16 July

Feeling both overwhelmed with all the work I had to do, and sad that Behavior Modification class is coming to an end already.  Many classmates went to see a Shakespeare play but I needed the time to catch up on work.  Still, I'm trying to enjoy every moment here, and learning so much.

15 July

Spent a terrific day visiting some more museums.  At the Natural History Museum, there was so much to see.  I never thought a taxidermy alligator would fill me with nostalgia for home, but it did.  The manatee, however, was not a manatee, it was a dugong.  It was interesting seeing even just animal exhibits with a British slant -- realizing that American flora and fauna was suddenly not the center of the universe, and also how diverse/unique the wildlife we have to offer when seen on a global scale.  I surprised myself by being fascinated by the "rock room".  It was all cool!  Except the temperature inside the areas that didn't have A/C -- that was pretty hot and sticky.

Then we had only a brief amount of time to spend in the Victoria & Albert Museum -- but I definitely need to go back.  It was breathtaking!  I was amazed by some of the artifacts they had -- whole altars and religious pieces that moved me, especially. 

13-14 July

Great Monday spent at the University of London Institute of Education, learning from their music faculty.  It was so special to get their perspectives and hear about some fantastic research.  I didn't go anywhere that afternoon except the university bookstore to buy some music teaching materials with an English perspective.  I look forward to reading them!

On Tuesday, I took it easy too as I had a lot of reading to do.  However, I did have some fantastic pancakes at some quirky Dutch place.  BEHOLD!

12 July

This day was life-changing.  We went to service at St. Paul's Cathedral, where the choir was performing Haydn's Missa Sancti Nicolai, which we studied and sang last summer.  Between the music, the space, and the "emotional concomitant" of the religious experience itself, I cried for at least the first 15 minutes without being able to stop.  I had tears streaming down my face like a buffoon.  It was transcendent.  I hope this contraband photo I snapped will help me to remember that feeling.

Then we went to lunch, I found an awesome little garden, and took a walk down to Covent Garden, which was not really a garden.  The first garden was, though.  Proof: 

Some of us ended the evening with a pot luck supper -- I "played a new key" by making a not-very-exciting oreo icebox cake, but it went quickly regardless.  I reduced myself to tears for the second time this day by recounting some funny college stories.  Ah, youth. ;)

11 July

In the morning, I went with some classmates to the Tower of London.  I will admit that my heart wasn't in it on this visit.  I think my brain has been in overdrive from all I have been learning, thinking, and experiencing firsthand.  Also, my feet.  These dogs are barking!
Anyway, there is a ton of stuff to take in in that old creepy place, but after level after level of museum, it was all starting to mush together.  I had my first solo Underground experience, did not get horribly lost, and met a friend who was coming to visit which ended up being a gigantic comedy of errors.  Well, some of it wasn't so funny at the time.  But, the good news is, I saw a lot of London -- and a lot of areas that weren't as spiffy and shiny as the places I'd been previously.  Knowledge is power.  Francis Bacon said that, and he was English, so he's probably seen those places too.

10 July

I very refreshingly left my phone at home as I caught up with some classmates and traipsed around London, so I don't have any pictures for today except ones I've commandeered from others.

We went to Westminster Abbey.  I had been there before, but I couldn't help tearing up when I first started the audio tour and was struck by some of the memorials for Baroque composers.  The tour was so fascinating, and though there were so many people there, I enjoyed a peaceful stroll alone with my thoughts and the soothing narration of Jeremy Irons.  Thanks, Jeremy Irons.

We tried, not very successfully at first, to find dinner -- it turns out a lot of pubs serve only drinks and close their kitchens early on Fridays.  Who knew!  We finally found grub at Byron, a hamburger place, where I got my "macaroni cheese" on, yea America.

Then, a handful of us saw Miss Saigon.  Wow.  I didn't know the storyline or any of the music, and I will admit that in the beginning I thought it was a little hokey, but I can respect it for the great work that it is.  It moved me, it made me think, and it was an incredible performance.  I realized, with shame, how very little I know about the Vietnam War, and I am grateful for this experience just as I am grateful for every other eye-opening experience here in London.

9 July

After class, I had lunch with BK and KA.  It was good to catch up, socialize, and guess my way through ordering some weird-sounding vegetarian things (new word! aubergine).  In the evening, most of us went up on the London Eye.  I decided to walk rather than take the Tube, as London had been in the midst of a transit strike.  The walk through Leicester Square was pretty special, and the ride on the Eye with my classmates, singing our school Hymn and reflecting on our past three years together, is an experience I won't soon forget.