Once upon a yesterday afternoon, I was sitting in my room preparing to watch the second half of Angels in America when Mitch came over to ask for my map of London. His Shakespeare class was going to see a production of Much Ado About Nothing and he needed to find the theater. He also mentioned that his professor had two extra tickets and did I want to go. I said, "YES PLEASE!" And I'm so glad I did because it was a wonderful show! It stars Zoe Wannamaker as Beatrice (which some of you might know as Madame Hooch from Harry Potter!) and Simon Russell Beale. I had seen both of them in productions this summer and it was really neat to see them in different rolls! It also had an actor from A Knight's Tale (Mark Addy) which was really neat to see! It was a really funny production and well acted. I also just love that I can decide to go see a show in London at 1:00 on a day and be in a seat at 7:30 that night! I have included some pictures of th show. The first one is Beatrice in a pool of water which both Benedick and Beatrice jumped into in the show and got completely soaked! It was awesome! The second one is the two lovers talking! I can't wait to see more shows soon!

Herby

Today I spent the majority of the day working on a presentation for my modernism class which has been really rewarding since I actually have time to sink my teeth into the text! But....does not make for a very exciting blog....I thought I would use this opportunity to introduce you to a very important figure in my daily life over here! I have included a picture of Herby! He is a duck/radio and he lives in our upstairs bathroom! He serenades me as I take a shower and decides which song I will have stuck in my head for the rest of the day! He is a very good little duck and sometimes I sing Rubber Ducky to him but only when I'm feeling particularly silly and I know no one is home! Well, I'm glad that you all could meet Herby! (Oh, and this picture was taken when Herby was in our kitchen entertaining us while we were cooking....in case you were worried about me having peanut butter in the bathroom) Back to work....

Day Trip to Dover

Yesterday Mitch, Daniel, and I took a day trip to the town of Dover (as in "White Cliffs of") and witnessed the White Cliffs first hand! Since Dover is only about 30 minutes away we didn't start until later in the day (cause sleeping in is precious no matter how many times you do it) and took the 12:20 bus to Dover. Our first order of business was to find some Fish and Chips since we were on the coast and that is the best place to get fish! We found some at a pub and it was DELICIOUS! I ate the whole thing and was so full, but likely I had a lot f walking ahead of me so it was ok! One thingI noticed about going to a pub around 1 in the afternoon was how many people had pints! Its 5 o'clock somewhere...right? Anyway, we walked down to the English Chanel and I touched it! Before I touched I was thinking it would be really cool to swim across it.....after touching it I'm thinking its really cold and I probably will not be swimming in it! We saw the White Cliffs and walked along the water for awhile! Then we decided to go check out the Castle because it has secret tunnels and that's cool! (Sidebar....the European students are not as impressed by castles as we are because they have castles everywhere....but to me castles will always be awesome! Too bad America missed that whole castle phase....) We took the bus up to the castle but when we got there they told us that they were closing in 40 minutes. We decided to do the castle another day....since it was 10 pounds to get in. So, we walked back down the big hill through some really cool paths and out on the pier (which was like half a kilometer long) and got a really good view of the cliffs! Then we called it a day and went home. It was a good day and we learned that it is better to not sleep in when exploring the country because everything closes at like 4:00. I look forward to exploring more of Kent.....it is my playground!

Exciting News!

I just found out that I was cast as the leading female role in a play I auditioned for! The play is student written and its working title is Pub Comedy. My character's name is Alice and she works in a pub! I am really excited to be involved in a play while I'm over here because I feel it will be a great way to make really good friends! The cast members that I have met so far have seemed like a lot of fun and I am looking forward to working with them! The only down side is I won't be able to travel as much...but that's what April and May can be for! Oh! And the other blessing is that the show dates fall while my Mom is here! She has never missed a show that I have been in and she will be able to come to this one too! That's all for now folks!

Happy Birthday To Daniel!

So yesterday was Daniel's 21st birthday and we celebrated with him! It was really nice, I thought, how we all came together and celebrated his birthday as a house! It made me realize that I have a great support system and some really great people in my house! Lena baked a really yummy cake and we had a bottle of champagne in his honor (in the funny nose glasses that Claire is modeling)! We also gave him a bottle of Jameson befitting a 21 year old! Then we all hit the town for both Daniel and my first proper PUB CRAWL! We started at this place called West Bar which gives out glow-stick bracelets when you order a cocktail! They are modeled ever so elegantly below. They kinda look like Captain Planet! Anyway, we then proceeded to The Hobgoblin which is a neat old pub! It had a good pub feeling to it and no tables so we had to stand at the bar which encouraged us to move on quickly! Our next and final stop was the Beer Cart Arms which was really fun! They had great music playing (including one of my favorites MY SHARONA) and we had our own nook! We remained there until it closed....which was at 11:00 cause all the bars close around 11 or at the latest 12 (which I like because I don't do well with really late nights). And we headed home on the bus! It was a really fun night and I kinda felt like it was my 21st Birthday too since it was my first pub crawl! I also really enjoyed hanging out with everyone (several of Lena's friends came along too) and having a night out! I hope to do it again soon (but hopefully next time I won't have class the next day). Lena even confessed to me that they were worried about having new house-mates because their last ones were so nice, but we are just as wonderful she said and she's really glad to have us! I too feel blessed to have been placed in such a nice house and last night was a real testament to what a great house it is!

DId you know?

So we were hanging out in Claire's room watching YouTube videos and she had a smurf blanket and I pointed and said, "SMURFS!" and she replied, "Schtroumpfs" and I was like, "whaaaa?" Apparently the Smurfs originated in Belgium.....did not know. And Lena came in and said a different name for the smurfs. Isn't it funny that a made up word like smurf can be so different for all the languages. Anyway...it kinda blew my mind that the smurfs weren't from America....who knew? You learn something new everyday.....

London Calling

So on Wednesday afternoon Mitch skyped me up and said, "Hey Martha you wanna go to London this weekend?" And I said, "Um....yes!" I then knocked on my housemate, Daniel's door and asked, "Hey Daniel you wanna go to London this weekend?" and he replied, "Um....yes!" You see, since Canterbury is so close to London you could buy a round trip ticket for as little as 2 pounds. Since we waited so long ours was more like 12 pounds but still!!! And so we booked tickets on a bus to London for a day! And with a little more planning I think we could make this a simi-regular thing! We left the Canterbury around 8:15 (when my alarm went off at 6:30 I didn't think this whole London thing was quite as cool anymore....but I got over that very quickly) and drove through the countryside toward London! Mitch wasn't feeling well on the bus, however, and when we arrived at the bus station he opted to remain close to the facilities while Daniel and I went to the half price ticket window to see if we could go see any shows. Our first choice was Les Mis, but they only had restricted view and I really wanted to be able to see the show (demanding, I know) and so we opted for a less well
known show called Dealer's Choice. Mitch still wasn't
feeling well so he didn't get a ticket :(. He did feel up for
a walk to Westminster Abbey though! We were all excited
about going in and seeing the Poet's corner (where a lot of
famous poets are buried namely Chaucer) and the beautiful
architecture. When we arrived we discovered that it was their day of prayer and one of the few days a year that the Abbey is closed to visitors. They were still open for Even Song and so we decided to come back for that at 3. While we waited we walked around Parliament and got some lunch in a sandwich shop! As we set out for Westminster again we ran into another group of American students studying at Kent (small world) and they said they were headed to the National Gallery Daniel decided to go with them while Mitch and I went to Even Song. It was a beautiful service and the music sounded amazing in the Abbey! Afterwards Mitch decided it was time for him to go home! I met up with Daniel and the others in the National Gallery! Then we went to a pub but by the time we found one it was almost time for Daniel and I to head to the theater. So we said goodbye and walked to our theater. The show was very good and extremely well acted! Then we headed back to the bus station and headed back to campus! All and all it was a very successful trip! I am excited to do it again! With almost all of the museums being free it is wonderful to think that I can do London for as little as 10 pounds a day! I also feel a sense of pride that I did a mini trip all by myself! Even this summer when I went we had a professor who planned out the majority of the trip! This was all me and I feel it was a success! I look forward to going back again soon!
*I would also like to say a thank you to everyone that's reading my blog! I have been getting a lot of good feedback about it in sometimes unexpected places! If you ever want to comment on something (even to just say it cool) please do because then it becomes an even better communication tool! I like knowing how my friends and family are reacting! I miss you all!

So domestic!

So I have the discovered the beauty of having classes for only two days a week and that is all the time it leaves to do other things that you get too busy for in regular life! Daniel and I have been cooking for almost every meal and making really delicious meals! I have included pictures of a salad that we made two nights ago! Almost all of the ingredients were bought at a farmers market that comes to campus every week! I love being able to go to the market and pick out fresh ingredients and then make something....which I can do at home but I hardly ever do....here, I have so much time I don't feel like I need to squeeze a dinner in 20 minutes before running to the next thing! Sometimes I spend an hour or an hour and a half just sitting and enjoying my dinner and talking with my flat-mates!
Speaking of my flat mates we are really starting to have a lot of fun! Tonight we went to the pub in Parkwood (the location of my court of houses) and I had a snakebite! Its a tasty drink but the real fun was in hanging out with my housemates! I have included a picture of Lena and Claire! By the time I took the picture Lena had finished her drink which is why she is holding up a salt shaker! We decided to have "flat dinner" on Thursday night and make lasagna and bread and salad! I am very excited! Anyway, that's all for now!

Into the Woods!

I thought today I would include some pictures of my walk to my classes because it's a really wonderful part of my day! Parkwood (the location of my house) is, as the name suggests, in the woods and to get to class we take this wonderful path through the woods! Sometimes there are bunnies along the path, but now that all the students are back and populating the path the bunnies have retreated back into the woods. And today there were ducks in a pond next to the path! It just starts my day off right to take a trip through such a beautiful path every morning! So here are a couple of pictures depicting my path!

Also, I have started classes! I think I am going to enjoy them a lot! The British students are attentive and quick in their assessments of what is being said around them. I love to listen and will have to work hard to speak more....but I love to hear what they have to say (and it doesn't hurt that they are saying it all in lovely British accents!). I learned a lot just from my first two days of classes and I have much research to do before next week, but since I'm done with classes for the week......I think I should have some time to do that. I am really feeling a part of the school now and enjoying being here! But I miss you all and hope everyone is doing well back home!

Adventure in the Cathedral!

On Saturday the international students were given the opportunity to take a tour of the Cathedral in town. When I visited the town of Canterbury this summer I did not go into the Cathedral so this was a new adventure for me! It is really a breathtaking experience! Especially after having studied the play Murder in the Cathedral it was really neat to see the place where Beckett was
killed! The first picture (from right to left) is a picture of the shrine to Beckett where all the pilgrims came to pay homage to Saint Beckett. The next picture is an alter which is in the place where Thomas Beckett was slain. It is really modern looking and creepy...in a good way. Notice at the bottom it says Thomas! The last picture is looking out from the shrine into the rest of the Cathedral! It is really a breathtaking view! Another neat thing that I saw while (or whilst as they say here) is the tomb of Henry IV. I read the first part of Shakespeare's play about Henry IV's life this past semester and it was cool to see the tomb of a man who Shakespeare saw fit to right about! And, interestingly enough, Henry's tomb is right across from Prince Edward's tomb (Edward was father to Richard II who was dethroned and killed on the command of Henry IV). But enough history for tonight!

In other news........I start my first class tomorrow! I finally got my schedule worked out and I only have class on Tuesday and Wednesday! I will have a 5 day weekend every week! This is going to be great for those of you who are visiting me! It will also be great for all my traveling needs! The Annie song comes to mind...."I think I'm gunna like it here!".....

You know you're in Europe when......

So! Today my house-mates arrived and I am loving it! They all have been here for 3 months before now and know all of the people from their countries that live close by. So today Lena (my German roommate) cooked a delicious dinner for us and invited a bunch of her friends round! Clara (from France) invited some of her friends round too! After dinner we say round and drank tea and talked. At one point the conversations broke off into different languages....Daniel and I spoke English and then there was a conversation in German and one in French.....soon Daniel and I stopped talking and started listening! It was amazing! I think today it finally sank in that I am no longer in America and am in Europe!
In the picture the names from left to right are: Martha, Kristen, Lena, Anna, and Clara.....Lena and Clara live with me!
Other than my language revelation, I think today was the best day so far! A girl that visited the house tonight (she is not in the picture) told me how to fix the fuse and that has really brightened my day! Also, today was the end of orientation and tomorrow is my first day to not have a schedule and really explore! I am looking forward to it! Well, I should go to bed because its very late! Good night!

Crazy Hallway!

So today I did a bit more exploring and Kent is a very interesting place. I'm finally finding my way around and I'm putting the pieces together to make a map in my head. In one of my adventures, however, I stumbled across this floor of a building with all white walls and no doors. It was very freaky and so I left and returned later with reenforcement (namely Mitch). With our powers combined we ventured further into this weird place and took some pictures which I am now presenting to you! Doesn't it resemble an insane asylum? Just imagine this room being at the end of an all white hallway with no doors!!!!

Orientation

Today was the first day of orientation and it really helped to start getting some of my questions answered. I look forward to tomorrow where we get a tour of campus so that I can start knowing my way around a little better. Its very rainy and windy so its not find to wonder around and try to find things. Mitch's roommate came back from vacation and she is from Massachusetts and has been here for the fall term as well. She is a wonderful resource because she has already figured out the answer to many of my questions. Also, she likes to cook!!! She made us Miso soup and fried rice for dinner! I look forward to my two female flat mates moving in! My fuse still isn't fixed but I am hopeful that tomorrow will be the day! I am also looking forward to going to the store and buying pillows and such that will make sleeping a bit nicer. Although, when Mitch and I asked a woman today if they had bed toppers she looked at us like we were crazy! I am feeling more excited now about the semester and I am looking forward to classes starting (especially my Physical Theater class!) I am a little worried about grading being so different BUT.....its only pass fail and I feel that if I try I will be fine! And I'm very interested in learning here so I think I will try very hard to learn all I can which can't hurt my grades! The picture I am including today is one of a Ben and Jerry's Ice cream machine which is AWESOME!!! It was in the campus restaurant called Origins which is in Darwin college....get it? I still miss home very much but today was a good day and I feel very good about it!

First Thoughts

Well, I am in England!!!! I don't really know what to think yet or how to feel. I feel overloaded. I am excited, anxious, sad, happy, grateful, hopeful, worried, and this is all compounded by being tired.....so very tired. I am looking forward to classes starting (especially my theater class). I am realizing more and more what a wonderful experience this is! I am feeling closer to myself than I have in a long time. I think by the end of the semester I will know myself much better. When we checked into our rooms the woman that checked us in was named Lucy Tyler (which is my mother's exact name)!!!! It was like a little message for God that its going to be ok and that I will be at home here eventually. I am really glad to have my own room so that I can get away from it all and really think. But enough about me!
I love how new everything feels! Mitch and I went to the campus shop today and behind the counter there was cigarettes and hard liquor.....in the campus store...WHAT?!?! Also, there are a lot of words here that are almost like our words but just slightly different (for example "overspill parking" instead of overflow). Everything just takes a little more thought than my life at home. Time and money are the two big ones. On the schedule it say 14.00 hrs for a meeting time and although its easy enough to figure out that that means 2:00 pm it just takes a little more thought. And when I pay for something exact change takes a lot longer. And they have a 2 pence coin thats bigger than all the other coins......what's the point of that?!?! I dunno. Well, I have to go to a meeting in a few minutes to learn more about my new school!