I just boarded my first plane back to Arkansas and I can’t lie, fighting tears on public transport is embarrassing. I am listening to “Birds of A Feather,” by Billie Eilish, eating Cadbury sticks, and reminiscing on the wonderful times I shared with you wonderful folks.
After our last day in London, we took a short day trip to Oxford. With a bomb tour guide, we got to learn all about The University of Oxford and some history of the city. Because I lost my umbrella, (the Royal National seemed to absorb a lot of my belongings), I was struggling to pay attention to David because I was getting pelted with raindrops. I wish we could have spent more time in Oxford because it is a cool, quaint city, but our final destination in Stratford-upon-Avon was worth it.
What seemed like a long bus ride for us from London to Stratford-upon-Avon would seem lightning quick in Shakespeare’s day. Apparently, the commute would have taken Shakespeare 3 days. So, we have nothing to complain about. After bus our ride with our very knowledgeable driver, we arrived at our little bed and breakfast at Avoncot. While me, Ann and Belle thought that we were going to be in the Bridge room, (which is about twice as big as the one they moved us to), we were delighted to finally stretch our legs. Us girls have a lot of crap.
Me and some friends went to dinner at Ask Italian before the show, which was great! Then, we headed to “Merry Wives of Windsor.” I had no idea how much I would enjoy that show! I was pleasantly surprised that although I had not read it prior, I caught on to the storyline quickly and was thoroughly entertained throughout. This one tickled me so much because I loved the mischievousness of the two wives and how they bamboozled the men. The only character that I did not enjoy was Slender, and I think it’s because his character felt too showy for me, rather than authentic like the other characters. The priest was hilarious and the moment where he was stuffing the wife’s underwear into his pockets had me doubled over.
The next day, we visited Shakespeare’s birthplace. I was surprised to see how big the home actually was— it seemed substantial for the 16th century. It was cool seeing John Shakespeare’s glovemaking room, and learning about Shakespeare never finishing an apprenticeship for a trade. It seemed like a good environment to foster a future genius playwright.
Anne Hathaway’s cottage is everything you would expect it to be. While the actual cottage is quaint, beautiful and picturesque, the gardens were a magical escape. Seems like the perfect place to get engaged, (wink wink). For our last excursion, me and some friends frolicked and played tag through the meadow. My inner child flourished.
Shawn told us that this trip would change our lives. Everyone I talked to who has went also said the same thing. So, I was prepared. Or, I was as prepared as much as I thought I needed to be. However, I don’t think it really started to set in until our train to Bath. For some reason, I got this overwhelming feeling of never wanting to let go of this experience. I was so overwhelmed with joy, gratefulness, excitement, and dread for when I have to leave. Growing up in Berryville, Arkansas, I have always yearned for something more. More theatre. More restaurants. More sights. Just more!
London gave me that, to say the least. It is really hard to leave a place that brought me so many new experiences, as well as friendships that will last a lifetime. I don’t think I will ever get to do something as special as this again.
I am so beyond grateful for this chance to see theatre, see architecture, try new food, speak to new people, get closer to people I already loved, evaluate what I want to do with my life and think of how I can get this feeling back again.
It’s hard to spend a month with the same people. Exhaustion and pain leads to irritation and anger. However, when you figure out how to balance your culmination of emotions, a beautiful friendship can bloom. I am so glad to have so many beautiful friends.
Here’s to tea, beans on toast, hoards of Elementary School kids, trying not to get noise complaints, Tesco meal deals, the Tube, the Tube Map, the Zebra, no public toilets, the lack of free water, the lack of A/C, the cool clothes, the cool buildings, the mind-blowing theatre, the 40 year old woman we befriended in a pub, drinking blood water, trying not to get hit by a car/biker, getting whiplash at Thorpe Park, Maddie jumping stone to stone outside the British Museum and skinning her foot, Maddie getting her phone stolen, getting lost in a foreign country, Pride and Prejudice, mashed potatoes with tuna and hot sauce, sneezing black boogers, Ian McKellen, and of course…. Papa Duck.
Peace out, London! I will find you in another lifetime.
xoxo, ex-London girl
Theatre in London U of A 