Monday, June 20, 2011
Panic has truly set in - 6/20
Three days to go before I get on the plane, and I still feel like I have about three weeks worth of stuff to accomplish before I leave. Aagh. I guess that's par for the course for a dyed-in-the-wool procrastinator like me. I suppose I should keep this posting short and get some packing done.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Countdown - 6/18
It seems that this sort of thing (a trip overseas) is supposed to have some sort of countdown. Well, here goes. Five more days until we leave for London.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Six Days and counting - 6/17
Today is one of the new student orientations on campus this summer. I am here to advise the Honors Program students entering as freshmen this fall. In the meantime, I am also getting things together for the trip to London. Today, I am printing out our guide for the walking tour of London filming locations for Harry Potter. One of our fieldtrips will be to find some of the locations that have been used in previous Harry Potter films. Of course, we will all get our pictures taken pushing our trolleys through the barrier to get onto Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station!
I'm looking forward to getting to the Atlanta airport next week and meeting all of the students who will be on my plane. It will only be a portion fo the total number travelling to London, but it will be good to get the thing started. Often times, the anticipation can be completely unnerving, and it takes the actual first step to put all of that into perspective.
I'm looking forward to getting to the Atlanta airport next week and meeting all of the students who will be on my plane. It will only be a portion fo the total number travelling to London, but it will be good to get the thing started. Often times, the anticipation can be completely unnerving, and it takes the actual first step to put all of that into perspective.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
1 Week Away - 6/16
Well, it's just a week away from the start of the London study abroad trip. Of course, I feel totally unprepared. Then again, I know that I am just about as ready as I can be. That's the story of my life - a disconnect between what I know and what I feel. However, before I slide off into the bizarre psychology of my ramblings, I think I'll just stick with sharing the ramblings.
The London Program (which is what it is called within the USG-European Council) has about 85 students and 10 faculty members this year. That's a pretty good sized group. Let me tell you that I am VERY happy that I am not party to the logistical nightmare that means in terms of getting them all from Atlanta to London, to the dorms from the airport, and getting them settled during the first weekend. I, of course, will assist with the carrying out of the logistics, but I have not been involved with the planning. For example, we have blocks of seats on three different flights on two different airlines to get everybody there. Some of us have a layoever in Miami, others in Dallas, and the rest fly direct. We all arrive at different times, but within about a 5 hour window. We will be housed in different dorms (two of them) about 5 blocks apart on the campus of University College - London. Great location! It's near the heart of everything and smack-dab in the middle of three subway stations that connect us to the rest of the metropolitan London area within minutes.
It just struck me that I have almost no anxiety about travelling to London but I was crazy nervous about travelling to New York. Oh well.
I have a plan for packing, but I haven't actually started packing yet. When I do, I am sure it will drive my cats crazy. I think they already suspect that something is up. They're pretty smart after all. Here they are, with Uther on the left and Portia on the right. I am absolutely certain that I will miss them very much.
The London Program (which is what it is called within the USG-European Council) has about 85 students and 10 faculty members this year. That's a pretty good sized group. Let me tell you that I am VERY happy that I am not party to the logistical nightmare that means in terms of getting them all from Atlanta to London, to the dorms from the airport, and getting them settled during the first weekend. I, of course, will assist with the carrying out of the logistics, but I have not been involved with the planning. For example, we have blocks of seats on three different flights on two different airlines to get everybody there. Some of us have a layoever in Miami, others in Dallas, and the rest fly direct. We all arrive at different times, but within about a 5 hour window. We will be housed in different dorms (two of them) about 5 blocks apart on the campus of University College - London. Great location! It's near the heart of everything and smack-dab in the middle of three subway stations that connect us to the rest of the metropolitan London area within minutes.
It just struck me that I have almost no anxiety about travelling to London but I was crazy nervous about travelling to New York. Oh well.
I have a plan for packing, but I haven't actually started packing yet. When I do, I am sure it will drive my cats crazy. I think they already suspect that something is up. They're pretty smart after all. Here they are, with Uther on the left and Portia on the right. I am absolutely certain that I will miss them very much.
I will probably post a little more often now, as we come ever closer to the start date of the trip.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Belated New York trip pictures
Remember that this was my first time to New York, so some of these may seem lame, but for me they were interesting. They aren't in any particular order either.
This first one is taken from Central Park looking at the interesting buildings visible beyond the trees.
This next one is of me in Battery Park with Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the background. It was a windy day, and this is the least scary picture that I have of me!
While in New York, much of our time was taken up with rehearsals and the performance of the Chamber Choir, but we did get the chance to see a couple of shows. This was the first one we saw.
This was the second show we saw.
In Central Park, we did get to see the John Lennon Memorial in Strawberry Fields.
I didn't see a taping of the show, but it was kind of cool to walk past the sign for the Late Show. For me, it is almost as iconic of New York as the Empire State Building - which by the way we saw, but my picture didn't turn out at all.
This last picture is just a quick take of my first view of Times Square.
This isn't all of the pictures I took, but many of them have students or colleagues in them. I don't post those unless I have express permission to do so though. Others turned out poorly if at all. Still, there are a few here to hint at what we did, and to whet my memory, where the best images are stored! All in all, it was a good trip. I have travelled to many large cities, but I had always had anxiety about travelling to New York. I think this trip made that anxiety go away. I would NEVER want to live there, but I can imagine another visit or two to see more of what I missed this time.
This first one is taken from Central Park looking at the interesting buildings visible beyond the trees.
While in New York, much of our time was taken up with rehearsals and the performance of the Chamber Choir, but we did get the chance to see a couple of shows. This was the first one we saw.
This was the second show we saw.
In Central Park, we did get to see the John Lennon Memorial in Strawberry Fields.
I didn't see a taping of the show, but it was kind of cool to walk past the sign for the Late Show. For me, it is almost as iconic of New York as the Empire State Building - which by the way we saw, but my picture didn't turn out at all.
This last picture is just a quick take of my first view of Times Square.
This isn't all of the pictures I took, but many of them have students or colleagues in them. I don't post those unless I have express permission to do so though. Others turned out poorly if at all. Still, there are a few here to hint at what we did, and to whet my memory, where the best images are stored! All in all, it was a good trip. I have travelled to many large cities, but I had always had anxiety about travelling to New York. I think this trip made that anxiety go away. I would NEVER want to live there, but I can imagine another visit or two to see more of what I missed this time.
Whew - a whirlwind of days 6/14
Wow. It has been a confusing last couple of weeks. I have started working with the filming of the movie I am in. (See the link in the "Links" at the right.) I have been reeling with teh pain of an abscessed tooth - to be fixed tmorrow. I've been trying to get things ready for the summer course in London. Blah, blah, blah. Oh yeah, I also misplaced my camera, so I thought I had lost my New York pictures. Today I found it, so I will add some pics in a bit. Anyway, it's only 9 days until we get on the plane for England. If I were caught up with my preparations, I could take time to be excited. Now, I just get twinges now and then.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Back at work - Thursday 6/2
Well, it's been a while since I last updated. We returned from NYC on Tuesday, and I spent yesterday getting my cats to recognize me again! I also rested up from the constant go-go-go of the trip to New York.
Sunday was a good day in New York. After breakfast, I just walked around for a few hours looking at shops and basically sightseeing until it was time for our four hour rehearsal in the afternoon. The rehearsal went well. We had our first opportunity to hear our baritone vocal soloist, a professional hired in for our performance. After the rehearsal, all of the Chamber Choir students, Dr. Roe (our director), and I went to Mama Sbarro's on Broadway and had a very noisy dinner. It was noisy because we were seated next to a group of about 40 Australian middle school (or about that age) choir students who sang along to every song that came on. Not to be outdone, the college students with us joined right in. There were singing, dancing, and general mayhem for about an hour. That's not the way that I normally like to have dinner, but the students (ABAC and Australian) all seemed to have a very good time.
Monday was a mostly free day in the morning and early afternoon. I took the opportunity to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I loved it. Now I have another reason to go back to New York! After about 2 1/2 hours at the museum, I had just scratched the surface of what's there.
The afternoon and evening were dominated by the dress rehearsal and performance that we were all there for. We sang as part of a large choir performing Faure's Requiem at Lincoln Center. What an incredible experience that was! The performance was very well done, even if I do say so myself. It was a moving experience for the performers and the audience. Many of the students had a once-in-a-lifetime thrill that night.
After performance, the organizers sponsored a marvellous post-concert reception. This left all of us tired and ready to pack up on Tuesday morning and come back to south Georgia. The whole trip was exhausting, but it was well worth the effort and the expense in all regards.
Pictures will follow once I get them uploaded from my camera.
Sunday was a good day in New York. After breakfast, I just walked around for a few hours looking at shops and basically sightseeing until it was time for our four hour rehearsal in the afternoon. The rehearsal went well. We had our first opportunity to hear our baritone vocal soloist, a professional hired in for our performance. After the rehearsal, all of the Chamber Choir students, Dr. Roe (our director), and I went to Mama Sbarro's on Broadway and had a very noisy dinner. It was noisy because we were seated next to a group of about 40 Australian middle school (or about that age) choir students who sang along to every song that came on. Not to be outdone, the college students with us joined right in. There were singing, dancing, and general mayhem for about an hour. That's not the way that I normally like to have dinner, but the students (ABAC and Australian) all seemed to have a very good time.
Monday was a mostly free day in the morning and early afternoon. I took the opportunity to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I loved it. Now I have another reason to go back to New York! After about 2 1/2 hours at the museum, I had just scratched the surface of what's there.
The afternoon and evening were dominated by the dress rehearsal and performance that we were all there for. We sang as part of a large choir performing Faure's Requiem at Lincoln Center. What an incredible experience that was! The performance was very well done, even if I do say so myself. It was a moving experience for the performers and the audience. Many of the students had a once-in-a-lifetime thrill that night.
After performance, the organizers sponsored a marvellous post-concert reception. This left all of us tired and ready to pack up on Tuesday morning and come back to south Georgia. The whole trip was exhausting, but it was well worth the effort and the expense in all regards.
Pictures will follow once I get them uploaded from my camera.
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