concerts = briefly feeling infinite; forcefully emotional; electric energy; unlikely human harmony

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." [Aldous Huxley]

There are so many things - circumstances, prejudices, fears - that keep human beings apart. Music is such a beautiful way to lessen the gap between us. And, I sense that music will be especially important to me now, moving to a big, impersonal city such as London. That big city feeling of isolation and loneliness can aggravate even minor homesickness. 


I believe that the antidote could be losing my individuality for a while in a crowd of people sharing a love of music. It's the most incredible moment, being at a concert, in which we, as a crowd, are indivisible - an unlikely union, tacitly agreeing to a feeling of solidarity. I love that feeling of belonging, loving, and comradeship. Bottle that up and sell it. And so concerts, my friends, are definitely on the agenda for London. 


Adele at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Sept. 19 or 20 (£26-36)
Gym Class Heroes at the Electric Ballroom on Oct. 7 (£14)
Katy Perry with Oh! Land at the O2 on Oct. 14 or 15 (£30)
Feist at the London Palladium on Oct. 17 (£20-30)
Arctic Monkeys & the Vaccines at the O2 on Oct. 29 or 30 (£32.50)
Tinie Tempah w/ J. Cole at the O2 on Nov. 4 (£23.50)

one girl, two suitcases, four months (or, how to pack for a semester abroad)

Once again this unshakeable sense of anticipation (eleven days!) has driven me to my laptop with the hope that blogging will allow me to release some of my enthusiasm and energy. The subject today, evidently, is packing. My normal packing-for-Pitt ritual begins with an enormous pile on my bedroom floor as I attempt to locate everything I think I’ll need. Then, there is a frenzied effort to shove as much of that pile as possible into duffle bags, backpacks, and boxes; when every standard form of luggage is at full capacity, I’ll stuff empty shopping bags and, finally, toss those last few things on top. Once finished, the trunk, back seat, and passenger seat of my car are crammed to overflowing.

When it comes to packing for a study abroad trip, I’m faced with the task of fitting everything I’ll need for three and a half months into two suitcases and one carry-on. Time to pare it down to the absolute essentials. Armed with a minimalist attitude, I compiled the following list. Thoughts and advice are welcome!

ELECTRONICS:

Adapters

Laptop + charger

Camera + charger + USB cord

iPod + USB cord

DVDs (My homesickness cure is one of my favorite movies, so I usually pack a few.)

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

Ibuprofen

Vitamin C pills or Airborne

Band Aids

Any medicines you need (bring the prescription with you for airport security!)

SCHOOL – Only bring school supplies if you feel like it. In France, all notebook paper is graph paper, not simple lined paper like in the USA. I brought two notebooks with me for the semester and was glad to have them. Not sure what the case will be in the UK. Items to consider: pens and pencils, stationary, notebooks.

TOILETRIES

Make-up

Deodorant

Perfume

Face wash

Shampoo + conditioner

Hairbrush, hair ties, bobby pins

Toothbrush + toothpaste

Floss

Razor

Nail Polish (just one or two!)

Tweezers

Towel (Optional: A towel is not provided with housing, but would be easy to buy in London.)

Sunscreen

Feminine products

CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES

Underwear

Pajamas

Socks

Shoes (One pair each of boots, flats, rain boots, sneakers, heels – flip flops for hostel showers come in handy!)

Sweaters (In Britain, I’m told, layering is key.)

Tops

Pants (Leggings, tights, jeans, work pants)

Skirts

Dresses

Outerwear (Windbreaker, rain coat, winter coat)

Gloves + hats

Purses

Scarves

Jewelry

Belts

Sunglasses

Reading glasses

Watch

TRAVEL NECESSITIES

Passport and official documents (plus photocopies)

Flight itinerary

ISIC

Driver’s license

Guidebooks

Earplugs, eye mask, neck pillow for traveling

Umbrella

Wallet

Ziploc baggies

APARTMENT

Reusable shopping bag for groceries

Bottle opener (It’s small anyways, and I love to bring one when I go for picnics :)

Room decorations (for example, sticky tack and photos)

OTHER IDEAS:

Bring a cool keychain for the key to my new flat!

In France, the very notion that coffee could be taken “to go” is simply ignored. I couldn’t find a travel mug in any supermarket, and I cherish my coffee throughout the day. This time, I’ll bring my own!

I usually put an extra change of clothes in my carry-on, just in case (heaven forbid) my suitcase were to become lost. I also keep a laminated copy of my passport with me. Last, I throw something distinctive on my luggage, such as a pretty ribbon. 

My First Trip to London

Only 15 days until I leave for London! I don’t mean to gush, but I just can’t help it. As the date approaches, I spend more and more time reflecting on the city that will become my temporary home. Most days, this involves reminiscing about my first (and only) visit to England – which I will recount for you here. This is primarily a travel blog, after all.

The plan to visit London really began in March of 2010, while I was abroad in Aix-en-Provence. One of my closest friends, Brittany, had offered the sofa in her apartment to her sorority sister, Becca, who was completing an internship in London that year. Becca offered her time and her flat to Brittany to return the favor, and when Brittany extended the invitation to me, I jumped at the opportunity. We made plans to fly from Marseille to London at the end of our program in May: five days of sightseeing before Brittany boarded her flight to America and I boarded my bus to Paris to begin backpacking.

As fate would have it, in the days before our arrival Becca was vacationing in Northern Ireland. Her flight was delayed several days due to the ash cloud produced by the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull several weeks prior. Luckily, Brittany and I were still able fly into London and use her flat in Bermondsey as our base for touristy activities while Becca was stranded on the other British Isle.

Brittany and I arrived in Heathrow Airport on Saturday, May 15^th. We navigated the Tube, identifying the Piccadilly Line as our transport into the city. We hailed a standard red taxi from the London Bridge tube stop to Becca’s flat. Her flat was spacious and modern, with a bedroom, bathroom, and combined living room and kitchen – it was easy to make ourselves at home. We had tickets for a Third Eye Blind concert that night in Kentish Town at the HMV Forum. Although we had standing room tickets, an exceedingly kind usher led us upstairs to the cushioned red benches on the balcony. It was an unforgettable experience.

The next morning was ominously overcast but dry, and we set out on foot to the Old Spitalfields Market in east London. We took what I’ll refer to euphemistically as the “scenic route” to the market, but which in reality was the worst, most indirect route possible through northeast London. We jogged past Petticoat Lane on our way, dashing inside the Victorian market hall just as it started to rain. The market was fantastic – we tried on hats and scarves, admired framed photos of work by Banksy, and sampled some Caribbean-inspired vegan food for lunch from one of the vendors. Brittany purchased a comic pair of reading glasses. Afterwards, we made our way through the light but steady rain to the British Museum (the Underground made this trip considerably shorter and more direct!). We spent a couple of hours inside winding through hallways and exhibits, then fooling around in the gift shop. We bought a few souvenirs across the street and then made our way to the British Library. Both were impressive.

Another early start on Monday morning! It was a short Tube ride in the London Underground to Westminster Bridge station. This should be a first stop for any tourist: as soon as we climbed the steps outside, Brittany and I were delighted by this iconic panorama: a red double-decker bus crossing Westminster bridge from Big Ben to the London Eye, with the Houses of Parliament reflected in the Thames. After consulting our map, we chose a route to Buckingham Palace that would lead us through St. James’ Park. Our promenade through the park was like a fairy tale – I saw strange birds; one man was feeding some friendly squirrels out of his hand; the colors were soft but I still remember them vividly. At 11:15 am, crowds were building as hundreds gathered to witness the changing of the Guard.

It was a beautiful, mild English day and we decided to ramble down the Mall to Trafalgar Square. We breezed through the square and into the National Gallery. I especially enjoyed an exhibition of paintings by the Singh twins, who combine traditional Indian artwork with contemporary art practices, creating an aesthetic that straddles East and West and makes a sociopolitical commentary. We gawked at the chaos of Piccadilly Circus before choosing Wagamama Noodles for lunch. Later, we found ourselves in Camden Town, where we soaked up the youth and alternative culture at the markets.

On Tuesday, Brittany’s friend Caitlin joined us in London (she had just ended her own study abroad program in Florence). We began our day at the Imperial War Museum, in a remarkably quiet area of the city. I enjoyed the recreated trenches, and they were showing an arresting video. We took a leisurely stroll along the south bank of the Thames, stopping to pose with graffiti so bright it seemed electric and the painted elephants “on parade” placed throughout the city to raise money for Asian elephants. 

[Side note: Elephants are my favorite animals, so I was pleased to read recently that the auction of the 260 elephants on exhibition that summer succeeded in raising over £4 million.] Our next formal cultural experience was a visit to the Tate Modern.

Later that afternoon, the three of us wandered through Kensington Gardens, searching for the Peter Pan statue, becoming miserably lost, and eventually crossing into Hyde Park. There we paused for a bit of rest and a photo shoot in the grass. We exited through the Edinburgh Gate and found ourselves at the top of Brompton Road – we just had to walk down to Harrods to window shop, you understand. From there we walked (yes, more walking! Sightseeing can be such spectacular exercise) down Constitution Hill to Buckingham Palace, which Caitlin had yet to see, and from there down the Mall to Trafalgar Square. This time, we climbed up onto the Nelson’s Column monument to pet a majestic bronze lion. However, cuddling with a bronze lion does not erase the exhaustion of trekking back and forth across London on foot. We were eager to head back to Becca’s flat afterwards, where we found – surprise! – Becca! Yes, our gracious host had arrived from Ireland. That evening, she led us through windy back streets to a flare bar, where one English bartender and one Spanish bartender chatted us up whilst tossing bottles and shakers expertly.

Wednesday would be another long day. I am happy to report that by our fourth day, Brittany and I had finally learned to look left for traffic! We safely made our way across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London, where for £16.50 we saw armor, weapons, and jewels – not to mention beefeaters! It was overcast that morning, but the weather cleared up for our afternoon trip to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, located roughly 10 miles from central London. We loved every part of it. We even saw a peacock and a few hens wandering around. Don’t ask me how we found the time, but we also investigated the Covent Garden Market. We mulled over a tea purchase, took on the role of spectators at more than one street performance, and spotted a bunch of trendy university students grabbing a pint of beer. That evening, Brittany and I said our good-byes, and I boarded an overnight bus from Victoria Station to Paris. I was off to new adventures.

Obviously there is plenty that I still want to see! And soon I’ll return – I can hardly wait. 

Markets & Macaroons

Ladurée is opening their first stand alone London tea salon in Covent Garden, and it just looks gorgeous. They can expect me in September! Click here to see the article.

Anglophile: Required Reading for a Student in London

My fellow college students, I am about to reveal something about myself to you that may change our relationship. You may love or hate me for it, but I am a student. It’s not a part I enjoy playing so that I can wear serious-looking boots and meet cute study partners. I genuinely enjoy learning (are you gasping in disbelief?). I actually read the textbooks, attend the lectures, and take meticulous notes – and most of the time, I enjoy it. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t love a party. To be sure, there are plenty of situations in college where the opportunity to challenge your liver and exercise your social skills is more compelling than anything a classroom has to offer you, and often we go in search of vodka redbulls instead of intellectual stimulation. When the keg and the econ homework beckon, which call do you answer? Do you head to the Hillman, or to a house party on Semple to celebrate thirsty Thursday?

Anyways, I wouldn’t like to make you choose, so back to my topic du jour. Last semester, my economics professor declared that time is the most valuable commodity in the world. I agree. This is why we buy guidebooks, hire travel agents, and browse websites that compare options for us: it allows us to make an informed decision with minimal time and effort.


The constant struggle of the study abroad student, with limited time in Europe and a shoestring budget, is to maximize time and minimize spending. Planning becomes ultra important, to make the best use of both time and money. 

The first time I went abroad,I often travelled on weekends, and my budget on these trips was usually around 150 euro (for transportation, lodging, food, admission to museums, tours, and shows). This tight budget was always compounded by a 36-hour time constraint. Thankfully, I found the solution to this dilemma one afternoon in my favorite cafe/bookstore, Book in Bar, in the form of a Rick Steves guide book. Rick Steves had been recommended to me by friends in Florence, who referred affectionately to his guidebook as “Rick,” or occasionally as “Rick Steves, Travel God.” I soon felt the same way. Reading his book taught me a valuable lesson: with precious little time and money, researching in advance is the only way to make the most of your trips. 


With Rick's help, I discovered that the art of travelling when you’re low on time and money is being able to live in the moment with a full awareness of its significance. Don’t waste time and money by getting lost or overpaying. Research. Plan. Enjoy. 

So, being the enthusiastic student that I am, I have typically acquired a mini-library of books on London, England, Britain, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles. I want to know where I’m going to minimalize culture shock and hit the ground running with new experiences. So what books am I reading now, in preparation for my semester-long sojourn abroad? Read on. 

Rick Steves, of course, and LIFE magazine's Royal Wedding Feature. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton are the world's most famous newlyweds. The April ceremony at Westminster Abbey was broadcast internationally, and several billion people tuned in. The married life of Will and Kate (or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, if you please) will certainly be very closely observed in the British tabloids. It would be foolish to go to the capitol of England without being at least conversational on the subject of the royal family. 

More guide books on London and Great Britain, published by DK Eyewitness Travel. 

These are my mother's guide books, and I think her favorite thing about them is their photographs, illustrations, and maps. They are not strictly pictorial, however - they have lots of useful information and interesting facts. Worth a read if you have the time, but although they are thin books they are so much heavier than my Rick, and I'd probably rather leave them at home than tote them on trips. 

And a few quirky extras. 

The Traditional Shops and Restaurants of London and eat. shop. london. are not quite so practical as travel guides... but they are loads of fun to read as they catalog quirky boutiques and restaurants. They focus on the one-of-a-kind, the original, the unique, the inimitable. The women that write them actually have a voice that comes through in their reviews and recommendations, and their personality is the antithesis of many dry, objective travel guides. If their interests match yours, they can be a spectacular resource. 

Anglofile: Movies and Actors

I’ll admit that I was in a poor mood earlier today – I worked the lunch shift at my summer job, and on my break I popped a tire. Buckets of sweat and $120 later, I was in no mood. Usually when things go wrong, I quickly set myself to formulating a plan to pull out of it, to fix it… but today, there was nothing for my problems. I had a parking ticket to pay and was $120 poorer for having hit a curb pulling out of the bank parking lot – it’s a tough break but you just have to live with it. And so it was that this afternoon, escapist that I am, I needed to leave my troubles behind and immerse myself in a story. Reading books is a fantastic option, and I love to read, but when time doesn’t allow for a full novel, I turn to movies. Relatively short, full of emotion, visually engaging… for 90 minutes or less, and the day is turned around.

Since the theme of my life this summer is enjoying myself and preparing for a term abroad in London, I decided to compile a list of my favorite British movies and actors. The list may seem odd, and highly variable. Ranging from silly to serious, profound to surface,  laughter to tears… Some are classics, some are more recent blockbusters… Some are set in the UK, others outside… All of them are fabulous, and there’s at least one for every occasion and mood. Now I’ll just work my way through the list until I no longer need movies to transport myself to London… my flight to Heathrow will take care of that ;)

I’ll start with the movie that I reached for first this afternoon – a romantic comedy that always cheers me up: Bridget Jones’ Diary. Renee Zellweger is totally inspiring and utterly relatable, and although being American I don’t have a perfect ear for accents, to me Renee’s is believable. It doesn’t hurt that her co-stars are two of England’s finest male actors – Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. The name Hugh Grant immediately calls to mind a series of classic films… Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, About a Boy, Sense and Sensibility, Love Actually… with his quick-witted comedy, the subtle back-handed compliments, the sarcasm… I just love Hugh for a laugh, and even more when it comes to matters of the heart, and he steadies those blue eyes on the camera and becomes so sincere. Colin Firth is an equally impressive actor, who recently received a Golden Globe, a SAG award, a BAFTA, and an Academy award for his role as King George VI in The King’s Speech. Although he mostly takes serious, dramatic roles, he did loosen up with Amanda Bynes in What a Girl Wants – a movie (set in London) that I loved when it was released in 2003 – and in Nanny McPhee (set in 19th century England) in 2005. The latter’s cast included Emma Thompson, another great English actor. The first movie I remember seeing with Emma in it was Sense and Sensibility with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman. And while we are on the topic of films adapted from Jane Austen novels, let’s not forget Pride and Prejudice. My favorite version stars Kiera Knightley. Kiera is a young but incredibly versatile actor who has played a soccer champion (Bend It Like Beckham), a duchess (The Duchess), a pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean), and a barbarian (King Arthur). One of my most recent obsessions is the Young Victoria, starring English actress Emily Blunt.

As certain points while making this list I had to ask myself - do British accents really make a great British movie? Do I love Hugh Dancy or just his accent? What about Jude Law? At last I had to ask myself - Do I really care? No, I don’t need to discern or distinguish which it is I really love about British film. Lovely accents are just the icing on the cupcake.

Now, let’s move on to some great films from the 1960s that I really love. How about To Sir With Love starring Sidney Poitier – and although he is not British, this movie makes the cut because it is set in the slums of London’s East End, the storyline is brilliant, and the rest of the cast is English. And who else made more iconic movies in the 60s than Surrey-born actress Julie Andrews? The Sound of Music! Gone with the Wind! Mary Poppins! Or what about some more recent films set in the 1960s? The Boat that Rocked (released in the US as Pirate Radio), where Bill Nighy steals my heart – could I please have him as my quirky great-uncle? Or An Education, where Carey Mulligan plays a naïve Francophile schoolgirl who falls for an older man?

This list could go on for quite a while – obviously I’ve loved London and British accents and films for a long time – just one more reason I’m so looking forward to being immersed in the culture as a study abroad student. I’ll just list some actors and movies that I left out, and if you are so inclined, you can rent them (and hopefully enjoy them as much as I have).

           

The Edge of Love
Finding Neverland
Shakespeare in Love

Sherlock Holmes

Shaun of the Dead

Closer

Charlie Wilson’s War

All of the Harry Potter Movies

Circle of Friends

Snatch

Billy Elliot
Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench

Sean Connery

Orlando Bloom

Minnie Driver

Emma Watson

Michael Caine

Anthony Hopkins
Gerard Butler

Ian McKellen

Daniel Day-Lewis

Ralph Fiennes

Paul Bettany

Ewan McGregor

Helena Bonham-Carter

Gemma Arterton 


There are also some movies I haven’t seen, but hear are well worth the time and effort of seeking out: London Boulevard, the Constant Gardener, Jane Eyre, the English Patient, the Remains of the Day.

Anglofile: Music

So, it’s been a while since I last sat down and added new music to my iTunes library, but at last the day has come. You’ll notice the anglofile heading, which is a play on the word “anglophile,” referring to a person who loves the UK or British culture; my intention is to channel my excitement for my semester abroad with the CAPA program in London in the fall into a series of blog entries. This one is about music. Unsurprisingly, I want to collect some music by British singers, songwriters, and musicians. I already have a bunch from older bands and performers: The Beatles, the Smiths, Elton John, U2, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Sting, etc. I began to search for some more modern music artists, with the hope of adding some women to the list. What I found was several female artists whose music ranges from soothing ballads to quirky, upbeat dance anthems.

Artist: Katie Melua (born in Georgia, but moved to the UK at age 8, so she’s included**) 

Favorite Song: “No Fear of Heights”

Artist: Adele [English singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “Set Fire to the Rain”

Artist: Duffy [Welsh singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “Warwick Avenue”

Artist: The Noisettes [London-based indie rock band]

Favorite Song: “Never Forget You”

Artist: The Ting Tings [English duo]

Favorite Song: “That’s Not My Name”

Artist: Lily Allen [English recording artist, glam rock and alternative]

Favorite Song: “Smile”

Artist: Laura Marling [English folk musician – only one month older than me!]

Favorite Song: “Blues Run the Game”

Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae [British singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds]

Favorite Song: “Is This Love (Bob Marley Cover)”

Artist: Amy Macdonald [Scottish singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “This is the Life"

Artist: Natasha Bedingfield [British pop singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “Strip Me"

Artist: Florence + the Machine [English musician]

Favorite Song: “Cosmic Love"

Artist: Amy Winehouse [English singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “You Know I'm No Good"

Artist: Natalia Kills [English singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “Mirrors (Doctor Rosen Rosen Rx Remix)"

Artist: Eliza Doolittle [English singer-songwriter]

Favorite Song: “Skinny Genes"

**[Note to Americans: "Georgia" here refers to the country between Russia and Turkey, NOT the state... come on, I know you were thinking it]