For the past two months, I've been rehearsing with the Texas Renaissance Festival, and I kept saying to myself "NO WAY am I going to survive a single weekend. I'm too reserved, too heat-sensitive, and I space out too much on a regular basis, not mentioning a place with distractions everywhere!"

I am happy to say that I not only played with patrons and evaded heat sickness, I almost (not really) managed to not make myself look like a noobish fool who missed the first day.

But in all seriousness, it was amazing. There are few times I have appreciated water more, and fewer times I have smiled for so long my cheeks literally ached. I could go on and on describing how awesome it was to be there, and my sudden thoughts were "Why didn't I join the fair sooner?"

Most of all, I have to say I adore everyone around me. I got hugs and questions on how my exams went from people I hardly knew. Everyone noticed I was gone the first day, which was stunning with so many people. I've never been with any theater that's so, well, family-like. Including family drama, sure, but it's absolutely wonderful.

Go Renfest!

Go England!