*Mandy hangs her head in shame at her poor updating skills*

In keeping my promise of updating you on the events I mentioned in my last blog, my flat mates and I all went to King’s Truffle Shuffle together in our finest 80s gear! I got my whole outfit put together for under 10 pounds from a fabulous store called Primark (hmmm I think I've already gone on about that store...), complete with hot pink tights and leg warmers. The club pumped the best of Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Corey Hart, Michael Jackson- basically every amazing 80s song you can think of, all while The Breakfast Club and Back to the Future played on the projector. We had an absolute blast! (*Note to any Traditions/TIGER/Greek Council members reading this….our clubs would make loads and loads of money at a large sponsored 80s party*). Points go out to Emily and my brother Ryan for correctly identifying The Goonies as the movie where the Truffle Shuffle comes from. Just for fun, here is the link to one of the greatest movie dances ever- http://youtube.com/watch?v=t5whaRkuipU&feature=related

The big crazy club night at Fabric was also really fun. We got there really early, around 9:30 pm, which sounds ridiculous on American standards, but if we arrived any later, we would have stood in the queue for at least an hour. The place is like a giant maze inside. I was afraid to even go to the loo by myself because I would lose my group and never find them. Later in the evening, the club definitely picked up that crazy atmosphere you only see in movies, so that was worth witnessing first hand. And like any good Londoner, we walked all the way home when we wouldn’t find a close bus stop. I will never ever drive from Prassel to Coates ever again (yes, yes I used to do that, don’t judge me).

So all of my new friends, and one of my old ones, are all officially gone on various Euro-travels (currently I think locations include Switzerland and Barcelona). In one week, I will be meeting Bryan’s group for his birthday in Prague, and then Berlin. I am leaving them after Berlin to do Athens for a few days by myself (scary but exciting!), and then my new friends Becca and Anna will meet me and we will continue to Santorini and Ios for some sun and beach time. I am so excited! I’m currently working on my paper for Experimental Theatre (about Jean Genet and Howard Barker- again, if any of you have heard of them, another shout out will be in order), and then another about a house that both Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf lived in in Bloomsbury. Yes, I know. A little absurd. Things are going well with everyone gone, including most of my flat. I’m not as lonely as I thought I would be, as I am currently seeing a pretty darn charming Englishman. I retract any former grumbles about the English and their off-putting nature. I’m having a great time with him and his friends, despite their work-distracting nature (because let’s be honest, going to art installations and movie quiz nights with a great guy are a lot more fun than French dramatists).

I’ve been struggling the past few days with applying to internships back home. It is not easy, in the least, to do from abroad. I’ve found that many jobs I’d like require face-to-face interviews, and I just can’t go back for that sort of thing. I’ve applied to multiple theatres and some non-profits, so hopefully some of those come through! I’ve also been missing home quite a bit- congratulations to the newly initiated members of Alpha Chi Lambda’s class of 2008!

A few weeks ago, Hannah and I went for a stroll along the South Bank towards Borough Market, past the Tate Modern and the Globe. We noticed film crews in front of the Tate and thought, hmm probably filming a documentary. Of course I had to ask what they were filming, and after asking about 5 guards, it was confirmed- they were filming opening shots for Harry Potter!!! AHHH! So of course I went all the way back to my flat for my camera, and casually strolled around the filming area taking pictures- sadly, no actors were present.
HOWEVER- just two days ago, I was walking over Waterloo Bridge and happened to look up at the man walking toward me. He was very short, with a smart blue suit on, flyaway hair, a scrunched up face, and talking on a cell phone. This man was none other than Timothy Spall- the actor who plays Peter Pettigrew! He is also in Sweeney Todd and Enchanted, both as rat-like characters. I was literally in over-joyed shock!! London kicks ass.

And to finish off this post, just for fun, here are a few things I am currently obsessed with (and you should be too): Nutella, crumpets, Cadbury crème eggs, Crunchy Nut Clusters cereal, iTunes radio: Pop- Big R Radio-The Mix, Classical- Classical Minnesota, fake alpaca hats, Newton Faulkner, The Fratellis, Kate Nash and trench coats. That is all!

My flat mates and I ready for the Truf- Kim, Franzi, Ghislain, me and Lauren (missing Matt and Praveen)

Me being silly

Crews filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!!!!!!

Posted by Mandy at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

First of all, I will admit that directly in front of my keyboard is a collection of essays about Shakespeare adaptations. It is open to an essay written by my seminar lecturer, and I stopped reading half-way through because I decided I would rather write a post. Best idea? Who cares, this is much more fun. I just read Sebastian’s great entry and started laughing, because I just got back from a trip to Brussels myself!

Brussels….what shall I say about you? The city itself was not terribly interesting to me. I liked the EU parliament building, and really, the best parts of the trip were hanging out with my friends and relaxing. My goals for the trip (sponsored by my travel program) were thus: eat chocolate, waffles, fries, drink a beer (I really don’t like beer in the least), and sleep. Mazel tov to me, I did it all! We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which was the nicest hotel I’ve ever been to, and had the comfiest beds I could imagine- way way better than the beds in my flat. I whole-heartedly concur with Sebastian- there is nothing better than Belgian chocolate. I have a bag full of truffles, pralines (chocolate eggs filled with different chocolates/flavors) and a bar of mint-leaf infused dark chocolate calling to me from my bed. I must have spent about 20 euro on chocolate. Obscene and absurd, yes, but completely and totally worth it. I also had some sort of religious experience with my waffle on Sunday; it’s hard to describe the sheer joy I felt when eating it. A fresh, toasty waffle, topped with 2 huge scoops of homemade Belgian chocolate ice cream, covered with caramel sauce. I only had eyes for that waffle. It’s almost like food porn with all the sweets. Loved it!

We went on a day trip to Antwerp and wandered around the fashionable city people watching and shopping. However, the best part occurred at once, and was two-fold. Outside of the cathedral, there is a square with lots of little restaurants and benches. We went to the chip shop (french fries) to get a cone of chips with curry ketchup (you cannot go back to regular ketchup after that). When we were in line, I heard a familiar voice, and saw the three trip leaders from our program. Here my friends and I are, in Antwerp on a day trip from Brussels, in one little chip shop in a particular square at a random time, and there are people we know. I suppose it seems silly, but I really love small-world coincidence things like that.

It’s so bizarre that things are happening so quickly. Time flies when you’re having fun- I really hate that phrase, but it’s so very true. In three weeks, most of my friends are packing up and heading out on month-long holiday excursions around Europe. I’m staying here to write my 4 essays for two weeks, and then heading out to join various groups of friends. It’s just so strange how close you get to people when you are all thrown into a new situation together. I’m going to miss them all very much when I’m the only one moping about the library, writing essays on Elizabeth I and experimental theatre. However, we still have a lot of time as it is to hang out and have fun. We’re going to a pretty famous club, Fabric, next week for this insanely crazy sounding party that involves everything from face painting to dancing, drink specials and moonwalks to a human petting zoo (do not ask me what that is, I don’t even want to know). This week is also my school’s most famous party they throw at the union club, the Truffle Shuffle. Everyone wears 80s clothing, dances to 80s jams, and gets drinks at 80s prices! Major points to anyone who can identify what Truffle Shuffle is in reference to- I’ll even give you a shout-out in my next entry! I’ll be sure to tell you all how that goes.

As for right now, I should be getting back to my Shakespeare, or maybe go to the gym and work off all of that chocolate. Or, I can eat another praline and research airline tickets. Let’s hope I make the right choice! On a final note, please keep checking back to see if I have added pictures- technology hates me too.

Posted by Mandy at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)