Tea Time, "The Importance of Being Earnest" and farewell to London.

 Today was a sad day, as it was our last full day in London. I decided to spend it by visiting the London Zoo, which took me roughly 5 hours to see every exhibit they had to offer. There are simply way too many incredible photos to fit in this blog, so see my Facebook page for the awesomeness. We saw our last play of the trip tonight: "The Importance of Being Earnest," a VERY British comedy written by the legendary Oscar Wilde. It was a great way to end our trip, since the play was impressively fantastic considering that it was the very first preview. I have always loved British humor, so I laughed quite a bit. David Suchet was fantastic as the famous role of Lady Bracknell, and the rest of the cast was phenomenal as well. I have a feeling that this production will run for quite some time, seeing as how great it was. A few weeks ago, some members of the group and I went to the famous department store Harrod's to consume tea, in honor of "Earnest." In the play, tea-time is a very crucial aspect since it signifies wealth and class and is also the centerpiece for a number of humorous fights throughout the play. The tea that we consumed was very tasty and left me wishing that the U.S. was as big on tea as the British are.

It has been an incredible month; this trip to England has been one that exceeded my wildest dreams. Britain has heightened my appreciation for not only the wonderful art of theatre; but nature, people, and worldwide cultures among many other things. Living in the same town in Arkansas for 16 years stifles your awareness of the world around you and the opportunities that are available to you, so in a way, this trip was crucial to me. I return to the U.S. with a fresh perspective on my life and the world, and a level of inspiration to seek my dreams that has never been present before. I've always had the dreams and passion, but now my drive is more powerful than it's ever been. I offer a sincere thank you to England for everything that it has taught me, and I plan on returning the favor in the best way possible. Goodbye London, and don't worry; I'll always remember to "mind the gap."