What a month! If there ever was a way to completely describe my time in London, I’m sure it would take many more pages and would never quite do the experience justice, but I will try!
I was incredibly nervous for this trip. Even the idea of going to London with a bunch of people I didn’t really know was so far out of my comfort zone that I could barely even think about it before I left. It was an on a whim decision, but boy am I glad I took the leap. This has been an absolute dream and really is a time of my life that I want to remember forever. This trip carried a lot of emotional weight for me, as the reason I chose to join it was a month after my sweet momma passed away – when my dad told me that I needed something to look forward to, anything really. Just something good that I could have to keep me going. That day, I saw a poster for Theater In London in Kimpel Hall, and I figured that might be a good option. I don’t remember much from the last year of my life, but I do remember the excitement I felt as I anticipated this trip, and also the nerves…and also the fear…
But all that to say, it truly has been one of the best choices I could have made for myself at a time when I didn’t even know how to put on foot in front of the other. This trip had hard moments – moments where I missed my mom, my family, my friends at home, the things that were normal to me! But my cup has continued to overflow with the love of the people around me, the incredible adults on this trip, and the late night talks and Tesco runs.
Part of my heart really did heal in London.
Spending the last few days of our trip in Stratford-Upon-Avon was the most perfect ending to our time together. It was a chance to calm down after being so caught up in the hustle and bustle of London, and it was just a gorgeous, quaint town with something completely unique to explore – Shakespeares birthplace!
This was one of the favorite parts of the entire trip. Seeing the home, and the exact room where Shakespeare was born was an experience that I do not take for granted. It was almost impossible to imagine that he really stood in these rooms, really lived within these walls. I kept trying to look in the corners and see if I could picture him standing there, just talking to his mother, or reading a book. Its hard to imagine such an icon as a real person, especially one that lived that long ago. His home was full of real artifacts and creaky floors, and was exactly what I expected it to be. Anne Hathaway’s cottage was the same deal – just what I thought it might look like. It was a gift to see such a generational treasure for her family! We found out that they still have family reunions there, the latest one being a couple months ago, with the youngest child in attendance only at the age of one.
The cottage had so many pieces of furniture that were original to the Hathaway family/Shakespeare, including Shakespeare’s writing chair, and the Hathaway bed original from the 1500’s. It was incredible to see furniture this old and belonging to such significant historical figures – especially something like a bed, so intimate. It makes me wonder how they could have ever known that 500 years from their lives people would be flocking in just to get a look at their humble bedrooms and kitchens. I guess we never really know the impact we leave, and I think in a lot of ways that is beautiful. They really did just exist, and love and cry and work and then finally die, just like we all will. It makes me feel so nostalgic, even though this wasn’t my life, but almost like they’re looking down and seeing us imagine what their lives were like. I wonder what they think about that.
We also saw the New Place, which was bought by Shakespeare after his marriage to Anne to raise their family there. Sadly, it is no longer standing in the spot it once was, but there is a beautiful garden and a very cool exhibit there to memorialize the spot.
Our time in Stratford-Upon-Avon, though short, was enriching and fun and very laid back. We had a blast at our final group dinner all together, and had a sweet night of packing and watching Glee with my roommates!
This trip is something I want to tell everyone I know to go on. It was a growth experience in so many ways – and seeing such incredible theater for a month straight was a huge privilege. I will miss everything about this trip, but especially the late nights with roommates, getting on the wrong bus with Anna and going all the way to Kensington at midnight, the mean waiters at Honest Burger, being endlessly confused after My Master Builder and Here We Are, crying at Benjamin Button, writing blog posts at 3am, the dirty plates at the Royal National, discovering the water filler at the hotel 2 weeks into the trip, Anna falling down the stairs not once – but twice, the lady that came to our door to tell us to be quiet when we weren’t even talking, seeing Arty from Glee in person, knowing where Hamlet lives, my extra special ice cream topping, eating at Franco Manca (freaky moo moo) at least 5 times, blisters in Italy, stealing free samples from Whittard every single day, discovering Farmer J, endless vanilla matchas, and some of the funniest people I will ever know. Thankful for a month of memories that make me richer!!
Heres to London!
xo, jo
i am crying in the airport now
Theatre in London U of A 