Spring Awakening & The Balsamoes.

Lead singer of the Balsamoes, and my English professor, Dr. Richard Niland.

Dr. Niland at the Gladstone Arms.

Sorry about the lack of pictures! I didn't get to take any at the play, and these are the only decent ones from The Balsamoes gig.

Hi all-

I'm sorry I have neglected my blog for a few days. The only typing my fingers have done recently is a 3,000 word short story for my English class here in London...I did come to STUDY abroad I guess. Haha. My life in the past few days hasn't been overly exciting anyway, so you haven't missed out on much.

This passed Tuesday, I went to the play "Spring Awakening". It's a play about coming into sexuality as a teenager and also about repression from information and freedom put on students of that time by their teachers and parents. It was absolutely amazing. I was on the second row. I was so close that I could have reached out and touched the actors if I wanted to. There was a scene where fog (created by dry ice, I assume) floated over the stage and it went under the first row seats and I could feel the cold from the stage on my legs under my seat! The music and talent all of those young (my age) people had was phenomenal. I didn't get to take pictures; but the website for the UK play that I saw is here. I strongly encourage you all to go visit it and click around. Look at photos, videos, cast blog, etc. The whole entire thing was mind-blowing. I would see it over and over again if I had the chance.

Wednesday night was the championship football game between Manchester United (my all-time favorite soccer team) and Barcelona. I don't want to talk about this match. Let's just leave it at Manchester United lost...and my heart was shattered into a million small pieces.

Last night I, along with a group of students and classmates here, went to watch a band called The Balsamoes (pronounced Bal-zam-ohs) at a pub called The Gladstone Arms. The pub was a really cool little spot. The lighting was dim, the room was a dark red and black color, and there were multiple candles everywhere. The small room was filled to the brim with locals and our large group of supporters. The Balsamoes' lead singer is my English professor here at Richmond; Dr. Richard Niland (who is Irish with this great accent and fantastic flaming red hair). Apart from singing he also plays the acoustic guitar and harmonica...at the same time. The music has a folk flavor too it, with a slight edge added in by their "demonic drummer" (quote from Dr. Niland...who also had this to say about his drummer: "He's a force of nature...he's someone I need in my life.") We drank Pimms (a type of liquor that I'm not sure we have in the States) and lemonade garnished with sliced strawberries, lemons, and limes. They were fantastic. The show was really great and the band played a good set (they've only been together for 6 months now). They have a couple more shows in the beginning of June that I am sure to attend. I have uploaded a few videos I took at the event. They are of very poor quality due to the darkness in the room and the people constantly walking in front of me to go use the bathroom. Nonetheless, it sort of captures the feel from the night. All of the videos are of my professor singing....he did a great job, and you'll get to see the man behind the PhD.

I am off to Stonehenge tomorrow! Also...a few random updates: I recommend the movie "Stagecoach" to EVERYONE! It's an old film, in black and white, starring the love of my life, a very young John Wayne. We had to watch it in class, and I fell in love. Also, my thoughts have started to come with a British accent. That's completely strange, I know, but being around it all the time has that affect on you. I love it, so don't be freaked out when I come home and start using phrases like "dodgy" and "cheeky monkey"; because it's highly possibly I will.

I hope all is well at home for everyone. I have been getting slight pangs of homesickness over the past couple of days, but I'm sure they'll pass. It would just been nice to see a familiar face! I love you all, and would appreciate any e-mails about you're lives and what's going on in America as a whole. Haha, that sounds funny, but I never here anything about the good ole U.S. of A. over here. American websites won't stream overseas and vice versa. I love you all. I miss you. Cheers!

AND- I just got word of a Dustin Hoffman siting on our street a few minutes ago. He lives a few houses down from my residence in the Atlantic House....Crazy!!

Always,

Mattie

Also- Thank you GPT and Muppie for calling me this evening. It really made my night. It was nice to talk to you both; and don't worry, I am having the time of my life. Come visit. :) Give Brooke my love. I love you both....along with the rest of my family. :)