Sometimes you get so busy that you just WISH you could SQUEEZE one more day in the year to do EVERYTHING ELSE you didn't get to do the rest of time! So here I am on leap year, getting a little extra time in to catch you guys up! It's been two whole weeks since the last blog and the definite best time yet to be had on this adventure was last weekend in SCOTLAND!
Last week I went to the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum and discussed the Great Exhibition in class, and explored around the other exhibits including a really amazing one of musical instruments from different time periods, they had some of the most beautifully made guitars i've ever seen! some had delicate carvings in the sound hole that looked brittle enough to break, like those paper cut out snowflakes you make out of tissue paper -- but carved out of wood! there were also tons of instruments i'd never heard of, most of them resembling a cello or violin but very different! This museum is meant for the public to be able to walk through and see all the different fashions and inventions from around the world after 1500. So its huge and has tons of collections from all over the place (and its FREE so i can go back whenever i want).
wednesday night we went to see a midsummer night's dream (again!) but this time it was in a warehouse and much more intimate (the actors/actresses were walking through the audience). I really liked the movement in this piece, the fairies were really creepy and moved like strange and curious creatures which i thought was cool! thursday night we saw the Mikado, maybe i was just a little too exhausted for this one but i really didn't enjoy it all that much! it was really funny though, an absurd opera (operetto) about japanese ppl in a town with laws against flirting with lots of plot twists. it was fun, i just didn't fall in love with it.
then we have FRIDAY -- a 615 train through the east coast of england all the way to northern scotland, the most beautiful train ride i've taken, we went by small towns and along the cost of england and scotland and it was just breathtaking. we arrived in the small town of Pitlochry (population 900), and immediately loved it. there were 7 of us and we wondered up a big hill to our hostel with a great view overlooking the town nestled inbetween huge hills and "mountains" (not the big tall snowy kind, but the kind that are too big to be called hills). i have at least 7 pages of journaling about pitlochry alone. it was just so nice to be in a small place where you can only hear the wind blowing by and there is no such thing as traffic, where ppl actually notice you when you walk into a pub and they say hello! we got dinner at a pub with some of the best mashed potatoes i've had in a long time. then we went to the festival theatre for a fiddle concert. it was sooo perfect. Pete Clark is the mans name and i think his songs are available on the web (search pete clark and scotland music). the show was in the foyer of the festival theatre so we sat at tables and had tea while listening to this incredible fiddle player playing some of the most joyful and most heartbreaking songs, I was totally clued in the whole time, esp when he added a fantastic classical/jazz guitarist to his set who was soo incredible! this was my favorite concert so far.
that night some of us headed off the bed, but kelsey and i thought we'd stay up for some small-town pub time. we walked into one of the 3 pubs in town and there was live music playing and i started talking to someone who happened to grow up in Pitlochry, he was really nice! he bought us both drinks and we all talked for a long time about the US, England, Scotland, traveling, etc. And he was just soo kind, i still can't believe it. he kept saying to watch out for scottish men, and to just RUN if you come across a shady one. he studies medicine in edinbourgh and just made our night really lovely! such a friendly young chap.
saturday we had to leave pitlochry to meet up with the group in glasgow, we went to see the glasgow school of art which is designed soo interestingly by charles macintosh. i loved the building and i also loved the art created by charles' wife whose name i am forgetting at the moment, but her paintings were REALLY cool. i then got tea at the willow tea room (another building designed by macintosh). interesting fact though, there was a feminist lady (whose name i forget again! sorry) who opened the first tea house for women to go independent of their husbands to talk and enjoy time together. before this, only men could go places to talk about life/politics, and if a women tried going someplace on her own ppl would assume she's a prostitute. soo i felt very happy to be in one of these tea houses which was made with the purpose in mind of serving independent women. gotta love those early feminists.
saturday night we saw she stoops to conquer, which was really fun, and then went out on the town... but the big crowded places were so much less appealing after our quaint night in pitlochry! sunday we took off to Edinbourgh, saw the castle, hiked up arthur's seat for beautiful views and joyous winds that made you feel like you could fly right off the cliff if you even went on your tiptoes. and we took some fun jumping pictures up there! it was really fantastic. later that night i ate haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis is the gross intestines and other organs of various animals, neeps are turnips, and tatties are mashed potatoes!) complimented by some scottish whisky (had to try it at least!) from a distillery just north of pitlochry. needless to say i enjoyed the meal thoroughly and ate everything clean off my plate.
sunday night may have been the highlight (so many highlights!) we went to see a scottish folk singer who is chinese by blood but totally scottish, has lived her for a long time, and plays some of the best scottish songs i've heard! he had the thick accent and a perfect singing voice and got the whole pub singing and dancing. after building some confidence and seeing that he let other musicians play a song or two, i asked him if i could play one! i got up and played railroad track and just let loose and had so much fun playing it, i wasn't nervous at all, i felt like part of the crowd like these people were lifting the song right out of my lungs and dancing around in the airwaves. it was really a thrill, i loved it and got to know lots of ppl after i played! i want to go back there so badly! i might make it during spring break.
monday we got up reallly early and took a train back to england, to the lakes district where william wordsworth lived and spent time writing beautiful poetry. we stopped in keswick and happened to get on TV! they were filming a news special about keswick becoming a fair trade town, selling only fair trade coffee and other things. so we ran through a white banner pretending to run to the coffee shops to get coffee and then wondered to where we needed to go next -- the LAKES. the lakes were so beautiful!! we walked around one of them and off into the valley where we sat and ate digestive biscuits (they are everywhere in england, and much tastier than they sound) and grapes. apparently the graphite in pencils was discovered in keswick, so it really IS an important town with a pencil museum and everything :). We accidentally took a bus the wrong way and it was downpouring and we got off and stayed at a hotel for an hour til the next bus came and took us to Grasmere, where wordsworth is buried, and such a beautiful town!! surrounded by mountains and lakes. they had some really good gingerbread too. but it was downpouring there as well! we then went to the final stop and windmere, got some chinese food and took the train all the way back to london.
it was the best weekend i've had, as you can see from the amazingness of it all that i attempted to capture in words. this week's highlight was going to see the importance of being earnest last night, AND going to an open mic called "the star" where i sang two songs (flashing yellow lights, and found a love), and met some sweet musicians with some really good tunes. now its the weekend again and i'm going to go to a market and to work (i know, i actually have homework for once in my life) at a coffee shop. tomorrow is cambridge, and sunday we're going to stonehenge and bath! enjoy your extra day of life today!
Love,
jo
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Cotswolds
The way I travel is very... free-form. I sort of take the days as they come and welcome adventures, strangers, etc. On one of the many plane trips I took over christmas break (i believe this one was on my way to AZ, but not totally sure), the man sitting next to me showed me pictures of his travels and I told him I would be traveling to England and asked if he had any recommendations. He wrote on a sheet of paper and told me numerous times to go to Cotswold, claiming it to be the most beautiful place in england. I proceeded to joke about Cotswold (trying to say it really british, and refer to it as where i was going to day instead of, the beach or whatever). So the name has stuck with me.
Meanwhile, I signed up for a HOST weekend visit, which basically means I apply and get matched with a family/person in england to stay with for the weekend. My person was Elizabeth, an extremely kind old woman who lives alone in Oxfordshire. So I took the bus to oxford expecting her to live in oxford, she picked me up there and we drove way out into the country where the air is crispy cold and we arrived at her little stone cottage in the village of little barrington (population-30?) where I spent a weekend in what is known as the Cotswolds. Rolling hills, beautiful views, farmland, sheep, nice people, old churches, rivers, streams, and lots of beauty. I love when these things come around in this way. How I can intend on going somewhere and somehow end up just in the right place without knowing it until I am there.
Highlights of the weekend included: lemon and honey for my sore throat (freshly squeezed), having tea 5+ times a day, walking the hills of farms in big rubber boots, seeing beautiful stained glass in amazing churches still being used by the village ppl today, having a proper sunday brunch, riding in the back of a pick up truck up a giant hill and walking down catching so many beautiful views, playing guitar for 3 women in their 70's, and 2 children under 10, teaching elizabeth to use something called a "DVD player." :)
And the ultimate low of this week is... drumroll... i left my jacket in the cotswolds at that lovely farmhouse i had sunday lunch at, and now i do not have a jacket, wallet, keys, oyster card, camera, hat, gloves, -- nothin! today i wore so many shirts and sweaters i looked like a stuffed animal from the waste up and i got locked out of my flat, but luckily there are many free museums nearby so maybe it was best that i ended up at the victoria and albert museum. i hope to receive this jacket in the mail very soon, and then write thank you letters promptly for all the inconvenience it caused.
riccardo and i worked on a new song today where we both tried desperately to communicate in a song what its like to go someplace to try to relax and end up having thoughts of someone you still love who has moved on from you come back into your brain--the cruelty of a break up. he said in italian they say an expression which means you scratch your head in order to get rid of the thoughts inside of it. i don't think this translates so well into a song in english but ironically we've both had problems with itchy skin so it made for some laughs.
last week i found an amazing open mic night at a place called "The Sun" and i will be going back again for sure. it reminded me of college perk, and had a great vibe and pretty good talent as well. thursday night riccardo had a show and i made it to the second half after seeing an incredible string quartet do berg, schubert, and bach pieces. he did a great job! i sang with him on one song and met cool people from poland and italy and learned a few more italian words.
i now have a higher appreciation for the luxury of our oyster cards and can't wait to get my coat back for warmth and free transportation! i'm going out for thai food tonight though, because spencer convinced me and it will make me happy and warm inside even if i don't have a coat!
so much love to all of you, take care,
jo
Meanwhile, I signed up for a HOST weekend visit, which basically means I apply and get matched with a family/person in england to stay with for the weekend. My person was Elizabeth, an extremely kind old woman who lives alone in Oxfordshire. So I took the bus to oxford expecting her to live in oxford, she picked me up there and we drove way out into the country where the air is crispy cold and we arrived at her little stone cottage in the village of little barrington (population-30?) where I spent a weekend in what is known as the Cotswolds. Rolling hills, beautiful views, farmland, sheep, nice people, old churches, rivers, streams, and lots of beauty. I love when these things come around in this way. How I can intend on going somewhere and somehow end up just in the right place without knowing it until I am there.
Highlights of the weekend included: lemon and honey for my sore throat (freshly squeezed), having tea 5+ times a day, walking the hills of farms in big rubber boots, seeing beautiful stained glass in amazing churches still being used by the village ppl today, having a proper sunday brunch, riding in the back of a pick up truck up a giant hill and walking down catching so many beautiful views, playing guitar for 3 women in their 70's, and 2 children under 10, teaching elizabeth to use something called a "DVD player." :)
And the ultimate low of this week is... drumroll... i left my jacket in the cotswolds at that lovely farmhouse i had sunday lunch at, and now i do not have a jacket, wallet, keys, oyster card, camera, hat, gloves, -- nothin! today i wore so many shirts and sweaters i looked like a stuffed animal from the waste up and i got locked out of my flat, but luckily there are many free museums nearby so maybe it was best that i ended up at the victoria and albert museum. i hope to receive this jacket in the mail very soon, and then write thank you letters promptly for all the inconvenience it caused.
riccardo and i worked on a new song today where we both tried desperately to communicate in a song what its like to go someplace to try to relax and end up having thoughts of someone you still love who has moved on from you come back into your brain--the cruelty of a break up. he said in italian they say an expression which means you scratch your head in order to get rid of the thoughts inside of it. i don't think this translates so well into a song in english but ironically we've both had problems with itchy skin so it made for some laughs.
last week i found an amazing open mic night at a place called "The Sun" and i will be going back again for sure. it reminded me of college perk, and had a great vibe and pretty good talent as well. thursday night riccardo had a show and i made it to the second half after seeing an incredible string quartet do berg, schubert, and bach pieces. he did a great job! i sang with him on one song and met cool people from poland and italy and learned a few more italian words.
i now have a higher appreciation for the luxury of our oyster cards and can't wait to get my coat back for warmth and free transportation! i'm going out for thai food tonight though, because spencer convinced me and it will make me happy and warm inside even if i don't have a coat!
so much love to all of you, take care,
jo
Sunday, February 10, 2008
sunburnt, full, and happy
This week was action packed! Which is why I probably haven't been to the blog for 6 whole days. Valentine's day is coming and couples seem to be displaying their love for one another everywhere I go! Maybe I'll have some lucky encounter between now and Thursday involving roses and dinner --- okay probably not! But I am happy, tonight we made MORE crepes and I just had a great filling of triple chocolate icecream. If I had a pound for every pound of food/drink I consume, I'd be a very rich lady! Too bad it works the other way around...
I won't bore you trying to recap every day, but I will tell you some highlights! Saving the best for last. Tuesday we went to Rational Rec, which is the arts event put on by my music teacher Matthew, and Spencer who is interning with him! It was really bizarre and VERY different, there was a song that involved the audience collectively making "raspberries" or loud fart sounds! All of the composers are classically trained but they seemed to have taken to a different path of exploration in their music writing. I can't say I enjoyed it, but it made me think a lot about art and what the purpose of music is/can be. One French woman wrote a score of music on a huge posterboard that involved the guitarist going down an avenue and different buildings represented different guitar effects/pieces of music. So the path changes depend on who is playing the piece. It was a really cool idea! I'm glad that venue exists for progressive thinking in the composer/performer world.
Wednesday I saw the INCREDIBLE Cirque du Soliel! We bought standing room, matinee tickets and ended up getting SEATS in the second row of the circle, which is eye level with all of the high-up acrobatics! It was sooo incredible and beautiful! I was really nervous for some of the people because they were SO high up hanging on one rope with one hand! It was incredible though, they defied everything I thought was possible for human beings, and flew around gracefully and magistically (when i would be PANICKING for fear of my life!). Then I went to see "James Son of James" a theatre production put on by professional dancers, which I loved. It was sort of a dark comedy, and it was opening night so they had an open discussion with the performers. I loved how they expressed the plot/emotions through dance in certain moments. I really really enjoyed it.
Thursday we all went to see Messiaen's Tarangalilia Symphony played by the London Philharmonia. I had a hard time falling in love with this piece because it jumps around so frequently, but by the 8th movement I was "moved" it all just came together and was so passionate and incredible and the conductor looked like he was moving the ocean into a magnificent storm with his body! It was amazing, I felt like crying afterwards. Instead, we went to the a pub/restaurant on a boat for Matthew's Birthday! They had a great view of the city on the Thames.
Friday I met with Riccardo/Orrin and we discussed songwriting and lyric writing and it was really fantastic. I'm excited to work more on this, hopefully Riccardo will write something in Italian which we will work together to translate. Friday night I saw the first play that I geniunely did NOT like at ALL! It was supposed to be a comedy but wasn't that funny, and I didn't get anything good out of it, I left feeling sorry for the company that they spent so much time and energy putting on such a bad play! Anyways--
SATURDAY -- the biggest highlight. I went to Dover with 6 others, and it was beautiful! We hiked up to the castle and decided not to pay 7.50 to get in, and went to the white cliffs instead... except they didn't have a marked path to the cliffs, so we ended up hiking through the woods, crossing a highway, going underneath a used-to-be barbed wire fence, and hiking up a huge hill to arrive in the beautiful rolling hills where we continued to hike and take sooo many pictures. it was SO beautiful! We could see france from the cliffs. And if we had passports, we may have just taken the ferry over there! It was so so beautiful, the pictures will do the talking for me on this one. Spending all day outside on the crystal clear day I actually got SUNBURNT in ENGLAND in February! Quite an accomplishment I'd say. The night ended with italian food at La Scala and a walk to the waterfront under the stars, touched the channel! :)
Today I was tired and went to the park and fell asleep in the sun and wrote some letters, and went to the Chinese New Year Celebration at Trafalgar square. Dragon Dances, fireworks, and cheap chinese food were the highlights! I hope you all have a lovely week! I'll let you know how the next couple days go!
Love,
Jodi
I won't bore you trying to recap every day, but I will tell you some highlights! Saving the best for last. Tuesday we went to Rational Rec, which is the arts event put on by my music teacher Matthew, and Spencer who is interning with him! It was really bizarre and VERY different, there was a song that involved the audience collectively making "raspberries" or loud fart sounds! All of the composers are classically trained but they seemed to have taken to a different path of exploration in their music writing. I can't say I enjoyed it, but it made me think a lot about art and what the purpose of music is/can be. One French woman wrote a score of music on a huge posterboard that involved the guitarist going down an avenue and different buildings represented different guitar effects/pieces of music. So the path changes depend on who is playing the piece. It was a really cool idea! I'm glad that venue exists for progressive thinking in the composer/performer world.
Wednesday I saw the INCREDIBLE Cirque du Soliel! We bought standing room, matinee tickets and ended up getting SEATS in the second row of the circle, which is eye level with all of the high-up acrobatics! It was sooo incredible and beautiful! I was really nervous for some of the people because they were SO high up hanging on one rope with one hand! It was incredible though, they defied everything I thought was possible for human beings, and flew around gracefully and magistically (when i would be PANICKING for fear of my life!). Then I went to see "James Son of James" a theatre production put on by professional dancers, which I loved. It was sort of a dark comedy, and it was opening night so they had an open discussion with the performers. I loved how they expressed the plot/emotions through dance in certain moments. I really really enjoyed it.
Thursday we all went to see Messiaen's Tarangalilia Symphony played by the London Philharmonia. I had a hard time falling in love with this piece because it jumps around so frequently, but by the 8th movement I was "moved" it all just came together and was so passionate and incredible and the conductor looked like he was moving the ocean into a magnificent storm with his body! It was amazing, I felt like crying afterwards. Instead, we went to the a pub/restaurant on a boat for Matthew's Birthday! They had a great view of the city on the Thames.
Friday I met with Riccardo/Orrin and we discussed songwriting and lyric writing and it was really fantastic. I'm excited to work more on this, hopefully Riccardo will write something in Italian which we will work together to translate. Friday night I saw the first play that I geniunely did NOT like at ALL! It was supposed to be a comedy but wasn't that funny, and I didn't get anything good out of it, I left feeling sorry for the company that they spent so much time and energy putting on such a bad play! Anyways--
SATURDAY -- the biggest highlight. I went to Dover with 6 others, and it was beautiful! We hiked up to the castle and decided not to pay 7.50 to get in, and went to the white cliffs instead... except they didn't have a marked path to the cliffs, so we ended up hiking through the woods, crossing a highway, going underneath a used-to-be barbed wire fence, and hiking up a huge hill to arrive in the beautiful rolling hills where we continued to hike and take sooo many pictures. it was SO beautiful! We could see france from the cliffs. And if we had passports, we may have just taken the ferry over there! It was so so beautiful, the pictures will do the talking for me on this one. Spending all day outside on the crystal clear day I actually got SUNBURNT in ENGLAND in February! Quite an accomplishment I'd say. The night ended with italian food at La Scala and a walk to the waterfront under the stars, touched the channel! :)
Today I was tired and went to the park and fell asleep in the sun and wrote some letters, and went to the Chinese New Year Celebration at Trafalgar square. Dragon Dances, fireworks, and cheap chinese food were the highlights! I hope you all have a lovely week! I'll let you know how the next couple days go!
Love,
Jodi
Monday, February 4, 2008
Homemade Crepes & Beautiful Days
This morning I ran out of bread (well.. it was moldy), and i had no cereal, but I DID have eggs, milk, butter, and flower, which is ALL you need to make crepes! So what began as a desperate situation turned into the best breakfast I've had in a long time, complimented by strawberry jelly, cinnamon and sugar mix, and, yes you saw this coming -- nutella! mmm mmm, i guess it was more of a desert than a light breakfast, but that is ok with me! The irony is that tomorrow in london there is a huge pancake-flipping relay race (pancakes in london=crepes). this tradition started in london on Tuesday because it is the day before lent, and it is the last day people can eat milk and eggs, and crepes are perfect for using up the last of the milk and eggs! So i found this especially appropriate.
This weekend I went to Borough Market and wondered around the streets of london in the sunshine! I also went to an art exhibit on sleeping and dreaming which was really interesting. One of the many free art museums in London, making it so easy to walk in for an hour or two and then carry on with something else.
I've been meeting with Riccardo a LOT lately. We finished writing a song together called "Let it Out" which may be posted soon on his and maybe my myspace (www.myspace.com/riccardolopez). It's a fun acoustic song with a rock and roll feel to it, really straight forward and punchy! I like it.
So I met with him sunday from 12-5pm, and today from 12-5pm! Sunday night I went to Camden to a cuban bar/club for salsa dancing! We made it back in time for the Superbowl! which began at 11pm for us, and was definitely not the same because there were NO commercials! Which is half the fun of the superbowl. I actually don't even know who won. I fell asleep around 1am and haven't heard the news. (ok i just asked someone, sounds like a really exciting game!! NY won!) You have to be really dedicated to stay up til 4am watching the superbowl in london without any commercials.
okay i'm getting a little sleepy! i just had my first real assignment for school! I wrote a report on Robert and Elizabeth Browning and I'm going to speak about them tomorrow at the portrait gallery in front of their portraits! Pretty cool, huh? I'm going to bed though, I'll write more about their interesting lives later!
Jodi
This weekend I went to Borough Market and wondered around the streets of london in the sunshine! I also went to an art exhibit on sleeping and dreaming which was really interesting. One of the many free art museums in London, making it so easy to walk in for an hour or two and then carry on with something else.
I've been meeting with Riccardo a LOT lately. We finished writing a song together called "Let it Out" which may be posted soon on his and maybe my myspace (www.myspace.com/riccardolopez). It's a fun acoustic song with a rock and roll feel to it, really straight forward and punchy! I like it.
So I met with him sunday from 12-5pm, and today from 12-5pm! Sunday night I went to Camden to a cuban bar/club for salsa dancing! We made it back in time for the Superbowl! which began at 11pm for us, and was definitely not the same because there were NO commercials! Which is half the fun of the superbowl. I actually don't even know who won. I fell asleep around 1am and haven't heard the news. (ok i just asked someone, sounds like a really exciting game!! NY won!) You have to be really dedicated to stay up til 4am watching the superbowl in london without any commercials.
okay i'm getting a little sleepy! i just had my first real assignment for school! I wrote a report on Robert and Elizabeth Browning and I'm going to speak about them tomorrow at the portrait gallery in front of their portraits! Pretty cool, huh? I'm going to bed though, I'll write more about their interesting lives later!
Jodi
Friday, February 1, 2008
are you SERIOUS??
Hey everyone,
I just get shocked every now and again at how my life is here. This week I went to Hampton Court, ate lunch in one of the most beautiful gardens (which i'm sure is even more beautiful when the green fields are colored by the spring bulbs... some which were confused and already sprung in January!) Monday I met Riccardo Lopez, italian singer-songwriter who I'll be working with an promoting. Since then we've met twice and almost finished writing a song together! He's a lot of fun and a great person to be working with.
Tuesday I had art class, in the national gallery... I looked at some van eyck paintings which were pretty amazing! the detail he gets is just ridiculous. Next week we meet in the portrait gallery.
Wednesday I met with Riccardo and worked on music and then went to a comedy club for an improv show, which was hilarious! I did wish though that there had been some females up on stage, i thought the humor could have been a little more interesting with some women up there -- but it was still really really funny and i'd love to go again. they have a pretty good student discount. tessa and i were brave and sat in the front row! nothing terrible happened to us either,just a great view and good times.
Thursday I had a busy day! Unfortunately my guitar had a little injury and I needed to get it patched up. Luckily it wasn't too expensive, but i carried it through the wind and rain to Denmark street, the ultimate guitar street, there must have been 9 different guitar stores, so when it came to getting a repair job done... i just went door to door til i found someone who was available. its a cool area, i might do an open mic over there some time! Thursday night we went to see a midsummer night's dream, the opera by britten. It was really really wild to see that production as an opera. It was also atonal, but i thought it worked pretty well. i will post more pictures soon (just not tonight) and you can see part of the set i got a picture of (probably illegally).
Today I picked up my guitar at the shop and met with Riccardo and Orrin. Its really fun working with these two. Writing songs is fun! And tonight i saw dido queen of carthage in the kensington palace, which was really cool! we got to walk through the royal apartments and sit at the dining room table during this production. the actors communicated some with the audience and it was really really intense and tragic! a really cool experience though. i just feel soo weird sometimes when i think of all the wild things i get to do here! its really awesome but i already have no idea how i'll go back to living in the states doing something remotely normal, instead of going out night after night to see amazing productions at the expense of this program. studying abroad is awesome. i just feel very privileged to be here -- thank you mom and dad!!
i need to get new pictures up, give me til the end of the weekend. i hope you all are well!! send me some mail if you feel inspired to, i'd love to hear about your life:
Jodi McLaren
Metrogate House
3-7 Queens Gate Terrace
London, SW7 5PE
Take care everyone!
Jodi
I just get shocked every now and again at how my life is here. This week I went to Hampton Court, ate lunch in one of the most beautiful gardens (which i'm sure is even more beautiful when the green fields are colored by the spring bulbs... some which were confused and already sprung in January!) Monday I met Riccardo Lopez, italian singer-songwriter who I'll be working with an promoting. Since then we've met twice and almost finished writing a song together! He's a lot of fun and a great person to be working with.
Tuesday I had art class, in the national gallery... I looked at some van eyck paintings which were pretty amazing! the detail he gets is just ridiculous. Next week we meet in the portrait gallery.
Wednesday I met with Riccardo and worked on music and then went to a comedy club for an improv show, which was hilarious! I did wish though that there had been some females up on stage, i thought the humor could have been a little more interesting with some women up there -- but it was still really really funny and i'd love to go again. they have a pretty good student discount. tessa and i were brave and sat in the front row! nothing terrible happened to us either,just a great view and good times.
Thursday I had a busy day! Unfortunately my guitar had a little injury and I needed to get it patched up. Luckily it wasn't too expensive, but i carried it through the wind and rain to Denmark street, the ultimate guitar street, there must have been 9 different guitar stores, so when it came to getting a repair job done... i just went door to door til i found someone who was available. its a cool area, i might do an open mic over there some time! Thursday night we went to see a midsummer night's dream, the opera by britten. It was really really wild to see that production as an opera. It was also atonal, but i thought it worked pretty well. i will post more pictures soon (just not tonight) and you can see part of the set i got a picture of (probably illegally).
Today I picked up my guitar at the shop and met with Riccardo and Orrin. Its really fun working with these two. Writing songs is fun! And tonight i saw dido queen of carthage in the kensington palace, which was really cool! we got to walk through the royal apartments and sit at the dining room table during this production. the actors communicated some with the audience and it was really really intense and tragic! a really cool experience though. i just feel soo weird sometimes when i think of all the wild things i get to do here! its really awesome but i already have no idea how i'll go back to living in the states doing something remotely normal, instead of going out night after night to see amazing productions at the expense of this program. studying abroad is awesome. i just feel very privileged to be here -- thank you mom and dad!!
i need to get new pictures up, give me til the end of the weekend. i hope you all are well!! send me some mail if you feel inspired to, i'd love to hear about your life:
Jodi McLaren
Metrogate House
3-7 Queens Gate Terrace
London, SW7 5PE
Take care everyone!
Jodi
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