Etiquette

I don't like to waste my time with anger, so I don't. While I can be annoyed, rarely am I angry. Few things trigger anger within me, and one of these things is disrespect in the theatre.

I got to see Julius Caesar at the Globe Theatre. I would have really enjoyed it, had it not been for the people sitting around me. There was a rowdy group of French teenagers who were completely disrespectful the entire first act. I couldn't hear a single word of what the actors were saying. Three people in our section told the young adults to shut up, but to no avail. Thankfully, the group thought intermission was the end of the show, so they didn't come back.

For those of you who don't frequent a cinema or theatre, or even those who do, I've compiled a list of things you should NEVER do during show time:

(Might I add, the majority of these happened today.)

• Have your cell phone out. Ever. The bright light is distracting and I'm sure the "Bae 😍😘❤️" you're texting can wait two hours.
• Have your cell phone volume on. Nothing ruins a beautiful moment in a show more than someone's phone ringing. It's a distraction to everyone, especially at live performances, as the actors can hear it too.
• Talk. Seriously, shut up.
• PDA. No one wants to see that.
• Kick the seat in front of you. Yes, leg room is limited. It especially sucks for tall people such as myself. But kicking the seat of the person in front of you is a jerk move.
• Eat loud food. Take the chips/apples/crunchy food elsewhere. Like a BBQ. I want to hear the show, not your mastication.
• Chew with your mouth open/smack your jaw. My biggest pet peeve. Learn some manners. If you can't eat without sounding like a cow, eat at home, please. Same goes with slurping your drink.
• Crinkle food wrappers, drink bottles, or things of the like. If I wanted to hear that noise, I'd unplug my cable box at home.
• Leave a mess. People have to clean up everything you leave behind, and odds are they hate you if you leave things behind. Be respectful and clean up after yourself.
• Take pictures during the performance. Not only is that against code for performance rights, but it's distracting. Just watch the show. Having your camera filming part of the production causes you to not only miss the live action, but hinders others from seeing it.
• Do other "errands." Seriously, during the show today a girl was counting her change...OUT LOUD! If these things are so important, you probably shouldn't be in the theatre.
• Get up in the middle of a show if you're in the middle. Unless it's an absolute emergency, don't try to crawl out of your row. For those with smaller bladders, I recommend the isle.

I could probably go on, but this list is pretty sufficient. What are the things that bother you most in the theatre/cinema/place of gathering? Comment below or post to my Facebook, I'd love to hear from you.

Homesick

First of all, forgive me for being absent. There is so much going on that oftentimes, by the end of the day, I am simply too exhausted to write. Either that, or I don't know what to say.

Don't be mislead by this title. I'm not homesick. Actually, I feel quite at home here, but then again, I feel most at home when I'm doing what I love. Many of my friends here are homesick for Tennessee. This is because they have wonderful families, a special significant other, or any other combination of reasons. Granted, I have a wonderful life back in the states, and I do miss it, but there is something refreshing about being somewhere new. I've always been a vagabond, a wandering heart. A bird in a cage cooped up so long, aching to stretch my wings and test my limits. Now, I'm free. I'm out of my cage. I've grown up and worked for my first test flight, and here I am, soaring at new heights. How can I be homesick when I feel so alive?

So to those of you who have wondered if I'm homesick, the answer is no. Of course I miss my friends, I miss my cat, and quite frequently this week I've missed my air conditioning. Seriously, London. What is up with all of this hot weather? My heart is all for adventure, and that's where I'm living right now.

Tourists

My friends and I have all agreed, London is not what we expected. And of course, nothing is ever as expected. Duh. What we discovered is that London is far more of a melting pot and tourist hub than what we originally thought. It's like going to any big city in America and hearing different languages, except this time we're part of that outside culture.

While we may be outside of the immediate culture of England, we still speak English. It is astonishing how many languages I hear in London, and even in Windsor. There's everything from Korean and Japanese, to French, German, and Polish, and even some languages I have no idea how to identify. As a matter of fact, I think I've heard more foreign accents than English accents. (Sorry, ladies. Lots of males here don't have that accent you're looking for.)

Basically, it's really weird to think that most of these people are tourists, too. It was pretty funny when a Polish family asked us for directions on the tube yesterday. I guess we're not fitting the American tourist stereotype, which I have no problem with. As a matter of fact, not many people have pegged us as tourists. We are obviously American, but they don't seem to mind. They like our accents. It's weird to be on that side of the fence for once. I kind of like it.

...

I have been working on this post for two days now, and no matter how deeply I search within myself, I cannot find adequate words to describe my experiences on Friday.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever had the honour of touring. Every inch, every surface, every angle is covered in history. Tombs of some of the most famous kings and queens are held within. There is preserved damage to the building sustained from wars past. The chapels are marvellous, and to partake in an hourly prayer within the building was truly extraordinary. The architecture alone is enough to leave a person breathless. Westminster Abbey left me more than just breathless, it left me speechless.

The final stop on the self-guided tour is Poets' Corner. I have nothing other to say than wow. To see tombs of the authors I've grown up reading, and stones and statues that pay tribute to many others that I love...it was so surreal. To be able to honour those who have been my eternal friend through every walk of life; whose words shaped me and helped form who I am today...wow. Their published words are too perfect and for me to add any would be wrong, so I'll leave the words to the professionals.

Here's to you, beloved authors and dear friends. Thank you for creating something so beautiful and inviting. Thank you for bringing your words to the public. Thank you for following your heart, and allowing me to open mine.

Exhilaration || Exhaustion

Happy first full day in London!

Tube stops and street signs and long queues for the restroom. (Seriously, 20 minutes at McDonald's queue for Josh to get to the men's room!) I don't have anything profound or sappy to say today, so let's just chat.

A bunch of people missed the group tour today at Covent Garden, including me. That left us with an entirely free afternoon. After eating in this super hipster Asian fusion restaurant, two friends and I set out to discover what was in the surrounding area. We stumbled into Piccalilli Circus and explored Leicester Square. I can't explain the joy I have by being surrounded by so much theatre. Not only that, but the people watching here is extravagant.

The hardest thing about this city isn't finding my way on the tube, the currency exchanges, or crossing the street. Actually, navigating the tube is super simple and so are currency exchanges. Crossing the street is simple enough, as long as I look right. The most difficult thing is being constantly alert. Even though I do this every day at work or school or whatever, it's an elevated level of attention I haven't experienced in a while. I'm in a completely new city with (relatively) new friends and we don't know where to go from memory. I have to be aware of streets and bikes and people and pick pockets. Basically I'm always running on 110%. I'm both exhilarated and exhausted. I'm not sure if there's a word somewhere between those two. I'm sure after a couple more days, this will all be second nature, but for now, I'm just going to be tired.

If We Have The Courage

Dreams. Everyone has dreams. Some dream of fame, some of travel, others of fortune or family. The realm of possibility for dreams is infinite. A famous quote from Walt Disney reads, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." While widely used and often overlooked, this quote has some vital wisdom behind it.

At first, we look at the quote simply. We are filled with delight in knowing all of our dreams can come true...but we forget that last part. Our dreams can only come true if we work to achieve them. Then and only then are we able to achieve our goals. The fulfillment of dreams comes at the price of hard work.

My whole life, I have dreamed of going to London, and today my dream begins. I heard about this trip a year and a half ago, and from the moment I discovered this possibility, I knew I had to go. I worked countless hours to afford and prepare for this trip. There were many long weeks and a plethora of sleepless nights, not to mention quite a sum of money spent. None of that matters. What matters is that I did it. I am making my dreams come true. I'm not sitting around waiting for someone to grant my wish for me, oh no. I found the courage to pursue what I want.

It is so surreal to me. I am currently sitting in an airplane flying over 32,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, typing in the notepad on my iPad and listening to Coldplay while most of the plane is asleep. By the time you read this, I will have already landed in the city. My dream becomes reality. I AM ON MY WAY.

I was encouraged to start a blog by a handful of my classmates last semester. Filled with inspiration and excitement, I went home from school that day and got a URL for myself. That was months ago. I never followed through. It's time to fix that. I hope you join me as I explore London for the next few weeks. Follow me, this introvert in a field of extroverts, as I live how I have imagined since I was a little girl.

London, here I come.