Old England and Exams.

I think it's a general assumption that Americans are obsessed with Europe because everything is old.  With England, it's all about Jane Austen, those historical films, Lord of the Rings, and of course Harry Potter.  In England, everything is full of history.  It's what makes Europe so novel for Americans.  Something 150 years old isn't old at all.  Walking around York on Roman walls... THAT'S old.

When the musical theatre society was on their way to Scarborough for the festival, I was looking out at the English countryside and exclaimed, 'That looks like Pemberley!' (As in Mr. Darcy's mansion in Pride and Prejudice).  My friend Dom's remark was, 'I always love when Americans come to England.  They realise that these places actually exist.'

Yes, in England, many things I only saw in movies or read in books, were actually real.  For example:

1. Harry Potter:  Students do wear robes and dine in large halls with long tables and benches.
2. Harry Potter:  'Head Boy' and 'House Leaders' also exist in schools.
3. Lord of the Rings:  People actually sit in 500+ year old pubs drinking pints (no hobbits, though).
4. Jane Austen:  Places like Pemberley actually exist.
5. People do tend to live in castles or old castle-like homes.
6. There are cities and towns that are hundreds of years old... and look like it.
7. Jane Eyre:  The Moors... are moor-like with rolling hills and Heathcliff-like ominousness 
8. People are obsessed with the queen.  And royalty in general.
9. Jane Austen:  People drink lots of tea.
10. There are lots of sheep...

NOW.  The most recent 'old' thing I encountered in England was... EXAMS.  I took my first exam today.  It was six hours long on Shakespeare.  I'm surprised I'm even able to type!  But what was it about this exam that was so... Harry Potter like?  Or just... BRITISH and precise?

When I walked into the exam room I got nervous just because it was an ENTIRE HALL (like in Harry Potter when they take their OWL exams).  There was a man with a desk, a microphone, and a massive clock facing the rest of the room (also like in Harry Potter).  The same old filling out sheets properly was standard, raising hands to go to the bathroom, etc.  We had our 'designated lunch break' and massive panic ensued and we went back into the massive, daunting hall.

But what was it that made me giggle inside after that six hour long saga?  Not only was the 'moderator' so precise that five minutes BEFORE the time was over we had to start organising everything, but what was it...

We had to tie our booklets together.  With a STRING.  A string, I say!  I just thought... surely a stapler would work, or a paperclip.  We are in the year 2010.  It was so entirely endearing.  And it made me think:

Yes.  Coming to England, I sometimes feel like I am living in a Harry Potter movie, or a Jane Austen film, or just... my own vision of England where everything is old and traditional.

I get to do this two more times.  And while I probably won't miss the stress of being in such a formal hall with such strict rules when I go back to America, there's a part of me, in a very nostalgic way, that will miss that sort of - intense, traditional, precision that is... England.

Even those bloody exams with their Harry Potter halls.  And string.

*Edit: When I took my Chaucer Exam there was a student writing with a pen and bottle of ink.  As in... feather and a bottle of ink.  Like what they would've written in DURING the Middle Ages.

Another rant about healthcare...

YES!  It's wonderful that the US is one step closer to universal health care, but it's not national health care.  And it's not like universal health care is making a lot of Americans happy (it's making this one extremely happy!)  In previous posts I have expressed my thoughts about national health care and how ludicrous it is that Americans have to pay for coverage...

So, another rant/experience (be prepared, this is another college liberal making her claim against the society she lives in--what else is new?):

Students here find it shocking when I say that one of my fears when I graduate from college is how I will get health care.  In fact, it is probably my biggest worry - bigger than making money.  I've had friends that choose to work at Starbucks while they try and work as actors because they offer health insurance to part-time employees.  After being here for many months, I've realised how ridiculous it is that health care costs money in the States.

You may remember when I had swine flu in September.  The doctor prescribed Tamiflu, a very expensive drug, and I was so surprised that when my friend returned from the pharmacy with it, it didn't cost a cent.  Neither did the 3 hours I spent in the doctor's office.  And neither did the follow up phone call.

I think it's a bit sad, that when my 'American' prescriptions have run out I go to the doctor here asking for refills and hoping that I can get a long supply of it so I don't need to pay for things when I get back (granted, I am a part of the National Health Care service since I'm here for a while, not everyone can do this).  I find it also humourous, that when I told the doctor about my asthma medication, he suggested that he try and lower the dose as I was doing fine... a reminder that America is very over medicated.  While it may have been a bit untactful, he did say that in the UK, they try to have their patients on the lowest dose versus the highest if they are okay.  This is not to say that America over prescribes - but I would say that American culture has a 'thing' for prescribing and a thing for medicating as remedies.  It helps in the UK, that drug companies aren't out trying to find doctors or hospitals to use their specific brand of medication.  With the NHS, every drug is brand name, but it's not about making money from the NHS for drug companies.  For insurance companies and drug companies in America, it's all about making money off of the ill.

I found it so telling that when I went to 'check out' from my appointment I instinctively reached for my wallet.  And was reminded that, no, my appointment did not cost a cent.  And I could come back any time to meet with the doctor.

I then went to the pharmacy and learned the hierarchy of prescriptions.  Certain prescriptions are free, but other than that, prescriptions are £7.00.  That's for everyone.  As my friend Dom said, it evens out the playing field so that if a drug is more or less, everyone still pays the same amount.  It may seem a bit 'unfair' that my £7.00 prescription may go to help another person whose prescription is more, but that's an aspect of the NHS, and dare I say it: socialism. 

Anyone in the UK will say that the NHS is not perfect.  But the fact that I don't need to fork up my dad's insurance card and cash to get a dose of asthma medication or a 15 minute visit with the doctor says a lot.  I also like the fact that the NHS was founded on and still is founded on truly helping everyone as a nation.  Insurance companies and drug companies in America aren't about helping the sick or the people, they're about making a profit.

It is not customary for the Brits to be very 'patriotic' as they are a reserved group of people.  But I think it says a lot that the NHS represents health care for everyone - the sense that everyone in this nation should be able to care for another.

I find it ironic, then, that a nation like America, so patriotic and willing to flaunt its values, is ultimately a nation that can't come together and realise that national health care is not about socialism, it's about being a patriotic person who just wishes to help their fellow American.

I may sound preachy, anti-American, but really, I love America.  I'm glad to go back soon.  But America is a very ironic and contradictory country.  A lot of the values 'preached' in society are not exactly the values practiced. 

More on that later...

Ireland...

In the course of my time in London, I have become wonderful friends with Ben Kelly.  He studies English as well and was in Into the Woods as Jack.  Over Easter Break he invited me to see Ireland and learn about his country.  He is from Derry, which is a part of Northern Ireland, a place that has for many years been full of violence and religious tension.  Things have calmed down, but they have a very bloody past.  Similar to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, each person has their own connection and their own story to tell.

I am not going to get into too much about the politics of Northern Ireland as it is upsetting and subjective.  I will say this: seeing Derry was such an educational experience.  In America, I feel that Ireland was sort of glossed over in history class (as are many things) and I found Ben's 'tour' to be very informative.  The present history is very raw.  They are used to violence, but as Ben has told me, now there isn't a time for violence--that time has passed.

The history and politics aside, Ireland is a beautiful country.  The Irish are an extremely open and welcoming people.  They do have Irish banter, openly joke and criticise about their family and friends, but this is all in good fun and not unusual.  What I found most beautiful, however, was the sense of trust and family the Irish have.  I had the opportunity to meet much of Ben's family.  I was immediately welcomed into their homes and their lives.  I was shocked how everyone, after only knowing me for a few hours welcomed me back to their homes and genuinely meant it.  Ben's Mom told me that here, they mean it.  I could come back to Ireland with out Ben and say that I was his friend and they would trust that and let me into their home.  These people don't take crap, but they do open their hearts and homes to those they trust.  I find that sense of trust, openness, and family no matter who you are truly touching.  I got asked a lot if my family came from Ireland (since so many Americans do).  When I responded that I really don't have any ounce of Irish blood in me (I'm half Chinese and half Jewish--and by Jewish, from the shtetls in what is now Poland) they said that I am perhaps the only American who does not have Irish roots, but that I now have Irish family. 

What I have found most touching about being abroad is the welcoming nature of people no matter who you are and where you are from.  This was one of those rare, and truly touching times.  Thanks, Ben for showing me your country and its beauty!

This Volcano.

Have any of you seen 2012?  I did... and as much as I like to indulge in those sort of movies, a part of me secretly thinks that these 'myths' will actually come true.  Things to date since seeing that movie: earthquakes and now this volcano.  I know it's not to say that the Mayan predictions will come true (and honestly I hope not because there are a lot of things I want to do in life) but I do think the earth is telling us things.

This volcano has disrupted many people.  I have friends who are stuck in all different parts of the world and can't get back to home or their university.  It's not good for the airlines and their economy, other forms of transportation are somewhat taking advantage of this and hiking up prices, and this could be a problem for months.

However... something unusual, or coincidental, is happening in London: we have had the most beautiful days I have ever seen.  The skies are blue like I have never seen before in my life.  No clouds, beautiful weather, and sun.  I am no scientist (but I once was... sort of) but I wonder if there has to be a connection between no airplanes in the sky and beautiful, clear skies.

Or... it could be God/Nature/Higher Power saying, 'Thank you for not polluting my skies for a few days.'

Apologies...

Apologies to those (few) readers of this somewhat lame blog. I have been absent because of frantic discussions about getting to the festival, rehearsing for the festival, and ultimately going to the festival! The festival was a complicated affair that I learned a lot from but also had my contentions. But, as to not spoil or speak ill of things, I would like to highlight what I learned and loved:

1. Spending a week with what has become the best large university social group I have had was wonderful. Bonding times, living in a somewhat obscure town for a week, and raucous nights were highlights.
2. I think I've learned a bit of what it's like to be on tour - get a new venue, have little time to figure out how everything works and then do a show! This gave me very little time to freak out.
3. I love the theatre. So much. I love it in its messiness, when we're all kind of doing a show on a prayer and yet it happily turns out better than it ever was.
4. I have learned that if I truly believe and trust in myself, normally my mind and body will follow. Let's put it this way: my performance, technically, this time was solid. In comparison to the show in December, I did not mess up the counting in my individual, difficult pieces. Was it because I relearned things? Partially, but I set my mind to not letting me psyche myself out and I accomplished that. That sounds cocky... but I am proud of how I overcame my psychological barrier.
5. I would love to do a show forever and ever. BUT, being in the midst of school work, in some ways I feel that if I were to really grow the next time I (hopefully!) play Cinderella I would need time to grow as a human being.
6. Not everyone is going to like you and that's life. Actors are notoriously insecure. I am most definitely an insecure human being. Acting is a very emotionally risky business because you invest your heart and soul into a character that in one sentence a critic can destroy. I've learned that that will happen and that I need to develop a tougher skin.
7. There's no spirit like team spirit. UCL won the pub quiz. And it was, possibly, one of the happiest moments of my life. We cheered like we won the World Cup or £1,000,000. We truthfully won neither.
8. I will cherish this experience for good and for bad for my entire life. I'm just so happy I got to do the show again and with people that I love.

Post-show I had the opportunity to see more of England and Ireland. Pictures, adventures, and thoughts to come... especially as we get closer to - yes, my return home.

And by home, I mean New York.

New York I have missed you loads.
London I will miss you when I am in New York.
It's a Catch-22.

Lastly, what I've learned the most about the above experience and about my time in London: the importance of friends. Friends are so important. Cherish them because at times, I feel they are the only thing holding me together.