{ Paralympic Opening Ceremonies }

I've been quite behind on blogging but I have great excuses for that. Starting with... The Paralympic Opening Ceremonies.

Back in February, I auditioned for a chance to be part of the cast for the Paralympic Games ceremonies. I didn't really hear anything for a long time so I just sort of forgot about it, but in April, I got a cast offer to be in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

We rehearsed a lot, and it turned out to be a really fun experience. Our cast was in the section called Empowerment which was the grand finale of the ceremony. It was a beautiful feeling to dance along a cast of 200+ volunteers to celebrate the fantastic athletes who were a part of the Paralympic Games.

The rehearsal process lasted about 3 months and I got to  know my little group quite well. I will miss the experience, but it was a really great time, and it was special to be a part of something so important in British history.

we received tickets to the dress rehearsal of the Olympic Opening ceremony. 

such a thrill!

the ceremony did some crazy things, but this part was my favorite! it was meant to represent the industrialisation period of Great Britain. it was quite hard to hear it on TV, but there were thousands of drummers coming downs the aisles. it was deafening. 

Sneaky photo during our first day rehearsing at the Olympic Stadium.

And me! it was so amazing to see them working to put together that massive show.

me and my pod. we had to run with these hoisted over our heads, which was interesting considering it was really windy in London most of August.

Kanako!

practicing the parade of athletes. we sat in the royalty box for this!

i found the Costa Rica ambassador! all the countries were led on to the field of play by an ambassador wearing these dresses... they looked like garbage bags, but looked cool on the screens.

our group getting ready to perform! Tony, me, Aasha and Kanako. 

Our outfits had the Declaration of Human Rights printed on them.

Kanako and I during the finale! 

A summary of the night!

the finale! the statue is of alison lapper. this was the coolest part of all. at the end, we all put our fist up to the air as if to say "more power to you" and held it there for a long, long time. 

sir Ian McKellen performed with us! He gave a speech and then joined our group... he was on the stage holding one of the letters that spelled out the word "rights"

Stephen Hawkins joined our performance as well! what an honor. SERIOUSLY. 

i was floored when i saw the performance photos the next day and realised he was on stage with us.

The entire performance... my section begins at 3:24:36 until about 3:31:00. You can't see me at all, but this was my group. 

it was such an amazing experience. i can't believe i was so lucky to be a part of something so large, empowering, and significant. i loved every second of it and i will always cherish my time as a performer at the  2012 Paralympic Games.

God Save the Queen!

The Diamond Jubilee was truly one of the most unique things I've ever experienced. Diamond Jubilees rarely happen. Queen Elizabeth is only the second royal to make it to her Diamond Jubilee (with Queen Victoria being the first). The British really love their Queen, and endured hours on foot and in rain to catch just a glimpse of the Royal Family.

We didn't have a great view for The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, but it was still exciting. We enjoyed the concert from the comfort of our couch, but I had quite a bit of luck on the last day.

We're short. Thanks to our Michael friend for this shot.

The Royal Barge. The Queen in white, Camilla in tan, Princess Kate in red (ask me if I care that she's not a princess. I don't. Princess Kate!), Will in blue... the others sort of get lost in the picture.

So proud of him. This is the one time he has been embarrassing in public.

The Queen on her way to Saint Paul's Cathedral

The sentries setting up for the promenade

Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen

Harry, Will and Kate

Yay. This is me basically running to the gates and taking pictures as I go.

Thrilled to be so close!

Beat all these fools. NEW YORKER!

I LOVE THIS. 

The grand finale of the Jubilee.

One more of the Royal Family!

The Mall post everything.

birthday!

This birthday came around in a sort of bittersweet way. I didn't have any family with me this year, which is a change from the past 3 years. I also really wanted to get out of London and get to a beach, but for some reason, I felt like I should hold off on that trip. Instead, I gathered a very VIP group of my London people and planned a fun evening. 

The birthday started at 12AM exactly. I stayed up just so I could be excused in FINALLY opening the presents my mom and sister had so thoughtfully shipped over. The bag of gifts literally sat in my room for over a week, and I did not open it until the clock hit midnight. It was good to get cards and cute gifts that they thought about/made. 

I woke up the next morning bright and early and made my way to Central London to wait for day seats for Singin' in the Rain. After that, I met Dev, Michelle and Jeremy for breakfast and then I headed off for my interview with the London International Festival of Theatre. My interview went really well and I actually had an offer for their marketing internship by 3PM.

At 5PM, I met Dev, Jeremy, Michelle and Michael at Wahaca in Covent Garden for a delicious birthday dinner, and then we headed off to see the show. I absolutely loved Singin' in the Rain!

Overall, it was a good birthday, and I was glad to have my friends celebrate with me. I still haven't blown out any birthday candles, but at least I did get a fun birthday song from Michael and Alex.

Photographic evidence. Midnight indeed. 

Mom kept saying I couldn't open them for another 5 hours (EST) because 

I wasn't born in this time zone. I didn't listen.

Mom made this with some of the glass beads I bought her in Prague! 

I love this one! I spent soooo long digging through bead bins to find the cutest beads, 

and she combined them all into one bracelet.

Earrings also courtesy of mom.

My new Betsey Johnson courtesy of my sister.

GOTTA DANCE! Not only was it a perfect day, the sun was out in London!

KCL friends Devin and Jeremy.

Devin, Jeremy and Michelle! (we were missing our 4th, Brand). 

They were really sweet and not only agreed to come to the show (which was a bit pricey),

 but they also got me an adorable Oliver Bonas charm bracelet.

With Jeremy

With Michael

Excited to sit in the splash zone! It literally rains on stage, 

and if you sit in the first 3 rows, you WILL get wet. 

Our feet on the stage. We were in row 1. We got COMPLETELY soaked. FUN!

I loved seeing such an iconic show on my birthday. I had been looking forward to it for quite some time and was not disappointed. Adam Cooper, who plays Don, is stellar. I could literally watch him dance all day. Scarlett Strallen (who I had previously seen as Mary Poppins) did a fantastic job as Kathy Sheldon. The book is a little weak, but the choreography and lighting make it a pretty magical thing to see. 

Here is a clip from the Royal Variety show. Adam sounds a bit breathy at the end, but wouldn't you be too if you had just danced like that for 5 minutes?

Elise visits London Town

You know what's AWESOME? When friends visit in London.

Elise McKenna paid me a little visit in London just in time for Thanksgiving! 

We had a lot of fun exploring London. 

Arriving in Central London and she found this! 

 Delicious brunch at the Sherlock Holmes pub. 

This is a replica of one of the rooms inside the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Crossing the Millennium Bridge 

On our way to the Tate Modern

Installation piece at the Tate Modern. The strips displayed cliche sayings on a loop and we must have sat there for at least 15 minutes reading them all.

Yay! Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland

 Just hanging at Winter Wonderland

At Sommerset House, which is literally right next to my school

Thanksgiving dinner. Two of my favorite people.

ALFIE! We've been waiting a year to see this amazing man 

perform the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

What a great man.

Trying on crazy hats at Piccadilly Circus.

Obligatory tourist photo

I really like my friends. Rach and Elise became fast friends. On the train to Windsor!

At Windsor Castle! I am the proud owner of a Windsor Castle season pass. 

I will literally go there EVERY week. :)

The girls excited about visiting the place of the educational beginnings of many great men,

 i.e., Eddie Redmayne and Prince William

Because sometimes being delirious wins over logic or socially acceptable behaviour.

The pastry table at Portobello Market is ridiculous. I mean... how do you even choose???

So happy to finally visit!

At the Greenwich visitor's center. We all did this. 

Amazing hall in Greenwich. Absolutely beautiful painted ceiling. There is a lot of symbology and history painted into that ceiling. I loved just starring at it.

 We're on the prime meridian!

 Well, technically Elise is in one hemisphere, I'm in the other and Michael is in both.

Mandatory trip to Harrod's and more specifically the Harry Potter Shop.

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

On our way to church, we passed the Natural History Museum

Dress up at the Victoria and Albert Museum! 

They had a theatre costume and set exhibit which resulted in this.

 My love Jonathan. Here he is looking quite dapper.


Got a comment? I LOVE them! So leave one right here!
xoxo,
A