(no subject)
I have just completed two presentations, turned in a huge research project, and my internet is officially hooked up in my flat (yay!). Upside? Now I can devote an absurd amount of time to (finally) updating my livejournal a bit.
Living here and being part of this program is incredible. Like a dream, maybe even borderline fairytale-esque. I know, the description is a bit absurd and ridiculous, but, I promise, very accurate. Here, I can even prove it to you....
This past Saturday I forced myself out of bed early and went over to the Sotheby's Institute of Art to attend the second half of a conference dedicated to the effect of Buddhism on Chinese Art. All of the speakers were terrifyingly accomplished, to the point where I was surprised if the lecturer wasn't a well known curator or the author of a book I recently used during my seemingly endless presentations. Once it ended around five, I ran home, changed into a sweatshirt and jeans, and raced over to the northeast side of London for some Guy Fawkesness. We decided to bypass the more traditional bonfire and fireworks over at Battersea Park in favor of the celebrations at Victoria Park. An entire carnival had been erected in the park and after shuddering in fear at the sight of all the rides designed for children over the age of 10, I decided to pay far too much for a turn at bumper cars, then followed it up with a very yummy candied apple (or toffee apple over here...it makes no sense). But hands down, the firework and pyrotechnic display was the best. Possibly ever. It's a bit hard to describe, but the show included a 100ft flaming skeleton (Guy Fawkes), a 70ft flaming Big Ben that actually turned into a rocketship and flew upwards at one point, plus tons of crazy fireworks set to a musical score. At one point the entire sky was full of red color, like being under a ceiling of fire. If you can believe it, I haven't even mentioned one of the best parts yet. During the display I was about 10 ft away from Jim Broadbent. You know, Zidler from Moulin Rouge, the dad in Bridget Jones Diary, the soon-to-be Horace Slughorn in the next Harry Potter movie, and a character in the new Indiana Jones movie. And no, this wasn't another 'possible Cameron Manheim' incident. It was him. Graeme first pointed him out, a bunch of girls next to us had already come to the same conclusion, and I checked his photo on IMDB. I even behaved myself and left him alone (being under pain of death to do anything else had nothing to do with it). Next, I met up with a bunch of people from my class, we walked over to the world famous Brick Lane for some incredible Indian food, went back to Tiffany's place to sit on the same couch that Hugh Jackman used during one of his musicals (her landlord works on big theatrical productions), and made our way back to the tube via the top level of a double decker bus.
Do you see what I mean?
The next day I once again forced my lazy ass out of bed and went over to the Sotheby's auction house on Bond street. Nixi, my professor, used some of their current auction items to conduct an informal handling session for old and priceless Chinese scrolls. Once I stopped sweating and managed not to rip anything, we walked over to check out the Christie's auction preview to handle more priceless objects (think jade and bronze and gold) and to get a glimpse of the commercial end of the auction world. I have to admit, it was an experience, watching all of these incredibly rich and scholarly people pick up the objects, inspect them under lights, whip out their personal magnifying glass, and socialize with the crowd. And since that wasn't enough, I spent the next few hours wandering through some of the best Asian galleries in the world, surrounded by the same group of scholars and collectors, sipping champagne and munching on sushi and chocolate.
Seriously, who the hell does that? Who? And that was just two days. Two days!
Hmm...what else have I done worth noting? I've already been to two concerts, The Shins and The Decemberists and both were wonderful. Good music, good crowd, plus a very spirited Mariner's Revenge sing along. I went to see a performance at the Royal Opera House and decided that it would be a good idea to test the waters with my first opera and watch the first section of Das Rheingold. Umm...hmmmm...perhaps a bit too heavy, not quite my style. The sets and special effects rocked my world (giant robot hands!) but I was less enthusiastic about, well, everything else.
Still, one of the best things about this city is it's proximity and availability. For instance, after spending an incredibly frustrating and difficult time studying at the British Library I decided I needed a break and popped downstairs to look at the Magna Carta. Or, after spending another fun-filled day at a separate library, I thought I deserved a treat and wandered around the corner to check out the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum. And since I wasn't quite ready to go back yet, I sat outside the entrance, munching on the roasted chestnuts I had picked up from a nearby street vendor.
Every day here is kinda jaw-dropping and I regularly find myself trying not to pinch my arm. London is amazing and I can't wait for people to start visiting! Come over now! Book tickets this minute!
Living here and being part of this program is incredible. Like a dream, maybe even borderline fairytale-esque. I know, the description is a bit absurd and ridiculous, but, I promise, very accurate. Here, I can even prove it to you....
This past Saturday I forced myself out of bed early and went over to the Sotheby's Institute of Art to attend the second half of a conference dedicated to the effect of Buddhism on Chinese Art. All of the speakers were terrifyingly accomplished, to the point where I was surprised if the lecturer wasn't a well known curator or the author of a book I recently used during my seemingly endless presentations. Once it ended around five, I ran home, changed into a sweatshirt and jeans, and raced over to the northeast side of London for some Guy Fawkesness. We decided to bypass the more traditional bonfire and fireworks over at Battersea Park in favor of the celebrations at Victoria Park. An entire carnival had been erected in the park and after shuddering in fear at the sight of all the rides designed for children over the age of 10, I decided to pay far too much for a turn at bumper cars, then followed it up with a very yummy candied apple (or toffee apple over here...it makes no sense). But hands down, the firework and pyrotechnic display was the best. Possibly ever. It's a bit hard to describe, but the show included a 100ft flaming skeleton (Guy Fawkes), a 70ft flaming Big Ben that actually turned into a rocketship and flew upwards at one point, plus tons of crazy fireworks set to a musical score. At one point the entire sky was full of red color, like being under a ceiling of fire. If you can believe it, I haven't even mentioned one of the best parts yet. During the display I was about 10 ft away from Jim Broadbent. You know, Zidler from Moulin Rouge, the dad in Bridget Jones Diary, the soon-to-be Horace Slughorn in the next Harry Potter movie, and a character in the new Indiana Jones movie. And no, this wasn't another 'possible Cameron Manheim' incident. It was him. Graeme first pointed him out, a bunch of girls next to us had already come to the same conclusion, and I checked his photo on IMDB. I even behaved myself and left him alone (being under pain of death to do anything else had nothing to do with it). Next, I met up with a bunch of people from my class, we walked over to the world famous Brick Lane for some incredible Indian food, went back to Tiffany's place to sit on the same couch that Hugh Jackman used during one of his musicals (her landlord works on big theatrical productions), and made our way back to the tube via the top level of a double decker bus.
Do you see what I mean?
The next day I once again forced my lazy ass out of bed and went over to the Sotheby's auction house on Bond street. Nixi, my professor, used some of their current auction items to conduct an informal handling session for old and priceless Chinese scrolls. Once I stopped sweating and managed not to rip anything, we walked over to check out the Christie's auction preview to handle more priceless objects (think jade and bronze and gold) and to get a glimpse of the commercial end of the auction world. I have to admit, it was an experience, watching all of these incredibly rich and scholarly people pick up the objects, inspect them under lights, whip out their personal magnifying glass, and socialize with the crowd. And since that wasn't enough, I spent the next few hours wandering through some of the best Asian galleries in the world, surrounded by the same group of scholars and collectors, sipping champagne and munching on sushi and chocolate.
Seriously, who the hell does that? Who? And that was just two days. Two days!
Hmm...what else have I done worth noting? I've already been to two concerts, The Shins and The Decemberists and both were wonderful. Good music, good crowd, plus a very spirited Mariner's Revenge sing along. I went to see a performance at the Royal Opera House and decided that it would be a good idea to test the waters with my first opera and watch the first section of Das Rheingold. Umm...hmmmm...perhaps a bit too heavy, not quite my style. The sets and special effects rocked my world (giant robot hands!) but I was less enthusiastic about, well, everything else.
Still, one of the best things about this city is it's proximity and availability. For instance, after spending an incredibly frustrating and difficult time studying at the British Library I decided I needed a break and popped downstairs to look at the Magna Carta. Or, after spending another fun-filled day at a separate library, I thought I deserved a treat and wandered around the corner to check out the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum. And since I wasn't quite ready to go back yet, I sat outside the entrance, munching on the roasted chestnuts I had picked up from a nearby street vendor.
Every day here is kinda jaw-dropping and I regularly find myself trying not to pinch my arm. London is amazing and I can't wait for people to start visiting! Come over now! Book tickets this minute!