Wicked!

Today I went to Wicked and wow was I impressed! The story was nothing like I expected, but I really liked it! It was really excited about the play and I have loved the music for almost three years but I never knew that the story ended the way that it did... Dun Dun Dun. The play was spectacular!

High Tea at Kensington Palace and Thanksgiving in the Centre

On Thanksgiving day we did not have class and instead first went to a local synagogue to learn about the Jewish faith. The synagogue was beautiful! I had never seen inside one although I have learned a lot about them. We were shown the building and also were told a lot about the faith for one of the local Jews. He showed us a beautiful Torah that had been handwritten and was perfect. The synagogue was beautifully placed on the street right next to ours and the whole time we were here I didn't know that it was there, it was hidden behind tall red brick walls but the windows can be seen if you know where to look.

After the visit to the synagogue we went as a program to have tea at The Orangery in Kensington Palace. Yes you read that right, we had tea where Princess Diana and other royalty (aka William and Harry!) had tea when they were living at Kensington and sometimes they still have parties there.

We had a proper English tea that included:
Rose hip tea
Cucumber sandwiches
Scones with clotted cream and jam
and Cake

Talyn, Me, Kelsy and Sabrina at our table having a proper English tea.

Later that night we had a proper American Thanksgiving dinner and part of our room was on Kitchen Krew so we were there an hour early to set up and help out.





Dinner was heavenly and included:
Turkey
Stuffing
Fruit salad
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Veggies and dip
Green bean casserole
Rolls
and pumpkin pie with plenty of whip cream)


The pumpkin pie was a surprise to us because up until that morning Terri and Dave (our amazing centre directors) had not been able to find anything that had pumpkin in it. I guess that they don't have anything here that is remotely close to pumpkin pie. Terri searched out 5 or 6 stores before she found them but they were some of the best that I have ever had. Thanks Terri!

(Pictures courtesy of girls in the program! Thanks girls!)

Paris... The Food!

These are pictures of food that we at on the way to Paris and in Paris! As it has taken me so long to post these I hope that you understand that there is not a long explanation.

Classic Field Trip Lunch.



Our Kit-Kat shakes from McDonalds in Paris! They don't have Kit-Kat shakes in the States!


Natalie and I with our savory crepes!


Our cake-brownies from a patisserie, they are all over Paris and have the most delicious treats.


Sweet dark chocolate crepe.


Apple Tart.


Natalie and Kelsy outside where we got our tarts.


The most amazing waffles that we found along the Champ d'Elysees.


Baguettes, French ones!

I am 22!

As of 12:06 Fallon time I am officially 22 years old! Here in England I am already 22 but I am going by Fallon time so I still have a few hours left and I am spending them washing my clothes and sleeping for the night. I am really exciting!

I am leaving for France on Monday and I am thinking that it is going to be one big birthday party for ME! I am thinking that this is going to be one of the best birthdays ever so I dont know how I am going to top this next year... maybe the moon? Any one want to join?

Yahoo! Something really exciting that happened to me today was that I wrote a humanities paper and took and humanities test and then as my reward for finishing I went with Alex and Jordan to this bakery called Hummingbird where I got a red velvet cupcake that had the most delicious cream cheese frosting! Mom you have to try them when you are here! Come to think of it that is like my birthday cake... I fully expect a birthday pumpkin pie when I get home with all 22 candles on it. (Maddie and Mindy take note!)

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Tonight I went to Les Miserables and it was fabulous! If I had a leader like Enjolras I think that I too would join the French Revolution! Their voices and acting was fabulous and I dont know what I was expecting but I was blown out of the water!!! This is one that I want to see again and I am stealing the music from you, Melissa, when I get back!

We arrived at the theater just an hour before and happened to get perfect seats... We were in the dress circle which was perfect as we could see everything that was happening on the stage beautifully. I love this play!

Confession...

So I am sitting in my room in London listening to Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante and I was beginning to think that I was pretty cultured and cool and then I realized that I am suppose to be following the themes and the form... we have a problem! All of you probably remember that I am not musically inclined for one main reason, if it is just instrumental I have a hard time telling the music apart. I think that it is really pretty but that is about as far as the following of the themes goes. I do know that the first movement is fast, second is slow, and third is fast but that is about as far as it does... Prof. Benfell was explaining that a symphony follow the same basic pattern of having a theme, bridge, second theme, a development of the themes, then a recapitulation and the coda but I have the hardest time telling the different parts a part. This pattern is followed in each of the four to five movements. But I am trying to understand so I appreciate the live performances when we see them!

Yea for being cultured!