Back to Normal

Or close to...or next to? hmm.

Life before this summer was so full. Go go go.. was me. all. the. time. But that's the way I like it honestly. I find things to fill my time. I don't like slow. Err.. Okay, I do like slow... slow time.... so I have time to fill it with things I like to do. Anyways-- point is, I feel back to me. A life filled with things I like to be doing.

Classes are holding much of my focus. I've learned to ask questions all the time. No, not in class... ha. To myself. About my art, art in general, life. It's nice. A very reflective process.

I've been writing music all the time and it feels really good. I went through some dry spells back in the States and I like the wet ones much better. Ha. I think the move has inspired a whole new burst of creativity for me. A change of perspective.

Looking back on what I wrote last time, I sounded so lonely! Ha! It isn't that I'm lonely, it's just that I don't have as many loved ones surrounding me all the time...something I am just not used to. But change is good. It will be even sweeter when I get to see everyone again. In the meantime, man my hand hurts from writing postcards....

so many thoughts that I can't even share them.

London is beginning to grow on me more and more. I must admit that it was (is) not easy leaving my friends and family. I literally think about all of them everyday, yet I still know this is where I need to be. Even though I've made a few friends here, I tend to spend a lot of time on my own. Which is probably a good thing. Hey, if you're ever going to be fairly anti-social, why not do it in grad school when you're supposed to be focused anyways, right?! It is quite weird though still... at home I spent so much time with my friends...Just looking at pictures this morning from my going away party made me sad. : (

Well, no time to be sad is what I say! ha! Now I'm off to work out a bit, read some Shakespeare, and plan my week! I'm going to start taking mime, dance, and yoga classes outside of school. Woo! Can't wait!

phew

What a day! My third day of grad school and I am already feeling incredibly tired. But I look at that as a good thing! The program is already pushing me and I feel like I've already learned so much--and not just about theatre either, about myself! It's bizarre.

These past few days were labeled as "Inductions", referring to each session, such as voice, acting, movement, and dance--but they were by no means "inductions". We just jumped right in and got to work really. I kind of left having many questions about our schedule and specifics of projects as in what we are going to be doing after today and yesterday, but I feel like time will tell? ha. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as I'm getting something out of it...which I have intensely done thus far. Maybe tomorrow when we meet to have tea and biscuits we will learn a bit more. Everyone on the course seems so lovely and the teachers as well. I feel like we're all going to bond :)... hey, some of us already have even! It's nice to have people that I feel comfortable around being as I am millions of miles away from everyone in my life.

As for settling in, I am definitely still a bit jetlagged and quite sick from the change in weather. I am praying this goes away soon (hopefully by the morning!) as I have to perform tomorrow. I've been drinking lots of tea with lemon and honey, water, and OJ, so I'm hoping the natural methods will help with this one! I finally set up a bank account over here which is a nice relief, but I haven't gotten a card yet, so I can't get a phone... sooo... waiting!

Other than that, my room is beginning to feel more like MY room. And my flat, very much like home.

finally home... home?!

I finally made it... and, let me tell ya, it was for sure a feat. After finally getting my visa and a very long flight over, I hopped on the tube with my two suitcases and incredibly heavy backpack thinking I was homefree... Got off the tube to switch to the final tube that would take me to Swiss Cottage. The line was shut down. :( So I began to improvise. I ended up walking the streets of London for a good twenty minutes without money or a phone (with all my luggage mind you.. jetlagged and sleepless! ha!) until finally I hailed a cab with the intention of just sucking it up and ALREADY using my emergency credit card... Driver doesn't take cards...go figure.. So he directed me to an atm and I finally reached home. HOME. What a weird concept. I was greeted by an incredible group of roommates, and, even though I was EXHAUSTED, there was no way I was getting to sleep anytime soon.

Adam came over and went with Claire and I to the grocery store... EVERYTIME I got in Claire's car, my mind was telling me to get in the passenger's side... which is actually the driver's side here.. This will take some getting used to. Grocery shopping was also a feat in its own. You would THINK that it would generally be similiar...umm no. HA! It was fine though--Definitely had some ridiculous moments of laughing with Adam and Claire. Then we went to the mall to buy some sheets and then drove around for a while... SCARY! Ha! Driving in London is definitely comparable to driving in NYC. And Claire is not one to be reckoned with on the roads by any means! It was pretty hilarious...

When we got home, Claire, Adam, and Aneta all decided my room (that was a MESS and totally not unpacked yet!) would be a good place to hang out. Adam does some killer card tricks... And not just card TRICKS either... I'm talking serious mind reading here. No, really. I have to admit that everyone is exactly what I thought they would be like. And I mean that in the greatest way possible. Cause I already thought they were pretty freakin awesome. :)I can tell this is going to be one of the greatest adventures of my life.

I went to bed at a fairly reasonable time as I don't think I would've made it any longer, and here I am--sitting at my desk at 6:13am drinking tea and listening to musicals. :) I got everything unpacked this morning...as I was up at 4AM! Even got to Skype my sissy today already! Been working on school stuff since I have to perform on the first day, which is a little scary as I am definitely stuffy from the change in weather and yucky plane ride.

Today we go to uni at noon to register. Cannot wait to meet everyone else in the program and actually get started on the course!! So pumped. I definitely miss everyone back home already. All of this is still a bit surreal. And my room is still a little bare, but I'm working on it.

Love from the UK,
Alli

and the journey begins...

Catching my flight to London in a few hours. So ready. It's a bittersweet time here in Nashville. It is so hard leaving my loved ones. :( But, I have to admit, I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! London, look out!