Study Abroad in London

Yesterday I went to the Science Museum, just to play with science. The major exhibits were all based around utilizing renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and water. Recycling was another major subject. Although based around a younger audience I enjoyed pulling the levers, flipping the switches, and typing in my answers on how to save the world from pollution, hunger, and inequality. All around Kristen and I were nothing but kids, and I mean small little 7-15 yr olds. I felt as if all the parents were giving me the evil eye, but I still had a blast. One exhibit took four people to pump enough water into a reserve that, once filled, spilled over a crank that powered a television and camera that clicked on displaying the ‘hard workers’ on the television. There was one whole floor dedicated to plastics, and hanging from the ceiling were hundreds of red strips of plastic that we had to walk through, it was quite an experience. None of the exhibits were visible until one had passed through the plastic barriers, which, if I was claustrophobic would’ve been very uncomfortable. It was a well deserved break from the constant ‘adult orientated’ museums of history passed; although I’m looking forward to another wonderful afternoon at the Tate Modern.

You all know the name, the skill, and the beautiful quality of even his unfinished, “The Virgin and Child with St Anne and John the Baptist.” Well, go ahead and be jealous, because I got to spend time with it/him on a one to one basis. We talked, laughed, cried, it was a beautiful experience. Seriously, I’ve always wanted to see that work up-close and personal, because no pic I’ve seen does it justice. His unparalleled modeling of faces and gesture like quality of the clothes gives this work a life I was taken aback by. After leaving the National Gallery, which also had Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Leonardo, Picasso, Monet, Manet, Pissarro, Constable, Rubens, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Seurat, just to name a few. Go ahead, you may now be jealous.
After leaving the National Gallery we went to visit Freda, a graphic designer with her roots (and part of her business) in El Salvador invited the graphic designer’s, and me, to her house for a Q & A. As we boarded the train to Norbury I was able to reminisce, and remember all the history that was painting for painting, year for year in that gallery. The apartments along the way are all squeezed together, some two stories, some three, some four and all were made of brick. There is a feeling of permanence here that we don’t have back home. All the buildings are 300-400 years old or more, and all of them are made to last either 300-400 years more. It’s incredible sense of stability, consistency, and immobility.

One of the ‘linen-men’ I’ve met who is also a student at King’s college, name is Miclosh, (you can call him Mikey, but he’s not Irish) is a Hungarian with a great attitude on life. We’ve had many socio-politico-philosophical discussion. He’s made me aware of how the ‘rest of the world’ is aware of our entertainment/media. For instance the Simpson’s is just as large here as it is in the states. Scrubs, South-park, Family Guy, all seem to be imported to their televisions. Music seems to be another cross cultural media. We went to eat at a place called La Broche and heard “A bridge over troubled water” “American Pie” and selections from Elvis, Rage against the Machine, of course it’s very eclectic, but made me feel at home for a moment.
I’ve also become aware of two papers that are handed out in London for free. The Londonpaper, and the Lite are their titles. Both papers were full of information on the latest celeb’s up and downs, who got drunk where, who’s dating who, and the hottest clothing styles. They are free tabloids and 90% of the tube-ians (or tube riders) have got one after 4 o’clock when they hand out the days issue at the entrance to the stations. They both contain just enough prominent news information to be considered newspapers and not tabloids. Not much different from home tabloids, except their free.

After sitting in one of the wings last Sunday, this time we got to St Paul’s a half-hour early to sit a little more near the center. It was right in front of the ‘podium’ where the service was given. She gave a very modern interpretation of Mary Magdalene, of Mary from Magdalena. After revisiting the Tate, I was able to bask in the glory that is surrealism/minimalism/modern art. It was another rainy day, much like the rest of the week. The flood did damage much of England, just outside of London, to the west, some of the tube and a few trains were even shut down.
I have a feeling, now we are in the midst of the final weeks, and over the ‘hump’ of this course that most of the student that have come are no longer in the ‘excitement’ phase and are starting to realize they aren’t at home anymore. I’ll admit I’m homesick, but I’m also aware that America will be there in two weeks. “I just want to go home” seems to be a daily mantra for over half the students, I seem to hear it at least 3-4 times a day.

I’ve spent the last two days I’ve spent the bulk of the afternoon at the Tate modern. Sunday I was in the Dali exhibit. It was surreal. The whole exhibition was fore boding, which proably was Dali’s intention. Untill the last room, every painting/other room had a overwhelming lonley quality. After dealing with all of the serious, intense qualities of each Dali, one of his friends, a photojournalist, took quite a few candid pictures of him. These were a good diversion for a show that was intense. We met with Andrea’s sister for the show, and had a great discussion with her about it. It was quite a show. I spent two hours just wandering around the show looking at first hand the orginal paintings i had seen reproductions of for years. The detail of each one was unbelievable. Each time I got a little closer to each one there seemingly was a detail or reward for it. From further away the paintings opened up into the large picture, or message. Upon closer inspection each painting had something in the background just for those that wanted to ‘get close’ to Dali.