Home on the Range

I have been told that my posts are missed. If you really want to hear about my day-to-day happenings in Bowling Green, Ohio and the surrounding area, I guess I can fulfill your wishes. The other option is you donate so I can go back to England ASAP!

I do realize that I didn't tell you about the final night and my homecoming experience.

The night before my return, I went to the 2nd to last rehearsal of St. Bart's Choir before their concert (which was yesterday). It happened to be Ivor's birthday. There also happened to be a horrific gas leak somewhere in the area outside of the church (which is right on Covent Garden). Instead of evacuating us, the authorities locked us inside. No matter, my post-rehearsal plans of meeting the Exmouth Market gang at the choir's pub-of-choice was not disrupted. In fact, I'd say it was quite a success, although I have to admit that I cried the entire tube ride back to Gloucester Square. I know I've apologized a ton already, but: I'm sorry I was such a wreck, Jonathan!!!

I was luckily given a very sweet German Methodist minister as a seat neighbor for the cross-Atlantic flight. We chatted a bit on the plane (in English- he had to brush up for a conference in Tennessee). When we got to O'Hare, he helped me with my overhead bag. This is no small feat- it was stuffed of all of the programs from the summer concerts (i.e. VERY heavy).

At Immigration, the officer asked me how long I was out of the US. Slightly shocked at such a large number of days, he asked me if I was studying. I informed him that it wasn't- I was observing the LSO thanks to the help of some friends in the orchestra. "For 3 months (uh-oh)?" "I'm studying to be a conductor." "Well, that sounds like the best kind of lesson." FINALLY- someone who understands!

Holger (German friend) and I met again up at baggage claim. My bags were in the very last load off of the plane, but he patiently waited with me the entire time. Next was customs. All the officer did was take our filled-out cards. He didn't even look at them! As both of our connecting flights didn't leave until 4, we passed the time in one of the airport restaurants. Not that there was a load of time- it took us over 2 hours to go through immigration, baggage, customs, re-check baggage, and re-go-through security.

A bit after 3, I walked to the area Jordan where and I had decided to wait for each other. In case I failed to mention this earlier, Jordan and I both arrived in London the same day in May. We met on our first night at the hostel. We happened to be chatting online- when both of us were in Germany- when we discovered that we would both be flying home the same day with a layover at the same time in the same airport!!! Crazy, no? Jordan's final destination was home on the West Coast. I was afraid he wouldn't get there in time, but he had better luck in security/immigration/etc. We talked for about 20 minutes before I had to board the puddle-jumper to Toledo.

I move the rest of my things- and myself- to the apartment in BG Saturday morning. I still need to make a couple of phone calls, one of which will determine whether or not we get internet...I should get on that...

Part of the Exmouth Gang: Matty and Adam

Plane Buddy, Holger

Hostel Buddy, Jordan

And Now, the End is Near....

I said I was going to write a new post yesterday. Sorry I've been slacking these last few weeks. It is with deepest sadness that I announce that this will be the last post of this life-changing trip. My plane leaves Heathrow at 10:25 AM tomorrow morning from Heathrow. I have yet to fit all of my things into my luggage. I wish I'd have listened to everyone before I left and put a smaller suitcase inside of the bigger one. I insisted that I'd have enough room. I now find myself going home with my friend's fold-up suitcase so as to avoid overweight luggage.

I was going to go out and do some last-minute touristy things, but have decided against it. It would have been a visit to Westminster Abbey to do the audio tour just because it's said by Jeremy Irons. Instead, I'm staying in and packing, playing piano, and practicing trumpet. Yesterday was the first time I played piano in a VERY long time...well, more than my short attempt at Michel and Monir's. That doesn't count. Yesterday, I sat down with music I've played before and struggled more than I ever have to get through simple pieces. I'll be playing my trumpet at some point later today, too.

Germany was wonderful- except for the sunburn part. I find it interesting that I got a worse burn in Germany than I did in Spain. The Spanish sunburn was gone by the next morning. The German one's still sticking around. As for the flight- if you ever fly on one of the cheap European airlines, choose in this order: 1) Easyjet 2) Aer Lingus Lastresort) Ryanair. The flight to Munich was one of the smoothest I've yet had. On the way back, the pilot informed us where we were when we were flying over something exciting thanks to the incredibly clear night. He pointed out our flying over the Dutch coast and when we got to the southern coast of Britain. Pretty neat. Sadly, the pictures out the window didn't turn out too well. I wish I'd not have slept the entire ride there, as it was during the day.

The border agent back at Stanstead (i.e. London) gave me probably the 2nd worst time I've had entering the country. I had forgotten to bring my itinerary back to the US with me. Here is a paraphrase of our retarded conversation:

"You've been here enough times you know you need to have it with you. Why were you here for almost 4 months?"

"Um...it was less than 3....I was here to observe the London Symphony Orchestra."

"And you really needed 3 months to do that?"

"Um....yes....*thinks: Yes. If you were cultured, you'd understand.*"

"What address is this?"

"The flat at which I've been staying."

"Whose address is it, then?"

"Well, I guess it's my flatmate's..."

"Why did you need a flat if you were only here 3 months?"

*thinks: Where the hell am I supposed to stay for 3 months? Do YOU want to pay 3 months of hotel fees?* "Um...yes...."

She then asked about my money situation, quizzed me on when my flight leaves Tuesday, interrogated me about my being at university, and informed me that she'd be taking note of my not having my itinerary. Thank God the guy on my first trip here didn't write down the same, even though it happened then, too.

Oh, and I'm not staying in the *entire* day- I'm going to the 2nd to last rehearsal before St. Bart's Hospital Choir concert next Tuesday. Today's Ivor's birthday, so it's either going to be great or horrible....After, I'm meeting up with the Exmouth Market gang at the choir's pub of choice. It's going to be a sad night of festivities....

This summer has been beyond words. If you've been reading up on all of my adventures, you'll understand how overwhelmingly perfect it's gone, for the most part. There are a billion things I couldn't fit into this blog, but I've been keeping a separate and more-detailed journal saved on my computer. Perhaps you can read it in my memoirs at some point down the road...it is about the length of a book.....

See you all on the other side of the pond tomorrow.

Prost!

All of my bookmarked websites have translated themselves into German. This can only mean one thing...well, two...either my computer has some awesome virus, or (more likely) I'm in Germany. The answer is: I'm in Munich! I'm visiting Julia, who was an exchange student my sophomore year of high school.

The 2 Berlioz proms were fantastique. The first night was the Te Deum, a new work, and Beethoven 4. Afterwards, a friend of mine drove me to a Heathrow hotel to visit Dr. Papanikolaou, my Music History 2 professor. She was in London for a whole 20 hours. I'm glad we were able to have a little chat! The second night was Beethoven 3, the overture to Les Francs Juges and Symphonie Funebre et Triumphale. The latter was written for a band, so there were zero strings, 9 bassoons, 14 clarinets, 10 trumpets, 4 cornets, 12 (!) French horns, 8 snareish/field drum things, 3 bass drums, 4 sets of crash cymbals, 8 or so trombones, 2 tubas, and a smattering of whatever else I forgot...oboes...whatever, there were a whole bunch of not strings. I would love band if we played music like that. Sadly, we don't, so I am an orchestra girl. I met Michel and Monir before hand and had a little picnic in Hyde Park.

I woke up at 5 AM yesterday morning, walked to a bus stop, went to Liverpool St. Station, got no the Stanstead Express, had my bag searched at the airport, and eventually boarded the plane which was 40 minutes late. Julia met me at the Munich airport. An S-Bahn took us to Marienplatz. We walked partway back to her place and took another train partway (it's not very far, though- I'm going to walk back down there as soon as I get myself together). I threw my stuff down, then we went for a traditional Bavarian meal. I had Pfannkuchensuppe and Leberkäse, which is kind of like a processed meat thing with a fried egg and potato salad. It was oddly tasty. The menu added another crazy-long word in front of it. Julia made me practice saying it before ordering. I managed! Wonder what I'll eat today.....

Oh, by the way....6 days, and I'm back in Findlay. :/

On the Road, Again

In the last 2 weeks, I've spent about 12 hours on trains. I don't really have much time right now, but thought I should let you know I'm still alive. I'm back in London...until tomorrow morning when I head to Munich to visit Julia. I had a wonderful time in the Lake District...beautiful weather, beautiful sights, and great company! I need to run off and do some packing before meeting Michel and Monir for dinner before the second Berlioz prom.......hope to update from Germany.

Great chieftain o' the puddin-race

hotel @ St. Andrew's golf course
Sorry for the long delay, but I have been having a very eventful last few days that have kept me from being able to sit down and organize my thoughts/events in a comprehensive manner. As it's been forever since my last good post, I give myself permission to make this one extra long.

I left Norwich by train at 8 PM Sunday night, arriving at London Liverpool Street 2 hours later. A 20ish minute tube ride took me to Victoria. A walk of 10-15 more took me to Victoria coach station, where I waited for my bus for about half an hour. It arrived at about 20 past 11 in the form of a gigantic purple double-decker with a trailer behind. Megabus was, indeed, MEGA. I was all excited when it seemed that I would have my own seat until some guy sat down just as we were about to depart. This meant any sleeping to be done would require window-leaning. I awoke at 2 AM to an announcement of our arrival in Birmingham. I immediately fell back asleep. At 7 AM, I opened my eyes, wide awake, and had no clue where we were. A sign reading, "Lanarkshire county" or somesuch did not help. I simply thought someone violently misspelled Lancashire. And so, I had entered Scotland.

At 8 AM, I found myself in Glasgow, where we had about half an hour to stretch our legs. Therefore, I can say that I've legitimately been to Glasgow. Many people alighted here, so I left with my own seat. A while later, we made a stop in Perth, then Dundee a few minutes past schedule at about 10:28. I saw Michel and Monir waiting for me on the platform. For those of you who are unaware, we met through their website- www.hberlioz.com. Look back at my post from 12 or 13 Dec 2007 and you can read about our first encounter.

The three of us waited for a few minutes until a bus came to take us to very near their house. We spent the evening talking about Berlioz at sporadic instances (of course, what else would we do?!), me being shown the house, and me drooling over all things Berlioz-related. At 8, their neighbors, Kaye and Len (real Scots!), joined us for a tasty supper. Monir made rice to Iranian specifications, and Michel made a casserole (US: "stew") to go over top. We all had a nice little chat about many things.

Wednesday was spent touring seaside fishing villages. Michel chauffeured us to Anstruther, Crail, Pittenweem, and Elie before heading back to St. Andrew's. We visited the harbours of the first 3 and a beautiful old (built by 1370) church in the last. At lunch, I consumed the tastiest hot chocolate of my life next door to where we ate dinner tonight. Hold on a moment for that tale! Michel dropped Monir and I off in town upon our return. I happened upon a local bakery called, "Fisher and Donaldson's!" They apparently have delicious cakes, which I believe. I had the best doughnut of my life there. It was fudgey-mapeley frosted with vanillaish pudding inside. Unlike anything I have ever tasted. The late-night supper concluded with a fruity-puddingy concoction that I do believe will be gracing the table at the Givens dinner in the spring.

Today, Monir and I headed to Edinburgh. She had to pick up a paper from her flat there (I just took a brief pause to run upstairs to the loft and take pictures of a beautiful Scottish sunset!), so I tagged along. After some sauntering, we made it to the Tartan Mill where I finally acquired a Clan MacDonald ladies' kilt. The handy cafe above the mill happened to have haggis, so no further sauntering was required except that of making our way to the bus station to head back.

After a short rest and bit of tea back at the wh'oooose (US: noun: "house"), Chauffeur Michel took us back to Pittenweem for this super-hyped fish and chips bar's wares. They were everything I had been hoping and MORE! To explain just how good they were: I am that person who doesn't eat the little crispy chips (US: "fries") because they're too crispy, flavourless, and dry. I also don't tend to eat the breading on my fish for the same reasons. Below, you will find before and afters of my vinegar-and-salt covered newspaper-wrapped fish and chips.

In short, Scotland= 1) the best food, ever: Haggis, fish and chips, doughnuts, desserts, and more! 2) it's awesome to see businesses that include your name, not to mention two in one day, when you're accustomed to never seeing it anywhere 3) it's strange to blend in so well. My hair, skin, eyes, etc. hide me quite well. 4) I don't want to leave- it's won me over. Scottish food is delicious, Scottish clouds are beautiful, Scottish skies are beautiful, Scottish people are lovely, Scottish (highland) cattle are awesome-looking (do a google search), no one's in a rush- I love how laid back it feels here, etc. etc. Come here if you think I'm just waxing poetic. Oh, there's also the point that I've spent my time here being as nerdy as possible by talking about Hector every waking moment and looking at memorabilia, etc. And so, the truth comes out.

a harbour, haggis, before/after fish and chips

Zooooooom

And thus begins my whirlwind tour of Europe. It is day 2 in Norwich. 2 Evensongs have been evensung. I haven't been too horrible about my page-turning, stop-pulling, and button-pushing. I will be doing the same until Sunday. That, and romping around this nice town taking peeks into shops and the like.

I don't know when I will next be on, but I actually have to run back to the cathedral and attend an organ rectial. Sorry this was so short, but I've been running around for the last 2 days! I'm off....

End with a Bang

Oh, Mahler, how draining you are. Before I get into the concert, I'll tell you about the rest of my day.

I woke up a bit late...I knew I'd need the extra energy tonight. Eventually, I packed for Norwich/Scotland/the Lake District. After that, I dawdled, then hopped on the tube to wander around Kensington. My wandering began with a saunter through the Victoria & Albert Museum. Last time I was there, I spent 3 hours in the musical instruments room (I pulled out every single cabinet, none of which I looked at this trip). Dragonetti's bass still impresses me with it's enormity. You could fit a modern bass inside it quite easily.

From there, I headed towards Royal Albert Hall/the Royal College of Music/Hyde Park. While walking past RCM, I noticed a sign announcing a pre-concert talk. Huzzah! Photos were snapped, then I went to Hyde Park for the first time. On my way back to the talk, I happened upon a few people gathered around something that seemed exciting. Then I saw what it was. A man had his 5 tiny puppies romping around! I happily sat down in the grass and played with them. The talk was entertaining and informative. After it finished, I walked downstairs. On the way, I almost started crying...it was very powerful to be in a building for the first time that I have thought about so much for the last 2 years.

Now onto the concert: The Royal Albert Hall was very nearly sold-out (there were a few empty seats and a couple of empty boxes). I got to my seat while the (huge) building was still relatively empty. Eventually an older couple sat on my right. I was highly confused, as I thought I could understand them, then I couldn't. I had an idea of what was going on, so I asked the woman what language they were speaking. Aha! It was Dutch! Thus it's sounding like German and messing with my head. We proceeded to talk for the next 20 minutes until the concert began. Both of them play viola in an amateur orchestra in Amsterdam. She is studying music. They were on holiday to London for a few days after she completed a little course in music at Cambridge. She told me about several historical concerts she'd witnessed with Haitink, Bernstein, and the Concertgebouw. The husband's viola teacher was in the Concertgebouw. Right before the concert began, she gave me her email address saying, "We can help you out if you ever come to Holland! We live only 45 minutes from Amsterdam and go to the Concertgebouw usually once a week." I have been very lucky with my concert-going neighbors this summer...many very interesting people. I will miss it!

I can only imagine how the players must have felt before, during, and after the performance. Carmine said it was very powerful to see the audience members' faces- some crying, some listening intently with closed eyes, all moved. Not long into the 1st movement, I already had tears streaming down my face. They let up for 2 and 3, but came back in 4. The worst, though, was saying a "final" "goodbye" (hopefully for only 3-months) to Carmine at the tube station. It was a very emotional ride home, as I kept thinking of different highlights from my time with them. I couldn't have chosen a better ending note for the summer. I'll see you all in October, if the powers that be approve.

Installation at the V&A, RCM, RAH and Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, puppies, RAH

Off to Norwich tomorrow morning until Sunday, then to Scotland. I don't know if I will be online between now and then...

Dali would be Proud.

...for today felt relatively surreal. It began with Carmine giving me a little gift to remember him. He wanted me to guess what it was, but I had no clue. He said it was perfect for me. The clue was "Christmas." I gave up. He proceeded to pull out a pristine set of LPs of Berlioz' sacred works performed by Sir Colin and the LSO. He bought it at a boot sale the day after we drove up to Coventry, which is when we started to get to know each other. In other words, it IS the perfect gift to remember him by.

Rehearsal began with Haitink saying, "Let's run the first three movements and be done at 5. If we go a few minutes over, don't be mad." They ended up running all 4 movements, which I did not complain about. I was actually hoping they would play it, as it's the most emotional of the 4. The waterworks almost opened up, but I forced them back. Tomorrow, though, they will flow freely.

Many semi-farewell hugs were had. It wasn't quiet as difficult as I thought. I will be seeing them all again for a week in October if everything's on my side. Hopefully I can catch some of them as they leave the hall tomorrow night, as well.

I also caught Maestro Haitink before he escaped. It was a very odd encounter. It was almost as if he couldn't understand me, even though he's entirely fluent at English. He seemed like an entirely different person off the podium.

I met up with a friend from the New London Singers at 8 for drinks/some food. We had a very nice long chat about many things. It turns out he is a friend of John Rutter. I told him to check and see if my drawing of Nick is still there next time he goes to their house. We had some interesting Asian (well, it's Oriental here) cuisine unlike any I had ever had. Tasty!

It is now past 2 AM. I should have been asleep hours ago.

I don't know why the violin drawing is sideways.

Your Answers, Please.

Obviously, many amazing things have happened in the world since, well, ever. If you had the chance to go back and experience something from history, what would it be? Why? Would you want to sit down and have a chat with Ben Franklin, watch the Wright Bros. first flight, witness Lincoln reciting the Gettysburg Address, or do you just like the clothing? I have been thinking about this for the past few days for no reason in particular. It's surely crossed your mind, as well, whether or not you were asked, daydreaming, or consciously thinking about it. By the way, this has nothing to do with my trip.

It's very difficult to limit yourself to just 5. At first, I was going to say 3, but I kept thinking of things. Perhaps that just comes with my extreme interest in history. Here are mine:

1) I'm sure you can all guess: Berlioz, in general. I want to hear him sing, I want to see him conduct, I want to experience his wit first-hand, and I want to see the beak for myself. Oh, and I'd marry him.

2) Give Beethoven a hug.

3) Talk to my great-great-great grandfather Donaldson. He and his brother came over from Ireland (their parents moved there from Scotland...I have decided, therefore, that I'm half Scottish, not Irish) and started an iron foundry. It existed from 1862 until he died in 1937 (at age 93). As a first-generation American, he started that company, became mayor of his town in Michigan, possibly ran into Thomas Edison while TE was a kid working on the railway in said town, and started a bank. Also, I think it's neat that 2 of his other brothers started a merchant shipping line in Chicago in the 1850s. The first British merchant ship that was sunk by a German U-boat was one of theirs. Grandpa, if you are reading this and can remember, did he have an accent? Surely he did...

4) Live in upper-class Victorian England for wee bit. I'd like to be able to take a trip to my rich cousins in the country, go to a fancy ball (corset and all), disguise myself and explore the lowly worlds of Dickens' books, ride in a horse-drawn hack, and experience the atmosphere of the Sherlock Holmes tales- walk down the street at night in the rain as a bobby twirls his bat on the corner, whistling to himself...

5) Live in 1930s Hollywood and, again, upper-class England. My original number 5 was to work in the studio of Constable, JMW Turner, or Ingres, but this one might relate to more people. I would want to get to know the big old-time movie stars. Well, at least the ones I personally see as stars- Basil Rathbone, mostly. I want to go to another ball, only in '30s attire. I'd like to go to some Jeeves and Wooster-ey events, a horse race, etc...

What are yours? Enlighten me. If you're one of the people who usually reads this but says nothing, PLEASE leave at least ONE of your answers. I'm interested to hear.

Friends, or Foe?

The title has a double meaning. 1) Yesterday, I went to see the new Harry Potter film. I loved it, but it could have been more dramatic. It seemed like everything happened too quickly and just barreled forward. I laughed. I cried. I enjoyed. Go see it. Only if you've read the books, though...or at least watched all the other movies and remember what happened in them. If you know the plot, you get the meaning of the title.

2) After the movie (which, by the way, the cinema only had about 5 empty seats), I came back to the flat to get ready to head out yet again. At 7, there was an "LSO Friends and Patrons" event at the Barbican. I was invited via letter to my house in Ohio back in June. Dad sent me an email containing the info in the letter with the subject like, "Ashley: READ THIS NOW." The letter arrived 11 June. I had to respond by the 12th.

When I got to the Conservatory Terrace (see picture- stolen from the internet as I stupidly didn't take my camera- below, but pretend you're looking down upon the scene), I found out that the woman hadn't gotten my email response. No matter, she was happy I showed up! I was worried that I wouldn't really find someone to talk to, but I ended up having a great time. 2 women came over near me and we started chatting. 2 more eventually joined. The first two were both "Friends (people who pay money to get orchestral perks)," the second two both people like myself who'd bought a ton of tickets. I saw that Ginette, one of the 1st violins, was there, so I went and sat with her for the recital portion of the night. Patrick, tuba, and Rinat, bass, serenaded us for an hour.

After the recital, we all headed downstairs to the garden room (with a door leading into the, well, garden, seen in the picture below) for food, drinks, and talk. I talked with some people who work as stewards at LSO St. Luke's. One woman came up to me and asked if I was in the orchestra. She recognized me via my shoes...she complimented me on them at the first event I went to there! Everyone wished me well and said they could tell I will be going far....I can only hope their crystal balls weren't too cloudy. One woman asked my full name so she could look for it in the future. I think that's one of the most powerful things people have said to me.

Tomorrow is the first rehearsal for the last concert. Sigh.