Spineful...not Spineless

Today was our first fully "functional" day in London, and boy, was it eventful!

We woke up around nine to get dressed and ready for class.  The walk to class took about 15 minutes and luckily, the weather held out for us today and was absolutely beautiful.  In our first segment of class from 11-1, we began Actors and Acting.  We did an exercise where everyone had to wander around the room constantly as the professor directed us to play around with eye contact, no eye contact, mouth closed, mouth opened, etc.  Apparently the most open and friendly action is to have eye contact with your lips parted...who knew?!  This first exercise alone helped me to realize things I do in every day life that may give off a certain vibe to people around me.  It's amazing to think how such a small thing like eye contact can affect you!  After that, we did a name game where each person had to associate their name with a movement.  As we went around the circle, you had to memorize more and more names as well as their coordinating movements.  By the end of the exercise, we were all cracking up at some of the funny actions that we had come up with.  It was a really great way to learn everyone's name.  Finally, we ended the class with an exercise called "You."  Our professor, Antonio, started by pointing to someone in the circle and yelling, "YOU!"  That person would then point to another person and do the same thing, and so on and so forth until the last student had to point pack at Antonio to finish the sequence.  We then continued this exercise by performing it faster.  I found it interesting how you began to memorize who you could expect to be pointed at from, and how we all worked together to try to complete the exercise as fast as possible.  To add on to this exercise, we then did the same thing, but had to point at someone and say our favorite comfort food.  A different sequence from the last, we now had to remember a different group of people who pointed at you.  Finally, Antonio added on a third sequence where we had to point at someone and say our favorite movie.  Of course mine was Peter Pan.  After completing all three sequences, Antonio then put them all together so that while one person was yelling "YOU!" at you, five seconds later someone would be yelling, "Boloco buffalo chicken burrito" and you would have to remember who to point at next.  Although it was humorous, it really showed how when you knock away the fear of messing up or being embarassed, you really can accomplish something.

In between class, we went to Pret A Manger with a bunch of other students.  Apparently Pret A Manger is owned by McDonald's so no wonder it is basically on every corner!  Afterwards, we took our lunch to the steps of the student center and people-watched.  It was kind of funny to see how people interact and how the things we just did in class apply to every day life.

In our second session of class from 3-5, we focused more on voice.  One of the first things we did was got assigned a partner who would remain our partner for the duration of the trip.  With our partner, we had to sit as close to them as possible, close our eyes, and feel their hands.  Yes, you read that right.  Feel their hands.  Not just for a few seconds, either.  For minutes.  With our eyes shut!  It was strange and awkward but also extremely interesting.  After the hand exercise, we then had to wander around the room with our eyes shut and find our partner just by their hands.  It is sometimes amazing to really think about what the mind and memory can do!  We also did an exercise where we discussed what an entrepreneur is.  For every noun that could label an entrepreneur, we had to step onto the virtual "stage" and create a physical image for that noun.  After we went through the virtues of being an entrepreneur, we then had to enact the vices.  The final vice given to us was "judgement."  One by one, each of us stepped onto the "stage" and enacted what we thought judgement was.  At the end of the exercise, the whole entire class was on the "stage" enacting judgement by their definition.  Each of us was linked to each other in some way physically.  After a moment, Antonio suggested that we now work together to form an image that shows the opposite of "judgement."  Immediately, we all stood up and formed a gigantic group hug.  It was amazing how even though we have barely known these people for two days, we already felt the connection and relationship between all of us building.  We were all there to support each other, cheer each other on, and get through this trip together.  Antonio described it great when he called it "unity."  In my head, it was also acceptance.  We all accepted each other for who we are, no judgement, and we all could agreed on the fact that we are all here for the same reason.

After the hand exercise, we did some breathing exercises as well as realigning of the spine.  I found it pretty interesting how this part of acting could be so closely linked to anatomy and physiology.  We talked a lot about the spine and the pelvic bones and it was amazing to see how just one stretch and aligning of the spine made everyone look taller and more confident.  After this exercise, Antonio talked about how common it is to hear how a person is "spineless."  He then went on to say how no one ever talks about what it is to be spineFUL.  To be spineful is to be present, is to be courageous, is to be willing to take risks.  He asked each of us to try and take this message and be spineful for the next 5 weeks.  As much as the classes were silly and the exercises were beyond weird, he really left an impact on me...and it has only been one day!

So, for the rest of this Dialogue, I am determined to be spineful.  To be present in every moment, to be bold, to put myself out there, and to remember that this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime and I have to cherish every moment of it.