Day 23

We had class again this morning- and we only have 3 more after today! It was actually a little more exciting than usual because we talked about the idea of correctness and how it affects the language. It reminded me of a quote I like: “Are there any enduring standards of English usage? I think there are only preferences, "passionate preferences," as Robert Frost used to say, the level at which any English-speaking person chooses to engage the instrument—the orchestra—of the language.” That is dorky I know, but it is so funny to listen to other people’s “passionate preferences” (and my own) about things like where to put a period after a quote.

After class Robyn and I went to get lunch, and it was the first time I have ever been even semi-rushed out of a restaurant in Europe! The place was really small and they were really busy so they were trying to hurry us along, and it was weird. It felt like home again. We then went over to Westminster to go see some sights. We came out of the tube stop and Big Ben was right there above the stairs. We did a little click click and said hola to Ben (if you know us you will know what I mean by that). We looked around at some statues and sights, and then walked down the street to the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. This was actually one of the cooler places (museum-wise) I have been to thus far. The Cabinet War Rooms are the underground rooms the British government used during WWII to run the war while protecting themselves from bombs and other threats. Supposedly once the war ended they all just got up and left and they left most everything there as it was. So you can see the room where they all met to discuss things and Churchill’s room and even a room that was a secret hotline room so Churchill could call the President of the US without it being tapped. Then the Churchill Museum is this cool interactive museum dedicated to Churchill (obviously) and all kinds of interesting things about him. I learned that as well as being a famous politician he was a Nobel-prize winning writer and an amateur painter. And the second time he became Prime Minister he was 71 (there is hope for you John McCain!). So we learned a lot and then went home so we could let it all sink in.

That night I went to Phantom of the Opera with Mandy and Marissa and Robyn went to Les Mis again with a big group from the program. Seriously, what do people do at night if not go to shows? It beats me. I liked Phantom- I have never seen the play although I have known the music forever and have seen the movie. The phantom was pretty dang creepy and my thought that Christine really is a pretty stupid girl was confirmed. I felt bad because Mandy’s seat was right behind a pillar and it was blocking center stage for her. But she got to move over because someone didn’t show up, so everything was ok.