The London 2012 Olympics!

Its been so much fun being in the UK during the London 2012 Olympics.  I've enjoyed the buzz in the air and the excitement in Cambridge and London.  For the past two weeks, I'll go to the cafe after class and work on stuff on my laptop while I watch the olympic coverage on BBC.  We've had some olympic viewing parties in my flat when we'll all pull our chairs into the biggest bedroom, deposit a pile of chocolate on the table and watch the days highlights.  I've been really lucky to be a part of not one, but two olympics.  If you had told me at the 2002 SLC Winter games that ten years later I would be attending the 2012 London Summer games, I certainly wouldn't have believed you!  

Last Saturday, some friends and I went into London to enjoy the olympic atmosphere.  This was my third time being in London and I love that I'm feeling so comfortable on the tube.  I finally feel like I can navigate the city and be ok on my own.  

Here is the countdown clock in Trafalgar Square.    

Trafalgar Square!

Originally, I was just going to take a picture in front of the lion, but then I'd realized that I wanted to know what it felt like to ride Aslan!  It was great and I'm glad I did it.  The lion is so huge!

After taking pictures at Trafalgar, we all split up to do our own things for an hour.  Corey worked on her paper, Katherine watched a National Ballet class and I explored the National Gallery.  It was wonderful!  They have so many amazing paintings there.  I particularily enjoyed the impressionist and 18th C. galleries.  It was nice being there by myself and being able to take my time in the exhibits.  I only got through a third of it during that hour, so I'll have to go back before I leave.  

The square was a lot more crowded when we came out.  In the middle there was a mariachi band and lots of Mexican fans who were getting pumped up about the final football match against Brazil that night.  You could definitely feel the olympic spirit in the air!

The mariachi band let the little english kids try on their hats.  I thought it was cute. 

After that we made a short stop at Portabello road (an amazing street fair that had a mix of antiques, food, clothes, jewelry and other random items).  Here I met up with my cousins Meredith and Stephanie who were in town for the weekend.  It was so fun to see them!  

After leaving Portabello, we headed over to Buckingham palace to wait for the Women's 20k Race Walking event to start.  

Here they come!  

Me, Katherine and Corey watching the race.  

Watching race walking was truly an olympic experience.  We were surrounded by people from all over world.  There were Germans and Italians to our right, Irish and Chinese to our left, and Bolivians and English behind us.  We let the little British boys behind us come in front so they could see.  They were so adorable!  Next to them was a chinese family that was living in Aberdeen Scotland.  Each time the chinese competitor passed the mother would try to get her girls to chant "Go China" (but in Chinese) with her.  I loved hearing all the different languages and being a part of the olympic spirit.  It was an amazing experience and I don't think I'll ever forget it.  

This is a picture of the russian athlete who was in first for all ten laps.  She was going so fast!  She even lapped some of the other competitors.

At the very last second she was passed by her Russian teammate who you see below.  I felt so bad for first Russian girl! I would have been so mad to be beat by my teammate after being in first the entire time.  

After the race, we went to Herrods to get some dinner (an excellent decision).  Katherine and I split a ham sandwich and were treated to dessert and Laduree macaroons by Stephanie.  Here is Steph, Mere and I with our purchases (and yes, Mr. Gingerbreadman was quite good).  Oh, and notice my newly acquired brown leather jackets from Portabello Road!  I've been looking for one for quite a while now, so I was excited to find it.  

After watching the sunset, we found out way to the outdoor viewing screens and watched some of the men's diving competition.  There were several other giant screens showing field hockey and boxing.  It was fun hearing cheers from all over the field as spectators watched the screens. What a great end to wonderful day.

Failed Expectations: Les Misérables

Last week, I went into London with some friends to see the musical Les Miserables.  I was so excited to see it!  It has been my favorite musical for a long time and was at the top of my list of things to do in London so I couldn't wait.  It was kind of a last minute decision to go, but I went knowing that I might not have another opportunity to see it.  

After talking the train in to King's Cross station, we wandered around town for a bit, got a bite to eat, headed to the Queen's Theatre and the show began.  

I wish I could gush about it.  I wish I could tell you how wonderful it was.  I wish I could tell you it was an emotinally riviting experience that profoundly impacted me.  But I can't.  It wouldn't be truthful.  I would be lying.  To be honest, it fell short of my expectations.  Perhaps they were too high, I don't know, it just wasn't the night I imagined.

I think it was my seats.  We were on the top section of the theatre a few rows from the front of the balcony.  We didn't get the super cheap seats in the very back, but opted for the middle-price range seats which I thought would be ok.  My friend sitting next to me could see fairly well, but I'm so short that throughout the entire show I was either leaning forward or craning my neck trying to find a gap between heads.  It was really frustrating, especially when I couldn't see Eponine's death scene or Val Jean's confrontation.  I was so preoccupied by not being able to see that couldn't relax and enjoy the show or lose myself in the story.

When one of the big songs came on, I couldn't help buy wonder what the actors were thinking about.  As Eponine prepared for her ballad 'On My Own' was she thinking "Ok, here goes.  Everyone loves this song, I better not screw it up."  Was Val Jean thinking the same thing before singing 'Bring Him Home'?  And they do this every night.  Does it get old?  Do they get bored of it?  Is this just another show for them?  These questions probably come from doing a bit of theater in high school and knowing what does in to putting on a show.  I wish I could have blocked that out and stopped thinking about the actors and their off stage selves.  

Despite it being a disappointing experience, the music was still wonderful.  They all had amazing voices.  Especially Jean Val Jean.  He an Marius were casted perfectly in my opinion.  Javert and Eponine were nearly perfect as well.  I wasn't as satisfied with Cosette.  She had a very shrill voice, and as usual, the audience tended to side with Eponine over her.  In my opinion, the musical just doesn't provide enough connection to the grown-up Cosette for you to care about her.  

I was also very dissatisfied wth Enjolras.  He and Javert are my favorite characters and the man who played the leader of the rebels in this production, just didn't cut it.  He was tall, but he was too skinny and had the persona of your typical drama boy.  He was constantly shaking his long wavy hair and marching overdramatically.  He wasn't the strong, passionate, fearless rebel I thought it would be.  It was a disappointment.

I've listened to the music many times, but what hit me when watching it was how sad the story truly is.  Each of the characters lives such unhappy lives filled with terrible trials.  And in the second act, they all die.  All of the student/soldiers with their lofty ambitious and idealistic goals are killed without seeming to make any difference.  Its rather depressing.  Gavroche's death was gut wrenching too.  They didn't even let him finish his song before he was shot.  After watching all of that, Marius' song Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, was very powerful.  

What amazes me about the story is how passionate everyone is.  They each have their different causes they they would give their lives for.  Fantine dies for Cosette, Eponine dies for Marius.  Valjean spends his whole life chasing after freedom and peace and Javert spends his whole life hunting him down in search for justice and the law.  Javert is such an interesting character.  He is so bound by duty, justice and following God that he forgets the power of change, repentance, forgiveness and redemption.  He claims to be living as God would want him to, yet Valjean is a more christlike character.  Its such a fascinating paradox.  I think he's one of my favorite characters for that reason.  

After seeing the musical and being to Paris, I really want to read the book.  The unabridged version this time.  I think I would understand it and appreciate it much more than when I attempted to read it in 7th grade, ha ha.  I shall have to add it to my already very long list of books to read.  

I guess the moral of the story is that I'm glad I enjoyed the music and story, but next time I will be more than willing to pay a bit more money for better seats and a better experience.  

The Pembroke-King's Summer Programme

The King's Library where I am currently.

Well, I've been living here in Cambridge for a total of 5 weeks now.  Its gone by so fast.  Some of you may be wondering how I even got here.  So, today I thought I'd tell you a bit about the program and how I got involved with it.  

I learned about the Pembroke-King's Summer Programme during the fall of my senior year of high school.  I was browsing through a booklet from BYU and came across the study abroad page and this one stood out to me.  I had always wanted to visit Europe and knew about Cambridge's rich academic history.  It sounded perfect for me and I had my sights set on it ever since.  

Every fall at BYU I went to the informational meetings and talked to past participants about their experience on the program.  I was committed to the program, but I didn't want to do it until I had figured out my major and academic plans.  I almost applied my sophomore year, but decided against it.  I just wasn't ready yet.  But, this year was my year.  I've nailed down my major (humanities) and minor (art history) and I knew what I wanted to do. 

The application became open last November and after collecting essays, transcripts and letters of recommendation, I submitted my application the week of Thanksgiving.  I expected to hear back three weeks later, around the time of finals, so I was surprised to see an e-mail from them only a week afterward.  I waited until I was by myself to open it and read it.  This was my dream for so long and I was so worried I wouldn't get in.  But, I did!  

I was so happy.  I called my family and told my friends as I ran into them on campus.  That entire week I couldn't wipe that smile off my face.  I was so excited.  Later that week, a few friends and I went out for gelato at Gloria's Little Italy to celebrate.  

We had a prep class in the winter where I got to meet the other 40 or so BYU students who were going to be on the program as well.  It was fun and got me even more excited to come.   My excitement was manifest in various forms from internet searches to candy houses.

The program is different from most BYU study abroad programs in which a collection of BYU students are living in a foreign country and being taught by BYU professors.  The Cambridge program is a direct enrollment program.  So, while the full-year cambridge students are on their summer break, King's and Pembroke colleges invite 200 or so international students to live in college and take Cambridge classes.  It's been cool meeting people from Malaysia, Eygpt and American Ivy League schools.  Its also been really nice to have so many BYU students here too.  I think it would have been hard for me otherwise.  

The Pembroke library clock tower.

The PKP program offers students the opportunity to take 3 of 45 different classes on a variety of subjects.  I chose to take a class on Gothic Architecture and a class on The Bloomsbury Group's influence on 20th Century British Culture.  They both fulfill either major or minor requirements and I've been very happy with my choices.  I'll blog about the individual classes later.  In place of a third class, I'm completing a supervision, an experience unique to Cambridge and Oxford, in which I am doing mentored research with Cambridge professor.  I chose to study the romantics connection nature in the 17th and 18th centuries in preparation for my Honors thesis (which I WILL eventually finish).   It's been great to be able to study romantic artists and see their paintings in person.  

And it all ends in less than three weeks.  Crazy, right?  I'm not quite ready for it to end yet.  So my plan is to live it up and make the most out of the time I have left in this charming city.

Stay tuned in the coming days for posts about my flat, classes, London adventures and weekend in Paris!  

For ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road and I'll be to Scotland afor ye...

Two weeks ago, I went to Scotland!  (Yes, I am still very behind in blogging, but there is just so much going on that I have a hard time finding time to write.  My first module class ends this week, though so I should have more time in August).

The trip was planned and organized by our program, so we took coaches up with other students. We made a stop at Fountains Abbey on the way up.  

 This made me feel like I was in the abbey in The Sound of Music.

Random romanesque archways.

Abbey models!

In the nave of the chapel.  The ruins were lovely and we had a good time exploring and taking pictures.

We then reboarded the coaches and continued on.  As soon as we crossed the border into Scotland, mists and low rock walls rose up around us.  It was as if there was a distinct separation between England and Scotland.  We got settled into our accommodations at Edinburgh University and headed into the city to explore.  Edinburgh at night was magical! 

You find olympic stuff all over the UK. 

Sir Walter Scott monument.

The next morning, I had a full Scottish breakfast including black pudding and haggis.  Let's just say that out of the two, I'd choose haggis.  

A bunch of us signed up for a hike in Killin, Scotland.  At first, I was disappointed we weren't going to Loch Lomond, but Loch Tay was just as good.  It was quite the hike, but look at the view!  It was amazing and was one of the highlights of the trip.  I loved roaming the scottish countryside.  Our guide knew a lot about plants, so I enjoyed talking to him.  The hillside was covered in bracken and foxgloves (as is most of Scotland).

I AM NATURE!

The beautiful rolling hills of the highlands. 

When we got to the top, I wandered off for a bit into the countryside collecting plants to press and singing Scottish folk songs I learned at boy scout camp.  Scotland brings out the 17th century romantic in me!

After descending the mountain, we walked along the lakeshore.  This tree reminds me of the walking trees in Narnia.

Sheep!

We got back from Killin in time for dinner and the nights festivities: a Scottish Céilidh!  There was a live Scottish band who lead us in some traditional Scottish dances.  The dance floor was extremely crowded, so it was crazy, but fun. 

The next day, it was raining cats and dogs, so I was glad that we had planned to go to the National Gallery in the morning.  I saw tons of Renaissance art in Italy, which was great, but it was so good to see some northern baroque and impressionist artwork. They had a few Constable and Turner paintings which I was really excited to see.  It was also really cool to see paintings of Venice and think "Hey, I was sitting on those church steps one week ago!" Going to the museum and talking to the people that worked there confirmed to me that I want to get an art history minor and continue to consider pursuing a career as a curator.  

That afternoon, I hopped on a train to Stirling where my ancestors are from.  When I got there, I was greeted by a pipe and drum parade!  It was rather exciting.  I came to find out later that it was part of the Orange walk.

After watching the parade for a bit, I wandered up the winding streets to Stirling Castle!  Here is a picture of Robert the Bruce with Wallace Monument shrouded by clouds in the background.  

The castle had so many canons and so much history!

I took a tour of the castle and found out that this is where Mary, Queen of Scots lived!  When I was in junior high, I read a bunch of the Royal Diaries series and she was always my favorite princess.  This is where she held her grand parties.  

Here is me with a picture of Archibald Gardner, by great-great-great grandfather who grew up in this area.  

And this is where Archibald's father, Robert Gardner was imprisoned for nine weeks.  He ran a tavern called the Black Bull Inn where a bunch of revolutionaries met.  When they were arrested, they took Robert too.  It wasn't long after they let him out that they left for Canada.  

It was a really cool experience to not only be in the area, but the actual rooms where my ancestors stayed.

When I got back to Edinburgh, I went with my friends Corey and Chantel to Greyfriar's graveyard where they had ancestors buried.

It looked like the cemetery in The Phantom of the Opera and I can see why they have ghost tours.  It was be a rather creepy place at night.  

Andrew Gairdner...a possible variant for Gardner and therefore another relative?  I need to do some research!

And for all of you Harry Potter fans, here's Thomas Riddles grave.

While we were at the graveyard, I got a call from my friend saying that they were going to go hike Arthur's seat (a large hill to the east of downtown Edinburgh).  I really wanted to go, so I started to make my way back to where they were meeting.  And got horribly lost.  Let me tell you, it is not fun walking around through an unfamiliar city alone.  Thankfully it doesn't get dark there until really late.  With the help of a phone and a friend, I finally found my way back just as they made it to the top.  It was really discouraging to realize that even if I went fast, it would be dark by the time I got up there, and therefore, pointless.  But, all was not lost!  My friend offered to hike it with me the next morning at 5:30 and we did.  Doesn't this remind you of Narnia?

It was pretty misty as we walked up, but it cleared out as soon as we got to the top.  This is the compass at the summit that points out major places in Scotland.

My Caspar David Friedrich-esque "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" picture! 

That's the North Sea in the background.  Arthur's seat is where Orson Pratt went as a missionary to pray for the people of Scotland. At the top, we had an early Sunday morning devotional.

Hello Scotland!

I really wanted to run through the field below and did just that. 

The beautiful and ever-present foxgloves.

On the way home, we stopped at Richmond castle in Northern England.  Is that not the quintessential English countryside?  Beautiful.

Our trip was fast, but wonderful.  I love Scotland.  The next few days were rough seeing as I was exhausted and homesick.  Homesick for Scotland!  But, I'll be back someday.  I'll buy a little cottage in the highlands and roam the countryside with a field guide and a trusty dog.  Until then "[Bye] yon bonnie banks an' by yon bonnie braes..."