Courtesy of Zachary Mans...

Zac has decided he would like to update you on his perspective of Ripon life as well, so here goes, from Mr. Mans the Titanic with sails himself: "Today was a good day" he said to himself while his nose bathed in the glory of itself high above the rest of his facial features. "But it was not a great day." He then looked down to the floor as he thought to himeslf, why does this hurt so much? He then regained his composure and threw his hands uup in the air seeming to outline a girly figure. "I think I miss two of my favorite women in the world, of course not my only two favorite women, but still yet more of course one of them is my favorite and the other is very close but there are still some who have stayed behind to entertain me that I find utterly enjoyable." he said as he finished his outline of the figure and once again took notice to the corner of the room where the ceiling and wall met, or maybe he was just being snooty.... Anyways, He then sat on his bed waiting fevereshly for a call from  them, until he realzied they must be sleeping in a wonderful place surrounded by wonderful people and three turkish boys in which he would have to keep hi eye on, or maybe not.... He then said four final words to himself before putting his head on his bed of lonliness, "I love you both." 

White Floors and Tunes in Buckets

Currently Ripon is, well, cold.  My hair froze within the first thirty seconds or so of walking to class this morning.  I know you miss that.  The drama is pretty toned down on campus for the time being, but the semester is still early so there is time for that to change.

Imaginary Invalid is trucking along decently, though I should go run lines for a bit.  The set is mostly built and we've already started painting the floor.  It's insanely white though, which is just weird.  It will be pretty in the end, but for now it's kinda trippy.  What it will become, in theory, is a marble floor.  So for now it's a wet-blend of a white/blue, light pink and pretty light gray.  We're going to line it and turn some of the squares dark then gloss the whole thing so it reflects a bit like a real marble floor.  Should be pretty cool.

As for the rehearsals, Josh wrote a pretty sweet tune for the improv opera and Ken "yelled" at me for not singing loud enough.  I use the term yelled loosely because he didn't yell, but he gave me crap about how it won't get better if it's soft, it's just harder to hear.  I wanted to tell him it's his fault I can't sing loudly in a solo, but I refrained.  If only he hadn't so adamantly told me I can't carry a tune in a bucket before.  Oh well, I've got time to work on this.

Classes are pretty okay so far.  Mostly still on the basic "first classes" lessons when everyone, including the professor gets acclimated to the class.  That'll turn around I'm sure.

The food is getting significantly better though!  I'm so glad Sarge is back, he makes the commons food bearable.

For now I am off to study lines before I have to rush off to Religion Sem.  I hope you are well and I can't wait for Spring Break now!  LOVE!

P.S.  do you realize it's been a full week since Cady was in Ripon?  Crazy!

Must Do and Must See

To help all of your travels, on a night when not much noteworthy happened (rehearsal started today for me, but that's about it) I give you my guide to London and Florence:

London:

Camden Market.  It is an eclectic collection of goth and adorable clothes and accessories mostly.
Borough Market Food Market.  Go for the free samples.  You won’t need lunch.
Portobello Market
Brompton Cemetery is a great place to go for a run near the Earl’s Court flat.  Also where Beatrice Potter got many character names.
Hyde Park Also good for a run
Gym Nextdoor They occasionally have free day passes, worth using for free, not worth a membership (in my opinion)
Ben’s Cookies. Expensive, but amazing on drizzly days.  There is one at the South Kensington tube stop.  It is street level between the entrances.
Victoria and Albert Museum often has openings and events.  It is always free.
Museums in general take advantage of their free-ness!
Imperial War Museum Holocaust exhibit is very good but very sad
Newspapers  There are a number of free ones, watch them for fun happenings.
Changing of the Guards Sarah can and will tell you when to go
Picadilly Circus  One of my favorite places in the world, especially at night
Shopping High Street Kensington
Diana Memoral in the bottom of Herod’s

Florence:

Angie’s Pub. Delicious 2 euro a glass Strawberry Wine (Via dei Neri 35)

Moyo Café with free wifi.  Less important now that the school has wifi too, but nice nonetheless

Star Kebab Tasty tasty kebabs for lunch!
Pane  If you need a cheap lunch, grab some super cheap bread from here and food from the market (It’s really close to school)
Happy Hippo a ridiculous candy hippo you can buy at the grocery store near the traveling professor’s apartment.  Yum!
Bacci the Italian version of a Hershey’s Kiss (so tasty!)
Cinque Terra Five coastal cities north of Florence that you can walk between.  A nice weekend or a full day.  Gorgeous though!
Chianti Linguaviva will offer a trip to go wine tasting.  Go! That countryside is beautiful.
Capri Allison’s favorite side trip. Cute coastal town.
Bookstore in Piazza della Republica
Odeon Awesome movie theatre where you can drink wine during the show
Gelatteria just over the bridge from the Pensione, cheapest and best gelato in town (according to Allison)

Oil Shoppe It's great when you're craving a sub sandwich, very touristy though.  It's on Via S.Egidio, there is a triangle where three streets meet and it's pretty much right there.

Day One Starts

Okay, it's only been a few hours since you all officially left me.  But, as I promised to Cady, I will chronicle the difficulties of life without you all here in Ripon.  First of all, I hate goodbyes.  "Goodbye" is one of the few words I don't believe in (and I love words), so there wasn't one.  I plan to see all of you in London for Spring Break, one way or another I have to be there.  Mostly because I don't think I can graduate and leave and not have any idea when I'll see you next without at least one last hurrah!  and what better place than hip and happening London, right?

I'll update with pictures once a week and do words when I can.  This first picture is our shot (in mugs because I don't have shot glasses) to Europe and it taking our friends (and/or fiances) away from us.

So Cady, Brandi, Jess, Andy, and all the others we love that left for an amazing semester abroad, safe travels, buona fortuna and i love you.

<3

   Megan