It's about time!

Statue of King Henry IV.

Bonjour! I’m so sorry that this post is so long overdue, it has been a busy month! From Paris to Amsterdam, my passport is substantially more interesting to look at than it was four weeks ago, as is the portrait of my life!

Store St. Espresso.

A recap of each trip:

Paris

After watching Midnight in Paris last summer, I had been itching to go to Paris and bask in its cultural glory (and, if the opportunity presented itself, jump into a car with Hemingway and party with the Fitzgeralds). So when a couple of my friends suggested going to Paris for reading week, I naturally jumped at the chance.

Pont Alexandre III, where the last scene of Midnight in Paris was filmed.

Shakespeare & Co.

Despite the extreme temperatures (one day it was down to 16°F), Paris was magical. We took a couple of walking tours, which, in my opinion, were the most valuable investment because they helped us to get to know the city from the perspective of its people. Often I will walk past an apartment building and just marvel at the fact that in this one building, there are hundreds of people who each have their own life, their own story. Going on the walking tours gave us the chance to appreciate not just the beauty of the sights, but the spirit of the sights, which can only be recounted through the experiences of the people who inhabited the city and brought it to life. After the tour, we walked through the city with such a fresh perspective; instead of a beautiful stone bridge, we saw a beautiful stone bridge that marked the triumphs and celebrations of King Henry IV. Instead of the famed red lights and the tacky windmill, we saw the Moulin Rouge as the center of late 1800’s Paris nightlife and inspiration for artists like Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. Sights wise, my favorite part of the trip was the walking tour we took through Montmartre, the only mountain in Paris. In addition to the adorable feel of the quaint apartments and shops (the famed café from Amelie is on this mountain), this place has a rich history, encompassing everything from the scandalous Moulin Rouge to the sacred Sacre Coer. It also served as home (and studio!) to some of the most amazing artist of our time (Van Gogh, Modigliani, and Picasso to name a few…).

On the bridge of locks, where couples will seal their love with a lock.

Of course, I can’t mention my trip to Paris without talking about the museums. To take full advantage of our pricy museum pass, we made lots of museum visits, even venturing out of Paris to the wonderful Versailles for a day! Sadly, as many people had warned, the Louvre did not live up to its hype. An essentially overcrowded labyrinth, I felt as if I were being herded from room to room. Though the famed works were as beautiful as I had imagined them to be, I barely got the chance to take them in because there were just too many people who wished to share the same intimate moment. That being said, it was worth going to see not only the pieces, but the museum, which, as a former palace, is a work of art in itself. Overall though, I much preferred visiting the smaller museums, particularly the Musée de l’Orangerie (features the largest collection of Monet’s Water Lilies, as well as an impressive collection of works by various impressionists) and the Musée d’Orsay, which perfectly complemented the still-developing art history analysis skills I have picked up from my 19^th-20^th century art history class. Like the Louvre, the architecture of the museums mirrored their feel: simple, understated, but not without purpose or meaning. For instance, at the top of the d’Orsay, where the impressionism gallery is held, there is a giant glass clock that reveals a stunning view of Montmartre, which is delightfully uncanny as the mountain housed many of the artists featured in the gallery…

Argenteuil, Claude Monet at Musee le d'Orangerie.

 

 

 

Carousel near Notre Dame.

And the food! In addition to consuming an inordinate amount of abnormally delicious bread, wine, crepes and cheese (the BEST brie I have ever tasted), despite being on a budget I tried my best to indulge in authentic French cuisine. And I think we did pretty well! Thanks to our amazing tour guide Naomi, we were able to find some incredible food, including quiche, snails, and frog legs (which really do taste like chicken, mixed with fish!). My favorite meal was at Le Refuge des Fondues, a small, quirky fondue place on Montmartre that featured a fun, lively atmosphere, friendly staff, cheese-shaped toilets, and wine served in baby bottles. As far as desserts are concerned, being in Paris for Valentines Day gave me the perfect excuse to treat myself to a box of absolutely delectable Ladurée macarons (though I probably would have done this even if it weren’t Valentines Day).

Escargot.

Overall, going to Paris rejuvenated me with a newfound sense of gratitude. I remember sitting in Notre Dame and suddenly being hit with an overwhelming sense of appreciation; it was if I had just realized that after years of daydreaming, I was actually in Europe, traveling and living the life I had once only been able to fantasize about. After my accident, I was overcome with this sense of purpose, I have since tried to dedicate my life to others, in attempts to helping others find their own purpose, the passion that makes life meaningful and worth living. But when you become so busy and involved, it’s easy to just get caught up in keeping up with life. It is always nice to be reminded of why I set off on this adventure in the first place, as it keeps me inspired to continue giving, but not without living (however corny that might sound).

Candles in Notre Dame.

A prayer I left in Notre Dame.

Our jumping picture near the Eiffel Tower.

Versailles.

House of Invalides.

Rodin's "The Thinker"

Sacre Coer by night.

Le Refuge des Fondues.

View of Montmartre from Musee d'Orsay.

Paris from the Arc de Triumphe.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam by night.

Amsterdam was a completely different trip from Paris. Unlike our schedule in Paris, which was often a little exhausting and jam-packed, we took our time in Amsterdam, sleeping in and stopping to take advantage of spontaneous finds, like the playground near our hostel or the giant I (am)sterdam sign. The people in Amsterdam were also significantly nicer than they were in Paris, where many of the people were, sadly, quite rude towards Americans. Having no language barrier was likely part of the reason people in Amsterdam were so much more willing to communicate, but overall the people just seemed much more amicable and laid-back. One older gentleman even went as far as to walk me to my hostel when I got lost on the way back from Leiden.

Posing with the I (am)sterdam sign.

The former entrance to the city of Amsterdam.

From HI to Leiden.

I spent the first day in Leiden with Elyssa, one of my best friends from home. My friendship with Elyssa is one I truly cherish; despite not seeing her for nearly a year, I feel just as close and connected with her as I did when I last saw her. We spent the day as if we were at home in Hawaii, taking some time to go on adventures (we biked around the town and spontaneously got our ears pierced), and then taking some time to just catch up and relax (we got Thai takeout and watched a movie). It was perfect.

Leiden.

A sample of some of the amazing street art in Amsterdam.

Some cultural highlights included the Van Gogh museum, a fascinating walking tour, a quick trip through the red light district, and a tour through the old Heineken brewery. The city was great, but it was truly the company that made this trip such an enjoyable, unforgettable experience.

Inside one of the kettles at the Heineken Brewery.

Red shutters near the Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam.

A wall of green bottles at the Heineken Experience.

Some other recent highlights:

Performing on a London stage! As with every show, the actual performance, though amazing, is, albeit crucial, only one component of the experience. Part of the reason I love doing shows has little to do with being onstage and everything to do with the process – I love watching a show slowly come to life. It was so great to get to see a small bit of what the musical theatre scene is like at UCL and getting to meet the talented people who are involved in it.

Turning 21! Although turning 21 isn’t quite as big of a deal in London as it is in the states, I was determined to make it count. With the help of my truly wonderful friends (I even got to celebrate with my friend Julie who came to visit from Pamplona), I had the time of my life, complete with delicious Mexican food (which I was really starting to miss) and a drinkable birthday cake.

First night of birthday festivities at the Camden pub crawl.

Friends sipping out of the drinkable birthday cake at the Zoobar.

Birthday cupcakes from Julie and Helen.

Lent! In concordance with my New Years Resolution for genuine kindness, I have decided to sacrifice being intentionally mean to people. This includes gossiping. So far, it has been going pretty well!

This upcoming week is full of exciting events, including a visit from my best friend Aaron and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. I will be sure to not let a month go by before I post about it this time!

Cheers!

Olivia

Say Yes.

View from Primrose Hill at Dusk.

After a crazy (in the best possible way) couple of weeks, I'm happy to say that I have successfully completed all of the goals I set after in my previous post! A recap:

See a show - or two! I wanted the first show I saw in London to have some sort of pre-existing sentimental value, to ensure that it would be an experience I would be slow to forget. Helen and I went with Crazy for You, a classic Gershwin I got to see my brother perform a little over a year ago. Truly spectacular. From the voices to the dancing, each number was filled with extraordinary talent. Though I was slightly disappointed with the change in tap choreography, it is very difficult to put on a bad version of such a solidly-scored show. We had You Can Get It If You Try stuck in our heads for the rest of the night.

Outside of the Novello Theatre before the show.

Later that week, I saw Spamalot on a USC funded trip to Oxford. After all of the hype I had heard from its run on Broadway, I'm sorry to say that I was not as impressed as I thought I'd be. But that is not to say that the show wasn't great, because it was! A lot of British humor, which I am still getting used to. Favorites included the Lady of the Lake and the audience participant.

Walking through Oxford.

Make one British Friend - After having difficulty talking to people in my class, I figured the best way to go about this was to talk to Brits in the dance classes I was going to, as we could at least bond over the fact that we had a similar interest. And it worked! I ended up meeting a splendid group in my salsa class who took me out for drinks and jazz music. It was so nice to be able to talk to people who have grown up here and envelop the perspectives and mindset of London. It was also great to hear UCL jazz, as I was beginning to feel homesick for the stylings of Amber and her amazing jazz-musician friends.

Try one new... (this one might become a weekly thing)

• Pub: The Wheelbarrow. A small place on Camden High Street with an eclectic (and awesome) taste of music and people.
• Cafe: Leyas - A cozy cafe on High Street just near Koko. In addition to freshly made sandwiches and coffee, they also have a great downstairs area, complete with wi-fi, wood furnishings, and art nouveau type posters. Also worth mention is Yumchaa. Aside from its cute play on words (in London people call dim sum "Yum cha," but in chinese cha means tea), this cafe has plenty to offer, including a plethora of unique, non-caffeinated teas, fresh-baked goods, and an adorable interior.
  
  

  

  Some of the tea selection at Yumchaa.
  

• Restaurant: Viet-Anh. As far as foods are concerned, Pho is easily on my top ten list. Helen had never tried it before, so we decided to try this place on Parkway. Though it wasn't the best pho I've ever had, it certainly hit the spot, as did the makeshift sake bombs we crafted from sake and Japanese beer. I was also craving Thai food, so when my friend David and I stumbled upon Chada Chada in Marylebone, I pretty much dove in. A hole in the wall of sorts with a chic and calming interior, this was probably one of the best places I've tried in London so far. We tried the spring rolls and the panang curry with coconut and sticky rice. Each dish complemented the other very well, and the blend of spice and seasonings, while rich, was perfect.
  
  
  

  

  Pho at Viet Anh.
  

• Museum: Victoria and Albert Museum. By far the best museum I've seen in London so far. Everything about it, from the variety to the breathtaking interior, grabs your interest and leaves you wanting to see more. If I hadn't been on a time-constraint, I probably would have spent the entire day there. The collection is vast and ranges from sculpture to textile to paintings to architecture to jewelry to photography (and on and on...). Worth extra mention are the theatre/performing arts and the black & white photography section. I will definitely be returning.
  
  

A Chihuly piece at the V&A.

A mask from the theatre section of the V&A.

Celebrate...

• Australia Day: In honor of our Australian friends Mark and Maryann, we headed to the Australian Pub Walkabout to celebrate with fellow Aussies and listen to the famed Hot 100. As are all outings with the friends I've made here, a fun and unforgettable experience. 
• Chinese New Year: After hearing all the hype, we headed to Trafalgar Square and Chinatown to see the street performers and the fireworks. Though the night was fun, the celebration was slightly lackluster, especially compared to the Chinese New Year festivities I'm used to seeing. The fireworks, which didn't even hit the height of Nelson's Column, were barely visible through the dense crowd and cloudy sky. The highlight of the night was the wishing tree, a tree onto which you threw colorful sacs that symbolized your wishes for the new year.
  
  
  

  

  Chinatown for Chinese New Year.
  

More exciting updates:

• Being cast in a show! I'll be performing in a Valentines Day Concert on the 20th, singing Gimme Gimme from Millie :)
• More dance classes! In addition to hip-hop and jazz, this week I added tap and salsa. Hip hop has been really awesome because we've been doing a different style ever week. This week we covered locking, which was exciting as it is where all types of hip hop actually stems from.
• Gym Class Heroes concert! My friends and I bought these tickets our first week in London. After much anticipation, I'm happy to say the the fourteen pounds were well worth it! Travie McCoy was an excellent host who kept the crowd super pumped and excited the entire show. And they played all their best songs!
  
  
  

  

  The Gym Class Heroes at Koko.
  
  

• First snow! Though I've seen snow before (in New York), I've never gotten to see it actually fall, or been properly equipped to handle it. This time around, I went all out, from snow angels to snowmen and snowball battles.

The beginnings of a snowy night.

If I've learned anything in London so far, it's how to say yes to new adventures. Though I have no problem saying yes when it comes to friends and favors, I do find myself to sometimes be a bit too reserved when it comes to going out. But each time I say yes, I am once again reminded of the amazing opportunity I have been given by going abroad - the chance to immerse myself in something completely unfamiliar, the chance to grow without the pretenses of commitment of the weight of the future to impede upon my decisions. I'm here to live purely for the joys of discovering what life has to offer. Selfishness for the purpose of discovering my full potential, so that when I return to the real world, I will have even more to give.

Gelato at Scoop in the West End.

Petite treats at Covent Garden Market.

Didcot Railway.

Didcot Railway.

This week is the final week of classes before reading week, which means the next time I post, it'll be in Paris :) Happy Superbowl Sunday!

Cheers!
Olivia

The courtyard at Christ Church, where parts of Harry Potter were filmed.

Boats near the Botanical Gardens at Oxford.

A cape made out of thread from over a million silk spiders.

Miniature busts at the V&A.

Successfully made orange jello shots :)

The view of London from Primrose Hill.