Sound: "Knock Out Eileen" by LL Cool J/Dexy's Midnight Runners (AWESOME mashup!)
Today, as well as yesterday, is also Carnival. While most Carnivals take place right before the start of Lent, London feels the need to be different and has Carnival coincide with Children's Day (I think this is another one of this random British holidays, like Boxing Day). London's Carnival is set in Bayswater/Notting Hill, aka right where I live. So, my flatmates and I get to truly, intimately experience Carnival. This is cool, right? Well...
As a resident of the area, I am not the biggest fan of Carnival. Why? Because of the vuvuzelas. Vuvuzelas, many of you will remember, became popular during the recent world cup. They are really, really, really, annoying (to hear the sound of a vuvuzela, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BIgnEiT8ow). I thought the British shared my dislike of the vuvuzela, but apparently this dislike does not extend into Carnival. I feel like an angry, bitter old woman, because I keep wanting to go outside and yell at people if I hear a vuvuzela any time after 9pm. However, the London police recommended during our orientation that we do not yell at the Carnival-goers, because they will get angry and blow the vuvzela in your face. Despite my vuvuzela hatred, I am so going to Carnival tonight (but responsibly, because I have class tomorrow!). If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
So, Carnival has definitely been the most eventful... event of the weekend. The other event was getting kicked out of McDonalds. Our flat doesn't have wifi, and internet is rather expensive in England. My flatmates and I are working on going in on a wireless network with another Ithaca flat in the same building (yes, this is totally illegal, but come on- you all want to hear from me and see pictures, right?). Until then, my internet access is limited to the computer labs at the Ithaca College London Center and wherever I can get free wireless- within walking distance of my flat, McDonalds.
Turns out McDonalds does not like it when you arrive with your laptop and plop down for a few hours of unadulterated emailing and facebooking. They get even more upset, though, when you do this without buying food. And apparently five girls buying one milkshake doesn't count. This weekend the manager of our local McDonalds told us that we really shouldn't abuse their free wifi service, and that we need to at least buy a chicken sandwhich or something if we're going to be in there for a while. Although maybe this was because the McDonalds was full. Or not.
Will this stop us? Heck, no. We're college students; we believe in ending corporate expansion, bringing peace and love to all the world, and getting whatever we can for free, no matter what it takes. We've already found another McDonalds about a ten minute walk from our flat.
Maybe we should re-think the ending corporate expansion part.
Peace out, cubscouts.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Scotland! (I Can Say This With A Really Great Accent Now)
Sound: "Faithfully" by Journey (this is Mia's fault)
After four days in Edinburgh, I am left with many questions. Which way do I look when crossing? Why did Sean Connery not come to sweep me off my feet? Don't Scotsmen get cold in kilts? Do Scottish people get scurvy due to the apparent lack of fruits and vegetables?
However, the question that stands above all these burning queries is this: Why do the drunk people always talk to me? They must instinctively know that I have been guilted by my parents for years to be polite, and therefore feel compelled to respond to their questions and tell them all about America (or Scotland, in the case of the Italians who obviously can't differentiate accents).
Although I have left Scotland with more questions than when I entered, I really enjoyed my time there. I saw a grand total of 9 shows, some good, some bad, and some ridiculous...
Whores Aboard: This is a perfect example of why you should not choose to see a show solely because of the title. Or see the show and laugh at the terrible acting, writing, and design. Also, the show was about pirates, so I'm happy with my choice.
Caucasian Chalk Circle: This is arguably Bertolt Brecht's most famous play. It was my first exposure to Brecht, outside of History of the Theatre lectures (and I'm going to be honest, I was probably coloring in my Ancient Egypt coloring book during those lectures). The production was mind-blowing. The company was a group of college students from Birmingham, and they just had a fantastic grasp of the text. Brecht's plays can be very difficult to do, because of the V-effekt (an action/production concept in which the actors are supposed to simultaneously portray their characters while stepping outside of the world of the play and commenting on both the play and its relation to our world). They were awesome. And I made friends with one of them and got his number. Score.
...Speed Mating...: A German biologist and an Irish comedian lecturing on how we can use animal mating techniques to be more successful in our love lives. Very fun, very funny, not really "theater."
Comedy Show: I ran into the German biologist and Irish comedian from ...Speed Mating... on the street and they invited me to see a comedy show with them. There were four comedians total; I really liked the first two. I made friends with one of the comedians because I got all his "Star Trek" jokes (thanks, Dad).
Guest Who?: An musical-improv group. The songs were good, but they didn't seem to have a good grasp of the basic rules of improv (i.e. "always say yes"), so the scenes were lacking.
Caledonia: This was with the International Festival (the official, open-only-to-professional companies one). It was about Scotland's one and only attempt to colonize the New World. It was fantastic. The playwright did a great job connecting the events of then to the events of now, and it was very entertaining.
Gospel and Colonus: Also with the International Festival. I feel a little guilty for not liking this play. Basically, it's a re-telling of Oedipus at Colonus (the second play in Sophocles' Theban trilogy) using an African American church as a setting and gospel music. The music was easily the best part; the integration between the story and the setting was awkward and contrived.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy: An American show that "...traces the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a one-night stand at the Geneva Convention, after which Israel doesn't call." Sounded way more promising than it was. It had a few good moments, though.
Vieux Carre: The last show I saw, and also with the International Festival. It's one of Tennessee Williams' final plays, and was produced by an avant-garde theatre company. It took me a while to like this, but I ultimately did. The production concept was very unsettling, but really well done and interesting. Part of the set involved on-stage television screens, and actors were filmed while facing upstage, so you could see what they were doing no matter what. It was weird. I loved it.
In addition to seeing all these plays, I also ate Scottish food... aka haggis. Haggis is really, really good and I think everyone should try it before they talk badly about it. There are even vegetarian options. So, next time you're in the UK, do yourself a favor: be adventurous. Eat some haggis.
Today I started (and ended) the Great Flat Hunt. I am living in Notting Hill in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment. I have 5 other flatmates, one of whom, Mia, I'm sharing a room with. We move in tomorrow, although I might sleep at the hotel for a while because Carnival is happening this weekend, and it takes place very near Notting Hill.
Life is good. Peace out, cubscouts.
After four days in Edinburgh, I am left with many questions. Which way do I look when crossing? Why did Sean Connery not come to sweep me off my feet? Don't Scotsmen get cold in kilts? Do Scottish people get scurvy due to the apparent lack of fruits and vegetables?
However, the question that stands above all these burning queries is this: Why do the drunk people always talk to me? They must instinctively know that I have been guilted by my parents for years to be polite, and therefore feel compelled to respond to their questions and tell them all about America (or Scotland, in the case of the Italians who obviously can't differentiate accents).
Although I have left Scotland with more questions than when I entered, I really enjoyed my time there. I saw a grand total of 9 shows, some good, some bad, and some ridiculous...
Whores Aboard: This is a perfect example of why you should not choose to see a show solely because of the title. Or see the show and laugh at the terrible acting, writing, and design. Also, the show was about pirates, so I'm happy with my choice.
Caucasian Chalk Circle: This is arguably Bertolt Brecht's most famous play. It was my first exposure to Brecht, outside of History of the Theatre lectures (and I'm going to be honest, I was probably coloring in my Ancient Egypt coloring book during those lectures). The production was mind-blowing. The company was a group of college students from Birmingham, and they just had a fantastic grasp of the text. Brecht's plays can be very difficult to do, because of the V-effekt (an action/production concept in which the actors are supposed to simultaneously portray their characters while stepping outside of the world of the play and commenting on both the play and its relation to our world). They were awesome. And I made friends with one of them and got his number. Score.
...Speed Mating...: A German biologist and an Irish comedian lecturing on how we can use animal mating techniques to be more successful in our love lives. Very fun, very funny, not really "theater."
Comedy Show: I ran into the German biologist and Irish comedian from ...Speed Mating... on the street and they invited me to see a comedy show with them. There were four comedians total; I really liked the first two. I made friends with one of the comedians because I got all his "Star Trek" jokes (thanks, Dad).
Guest Who?: An musical-improv group. The songs were good, but they didn't seem to have a good grasp of the basic rules of improv (i.e. "always say yes"), so the scenes were lacking.
Caledonia: This was with the International Festival (the official, open-only-to-professional companies one). It was about Scotland's one and only attempt to colonize the New World. It was fantastic. The playwright did a great job connecting the events of then to the events of now, and it was very entertaining.
Gospel and Colonus: Also with the International Festival. I feel a little guilty for not liking this play. Basically, it's a re-telling of Oedipus at Colonus (the second play in Sophocles' Theban trilogy) using an African American church as a setting and gospel music. The music was easily the best part; the integration between the story and the setting was awkward and contrived.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy: An American show that "...traces the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to a one-night stand at the Geneva Convention, after which Israel doesn't call." Sounded way more promising than it was. It had a few good moments, though.
Vieux Carre: The last show I saw, and also with the International Festival. It's one of Tennessee Williams' final plays, and was produced by an avant-garde theatre company. It took me a while to like this, but I ultimately did. The production concept was very unsettling, but really well done and interesting. Part of the set involved on-stage television screens, and actors were filmed while facing upstage, so you could see what they were doing no matter what. It was weird. I loved it.
In addition to seeing all these plays, I also ate Scottish food... aka haggis. Haggis is really, really good and I think everyone should try it before they talk badly about it. There are even vegetarian options. So, next time you're in the UK, do yourself a favor: be adventurous. Eat some haggis.
Today I started (and ended) the Great Flat Hunt. I am living in Notting Hill in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment. I have 5 other flatmates, one of whom, Mia, I'm sharing a room with. We move in tomorrow, although I might sleep at the hotel for a while because Carnival is happening this weekend, and it takes place very near Notting Hill.
Life is good. Peace out, cubscouts.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
There Ain't Nothing Like A Brooklyn Girl
Sound: "So Contagious" by Acceptance
I'm in love. The object of my affections has it all; they're urban, cultured, quirky, clean, open-minded, and easy to deal with. What noun (yes, person, place, or thing-this is a new age in sexuality, folks) has caused me to fall head-over-heels? Brooklyn, New York City, NY. Dear Lord, I've only spent a few hours in Brooklyn and I already want to go back. I could easily see myself living there for the rest of my life and being very, very happy.
I went to Brooklyn today to visit my friend Silvan. I also ended up visiting his parents, who are just wonderful people. I first met them when they came to see a show that Silvan was in, and it was great to see them again. We had a very low-key, but fun day- hanging out, seeing "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," and eating way too much Mexican food.
Brooklyn has Manhattan's "big city" feel without its lack of greenery (and, to be perfectly frank, aroma of urine). The subway runs throughout the borough, but it's easy to walk through, too. And it's easy to find a grocery store! Do you realize how important this is? I know that there are grocery stores all over Manhattan, but I swear I have yet to actually see one.
In addition to my newfound love for Brooklyn, I'm just loving this vacation in general. I'm enjoying the change of scenery, and am surprising myself with how quickly I've picked up NYC public transportation. Also, I've learned that I apparently walk quickly. Or maybe the rest of America just walks really slowly. Either way, I've been hating on the Times Square tourists a little bit. Sorry.
Tomorrow I travel to the Bronx to go to the Zoo with Ben. I'm excited to see the alligators and tortoises. I'm hoping that they have manatees, but I'm trying to keep my expectations somewhat low.
Peace out, cubscouts.
Monday, August 9, 2010
A bientot, Ithaca
Sound: "Real Situation" by Bob Marley
I leave Ithaca in approximately four days. Or, exactly, 3 days, 22 hours, and 49 minutes. And I'm glad. It's time to take a break and try something new. My next stop is New York, which is a fairly new place for me, since I've only really visited three times. The other times I've been there, I've been on a shuttle between JFK Airport and the Port Authority in Times Square, or in Port Authority itself. While in NYC I'm going to see "La Cage Aux Folles" with Craig and visit the Bronx Zoo with Ben, but I plan on spending most of my time just walking around and exploring. I want to get out of the touristy things and discover my own version of New York City. Also, I need to save money.
So, in honor of this summer ending, here's my Ithaca Summer 2010 "By The Numbers":
Number of Visits to the Gorges: 5
Number of Trips to the Commons: 23
Amount of Money spent at Wegman's: $118.79
Number of People Who Slept In My Extra Bed: 7
Number of Body Modifactions Added: 4
Number of Body Modifications Removed: 2
Number of Out-of-Area Visitors: 5 (since my family is, technically, 3 separate people)
Number of Books Purchased: 9
Number of Books Read: 5 (really should work on that...)
Number of Movies Seen (both in theatres and at home): 52 (thanks, Netflix!)
Number of Times I Woke Up Facing a Deer Outside of My Window: 3
Seems to me like it was a pretty good summer.
Peace out, cubscouts.
I leave Ithaca in approximately four days. Or, exactly, 3 days, 22 hours, and 49 minutes. And I'm glad. It's time to take a break and try something new. My next stop is New York, which is a fairly new place for me, since I've only really visited three times. The other times I've been there, I've been on a shuttle between JFK Airport and the Port Authority in Times Square, or in Port Authority itself. While in NYC I'm going to see "La Cage Aux Folles" with Craig and visit the Bronx Zoo with Ben, but I plan on spending most of my time just walking around and exploring. I want to get out of the touristy things and discover my own version of New York City. Also, I need to save money.
So, in honor of this summer ending, here's my Ithaca Summer 2010 "By The Numbers":
Number of Visits to the Gorges: 5
Number of Trips to the Commons: 23
Amount of Money spent at Wegman's: $118.79
Number of People Who Slept In My Extra Bed: 7
Number of Body Modifactions Added: 4
Number of Body Modifications Removed: 2
Number of Out-of-Area Visitors: 5 (since my family is, technically, 3 separate people)
Number of Books Purchased: 9
Number of Books Read: 5 (really should work on that...)
Number of Movies Seen (both in theatres and at home): 52 (thanks, Netflix!)
Number of Times I Woke Up Facing a Deer Outside of My Window: 3
Seems to me like it was a pretty good summer.
Peace out, cubscouts.
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