February 6-8
On Wednesday I was unable to wake up for my lecture, as well my foot was in a lot of pain. I also hadn't finished the Dickens novel I was supposed to read for it, so that may have played a small role in that decision. I stayed in again. This time though I did some school stuff, as well as looked at possible travel excursions.
Thursday I was supposed to meet my study group for the class I had skipped because I didn't care to learn more about the Faerie Queene. I cancelled on that, but I did not stay in that day. I had a play to see that evening at Alphabetti (a very small theatre, the size of a classroom) for my Performance and Now course. The play was called Bacon Knees and Sausage Fingers.
My walk there consisted of my GPS leading me through a sketchy area I've never been to, and even further taking me under a bridge in a scary tunnel that looks like those creepy subway passageways that are always in murder/horror movies. It was only 7pm, but it was pitch black out. Thankfully, I walk fast and was back in the city centre in no time.
When I arrived at the theatre I went into the bathroom on accident thinking it was the entrance to the theatre area. At least I could check my bangs in the mirror (which have been a pain due to the high-wind).
I got my ticket, which was under my professor's name, and someone I recognized from my seminar entered so I showed her where to get hers, as it was crowded and confusing in the small waiting area. She then led me over to where some other students were sitting and talking, whom I hadn't recognized earlier. All of them are drama students, so it was a lot harder to figure when to talk during their conversation, but I was fine listening as I didn't know any of the things they were talking about. I spotted a dog walking around, but it never came to us.
When we entered the theatre I sat with the girl who I showed where to get tickets at earlier. We were right near the exit, and the guy in the seat next to me ended up being moved as there was someone who was coming late (it was a sold out show, so they knew someone would probably be coming late). Surprisingly, the girl who came in late was from my study group, so it wasn't a total stranger.
I enjoyed the play. It was quite the interesting performance, definitely something that reminded me of my days back at Canterbury.
After, we all waited in the waiting area for the reaction performance, which is basically another artist's reaction to the play. While waiting I got to pet the sweetest puppy ever. His name is Rex, and he was a very good boy. He was a beautiful Staffordshire Bull Terrier, in case you were wondering. I did talk to a lot more people then, as the dog was a fantastic conversation starter. I think all waiting areas should have a pet for everyone to chill with.
The reaction piece was certainly interesting. I ended up sitting beside one of the actors from the play we just saw and it sparked my curiosity more to see his reaction to someone's reaction to the performance he was just in. I think he liked it.
I then walked home the way I had come, but a lot faster than I had come.
Friday I skipped my seminars, but emailed my professors, who were like "it's fine, just watch the online videos." Again, I didn't stay in all day. I did go out and meet some friends for dinner at Eat4Less.
I got this very cheap baked potato with bacon and cheese (it was probably cheaper than it would be for me to buy all the ingredients - including the division of meals). It wasn't the greatest, but it was filling. I prefer my Canadian potatoes.
We then headed to the Tyneside Cinema to see Mary Queen of Scots. The theatre was set up really cool. We were lost trying to find popcorn, but a lady at the bar area advised us it would be just before we went into the theatre. They served alcohol, candy, pop, and bagged popcorn for people to enjoy. I didn't buy anything as the potato had filled me up, but my friends enjoyed the popcorn.
The theatre room was the size of the one back in Freddy, except they compensated for this by having a screen that was smaller. In Fredericton they have the large screen so it's hard to see all of it, but here the screen was the right size so everyone could see it. The flaws would be that the chairs were small (so no head rest) and there was only one way to enter each row. However, there was plenty of leg room and the seats were very clean.
The movie itself was a bit boring at times for me, I think because I've seen many adaptions of the story being told, which is basically about Mary (not Bloody Mary as many confusingly associate her with), but the Mary who was locked away in a tower, and later beheaded by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I because she was a threat to the crown. The one thing that gave me chills was that we saw it on February 8th. This date was mentioned in the movie as it was the day Mary was beheaded in 1587. 432 years later, we were watching it in theatres. Weird to think.
My friends went to go get a drink after, but I headed to Tesco to look for some treats for the next day, which was my trip to Durham. I knew I needed to wake up early, so I turned down drinks.
I was looking for sandwich bags (really anything to put my sandwich in) but I couldn't spot any. I guess I'll have to add it to the list of things that the UK might just not have.
On my way back to my flat I was lost in thought thinking about all the things I had to do before I went to bed. I vaguely heard the homeless man ask me for change, I didn't have any to spare and I was already a few feet away when I realized he might have asked me, so I didn't do anything, then I heard him say "excuse me" I kept walking as this was quite confronting, and I was alone at night. Then, because I kept walking he said "ah fuck off." And I just. Like if he really needed money, this wasn't the attitude that would make me feel good about giving him any. Also, I don't think he realized my side, which is that I'm a young female alone at night. If I were with my friends or a guy, this might have been another story, however I don't think it was right for him to swear at me. It pissed me right off. In addition, we were advised not to give homeless people money in the city as many of them may not actually be homeless or need it.
Back at my flat I looked into the city of Durham, as none of the exchange students I was going with had said anything about plans or whatever. I didn't want to miss anything that I wanted to do, so I planned out a route to do when I got there and basically told myself that I'd do what I wanted and if the others had their own plans I'd stick to mine.
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