The List of Awesomeness!-The Europe Experience Cont.

After dwelling on all the horribleness that ensued on my trip in yesterday’s post, today’s post is devoted to the amazingness that also occurred. So, sit back, and enjoy it!
-TOP TEN AMAZING THINGS OF THE TRIP (in no particular order of greatness)-
1. The scenery- Everything is so green, and unique overseas. There was a mix of old, majestic architecture and contemporary buildings that would take your breath away. One of my favorite parts of the trip was being able to climb to the top of a dormant volcano in Scotland. You could see for miles and miles- the sea, many cities, and distant mountains made the view absolutely breathtaking. It was the most beautiful place I have ever been. And I will go back…I promised myself.
2. The Food- This particular topic hits both lists, because as I realized, there was no in between in Europe. It was either detestable, or delicious- like fish and chips, paninis, caramel and chocolate shortbread, baguettes, candy, fanta, this amazing pasta with cream sauce, nachos, and chocolate mousse pudding. And now that I mention food…
3. Starbucks- Ok. Starbuck’s coffee in Europe is so much better than it is here. No arguing. The drinks are FAR better (larger, taste better), the employees that I encountered were always super nice (like Asher haha!), the food selection was 100x larger than here in the states (we’re talking cake, marshmallow twizzies, cookies, pie, sandwiches-like a restaurant), and you had the option to stay in the facility and drink your coffee in a big mug, versus ordering it to “take away”. And also, the facilities are gigantic- at least two stories. *sigh. I miss that a lot now that I’m back…
4. Topshop- Stand back Forever 21, there’s a new store on the block. At 3 stories, this fashion spot was one of sheer bliss for the girls in our group. Accessories, shoes, dresses, pants, skirts, and tops all in vibrant patterns, textures, and styles packed the place to the bursting point. It was all so modern and European. We stayed there for almost half a day. It was heaven!
5. London- “Oh there’s no place like London!” Seriously though, I love that city!!!! I have a feeling that I’ll end up living there some day, what with West End and all that. But it just had a magical vibe about it. And no, its not just because of Harry Potter.
6. The accents- Thanks to the fringe, I got the chance to talk to people from all over, which meant more accents. Can you say paradise for my ears? Because it totally was.
7. The Royal Mile- The headquarters of the Fringe, this strip of street served as the key advertising joint for all shows. And it was spectacular- people singing, or playing, or dancing on street corners. You saw everything from A-Z. We got the chance to advertise our show here. And people stood and watched, and asked for our pictures, and cheered. It was such a cool performance and “venue” of sorts! Another highlight…
8. Billy Elliot- If you get the chance to see this, please do. Having been a dancer for 8 ½ years, this show hit home with me. It transported me right back to Mrs. Porter’s ballet class and into my ballet slippers. The music was also really impressive, but I would expect nothing less from Elton John. Anyway, it was a great first professional show experience for me.
9. British humor- because everything is funnier when said with an accent!
10. The dorm life- We got the chance to feel like what it would be like for us in college on this trip- living by ourselves in dorm rooms, eating at the cafeteria, using the school stores and café, staying up past midnight to order pizza and study lines, etc. I loved the independence! So now, I can’t wait till college!

*honorable mentions- Mr. Long’s sense of humor, the improve show we saw, actually performing, our late night talking and tea parties, taxi rides, and the hot british guys :)

Not So Much- The Europe Experience

To continue the debrief of my two week adventure overseas, I have decided to compile a list of the top ten “No’s” of the trip. These are the things that annoyed be beyond belief/ things that I really could have done without…drum role please.
-TOP TEN “NO THANK YOU’S” OF EUROPE(in no particular order of bad)-
1. Smoking- I don’t know why, but in Europe, EVERYONE smokes. From 12 yr. old kids, to little old ladies, they all walk around with cigarettes. I probably got lung cancer from all that second hand smoke…no joke.
2. Money- Europe is far to expensive. But what can you do? That’s right. Nothing. So, suck it up. and pay.
3. The Food- haggis, hockey- puck like blood pudding, stewed mushrooms for breakfast, and prawn chips…all get the gag reflex going with just their aromas. And speaking of food…
4. Sketch restraints- like Chinese food in Scotland. That’s not even a good sounding idea in theory…
5. The traffic- its insane!!! The whole “pedestrians have the right of way” rule is totally nonexistent. Kids almost getting hit by the big red busses was a daily occurrence.
6. The weather- you would think that a nice chilly wind would be a nice change of pace from boiling charlotte. But not really- London was in the high 90’s, and Scotland…well, I don’t even know. It was so unpredictable. We’d have heat waves, rain storms, cold fronts, and 40mph winds all in the same day. It could give you some serious whiplash.
7. The train- I didn’t like it. I’m sure it partially had to do with the whole 5 hour trip turns into 7 hours, and the fact that we had no food, but still. Just not great. Lurchy, hot, not comfy…
8. The cussing. This was just one of those cultural things. Everyone in Europe seemed to have a trash mouth, And ok, sometimes it was funny to get cussed by a little scotish man about starbucks coffee. But the rest of the time it seemed unnecessary. Every other word…really?
9. The waiting- I found that you had to wait everywhere- bathrooms, restaurants, shops, bus stops. You had to allot at least 15 minutes of buffer “standing in line” or “Queing Up” time. Its just so crowded over there.
10. The attitude- ah stereotypes.No matter where you went, Europeans always looked at you as “Loud Americans”, and were uber disdainful towards us.

*Honerable mentions: Landing in airplanes, and having your ears pop, Europe’s excuse for bacon (like glorified ham), and dirty public bathrooms that you had to pay to use.

Around the World and Back Again

I made it back- I’m alive, healthy, and exhausted….wow. Where to start? The trip was such a roller coaster for all of us; so many emotions in play- It was stressful in the sense that we had a huge job to do what with the show being premiered and such. It was inspiring to have the privilege to watch other kids with just as much passion perform. It was eye opening in the sense that you saw EVERYTHING ( from dance, to comedy, to half naked people blowing into large conch shells) at this festival and all was considered art. It was moving when you got the chance to see a show with a powerful story, like Blood Brothers or Billy Elliot. It was grueling, since you had hardly any sleep for two weeks and were going literally nonstop all day. It was breathtaking to get to survey a piece of the world that the Lord has so beautifully designed. It was funny, what with the improve shows, and the comedy of my fellow cast members antics that left me in stitches for the entire time. And it was overwhelming on so many different levels….and speaking of different- being a naïve and sheltered child, and never having gone anywhere, I thought that when I got over to Europe that I would go into culture shock or something. But in reality, it wasn’t super different on the outside. They speak the same language as us, don’t wear anything to crazy, and don’t eat anything to incredibly disgusting (I’ll just let that whole haggis and blood pudding thing slide…). The real differences are in the little things- like the lingo, the weird flushing toilets, the location of their steering wheels in their cars, the over-the- top amount of smoking going on, and the fact that Europeans have never even heard of strawberry cream cheese. And those little things made the trip so extremely interesting. It was such fun to find these differences. That alone was like an adventure. But that wasn’t the only adventure I experienced. Not even close. There were so many “firsts” for me on the trip- first plane ride (over the ocean to! I know. Quite the accomplishment.), first train ride, first taxi ride, first ride on the subway, first time singing/performing overseas, first time I saw a professional show (Blood Brothers- amazing, made me cry. Billy Elliot- HILIGHT! Go see it if you ever get the chance), first time I stayed up for 28 hours straight….way to many to count. Anyway, it was such an inspirational trip. I learned so much, challenged myself, and got to know new friends so much better….But not gonna lie, by the end of two weeks, I had forgotten what American syrup tastes like, what American accents sound like, and all the cold weather and rain was making me a tad irritable. So, it was so good to sleep in my own bed on Tuesday night. And now that I’m home, I have realized what a huge blessing the trip really was. Clearly I have so much to write…More in the next few days.

My Great Adventure Has Begun

Ready or not, here it is, the moment we’ve been waiting for. SCOTLAND! I leave today for the airport at 3:00pm. I will be gone for 14 days total…I can honestly say that this is the start of the biggest adventure in my life thus far. Its pretty exciting, not gonna lie. And also, for those of you who were able to make it to our little studio show last night, thank you so very much for supporting us! It meant a ton, esp. since we all were exhausted/stressed/delirious from all the rehearsals and packing. So anyway, I may not get to update this for two weeks (how will I live!?!?!), but then again I may have time…I just don’t know. But If this isn’t updated, follow us via twitter or Facebook. Those will be updated! See you soon!

Gettin' By with a Little Help From My Friends

Oh goodness. So, “By Grace” practice? Where to start….First off, I haven’t been this sore/exhausted/ stressed in a loooong time. You would think that after spending a bajillion summers down at CPCC putting shows together in two weeks, I would be used to it. But nope. We’re talking practices lasting from 9:00am to 4:30ish pm for the last week and a half. Its been quite taxing. Not to mention the whole being sore thing (due to the crazy ballet that I have to do that I am so NOT in shape for. Oh Joy…) Plus, what with it being a new musical, we’re cutting, adding, moving, and fixing lines and songs left and right. To top it off, I play two parts in the show, thus resulting in 7 (maybe more???) full costume and wig changes through the course of an hour and a half show. I can barely keep my head on straight as to who I am when I go on. And all of this is set off by the fact that the director is the writer/lyricist of the show. Therefore, mistakes in line delivery or interp are NOT appreciated. Needless to say, the entire cast is a tad bit…*ahem. Overwhelmed. But everyone is really working super hard. That’s the great thing about our wonderfully eclectic cast- we’re all about the teamwork. And speaking of the cast, can I just say, the wonderful friendships I have gained/strengthened is what has made this week bearable….like my brilliant new freshman friends Lynn and Marta. Lynn is playing the slightly crazed, but elegant movie star Rita Gam, and she pulls it off with such style. But hey, if that gorgeous black dress fits, wear it! And “wear it” she does! And Marta (aka my other twin) is our horribly bratty, yet loveable school girl in our little show. Currently she is off cheerleading. I guess I’ll let that one slide…just kidding. Both girls are so incredibly hilarious, nosey, and insane. And I love it :) Cudos to them. Then, there’s Brewington, who can single handedly make the ugliest wig in the world look awesome. Other scene partners include the comic relieving Carson, and the adorable Katy, who together make a great team onstage. Karin and Erin are two of our seamstresses, and both are doing a marvelous job with scenes that are very close to my heart. Furthermore, I have never heard someone say “undershirts” quite like Matthew. And of course my good buddy Jay has the hardest job of all- he has to put up with me in BOTH of my 2 characters storylines. Which is quite the chore. But then again, he should probably be used to it by now. Never the less, we pull it off in yet another show this year. So I’m thinking more cudos are in order. Lastly, there is my astonishing and mega-talented twin sister Polly, who is single-handedly stealing the show from everyone. Being a lead, this week has been full of ups and downs for her. But as always she has risen to the occasion with such grace. Fitting, being as the show is titled “By Grace”…But really, I could probably write 5 pages about everyone and everything, but there just isn’t time. More practice in the morning, with the addition of Cory after a week long absence. It’ll be great to have her back. If your interested in seeing our little production, we’re doing a show next Monday…I mentioned earlier. But let me know if your coming!

"Standing By Grace- Thats Me"

Its been on tiring week… By Grace practices have started! And can I just say- putting on a show in two weeks is one heck of a challenge! But we’re actually doing just fine. We’ve been running through the show the past few days, and its something special. The songs are infectious, and the characters are coming alive line by line. And the cast we have is awesome too! Everyone is focused and ready to go (except when prop boxes full of glasses are involved…). All I can say is, GET READY FRINGE FESTIVAL! Oh and one more thing- if you wanna see this show before we head overseas to perform, just let me know, because we’re doing a practice dress rehearsal sometime next week…

Any Dream is Possible; Wishes Do Come True

By now, I’m sure that the 3 people that actually read this think I have fallen off the face of the earth…sorry to disappoint. Actually, I’ve been out the past week partyin’ it up Disney World style for the 17th birthday. It was epic. I could write for weeks on the topic. But, don’t fear- I won’t torture you all THAT much! Instead, I’m gonna highlight some of the things I learned/enjoyed/realized while on the trip or personal opinions about all things Disney oriented. So enjoy!
-A friend of mine once stated that Disney smells like “popcorn, magic, and Mickey Mouse all rolled together.” At the time, I laughed. Now I know she was spot on in her analysis. Think about it the next time you visit…
- Only at Walt Disney World, can a person go trek to the top of Mt. Everest, travel to the future, and tour the entire world all in one afternoon.
-Although it is the most magical place on earth, some of the employees you encounter will NOT be in the “magical mood” as it were…more like grumpy from the seven dwarves.
- Contrary to popular belief, Disney is NOT perfect. In our time there, 6 rides broke, Mickey missed his entrance in the show Fantasmic thus stopping the show for 10 min, and we even saw people throw up on the premises. So yes, it is still the real world.
- Even though it is the happiest place on earth, it is not impossible to find yourself sobbing in the middle of a park for stupid reasons…
- Parents who bring tiny kids to Disney are setting themselves up for failure.
-Pineapple Dole Whip is not to be missed by a park-goer. It is the best. The end.
-There is NOTHING better than sharing a birthday with a twin. I used to feel gypped because I thought it wasn’t fair that I didn’t get a birthday all to myself. Now, complete opposite. Twins have better birthdays. Thanks Polly for another amazing one this year :)
- The power of television (like, the affect it has over people, and how fast news spreads through it) is staggering.
-Disney has the ability to make you feel about 5 years old, and not even care.
- Have you ever wondered what goes on in the park after dark??? Hmmm…I’ve started to…
- The “It’s a Small World After All” song in my opinion, could be used as effective torture.
-I wish more than anything that Neverland was a real place, and that Peter Pan would show up with Tinkerbell and their flying ship and take me there someday.
-If you ever have the chance to try out for The American Idol Experience, do it! Don’t even second guess…you won’t regret it.
-You see every type of person at the Disney Parks. It is the best place to people watch.
- At the same time, you hear every type of accent as well....yes, I was in heaven.
-One day, I will work at Disney in a show/parade. And it will be fabulous.
-Everything is wayyyyy to expensive.
-You can forget your problems at Disney. “no matter how your heart is grieving” and all that…
- Disney World is the hardest place to leave…but at least when you get home, you’re still drunk on Mickey Mouse for a while.
-I want to go back, like, NOW.
…So, as you can see, I’m a tad bit obsessed. Ah well. The trip was exactly what I needed. Anywhoo. I’m back, and will be writing more this week, I assure you.