Meghan Fischer came to visit for a day on Saturday. Amazing, random, and VERY much appreciated. It was nice to have a bit of home in my new home. We had a full day and she was such a trooper, only working off of about 45 minutes of sleep! She took the majority of the pictures, so I'll be stealing them once she puts them up.
Meghan got into London about 10am and we went straight from Heathrow to my flat for her to drop her things off and freshen up. Then it was off to the Twinings shop and a look at my library and campus. We popped into Somerset House for a look around and I told her about the ice rink they do in the winter. Side note, I CAN'T WAIT for that to open!!! :-) Then it was off across Waterloo Bridge so she could see Southbank, the Eye and get a picture of the quintessential backdrop of the London skyline. From there, we walked back across the pedestrian/rail bridge and hopped a tube at Embankment to Baker Street. The first stop was supposed to be 221b Baker Street, home of the famous Sherlock Holmes. After being turned around several times, because I'm still learning my way around parts of London, we decided that we would catch it on the way back and made our way over the 3 Abbey Road, home of the Abbey Road Studios and the well known zebra crossing. When we got there, there was a large group of people the heaps of props. Everything from blow up dolls with their friends faces on them, to wigs, big glass, boas, and yes, even a mask of QE2. I've got a picture of them up on my facebook. It was so funny. The lady shooting the pictures for the group was so nice and asked if we'd gone across yet. We both said no, and she offered to take our pictures! Meghan has them on her camera, so I'm excited to see them! Then we walked over to the wall and read messages and took pictures of the studio. We went into a couple of shops that had rock memorabilia before heading over to 221b Baker Street. Then back on the tub to head over the Knightsbridge. Stopped in to look around, saw the memorial, and went into the foot court so that Meghan could get somethings for her family. We also looked in a couple of clothing stores around the area before heading back to my flat. This was all from 10am-7:30pm and she didn't say anything about being tired. NBD.
After getting dinner and going to Sainsbury to get a couple mixers, it was off to Anna's house to have a couple drinks with her and her cousin before heading out dancing. We decided on Zoo bar in Leicester Square because it was within walking distance. When we got there, the guards at the door were turning people away, so Meghan put on her charm, and we promptly jumped the queue and were admitted in! It was packed, but we finally found a place to dance. Meghan and I were dancing when out of nowhere some guy grabbed her and started dancing, leaving me on the wall. I wasn't exactly happy, but oh well. Then these two guys were on their way to use the toilets, and the older one... and I mean older one, he was probably in his 40s, decided he needed to chat me up. Naturally, I told him my name was Stacy and tried to be as kurt with him as I possibly could. He just didn't get it. He kept telling me that he was the most beautiful, fit girl he's ever seen. Fine, I appreciate that. That does NOT, however, give you permission to proceed to push my back off the wall so you can grab my butt and proceed to tell me, "You have a nice bum, because I've just felt it." That also doesn't mean, that since you've done that, that I will want to dance with you afterwards. I tried to Meghan's attention, but she was facing the other way, so I moved to walk over to her side, and the old guy grabs my waist and starts... well I guess the best way to describe it is humping me from behind. OH NO NO NO NO NOOO!!! Meghan finally turned around, saw this, and we made moves to the bathroom. Not before the gross old man decided it was okay to smack my ass while I was walking away. EW! Anyways, we went in, fixed ourselves, and made our way as quickly as possible back out, basically running past where we had been, to the Hip-Hop room where we found Anna and her cousin. Such a welcome change from the packed House music room. Don't get me wrong, I love to club to that music, but you can never go wrong with hip hop. We stayed in there for the rest of the night until the club closed.
While walking out, some man in a tuxedo, no less, wanted Meghan to look him up on facebook. So strange. After getting his name, we started to walk home. I should also mention, that for the majority of the night, I was speaking in an English accent that was passing off as a good one. Even Anna's cousin, who is from France, said it was good. Go me! There are a couple videos Meghan took... I'm interested to see how those are. :-) We hopped on the bus and met some fit lads that had just been at the same club we were. Meg wasn't very talkative, but the guys and I took turns taking the mickey out of each other until it was our turn to get off. In hindsight, I probably should've
I took her back to Heathrow this morning so she could catch her flight. I was sad to see her go, but I'm so glad she came. I'm now doing research for the first small essay assignment that I will be writing all day tomorrow. 1500 words is nothing, so I'm not that bothered by it, but I'd rather have the research done now, so that when I got to the SOAS library tomorrow, all I have to do is find the books there that I need, pick a spot, crack open my laptop, and start typing away.
Speaking of facebook, if you haven't seen The Social Network, go see it! Not only is it a good movie, but Andrew Garfield is a cutie! I also can't wait to see Never Let Me Go.
Back to research, I'm afraid. Love you all!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly, all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Alright gang, you wanted me to have an adventure? Well I had one on Tuesday this week.
As I'm sure you've all read by now, I fell down a flight of stair at the SOAS library. Funny thing is, I was en route to getting a book that's not available in the Kings library that had an article I needed to read for a class. Shows how much dedication I've got to academia I suppose. I guess you could say I'm okay. Nothing's broken, but my legs are both swollen, heavily bruises and cut up. The right leg has gone down a bit, but my left leg looks like a fat person's My right arm has some skin missing too. Gotta love it. I was walking down the stairs and I don't know what happened, but next thing I knew, I was falling down a flight of stairs, with a full backpack on and a dress. Thankfully, people were around to help me stop myself before I hit the bottom. My shoes flew off and were at the bottom on the floor below. A guy picked them up and brought them to me and asked if I needed water or to call the lift. I said I was fine but he was very persistent. He helped me sit down and I told him I was fine again and that he could leave. As soon as he left I started crying, because it hurt that bad. Some girl saw me and asked if I was okay, because it is strange to see someone crying on the steps inside a library. I said I was fine, that I had just fallen. After a couple of minutes I finally got up and got to the stacks where the book was and took it to the photo copier. I did not even notice until I looked down to grab the copies that my left leg was bleeding through my tights. Awesome. So I walked around the city all day with blood stained tights and a limp.
Since then, as I've said, my left leg has gotten worse. You can see pictures on facebook. It's pretty bad. I'm actually freaked out about how it looks. I don't think it's broken. You wouldn't be able to walk if it were broken, right? I don't know.
I had plans for the weekend, but I think I am going to have to stay in with my foot propped up on the one pillow I have. :-( I need a mommy right now.
I hope you all are doing well! Love you and miss you!
As I'm sure you've all read by now, I fell down a flight of stair at the SOAS library. Funny thing is, I was en route to getting a book that's not available in the Kings library that had an article I needed to read for a class. Shows how much dedication I've got to academia I suppose. I guess you could say I'm okay. Nothing's broken, but my legs are both swollen, heavily bruises and cut up. The right leg has gone down a bit, but my left leg looks like a fat person's My right arm has some skin missing too. Gotta love it. I was walking down the stairs and I don't know what happened, but next thing I knew, I was falling down a flight of stairs, with a full backpack on and a dress. Thankfully, people were around to help me stop myself before I hit the bottom. My shoes flew off and were at the bottom on the floor below. A guy picked them up and brought them to me and asked if I needed water or to call the lift. I said I was fine but he was very persistent. He helped me sit down and I told him I was fine again and that he could leave. As soon as he left I started crying, because it hurt that bad. Some girl saw me and asked if I was okay, because it is strange to see someone crying on the steps inside a library. I said I was fine, that I had just fallen. After a couple of minutes I finally got up and got to the stacks where the book was and took it to the photo copier. I did not even notice until I looked down to grab the copies that my left leg was bleeding through my tights. Awesome. So I walked around the city all day with blood stained tights and a limp.
Since then, as I've said, my left leg has gotten worse. You can see pictures on facebook. It's pretty bad. I'm actually freaked out about how it looks. I don't think it's broken. You wouldn't be able to walk if it were broken, right? I don't know.
I had plans for the weekend, but I think I am going to have to stay in with my foot propped up on the one pillow I have. :-( I need a mommy right now.
I hope you all are doing well! Love you and miss you!
Monday, October 11, 2010
I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round, I really love to watch them roll. No longer riding on the merry-go-round, I just had to let it go.
Taking a break from my weekly reading to write you, my dearest loved ones.
Headline News:
Dear US Direct Loans office, department, red tape, etc; You are the ONLY thing ruining my time in London. Because you don't know how to do things in a timely manner, I will have been here a month without my promised money and it will have been 3 weeks since my school received my money that I will finally have it in my Barclays account. Get your act together.
Local News:
On Thursday Anna and I went to the Raindance Film Festival and saw a documentary done with Vice magazine called "The Vice Guide to Liberia". It was a very well done film in which 3 of the major former War Lords of Liberia were interviewed about how things really haven't changed since the wars in the 1990s. One former War Lord, General Rambo, said that if Charles Taylor some how gets off without any charges from the Hague and when the UN leaves, that children, yes children, are ready and willing to be child soldiers again. Liberia is in such dire need of help it's ridiculous. The UN is due to withdraw sometime this year or next. I strongly recommend seeing this if you can. Here's a link to an article about it: The Vice Guide to Liberia
Friday after class we all went to a local pub called The Knights Templar for a couple drinks and some conversation. Fiona, Katie and I got into a wonderful discussion about world affairs ranging from education, to politics, to country specifics in the US, Ireland, Israel & Palestine, Africa, and Asia. We talked about religion, beliefs, school topics, everything really. It was so so refreshing to actually have an academic and intellectual conversation with someone. I've really missed them. The three of us went through 2 bottles of wine. :-) Claire joined in too at one point and I have to admit, she is so amazing. I love her Irish accent! I thought we were only going to stay for a couple hours, but we actually ended up staying until almost midnight.
Yesterday, I went to a proper Sunday Roast at a local pub in Snaresbrook with a few people from my program. Katie and her husband live just up the road from the pub and tube station, so Saya, Radka, Simon, and myself met them for a nice Sunday lunch and a couple of drinks with some wonderful conversation from what we'd like to write our dissertation on to Monty Python. It was lovely to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for an afternoon and it made me think long and hard about the fact that once my contract is up in June for this place, I REALLY do not want to live here and to find a place to sublet or something for the 3-4 months I'll still be in country.
I was supposed to go to the Camden Market with a couple of people today, BUT as stated above, I have no money. Hoping to have it soon, because I really would like to go to market.
Music & Fashion:
Alright gang, if you haven't already, I STRONGLY recommend that you get Mark Ronson & The Business Int'l record "Record Collection". It is amazing. A true testament to what an amazing and innovative producer that Mark is. Mark also did a couple tracks for Wale on "Attention Deficit".
Also worth looking into if you already haven't:
Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand"
Freelance Whales - "Weathervanes"
Alright, if I had known 8 odd years ago that this trend was going to be the thing, I would have insisted on getting a letterman jacket. British people have a very funky sense of fashion that I very much welcome, but for some strange reason it's a cool thing to have. Weird. Ladies, some of you have been asking me what the fashion is like here.... so here it is. Wearing stockings/tights with shorts, and then flat dressy sneaker/boot looking things. It's hard for me to explain what the shoes look like. Another thing is to wear a sweater and shoes, and that's it. Nothing underneath (but hopefully knickers!). It's okay to mix prints and patters here as well.
One last note on fashion. Check on these shoes!
From Me
I really miss all of you. And I'm not counting down the days at all, but it's 2 months and a few days until I'm home again. I cannot wait to see you all again! Anyway, I better get back to my reading, but I love you all and I hope everything is going swimmingly on the other side of the pond!
Headline News:
Dear US Direct Loans office, department, red tape, etc; You are the ONLY thing ruining my time in London. Because you don't know how to do things in a timely manner, I will have been here a month without my promised money and it will have been 3 weeks since my school received my money that I will finally have it in my Barclays account. Get your act together.
Local News:
On Thursday Anna and I went to the Raindance Film Festival and saw a documentary done with Vice magazine called "The Vice Guide to Liberia". It was a very well done film in which 3 of the major former War Lords of Liberia were interviewed about how things really haven't changed since the wars in the 1990s. One former War Lord, General Rambo, said that if Charles Taylor some how gets off without any charges from the Hague and when the UN leaves, that children, yes children, are ready and willing to be child soldiers again. Liberia is in such dire need of help it's ridiculous. The UN is due to withdraw sometime this year or next. I strongly recommend seeing this if you can. Here's a link to an article about it: The Vice Guide to Liberia
Friday after class we all went to a local pub called The Knights Templar for a couple drinks and some conversation. Fiona, Katie and I got into a wonderful discussion about world affairs ranging from education, to politics, to country specifics in the US, Ireland, Israel & Palestine, Africa, and Asia. We talked about religion, beliefs, school topics, everything really. It was so so refreshing to actually have an academic and intellectual conversation with someone. I've really missed them. The three of us went through 2 bottles of wine. :-) Claire joined in too at one point and I have to admit, she is so amazing. I love her Irish accent! I thought we were only going to stay for a couple hours, but we actually ended up staying until almost midnight.
Yesterday, I went to a proper Sunday Roast at a local pub in Snaresbrook with a few people from my program. Katie and her husband live just up the road from the pub and tube station, so Saya, Radka, Simon, and myself met them for a nice Sunday lunch and a couple of drinks with some wonderful conversation from what we'd like to write our dissertation on to Monty Python. It was lovely to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for an afternoon and it made me think long and hard about the fact that once my contract is up in June for this place, I REALLY do not want to live here and to find a place to sublet or something for the 3-4 months I'll still be in country.
I was supposed to go to the Camden Market with a couple of people today, BUT as stated above, I have no money. Hoping to have it soon, because I really would like to go to market.
Music & Fashion:
Alright gang, if you haven't already, I STRONGLY recommend that you get Mark Ronson & The Business Int'l record "Record Collection". It is amazing. A true testament to what an amazing and innovative producer that Mark is. Mark also did a couple tracks for Wale on "Attention Deficit".
Also worth looking into if you already haven't:
Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand"
Freelance Whales - "Weathervanes"
Alright, if I had known 8 odd years ago that this trend was going to be the thing, I would have insisted on getting a letterman jacket. British people have a very funky sense of fashion that I very much welcome, but for some strange reason it's a cool thing to have. Weird. Ladies, some of you have been asking me what the fashion is like here.... so here it is. Wearing stockings/tights with shorts, and then flat dressy sneaker/boot looking things. It's hard for me to explain what the shoes look like. Another thing is to wear a sweater and shoes, and that's it. Nothing underneath (but hopefully knickers!). It's okay to mix prints and patters here as well.
One last note on fashion. Check on these shoes!
From Me
I really miss all of you. And I'm not counting down the days at all, but it's 2 months and a few days until I'm home again. I cannot wait to see you all again! Anyway, I better get back to my reading, but I love you all and I hope everything is going swimmingly on the other side of the pond!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
All these walls were never really there, nor the ceiling or the chair.
Well, it's hump day, but as I don't really have a set "week" per se anymore, it just feels like another day. Truth be told, days and weeks blur together rather than stand apart from one another. That can be good and bad. Good because it means I get to come home for break soon, but bad because my first term will be over in a mere 8 weeks now. Good because I will soon be a more educated woman who will, fingers crossed, get a job. Bad because before I know it, it will be time for me to leave this place that I'm ever so fond of.
Nothing really promotes a diet quite like being poor. Never mind that I've gone veg again. If this keeps up (if I need to go one more week without my loan money) I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe sooner than I thought I'd have to. Not exactly what I was going for.
I'm really enjoying my classes and the group of people I'm on this little academic journey with. Today I had my Critical Geographies of Terrorism class again, and I love that we have such a lively debate about pretty much everything brought up. Dannish, our professor, loves that we question him. A very welcome change from most of my professors in undergrad that wanted you to sit down and shut up. This is my favorite class so far. I'm sure I will love my Propaganda class also, if I ever hear back about it. While I love that everyone is so laid back here, it is a bit frustrating that no one gets back to you right away about things.
Now that being said, I GREATLY appreciate the fact that I do not have any exams. At all. It's all papers and a handful of presentations sprinkled around with a healthy dose of participation in there for good measure. We have weekly reading that will prepare us for the class, but they are mostly scholarly journals and articles. So, please, can someone explain to me, why, and this is rather interesting, only the handful of girls in our program, myself and Anna excluded, are FREAKING A GEEK out about this. One girl said she was up all night reading. FOR WHAT?! We've had one week of classes so far. Each has about 5-10 readings. Now, these are supplemental and you DO NOT have to read every single word of each one in order to go to lecture. If you want, you can use them in your papers, or go back to them later. Or you can be smart and use the days you don't have class, to get up early and read, and have the rest of the day to do whatever. I'm actually quite bored with my work load. I don't know if it's because, school wise, I'm used to being so busy that I forget to eat and 10pm rolls around, I've been up since 8am, and I wonder why I'm not feeling so well. I'm used to having 5-6 classes a week, with a million and one meetings, organizations & clubs, and what not piled on top. Am I missing something? Maybe there's something I missing, because this is the lightest work load I've had since, well, elementary school.
I'm working on getting a part-time job, either with the school or elsewhere. I've just emailed the Gates Foundation that has it's Europe office here in London to see if I can volunteer or get an internship. I'm also going to apply to be a student ambassador. I just need SOMETHING, because I'm going nuts with all the free time I have. I don't really like it, strange as that may sound and seem. Now this is an odd and morbid thought, but I have a feeling I'm headed to becoming one of those people that works themselves to death. Yikes. Here's to hoping that I'm wrong.
So how are all of you? I haven't heard from, well, most of you lately. I hope all is well. Please do write. It'll give me something to do. :-)
Love you all!
Nothing really promotes a diet quite like being poor. Never mind that I've gone veg again. If this keeps up (if I need to go one more week without my loan money) I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe sooner than I thought I'd have to. Not exactly what I was going for.
I'm really enjoying my classes and the group of people I'm on this little academic journey with. Today I had my Critical Geographies of Terrorism class again, and I love that we have such a lively debate about pretty much everything brought up. Dannish, our professor, loves that we question him. A very welcome change from most of my professors in undergrad that wanted you to sit down and shut up. This is my favorite class so far. I'm sure I will love my Propaganda class also, if I ever hear back about it. While I love that everyone is so laid back here, it is a bit frustrating that no one gets back to you right away about things.
Now that being said, I GREATLY appreciate the fact that I do not have any exams. At all. It's all papers and a handful of presentations sprinkled around with a healthy dose of participation in there for good measure. We have weekly reading that will prepare us for the class, but they are mostly scholarly journals and articles. So, please, can someone explain to me, why, and this is rather interesting, only the handful of girls in our program, myself and Anna excluded, are FREAKING A GEEK out about this. One girl said she was up all night reading. FOR WHAT?! We've had one week of classes so far. Each has about 5-10 readings. Now, these are supplemental and you DO NOT have to read every single word of each one in order to go to lecture. If you want, you can use them in your papers, or go back to them later. Or you can be smart and use the days you don't have class, to get up early and read, and have the rest of the day to do whatever. I'm actually quite bored with my work load. I don't know if it's because, school wise, I'm used to being so busy that I forget to eat and 10pm rolls around, I've been up since 8am, and I wonder why I'm not feeling so well. I'm used to having 5-6 classes a week, with a million and one meetings, organizations & clubs, and what not piled on top. Am I missing something? Maybe there's something I missing, because this is the lightest work load I've had since, well, elementary school.
I'm working on getting a part-time job, either with the school or elsewhere. I've just emailed the Gates Foundation that has it's Europe office here in London to see if I can volunteer or get an internship. I'm also going to apply to be a student ambassador. I just need SOMETHING, because I'm going nuts with all the free time I have. I don't really like it, strange as that may sound and seem. Now this is an odd and morbid thought, but I have a feeling I'm headed to becoming one of those people that works themselves to death. Yikes. Here's to hoping that I'm wrong.
So how are all of you? I haven't heard from, well, most of you lately. I hope all is well. Please do write. It'll give me something to do. :-)
Love you all!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
I said do me a favor and ask if you need some help. She said do me a favor and stop flattering yourself.
Hello all from a very laid back Sunday afternoon. I cannot believe how quickly this week has flown by. Or the fact that I have been in country for going on 3 weeks now. Madness. I finally figured out my course schedule for the most part. I have to wait until tomorrow to have it nailed down 100% from the War Studies department. I've asked to take either a course on Propaganda or US Foreign Policy, so I think it'll be a very well rounded enjoyable year of study. I'll have 4 classes this term and 2 next term, which will be helpful as I will be going full force into writing and getting my dissertation underway so that I can enjoy my summer rather than being hulled up in the library.
Anna, her friend, and myself went out last night to a club in Piccadilly Circus. First proper time I've been out since getting here. I think we all learned that we're probably not going back, not only due to the smelly men that you've heard about on my facebook, but also just because we don't really enjoy being trampled by stupid, drunk bitches. We wanted to have a "stand around our pocket book and shoes and just dance" moment, but that was literally impossible. Plus it was tenner to get in and the one drink I bough there was 6 quid. No thank you. We'll be looking for a better spot next weekend. I'm thinking the ones that don't look like they are trendy, that way, the smelly, can't speak English well foreign guys aren't in abundance.
Sorry I haven't really had any adventures yet. But the term is still young, and I've got 78 days to get some stories to tell you all when I get home for break. Hope you're all doing well. I really miss and love you all!
Anna, her friend, and myself went out last night to a club in Piccadilly Circus. First proper time I've been out since getting here. I think we all learned that we're probably not going back, not only due to the smelly men that you've heard about on my facebook, but also just because we don't really enjoy being trampled by stupid, drunk bitches. We wanted to have a "stand around our pocket book and shoes and just dance" moment, but that was literally impossible. Plus it was tenner to get in and the one drink I bough there was 6 quid. No thank you. We'll be looking for a better spot next weekend. I'm thinking the ones that don't look like they are trendy, that way, the smelly, can't speak English well foreign guys aren't in abundance.
Sorry I haven't really had any adventures yet. But the term is still young, and I've got 78 days to get some stories to tell you all when I get home for break. Hope you're all doing well. I really miss and love you all!
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