Woke up this morning determined to tell Galina at the front desk that my heater isn't working as it should. I know this because I woke up shivering at night the past few nights and I know I'm not supposed to do that. So once YouTube videos were watched over breakfast and my toast was eaten and my plates were cleaned and I was set to leave for the day, I set out.
Galina said that she'll send Dino the maintenance guy to go drain the pipes in my room or something. And if that doesn't work, than they'll have a space heater for me to take to my room until they can get it fixed. I told her I'll be gone all day so they can just walk in and do what they gotta do. So far, my heater is nice and toasty and warmer than before so we'll see how this works tonight. If it doesn't work, I'll head to Galina on Thursday to pick up my heater. Or maybe I'll check in with the security guy when I get back from work tomorrow. But I don't think I'll have that problem.
In creative writing, the entire class wanted to disappear because no one has really been doing the homework and she lectured us about doing homework. And then I thought about how no one here is probably very motivated to do any work for some reason or other. An on top of that, we're not given an incentive based upon a grade to do the weekly homework. Still on top of that, why do homework when you can explore London, take a trip to Italy, go to Paris for the weekend, spend a night in Dublin, etc etc etc. As a student, I can attest to the fact that it's very hard to keep up with schoolwork in a world that's totally unfamiliar to you so you want to spend your entire time exploring the world and not holed up in a library or your room doing something you don't care about anyway. Very hard. But I still struggle through it every night because, well, sooner or later I'm going to apply for that class credit and then my academic effort abroad is going to bite me in the butt. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there. For now, I'm still kind of freaking out I'm in London and about to explore Europe this December.
Saw a man wearing an eye patch while waiting for the 453 on Regent Street today. True to Demetri Martin, I thought "Argh!" like a pirate. Later on, while on the bus, I saw a little girl wearing a wool coat that went down to her knees and a beret. She was such a London school girl that I thought "I'M IN LONDON" for the millionth time and then Lady Gaga came on my iPod so then I thought about dance parties back in the house on Emerald Street. We're all Gaga fans there. My thoughts are so sporadic.
Blogged yesterday between classes today. Then I bought a Yorkie bar. The appeal of the Yorkie bar is the "Not for Girls" written on the bottom of it. It's just a bar of really hard milk chocolate and you need fairly strong teeth to bite it. So that's why it's not for girls. Otherwise, I'm totally getting another one just to say "I'm a girl and I eat Yorkie bars!" So there.
We had presentations on our internship in class today. I don't think I did very well because public speaking isn't my strong suit, especially when it's fairly impromptu like I did. Yes, I had a lot of information on the slides, but I didn't really deviate from the slides. Then again, I really did deviate from the slides and I got a few statements on my feedback forms from students that they liked that. But I also had some awkward pauses and was kind of fidgety while presenting, so I'm not the greatest at public speaking.
After class, Becky and I checked into Ryanair so we don't have to do so at the airport. The papers are with my passport which are with my small travel document organizer thing and they're ready to do. Now all I gotta do is pack. Exciting!!
The plan for Thursday is to do laundry and pack in the morning. Then I'll pop into Uni for my Linguistics class because I've never really missed one, why stop now? I'll immediately make my way home, change into my travel gear, and get as much sleep as I can. At midnight/midnight-thirty, I'll set out to catch the 453 from Lambeth North station to Baker Street, where I'll meet Becky and the other girl traveling with us. I believe her name is Andrea. We'll be taking the easyBus (courtesy of easyJet airlines) from Baker Street to Stansted airport. Plane leaves so early I can't remember what times it goes. But we'll get to Italy about 9/10 in the morning.
I'll have my paper journal with me so I'll update you on everything that went down in Italy when I get back late on Monday/early Tuesday morning. Until then, I may surprise you and call from my phone because I do have international minutes for free that I haven't been using. And when I say you, I mean my parents on their home phone.
After checking in, I went home where I made two mini-pizzas. Vanessa was also in the kitchen making snails and two other pots of something. The combination of their scents reminded me of cow manure, but I didn't tell Vanessa that.
After dinner, I attempted to take a shower but the water wasn't hot enough for me. So I stopped, checked the water on the other shower, concluded that it was as hot as the first one, so I opted out of the shower and will take one tomorrow morning when the water is sure to be piping hot. Poo on bad water heaters. I wanted to go to bed all nice and clean from a shower and then snuggle in with my warmth and hope the humidity from the shower will keep me warm throughout the night. You foiled me, cold water. How dare you even exists in cold weather.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tube Strikes Get Less Important the More They Happen
Here we are with another late post. But this is legit. My Internet cut out on me. Not my fault. I was in the middle of talking with my brother too. But it was also 1am and I was tired so I didn't bother getting back online (sorry, Ryan!). But here I am now and that's all that matters. (In a computer lab in Marlyebone, so you all know.)
Yesterday I went to work. There was another Tube strike yesterday, which wasn't as advertised to me as the others (I guess because now it's just a monthly thing and no longer a big deal). But, because of said strike, I was about an hour late to work than I should have been. Seriously! Every time my bus came by, it wouldn't pick up any passengers because it was too full!! And the minute I went to check Waterloo Station for any working trains, I get on the bus one stop over. Was it really that simple? I was angry that whole ride. Grrr. How dare they not pick up at my stop! Four of those five buses could have fit me on!
They were in the middle of their weekly meeting to update everyone on everything. It's also the meeting where they went over their Christmas holiday plans, which involves a walk around the city to a bunch of art galleries and the like. It's on Thursday which I'm supposed to work, but Marianne said that I don't have to go. So I won't because I have a lot to do. Now I can do laundry and pack Thursday morning instead of Wednesday night! Which is more convenient because I don't think anyone really does laundry then. Marianne also said that they'll just write the normal hours on my sheet. I don't have to come in at inconvenient times. Besides, they know I can only do so much. Which is nice of them.
Reheated turkey and potatoes for lunch. Except I didn't heat up the gravy so it got lukewarm really fast. I still ate it, though. I miss Mom's turkey, so I can't wait to feast when I get home. So excited! They were calling for snow yesterday, which is exciting. I love snow at this time of the year. (Ask me again in March. I dare you.)
Managed to make it alright to Harrow Campus for Storytelling and Fiction Film afterward. Took a bus to Baker Street where I hopped on a Metropolitan Line that was apparently working since King's Cross. I should really update myself on these matters the next time they happen. Life would be so much easier if I did.
Got to campus and bought a cinnamon swirl pastry (so delicious!) along with a cup of tea. When I went to pour the milk in, I poured in too much. But it cooled down the tea enough to drink it right away, which was nice. Good tea. Good pastry. As I was waiting for class to start outside in the hallway, a girl came a few minutes later and started talking to me. I thought this was nice because I don't think they would have otherwise talked to me. Didn't get her name, though. Oh well. Won't see her very often anymore anyway.
In class, we watched Pierrot le Fou by Godard, who I guess I enjoy but I have to be in the right mindset for it. I have to pretend like I like feeling cultured and film-literary. Otherwise, I like my movies with explosions and random awesomeness (see Cowboys and Aliens coming out next summer).
Got home and decided to make quiche for dinner. I cooked it, but I don't think I ran the oven correctly. So when I took a bite, there was a liquidy layer that was probably cheese. Anyway, I thought it was weird so I went to cook it some more. which is a good thing because it could use some more heating up anyway. Took it out when it started to smell burnt, but it didn't taste or looked burnt. Anyway, the liquid layer was still there but it was still good. Yummy, quiche.
Polished up my Internship toolkit presentation with pictures and the Black Dog Publishing logo and all that. Then I timed myself so I knew the entire thing could last ten minutes give or take. And that's about all I did for preparation because it really is an easy presentation. Sent it off to Matt who will put it on his USB memory stick.
Called Jessica and asked if we could Skype. I had a feeling I called her at an inconvenient time because it would have been around 3:00p her time and I knew her last class ended at 5:30p. I told her I was debating dropping the Anime class because of it's placement and possible interference with working at Lakefront on Langdon. She said she was thinking of dropping it too. But even if she does, I think I might still go check out the anime they watch. Just because I'm interested. It's rumored to not be mainstream anime and more cultured or literary or weird? Anyway, it'll be interesting anime no one has heard about and I'll find time to sneak into class if she still takes it. Which should be fun. w00t w00t
Ryan came online to ask about the Paris tickets. We got them last night!! Yay!! It's official, we're going to Paris! Now we need Paris to Berlin and Berlin to London. I'll be looking into flights so we can spend more time in Berlin and less time on a train. Or maybe trains will be fun? Not sure. Will have to research this further.
Starting to think about the different places in Norway I can visit. I'm reluctant to stay in Oslo because it's so pricey, which leaves a bunch of other cities. Tromso doesn't have a direct train that goes to it, and it'll take all day to get there anyway. So I'm not sure about that. Also, unless I leave for Kopenhavn (Danish way to spell Coppenhagen) really really early, I'm going to get to Oslo when it's dark, and then night trains are limited and require a reservation even with the Europass. So I have to quickly get Norway planned out before I leave. At the very least, book a hostel or hotel. I've come to the conclusion that if it turns out to be really pricey, I'll just charge it and pay that interest rather than spend my entire savings on hotels in Norway. I think that'll be cheaper in the long run. That way, I can still have money leftover for Stockholm and Helsinki without charging everything.
Have to also considering having money for when I get back into the States. I have to somehow get a security deposit check to Sarah for the new apartment after the one on Emerald Street. I'll also have to sign a lease once I get back to Madison. I hope the new land lord is understanding about that. I can't actually sign anything long distance, can I?
Called Ryan because he was online. We talked for a bit before the Internet failed me. Don't know what or how it happened, just that it happened, I couldn't bring the Internet back up, so I went to bed. Only then did I realize that maybe if I closed the browser and restarted it I would have gotten Internet working again. But too late now. I'm in bed and sleepy and gotta wake up the next day in time for Creative Writing. So good night, Ryan, hope you understand.
Yesterday I went to work. There was another Tube strike yesterday, which wasn't as advertised to me as the others (I guess because now it's just a monthly thing and no longer a big deal). But, because of said strike, I was about an hour late to work than I should have been. Seriously! Every time my bus came by, it wouldn't pick up any passengers because it was too full!! And the minute I went to check Waterloo Station for any working trains, I get on the bus one stop over. Was it really that simple? I was angry that whole ride. Grrr. How dare they not pick up at my stop! Four of those five buses could have fit me on!
They were in the middle of their weekly meeting to update everyone on everything. It's also the meeting where they went over their Christmas holiday plans, which involves a walk around the city to a bunch of art galleries and the like. It's on Thursday which I'm supposed to work, but Marianne said that I don't have to go. So I won't because I have a lot to do. Now I can do laundry and pack Thursday morning instead of Wednesday night! Which is more convenient because I don't think anyone really does laundry then. Marianne also said that they'll just write the normal hours on my sheet. I don't have to come in at inconvenient times. Besides, they know I can only do so much. Which is nice of them.
Reheated turkey and potatoes for lunch. Except I didn't heat up the gravy so it got lukewarm really fast. I still ate it, though. I miss Mom's turkey, so I can't wait to feast when I get home. So excited! They were calling for snow yesterday, which is exciting. I love snow at this time of the year. (Ask me again in March. I dare you.)
Managed to make it alright to Harrow Campus for Storytelling and Fiction Film afterward. Took a bus to Baker Street where I hopped on a Metropolitan Line that was apparently working since King's Cross. I should really update myself on these matters the next time they happen. Life would be so much easier if I did.
Got to campus and bought a cinnamon swirl pastry (so delicious!) along with a cup of tea. When I went to pour the milk in, I poured in too much. But it cooled down the tea enough to drink it right away, which was nice. Good tea. Good pastry. As I was waiting for class to start outside in the hallway, a girl came a few minutes later and started talking to me. I thought this was nice because I don't think they would have otherwise talked to me. Didn't get her name, though. Oh well. Won't see her very often anymore anyway.
In class, we watched Pierrot le Fou by Godard, who I guess I enjoy but I have to be in the right mindset for it. I have to pretend like I like feeling cultured and film-literary. Otherwise, I like my movies with explosions and random awesomeness (see Cowboys and Aliens coming out next summer).
Got home and decided to make quiche for dinner. I cooked it, but I don't think I ran the oven correctly. So when I took a bite, there was a liquidy layer that was probably cheese. Anyway, I thought it was weird so I went to cook it some more. which is a good thing because it could use some more heating up anyway. Took it out when it started to smell burnt, but it didn't taste or looked burnt. Anyway, the liquid layer was still there but it was still good. Yummy, quiche.
Polished up my Internship toolkit presentation with pictures and the Black Dog Publishing logo and all that. Then I timed myself so I knew the entire thing could last ten minutes give or take. And that's about all I did for preparation because it really is an easy presentation. Sent it off to Matt who will put it on his USB memory stick.
Called Jessica and asked if we could Skype. I had a feeling I called her at an inconvenient time because it would have been around 3:00p her time and I knew her last class ended at 5:30p. I told her I was debating dropping the Anime class because of it's placement and possible interference with working at Lakefront on Langdon. She said she was thinking of dropping it too. But even if she does, I think I might still go check out the anime they watch. Just because I'm interested. It's rumored to not be mainstream anime and more cultured or literary or weird? Anyway, it'll be interesting anime no one has heard about and I'll find time to sneak into class if she still takes it. Which should be fun. w00t w00t
Ryan came online to ask about the Paris tickets. We got them last night!! Yay!! It's official, we're going to Paris! Now we need Paris to Berlin and Berlin to London. I'll be looking into flights so we can spend more time in Berlin and less time on a train. Or maybe trains will be fun? Not sure. Will have to research this further.
Starting to think about the different places in Norway I can visit. I'm reluctant to stay in Oslo because it's so pricey, which leaves a bunch of other cities. Tromso doesn't have a direct train that goes to it, and it'll take all day to get there anyway. So I'm not sure about that. Also, unless I leave for Kopenhavn (Danish way to spell Coppenhagen) really really early, I'm going to get to Oslo when it's dark, and then night trains are limited and require a reservation even with the Europass. So I have to quickly get Norway planned out before I leave. At the very least, book a hostel or hotel. I've come to the conclusion that if it turns out to be really pricey, I'll just charge it and pay that interest rather than spend my entire savings on hotels in Norway. I think that'll be cheaper in the long run. That way, I can still have money leftover for Stockholm and Helsinki without charging everything.
Have to also considering having money for when I get back into the States. I have to somehow get a security deposit check to Sarah for the new apartment after the one on Emerald Street. I'll also have to sign a lease once I get back to Madison. I hope the new land lord is understanding about that. I can't actually sign anything long distance, can I?
Called Ryan because he was online. We talked for a bit before the Internet failed me. Don't know what or how it happened, just that it happened, I couldn't bring the Internet back up, so I went to bed. Only then did I realize that maybe if I closed the browser and restarted it I would have gotten Internet working again. But too late now. I'm in bed and sleepy and gotta wake up the next day in time for Creative Writing. So good night, Ryan, hope you understand.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Indulge You Inner Child
Today involved How I Met Your Mother, the completion of my internship presentation, and the Christmas Market along the South Bank. The first bit is boring. I hung out on a computer, Siri confirmed when they're leaving for the market, I did homework as the tv show loaded. I also confirmed that I needed to go food shopping. So I figured I'd do that later after the market.
Went to the market with Alicia and Siri. This is the same market I visited earlier this week, so it was nothing new to me. We each bought a cup of mulled wine, which was very good, and then we got chocolate covered apples, which were also really good. And, just for kicks and giggled, I pointed out that I wanted to ride the carousel. Alicia said she'll ride with me, but Siri opted out. She took my camera and her camera and took pictures of us as we rode. It was fun. Alicia kept commenting how much she felt like a child and I said that it's always okay to indulge your inner child.
Afterwards, we decided that it was really cold and we headed back. The market wasn't very big anyway, so it didn't take much time to walk through.
After working on work for a bit, I decided that I should go shop for food now because I'm not going to get another opportunity for quite a while. So off I went to Tesco at 5pm, except it was really dark so it felt like going to the store really really late. I took a bus over there even though it's a nice walk because it's cold and it's dark. I get to the Tesco and what happened? They close at 4pm on Sundays. Grr. So I decide on the Sainsbury's Local by Waterloo Station because it's closest with the exception of Iceland which is more frozen foods than actual fresh foods. And I want the fresh stuff. So off I went.
Did not buy as much as I would have from Tesco, but I think that's better because now I don't have to worry about having a lot of food leftover when I go away. And now I can ration off my food so I can have just enough to make it through until December. And if I run out, then I'll just get more. It's not like it's really inconvenient to go the grocery store. I have like 3 within walking distance.
Back home, caught up with How I Met Your Mother. Six seasons and we still haven't met the mother. I wonder when that's going to happen. And if we get to see Ted marry their mother or if it's a "That is how I met her" and then they finish it sort of story. I think I'd rather see Ted date their mother for a while or something. The series finale should be their marriage. But that's just what I think. Any other fans of the show really like Ted? I love how he's a hopeless romantic. He's so sweet. I want a guy like Ted.
Meanwhile, I started research into towns other than Tromso because it's so hard to get go. Found other towns that also offered northern lights tours and dog sledding, but they're further north than Tromso! *bang head* I looked at my Eurail pass map and decided to research Bodo, since that's about as far North the Norwegian trains go. Turns out, there's dog sledding in Bodo. Yay! But the one hostel is like 35quid a night. GAH! So we'll see how I manage that one. I think about two nights, which would be about 70 quid total staying there. And then dog sledding will be kind of pricey. And then there's food to consider, which Siri said is also kind of pricey. So I might as well just give half my savings to Norway, shouldn't I?
Also figured out that I'm going to have to work out how to check out of International House. Because I'll be in Finland when I'm supposed to check out. But I think they'll be considerate if I want to leave early then I can turn in my key early and fill out the necessary paperwork early. Or I can work out returning my key when I get back from Finland. Nonetheless, I'm going to ask the receptionist lady probably on Tuesday when I see her next. (I won't have time on Monday). We'll see what she says on the subject.
Gotta do laundry on Wednesday so I can have clothes for Rome on Friday! Yay!! Rome! My month-and-a-half tour of Europe begins!
Went to the market with Alicia and Siri. This is the same market I visited earlier this week, so it was nothing new to me. We each bought a cup of mulled wine, which was very good, and then we got chocolate covered apples, which were also really good. And, just for kicks and giggled, I pointed out that I wanted to ride the carousel. Alicia said she'll ride with me, but Siri opted out. She took my camera and her camera and took pictures of us as we rode. It was fun. Alicia kept commenting how much she felt like a child and I said that it's always okay to indulge your inner child.
Afterwards, we decided that it was really cold and we headed back. The market wasn't very big anyway, so it didn't take much time to walk through.
After working on work for a bit, I decided that I should go shop for food now because I'm not going to get another opportunity for quite a while. So off I went to Tesco at 5pm, except it was really dark so it felt like going to the store really really late. I took a bus over there even though it's a nice walk because it's cold and it's dark. I get to the Tesco and what happened? They close at 4pm on Sundays. Grr. So I decide on the Sainsbury's Local by Waterloo Station because it's closest with the exception of Iceland which is more frozen foods than actual fresh foods. And I want the fresh stuff. So off I went.
Did not buy as much as I would have from Tesco, but I think that's better because now I don't have to worry about having a lot of food leftover when I go away. And now I can ration off my food so I can have just enough to make it through until December. And if I run out, then I'll just get more. It's not like it's really inconvenient to go the grocery store. I have like 3 within walking distance.
Back home, caught up with How I Met Your Mother. Six seasons and we still haven't met the mother. I wonder when that's going to happen. And if we get to see Ted marry their mother or if it's a "That is how I met her" and then they finish it sort of story. I think I'd rather see Ted date their mother for a while or something. The series finale should be their marriage. But that's just what I think. Any other fans of the show really like Ted? I love how he's a hopeless romantic. He's so sweet. I want a guy like Ted.
Meanwhile, I started research into towns other than Tromso because it's so hard to get go. Found other towns that also offered northern lights tours and dog sledding, but they're further north than Tromso! *bang head* I looked at my Eurail pass map and decided to research Bodo, since that's about as far North the Norwegian trains go. Turns out, there's dog sledding in Bodo. Yay! But the one hostel is like 35quid a night. GAH! So we'll see how I manage that one. I think about two nights, which would be about 70 quid total staying there. And then dog sledding will be kind of pricey. And then there's food to consider, which Siri said is also kind of pricey. So I might as well just give half my savings to Norway, shouldn't I?
Also figured out that I'm going to have to work out how to check out of International House. Because I'll be in Finland when I'm supposed to check out. But I think they'll be considerate if I want to leave early then I can turn in my key early and fill out the necessary paperwork early. Or I can work out returning my key when I get back from Finland. Nonetheless, I'm going to ask the receptionist lady probably on Tuesday when I see her next. (I won't have time on Monday). We'll see what she says on the subject.
Gotta do laundry on Wednesday so I can have clothes for Rome on Friday! Yay!! Rome! My month-and-a-half tour of Europe begins!
A London Thanksgiving
Yesterday, I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed because today was the day I finally got to see Harry Potter. I had been telling people to meet at 11:30am in the lobby, but the only one with a fur-sure "yes" was Oscar. So at 11a I went to wake him up. Then I waited for him, and we went together to Finchley Road where there was no only a fairly cheap theatre with Harry Potter playing, but also a giant Sainsbury's below it.
The second big event of the day was a small dinner with some friends involving turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, and cranberries. I had some turkey but not a lot, Alicia had previously mentioned having potatoes she can prepare, so all that was needed was stuffing and gravy and maybe a few extras. I had my mental list, and I was ready to go.
For the record, Harry Potter was amazing. It followed the book remarkably well, I thought. Yes, they left out their month spent at Grimmauld Place, Kreacher's change of heart, Dean Thomas running away, and perhaps a few other things, but they had the doubt surrounding Albus Dumbledore, they had the Hallows and the Horcruxes, and they had the tension between the three mains as they struggled to discover what to do next alongside struggling with each other. It was brilliant. I didn't want it to end but I knew it was the end because of the music and, really, it just made sense. They had just discovered the meaning behind the symbol they kept on seeing and BOOM! Voldie gets what they should have. Mwahaha!
Do I really have to wait six months for the next one? That's way worse than waiting two weeks for the next episode of the latest drama. Seriously.
So anyway, afterwards, I go shopping for the dinner. Oscar shadows and I had assumed he would be helping me find stuff but apparently when I'm looking, he's just tagging along for the ride. I kept thinking "Really? You're not going to offer to get something? Perhaps not even offer to buy the wine or whatever?" But it didn't bother me enough to start something over it, so I only mentioned it a few times and just let it be. Not worth it.
That Sainsbury's was HUGE! I'd like to shop there again but it's such an inconvenient location at such an inconvenient time! I'm probably going to go food shopping one more time before I leave forever. Alright, maybe twice, but they're not going to be major food shopping sprees. I'm only sticking around another three weeks before I go gallivanting across the North.
Which still makes me nervous and stressed, by the way, but I'm working around that. I'm trying to get course work done. In fact, I got my presentation for Tuesday mostly finished -- I just need to add an academic article or two. No biggie.
But back to my day. We return to the dorm and I set things aside and wait to prepare them. I had invited Becky last night and, also last night, Alicia had mentioned preparing potatoes if I needed her to bring anything. So I asked if she could prepare those potatoes. Now all I had to worry about was whether the stuffing will get cooked with turkey steaks across the top of it. Don't worry, it did. As we were waiting for the turkey to finish, Alice was in the kitchen and I invited her to eat as well. So it was the five of us, turkey, and a bottle of wine. It was really nice. Small and semi-classy, which is about the way I like things when I travel.
Becky cleaned up some dishes before she left, and so did Alice. Alicia had to get going and I knew she had plans and I did tell her she didn't have to help clean up if she had to go. Once things were cleaned, I retreated to have my small turkey-coma in my room. And it was good.
Meanwhile, I took the remaining wine and drank it as I watched How I Met Your Mother while simultaneously being updated on the Badger game via Sarah through Facebook chat. It was a good night.
The second big event of the day was a small dinner with some friends involving turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, and cranberries. I had some turkey but not a lot, Alicia had previously mentioned having potatoes she can prepare, so all that was needed was stuffing and gravy and maybe a few extras. I had my mental list, and I was ready to go.
For the record, Harry Potter was amazing. It followed the book remarkably well, I thought. Yes, they left out their month spent at Grimmauld Place, Kreacher's change of heart, Dean Thomas running away, and perhaps a few other things, but they had the doubt surrounding Albus Dumbledore, they had the Hallows and the Horcruxes, and they had the tension between the three mains as they struggled to discover what to do next alongside struggling with each other. It was brilliant. I didn't want it to end but I knew it was the end because of the music and, really, it just made sense. They had just discovered the meaning behind the symbol they kept on seeing and BOOM! Voldie gets what they should have. Mwahaha!
Do I really have to wait six months for the next one? That's way worse than waiting two weeks for the next episode of the latest drama. Seriously.
So anyway, afterwards, I go shopping for the dinner. Oscar shadows and I had assumed he would be helping me find stuff but apparently when I'm looking, he's just tagging along for the ride. I kept thinking "Really? You're not going to offer to get something? Perhaps not even offer to buy the wine or whatever?" But it didn't bother me enough to start something over it, so I only mentioned it a few times and just let it be. Not worth it.
That Sainsbury's was HUGE! I'd like to shop there again but it's such an inconvenient location at such an inconvenient time! I'm probably going to go food shopping one more time before I leave forever. Alright, maybe twice, but they're not going to be major food shopping sprees. I'm only sticking around another three weeks before I go gallivanting across the North.
Which still makes me nervous and stressed, by the way, but I'm working around that. I'm trying to get course work done. In fact, I got my presentation for Tuesday mostly finished -- I just need to add an academic article or two. No biggie.
But back to my day. We return to the dorm and I set things aside and wait to prepare them. I had invited Becky last night and, also last night, Alicia had mentioned preparing potatoes if I needed her to bring anything. So I asked if she could prepare those potatoes. Now all I had to worry about was whether the stuffing will get cooked with turkey steaks across the top of it. Don't worry, it did. As we were waiting for the turkey to finish, Alice was in the kitchen and I invited her to eat as well. So it was the five of us, turkey, and a bottle of wine. It was really nice. Small and semi-classy, which is about the way I like things when I travel.
Becky cleaned up some dishes before she left, and so did Alice. Alicia had to get going and I knew she had plans and I did tell her she didn't have to help clean up if she had to go. Once things were cleaned, I retreated to have my small turkey-coma in my room. And it was good.
Meanwhile, I took the remaining wine and drank it as I watched How I Met Your Mother while simultaneously being updated on the Badger game via Sarah through Facebook chat. It was a good night.
Friday, November 26, 2010
And Things Worked Themselves Out
Today was good. Well, the evening was good. During the day, I kept thinking about home and then I told myself not to think about home because I'm at work and you don't really want to explain to people at work that it's Thanksgiving and you're homesick because your missing a family-orientated national holiday. Even though they can probably understand and Molly behind you doesn't seem like she's making a fuss about it. So you just throw yourself into work and hope for the best.
Then around lunch I got a text from Siri asking if I wasn't going to Les Misserables tonight. I told her I thought I was, why, what's going on? And apparently Laura only bought three tickets instead of four. So Siri gave me her number and I texted her and asked if she could turn back around, but Laura couldn't. But it's at the Queen's Theatre so I should give them a call. Here, these are our seats. And by this time it's lunch and I hesitate for a bit. You see, I have this strange bit where I either have full human contact while I order stuff or I have absolutely no human contact at all. The meet-halfway, partial-human-contact thing doesn't work for me. I'm not a phone person, really, when it comes to official business and the like. So for three minutes I make a script for myself as to what I would say to the woman who is taking calls for people just like me who wants a ticket to see a show. Then I call.
And the tickets available for singles are either no where near my friends or way out of my price range. I wasn't going to pay 40 quid for a seat on the other side of the theater from them. Neither was I willing to pay 40 quid on the fly like that either. So I decided to opt out of the show.
During this time, I hopped on Facebook (lunch break). Matt from the internship class bragged about the crazy drunket antics of his own co-workers at his marketing firm somewhere around Piccadilly Circus. So I told him I was jealous of his work environment. He messaged to say "No joke. There are pictures of my boss cartwheeling across the night club!" Which really is a true story, by the way. Anyway, I ask Matt if he was doing anything tonight and if he would be up for a show. And he said not a show, but perhaps a movie. Either Due Date or Jackass 3-D. And I'm not a fan of Jackass, so I got with Due Date. (Robert Downey Jr. and that guy from The Hangover. I'm in!) We make plans to meet at 9p at Piccadilly Circus. All is good.
Siri texts to apologize for the misunderstanding. Apparently, Laura was expecting a text from everyone who was coming, and I had neither her number nor the knowledge of texting her. It's just a bit of miscommunication and there's no one to blame for it. But you know what? I think some good came from it.
Printed off two months of a calendar at work -- December and January -- so I can actually plan dates beyond December 19 without consulting a list on the side of my crappy school academic calendar. With these months, I will have to-do lists beside each month and tick everything off as I finish them. I will also write down times and events on the dates they're happening so I can keep track of everything without the use of a poor calendar on the mobile (seriously, it's crap. I really don't like my phone over here). So I have that.
On the way home, I remembered that I didn't really have anything for food, so I get off a stop early and pick up a chicken kabob from someplace called the Chicken Palace. And I get fries. Oh the fries! No matter where you go, if you ask for chips, you're gonna get a lot of them. (chips = fries) So I take my meal back to my room and call home. I tell them I miss them and they're like "We miss you too. It's okay to cry and be homesick" and then I was all better. We talked about the usual stuff, you know, what mom and Aunt Florence bought on their shopping spree and how long the men go on theirs. My Dad, Uncle, and this year Mr. Lewis down the street went shopping for near 10 hours on Black Friday. My Mom and Aunt probably went for 6 max. That's right -- the men in my life shop longer than the women. You go guys.
Went to meet Matt then. We found each other easily and walled to the Apollo Cinema. The theatre was decked with neon lighting. It was cool and all space ship-y. We were the first ones in the theatre and the screen was outlined int he same neon lighting as the stairs, and the lighting around the screen changed colors! So cool!
The movie was really good. It was funny and extreme in all the right bits. There was a scene where they find themselves on the Mexican border patrol when they weren't supposed to be. So Robert Downey Jr. gets detained while the other guy makes a break for it. But then the other guy steals the truck and trailer Downey Jr. was staying in. SO FUNNY! He even wore a turban. But anyway, that movie is worth a watch. Both main guys are awesome.
On the way back home, I got on the Tube and, just as the doors were closing, a guy stumbles into them to get on the train. I ask if he was all right and he said yes. Then he tried to strike a conversation, but the questions were creepy. Where are you from? The States. Where are going? Home. Where is home? I'm going to go now. His eyes were blood shot and he couldn't stay upright on the train. And in the 30 seconds it took to arrive at the next station, I already made a plan. The train stops and I get off and follow the crowd to the Way Out. I make sure the dude stays on the train I had just left. He does. The door closes and the train leaves. I leave the platform and wait for the train to completely go away. Then I return to the platform and hop on the next train going my way. Kept my knife in my hand the whole way home.
Met Laura at reception. She apologized for the mix up. They had just gotten back and Siri mentioned going to bed but Alicia might still be up (I misspelled her name last post). So I went to visit her and we talked for a bit before she had to go to bed. I invited her to Harry Potter the next day, but she had seen it already otherwise she would. Then I asked if she had dinner plans because I wanted to have a turkey meal. She said she was meeting a friend at 9p but she's open before that. And if she should bring something, I should let her know. She has some potatoes I could use if I wanted.
List:
- more turkey breast
- stuffing
- cranberries?
- rolls
And I think I'm going to have a small Thanksgiving meal after all! Yay!
Becky texted me to see if I wanted to go to a market tomorrow. I said I had plans but if she didn't have dinner plans she can totally come eat with me. She said she can bring a dessert snack Great! Let's plan for 7p.
Turkey meal. Iz getting it!
By the way, if you ever get a chance to have a drink called Irn Bru, DRINK IT! Because I love it, it tastes awesome, it's Scottish, and I love it. Totally gotta bring some of this stuff home for the bros to try. So good!
Then around lunch I got a text from Siri asking if I wasn't going to Les Misserables tonight. I told her I thought I was, why, what's going on? And apparently Laura only bought three tickets instead of four. So Siri gave me her number and I texted her and asked if she could turn back around, but Laura couldn't. But it's at the Queen's Theatre so I should give them a call. Here, these are our seats. And by this time it's lunch and I hesitate for a bit. You see, I have this strange bit where I either have full human contact while I order stuff or I have absolutely no human contact at all. The meet-halfway, partial-human-contact thing doesn't work for me. I'm not a phone person, really, when it comes to official business and the like. So for three minutes I make a script for myself as to what I would say to the woman who is taking calls for people just like me who wants a ticket to see a show. Then I call.
And the tickets available for singles are either no where near my friends or way out of my price range. I wasn't going to pay 40 quid for a seat on the other side of the theater from them. Neither was I willing to pay 40 quid on the fly like that either. So I decided to opt out of the show.
During this time, I hopped on Facebook (lunch break). Matt from the internship class bragged about the crazy drunket antics of his own co-workers at his marketing firm somewhere around Piccadilly Circus. So I told him I was jealous of his work environment. He messaged to say "No joke. There are pictures of my boss cartwheeling across the night club!" Which really is a true story, by the way. Anyway, I ask Matt if he was doing anything tonight and if he would be up for a show. And he said not a show, but perhaps a movie. Either Due Date or Jackass 3-D. And I'm not a fan of Jackass, so I got with Due Date. (Robert Downey Jr. and that guy from The Hangover. I'm in!) We make plans to meet at 9p at Piccadilly Circus. All is good.
Siri texts to apologize for the misunderstanding. Apparently, Laura was expecting a text from everyone who was coming, and I had neither her number nor the knowledge of texting her. It's just a bit of miscommunication and there's no one to blame for it. But you know what? I think some good came from it.
Printed off two months of a calendar at work -- December and January -- so I can actually plan dates beyond December 19 without consulting a list on the side of my crappy school academic calendar. With these months, I will have to-do lists beside each month and tick everything off as I finish them. I will also write down times and events on the dates they're happening so I can keep track of everything without the use of a poor calendar on the mobile (seriously, it's crap. I really don't like my phone over here). So I have that.
On the way home, I remembered that I didn't really have anything for food, so I get off a stop early and pick up a chicken kabob from someplace called the Chicken Palace. And I get fries. Oh the fries! No matter where you go, if you ask for chips, you're gonna get a lot of them. (chips = fries) So I take my meal back to my room and call home. I tell them I miss them and they're like "We miss you too. It's okay to cry and be homesick" and then I was all better. We talked about the usual stuff, you know, what mom and Aunt Florence bought on their shopping spree and how long the men go on theirs. My Dad, Uncle, and this year Mr. Lewis down the street went shopping for near 10 hours on Black Friday. My Mom and Aunt probably went for 6 max. That's right -- the men in my life shop longer than the women. You go guys.
Went to meet Matt then. We found each other easily and walled to the Apollo Cinema. The theatre was decked with neon lighting. It was cool and all space ship-y. We were the first ones in the theatre and the screen was outlined int he same neon lighting as the stairs, and the lighting around the screen changed colors! So cool!
The movie was really good. It was funny and extreme in all the right bits. There was a scene where they find themselves on the Mexican border patrol when they weren't supposed to be. So Robert Downey Jr. gets detained while the other guy makes a break for it. But then the other guy steals the truck and trailer Downey Jr. was staying in. SO FUNNY! He even wore a turban. But anyway, that movie is worth a watch. Both main guys are awesome.
On the way back home, I got on the Tube and, just as the doors were closing, a guy stumbles into them to get on the train. I ask if he was all right and he said yes. Then he tried to strike a conversation, but the questions were creepy. Where are you from? The States. Where are going? Home. Where is home? I'm going to go now. His eyes were blood shot and he couldn't stay upright on the train. And in the 30 seconds it took to arrive at the next station, I already made a plan. The train stops and I get off and follow the crowd to the Way Out. I make sure the dude stays on the train I had just left. He does. The door closes and the train leaves. I leave the platform and wait for the train to completely go away. Then I return to the platform and hop on the next train going my way. Kept my knife in my hand the whole way home.
Met Laura at reception. She apologized for the mix up. They had just gotten back and Siri mentioned going to bed but Alicia might still be up (I misspelled her name last post). So I went to visit her and we talked for a bit before she had to go to bed. I invited her to Harry Potter the next day, but she had seen it already otherwise she would. Then I asked if she had dinner plans because I wanted to have a turkey meal. She said she was meeting a friend at 9p but she's open before that. And if she should bring something, I should let her know. She has some potatoes I could use if I wanted.
List:
- more turkey breast
- stuffing
- cranberries?
- rolls
And I think I'm going to have a small Thanksgiving meal after all! Yay!
Becky texted me to see if I wanted to go to a market tomorrow. I said I had plans but if she didn't have dinner plans she can totally come eat with me. She said she can bring a dessert snack Great! Let's plan for 7p.
Turkey meal. Iz getting it!
By the way, if you ever get a chance to have a drink called Irn Bru, DRINK IT! Because I love it, it tastes awesome, it's Scottish, and I love it. Totally gotta bring some of this stuff home for the bros to try. So good!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Turkey Day
Today did not start off the greatest. Okay, I got up and finished my bacon (which is always a good thing) and then it was explosion Wednesday on Wheezy Waiter and that's always exciting. But then I started looking into travel plans, and then I started to look into the small details of "How to get to the hostel from the airport" and "Where to go now that my Eurail pass can't take me to Tromso, Norway?" and "Is there dog sledding in Trondheim?" And then I made a pros/cons list of the two hostels I was thinking about in Helsinki and decided on the private room hostel (free internet throughout, free sauna, middle of the city, etc). And for some reason, I started to get stressed and nervous about this whole traveling bit, and it started to cry.
I have a feeling there was more to this cry than "I don't wanna plan all these complicated details! Can't I just go home now?" but I couldn't pinpoint it then. Instead, I had my cry and ended the tears when it was time to go to class.
Had a nice walk through Piccadilly Circus because I got off a stop before Oxford Circus. Went to a Costa because it was cold and I wanted a pastry. Bought myself some peppermint tea (yum!) and a chocolate Chistmas log (double yum!) But it wasn't until I was walking to Black Dog from class that I started to really think about home and how everyone's going to stuff their faces with turkey and how much I love doing that. And really, how the hell am I going to get stuffing over here when I haven't seen stuffing mix at Tesco? I think that last bit is what set me off. But these were small tears and were easily cleared away when I got to Black Dog.
The exhibition had just started when I got there. It was a nice exhibition. There was wine (of which I was welcome to) and some juice and water. Duncan's son came but kept to Duncan (being a small boy in a sea of adult strangers, I don't blame him). I sat behind Marianne's usual desk with a few piles of books in front of me. If anyone wanted to buy one, it was my job to take care of the money matters. And so I sat and sang to myself and people watched. I even left a few minutes early because Libby said it was almost nine and I could get going if I wanted to. The exhibition party was dying down anyway. So I talked to Marianne and she paid me and I left.
And then I really let go. There was no stop to the tears from King's Cross all the way to the dorm. I got off at Waterloo in hopes of stopping at either M&S in the station (which only sold sandwiches and insta-meals. ugh) or the Sainsbury's Local just outside. The Sainsbury's had TURKEY BREASTS so naturally I got those. And then I got another pack of grapes because I felt like I should treat myself in my distressed emotional state. Then I got some potatoes because if I can't have stuffing I can at least have something akin to mashed potatoes. And, just for good measure, a giant chocolate and caramel bar. (But what about all the Belgium chocolate I bought? I don't want to eat ten bars of chocolate in a distressed state! I won't enjoy it then!)
Got home, boiled the potato with some pasta, fried one of the four turkey breasts, poured the rest of my milk in a glass, and I was set to go whine to my parents about how much I miss home and how much I wanted a conversation. I had finished half the breast and just discovered that I didn't boil the potato all the way when the fire alarm went off.
I was upset at first, but I'm not anymore. For although everyone had to leave the dorm, I ran into Alysia on the way down. My eyes were red and swollen so she asked what was wrong, and I said that I didn't know at first, and then I said that I was homesick (why deny it, right?). She sympathized and rubbed my arm and invited me to her room when we got back into ours. Then Siri noticed and she sympathized with being homesick as well. Siri's family was over just barely a week ago and when they left, Siri felt homesick even though she had just seen her family! So she can really relate. Outside, in front of the dorm, Carina gave me a hug and told me it would be alright and that I would do great things even so far away from home. Everyone commented on how far away from home I must be and all that. They also said that a month and a half will go buy really fast, especially because I'll be busy the entire time.
I don't know how much time we spent out in the cold, but it was long enough to talk with a girl from Colorado I don't remember meeting before, Camille from third floor, Alysia and Siri and Carina of course. And we also saw Joe and Emanuele said "Hi. It's cold." I told him life out here would be better if I had some pants, and I got a funny comment from that one. (Skirt and leggings. These leggings don't generate their own heat, but they show promise when grouped in layers.)
The fire came from a pizza on the eighth floor.
When we were all allowed back inside, Alysia, Siri, and I convened in Alysia's room on the sixth floor. Siri had a bottle of wine she had yet to finish and we said that we'll help her. I brought my computer because I at first thought this would be a "sit quietly at your own thing" hang out session, but there was a lot of conversation instead. And that really helped. I was invited to a Denmark/English Christmas Market on Sunday and now I'm going to see Les Miserables tomorrow. (Excitement!!) They asked where Wisconsin is, and I pulled up a map on Google Maps, and then the family called in the middle of their Thanksgiving dinner. I introduced them to my family and they thought it was really neat. Mom and Dad let me go because I was obviously with friends and we'll talk tomorrow.
The three of us exchanged numbers so we can meet up for the musical tomorrow. And then we parted because Alysia has to wake up early (I do too, but I want to finish this first). We promised to finish the bottle tomorrow after the musical, so now I can't wait for that.
So today started off on the wrong foot, but it made me get back on the right one. Here's a list of what I'm grateful for:
- the opportunity to be abroad
- Alysia and Siri
- Oscar
- friends like the above mentioned names
- turkey and potatoes in the fridge
- the giant chocolate bar
- a new charger cord for my iPod (did I mention that I can't find mine? I asked Kevin if I could borrow his and he gave it to me straight up. Said I could keep it, I think. How nice.)
- an internship with a good reputation that makes me feel cultured (I joined a conversation briefly where Matt in graphics explained Black Dog's good reputation in the art-book world -- as opposed to DK which employs people via six month contracts)
- a dorm in a good location that's not really Central London but still close enough to remain in Zone 1 (and thus cheaper Tube rates)
- A family way back home who's supportive enough to help but still teases me to keep me humble
- Friends back home who still marvel at me being in London
- food in the fridge
- a roof over my head
- a Bucky full of Mom-Hugs
Love you! Miss you! See you in January!
I have a feeling there was more to this cry than "I don't wanna plan all these complicated details! Can't I just go home now?" but I couldn't pinpoint it then. Instead, I had my cry and ended the tears when it was time to go to class.
Had a nice walk through Piccadilly Circus because I got off a stop before Oxford Circus. Went to a Costa because it was cold and I wanted a pastry. Bought myself some peppermint tea (yum!) and a chocolate Chistmas log (double yum!) But it wasn't until I was walking to Black Dog from class that I started to really think about home and how everyone's going to stuff their faces with turkey and how much I love doing that. And really, how the hell am I going to get stuffing over here when I haven't seen stuffing mix at Tesco? I think that last bit is what set me off. But these were small tears and were easily cleared away when I got to Black Dog.
The exhibition had just started when I got there. It was a nice exhibition. There was wine (of which I was welcome to) and some juice and water. Duncan's son came but kept to Duncan (being a small boy in a sea of adult strangers, I don't blame him). I sat behind Marianne's usual desk with a few piles of books in front of me. If anyone wanted to buy one, it was my job to take care of the money matters. And so I sat and sang to myself and people watched. I even left a few minutes early because Libby said it was almost nine and I could get going if I wanted to. The exhibition party was dying down anyway. So I talked to Marianne and she paid me and I left.
And then I really let go. There was no stop to the tears from King's Cross all the way to the dorm. I got off at Waterloo in hopes of stopping at either M&S in the station (which only sold sandwiches and insta-meals. ugh) or the Sainsbury's Local just outside. The Sainsbury's had TURKEY BREASTS so naturally I got those. And then I got another pack of grapes because I felt like I should treat myself in my distressed emotional state. Then I got some potatoes because if I can't have stuffing I can at least have something akin to mashed potatoes. And, just for good measure, a giant chocolate and caramel bar. (But what about all the Belgium chocolate I bought? I don't want to eat ten bars of chocolate in a distressed state! I won't enjoy it then!)
Got home, boiled the potato with some pasta, fried one of the four turkey breasts, poured the rest of my milk in a glass, and I was set to go whine to my parents about how much I miss home and how much I wanted a conversation. I had finished half the breast and just discovered that I didn't boil the potato all the way when the fire alarm went off.
I was upset at first, but I'm not anymore. For although everyone had to leave the dorm, I ran into Alysia on the way down. My eyes were red and swollen so she asked what was wrong, and I said that I didn't know at first, and then I said that I was homesick (why deny it, right?). She sympathized and rubbed my arm and invited me to her room when we got back into ours. Then Siri noticed and she sympathized with being homesick as well. Siri's family was over just barely a week ago and when they left, Siri felt homesick even though she had just seen her family! So she can really relate. Outside, in front of the dorm, Carina gave me a hug and told me it would be alright and that I would do great things even so far away from home. Everyone commented on how far away from home I must be and all that. They also said that a month and a half will go buy really fast, especially because I'll be busy the entire time.
I don't know how much time we spent out in the cold, but it was long enough to talk with a girl from Colorado I don't remember meeting before, Camille from third floor, Alysia and Siri and Carina of course. And we also saw Joe and Emanuele said "Hi. It's cold." I told him life out here would be better if I had some pants, and I got a funny comment from that one. (Skirt and leggings. These leggings don't generate their own heat, but they show promise when grouped in layers.)
The fire came from a pizza on the eighth floor.
When we were all allowed back inside, Alysia, Siri, and I convened in Alysia's room on the sixth floor. Siri had a bottle of wine she had yet to finish and we said that we'll help her. I brought my computer because I at first thought this would be a "sit quietly at your own thing" hang out session, but there was a lot of conversation instead. And that really helped. I was invited to a Denmark/English Christmas Market on Sunday and now I'm going to see Les Miserables tomorrow. (Excitement!!) They asked where Wisconsin is, and I pulled up a map on Google Maps, and then the family called in the middle of their Thanksgiving dinner. I introduced them to my family and they thought it was really neat. Mom and Dad let me go because I was obviously with friends and we'll talk tomorrow.
The three of us exchanged numbers so we can meet up for the musical tomorrow. And then we parted because Alysia has to wake up early (I do too, but I want to finish this first). We promised to finish the bottle tomorrow after the musical, so now I can't wait for that.
So today started off on the wrong foot, but it made me get back on the right one. Here's a list of what I'm grateful for:
- the opportunity to be abroad
- Alysia and Siri
- Oscar
- friends like the above mentioned names
- turkey and potatoes in the fridge
- the giant chocolate bar
- a new charger cord for my iPod (did I mention that I can't find mine? I asked Kevin if I could borrow his and he gave it to me straight up. Said I could keep it, I think. How nice.)
- an internship with a good reputation that makes me feel cultured (I joined a conversation briefly where Matt in graphics explained Black Dog's good reputation in the art-book world -- as opposed to DK which employs people via six month contracts)
- a dorm in a good location that's not really Central London but still close enough to remain in Zone 1 (and thus cheaper Tube rates)
- A family way back home who's supportive enough to help but still teases me to keep me humble
- Friends back home who still marvel at me being in London
- food in the fridge
- a roof over my head
- a Bucky full of Mom-Hugs
Love you! Miss you! See you in January!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Buffy Without Whedon
Black Dog had an exhibition opening day today. Er . . . they had a special something today that involved the finishing touches on the ground floor and people coming in to look at artwork all day. I helped in the morning but didn't do anything big. In a company where half the staff studied in graphic design, I'm pretty sure my abilities are low on the totem pole. Besides, I had told them my specialty is in words, not visuals. So they had me do the miscellany jobs of setting up a video on loop on a monitor and sweeping up the edges of the walls and cleaning up the garden outside. Small stuff, but still useful stuff.
Phoebe had me start researching information on a new book in a series of books about contemporary art. I found a lot but I felt like I didn't get much done. Then again, I kept adding to the "to be researched later" list so it was almost three Word pages long. Which means I have a lot of artists to look through once I get back there on Friday.
Sometime during the afternoon, Marianne asked if I would like to help sell books at the exhibition tomorrow evening from 6p to 9pm. I'd get paid, which is a plus. So I said "Yes. My class gets done at 6p, though, so can I be here around 6:30p instead?" And yes, that was fine. Marianne will cover for me during that first half-hour. It's not like people will want to buy a book and carry it with them until they leave anyway. I can even have wine as I work!
And because the event will feature wine and most likely h'or dourves of some sort, I'm going to have to dress nicely (or "smartly" as they would say this side of the pond) before I go to class tomorrow. Yay.
Didn't feel like making an actual meal tonight so I made one of my insta-meals instead. Tonight's feature was sausage and mash. When I get back, I'm going to attempt to replicate that recipe because it's delicious! They say English food isn't very good, but maybe that's because no one thinks it's very fancy. But I like me some sausages and mash. Yum.
The other big news is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is being rebooted without the help of Joss Whedon. If you know what I'm talking about, check out this article, and join me in a collective "WHAAAAT?"
Phoebe had me start researching information on a new book in a series of books about contemporary art. I found a lot but I felt like I didn't get much done. Then again, I kept adding to the "to be researched later" list so it was almost three Word pages long. Which means I have a lot of artists to look through once I get back there on Friday.
Sometime during the afternoon, Marianne asked if I would like to help sell books at the exhibition tomorrow evening from 6p to 9pm. I'd get paid, which is a plus. So I said "Yes. My class gets done at 6p, though, so can I be here around 6:30p instead?" And yes, that was fine. Marianne will cover for me during that first half-hour. It's not like people will want to buy a book and carry it with them until they leave anyway. I can even have wine as I work!
And because the event will feature wine and most likely h'or dourves of some sort, I'm going to have to dress nicely (or "smartly" as they would say this side of the pond) before I go to class tomorrow. Yay.
Didn't feel like making an actual meal tonight so I made one of my insta-meals instead. Tonight's feature was sausage and mash. When I get back, I'm going to attempt to replicate that recipe because it's delicious! They say English food isn't very good, but maybe that's because no one thinks it's very fancy. But I like me some sausages and mash. Yum.
The other big news is that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is being rebooted without the help of Joss Whedon. If you know what I'm talking about, check out this article, and join me in a collective "WHAAAAT?"
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Awesome Writing Workshop and Travel Worries
This morning at creative writing, we had a guest speaker. His name is Ben Musgrave and he's a playwright in London. He talked about growing up in Bangladesh and India and eventually London and how that influenced his debut play Pretend You Have Big Buildings which we had to read before we got there. The play debuted in Manchester in 2007 even though it takes place in London. He found it kind of ironic.
Other than Ben's background, he also led a discussion about how setting is used in relation to the characters. More specifically, we talked about how characters and people in general interact with their environment. The major point I got was how we present ourselves based on who we're with and where we are. You wouldn't show up to work in sweats and slack off all day, will you? No! It's that sort of thing we talked about. We also did a writing exercise I thought was really awesome. I think I'm going to use that exercise to make me write the dialogue I'm supposed to write for my portfolio. Because I'm not sure how to write effective dialogue anyway. That, and it was just a really awesome exercise.
Got lunch at Mortimer's Cafe. I love that place. So cheap, so delicious. One of these days, I'm going to eat there even though it's a bit more expensive. But I just want to sit down and enjoy a hot sandwich knowing that it's freshly made, you know?
Blogged about yesterday in the IT lab at Marlyebone before the internship class. Then I went to class. Ate my sandwich before class. Shelby wasn't there because her parents are here for the week and she's spending the entire time with them. But Matt was there (against his better judgment but still there). We laughed about various things, I proved myself to be a bit of an airhead because I sometimes can't understand him all the time. And his humor is out there but some of it flies over my head, mostly because I don't know what to say in response to what he says. But sometimes I give a good response back. It's fun.
Internship Toolkit featured a movie recorded last year when a professional speaker came up and talked about networking and how to market yourself. It was interesting and I did pay attention for a bit and the information could be useful, but I can't help but feel like I've heard it all before. Lectures on careers with my parents come to mind. Mom, Dad, you guys say the same things everyone else here does. Which sort of makes my "learn how to have a good career" classes here useless. Why take classes when I can talk to you for free, right?
The seminar focused more on our resume/CV. Students and Xanthy clashed with the style and presentation of the resume, but that's about it this time. Just the style of how a resume should be written. Or how a resume should be presented. That's all. And there really is no set rule, is there, because it's all a matter of what the company notices when they look at the resume. You just gotta use words that others would be familiar with and make sure you upsell your skills so they will want YOU and not that other person who's probably better than you but can't present themselves as well as you can.
Got back and went to get milk because I was thirsty. Vanessa was cooking fish and I was brusquely reminded why I dislike fish in the first place. The smell is still in the kitchen, if I remember correctly. Anyway, got my milk, talked with Sarah on Facebook who found a quaint little flat on Gilman by James Madison Park that would include a garage and a really nice-looking kitchen. That house looks really nice. I wouldn't mind that one. In the meantime, I started looking into Norway after I booked my flight to Denmark.
There is a small city in Norway called Tromso that offers a lot in terms of awesome winter stuff. Like dog sledding and leading your own team of dogs on a dog sledding tour. And the Northern Lights which I have ALWAYS wanted to see myself! And sleigh rides pulled by reindeer. And snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. And it just sounds so cool because I would love to do all those things. I tried to look for a hostel, but there was only one and it was more hotel than hostel. So then I looked up where Tromso is on a map. Wanna know why there isn't a backpackers hostel in Tromso?
Because it's in the very deep North!!
Not even a train goes there. You take the train to Bodo and then you take a bus to Tromso if you ever want to get there. Or you fly but that seems like too much work. I can handle a bus. Or a ferry. But researching that will involve a knowledge of Norwegian so I'm going to have to ask Marianne or Siri to help translate for me. Or at least see what they recommend me doing to get there and back. I'm determined to get there? Why? Did I not explain before? Northern Lights!!! Dog sledding!!! I'd go just for that!
Speaking of travels:
There are two hostels in Helsinki, Finland that I am torn between. One is an actual hostel and features rooms for under 20quid a night. This sounds interesting because the room would be an actual 12-bed female-only room. And it sounds like a nice hostel. HOWEVER. The second one I'm torn between is about 23quid a night and only has private rooms. Which might be nice because it's a private room and I can talk with my parents online without worrying about someone else overhearing my conversation and whatever. But it costs extra. But I'll be traveling alone so wouldn't I want the company with a chance to make a friend for a few days? But this would be the first private room I'd have in, like, a week! Maybe. Depends. I think the Norway tours would offer private rooms if I find one cheap enough. What do you guys think? After writing this, I'm more inclined to go with the cheaper one for the chance to make a friend and because I might be running that low on cash by the time I get to Finland. And who cares if someone overhears me talking with my parents, right? If I'm that uncomfortable, we can always just IM back and forth. Or you could just keep up with the blog and hope that I'll call you eventually.
Also today, I was feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything I had to do before I leave for my Scandinavian road trip. Like all the assignments I had to turn in before I leave, and all the trips I'll be taking with Becky and Ryan. But now that I sat down and actually started working on stuff, I feel better and like I can handle and manage everything. Well, finding cheap tickets to Germany and Paris and back to London would be a bit of a pain, but I'm sure I can manage. It's more under control now.
This feeling of overwhelm-ment almost made me not want to travel. But I can't do that. I came over here to travel! Life would suck and I'd hate myself if I came all this way and didn't do what I had to do! So I thought I would talk about it later, but I didn't have to, because I worked it out myself. That, and when I proposed to Sarah and I have an opportunity to go winter camping for two days with a dog sled team and experts, she said "Winter camping could be cool
Other than Ben's background, he also led a discussion about how setting is used in relation to the characters. More specifically, we talked about how characters and people in general interact with their environment. The major point I got was how we present ourselves based on who we're with and where we are. You wouldn't show up to work in sweats and slack off all day, will you? No! It's that sort of thing we talked about. We also did a writing exercise I thought was really awesome. I think I'm going to use that exercise to make me write the dialogue I'm supposed to write for my portfolio. Because I'm not sure how to write effective dialogue anyway. That, and it was just a really awesome exercise.
Got lunch at Mortimer's Cafe. I love that place. So cheap, so delicious. One of these days, I'm going to eat there even though it's a bit more expensive. But I just want to sit down and enjoy a hot sandwich knowing that it's freshly made, you know?
Blogged about yesterday in the IT lab at Marlyebone before the internship class. Then I went to class. Ate my sandwich before class. Shelby wasn't there because her parents are here for the week and she's spending the entire time with them. But Matt was there (against his better judgment but still there). We laughed about various things, I proved myself to be a bit of an airhead because I sometimes can't understand him all the time. And his humor is out there but some of it flies over my head, mostly because I don't know what to say in response to what he says. But sometimes I give a good response back. It's fun.
Internship Toolkit featured a movie recorded last year when a professional speaker came up and talked about networking and how to market yourself. It was interesting and I did pay attention for a bit and the information could be useful, but I can't help but feel like I've heard it all before. Lectures on careers with my parents come to mind. Mom, Dad, you guys say the same things everyone else here does. Which sort of makes my "learn how to have a good career" classes here useless. Why take classes when I can talk to you for free, right?
The seminar focused more on our resume/CV. Students and Xanthy clashed with the style and presentation of the resume, but that's about it this time. Just the style of how a resume should be written. Or how a resume should be presented. That's all. And there really is no set rule, is there, because it's all a matter of what the company notices when they look at the resume. You just gotta use words that others would be familiar with and make sure you upsell your skills so they will want YOU and not that other person who's probably better than you but can't present themselves as well as you can.
Got back and went to get milk because I was thirsty. Vanessa was cooking fish and I was brusquely reminded why I dislike fish in the first place. The smell is still in the kitchen, if I remember correctly. Anyway, got my milk, talked with Sarah on Facebook who found a quaint little flat on Gilman by James Madison Park that would include a garage and a really nice-looking kitchen. That house looks really nice. I wouldn't mind that one. In the meantime, I started looking into Norway after I booked my flight to Denmark.
There is a small city in Norway called Troms
Because it's in the very deep North!!
Not even a train goes there. You take the train to Bod
Speaking of travels:
There are two hostels in Helsinki, Finland that I am torn between. One is an actual hostel and features rooms for under 20quid a night. This sounds interesting because the room would be an actual 12-bed female-only room. And it sounds like a nice hostel. HOWEVER. The second one I'm torn between is about 23quid a night and only has private rooms. Which might be nice because it's a private room and I can talk with my parents online without worrying about someone else overhearing my conversation and whatever. But it costs extra. But I'll be traveling alone so wouldn't I want the company with a chance to make a friend for a few days? But this would be the first private room I'd have in, like, a week! Maybe. Depends. I think the Norway tours would offer private rooms if I find one cheap enough. What do you guys think? After writing this, I'm more inclined to go with the cheaper one for the chance to make a friend and because I might be running that low on cash by the time I get to Finland. And who cares if someone overhears me talking with my parents, right? If I'm that uncomfortable, we can always just IM back and forth. Or you could just keep up with the blog and hope that I'll call you eventually.
Also today, I was feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything I had to do before I leave for my Scandinavian road trip. Like all the assignments I had to turn in before I leave, and all the trips I'll be taking with Becky and Ryan. But now that I sat down and actually started working on stuff, I feel better and like I can handle and manage everything. Well, finding cheap tickets to Germany and Paris and back to London would be a bit of a pain, but I'm sure I can manage. It's more under control now.
This feeling of overwhelm-ment almost made me not want to travel. But I can't do that. I came over here to travel! Life would suck and I'd hate myself if I came all this way and didn't do what I had to do! So I thought I would talk about it later, but I didn't have to, because I worked it out myself. That, and when I proposed to Sarah and I have an opportunity to go winter camping for two days with a dog sled team and experts, she said "Winter camping could be cool
DO IT
Or one day you'll look back and be like
Damn
I should have done that
And if it sucks you'll say
Damn
that sucked"
(copy and pasted from Facebook chat because it's how we communicate so that's how she wrote it)
But I think I can apply that sort of thinking to more than just dog sledding and winter camping.
In the meantime, I'm still searching for winter tours in Tromso in Norway. Don't know why I'm so set on that little town, but I am. Probably because it's the only one I found in my research. I'm going to go ask Siri about awesome small towns in Norway that offer cool winter things to do. Must also research what to do in Stockholm and Helsinki, but those are actually planned more or less so I can always wait on that.
Still have to research things to do in Odense with Hanne. Must get on that.
Seriously, I really did TRY
Woke up later than usual. But that's alright because my weekend involved very broken sleep for two nights in a row. And besides, it wasn't like I had to be anywhere anytime soon.
Got to talk to my parents in the morning for once because they're on vacation! Yay see the 'rents in their pajamas! And yay for talking to Mrs. Lewis from two doors down!
Set out to class at 3pm because class is at 4pm and I thought it would be enough time. It's only a half-hour to get to the Harrow Campus. It's plenty of time. Except the Bakerloo line got stalled around Paddington which lead the rest of the line to be delayed for a few minutes. Perhaps I should have waited, but I was impatient so I took off for another route to get to campus. I get to the Northern Line, get off at Euston for the Euston Square station.
As I'm walking out of Euston, a guy comes up to me and says that he's part of the BBC and is looking for contestants for the show Wipeout. You know, the one that premiered in Japan as MXC and moved to the US as Wipeout. Yeah, British version. He said I had an interesting look and if I'd be interested. I said "No, I have to be somewhere." What was really going through my mind was "I'm only here until December, dude. You got the wrong girl." Then I started to wonder why my look would be interesting, and I guess I know why. Brown pleather jacket, black and white striped scarf, a grey newsie hat . . . I guess it's an interesting look you don't see every day. So yay, I have a style other people notice!
Get to Euston Square Station and see that nearly every train that passes through there is even more delayed than the Bakerloo line. Grr. It is now 4pm and, by my calculations, I would make it to Harrow at 5:30p which is why too late to get to class. So I give up and decide to go wander. But so you know, I really did TRY to get to class.
It's at this time I notice my proximity to Gower Street and, thus, Oxford Street. Of course, the first thing that popped into my mind were "clearance boots and heattech leggings". So off I went. Got the leggings first because they were closest. Got a pair in black and another in burgundy. I feel so trendy. Then I went to check out the boots I wanted that were only £10. Except that they didn't fit right and they felt like they would be really really cold. So I gave up and moved on. I was told New Look would be a cool place to pick up a pair of shoes, so I set off to there. New Look isn't as cheap as Primark but at least it doesn't have a Wal-Mart reputation. The shoe gallery was on the third floor and I spent a good while wandering around to make sure I checked out their entire selection before making a decision. It is here where I finally bought a pair of black boots that actually fit around my calves, that are comfortable enough to walk in, and that I like. So I got them.
Two hours later, I remembered that I forgot to ask for my student discount. Gotta remember to ask for that in stores here. Student discounts are EVERYWHERE! I hear, at least. They're such a rarity in the US that I don't think to ask for them.
Boots and leggings in tow, I made my way to the South Bank because I kept on thinking about a Something to get Mom for her birthday. Took a bus I didn't take before which dropped off at Westminster Abbey. Walked that short distance to the South Bank and wandered the stalls a bit looking for the one with the Special Birthday Something. I looked at their wares and decided on one. Bought it. Then I wandered some more.
There was a stall that sold gingerbread candy and chocolate covered apples. The apples are what caught me. They looked so much like caramel apples that I couldn't resist. So I got a chocolate covered apple with sprinkles on it and ate it as I wandered about some more. It's at this point that I realized that I was alone in my venture and I didn't mind at all. Nope, didn't mind at all. Then again, I knew that I can walk twenty minutes to talk with people close to me, so I guess that reassurance that I'm grounded in London is what made me not mind. As long as I keep my computer safe in Scandinavia, I'm sure I'll be just fine traveling around up there.
Got back home and tried my hand at making lamb with pasta. Cooked the ham, chopped the veggies, stir fried the veggies, heated the sauce as the pasta cooked, and then I mixed it all together. I invited Oscar to eat with me and he came to visit but he said he wasn't hungry. Then he saw how much I made and had a small bowl. He didn't like the lamb cuz it was chewy and I didn't realize anything was wrong with the lamb because I've never really made it before. Maybe I overcooked it? Talking with Sarah later, she said that lamb is supposed to be tender. It was a somewhat cheap brand of lamb, so that could also be it. Anyway, we hung out for a bit.
Oscar tried to help me clean up but the 7th floor kitchen isn't as well-equiped as the first floor. For instance, we don't have gloves to cover our hands against the hot water we use to soak the dishes. We're also out of dish soap again so I've been using Vanessa's until someone cracks and buys another (that person might just be me, eventually). He didn't like dipping his hands in the really hot water, so I ended up washing. He rinsed and dried though, so at least he helped in that regard.
Went down to his room afterwards where I read the play I was supposed to read for Creative Writing the next day. When I got bored, I turned on my computer. Oscar caught up with his television shows. He introduced me to a show called Miranda which is about a woman in Britain and her adventures in shopkeeping and romance (or lack thereof). It was pretty good, but of course it was British humor so I didn't think some of the jokes were as funny as Oscar did. Then he started to watch Desperate Housewives which he absolutely loves. I left for that because I wasn't interested and I wanted to Skype people. So I did.
Talked with Smoky, looked into hostels for Finland, and finally waited for Jessica to call on Skype. This being Monday, Jessica has Working Title (along with quite a few of my other friends). Her class gets done 5:30p WI time (11:30p London time). I told her to bring her computer to class so she can Skype me from the Union when she gets there. That way, I can not only talk to just her, but I can also talk with my other friends (like Teagan who's never really on when I'm on which is also a pain because I miss Teagan). And that's how I managed to participate in the hanging-out period before Working Title. I left at 2a my time (approx 8pm WI time) because I was really tired and I kept on thinking that I had to wake up at 8:30a the next morning.
Remembered about blogging as I was getting into bed. But I wasn't about to get up and blog right there, so I decided to blog at the IT lab in the Marlyebone campus before the Internship Toolkit. So that's where I am right now. Got my lunch and now I'm ready to go to class.
Got to talk to my parents in the morning for once because they're on vacation! Yay see the 'rents in their pajamas! And yay for talking to Mrs. Lewis from two doors down!
Set out to class at 3pm because class is at 4pm and I thought it would be enough time. It's only a half-hour to get to the Harrow Campus. It's plenty of time. Except the Bakerloo line got stalled around Paddington which lead the rest of the line to be delayed for a few minutes. Perhaps I should have waited, but I was impatient so I took off for another route to get to campus. I get to the Northern Line, get off at Euston for the Euston Square station.
As I'm walking out of Euston, a guy comes up to me and says that he's part of the BBC and is looking for contestants for the show Wipeout. You know, the one that premiered in Japan as MXC and moved to the US as Wipeout. Yeah, British version. He said I had an interesting look and if I'd be interested. I said "No, I have to be somewhere." What was really going through my mind was "I'm only here until December, dude. You got the wrong girl." Then I started to wonder why my look would be interesting, and I guess I know why. Brown pleather jacket, black and white striped scarf, a grey newsie hat . . . I guess it's an interesting look you don't see every day. So yay, I have a style other people notice!
Get to Euston Square Station and see that nearly every train that passes through there is even more delayed than the Bakerloo line. Grr. It is now 4pm and, by my calculations, I would make it to Harrow at 5:30p which is why too late to get to class. So I give up and decide to go wander. But so you know, I really did TRY to get to class.
It's at this time I notice my proximity to Gower Street and, thus, Oxford Street. Of course, the first thing that popped into my mind were "clearance boots and heattech leggings". So off I went. Got the leggings first because they were closest. Got a pair in black and another in burgundy. I feel so trendy. Then I went to check out the boots I wanted that were only £10. Except that they didn't fit right and they felt like they would be really really cold. So I gave up and moved on. I was told New Look would be a cool place to pick up a pair of shoes, so I set off to there. New Look isn't as cheap as Primark but at least it doesn't have a Wal-Mart reputation. The shoe gallery was on the third floor and I spent a good while wandering around to make sure I checked out their entire selection before making a decision. It is here where I finally bought a pair of black boots that actually fit around my calves, that are comfortable enough to walk in, and that I like. So I got them.
Two hours later, I remembered that I forgot to ask for my student discount. Gotta remember to ask for that in stores here. Student discounts are EVERYWHERE! I hear, at least. They're such a rarity in the US that I don't think to ask for them.
Boots and leggings in tow, I made my way to the South Bank because I kept on thinking about a Something to get Mom for her birthday. Took a bus I didn't take before which dropped off at Westminster Abbey. Walked that short distance to the South Bank and wandered the stalls a bit looking for the one with the Special Birthday Something. I looked at their wares and decided on one. Bought it. Then I wandered some more.
There was a stall that sold gingerbread candy and chocolate covered apples. The apples are what caught me. They looked so much like caramel apples that I couldn't resist. So I got a chocolate covered apple with sprinkles on it and ate it as I wandered about some more. It's at this point that I realized that I was alone in my venture and I didn't mind at all. Nope, didn't mind at all. Then again, I knew that I can walk twenty minutes to talk with people close to me, so I guess that reassurance that I'm grounded in London is what made me not mind. As long as I keep my computer safe in Scandinavia, I'm sure I'll be just fine traveling around up there.
Got back home and tried my hand at making lamb with pasta. Cooked the ham, chopped the veggies, stir fried the veggies, heated the sauce as the pasta cooked, and then I mixed it all together. I invited Oscar to eat with me and he came to visit but he said he wasn't hungry. Then he saw how much I made and had a small bowl. He didn't like the lamb cuz it was chewy and I didn't realize anything was wrong with the lamb because I've never really made it before. Maybe I overcooked it? Talking with Sarah later, she said that lamb is supposed to be tender. It was a somewhat cheap brand of lamb, so that could also be it. Anyway, we hung out for a bit.
Oscar tried to help me clean up but the 7th floor kitchen isn't as well-equiped as the first floor. For instance, we don't have gloves to cover our hands against the hot water we use to soak the dishes. We're also out of dish soap again so I've been using Vanessa's until someone cracks and buys another (that person might just be me, eventually). He didn't like dipping his hands in the really hot water, so I ended up washing. He rinsed and dried though, so at least he helped in that regard.
Went down to his room afterwards where I read the play I was supposed to read for Creative Writing the next day. When I got bored, I turned on my computer. Oscar caught up with his television shows. He introduced me to a show called Miranda which is about a woman in Britain and her adventures in shopkeeping and romance (or lack thereof). It was pretty good, but of course it was British humor so I didn't think some of the jokes were as funny as Oscar did. Then he started to watch Desperate Housewives which he absolutely loves. I left for that because I wasn't interested and I wanted to Skype people. So I did.
Talked with Smoky, looked into hostels for Finland, and finally waited for Jessica to call on Skype. This being Monday, Jessica has Working Title (along with quite a few of my other friends). Her class gets done 5:30p WI time (11:30p London time). I told her to bring her computer to class so she can Skype me from the Union when she gets there. That way, I can not only talk to just her, but I can also talk with my other friends (like Teagan who's never really on when I'm on which is also a pain because I miss Teagan). And that's how I managed to participate in the hanging-out period before Working Title. I left at 2a my time (approx 8pm WI time) because I was really tired and I kept on thinking that I had to wake up at 8:30a the next morning.
Remembered about blogging as I was getting into bed. But I wasn't about to get up and blog right there, so I decided to blog at the IT lab in the Marlyebone campus before the Internship Toolkit. So that's where I am right now. Got my lunch and now I'm ready to go to class.
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Funny Thing Happened
Remember my shopping spree last Thursday? Well, as it turns out, the professor happened to cancel class that day because he was sick. I just found out just now when I checked on Blackboard. So really, it's a good thing I didn't go to class. Then I would have been all "Where is the prof?" with a handful of other students.
Thank you, Good Fortune. You are indeed good. Please think of me just as often in the future.
Regards,
KT
In case you were wondering, Blackboard is the University of Westminster equivalent of Learn@UW, in which professors and TAs can post readings and homework assignments on the Internet for students to download to work on in their own time. It can also be used to post grades and class announcements. I don't check Blackboard as often as I probably should, but that's okay because neither do I check Learn@UW as often as I should. So at least I have similar living patterns on both continents. That's a good sign, right?
Thank you, Good Fortune. You are indeed good. Please think of me just as often in the future.
Regards,
KT
In case you were wondering, Blackboard is the University of Westminster equivalent of Learn@UW, in which professors and TAs can post readings and homework assignments on the Internet for students to download to work on in their own time. It can also be used to post grades and class announcements. I don't check Blackboard as often as I probably should, but that's okay because neither do I check Learn@UW as often as I should. So at least I have similar living patterns on both continents. That's a good sign, right?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
London Eye to a Southbank Fair/Market
The majority of my day was spent watching How I Met Your Mother and going between the kitchen and my bed for snack food. Which isn't the healthiest thing, but I already napped and I didn't want to sleep anymore. So I didn't.
At around 3pm I started my laundry. Well, it's more like 4. I was distracted. Anyway, before I could take the clean clothes from the dryer, I left for the London Eye to meet up with Shelby and her friend Hannah. There is a free 4-D Experience movie before we left and it was really good. Cool music and showed fantastic shots of the London Eye and the wonders of it views throughout the seasons. Did you know that they can shoot fireworks from the London Eye structure itself? I think that's the giant Bonfire Night celebration I missed along the Thames last weekend. No, two weekends ago. Last weekend? The weeks are starting to slur together. (I'm also really tired as I write this.)
The London Eye is a fantastic view of the city and it was gorgeous at night. We saw Big Ben of course because he's right across the river. I tried to look for Piccadilly Circus and my dormitory, but neither could be accurately located. Took a few cool pictures of the London Eye from inside the London Eye. Have a picture of me cupping the London Eye in my hands. We talked and took pictures. There is a souvenir photo taken at the end of the ride. Shelby, Hannah, and I all made funny faces. We weren't going to buy a photo anyway, so why bother looking nice, right?
There was a fair of some sort along the South Bank, so we went to check that out. Saw a few things I would like to buy, but I didn't have any cash on me. We walked into the Southbank Centre so I could get cash, but the cash machine wouldn't allow me to withdraw anything. So I was left cash-less in a fair that only takes cash. We later learned a few stalls accept cards, but I wasn't about to buy only a few things. I'll have to go there tomorrow night or something. We'll see if Devon or Chloe or Vicky wants to join me. That should be fun.
Shelby knew of a Domino's Pizza place around Elephant and Castle, so I led them to the spot where it might have been. Except I didn't know exactly where this Domino's is, so Shelby led the way for the last leg. But we didn't see a Dominos. Hannah's legs were sore from her boots and Shelby couldn't feel her toes. We got something to drink from a small convenience shop before boarding the next tube station, which was a station away from Elephant and Castle. I've never been so far from the dorm in its own area before. Well, except maybe down Old Kent Road way back in early October. I should go back there one of these days.
There aren't enough days in the week, I swear.
Anyway, we went back to our respective dorms. I made a mini pizza in the kitchen and as I did so, Sarah popped up on Facebook chat to talk about apartments she's been looking at. The one she saw yesterday on Henry Street looked really nice, apparently. She really likes that one. Personally, I'm in love with the location. It's a block away from State Street, closer to the capitol than campus. Pretty awesome. The only downfall would be the price and the fact that there's no parking for Cory. So it may be crossed off the list. Meanwhile, Sarah is looking into the apartment we fell in love with by James Madison Park on Johnson. And we say we fell in love with it because it's huge and cheap. And because it's the same landlord we have now, I'm pretty sure all its facilities are in working order.
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to to edit the blog about Brussels so I can insert pictures and the like. Be a bit more specific with what I did and what happened and be less summary-like because I find that kind of boring, don't you? Then I go back and I start to re-think what I could have said and I'm like "Wow, you're missing a lot of things that are happening to you today." Gotta stop doing that.
My eyes hurt because they're open. That's the sure sign that I should be in bed.
At around 3pm I started my laundry. Well, it's more like 4. I was distracted. Anyway, before I could take the clean clothes from the dryer, I left for the London Eye to meet up with Shelby and her friend Hannah. There is a free 4-D Experience movie before we left and it was really good. Cool music and showed fantastic shots of the London Eye and the wonders of it views throughout the seasons. Did you know that they can shoot fireworks from the London Eye structure itself? I think that's the giant Bonfire Night celebration I missed along the Thames last weekend. No, two weekends ago. Last weekend? The weeks are starting to slur together. (I'm also really tired as I write this.)
The London Eye is a fantastic view of the city and it was gorgeous at night. We saw Big Ben of course because he's right across the river. I tried to look for Piccadilly Circus and my dormitory, but neither could be accurately located. Took a few cool pictures of the London Eye from inside the London Eye. Have a picture of me cupping the London Eye in my hands. We talked and took pictures. There is a souvenir photo taken at the end of the ride. Shelby, Hannah, and I all made funny faces. We weren't going to buy a photo anyway, so why bother looking nice, right?
There was a fair of some sort along the South Bank, so we went to check that out. Saw a few things I would like to buy, but I didn't have any cash on me. We walked into the Southbank Centre so I could get cash, but the cash machine wouldn't allow me to withdraw anything. So I was left cash-less in a fair that only takes cash. We later learned a few stalls accept cards, but I wasn't about to buy only a few things. I'll have to go there tomorrow night or something. We'll see if Devon or Chloe or Vicky wants to join me. That should be fun.
Shelby knew of a Domino's Pizza place around Elephant and Castle, so I led them to the spot where it might have been. Except I didn't know exactly where this Domino's is, so Shelby led the way for the last leg. But we didn't see a Dominos. Hannah's legs were sore from her boots and Shelby couldn't feel her toes. We got something to drink from a small convenience shop before boarding the next tube station, which was a station away from Elephant and Castle. I've never been so far from the dorm in its own area before. Well, except maybe down Old Kent Road way back in early October. I should go back there one of these days.
There aren't enough days in the week, I swear.
Anyway, we went back to our respective dorms. I made a mini pizza in the kitchen and as I did so, Sarah popped up on Facebook chat to talk about apartments she's been looking at. The one she saw yesterday on Henry Street looked really nice, apparently. She really likes that one. Personally, I'm in love with the location. It's a block away from State Street, closer to the capitol than campus. Pretty awesome. The only downfall would be the price and the fact that there's no parking for Cory. So it may be crossed off the list. Meanwhile, Sarah is looking into the apartment we fell in love with by James Madison Park on Johnson. And we say we fell in love with it because it's huge and cheap. And because it's the same landlord we have now, I'm pretty sure all its facilities are in working order.
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to to edit the blog about Brussels so I can insert pictures and the like. Be a bit more specific with what I did and what happened and be less summary-like because I find that kind of boring, don't you? Then I go back and I start to re-think what I could have said and I'm like "Wow, you're missing a lot of things that are happening to you today." Gotta stop doing that.
My eyes hurt because they're open. That's the sure sign that I should be in bed.
Brussels, Belgium
After checking in, while waiting to board the bus, I conversed with two people. One was a guy going to Germany to watch some hockey before going back home. The second was an old German woman who needed a letter box to send letters with English stamps except she can't send them from Germany. I don't think she got to a letter box but I do hope she manages to send her letters. She asked if I spoke German. I told her the random and minuscule things I am able to say.
Two hours or so on the bus to Dover, where we went through customs. Don't think my customs guy spoke any English. He took a look at my passport, took a look at me, stamped it, and I went on my merry way. Yay. Border control successfully passed. The bus was taking a ferry to the mainland. Yay ferries. I would have been more excited but I had taken a ferry before and I was also tired and knew that I should get some shut eye because I won't be getting any during the day. This is about the time I started conversing with the girl who sat next to me on the bus. Her name is Jolie and she was from Korea. She's studying English in London so she was pretty good in that department. Been in London for about four months -- good for her. She was going to Brussels too but she was going to meet with some friends she met in Spain a week or two back. Go her.
We stuck together on the ferry and when we first got to Brussels. We kept quiet and withheld opinion when the bus turned around an hour into the mainland to pick up the two people they left behind after the ferry. The bus driver didn't speak much English, but someone in the back spoke German and was able to translate for everyone. (The bus's ultimate destination was somewhere in Germany, which is why the bus driver spoke German better than English). We also didn't do anything except look scared when the people in the back caught someone smoking in the bathroom. The bathroom is in the middle of the bus, but we could still smell it. This one woman was sooo pissed. She was yelling at the guy because she has asthma and that he was going to kill her. There was swearing and profanity and three people came on this guy. I thought it would get violent, but it just a lot of heavy yelling. In the end, everyone went back to their seats and was quiet until we got to Brussels. I'm still surprised there wasn't any interference with the bus driver. I mean, seriously?
But maybe anger works differently over here. There's a woman at work who starts yelling when she's too stressed and things don't go her way. I've also heard her get mad at other people. Half the time I expect something to be thrown or hit, but she doesn't. She just yells. That's what those people did. They just yelled. No violence. Perhaps that's how anger works in Europe. All loudness and no physical contact.
Then we got to Brussels. Finally.
This is about the time I realized the map I printed out was extremely inadequate. And the bus station I was at wasn't on the map because my map was only a section of the city and not the whole thing (you can only fit so much on an A4 piece of paper). I also couldn't figure out their public transportation map because they included subway, tram, and bus on the same thing. It was also in French before it was in Dutch. And I was tired. And I didn't know if anyone spoke English at all.
I was lucky to have Jolie stick with me until I got my bearings. She's a pal. Helped me figure out the cash machine and found one that could work with international cards. Helped me with the map and talking with the guy at the ticket booth. We parted ways when I got off my tram stop. She continued onward to another station where she was meeting her friends. I hope she had fun that weekend.
Got there and took pictures of pretty architecture. Got a map in a tourist information center. They didn't have walking tours to book, but they had brochures for bus tours. I took one and started an inner debate about taking it. Sat down with some hot chocolate and a granola bar I brought to journal and calm myself down. I was feeling kind of inadequate (because I bought a map in four languages that aren't English for 4 euro before I got my English-speaking map for free at the tourist center). After I had food, I walked around until stores started to open up. Mostly did basic sightseeing in the morning. While I was in the area, I went to check out the Manneken Pis, which is a statue of a little boy cheerily peeing. I got a kick out of it. He was dressed up today for some special event as is wont to happen when special events are held in the city. Got my picture with him of course. Walked down a main street towards a giant building on top of a hill. Stopped by a small park to sit and journal when my shoulders were tired. The park featured statues of great nobles who fought against Spanish rule when Spain had control of Brussels some half century ago. Took pictures of all of them. Then I walked into a giant cathedral which was gorgeous inside. Walked around and took pictures and said a prayer for Ellie.
Walking out, there was an antiques market in full swing behind the church. I took a few laps looking at stuff. Didn't really look-look but I kept glancing at things. If you ever need awesome old stuff, go to the antiques market near Sablon in Brussels. They have some pretty awesome stuff. I bought an antique ring for 5 euro because it was simple, it was pretty, and it fit. Why not, right? I have an antique ring from Brussels!
Walked back to the main square to use the toilet in a museum. Then I asked a driver for the bus tour if I could hop on and hop off as I please, and he said yes. So I bought a ticket and waited for my bus. While I waited, I found a small sandwich shop and got one to go. I tried speaking in French, but I couldn't understand their French, but they switched to English like it was natural for them. No prejudice there. Perhaps because I started ordering in French first? Who knows. They were friendly, though.
With said sandwich, I ate and waited until my bus came. I was sort of impatient because I wanted to see more city than I was (which was the main reason I bought the bus ticket. There was more to Brussels than my Internet searches said there was). But my bus finally came and I sat on the top for the better view and took lots of pictures of buildings and passing scenery. We arrived at the place I wanted to check out but didn't think I would have either time nor transport to visit: The Atomium.
The Atomium is a giant steel structure that's an atom (I forget which one) blown up to several billion times its original size (which I call BS but I'm not about to dispute the things that bring the tourists). It was cheap with the tour bus ticket too. I had half off the entire cost and audio guides were only 2 euro! It took about fifty minutes to finally get the single elevator to the top (I passed the time with sudoku becuase the people around he had their respctive non-English speaking groups). The elevator takes twenty seconds to get to the top and the tour guide in the elevator explains this in about four different languages while on the way: English, French, Dutch, and German. Go her.
The view was incredible. I walked around until I was bored. Then I had someone take a picture of me with the view. He was nice enough to say "There wasn't a flash and you didn't come in very well." Then "The flash appeared on the window. Let me try from this angle." And then finally, "There, that's better." When I was done, I took less time than I thought coming down. There's supposed to be a sphere with temporary exhibitions, but it was closed because one of the exhibitions was being changed over. And I wasn't all that interested in the main exhibition because I had heard that stuff already in my audio guide. So the view was pretty cool but you don't spend a lot of time there.
Bought my Belgium chocolate at the gift shop because they had a pretty awesome deal. Buy ten bars and get the eleventh free. One bar was 50 mg was one Euro. Everywhere else was about 250 mg for 10/15 Euro and I got about 550 mg for that same price! So ha! What has two thumbs and can find those awesome deals? This gal!
I was debating going to Mini-Europe which was right next door, but I looked at the time and thought that I should really get back to the Old City and get my Belgian Waffle before all the shops close in that region. Meanwhile, let's explore this park until the bus comes! Five minutes later, I was on the bus (I know, I didn't get to explore the park. Oh well). Got back to the Old City, found a comic strip store and walked around for a bit looking at French comics. Nothing in English, but I did find a shelf of manga. Didn't pick up anything because it was in French. Yep. Then I continued to the market where I walked around for a deal I spotted earlier which included a waffle, ice cream, and hot chocolate for 3.50E. Except they didn't have hot chocolate. ALSO, the hot chocolate advertised wasn't the drink hot chocolate but melted chocolate to be poured onto the ice cream and waffle. So I got a waffle with Nutella for 2E instead. It was delicious but there was so much Nutella I couldn't finish it.
Walked around some more until it got dark. I attempted to kill time by walking up to the Grand Justice place on the top of a big hill. Took a few pictures of the nightscape before I decided that it was too dark and I wanted to be somewhere safe. So I found the station I used earlier in the day and took the first tram back to Gare de Noodst which was the bus station I would use. And that's where I sat for about three hours doing more sudoku, journaling the rest of my day, and reading Red Mars until check-in time came. This time, the bus driver spoke really really good English and I had two seats to myself so I could sprawl.
Woke up at border control. Went through once where the guy looked at my passport and gave it back to me. Then a second time where a guy asked questions about what I was studying, where in London I was studying, where do I live. Just to make sure I was legit. I was also cold and I think he saw that. Got my passport stamped and away I went.
A couple people with "Douance" on their jackets came in and took an English guy off the bus. We all waited as his three suitcases were searched outside. Some people tried watching it, but there were a bunch of people on him now and one kept shooing off spectators with his flashlight. I wonder what singled him out. But he was deemed acceptable to pass through after half an hour. He said "Sorry everybody" loudly when he settled back in his seat. I appreciate the apology and mentally told him that it was alright.
Got on the ferry, and walked around until I found the Costa the ferry said was there and still open. Got myself a hot cup of tea (with a glorious burnt tongue. I was freezing in the bus station and on the bus). Ate another granola bar. Then went to find a place to snooze.
Woke up with the ship at port and I started to worry because there considerably less people around than before. I asked a worker how long we were at port, and he said five minutes. So I rushed myself to deck five where the bus was and got on. I wasn't the last one on the bus either, for which I was relieved to see. But there was still that flash of panic and a memory from very early that morning (or the previous morning by now because it had to have been four/five. I wasn't keeping track).
Two hours to London and here I am. Froze myself waiting for a bus because Victoria Station was closed. I cursed weekend upgrades as I waited. Grr, weekend upgrades. Got myself a nice little nap before I started to feel disconnected again. So I brought my computer to the bed and started watching How I Met Your Mother. I think I'll be good for the London Eye later tonight. Lucky I'm doing it with people, too. But I'll blog about that later tonight when I blog about my actions today.
Two hours or so on the bus to Dover, where we went through customs. Don't think my customs guy spoke any English. He took a look at my passport, took a look at me, stamped it, and I went on my merry way. Yay. Border control successfully passed. The bus was taking a ferry to the mainland. Yay ferries. I would have been more excited but I had taken a ferry before and I was also tired and knew that I should get some shut eye because I won't be getting any during the day. This is about the time I started conversing with the girl who sat next to me on the bus. Her name is Jolie and she was from Korea. She's studying English in London so she was pretty good in that department. Been in London for about four months -- good for her. She was going to Brussels too but she was going to meet with some friends she met in Spain a week or two back. Go her.
We stuck together on the ferry and when we first got to Brussels. We kept quiet and withheld opinion when the bus turned around an hour into the mainland to pick up the two people they left behind after the ferry. The bus driver didn't speak much English, but someone in the back spoke German and was able to translate for everyone. (The bus's ultimate destination was somewhere in Germany, which is why the bus driver spoke German better than English). We also didn't do anything except look scared when the people in the back caught someone smoking in the bathroom. The bathroom is in the middle of the bus, but we could still smell it. This one woman was sooo pissed. She was yelling at the guy because she has asthma and that he was going to kill her. There was swearing and profanity and three people came on this guy. I thought it would get violent, but it just a lot of heavy yelling. In the end, everyone went back to their seats and was quiet until we got to Brussels. I'm still surprised there wasn't any interference with the bus driver. I mean, seriously?
But maybe anger works differently over here. There's a woman at work who starts yelling when she's too stressed and things don't go her way. I've also heard her get mad at other people. Half the time I expect something to be thrown or hit, but she doesn't. She just yells. That's what those people did. They just yelled. No violence. Perhaps that's how anger works in Europe. All loudness and no physical contact.
Then we got to Brussels. Finally.
This is about the time I realized the map I printed out was extremely inadequate. And the bus station I was at wasn't on the map because my map was only a section of the city and not the whole thing (you can only fit so much on an A4 piece of paper). I also couldn't figure out their public transportation map because they included subway, tram, and bus on the same thing. It was also in French before it was in Dutch. And I was tired. And I didn't know if anyone spoke English at all.
I was lucky to have Jolie stick with me until I got my bearings. She's a pal. Helped me figure out the cash machine and found one that could work with international cards. Helped me with the map and talking with the guy at the ticket booth. We parted ways when I got off my tram stop. She continued onward to another station where she was meeting her friends. I hope she had fun that weekend.
Got there and took pictures of pretty architecture. Got a map in a tourist information center. They didn't have walking tours to book, but they had brochures for bus tours. I took one and started an inner debate about taking it. Sat down with some hot chocolate and a granola bar I brought to journal and calm myself down. I was feeling kind of inadequate (because I bought a map in four languages that aren't English for 4 euro before I got my English-speaking map for free at the tourist center). After I had food, I walked around until stores started to open up. Mostly did basic sightseeing in the morning. While I was in the area, I went to check out the Manneken Pis, which is a statue of a little boy cheerily peeing. I got a kick out of it. He was dressed up today for some special event as is wont to happen when special events are held in the city. Got my picture with him of course. Walked down a main street towards a giant building on top of a hill. Stopped by a small park to sit and journal when my shoulders were tired. The park featured statues of great nobles who fought against Spanish rule when Spain had control of Brussels some half century ago. Took pictures of all of them. Then I walked into a giant cathedral which was gorgeous inside. Walked around and took pictures and said a prayer for Ellie.
Walking out, there was an antiques market in full swing behind the church. I took a few laps looking at stuff. Didn't really look-look but I kept glancing at things. If you ever need awesome old stuff, go to the antiques market near Sablon in Brussels. They have some pretty awesome stuff. I bought an antique ring for 5 euro because it was simple, it was pretty, and it fit. Why not, right? I have an antique ring from Brussels!
Walked back to the main square to use the toilet in a museum. Then I asked a driver for the bus tour if I could hop on and hop off as I please, and he said yes. So I bought a ticket and waited for my bus. While I waited, I found a small sandwich shop and got one to go. I tried speaking in French, but I couldn't understand their French, but they switched to English like it was natural for them. No prejudice there. Perhaps because I started ordering in French first? Who knows. They were friendly, though.
With said sandwich, I ate and waited until my bus came. I was sort of impatient because I wanted to see more city than I was (which was the main reason I bought the bus ticket. There was more to Brussels than my Internet searches said there was). But my bus finally came and I sat on the top for the better view and took lots of pictures of buildings and passing scenery. We arrived at the place I wanted to check out but didn't think I would have either time nor transport to visit: The Atomium.
The Atomium is a giant steel structure that's an atom (I forget which one) blown up to several billion times its original size (which I call BS but I'm not about to dispute the things that bring the tourists). It was cheap with the tour bus ticket too. I had half off the entire cost and audio guides were only 2 euro! It took about fifty minutes to finally get the single elevator to the top (I passed the time with sudoku becuase the people around he had their respctive non-English speaking groups). The elevator takes twenty seconds to get to the top and the tour guide in the elevator explains this in about four different languages while on the way: English, French, Dutch, and German. Go her.
The view was incredible. I walked around until I was bored. Then I had someone take a picture of me with the view. He was nice enough to say "There wasn't a flash and you didn't come in very well." Then "The flash appeared on the window. Let me try from this angle." And then finally, "There, that's better." When I was done, I took less time than I thought coming down. There's supposed to be a sphere with temporary exhibitions, but it was closed because one of the exhibitions was being changed over. And I wasn't all that interested in the main exhibition because I had heard that stuff already in my audio guide. So the view was pretty cool but you don't spend a lot of time there.
Bought my Belgium chocolate at the gift shop because they had a pretty awesome deal. Buy ten bars and get the eleventh free. One bar was 50 mg was one Euro. Everywhere else was about 250 mg for 10/15 Euro and I got about 550 mg for that same price! So ha! What has two thumbs and can find those awesome deals? This gal!
I was debating going to Mini-Europe which was right next door, but I looked at the time and thought that I should really get back to the Old City and get my Belgian Waffle before all the shops close in that region. Meanwhile, let's explore this park until the bus comes! Five minutes later, I was on the bus (I know, I didn't get to explore the park. Oh well). Got back to the Old City, found a comic strip store and walked around for a bit looking at French comics. Nothing in English, but I did find a shelf of manga. Didn't pick up anything because it was in French. Yep. Then I continued to the market where I walked around for a deal I spotted earlier which included a waffle, ice cream, and hot chocolate for 3.50E. Except they didn't have hot chocolate. ALSO, the hot chocolate advertised wasn't the drink hot chocolate but melted chocolate to be poured onto the ice cream and waffle. So I got a waffle with Nutella for 2E instead. It was delicious but there was so much Nutella I couldn't finish it.
Walked around some more until it got dark. I attempted to kill time by walking up to the Grand Justice place on the top of a big hill. Took a few pictures of the nightscape before I decided that it was too dark and I wanted to be somewhere safe. So I found the station I used earlier in the day and took the first tram back to Gare de Noodst which was the bus station I would use. And that's where I sat for about three hours doing more sudoku, journaling the rest of my day, and reading Red Mars until check-in time came. This time, the bus driver spoke really really good English and I had two seats to myself so I could sprawl.
Woke up at border control. Went through once where the guy looked at my passport and gave it back to me. Then a second time where a guy asked questions about what I was studying, where in London I was studying, where do I live. Just to make sure I was legit. I was also cold and I think he saw that. Got my passport stamped and away I went.
A couple people with "Douance" on their jackets came in and took an English guy off the bus. We all waited as his three suitcases were searched outside. Some people tried watching it, but there were a bunch of people on him now and one kept shooing off spectators with his flashlight. I wonder what singled him out. But he was deemed acceptable to pass through after half an hour. He said "Sorry everybody" loudly when he settled back in his seat. I appreciate the apology and mentally told him that it was alright.
Got on the ferry, and walked around until I found the Costa the ferry said was there and still open. Got myself a hot cup of tea (with a glorious burnt tongue. I was freezing in the bus station and on the bus). Ate another granola bar. Then went to find a place to snooze.
Woke up with the ship at port and I started to worry because there considerably less people around than before. I asked a worker how long we were at port, and he said five minutes. So I rushed myself to deck five where the bus was and got on. I wasn't the last one on the bus either, for which I was relieved to see. But there was still that flash of panic and a memory from very early that morning (or the previous morning by now because it had to have been four/five. I wasn't keeping track).
Two hours to London and here I am. Froze myself waiting for a bus because Victoria Station was closed. I cursed weekend upgrades as I waited. Grr, weekend upgrades. Got myself a nice little nap before I started to feel disconnected again. So I brought my computer to the bed and started watching How I Met Your Mother. I think I'll be good for the London Eye later tonight. Lucky I'm doing it with people, too. But I'll blog about that later tonight when I blog about my actions today.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Day Before Brussels
At work, I spent some free time making a map of Brussels on Google Maps. I marked the things I wanted to visit to get a sense of where everything is in the city. I even made back up plans in case the weather is too cold or too rainy or in case something just doesn't go right. Go me!
Later in the afternoon, Marianne sent me to pick up some stuff. I went to Maplin's (electronics store) and then a graphics design store. Got lost on the way to the second one because I wasn't familiar at all with the routes in that direction. Ended up taking the right bus but didn't recognize the right stop. It was a long walk. But I still saw a part of the city I didn't see before. AND I had a MAP ON ME thanks to Marianne so I wasn't too panicky. But I was impatient because it was starting to get dark and my internal clock still thinks it's five when it starts to get dark out. I'm not the only one messed with the latitude change. Molly and the rest of the Americans I know complain about it too. I didn't complain at first; I just accepted it as the way things are. Maybe I misjudged some things back home because hey, it was dark by 5pm when I was little. So it's nothing different than what we're used to. But we're blaming the change of location anyway.
Back at Blackdog, I printed my map and because it didn't come with the markings, I marked it myself. Then I wrote down what everything was and the planned itinerary I made up (very rough because I didn't know how long I would spend at each place). Rushed back to the dorm thinking I would have to make a personal pizza which takes 20 minutes to cook and another 20 to eat. But as it turns out, I have some rice and some fruit I can eat instead. I know it's not much, but if I'm still hungry, I'll pick up a kabob or something at Victoria Station. I still have 5 quid to spend in cash.
So now I'm all prepared. Got my passport, got my tickets, got some documentation in case they need proof that I am indeed a student in London. Got my phone (charged), my camera (charged), my wallet, a sweatshirt for a pillow, a jacket, a scarf, hat, gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, journal, notebook of travel information, etc etc. Am I missing anything? Need to remember to buy Belgium chocolates, a Belgium waffle, something sweet for mom and dad, a Belgium patch for me, and postcards. I do believe that's it for now.
And now I'm off to dinner. Wish me luck!!! Still nervous about border control though I shouldn't be. Still nervous about wandering a city where the main language isn't English. (But it shouldn't be much different than London. Practically no one speaks English here.)
Later in the afternoon, Marianne sent me to pick up some stuff. I went to Maplin's (electronics store) and then a graphics design store. Got lost on the way to the second one because I wasn't familiar at all with the routes in that direction. Ended up taking the right bus but didn't recognize the right stop. It was a long walk. But I still saw a part of the city I didn't see before. AND I had a MAP ON ME thanks to Marianne so I wasn't too panicky. But I was impatient because it was starting to get dark and my internal clock still thinks it's five when it starts to get dark out. I'm not the only one messed with the latitude change. Molly and the rest of the Americans I know complain about it too. I didn't complain at first; I just accepted it as the way things are. Maybe I misjudged some things back home because hey, it was dark by 5pm when I was little. So it's nothing different than what we're used to. But we're blaming the change of location anyway.
Back at Blackdog, I printed my map and because it didn't come with the markings, I marked it myself. Then I wrote down what everything was and the planned itinerary I made up (very rough because I didn't know how long I would spend at each place). Rushed back to the dorm thinking I would have to make a personal pizza which takes 20 minutes to cook and another 20 to eat. But as it turns out, I have some rice and some fruit I can eat instead. I know it's not much, but if I'm still hungry, I'll pick up a kabob or something at Victoria Station. I still have 5 quid to spend in cash.
So now I'm all prepared. Got my passport, got my tickets, got some documentation in case they need proof that I am indeed a student in London. Got my phone (charged), my camera (charged), my wallet, a sweatshirt for a pillow, a jacket, a scarf, hat, gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, journal, notebook of travel information, etc etc. Am I missing anything? Need to remember to buy Belgium chocolates, a Belgium waffle, something sweet for mom and dad, a Belgium patch for me, and postcards. I do believe that's it for now.
And now I'm off to dinner. Wish me luck!!! Still nervous about border control though I shouldn't be. Still nervous about wandering a city where the main language isn't English. (But it shouldn't be much different than London. Practically no one speaks English here.)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Diversions to Distractions to Shopping
So, I didn't have enough change for two loads like I usually have. So I just did my whites because if I need anything is underwear (and it's mostly white). Meanwhile, I started the final report for my internship toolkit class, which would require some questions for persons at Black Dog (such as when the company was formed . . . and that's about it). But I'm quite a ways finished with that, so that's looking good. Yay.
Other Homework:
- Creative Writing revisions
- Creative Writing dialogue
- Internship toolkit presentation (which is basically the report in oral/powerpoint form)
- Storytelling and Fiction Film Essay #2
- Linguistics Essay
So much writing!
Left about 1:30p to go pick up my bus ticket for Brussels. Got lost around Victoria because I couldn't locate the Victoria Coach Station right away. But I found it, don't worry. Got my ticket, picked up a little brochure that said that we'll probably be going in the Eurotunnel on the way there. (oooo) Border control will inspect stuff when we get across the water. Of all the things that worry me, it's this. I don't know why. Wait, I do. Can you bring a Swiss Army Knife into Belgium? To research NOW.
Can't find anything. The thing I'm worried about is whether I should take my Swiss Army Knife or not. I don't want to lose it to border control. I know you can't take it on a plane, but what if you're traveling by bus? Does border control still allow Swiss Army Knives into the country? I would feel more comfortable if it's with me, but I can leave it in London if I have to. Anyway, that's my current Major Worry.
Meanwhile, as I knew I didn't have time to go back to the dorm before class, I hopped on a bus that will take me to the general vicinity of class. While stopped at a stop light, I had a clear view of a pedestrian alleyway with a statue of an elephant dressed like the Royal Guard. It was really cute. Halfway through the ride, the bus driver got instructions to divert to Warren Street. I didn't know what that meant until I recognized the buildings outside as not being anywhere near where I should be. And I worried and decided to just sit and be patient and check things out when it finally stops. So I waited, and as it turned out it wasn't that far away from class. But I would still get there late. And I didn't want to be late. But I should still go anyway because I'm planning on skipping next week to make a turkey dinner for me and a few friends. So I should still go, right?
The name of the shop was Bang Bang Clothing Exchange. Vintage clothing. I popped in for a spell, but everything was priced out of my budget and I was like "okay, not buying anything here then." So I continued on and then I figured that now there's no use going to class because now I want to go shopping. Oh look, Oxfam! Oxfam is like Good Will except that all proceeds go to charity. For instance, the 13 quid used to buy my leather jacket buys enough concrete molds to build two rainwater tanks for families in the dry north-east region of Brazil. PLUS I get a leather jacket from Next that can be used in daily life AND as a steampunk costume. See, aren't I good?
And then I saw my proximity to Oxford Street and I thought "Well, I might as well." So I went to Uni Qlo and saw a section of their new heattech shirts and it made me think of Scandinavia. Uni Qlo is currently advertising clothing that generates heat, and apparently the technology comes from Japan. w00t. So I saw a wall of various shirts and leggings with a giant sign that said "Any two priced at 12.99 will be sold for 19.99!" And I thought "DEAL" but I didn't buy anything because it didn't feel like a serious buying day. Maybe next week. Most likely next week. Heat generating long sleeve undershirts would be awesome in Scandinavia. Even better, heat generating leggings I can wear under my pants. I need to get to Uni Qlo before I leave for my road trip.
Went into H&M because I know them to be cheap and maybe they'll have a pair of awesome boots that fit and maybe something else. The something else was a cool long-sleeved top with black and white stripes going in various directions. Tried on a dress but I misjudged sizes. UK size 12 is really US size 10. No wonder that thing was tight. But I bought that top because it was only 10 quid. And now I'm thinking about those heat generating shirts again and how useful they're going to be. Hrm . . .
Walked into a store celebrating the fact that a ton of stuff was being sold for 5 pounds. Didn't look at the tops very much because I was more concerned with their shoe section. There was a pair of cool-looking boots for 9.99. Should have asked to try them on. Ugh. Will do that when I go back for my heat generating shirts. I will find a pair of awesome boots while over here!! I will!!!
Checked out Esprit for a while, but they were pricey. Reminded me of a fashion version of Eddie Bauer. Less travel gear, more clothes. But still high class and sort of rustic looking? That store was anyway.
Discovered a back ally full of shopping venues, but didn't go into anything. I did see a men's store called Howie's which I will take Ryan when he comes. Because he has to buy something from Howie's. He's gotta! It's Howie's!
Boarded the first bus back to Lambeth North. Intended to get off a stop early so I can pick up milk from Iceland. But it was crowded and I didn't leave in time. So I didn't get milk and instead finished off what I had. I guess I'll get more milk on Sunday when I get back. It'll just be taking up space in the fridge all weekend.
Dinner was a ready-made meal. Nothing special.
Got my battery for my camera. It was fully charged when I checked but I'm still going to plug them both in for a while just to make sure. I'm excited. And extra memory card, an extra battery. I feel prepared (in terms of my camera)! When I was waiting for my package, Siri came down with people who were probably her family. We said "Hi, how are you?" and all that. She asked if I went to Uni, and I said that I meant to, but my bus got diverted and then I got distracted. I showed her my shopping bags, and she was like "Excellent choice. Good job. I approve." Which is a happier note my parents will have on the subject (hee).
Probably won't blog tomorrow because I have to be at the bus station by 7:30p for check-in. Dinner will probably be a quick thing on the road, or a sandwich made at home with the last of my sandwich meat. I go through that stuff faster than I thought. Maybe I'll buy bulkier next time.
Previous things that happened I forgot to blog about:
- The day Oscar and I were in Elephant and Castle shopping center, Oscar was complaining about the state of the building when a pigeon flew past our heads. Yes, a pigeon. Yes, indoors. Did I tell you about the pigeon on the tube the other day when I went to Shepherd's Bush? They get everywhere, brave little buggers.
- Yesterday, on the way to Victoria Station on the bus, the bus driver stopped fifty meters away from the stop, got out, and gave a boxed meal to the homeless man and his dog sitting against the wall. When we first stopped, I wondered what was going on? Then I saw, and I shared a smile with the woman in front of us. I was willing to make a quick stop so someone hungry can get a meal. How nice.
- The guy checking me out at Oxfam today was really friendly. He had friendlier service than I ever got before, and it reminded me of home because that sort of thing is kind of expected at home, isn't it? Don't you make conversation with nearly every person who checks you out of a store in Wisconsin? At least, almost every time? I miss that. I'm going back to Oxfam now. Maybe I'll find a pair of awesome boots in my size there. (So that happened today, I still felt like giving you three points.)
[EDIT]: As it turns out, I CAN bring my knife across the border to Belgium. I can also bring back to the UK a box of Belgium chocolates if I wanted to. Yay!
Other Homework:
- Creative Writing revisions
- Creative Writing dialogue
- Internship toolkit presentation (which is basically the report in oral/powerpoint form)
- Storytelling and Fiction Film Essay #2
- Linguistics Essay
So much writing!
Left about 1:30p to go pick up my bus ticket for Brussels. Got lost around Victoria because I couldn't locate the Victoria Coach Station right away. But I found it, don't worry. Got my ticket, picked up a little brochure that said that we'll probably be going in the Eurotunnel on the way there. (oooo) Border control will inspect stuff when we get across the water. Of all the things that worry me, it's this. I don't know why. Wait, I do. Can you bring a Swiss Army Knife into Belgium? To research NOW.
Can't find anything. The thing I'm worried about is whether I should take my Swiss Army Knife or not. I don't want to lose it to border control. I know you can't take it on a plane, but what if you're traveling by bus? Does border control still allow Swiss Army Knives into the country? I would feel more comfortable if it's with me, but I can leave it in London if I have to. Anyway, that's my current Major Worry.
Meanwhile, as I knew I didn't have time to go back to the dorm before class, I hopped on a bus that will take me to the general vicinity of class. While stopped at a stop light, I had a clear view of a pedestrian alleyway with a statue of an elephant dressed like the Royal Guard. It was really cute. Halfway through the ride, the bus driver got instructions to divert to Warren Street. I didn't know what that meant until I recognized the buildings outside as not being anywhere near where I should be. And I worried and decided to just sit and be patient and check things out when it finally stops. So I waited, and as it turned out it wasn't that far away from class. But I would still get there late. And I didn't want to be late. But I should still go anyway because I'm planning on skipping next week to make a turkey dinner for me and a few friends. So I should still go, right?
The name of the shop was Bang Bang Clothing Exchange. Vintage clothing. I popped in for a spell, but everything was priced out of my budget and I was like "okay, not buying anything here then." So I continued on and then I figured that now there's no use going to class because now I want to go shopping. Oh look, Oxfam! Oxfam is like Good Will except that all proceeds go to charity. For instance, the 13 quid used to buy my leather jacket buys enough concrete molds to build two rainwater tanks for families in the dry north-east region of Brazil. PLUS I get a leather jacket from Next that can be used in daily life AND as a steampunk costume. See, aren't I good?
And then I saw my proximity to Oxford Street and I thought "Well, I might as well." So I went to Uni Qlo and saw a section of their new heattech shirts and it made me think of Scandinavia. Uni Qlo is currently advertising clothing that generates heat, and apparently the technology comes from Japan. w00t. So I saw a wall of various shirts and leggings with a giant sign that said "Any two priced at 12.99 will be sold for 19.99!" And I thought "DEAL" but I didn't buy anything because it didn't feel like a serious buying day. Maybe next week. Most likely next week. Heat generating long sleeve undershirts would be awesome in Scandinavia. Even better, heat generating leggings I can wear under my pants. I need to get to Uni Qlo before I leave for my road trip.
Went into H&M because I know them to be cheap and maybe they'll have a pair of awesome boots that fit and maybe something else. The something else was a cool long-sleeved top with black and white stripes going in various directions. Tried on a dress but I misjudged sizes. UK size 12 is really US size 10. No wonder that thing was tight. But I bought that top because it was only 10 quid. And now I'm thinking about those heat generating shirts again and how useful they're going to be. Hrm . . .
Walked into a store celebrating the fact that a ton of stuff was being sold for 5 pounds. Didn't look at the tops very much because I was more concerned with their shoe section. There was a pair of cool-looking boots for 9.99. Should have asked to try them on. Ugh. Will do that when I go back for my heat generating shirts. I will find a pair of awesome boots while over here!! I will!!!
Checked out Esprit for a while, but they were pricey. Reminded me of a fashion version of Eddie Bauer. Less travel gear, more clothes. But still high class and sort of rustic looking? That store was anyway.
Discovered a back ally full of shopping venues, but didn't go into anything. I did see a men's store called Howie's which I will take Ryan when he comes. Because he has to buy something from Howie's. He's gotta! It's Howie's!
Boarded the first bus back to Lambeth North. Intended to get off a stop early so I can pick up milk from Iceland. But it was crowded and I didn't leave in time. So I didn't get milk and instead finished off what I had. I guess I'll get more milk on Sunday when I get back. It'll just be taking up space in the fridge all weekend.
Dinner was a ready-made meal. Nothing special.
Got my battery for my camera. It was fully charged when I checked but I'm still going to plug them both in for a while just to make sure. I'm excited. And extra memory card, an extra battery. I feel prepared (in terms of my camera)! When I was waiting for my package, Siri came down with people who were probably her family. We said "Hi, how are you?" and all that. She asked if I went to Uni, and I said that I meant to, but my bus got diverted and then I got distracted. I showed her my shopping bags, and she was like "Excellent choice. Good job. I approve." Which is a happier note my parents will have on the subject (hee).
Probably won't blog tomorrow because I have to be at the bus station by 7:30p for check-in. Dinner will probably be a quick thing on the road, or a sandwich made at home with the last of my sandwich meat. I go through that stuff faster than I thought. Maybe I'll buy bulkier next time.
Previous things that happened I forgot to blog about:
- The day Oscar and I were in Elephant and Castle shopping center, Oscar was complaining about the state of the building when a pigeon flew past our heads. Yes, a pigeon. Yes, indoors. Did I tell you about the pigeon on the tube the other day when I went to Shepherd's Bush? They get everywhere, brave little buggers.
- Yesterday, on the way to Victoria Station on the bus, the bus driver stopped fifty meters away from the stop, got out, and gave a boxed meal to the homeless man and his dog sitting against the wall. When we first stopped, I wondered what was going on? Then I saw, and I shared a smile with the woman in front of us. I was willing to make a quick stop so someone hungry can get a meal. How nice.
- The guy checking me out at Oxfam today was really friendly. He had friendlier service than I ever got before, and it reminded me of home because that sort of thing is kind of expected at home, isn't it? Don't you make conversation with nearly every person who checks you out of a store in Wisconsin? At least, almost every time? I miss that. I'm going back to Oxfam now. Maybe I'll find a pair of awesome boots in my size there. (So that happened today, I still felt like giving you three points.)
[EDIT]: As it turns out, I CAN bring my knife across the border to Belgium. I can also bring back to the UK a box of Belgium chocolates if I wanted to. Yay!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wicked Day
This morning, there was a commotion outside my bedroom door. Apparently, a bunch of drunk Americans were playing with the fire extinguishers which is very illegal, by the way. Anyway, apparently Chris got sprayed and he was worried a girl named Emma (??) was going to ruin his electronics. Partway through their little serious shenanigans, Toby walks out and yells at them to shut up because it's one in the morning and people are trying to sleep. Go Toby! And they did shut up eventually. But when I walked in the hall this morning, there was strange foam stuff all over the floor. Had to dance around it to get to the toilet, then the shower, then the kitchen. Ugh.
I have two boxes of tea in my cupboard in the dorm. Except, I don't drink tea in the dorm. I only have two cups (three if I can find the other -- the forth one broke sometime last week) and I don't do my dishes that often if they're just sitting in my room. Because I never remember to carry them to the kitchen whenever I go. And it's such a chore to go all the way back to get them. Anyway, the tea. So I brought the tea to Black Dog because I drink about three cups a day over there. And guess what? I drank about three cups of tea. So I'll be taking my other box of tea over there and adequately finishing what I bought. I know how to work around myself.
Also at work, there was a conversation about an exhibition at the Tate Modern that I actually understood. I normally don't know what they're talking about when it comes to art galleries. I'm pretty proud of myself.
Tom asked if there was iced bread in America. I asked if it was like a glazed donut. He said no and sent me a picture from Google. It's just a piece of bread with frosting on it. I said no, we don't have that. But we have icing for zucchini bread! Not the same thing. By the way, here's the list of emails of artists you wanted.
The back room on the ground floor is getting repainted because we're between art exhibitions on the ground floor at the moment. I wasn't really recruited for painting, but I did volunteer myself. It was that or research books on Amazon. And while I do look at books on Amazon on a regular basis, I'd rather be painting. Dude. It's painting at work! How often do you do that? So I lined some places and helped draw a line and smothered a white wall with black paint. And then I got a paint tray the cleanest its ever been. Yes. While painting, I told Marianne that it reminded me of my days backstage in high school when we had to paint sets. She asked about my high school tech theater plays I was in, and when I mentioned our budget was cut she said that her art program at her Uni was cut. She studied art in Uni. (Uni = university = college) Apparently their gallery spaces were taken away and given to fashion, because money is made in fashion, not art.
Took the bus back home. When I got to my stop, I realized that I didn't have enough time to eat dinner in my kitchen before the play started. So I just switched buses and figured I'd get something before the show at Victoria Station. Stopped to get a sandwich at Pret a Manger. Can't remember what was in it, but it was good. The sauce was the strange thing. I don't know what kind of sauce that was, but it was the holiday sandwich and it was good. Anyway, ate my sandwich while I read an article about Emma Watson in the Stylist, which is a free magazine here in London.
Got my ticket for Wicked. It would have been a really awesome seat if it weren't for the head in my view. Grr. I know it's odd of me, but I like Royal Circle seating instead of the Stalls because you can actually SEE the show instead of looking around people's heads constantly. I prefer to sit back and relax, thank you.
But it's Wicked and I've seen it before and I thought it was weird they had British accents at first but I got used to it. Boc had a Scottish accent. I thought it suited the role perfectly. Wicked joke for the day: during the scene where Elphaba returns to free the monkeys, Fiyero comes and holds the Wizard down so she can get away, and then Glinda shows up. The Wizard freaks out and Glinda says "It's okay, we went to Uni together!" HA! Didn't remember that joke from last time.
Saw Becca from my creative writing class at the play. She sat in the row ahead of me. Sometime during intermission, we agreed that we should find each other on Facebook. I hope she can find me because I can't find her. I invited her to the London Eye on Sunday because we said we should do something outside class. She's going to Briton. But perhaps we'll see Harry Potter later? We'll see though. I'll have to look for her more closely or something. Search people from her university back home and check out their friends and see if she's friends with anyone. And it shall be called: The Art of Stalker-Book.
Started snacking when I got home. Hey, man, I didn't much much of a dinner. Didn't have much of a lunch either (soup, an orange, and a packet of dried apricots). I'm going for a granola bar now.
Tomorrow, I have to pick up my ticket to Brussels, do laundry, and somehow print and mark up a map of the Upper and Lower Cities in Brussels. So I know where I'm going while in the city. I also register for spring classes tomorrow at 7:15pm (my time). Yay!
Facebook tells me that Ryan finalized his dates for Europe. Tell me when you're coming so we can plan out when we're going where! And when I should finish my homework because that has to get in before Scandinavia. But yeah! My big brother is coming to Europe to visit me!!!! You have no idea how excited I am.
Matt reminded me about this bit of awesomeness that I told him about yesterday. Directed by Jon Faveau (Iron Man), starring Daniel Craig (007: Casino Royale), Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc), executive producer Steven Spielburg (E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial, et al). Ron Howard is also a producer. Coupled with just the title of this movie is enough to get me giddy. Check it out yourself:
I have two boxes of tea in my cupboard in the dorm. Except, I don't drink tea in the dorm. I only have two cups (three if I can find the other -- the forth one broke sometime last week) and I don't do my dishes that often if they're just sitting in my room. Because I never remember to carry them to the kitchen whenever I go. And it's such a chore to go all the way back to get them. Anyway, the tea. So I brought the tea to Black Dog because I drink about three cups a day over there. And guess what? I drank about three cups of tea. So I'll be taking my other box of tea over there and adequately finishing what I bought. I know how to work around myself.
Also at work, there was a conversation about an exhibition at the Tate Modern that I actually understood. I normally don't know what they're talking about when it comes to art galleries. I'm pretty proud of myself.
Tom asked if there was iced bread in America. I asked if it was like a glazed donut. He said no and sent me a picture from Google. It's just a piece of bread with frosting on it. I said no, we don't have that. But we have icing for zucchini bread! Not the same thing. By the way, here's the list of emails of artists you wanted.
The back room on the ground floor is getting repainted because we're between art exhibitions on the ground floor at the moment. I wasn't really recruited for painting, but I did volunteer myself. It was that or research books on Amazon. And while I do look at books on Amazon on a regular basis, I'd rather be painting. Dude. It's painting at work! How often do you do that? So I lined some places and helped draw a line and smothered a white wall with black paint. And then I got a paint tray the cleanest its ever been. Yes. While painting, I told Marianne that it reminded me of my days backstage in high school when we had to paint sets. She asked about my high school tech theater plays I was in, and when I mentioned our budget was cut she said that her art program at her Uni was cut. She studied art in Uni. (Uni = university = college) Apparently their gallery spaces were taken away and given to fashion, because money is made in fashion, not art.
Took the bus back home. When I got to my stop, I realized that I didn't have enough time to eat dinner in my kitchen before the play started. So I just switched buses and figured I'd get something before the show at Victoria Station. Stopped to get a sandwich at Pret a Manger. Can't remember what was in it, but it was good. The sauce was the strange thing. I don't know what kind of sauce that was, but it was the holiday sandwich and it was good. Anyway, ate my sandwich while I read an article about Emma Watson in the Stylist, which is a free magazine here in London.
Got my ticket for Wicked. It would have been a really awesome seat if it weren't for the head in my view. Grr. I know it's odd of me, but I like Royal Circle seating instead of the Stalls because you can actually SEE the show instead of looking around people's heads constantly. I prefer to sit back and relax, thank you.
But it's Wicked and I've seen it before and I thought it was weird they had British accents at first but I got used to it. Boc had a Scottish accent. I thought it suited the role perfectly. Wicked joke for the day: during the scene where Elphaba returns to free the monkeys, Fiyero comes and holds the Wizard down so she can get away, and then Glinda shows up. The Wizard freaks out and Glinda says "It's okay, we went to Uni together!" HA! Didn't remember that joke from last time.
Saw Becca from my creative writing class at the play. She sat in the row ahead of me. Sometime during intermission, we agreed that we should find each other on Facebook. I hope she can find me because I can't find her. I invited her to the London Eye on Sunday because we said we should do something outside class. She's going to Briton. But perhaps we'll see Harry Potter later? We'll see though. I'll have to look for her more closely or something. Search people from her university back home and check out their friends and see if she's friends with anyone. And it shall be called: The Art of Stalker-Book.
Started snacking when I got home. Hey, man, I didn't much much of a dinner. Didn't have much of a lunch either (soup, an orange, and a packet of dried apricots). I'm going for a granola bar now.
Tomorrow, I have to pick up my ticket to Brussels, do laundry, and somehow print and mark up a map of the Upper and Lower Cities in Brussels. So I know where I'm going while in the city. I also register for spring classes tomorrow at 7:15pm (my time). Yay!
Facebook tells me that Ryan finalized his dates for Europe. Tell me when you're coming so we can plan out when we're going where! And when I should finish my homework because that has to get in before Scandinavia. But yeah! My big brother is coming to Europe to visit me!!!! You have no idea how excited I am.
Matt reminded me about this bit of awesomeness that I told him about yesterday. Directed by Jon Faveau (Iron Man), starring Daniel Craig (007: Casino Royale), Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc), executive producer Steven Spielburg (E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial, et al). Ron Howard is also a producer. Coupled with just the title of this movie is enough to get me giddy. Check it out yourself:
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Inside Jokes
Didn't want to wake up this morning because I was comfortable and had some trouble falling asleep. But I had to. I had a meeting to get to and I was curious what Monica said about my story. (Monica = creative writing instructor. They don't call them Professors over here) Thought about taking a bus, but I left too late so it was the Tube for me.
My short story is a collection of about 3 flash fictions all about people looking out their back windows to the same back alley of London (our stories had to have a strong London element in it). The main characters I focused on was a woman named Lorelai, an exchange student in a dorm, an old man in a townhouse, and a little boy whose parents fight a lot. The little boy is only mentioned, but I might get further into his story with the revised version.
Monica, overall, liked my story. She told me to stop using the word "interesting" so much and show us how the back ally is interesting. She also said that it would be cool to switch point of view when another character is mentioned. So instead of hearing these stories as three separate pieces, the reader will jump from person to person in one continuous narration. I find it interesting so I'm going to try it out. She also said to have less back story on the exchange student, and to cut out the old man's daughter and the dialogue between them in the final bit. So I'm going to have to think about this for a little bit. But it's okay -- I have a few weeks yet.
Decided to wander afterwards. Didn't feel like going back home or waiting three hours for my next class. I attempted to walk all the way from the Regent Street campus to the Marlyebone campus. But then I got distracted by a wrong turn (as I'm wont to do) and found myself on New Bond Street, which is home to a lot of high end designer names like Louie Batton and Gucci and I even stopped to look at a Prada bag. I saw a Tiffany and Co, but I was too shy to go in. Here I am, grungy little American, walking into high class Tiffany's. Maybe with a friend, but not alone. Too self conscious. (What? Me? Self-conscious? Yeah.)
Stopped at a Boots to get lunch (forgot to make a sandwich this morning). Sandwich had turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on it. It was really good. Ate my lunch in Green Park near Buckingham Palace. If you're wondering how I got from New Cavendish Street to Green Park, I took New Bond Street. I can now connect my campus area to Buckingham Palace. To which I can connect to Parliament Square, to which I can connect to the Waterloo area which houses my dorm. Yay. Now if only I can connect Oxford Street to Bloomsbury, I'll be golden.
Internship toolkit was awesome today. We worked on interviewing and did practice interviews in groups of three. Except I worked with Shelby and Matt, both hail from the University of Denver. But our sense of humor is of the ridiculous and random sort, which makes me feel at home because that's the sense of humor my friends have back there. So today we joked about . . . well . . . actually, I can't say what we talked about because Mom would get mad at me for it. She'll remind me who reads this blog and subtly hint that I should keep things family friendly. So I will. But these were mock interviews that had us laughing the entire class period, and it raised my spirits considerably. Inside jokes include chinchilla farming, Jedi mind tricks, and 4 year-olds. Their interactions with each other is another matter entirely.
Shelby and I determined that we'll be going on the London Eye Sunday at 6:00p. Matt also asked about seeing Harry Potter this weekend, to which I said "YES. Sunday afternoon works best for me." We'll see if that works out, though. HP is huge here too. I don't know if there are even tickets left for this weekend. But no loss in checking.
Was talking with Vanessa as we made dinner together. She was making her dinner, I was making mine, they just happened to be at the same time. Anyway, she was saying how she couldn't believe I'm only going to be here for one term and asked why. I said it was all I had time for. She said she's going to miss me. I said I'll miss her too. She also invited me to stay at her place the next time I'm in London. Not sure when that'll be, but it's nice to know I have someone who'll take me in for a few nights. Yay!
Now I'm just sitting here with a trailing comment thread on my Facebook status littered with the inside jokes of class today. Longest comment thread on a status, ever! But it's cool. Wish I had this class more often if only for Matt and Shelby. They're good people.
No word on Sienko about a potential roommate yet. I wonder if she has time to look. No one at the house is paying extra if she's leaving, so she'll be pulling double-rent if she does decide to move. Kinda hoping she doesn't. Just seems easier on her to stay in one spot and walk the extra eight blocks after hockey games. Or drive. She does have a car and free parking.
Talked with Alison a little bit. Mostly about the small differences between the States and Britain. One of these days, I'm going to make a list of all the small differences. One of these days.
My short story is a collection of about 3 flash fictions all about people looking out their back windows to the same back alley of London (our stories had to have a strong London element in it). The main characters I focused on was a woman named Lorelai, an exchange student in a dorm, an old man in a townhouse, and a little boy whose parents fight a lot. The little boy is only mentioned, but I might get further into his story with the revised version.
Monica, overall, liked my story. She told me to stop using the word "interesting" so much and show us how the back ally is interesting. She also said that it would be cool to switch point of view when another character is mentioned. So instead of hearing these stories as three separate pieces, the reader will jump from person to person in one continuous narration. I find it interesting so I'm going to try it out. She also said to have less back story on the exchange student, and to cut out the old man's daughter and the dialogue between them in the final bit. So I'm going to have to think about this for a little bit. But it's okay -- I have a few weeks yet.
Decided to wander afterwards. Didn't feel like going back home or waiting three hours for my next class. I attempted to walk all the way from the Regent Street campus to the Marlyebone campus. But then I got distracted by a wrong turn (as I'm wont to do) and found myself on New Bond Street, which is home to a lot of high end designer names like Louie Batton and Gucci and I even stopped to look at a Prada bag. I saw a Tiffany and Co, but I was too shy to go in. Here I am, grungy little American, walking into high class Tiffany's. Maybe with a friend, but not alone. Too self conscious. (What? Me? Self-conscious? Yeah.)
Stopped at a Boots to get lunch (forgot to make a sandwich this morning). Sandwich had turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on it. It was really good. Ate my lunch in Green Park near Buckingham Palace. If you're wondering how I got from New Cavendish Street to Green Park, I took New Bond Street. I can now connect my campus area to Buckingham Palace. To which I can connect to Parliament Square, to which I can connect to the Waterloo area which houses my dorm. Yay. Now if only I can connect Oxford Street to Bloomsbury, I'll be golden.
Internship toolkit was awesome today. We worked on interviewing and did practice interviews in groups of three. Except I worked with Shelby and Matt, both hail from the University of Denver. But our sense of humor is of the ridiculous and random sort, which makes me feel at home because that's the sense of humor my friends have back there. So today we joked about . . . well . . . actually, I can't say what we talked about because Mom would get mad at me for it. She'll remind me who reads this blog and subtly hint that I should keep things family friendly. So I will. But these were mock interviews that had us laughing the entire class period, and it raised my spirits considerably. Inside jokes include chinchilla farming, Jedi mind tricks, and 4 year-olds. Their interactions with each other is another matter entirely.
Shelby and I determined that we'll be going on the London Eye Sunday at 6:00p. Matt also asked about seeing Harry Potter this weekend, to which I said "YES. Sunday afternoon works best for me." We'll see if that works out, though. HP is huge here too. I don't know if there are even tickets left for this weekend. But no loss in checking.
Was talking with Vanessa as we made dinner together. She was making her dinner, I was making mine, they just happened to be at the same time. Anyway, she was saying how she couldn't believe I'm only going to be here for one term and asked why. I said it was all I had time for. She said she's going to miss me. I said I'll miss her too. She also invited me to stay at her place the next time I'm in London. Not sure when that'll be, but it's nice to know I have someone who'll take me in for a few nights. Yay!
Now I'm just sitting here with a trailing comment thread on my Facebook status littered with the inside jokes of class today. Longest comment thread on a status, ever! But it's cool. Wish I had this class more often if only for Matt and Shelby. They're good people.
No word on Sienko about a potential roommate yet. I wonder if she has time to look. No one at the house is paying extra if she's leaving, so she'll be pulling double-rent if she does decide to move. Kinda hoping she doesn't. Just seems easier on her to stay in one spot and walk the extra eight blocks after hockey games. Or drive. She does have a car and free parking.
Talked with Alison a little bit. Mostly about the small differences between the States and Britain. One of these days, I'm going to make a list of all the small differences. One of these days.
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