London, The Tube, & Straight Line Crazy

May 24th-25th

The majority of my first moments in London were spent in pure exhaustion trying to recover from the flight. I feared that I would get no sleep, so I was adamant about walking around the city to keep myself awake. After situating myself in the hotel, I set out with my roommate to an Egyptian museum and a Waterstones where I enjoyed a delicious mocha. Those two buildings showed me how the outside surface area can fool the observer to the number of artifacts or books that can be held in its layers. London has a different atmosphere than America. One of my favorite variances is the historic buildings and churches scattered across every corner.

Learning the polite culture and traffic laws was a bit intimidating at first but it was easy to pick up on. I love the weather because I feel so invigorated while walking across the city. I enjoy seeing all the diversity and it brings such great food to London. Twenty-four hours in and I have already eaten Thai and Indian.

Our class experience on the tube reminded me of the busy nature of the Paris Metro. Everyone is squashed together with the doors opening and closing very quickly. Although it may be uncomfortable for some, I really like the tube as a means of travel. It feels efficient to utilize the tube. I have always idolized those who were able to read a book on the way to work. I am more nervous about navigating it myself and learning how to jump on and off multiple lines. I am hoping it becomes more natural so I can take off on my own adventures.  

Straight Line Crazy is the first play I have seen outside of a college production, and I loved the experience. I thought that the theatre felt intimate. I could see and hear the emotions of the cast clearly. It was a little surreal seeing Ralph Fiennes especially after visiting Platform 9 and ¾. His performance elevated my enjoyment of the play. I knew nothing about Robert Moses going in, so I thought it was going to be a slower documentary. It took me a little bit to get into the play, but I started to become engaged when the Governor of New York started to interact with everyone. I was taken aback by the humor with the mix of thought-provoking ideas like morality, power, and the people. One line Moses said towards the end was that “I would rather be right and stand alone.” He had a myriad of issues, but I felt that his inability to compromise led his influence to eventually evaporate.

All in all, it has been a spectacular time in London. I am anxiously waiting to explore more of London’s historic sites and see more plays.

-Tabi is Booked