Relishing Time

Isn't it funny that relish means to savor or treasure but also means a concoction that one puts on a hot dog or bratwurst? I think it's weird but the whole English language is weird. Anyway, the reason I titled the post that way is because after class, I went to the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square and tried to relish my time there because it is running out. It's crazy, I only have 17 days left until I depart for Turkey. Of those, 3 will be in Paris and at least 5 will be taken up with classes. That only leaves 10 days! I still have so many things I want to do and see here or revisit! Yikes! Anyway, onto my day.

I got up early and finished that review for Islam. I think it is OK. Not great but not bad, just OK. In class we talked about terrorism. What is it? What is Al Qaeda? Who is Osama Bin Laden? Plus a whole bunch more questions. Super uplifting and fun... Haha, not. It was good though because, as always, it seems I don't know much about anything and I really liked learning about it that stuff. The second half of the class, we watched the first part of a movie called The Power of Nightmares. It was made in 2004 and won a BAFTA (like an Oscar). In the part that we watched, the documentary discussed the rise of Neo-Conservatism in the US and the rise of Radical Islam. Without actually saying it, it was showing the similarities of the two events. Anyway, it was super interesting and painted a pretty scary picture of the Neo-Conservatives.

Then I ate lunch and went to Art History. We met in a classroom which stunk. I would have rather met at a gallery. We talked for like 10 minutes about the questions on the exam next week and reviewing the course. The other 30 minutes we were there were spent asking Linda questions about her family and stuff. She invited us all over to her house for tea on Sunday. Kind of random but I am definitely going.

After class, I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum because I needed to write about one more piece from there in my Art Journal. I wrote about the Cast Rooms. Back in the Victorian era, they made casts of a TON of different monuments and stuff in churches all over Europe. Like the David, Trajan's Column, the Basptistery doors, etc. These casts are now on display as a cheap way to "see" famous things. It is a very Victorian idea. Then I took a bus over to Trafalgar Square. I wanted to go to the National Gallery and buy a couple souvenirs which I did. I bought a print of Lake Keitele (probably my favorite painting), a clock with Monet's Houses of Parliament in the background, and a magnet with Van Gogh's Wheatfields with Cyprus. It was a very successful trip. I am ashamed to say that I think those are the first souvenirs from London that I have bought. Haha. Oh well, I got some now and I am really happy with them. Of course, my favorite souvenirs are going to be my pictures, this blog, and my memories. It's still nice to have other things. I sat out on the steps of Trafalgar and read "Band of Brothers" with the sun shining on me. I wanted to just soak up the atmosphere and the view down Whitehall of Big Ben and the fountains and everything. I am really going to miss this spot when I leave. Again, that's what I meant by relishing time. It's passed before you even know it.

I came back and made more noodles and sauce for dinner. I am currently working on a critique of The Merchant of Venice for tomorrow. I am a lot of homework coming up. Next week I have my Art History test and the journal is due. The week after (my final week, AHHH!), I have three big papers due and at least two tests. So, there you have it. Lots to do and little time. What else is new?

A Presto! (Italian for "see you soon")

Me in the City

Well hi there! Today was a pretty interesting day for me. Lots of stuff going on. It started out this morning when I got up an hour earlier than normal so that I could study a little for the test/quiz we had in Islam vs. the West. He told what there was going to be 4 questions and we were to write 300 words each. Pretty easy. I got the test and the questions were exactly what I thought they would be so I was prepared. The test only took an hour. I came back and had lunch of fruit cocktail and noodles with butter and salt. I dinked around on the computer and then went to Art History.

We met at the Victoria and Albert Museum. We spent the class talking about the 1800s. We watched a short movie on the Great Exhibition, a big get together for all the countries to show their stuff off in Hyde Park in 1851. This was one of the first times in history where it was a public gallery so that everyone could see the art. Before, art was reserved for those who could buy it. We looked at a ceramic staircase which was really cool. There was an area for people to try on Victorian clothes which two people did, Mo and Tschida (picture 1). Very funny.

We got back from the museum and I did that Rome entry below. Only one more day left!! Yay! Next up was the play The Vertical Hour at a theater in Sloane Square (picture 2). I thought the play was ok. I don't know. It was about a woman and her boyfriend's father having a discussion (that lasted about 2 hours). Honestly, that's what about 85% of the play was. Interestingly enough, Kim Catrell from Sex in the City was there. After the play, I asked her to take a picture with me but she said she only signs stuff which she did for me. So cool!

Busy day tomorrow. Globe Theatre in the morning. Pirates of Penzance in the afternoon. Some TV show taping in the evening. The fun never stops!!

Adios!

Field Trips

Hello again faithful (and non-faithful) readers! For both of my classes today, we took a field trip to a museum. I also took a field trip of my own to the library. I felt a little like Ms. Frizzle today or something. Haha.

For my Islam vs. The West class, we were originally going to meet in class for about an hour and then go to the Victoria and Albert Museum down the road to see their Islamic Art exhibit. Well that didn't quite happen. When we arrived at Foundation House, we saw a sign that we were going to meet down in the common room. We all got there and our prof told us that we were just going to head straight for the museum instead. We got to the museum at about twenty after to realize that it doesn't open until 10! Haha. Oops. So we all just split up and walked around until then. Me and a few other people walked by a bakery and then spent the rest of our time in a souvenir/card shop looking at Valentine's Day cards and tacky souvenirs. We came back to V & A (nickname for the museum) and got in. My prof lead us in and talked for two minutes and then said, "Right, just go in, have a look around and leave whenever you feel like." I stayed for about an hour looking at the Islamic Art exhibit and some other ones too and then left. I really liked the exhibit. Its so interesting that Muslims were making bowls and carpets with geometric shapes and literally NO human figures on anything at the same time that Medieval artists were painting church scenes with only people in them. Very different artistic styles 1000 years old, that prelude to the "styles" that still rub together the wrong way today.

I walked from the V & A to the Kensington Central Library and checked out some books. One was by Rick Steves (that CAN NOT be his real name). He has a website that has a whole bunch of travel articles and maps and guides on it. I also picked up a book called "Country Walks Near London". AWESOME!!!!! A bunch of day hikes that are all within about 2 hours of London by train. That was exactly the kind of book I wanted. Lastly, I got a book called "Atilla" which is historical fiction about Atilla the Hun.

Vanessa and I walked from our flat to the National Gallery for Art History. It saves money and its not too far of a walk (a little under an hour). The class was spent going through the museum and looking for signs, symbols, and allegories. We looked at the very famous painting "Marriage of Arnolthini". We talked about all the symbols: dog, fruit, chandalier, mirror, etc. We also looked at the "The Ambassadors" and the symbols in that. There were other paintings too. It was all really cool looking for the symbols and deciphering what they mean. Sometimes I think, it seems like not EVERYTHING has a meaning. I don't know. Maybe it does, but I just think that sometimes the artist just put one or two things in for the fun of it. No way to know really, since all the artists we looked at died like 400 years ago or more.

As we were walking back, I was doing a little quiz with Vanessa on American History. She said she didn't know much so I would ask her stuff and see if she knew it and then I would tell her about it. I felt kind of bad, like I was making fun of her or being patronizing and I said that but she replied that it was good for her so I don't know. We got back and made our reservations for Spring Break (that being plane tickets and hostels). So that's all done, for better or worse. Then I ate spaghetti for dinner, watched tv and read. Later on, I drank my now usual cup of tea and did this entry. Very exciting evening, I know.

To recap my school week, I had 2 hours of Senior Sem, 1 hour of Islam vs. The West, about 2.5 hours of Art History, and then 1.5 hours of Senior Sem (tomorrow). That's it for classes this week. Wow, that's an easy schedule. I have a paper and a check up on my Art History journal and a bunch of readings due next week so it's not all good (though it is mostly good).

As-Salamu Alaykum.
(Arabic for "Peace Be With You". It's used by both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians.)