last tuesday & wednesday in london :(

Early tuesday morning I hadta find my way outta Mira's gated in dorm and then to the tube, change incredibly crowded trains about 4 times, and had just enough time to run back to the flat, change clothes, grab my paper and go to Media & Society. I randomly ran into the UNC girl that I'd met on my way back from Barcelona, so that was neat. Mo's class was so sad..we all went around and said what our London experience has meant to us..then he took us all to the British Museum cafe and bought us drinks. Then Sara, Hannah & I went to get one last hummus bros for lunch..it was sad because I was one punch away from a free hummus and my favorite worker was less than amused at us begging..but I did end up getting a free hummus..watched a bunch of the inbetweeners..then went to my last class. Turned in my clockwork orange paper and we watched the movie Adaptations in class. I don't usually care much for Nicholas Cage but I did like it a lot. Hannah & I went to Westminster Abbey after class for the 5 PM Evensong. One of those things we'd talked about doing all semester but hadn't. It was a neat experience..a beautiful setting and great acoustics..didn't feel anything spiritual but I'm glad we went. After that Sara & I went to see the play that my film professor wrote, "Maddening Rain". I really liked it a lot- the entire play was just one man talking to the audience and the set was just a bunch of blinds hanging up behind him and lights..so it was an extremely talented actor to pull that off and make it work, but it really did..very thought provoking and interesting. Then Sara got thai food and I got egg fried rice, then we went to O'Neills for a last night of free music. The abbreviated version of events: creepy Canadian guy with a bleeding eyebrow piercing wouldn't leave me alone, creepy married man wouldn't leave me alone and tried to start fights, creepy dancing guy wouldn't leave me alone, spanish guy saved me, talked to 3 lithuanians who were convinced that America's much better than any part of Europe, carolers tried to pickpocket me, Sara & I hung out with an actor and his girlfriend and friend who buys chinese food when he gets upset (the actor said his name was John Lowe..not sure of his real name..trying to figure out..)...and that's basically it. Wednesday, our entire group met in the graffiti tunnel to take our group picture and spray paint.! :D Afterwards I took Sara to Food for Thought (my london version of the little grill!!) and it was so amazing.! again :) We browsed around a neat bookstore for awhile, then I tried to pack a bit (O_o), we had our group meeting, then everyone went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park and we all went iceskating.! :D It was so much fun and beautiful with all of the lights and Christmas decorations up.! After that, Sara, Hannah & I went on this awesome ride that spun you around crazily in the air flipping and circling super fast.! We walked around for a long time after just enjoying everything.

PAUL MCCARTNEY....!!!!! :D

Amsterdam..what an experience. It really was an artsy, lovely city architecturally. I enjoyed the Van gogh museum a lot, and it was beautiful just walking around with all the Christmas lights and graffiti and decorated buildings and makeshift Christmas villages. It was rainy and cold the entire weekend though and I'm sad I didn't get to experience all of the tulips since I went there in december...Sara & I had fun trying all the free samples of homemade cheese and chocolate too.! Then as soon as we got back on Sunday I had to spend the rest of the night finishing up two papers. Monday morning was Tancred's politics final that I didn't study for at all..I don't feel too bad about it but I feel like no one learned anything in that class..I worked more on my papers, and then at 4 had a theater final that I also didn't study for at all..I don't really know how you could though, because she just took quotes from reviews of different shows we've been to and asked us to discuss our thoughts on the quote in depth and whether we agree or disagree with the statement and why..so it wasn't too bad..I finished early though and didn't want to be the first to turn in my papers but was so anxious and excited for PAUL MCCARTNEY.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so I turned in my final and rushed to Pret, grabbed a takeaway falafel sandwich and salt & vinegar chips, and hurried onto the tube to the O2 arena.! It's a pretty long ride but I made it to the arena before the doors were even opened. I bought a tshirt, a poster & a tour guide book.! :D OHMYGOSH. I found my seat, then Renee texted me and I sat by her and we talked and chilled until right before the show started. I went back to my seat and was prepared to be AMAZED. and AMAZED I was, OH MY BROTHERs.! I still can't believe it was real and that it happened and even as it was happening..OHMYGOSH.! Paul rushed out on stage singing Hello Goodbye.! his family was app in the audience. There were flashing lights, strobe lights, fireworks..! Paul played Here Today dedicated to John Lennon, and then later on ukulele dedicated Something to George Harrison.! He played paperback writer, drive my car, back in the USSR, band on the run, live and let die, jet, daytripper, the long and winding road, i've got a feeling, helter skelter, blackbird, a day in the life, in my life, I've just seen a face, hey jude, let it be and MORE! it was the quickest 3 hours of my life. He came back on stage for two encores, the first of which he was joined on stage with Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones to play Get Back :) the show finally ended with golden slumbers and an outpour of confetti rained from the ceiling..and it was SO GREAT.! It just felt so surreal dancing the entire time and knowing that I was witnessing a beatle, a musician great, sir paul mccartney, literally a piece of history..and at the same time, he's just a guy..who's still doing what he loves at his age and loving it- dancing and all..and good for him.! It was such an AMAZING unforgettable show :D afterwards I met up with Mira and her friend from Denmark, Julie. We had to queue for forever to get on the tube leaving the O2, and a creepy man followed us for a bit O_o. We eventually had to run to get away from him, and then just headed to their dorms and watched some of the George Harrison documentary "Living in the Material World".!