternoon like this, the pale, bright light of the sun turns the wind-shattered surface of the river brilliant and blinding. Every so often a cloud pulls across, and the river becomes silver, but still bright. The buildings are sharp and clear against the backdrop of the sky. Today it is definitely Autumn, with a strong wind and a chill in the air. I kicked through the piles of leaves that accumulated on the South Bank walk below Westminster Bridge, but they were all brown. I miss the fire of the trees in Michigan, where each leaf seems like a work of art, and the whole world is filled with such a variety of color, unlike any other time of year. I miss apple cider and pumpkins.
I never thought of these particular aspects of Autumn as especially American. They are not usually included on patriotic lists. They should be, because Michigan's Fall might be the only thing I miss about the country itself.
I also miss my family, my cats, and my friends. That's a little more expected though.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
woah! a post!
I should probably be doing my reading, but I was so excited that the (very slow and cranky) internet in my dorm actually let me sign on to my blog that I figured I should sit down and finally post. I've been here a month already and haven't written! well, part of that was not being able to sign on, but I have found the settling in process quite stressful. however, that process is almost complete, and my life is wiggling down into it's routine, which I like.
I really love this city. It is so full of diversity and history, and there are all these landmarks that I've heard of for my whole life, and then I actually see them. I live in Lambeth, (on the grounds of the palace of the Arch bishop of Canturbury, for the Anglicans amongst my readers) which is on the South Bank. I'm minutes away from the London Eye, about 10 minutes from Waterloo station, and across the river from the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. I can hear Big Ben from my bedroom. Just think about for a minute. I remember, growing up, when we stayed at my grandparents house, my grandfather's clock chimed the Big Ben tunes. I never slept very well, and I used to listen to it in the middle of the night. So I didn't think much of it the first time I heard it here, until I realized that it was actually the *real* Big Ben. woah. My walk in to campus is along the South Bank. It might be quicker to go through the streets, but not much, and would be much less pleasant. My favorite part of the walk is crossing Waterloo Bridge, because it affords an amazing view of the city in either direction. It never fails to cheer me up, if I'm stressed. I look to one side, and see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and other grand sights. To the other side I can see the Gurken (Swiss Bank building, I think. it looks like a rocket about to launch), St Paul's Cathedral, the National Theater, etc. I am planning on taking photos of my walk in soon, and I'll link to the album on Facebook here. My least favorite part of the walk is forcing my way through the gaggles of tourists around the London Eye. There is nothing in this world less considerate of other people than a tourist.
I love the university. I only have 8 hours of class each week, and although this is partly made up with reading, I would so much rather be working on my own, self-motivated, rather than being talked at by a lecturer. Also, I have no papers until finals (no worries, I'm already thinking about them, I won't put them off), so that makes everything seem easier. My "Literature of the English Revolution" class is surprisingly one of the best. It was not high on my list of choices, but the professor is truely excellent, and leads the best seminar of all of my classes. Irish Liturature is more interesting reading-wise, and the lectures are alright, but in seminar, the professor definitely plays favorites, which is annoying. Well, either favorites, or just calling on/paying more attention to the people he's taught before. The Victorian Lit professor is by far the worst though. Which is a shame, because I like the reading (depressing as it is). But she deliberately calls on people to make everyone talk during discussion, which is so high school. People end up blathering about nothing, just so she'll leave them alone. On the other hand, if you come up with a point she hadn't thought of, she will disregard it completely. We read Tennyson's Maud last week, and I pointed out that lines 464-5 "[He]/Gorgonised me from head to foot/ with a stony British stare" has an interesting reversal in that the person being stared at (the narrator) is the one being turned into a gorgon (he is gorgonised) by the stony stare, rather than the gorgon's stare turning the other to stone. This makes a lot of sense within the context of the poem and the relationship between the two people. However, she completely rode over my comment, without allowing any discussion of it, and said I was wrong. she always makes you feel like you've said the wrong thing, whether she agrees or not. Ah well, I will survive. Anglo Saxon is a real disappointment though. Because I have a lot more experience in this sort of thing, and my knowledge of German, I have a head start on the rest of the class, and find it quite boring. The professor told me to relax this term and take her Old English Poetry class next term, which will involve dropping something else. I would rather just do extra translation now, and not waste my time. Also, I don't want to dishearten the rest of my class by seeming bored, when it's not that I'm better at it (at least, I doubt that I am), I just have previous experience.
Still, I like studying here so much. I think I will find it very hard to go back to Chicago at the end of the year, even though I miss my friends.
Everyone here has been very friendly and welcoming. I have at least two quite close friends already, and a large group of more general friends. No worries of me becoming a recluse here. :) Cooking is always pretty sociable. Cozy, in fact, because our kitchen is about 4 foot square, so it gets crowded. I am happy to say that because I refuse to feed myself crap, I have inspired some of my friends to rise from the swamp of ready meals. Sadly, there are a few itinerate lazy people who scoff at my need for real food, and persist in eating the equivalent of wonder bread or pasta for every meal. Their loss.
I did get into the orchestra, in the end, despite totally bombing my audition. Of course I'm right in the back, but everyone in front of me is studying music, and I'd rather not have the pressure. we're playing "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Sheherazade", so I have been practicing, because they're quite difficult pieces. I have made contact with theater people, and am supposedly doing both costumes and fights for a Woody Allen three play evening in December, and R and J in March. Both directors, while extremely enthusiastic about my help, have been a bit lax about things like... getting me the script, talkign about ideas, etc so I could actually get to work. I've started to be more persistant about the show in December, and will let her know that I do need a certain amount of time, or I'm off the show. Have to be firm, or something like that. :) Anyways, all the usual activities are falling into place, and I'm taking riding lessons at a stable in Wimbledon. So far they've been not so much lessons as just rides, but it's so beautiful, and I'm just ecstatic to be able to ride! It's (sort of) affordable, and I love it so much. Plus it forces me to get out into what is basically countryside once a week, which is great.
To pay for my expensive habit and taste for fine food, I have got a job at a classy pub on the Strand, right by campus, across from the Royal Courts of Justice. I really love it so far. Granted, this was only my second day, but still. Anything where you can do a six hour shift and come home and still love it, is pretty good. I make £6/hr, with a likely raise in a few months, get 3 weeks paid vacation, and the boss is really flexible about moving or cutting back on hours. Currently I'm working 15/wk, which has been fine so far. I'll cut back if I need to though. Also I get free food while I'm working. Free amazing, would-be-expensive food, I should say. :) Works pretty well for me.
I went to St. Martin's in the Fields for church today. I picked it because it has a 10am sung Eucharist, unlike the usual 11 or 11:30, so I could go and get to work by 12. Also, it's very convenient both to my residence hall and the pub. And I loved it! It's a medium sized congregation made up primarily of older people (most of the people my age are in the choir), but that doesn't bother me. The service was BCP, and the hymns were traditional. Exactly my kind of place. The priest is a woman, and the (male) vicar preached a decent, if rambling, sermon this morning. I think I have found my parish home, which is a huge relief.
I haven't done much touristy stuff yet, but I went to a London Philharmonic concert on Wednesday, and London Burough Market yesterday. Both were really amazing.
Well, I'm sure there's more I could write about, but I'm really losing steam, and have to get on with my work. Suffice it to say that I love it here. :)
Miss you all though! To bad
I really love this city. It is so full of diversity and history, and there are all these landmarks that I've heard of for my whole life, and then I actually see them. I live in Lambeth, (on the grounds of the palace of the Arch bishop of Canturbury, for the Anglicans amongst my readers) which is on the South Bank. I'm minutes away from the London Eye, about 10 minutes from Waterloo station, and across the river from the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. I can hear Big Ben from my bedroom. Just think about for a minute. I remember, growing up, when we stayed at my grandparents house, my grandfather's clock chimed the Big Ben tunes. I never slept very well, and I used to listen to it in the middle of the night. So I didn't think much of it the first time I heard it here, until I realized that it was actually the *real* Big Ben. woah. My walk in to campus is along the South Bank. It might be quicker to go through the streets, but not much, and would be much less pleasant. My favorite part of the walk is crossing Waterloo Bridge, because it affords an amazing view of the city in either direction. It never fails to cheer me up, if I'm stressed. I look to one side, and see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and other grand sights. To the other side I can see the Gurken (Swiss Bank building, I think. it looks like a rocket about to launch), St Paul's Cathedral, the National Theater, etc. I am planning on taking photos of my walk in soon, and I'll link to the album on Facebook here. My least favorite part of the walk is forcing my way through the gaggles of tourists around the London Eye. There is nothing in this world less considerate of other people than a tourist.
I love the university. I only have 8 hours of class each week, and although this is partly made up with reading, I would so much rather be working on my own, self-motivated, rather than being talked at by a lecturer. Also, I have no papers until finals (no worries, I'm already thinking about them, I won't put them off), so that makes everything seem easier. My "Literature of the English Revolution" class is surprisingly one of the best. It was not high on my list of choices, but the professor is truely excellent, and leads the best seminar of all of my classes. Irish Liturature is more interesting reading-wise, and the lectures are alright, but in seminar, the professor definitely plays favorites, which is annoying. Well, either favorites, or just calling on/paying more attention to the people he's taught before. The Victorian Lit professor is by far the worst though. Which is a shame, because I like the reading (depressing as it is). But she deliberately calls on people to make everyone talk during discussion, which is so high school. People end up blathering about nothing, just so she'll leave them alone. On the other hand, if you come up with a point she hadn't thought of, she will disregard it completely. We read Tennyson's Maud last week, and I pointed out that lines 464-5 "[He]/Gorgonised me from head to foot/ with a stony British stare" has an interesting reversal in that the person being stared at (the narrator) is the one being turned into a gorgon (he is gorgonised) by the stony stare, rather than the gorgon's stare turning the other to stone. This makes a lot of sense within the context of the poem and the relationship between the two people. However, she completely rode over my comment, without allowing any discussion of it, and said I was wrong. she always makes you feel like you've said the wrong thing, whether she agrees or not. Ah well, I will survive. Anglo Saxon is a real disappointment though. Because I have a lot more experience in this sort of thing, and my knowledge of German, I have a head start on the rest of the class, and find it quite boring. The professor told me to relax this term and take her Old English Poetry class next term, which will involve dropping something else. I would rather just do extra translation now, and not waste my time. Also, I don't want to dishearten the rest of my class by seeming bored, when it's not that I'm better at it (at least, I doubt that I am), I just have previous experience.
Still, I like studying here so much. I think I will find it very hard to go back to Chicago at the end of the year, even though I miss my friends.
Everyone here has been very friendly and welcoming. I have at least two quite close friends already, and a large group of more general friends. No worries of me becoming a recluse here. :) Cooking is always pretty sociable. Cozy, in fact, because our kitchen is about 4 foot square, so it gets crowded. I am happy to say that because I refuse to feed myself crap, I have inspired some of my friends to rise from the swamp of ready meals. Sadly, there are a few itinerate lazy people who scoff at my need for real food, and persist in eating the equivalent of wonder bread or pasta for every meal. Their loss.
I did get into the orchestra, in the end, despite totally bombing my audition. Of course I'm right in the back, but everyone in front of me is studying music, and I'd rather not have the pressure. we're playing "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Sheherazade", so I have been practicing, because they're quite difficult pieces. I have made contact with theater people, and am supposedly doing both costumes and fights for a Woody Allen three play evening in December, and R and J in March. Both directors, while extremely enthusiastic about my help, have been a bit lax about things like... getting me the script, talkign about ideas, etc so I could actually get to work. I've started to be more persistant about the show in December, and will let her know that I do need a certain amount of time, or I'm off the show. Have to be firm, or something like that. :) Anyways, all the usual activities are falling into place, and I'm taking riding lessons at a stable in Wimbledon. So far they've been not so much lessons as just rides, but it's so beautiful, and I'm just ecstatic to be able to ride! It's (sort of) affordable, and I love it so much. Plus it forces me to get out into what is basically countryside once a week, which is great.
To pay for my expensive habit and taste for fine food, I have got a job at a classy pub on the Strand, right by campus, across from the Royal Courts of Justice. I really love it so far. Granted, this was only my second day, but still. Anything where you can do a six hour shift and come home and still love it, is pretty good. I make £6/hr, with a likely raise in a few months, get 3 weeks paid vacation, and the boss is really flexible about moving or cutting back on hours. Currently I'm working 15/wk, which has been fine so far. I'll cut back if I need to though. Also I get free food while I'm working. Free amazing, would-be-expensive food, I should say. :) Works pretty well for me.
I went to St. Martin's in the Fields for church today. I picked it because it has a 10am sung Eucharist, unlike the usual 11 or 11:30, so I could go and get to work by 12. Also, it's very convenient both to my residence hall and the pub. And I loved it! It's a medium sized congregation made up primarily of older people (most of the people my age are in the choir), but that doesn't bother me. The service was BCP, and the hymns were traditional. Exactly my kind of place. The priest is a woman, and the (male) vicar preached a decent, if rambling, sermon this morning. I think I have found my parish home, which is a huge relief.
I haven't done much touristy stuff yet, but I went to a London Philharmonic concert on Wednesday, and London Burough Market yesterday. Both were really amazing.
Well, I'm sure there's more I could write about, but I'm really losing steam, and have to get on with my work. Suffice it to say that I love it here. :)
Miss you all though! To bad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)