I know it’s been a few months since I last posted, so I wanted to tell you what I’ve been up to this summer. It’s been a pretty busy time, especially after my surgery, and I’ve found tons of inspiration for my writing. Here’s a list of my top 10 favorite things I did this summer.
#1 The Oregon Shakespeare Festival
On a road trip to California with my mom and sister, we stopped in Ashland, Oregon, to catch the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I hadn’t been in years—I was younger the last time and vaguely remember watching Beauty and the Beast at their outdoor theater. This time, we saw a play in the indoor theater. Earlier in the year, I had read Macbeth (or, as they call it, the Scottish Play), so I was excited to see it performed live. The production was amazing—excellent effects, top-notch acting, and a unique use of the witches during the death scenes that added to the eerie atmosphere. Overall, it was a fantastic interpretation. I’d highly recommend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival if you ever get to go!
#2 Acting in My Sister’s Short Films
My sister is an aspiring director and recently applied to film school. With that, she’s made many short films, and I got to act in several of them, including The Skunk on the Bunk, this summer. This film is a parody of The Cat in the Hat, where I play the annoying brother—like the fish in the original story. Another short film I’m in is called Tea Tales: The Peppermint Perils, where I play an actor reenacting a story told by Dr. Pippa Mint.
#3 Annie
I did a two-week camp this summer in California where a group of students learned and performed Annie Jr. We had dance choreography, costumes, and a lot of songs. I played Daddy Warbucks #1 and Rooster. It was a great experience overall! I hadn’t been in a play since I was 8, and even then, I was always in the ensemble. So, taking on more significant roles this time was fun.
#4 Medieval Times
I hadn’t been to Medieval Times in years but remembered quite a lot. I actually thought I’d been there more than once because of how clear the memories were. For those who don’t know, Medieval Times is a dinner theater experience where multiple knights fight each other, and whoever is the last one standing wins. You’re assigned a knight to cheer for, and while you watch, you’re served a four-course meal that’s delicious. My mom and I went together while we were in California, and it was a blast. I loved screaming at the top of my lungs, cheering for my knight—who, sadly, didn’t win. It’s a fantastic experience, and if you haven’t been, I highly recommend it. It’s especially fun for kids!
#5 Theme Parks.
One of the last things I did in California was visit Universal Studios and Disneyland. Universal Studios is one of my favorite parks, especially with the new Super Mario Bros. land. It’s incredibly well-made, with interactive mini-games, thrill rides like The Mummy and Jurassic World, and more kid-friendly ones like The Secret Life of Pets. If you’re going with kids, I’d recommend they be at least 6-8 years old to fully enjoy the experience. As for Disneyland and California Adventure, they’re great for all ages. I especially loved the World of Color 4th of July pre-show, with red, white, and blue water lighting up to patriotic music.
#6 Getting My Invisalign Off
While this might not be as thrilling as Disneyland or Medieval Times, getting my Invisalign off was still a highlight. I had a pretty good experience with it, which isn’t always true for people with Invisalign or braces. The best part was not having the brackets digging into my mouth daily. I wore it regularly, so I got it off earlier than expected—no complaints! My orthodontist even gave me a fun snack bag and sparkling apple juice to celebrate. Now, I just wear a retainer at night and am happy with the results.
There were two groups at film camp, each tasked with writing, filming, and editing their short film. My group’s project was called Dear Diary, and it was about a boy reflecting on his day in his diary. I wrote the screenplay and handled most of the cinematography, with a few scenes shot by others. Overall, I think it turned out well for our first film together, and I enjoyed the experience.
#8 Ballet Intensive
I’m unsure how much I’ve mentioned it, but I’m a dancer. After some time off due to surgery and only a few classes here and there, the ballet intensive was a fantastic way to rebuild my stamina and flexibility. I enjoyed getting back into ballet and had fun with the intensive.
#9 D-BOX
D-BOX offers an immersive experience where your seat moves to enhance the movie. Each film provides a unique D-BOX experience. I first tried it this summer at a Cineplex in Canada while watching Deadpool and Wolverine. I enjoyed the film, and the D-BOX added an extra layer of excitement and immersion. My parents were so impressed they watched Twisters in D-BOX at a Cinemark nearby and loved it. I also recently saw Beetlejuice in D-BOX (which I plan to review soon) and found it fun, though action films seem to benefit the most from the experience. I highly recommend trying D-BOX for a fun and immersive movie experience.
#10 Shakespeare Camp
One of the highlights of my summer was attending a Shakespeare camp. Having enjoyed reading Macbeth (the Scottish Play) last school year, I was excited to dive into another Shakespearean adventure. After the fun I had at the Annie camp in California, I decided to sign up for this camp back in Seattle. Over five days, my group and I tackled most of Twelfth Night, designing sets, costumes, and accessories. I took on several roles, including the drunk knight Sir Toby Belch (my central role), Curio, and Officer #1. It was a challenging and enjoyable experience, and I’m eager to keep exploring Shakespeare in the future.
Recently, I’ve been getting back into schoolwork and writing. I plan to be more consistent with my blog posts in the future and am excited to dive back into everything. What about you? What's something fun you did this summer? Let me know in the comments. As always, thanks for reading, and remember to keep on shivering!
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