Jane Austen's Donkey Cart

 

The mechanicals (from left) -- Snout, Snug, Quince, Flute, and Bottom.

 

It shall be called Bottom's Dream. . . because it hath no bottom.

So, I am going to take a pause for a while from the Scotland blogging. I will finish later, but I have been dying to update on what is actually going on in my life. Hmm. . . last night I went to see a production of Jane Eyre at the Oxford Playhouse (thought of you, Dad) . It was amazing; it emphasized the feminist side of the book, portraying Jane, Bertha Mason (the "Madwoman in the Attic") and Charlotte Bronte herself as multiple aspects of the same person. I didn't remember until I saw it how much good dialogue is in that book. The scenes between Jane and Rochester were hilarious. Overall, it was passionate, a bit harsh, but hopeful. Like the book. Heather, Annie, Carly, and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, though afterwards we had to run for the last train and share the platform with some shamelessly drunk people.

And tonight, I'm going to be in a play! The ABU-Oxford group is putting on a play, and there are some fanstastic actresses among us, if I do say so myself. :D So, in one hour, I have my Shakespearean stage debut! As I mentioned earlier, I am playing the role of Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream. I was slightly hesitant at first, but it has turned out to be a wonderfully fun role to play. Bottom is bossy, goofy, and over-the-top, but he is really a sweet guy. And I get to let loose on stage; I don't have to worry about over-acting, because my character is supposed to. So I am excited, as well as slightly nervous. I just hope my tuque stays on!

My death speech:

Come tears, confound; out sword and wound

The pap of Pyramus.

Ay, that left pap, where heart doth hop.

Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.

(stab self on each "thus", fall down dead)

(pause)

Now am I dead, now am I fled, my soul is in the sky.

Tongue, lose thy light; Moon, take thy flight;

Now die, die, die, die, die!

Carly and I are taking the train to Bath tomorrow, to stay at the Hotel Aquae Sulis and explore all the Jane Austen museums and old Roman buildings! I am very excited for that. It will be really nice to see a bit more of England; so far I have really only seen Charlbury, Woodstock, Oxford, London, Warwick Castle, and Coventry. It will be nice to have a weekend away.

After that it will be die-hard schoolwork for a while. Long hours at the Bodleian, but who can really complain about that? I want to get my term papers finished before April 5, when Krissy and Dad will arrive, God willing. That way, we can tour together for a few days before the program officially ends. Then it's the five-country, super-Eurotour 2006! Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland in two weeks!

Finally, as a few people already know, I found out Monday I was accepted for a summer missions trip to Bangladesh through Intervarsity/Urbana! This is a total answer to prayer, and I believe I will be able to overcome the financial hurdles. It is so worth it for the opportunity to grow and serve. I think it will definitely help me to have clearer direction for my future.

God has blessed me far beyond anything I deserve.

Now to the stage! Adieu.

in and out of focus

I left Canada on Friday the thirteenth.

I have now been in England a month.

Today is St. Valentine's Day.

I do not celebrate this day, because I am single.

Instead I write essays -- 6000 words by tomorrow (Wednesday) at midnight.

Some people call Wednesday "Hump Day". I dislike this term.

Next Wednesday, I am going to Ireland.

I thought I was not Irish, but last Christmas (a better holiday), I found out that I had a few Irish ancestors who just pretended to be Scottish.

They were horse thieves.

They were called the Black Donnellys.

The Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

On St. Patrick's Day, we will be performing A Midsummer Night's Dream at Charlbury Baptist Church.

Midsummer is also a holiday.

I have been cast as Bottom (see below; I am the one with the long ears).

In the above picture, Bottom looks like the Easter Bunny.

Easter is another holiday.

I was born on the day between Good Friday and Easter.

That is all.