Hairspray changed my life.

So since I got here I have been wondering which musicals to spend my money on and which I can pass up. I like musicals just as much as the next guy but I am no fanatic. However Adriana is pertty much a musical expert and so I sought her advice. She told me, "Go see Hairspray." I almost didn't listen to her because, hey who can play Link Larkin better than Zac Efron? I, in my foolish state of ignorance, felt that seeing the movie "Hairspray" was sufficient. Good thing I listened to her wise advice because the production changed my life. When I got home my cheeks hurt because I had literally been smiling for the last three hours. The theatre was the Shaftesury theatre, a rather small historical building with a pretty small stage. Jen, Karli, Shar and I all went and we have never had more fun in London. I think I will be going back to see it before I leave because I loved it that much. The cast was wonderful and at one point, during the time "you're timeless to me" the actors even lost it and started laughing a little bit. Then they improved their way back into their lines and the whole theatre was just loving their lives because it was so entertaining. Besides the casting, the dancing and the music were so well done. I have never been to a live production that was so flawless. So here comes my classic phrase: if you ever come to London and Hairspray is playing GO SEE IT.


Then today was another London study day. These are generally difficult for me because all forty or so of us try to take the tube and navigate around the city in the form of parading Americans. I sort of dread these says actually. I think I can be much more productive on my own. However, we got to see the banqueting house which is one of the oldest places in London. It wasn't destroyed in the London fire and it is the place where Charles I was executed. The magnificence of the building really lies in the cieling, or flies in the ceiling? Peter Paul Rubens painted the ceiling and I will tell you more about it when I go research it for my mythology paper (bleh). It was quite a beautiful ceiling but it took us until one o clock in the afternoon to finally get to the British Museum as a group. Jake, Laura, CJ, Jenny and I took the bus to get there which was kind of fun. I love the tube but being able to see where you are going in the city is also nice. We didn't spend long there at the British museum once we got there though. I feel overwhelmed everytime I am there because there is just so much to see and so many significant and important things that you just can't prioritize very easily. So I decided to finish a walk write up and come back to the museum on a less beautiful day. Yes, today was lovely. The sun was shining, at certain points I was only wearing a sweatshirt! So Jake, Laura, Christina and I walked along the Tower Bridge and the South Bank of the Thames, through to Borough market, and then tubed it back home. I love the South bank of the Thames. Partly because I love the river with all of my heart; it holds so much history and really is the reason London is even located where it is. I also love it because back in the day it was this sort of sketchy part of London. All the theatres were located there, outside the city walls where the Puritan political officials had little authority over them. It was sort of the red light or wild side of town and now it's this fixed up charming area (right along the bank and back into Borough market at least; I haven't been much further than the embankment). So tonight there is a YSA dance we might go to. I have lots of homework to do but I am so tired I might fall asleep!

Just chilling at the British museum like locals...at a tourist attraction...yeah.

Yes it was a SUNNY day in London!

Story of my life: I have a sheepish grin on my face and Jake probably feels like he is always babysitting us girls. Pretty sure he was sick of us all today. Poor guy.

we decided to lie down on the ground so we could see the ceiling better in the banqueting rooms.