Mind the Gap: February 2012

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.

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