The mumblings and musings of an English Literature student from the University of Warwick on a year abroad at the University of Connecticut, USA. The excitements, misunderstandings, confessions, confusions and adventures that are part and parcel of a year in a very foreign country.
"I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything." — Bill Bryson
I would like to introduce to you Zannie (Left) and Sara (Right). You may be wondering why exactly I'm putting pictures of random dogs up on my blog and so I will explain.
It's that time of the semester: the end of modules: the last few classes... Finals. *insert dramatic music here*
So far I've had two and my last one starts in about an hour and then I will be finished with UConn 2011 and ready to return home to good ol' blighty. But that's not the story...
Any exams are stressful but when you're stuck on a campus in the middle of the Connecticut countryside and everyone is in the midst of stressful finals then the stress levels can probably be detected from within a 1 mile radius. And so, UConn, fabulous American university that it is, has come up with the most brilliant scheme that I think should be mandatory at all Universities all over the world during exam periods. It's entitled...
... and it is the work of a genius. This week a timetable has been posted on the library website scheduling the visits of various dogs. There's Mo the Boxer and Emmet the Australian Shepherd and Sebbi the Cocker Spaniel and, as pictured above, Zannie and Sara. They are here, I quote, "to help ease your stress!"
How brilliant is that?!
Not only are these dogs officially trained in therapy (yea I don't understand how that works either but hey ho), but they're also really, really cute. And fluffy. And cute. And a whole range of breeds have come throughout the week so you can get whatever canine-fix suits you. Now whoever was genius enough to come up with this idea I think deserves a medal because (asides from those unfortunate people with allergies) dogs really are man's best friend. They're cuddly and cute and asides from the occasionally slobber and dribble, you just want to snuggle up with them - it's exactly what you need when you've got a pile of revision to be doing!
A brilliantly cheesy Christmas story which I just have to share amidst all the finals and end of term stress. Below, I have posted a video which I have watched over and over after stumbling across it on facebook. But first a bit of background...
HMS Ocean, a Royal Navy Helicopter Carrier (sorry Gramps!) deployed in April for what they believed would only be a 7 week training exercise. Then all that excitement happened over in Libya and a seven week tour turned into a seven and a half month deployment. After 225 days out at sea the men (and women of course) arrived home this weekend just in time for Christmas, 17 of whom returned home to newly born babies!
To keep up morale and, well I imagine it must get pretty boring being out at sea for weeks on end stuck with the same old people, they made this video. Enjoy...
Mariah Carey, who's song is used in the video, tweeted;
"This is the best thing I've ever seen, you guys just made my day! Happy Happy Christmas!!! x0x0 to the troops."
Two years ago my dad was deployed in Afghanistan over Christmas and it definitely changed things. So to all those troops who haven't been able to make it back for the holidays, Merry Christmas and stay safe!
It is now roughly 9 days 19 hours and 10 minutes until my plane leaves chilly Boston to land in even chillier England! I am so excited. I can't even describe how excited I am. When I first booked my flights, months and months ago, I had planned to fly back on the Monday as I was told that exams run right up to the Sunday. However, having arrived here I of course learnt that my last exam was on the Friday and so I would have to wait patiently to go home. Not going to happen. I bought my flights through STA travel company (really good student deals if you haven't already discovered it!) and so was warned of all the charges that would be incurred if I decided to change by flight. But, last weekend, as a further attempt at procrastination I phoned Delta... After battling with trying to get my individual flight code ("sorry was that 'b' for 'ball' or 'p' for 'paul'") I was eventually put through to a lovely Delta lady who announced that my flight could be changed for the bargain price of $60 and not the $300 that various websites had been threatening. I was so excited. I immediately began preparing my surprise trip home during which I would ring on the doorbell and my unsuspecting sister would answer and scream and shout and there'd be tears of joy... or something along those lines. But as you can probably guess by the fact that I'm publishing this on the internet I fessed up. I got far too excited and bbmed the mother within minutes.. I love surprises, it's a shame I'm not very good at them. I will no longer have to wait an extra two days in an empty residence halls - I will finish my exams next friday, pack and the next morning jump on a bus, Boston bound and then on a plane to good ol' blighty.
Anyway's I'm telling you this random story because it's the first time that I've ever had a successful experience with an airline. I know I haven't flown yet and this blog is blatantly going to jinx everything (touchwood!) but I have been so impressed with Delta airlines that I feel I should share and advertise (/procrastinate a bit longer from this gigantic essay). Although the plane was a bit scruffy and the super-duper American air hostesses were just a tad annoying on my flight over, the entertainment, the food, the constant drink top ups, everything was pretty damn good. They even managed to switch around a few other passengers so that Emily and I could sit together.
I've had a fair few experiences of crossing the Atlantic, in fact to date I've gone back and forth around 10 times; not bad considering I'm only 19! Anyways, in the past the vast majority of my transatlantic trips have been horrifying. On one occasion I was lost. As in they physically lost me. Yep. My parents paid for me to fly unaccompanied minor (as I was only 12) to be transported to all my flights from Virginia to Washington to London and to safely cross the Atlantic and the mean man lost me. They then lost my ticket and it was only after turning on the waterworks that I was allowed onto my flight*. I've battled flights during tropical storms and a hurricane or two, I've been pulled aside on nearly every occasion to be searched and my baggage has been lost for days on end. So I'm hoping that my luck has changed and that my transatlantic crossing is care free. Snow, Volcanoes, incompetent travel assistants... nothing will stop be getting back to mulled wine and mince pies.
*Delta are good but never ever ever ever ever ever fly United. Ever.
So I know that I have been very, very silent for over a week and it is because I have steadily been drowning in my piles of work. I know, I know "that old excuse" but in true Molly Fletcher style I have left things slightly last minute and have thus got to complete a 6,000 words essay by Monday, a 1,500 word essay by next Friday, and somehow squeeze in some extra time to revise for those infamous finals. Oh the joys. But I am sure that you are not reading to hear about my boring Uni torments so I will tell you a story...
Several years ago I went on a camping holiday with my parents and my sister by the Okefenokee Swamp in the heart of Georgia. Yes you did read that correctly I, Molly Fletcher did go camping and Yes that is its real name. Obviously we did only go there so that we could say Okefenokee at the end of every sentence - "lets put up the tents" "Okefenokee", it never got old! Anyways it was absolutely beautiful. We rented a boat and went out onto the swamp where we saw hundreds (I literally mean hundreds) of alligators and turtles and all sorts of other cool creatures that you can't find in England. I highly recommend a trip if you happen to be in the area.
Onwards with the story. Asides from alligators, my parents had also warned my sister and I about bears. There were signs all around the camp site warning people to lock away all food in their cars and there were even bear-proof bins where we had to put any waste. As a precaution, my delightful father also informed my sister and I that it was Georgia State Law to carry special 'bear bells' when walking around the camp, especially at night. And so, of course, we wandered around shaking our bear bells completely oblivious to the strange looks/angry-for-disturbing-the-peace looks coming from the other happy campers and the fact that none of them were doing the same. Yep you guessed it, after two days we turned around to find the parents in absolute fits of hysterics at our gullibility. There wasn't really a threat of bears in such a busy area and I know there are some strange laws in America but wearing a bear bell is sadly not one of them.
From that day on it was a common story at the supper table in which both parents took great delight in humiliating both Hebe and I. But the story doesn't stop there. After hearing of my best friend's Izzie's fears of being attacked by a Muntjac (a small, and apparently vicious, deer) at her school my parents handed over the bell. Izzie no longer walked the creepy woodland path back to her dorm room at school in fear - she had her muntjac bell!
Daddy and his Bear/Muntjac/Taliban Bell
But no, the story doesn't stop there. In 2008 my dad was deployed to Afghanistan for the first of two six month tours and before he left Izzie returned the bell; it was now a Taliban Bell. Yes, I understand a bright, yellow, jingly bell probably wasn't the best deterrent but it was the thought that counts! AND it worked, he came back safe and sound and all in one piece so thank you mighty bear bell.
Anyways the reason that I am telling you this story is because while I'm here writing this blog the very same bear bell that you can see in the picture is hanging up behind me. So far it has been an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, snowstorm and now, ridiculous-work-load-bell. Don't fail me now!
Today is what is known as Black Friday. The day when shops (sorry 'stores') open up their doors at ridiculous hours of the night and morning to the hundreds and thousands of crazy shoppers desperate for ridiculously cheap deals: 42 inch plasma screen TVs for $200, cheap xboxes and one friend's Facebook status even informed me that machetes were on sale in Walmart for $8 . Bargain. It is the day after Thanksgiving when the traditional Christmas sales begin and the gaudy light displays and decorations go up. The Co-op* has already started stocking up on UConn Christmas tree decorations - it wouldn't be a proper tree without some proper Husky pride of course! The name 'Black Friday' supposedly derives from the large amount of traffic and road accidents that were always associated with the shopping extravaganza but now people also use it to term shops' profits going "from the red and into the black". It is crazy. You will all be pleased to know that although my browser may have strayed onto the Forever 21 website numerous times in the past 24 hours, and I have filled my 'shopping cart' with several items of clothing, I never made it past the checkout point. How's that for self restraint?!
In the time that I haven't spent perusing online shops, I have instead been sat in UConn writing my bajillion essays and counting down until the end of term. For the past few days the campus has been completely dead and now people are slowly starting to trickle back in. It's strange and also quite nice; the peace and quiet means that I can actually wake up in the morning and do some work - not quite sure how that is 'nice' in any sense but you know what I mean. I know that I will of course get to the end of my week long break and feel that I didn't accomplish nearly as much as I could have, but hey ho that's life.
In the mean time it's back to Malcolm X and his very long and rambling autobiography. Oh the joys...
*The on campus shop that stocks absolutely everything from UConn dog bones to a new Apple mac - most exciting shopping experience ever. It definitely beats costies at Warwick!
I will now continue with this weekends adventures picking up from Sunday afternoon...
We met David and his family in Times Square where we were introduced to what was supposedly the best Pizza in New York. A very big claim I have to say but they did not lie. It was amazing and from some tiny, rather sketchy looking, Middle Eastern deli. We were shown the amazing lifts inside the Marriott hotel by Times Square and were then taken to Bleecker Street where we were introduced to Rocco's; a Pastry shop and Espresso Cafe which will make your mouth water as soon as you see the window display. It is incredible. A mountain of pastries and cakes and delights to please everyone. The main reason we had come here was that David and his family had been shocked at the fact that Emily and I had never had a cannoli and oh my gosh had we been missing out.
Emily, David and Me in Rocco's
So for helping me on my way to food heaven I would like to thank the Korman's for their extreme hospitality these last few days and for introducing me to not only Cannolies, but Pumpkin Pie and Guacamole Hamburgers and numerous other treats and New York delicacies, I feel positively spoiled!
After our treats, Emily, David and I went to a show called Fuerza Bruta! It was amazing. It lasted just over an hour and for the entire performance the crowd was standing in a small space and would be moved about as the actors and various stages moved around with them. They ran about the sides of the walls and swam above us in/on a plastic floor type thing which was suspended from the roof and came right down to our heads so that the actors faces were just centimetres from us. It was incredible. I have absolutely no idea what the show was about or trying to say but it was cool enough just watching all the strange and different choreography. It did however result in lots of water falling from the ceiling and so we all got very soggy. It made for a rather chilly ride home but it was definitely worth it!
On Monday we woke up bright and early... ye just kidding, it was another lie in. We eventually got a train into New York, into Grand Central no less, and made our way once again to Bleecker Street so where I had my first sushi experience. It didn't go well. Now that I have tried good sushi, I think I can safely say that I'm not a fan. But the meal was soon rectified with a lovely, large slice of red velvet cheese cake from Rocco's. To make it even better, we had been massively over changed at the Sushi place so the cheesecake was technically free! I swear it tasted so much better because of it.
We then made our way to the Natural History Museum for our final touristy destination. Sadly most of the famous and well known exhibits were closed for a private event so we didn't get to see the massive whale hanging from the ceiling or the family of elephants and lions from the film Night at the Museum but it was still pretty cool to see. We made a swift tour of the dinosaur floor and stared at all the cool fossils and bones but didn't really have a proper read of anything. Although I did learn that humans share 98% of the same DNA with chimpanzees. Cool huh?!
Now I'm back in UConn where the work must continue... Happy Thanksgiving!
So I haven't blogged in a few days but I actually have the genuine excuse of having been too busy. My past few days have been action packed - so much so that I really don't know how I'm going to tell you everything but I'll give it a shot...
Emily and I arrived in New York City on the Friday afternoon and had a lazy evening with a film and some pretzels. I also savoured the opportunity to have some home cooked food! It was cooked by yours truly so it was nothing too special but given a choice between some roasted veggies and pesto pasta and the mush they serve here at Uconn, it was a treat! On Saturday we slept in. What?! We're on holiday! It was so nice having a comfy apartment to stay in over the weekend, we could wake up and make a cup of tea as we both checked the news and our latest blog stats and then plan the day ahead in our pjs! So to Ginny and Alan who kindly let us stay in their apartment over the weekend, thank you very, very much!
We then hopped on the number 5 bus so that we could see the city and headed to 55 w55th street (don't I sound like such a New Yorker!) where we rented some bikes. Yes you did read that correctly; Molly Fletcher went on a bike! And I cycled the entire 12km around Central Park and explored the different footpaths, and clambered over the rocks and saw the various sights.. It was absolutely amazing and something I highly recommend if you ever get the chance! I had only ever been to the South East corner of Central Park and so it was a great way to see it in its entirety. It's HUGE! Although I have to admit it was highly depressing when whilst struggling to make it up some of the super steep hills I was overtaken by various joggers some even pushing stollers! Their children would of course be sitting in the front playing with an ipad; 21st century kids!
Emily and Me
on our way to the top of Belvedere Castle, Central Park.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the city and marvelling at the various Christmas decorations which will be lit this coming weekend. Some shops already had their gaudy displays up for the public and were truly blinding! We strolled around the New York Public Library which is absolutely amazing. However it's possibly THE most intimidating building I've ever been to, I have no idea how people could work in there!
Outside the New York Public Library
Again Saturday evening saw us curled up in bed at 9pm with a cup of tea and a film - what a crazy student life I'm living! The busy day cycling took it out of us! On the Sunday morning we had intended on getting up early but, typically, my phone ran out of battery in the middle of the night and so my alarm didn't go off. Great. But these things happen... and we did get an extra hour in bed so I was definitely not complaining! Our initial plan had been to go ice skating in Central Park but we realised that this probably wasn't the best idea. We are both very 'special', to say the least, and 'special' combined with slippery ice and relatively sharp ice skating boots is probably not the best combination. So we avoided any potential run ins with our insurance companies and settled with the safe option: The Bronx Zoo. It was brilliant. Totally worth the 45 min or so subway ride there. It's absolutely massive and because we went on a Sunday the park was almost empty. There were Lions and Tigers and Bears (oh my) and the little girl in me came out as I sat for hours watching the gorilla, who was sat right next to the glass, and followed the tiger as it strolled along the edge of its cage. I of course cracked numerous awful "bear with me" jokes when we passed the bear enclosure and "deer oh deer" comments as we passed the gazelles. Geez I crack myself up.
See what I mean about an action packed weekend?! I feel that you will all probably want to be getting back to your own lives now and will now be thoroughly jealous and annoyed at the amazing weekend that I have so far described! So I will give you a breather to calm down because my weekend away only gets better. But I will save that instalment until tomorrow....
It is finally Thanksgiving break. After 13 weeks at UCONN this is our first proper time off and it is sooo needed! I am, once again, in New York. I woke up early yesterday (Friday) morning hopped on a Peter Pan bus where I had one of those lovely and bizarre encounters with a complete and utter stranger: our two lives collided together for a very brief period and have now gone their separate ways.
So, to Jodi. The girl whom I sat, in very close proximity to, for three hours on a bus to New York. We talked and chatted about our lives and our travels and our experiences from America and around the world and it was absolutely lovely. It was the sort of experience that, amidst tonnes of work and reading to do, reminded me why I love travelling and exploring new places. Jodi, if you do get around to reading my blog, then firstly I am absolutely flattered and secondly it was absolutely lovely to meet you and I hope you have a lovely stay in New York and Boston and the rest of your travels!
It put me in a good mood. Emily and I had planned this trip rather last minute and so we came up on separate buses because of our different schedules. So, on top of the panic about work and exams and general homesickness I also had the worry of getting to New York by myself, on time, navigating the subway and somehow finding the apartment where we are staying. All by myself. I've travelled a lot. I spent three years flying between England and America I've been to Spain and Portugal with friends and last year I went interrailing through Italy and Greece with a friend from school. On none of those travels was I by myself however and although I know I'll be fine I panic. I panic a lot.
But I made it and I have just had a lovely day mooching around Manhattan. But I will tell you about all those adventures tomorrow... For now... It's Chinese take out time :)
In my previous blog I mentioned Jeremy Lamb's amazing slam dunk during Friday's game. So when I saw it pop up on facebook I couldn't resist sharing it with you all. Enjoy...
Kara, Alison, Emily and me next to the NCAA trophy
So I have just returned from my first Husky basketball game and I am still buzzing. It was incredible. I'm not a sporty person; I've never particularly enjoyed watching sports, I just enjoy the atmosphere and the team spirit and all that comes with supporting a team but I usually get bored very quickly. This is largely due to the fact that I don't understand any sport but tonight that all changed - not the understanding part, just the enjoying! For the entire duration of the game I was utterly engrossed! Cheering and clapping and shouting; my eyes were focused on the ball which whizzed back and forth across the court over and over. And the players. OMG the players. One of them, is 7ft 1! I found myself walking behind him on my way to class the other day and I literally came up to his knees. Even the smaller players (we're still talking around 6ft here!) jump so high and spring about the court effortlessly placing the ball in the net as though it's the simplest thing in the world.
Last year the UCONN Huskies were the National Champions and so I was forewarned that our game against Columbia would probably be an easy win. I was a tad disappointed when I heard this as I wanted to see a good game. By good game I mean one like the game against Syracuse which will be in February. They are rivals from up state New York and tickets for that game are already going on sale for $50/60 (about £30) - crazy huh! And I've already heard talk about people camping out days in advance to get tickets. That is dedication. So I settled with my Columbia game and I was not disappointed! It was incredible. It was fast paced and action packed and there was not a moment of boredom! Although we were quite clearly in the lead from the beginning I would still say Columbia put up a pretty good fight.
Despite this there was the same appalling sportsmanship from the football game. When the opposing teams' players came onto the court, everyone turned their backs and shouted "SUCKS" after each players name was called out, It was horrible I was almost embarrassed. But I have to admit that by the end of the game I found myself booing and cheering with everyone else. Who knew I had a rival sporty streak in me.
There were some definite highlights to the game; one of which I'm not even going to try and explain but it resulted in Jeremy Lamb slamdunking the ball into the net - 'Lamb Slam!'. The other brilliant moments were at the beginning; As I mentioned in my previous blog it's Veterans Day today and so a Veteran led the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the game.... except he said it wrong! Then when they tried to unveil the banner recording last year's NCAA championship win the veil didn't come off... Jonathan the Husky (our Mascot) ended up lifting up a small boy from the crowd to pull it down. It was hilarious.
All in all it was a very good night topped off with a fabulous slice of pizza from the Union. I think I may have just found a sport I enjoyed watching, and it's funny, because none of the players were even that hot...
Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, 1915
I realised yesterday whilst sitting in my World War 1 Literature class that I'm not wearing a poppy. As an army brat myself it feels strange to think that I will not sit through a service this weekend and hear the harrowing tones of "the Last Post" ripple through me. I will not watch army and navy displays and parades and hear prayers and poems in remembrance of those who fell and those who are still falling.
I'm sure my English readers all know the significance of wearing the poppy but having spoken to some American friends on my corridor and asked them whether they were familiar with it at all I was met with blank faces. I have to stay I was a tad shocked. Particularly after learning from the BBC this week that the Poppy Appeal began in America and that the poppy became a national symbol for remembrance in America in 1920, a year before Britain.
So for my American readers who have never come across this concept before here is a brief overview:
In the aftermath of the First World War, the fields of war torn France suddenly turned red as poppies began to flourish in the battle-scarred earth. With the publication of John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields (shown above)in 1915 the poppy gained recognition as a symbol of loss and remembrance after the war. It represented those who had fallen through its startling red blaze but also highlighted the potential for new life and growth in the aftermath of such destruction. In 1918, two days before peace, an American secretary began selling poppies to raise funds for ex-soldiers. Two years later the poppy became the national symbol for remembrance. Today in Britain everyone wears poppies: The judges on x-factor will be wearing poppies, all the news reporters will be wearing poppies and all the politicians and so on. On Friday November 11th, the day of the armistice, the Queen will lay a wreath of poppies below the war memorial in London and the same thing will be done at all the memorials in the towns and cities across England. Last year, 45 million poppies were distributed across the UK and 3 million are sent to countries outside the UK including Cyprus, Argentina and Sri Lanka*.
Here in America the armistice anniversary has been replaced with Veterans Day where Americans pay their respects to all those who were in the services and who still are - much the same as in England - but the symbol of the poppy has been lost. America wasn't involved in the First World War nearly as much as England and the other Allied forces, as they only joined in 1917 so I can understand why they choose to commemorate Veterans Day instead. However, I think it's a shame that what could have been such a world (well, almost-world) unifying symbol seems to have merely died out.
So for now, youtube will have to suffice. This is The Last Post...
Today we had yet another fire alarm. Disturbed from my deep concentration whilst trying to complete a presentation which was due in a few hours (although I didn't actually end up doing it) I was forced up off my bed and out into the cold. Not cool. For my Warwick friends, I envy you. For you are now out of halls and in your own houses and so no longer have the annoyance of fire alarms going off at various times of the day and night. For all my other friends currently living in halls (yes that includes you Izzie, Lucy and Poppy*) I bet I can safely say that you all experienced at least one fire alarm during the hilarity that is Freshers** and if you didn't, then you obviously didn't do Freshers properly!
While fire alarms in Warwick were horrible, with people deliberately setting them off at 3am for a laugh (I still have failed to learn how dragging 300 people out of their beds into the freezing cold is funny but hey), here they are just a joke. The reason being that Emily and I are in what appears to be a disabled room. So, along with the piercing, screaming sirens and alarms accompanied by the annoying nasal voice repeating over and over again "May I have your attention***, a fire emergency has been activated please exit the building" we also have the joy of some form of strobe light which I swear to you has damaged my retinas for life! The first (and so far only - touch wood) time that the alarm went off in the middle of the night and I was awoken by this horrible, flashing abomination, I literally thought the world had come to an end. It was the apocalypse. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear. It was terrifying.
We never did learn what the fire alarm today was over but there was a very suspicious guy who came out of the building several minutes after everyone else wearing dark glasses and no shoes...
*And who said I never mentioned you?! **Freshers week in England is the first 1/2 weeks of University which is just basically a massive party organised by the University and various clubs during which everyone gets drunk and acts stupid. ***Will the real Slim Shady please stand up... sorry, couldn't resist.
Today I experienced my very first Football game. That's right American Football. The sport from the Blind Side and Remember The Titans - two brilliant films which if you haven't already seen, then you should! It was amazing. For starters 'College Ball' here is huge. It's broadcast on the TV and hundreds of people come and support, it's massive. I'm not a big sports follower, in fact I realised today that, other than going to football games at my Middle School in Virginia which don't really count, I'd never before been to a big stadium and watched a big sports match. Despite this I was shocked at the sheer number of people camped outside the stadium; the number of people drinking and cooking hamburgers and hot dogs from the back of their trucks at 10 o' clock on a Saturday morning. My first introduction to 'tailgating' - a party held from the boot, sorry 'trunk' of someone's car or, ideally, truck. It was a mass sea of 'true blue', the UCONN colours ('colors') and there were husky paw prints along the road because the husky is of course our school mascot.
There was a marching band who were amazing and there were not-quite-so-cheerful-cheerleaders and the mascot running around the field.. pitch? And last but not least the actual game. It was a whole fanfare of events, there was not a moment of boredom. In between people shaking their keys to distract the opposite team and people dancing to try and get on the camera and general cheering and swearing at the refs it was one very exciting experience.
Despite this I have to also say that I have never seen such bad sportsmanship. Everyone was so mean to Syracuse - the opposing team. I mean come on give them a break they have to wear bright orange for starters, yuk! I've never heard such bad language in all my time here as people swore at opposing players and our quarterback who apparently isn't very good - I mean he did keep dropping the ball or something but give him a break he must be roughly the same age as us and he has alllll these people watching him. It was probably largely to do with the aforementioned 'tailgating' and the fact that most people there were pretty off their faces.
I'm afraid I can't tell you who won because we got cold and left early. That and the fact that these games last for hours! Although the players only play for a total of 1 hour broken up into four 15 minute quarters, the first quarter lasted for roughly 45 minutes! They faff. I mean I know I faff but seriously?! They stop and start and show various adverts and then parade cute little boy scouts across the pitch and then play for a few more minutes and then stop and start throwing free stuff at you and then play for another 30 seconds and then stop while the marching band marches around a bit and on it goes and on...
My previous two blogs (about Skype and Home) have got me thinking about how I am surviving this year abroad. I am really enjoying it: it's different and it's interesting and although part of me is counting down the day until I go home (where my Mummy does my laundry!) I know that I am going to miss my little room in Storrs that has become my home. And it is exactly that which explains my survival in what is very much a "foreign country"! Yes I understand the blondeness of that comment but you know what I mean*! There are a number of things, without which, I would most definitely not survive:
1. Crazy Montage of Photos - As you can see my entire wall is covered in photo's of everyone. Well, pretty much everyone there are still a few more that need printing off. There's nothing like waking up with the view of some crazy drunken moments to look back on or simply just a silly picture which always brings a smile to my face.
2. Tea - You may be able to spot the kettle located strategically next to my bed and also the mug and, hiding at the back, my thermos. Tea. I am the grumpiest person without it and American tea just doesn't cut it. So far I have finished my first box of 150 earl grey tea bags and apparently my second is in the post! In the mean time I am living off supplies brought by Emily's, dad last week (Thanks Andy!) so I have not turned into a horrible, caffeine, deprived monster... yet.
3. My Blackberry - oh wonderful device, centre of my life through which I get my emails and my beloved BBM. As I have no doubt mentioned, Nick (the bf - urgh I hate how cheesy that sounds) and I talk constantly and one medium is of course BBM. However, I also BBM my mother and my sister and my friends to organise those all important Skype sessions. And when class is really, really dull, all you need is a Blackberry conveniently hidden under the desk, it's amazing. However my Blackberry also holds my calendar and, as of recently, my tasks list. Another form of procrastination (Queen of it remember?!) is to add all my things to do onto a task list in Outlook which then gets magically put onto my Blackberry when I plug it in. It's amazing.
3. Emily's Wall Planner - I really should get a picture to show you all because it is fabulous. Just truly outstanding. At the beginning of term, Emily (my room mate - http://hereornear.blogspot.com/) drew out a massive wall calendar which includes all the work we have to do, where we have to be etc and at the end of each day she crosses it off so that I can visibly see the countdown until the end of the semester.
4. Actually I feel I should add Emily on here. She lives with my rants and my crazy tea addiction and my occasional strange moments where I break into dance - yep that actually happens. She also gives me death stares whenever I say 'elevator' rather than 'lift' or 'candy' not 'sweets'. I will not turn American.
I'm sure there is plenty more that can be added to the list but those are the ones that spring to mind. So if you're planning a year abroad make sure you have all addictions covered, you've got laptop (with skype) and smart phone and you've got a room mate who's obsessively, compulsively, organised and you're sorted!
As of next week I will officially have been here for 11 weeks. This means that as of tomorrow I will be coming to the end of week 10 of this semester. In Warwick our terms are only 10 weeks long and so I can definitely feel my body winding down to what should be the end of term. I am exhausted. Not least because my Beach Body class last night was super intense. So much so that I can no longer sit down without wincing from the burning ache in my thighs and gluts... too much information? Sorry!
The countdown for homecoming has most definitely begun and I will be touching down at London Heathrow in roughly 6 and a half weeks! Yippee! But do you want to know what I'm most looking forward to? Of course my family and my boyfriend* and my comfy bed etc. However, I am reallly looking forward to going to the pub. In particular, this pub: The New Inn. Because I really, really like this pub, its cute and small and despite being called 'The New Inn' it is apparently the oldest pub in my home town, Salisbury. Oh the irony. I cannot wait to go inside away from the cold, to sit in front of the warm fire and to go up to the bar and order a really nice, big, juicy pint of cider. Or, my personal favourite, a vodka cranberry, with a hint of lime. My mouth is currently watering. I pledge that no matter how tired and jet lagged I am on the night I arrive home I WILL go to the pub and LEGALLY have a drink. That is my right.
* He's called Nick by the way. He told me off last time for simply referring to him as 'my boyfriend', apparently he has a name...
I feel I should take the time to mention Skype. It is, without a doubt, amazing, and, I do not hesitate to call it the greatest invention of the 21st century. That's right I said it. I cannot currently think of any other inventions of the 21st century with which to compare it to... but I'm sure they all crumble in comparison. The other day I called my boyfriends mobile from my laptop for mere pennies! In fact, I've called his number from my American phone for mere pennies because Skype gave me an American number to call which magically got me through to his phone. It's amazing. I don't understand how in any way this can possible work so I've narrowed it down to what can only be the truth... it's magic.
I watched THIS interesting article the other day about a strange Canadian man who releases hundreds of bottles with messages inside them into the ocean every year waiting for replies. Now while it turns out it isn't quite as Romantic as it seems as he bulk buys bottles and bulk prints his messages I still liked the idea that he is trying to reach the rest of the world the old fashioned way. 20 odd years ago my parents were separated as Daddy went off to Sandhurst (aka Army school!) and Mummy was still in college. Then Daddy went off to various silly wars and Mummy went travelling and so on. They drifted apart and got back together bajillions of times because of this constant coming and going and it was largely because of their inability to communicate. They didn't have Skype in the good ol' days and there was no other simple/cheap alternative. In comparison, I speak to my boyfriend every day without fail via Facebook and Skype and BBM - I fly across the Atlantic and I still can't get rid of him... jokes! This weekend I have spent hours talking to my friends from Uni and from home and it's just so lovely that we can easily stay in touch. I probably wouldn't be brave enough to have come here if it wasn't for the fact that I can easily talk to my family and friends and get a daily dosage of that good old English accent which I do so adore!
So, to the powerful magical fairies that control Skype, thank you.
As I've mentioned before (Here!) I have been taking various exercise classes this semester in an effort to balance out my increased fatty diet.. pancakes, waffles, fries, pizza.. I'm living in America people, it can't be helped! Anyways, on Friday I forgot about my pilates class and so instead Rachel and I decided to brave a new class, the class of all classes... Zumba.
Now for all of you who have absolutely no idea what Zumba is here is the description that Bodywise (my gym) gives: "Ditch the workout and join the party! Zumba is a dance aerobics class that combines Latin-inspired rhythms along with pop music to create a fun and energizing workout for all fitness levels." Still not getting it? Well here's a youtube vid. Now all fitness dvds are hilarious so this doesn't quite do it justice but you get the picture...
You laughing yet? Now imagine me attempting to do that!!! So along we went to the busiest Bodywise class; a class that is always full no matter how much snow is piling up outside...
It was hilarious. The instructor was the most enthusiastic gym instructor I have ever had. She spent the entire hour singing along to all the songs and "shakin' her booty" to the various Beyonce and salsa songs that came on as we all tried desperately to make our bums and hips move the same way. It wasn't happening but boy was it fun trying. I've just given Emily a mini demonstration of my Zumba experience and I'm now struggling to put into words my actions. Needless to say Emily was in hysterics at my attempts to simultaneously 'shimmy' and wiggle my hips and move across the room in a salsa beat. Coordination isn't my strong point.
It was fun, even if I was completely humiliated at having to shake my bum in some poor unsuspecting stranger's face. Despite that I am definitely planning on making it part of my weekly schedule mainly because it's such a giggle and who doesn't want a giggle while exercising! If you get a chance, I highlyyy recommend it, though go with friends and prepare to make a fool of yourself, it's inevitable!
The BBC really weren't kidding when they announced that a blizzard was due to strike the east coast which would dump up to 10 inches of snow upon us. Nope. They really weren't kidding.
Within the space of about 2 hours the level of snow went from this...
to this...
crazy huh?! I feel it is appropriate to mention that I am in fact smiling in both of these photos which is a great feat considering how much I dislike snow. I know that statement is shocking to many but, come on people, it's frozen water falling from the sky! FROZEN WATER! What is there to like!?
I would also like to tell you of my near death experience because of the aforementioned frozen water: I know on the BBC it's reporting that power outages (HA how American do I sound?!) are likely and this is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, America's power cables are all above ground and so any trees which fall down in the 40mph winds are likely to strike one. Secondly, the trees are more likely to fall because it's unseasonable early for there to be this much snow and so many trees still have their leaves. The snow combined with the leaves equals really, really heavy weight which the trees can't carry and so fall over or snap or bend or all of the above.
Now it is because of these heavily burdened trees that I almost died... well ish... Rachel and I were casually walking back from the bus stop admiring the snow and marvelling at our amazing snow coats and boots. We were about to cross a road when we heard loud cracks and, looking up, we saw that the tree across the road was practically at a right angle until... SNAP. It cracked and came plunging down to the ground. We ran for our lives... no I'm kidding we were completely out of range but if it had happened ten seconds later, we might not have been! It was a large branch and it was completely blocking the road so we, obviously, got really excited about the possibility of pressing one of the emergency buttons that are situated every 100 metres or so around campus. Sadly Luckily a UCONN snow clearing man was just up the road and was able to radio through to warn about the blockage so we did not have to run to the nearest emergency button - typically we were bang in the middle of two, sods law.
So it is official. The snow has arrived. It's very, very cold and I've cracked out my big, puffy snow jacket and my amazing new Timberland snow boots. But I'm still cold. I've piled on fluffy socks, wool scarfs, layers and fleeces and guess what I'M STILL COLD. It is now that I should take a moment to thank my darling mother for giving me next-to-no circulation. So, thank you Mummy, I love you very much but REALLY?! You're killing me here!
I know lots of you strange, weird, crazy people are probably very jealous of the FROZEN WATER that was falling from the sky last night and, while I'm not a fan - as you may have guessed - I have to say that New England snow... well it's much better than Old England snow. It's not as damp and pathetic and horrible, its proper snow. Post card type of snow that you see in films and on posters that falls in great big drifts from the sky.
Now I really have to laugh because whilst writing this blog a friend of mine has just posted this news article on my facebook. A weather warning for the East coast. Up to 10 inches of snow expected. Greeeattt. You really can't make this stuff up!
"This is very, very unusual. It has all the look and feel of a classic mid-winter nor'easter. It's going to be very dangerous," John LaCorte, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Pennsylvania told the Associated Press.
Thank you very much BBC you're filling me with hope with your positive reporting! I would also like to highlight that this photo...
... was taken just 3 weeks ago. Notice anything strange or incongruous? I'll give you a few hints... the blue sky... the sunglasses... the strappy top... and, something which you can't see, the tan lines! Yes three weeks ago I got tan lines AND NOW THERE'S A BLIZZARD HEADING THIS WAY.
I'm beginning to think that there's some strange God who's trying to make my America experience very, very difficult. First I left all my documents at home (passport included) on the day of my Visa interview. Then, I flew to America without the most important document which actually validated my visa - I would just like to add that no one had told me that! And now this. Snow. I hate snow. I hate cold.
Now I've mentioned before how Dunkun' Donuts really are taking over America. I see them everywhere, more so than McDonalds and it was a huge deal when it was announced that one would be opening up in the Student Union next semester, despite the fact that there is one half a mile down the road. But that's beside the point. America is 'Donut' mad, and I have to say I rather like it. In England we're very boring and tend to stick with the standard Jam Donut (sorry 'Jelly') and that's about it. Here I could stand for hours and gaze at the sheer multitude of flavours. There's the standard glazed (my favourite and first pick always) and there's, caramel and chocolate and vanilla and cinnamon and strawberry and triple cocoa and even a pina colada flavour - to name just a few.
I have to admit that I may have had several Dunkin' Donuts since being here and I have enjoyed and not regretted a single one. I also have to add that from what I remember of my previous experiences, Dunkin' are wayyy better than Krispy Kreme, hands down.
Now you may be wondering where exactly I'm going with this, other than to make all your tummy's rumble and mouths salivate with hunger for the best donuts in the world, and it is because the other day I came across this interesting and rather hilarious article about this blog. This guy Dave has written an entire blog about Donuts. He's travelled the country and has given ratings to the various Donut stores and cafes that he has encountered along the way. Now I'm sure many of my Brit readers will be shaking their heads with a smile on their face muttering "only in America" and, to be honest, I would do the same. But I read this article in between seeing horrific pictures of a dead Gaddafi on the news and hearing about the failing economy and the history of child deaths in America and it made me smile. So thank you Dave and thank you Dunkin Donuts for making my life a better place... too cheesy... naaah.
I like to collect things. I hoard unnecessary ticket stubs and receipts with the hope that I will one day compile them all into a scrap book which I do occasionally get around to doing. As a child I collected gems and crystals and kept them in boxes and every now and then would get them all out and spread them out on my floor and polish them all. When I last lived in America I bought a pencil wherever I went. Now you may mock the people who buy the overpriced pencils in the gift stores of touristy places but they are in fact the best keepsake from any where; they are cheap, affordable, they come in hundreds of colours, shapes and sizes and they fit into any travel suitcase! In fact I came across them as I was packing for America. They were all stuffed into a pencil case which barely opens and which I did in fact fail to close afterwards.
Now you may be wondering where all this rambling is going, but I have found something new to collect and I am in fact reallllly excited! Well, it's not quite new seeing as my parents began the collection in Virginia (I lived there 2004-2007) but that's besides the point, I am choosing to continue it. My latest obsession is American quarters. Between 1999 and 2008 quarters featuring unique designs of all 50 states were put into circulation (Wanna see? Just scroll down*). We moved back to England in 2007 and so I'm missing a few**. The fun, however, doesn't stop there. In 2009 they released quarters for the territories of the US such as Puerto Rico and Guam etc (See previous blog for previous mumbling!) AND as of this year they have started producing a collection entitled "America the Beautiful" featuring various state parks and national sites from across the country (see here)! How cool is that?! Are you excited?! Sadly the latter series continues until 2021 so I don't quite know how I'm going to succeed in completing that collection... I guess I will just have to come back!
Since I've been here, I've collected two new ones, Hawaii and Yellowstone National Park, and so have now decided to start spending more cash in an attempt to get more change and thus more quarters. My plan is fool proof!
* I know Wikipedia isn't quite the valid source you were looking for... but it has all the pretty pictures! **I'm missing Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Alaska so check your wallets people... that's definitely not cheating!
Yesterday, Rachel, Emily and I escaped campus on a trip to Salem, Massachusetts. That's right, the Salem infamous for the hanging of 19 'witches' in the late 17th Century, a reputation that it has failed to rid itself of ever since. Well the town now seems to embrace it whole heartedly and so we were in for a treat. We arrived outside 'The Witch Museum' and then walked past 'the Haunted House' and 'the Witches Dungeon' and 'the 3D Haunted House' and 'the Psychic Fair', the advertised Ghost Walks by candlelight and the list goes on. Despite this blatant touristyness (I now declare that a word) it didn't at all come across as tacky or gaudy. Yes it was silly and there was a ridiculous emphasis on their witchy background but they seemed to get away with it in a way which I don't think we would in England.
It is, of course, also the final days in the countdown to Halloween, and I have been warned that it is, in actual fact, exactly as advertised in Mean Girls. As of yet I have no plans, no costume and no idea what I'm doing. I'm rather inclined to go down the boring English Route and stay in and watch Hocus Pocus - the 90s classic - but I feel that I would probably be missing out on an intrinsic part of 'American Culture'. But that's another debate, back to Salem; due to the impending festivities everyone was dressed up. Even people's dogs were dressed up! It was crazy! I saw witches, and Harry Potters, and police man, and even a dog dressed as a lobster. In addition, despite having been to New York and Boston and Newport not one of those places was nearly as touristy and crowded as Salem was. There were hundreds of people all lining the streets to look at the houses which were in some way associated with witches or ghosts or vampires or aliens... ok maybe not vampires or aliens but I wouldn't be surprised!
Despite the crowds the town was actually really nice. We followed a pre-assigned route, a bit like the Freedom Trail in Boston, just a red painted line around the town, which took us down to the wharf and we went through the towns first cemetery and the 'bewitched statue' and all the other touristy sites. We then of course sat and drank a ridiculously large pot of tea in a cute little cafe having indulged in a lovely lunch at what turned out to be one of the most popular 'sandwich shops' in town, 'Reds'. We only went there because it was cheap and looked nice but the food was amazing and apparently it was 50 years old!!! (Remember, that's old in American standards!) I jest, it was in the building of the London Coffee House which dates from the 1700s which is pretty old. The walls were decorated with the hundreds and thousands of awards which they have won over the years including best bagel, best pancake, best sandwich, best soup, etc. It was really good. I even managed to indulge in one of my favourite foods ever which I had been denied last week with Nick... Calamari. That's right, fried Squid. It is amazing, and if you haven't tried it and are judging me right now (ahem Nick) then shame on you!
That afternoon we also went to a re-enactment of one of the witch trials and shown around a reconstructed dungeon. Again, it was done really well; the scene was set and the characters were introduced before they did their little acting part. Afterwards the scene was summed up, we were given another brief history lesson and then were shown the dungeons. I have to say I was impressed. There was no cheesy touristy gimmicks, it was factual but at the same time fun and interesting and certainly kept us on our toes when various characters jumped out from cells to make us scream. It is almost Halloween after all!
As I mentioned in my previous blog I am currently bogged down by a ridiculous amount of work. I have poetry to read, several books to start and finish, an essay to complete, two essays to plan and the list just goes on and on. I'm swamped. Which is why I am sat here complaining about my life to all you lovely people and not actually doing any of it. Because one thing I'm really amazing at is procrastinating. It's probably what I'm best at. That and arguing. And complaining.. I'm pretty good at those things too but for now lets focus on procrastinating. So I would like to share my favourite procrastination tool with you and that is this here blog. See right up there at the top of the page the bar across the screen? See where it says 'next blog>'? Well, when you've finished reading this blog, I dare you to press it, and press it again, and again and again. It basically takes you through all the various, random blogs on the blogger website and it's amazing. There are hundreds of complete strangers just like me writing about their lives and their passions on the internet. So have a flick through until you come across one that's interesting. Of course there are hundreds of awful ones and there seem to be a plethora of religious ones but whenever you come across that beautiful, poetic real one, then you know you're procrastination has been worth it! And that's always good because I really do hate that feeling that I've just wasted hours of my life- because then I just panic about all the stuff I should have done and still haven't done and so need to do... But that's besides the point go blog-exploring, I highly recommend it.
Having swamped you with my latest adventures I think I'll leave you with that thought. I'm going to Salem tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have some more exciting news to spill, but for now it's back to the work...
Me and the beautiful Fall colours (sorry 'colors') in Boston Common
Our final trip for the week was three nights spent in Boston. It really is a beautiful city but, if I'm honest, there isn't an awful lot to do there! We set off at the crack of dawn on Friday and again managed to navigate Boston's T lines (i.e. underground) and the fact that they were the first in America... well, you can tell! We did some shopping and you'll all be pleased to know that I AM prepared for New England winter and I am NOT going to die and I AM going to return with all my my fingers and toes - that's the aim at least! I'm sure it will be a very different story when the snow does eventually arrive but that will be an entirely new blog I'm sure.
Nick was entirely in charge of our trip to Boston and so I had no clue about the geography or where our hostel was in relation to anything else or what there was to see, let alone what we were going to go and see! Other than booking the buses, he arranged everything: He organised what we were going to see, when we were going to go where and so on, so I blame him entirely.. no I'm kidding there's nothing to blame him for it was lovely, but we did spend a phenomenal amount of time in Starbucks drinking tea which I think has a very beautiful irony to it.
When I say that there really isn't much to do in Boston I really do mean it. The main highlight and tourist attraction is something called the freedom trail which is basically a red line painted on the streets of Boston which guide you to all the historical sites. Now, when they say historical sights what they mean is several 'ancient' graveyards - ancient meaning from the 1600s of course- various statues remembering various Revolutionary figures such as Paul Revere, and some churches. It's not really all that it's cracked up to be. Now yes, while I know the Revolutionary war is a massive and vital part in Americas history and it is fascinating, there's a limit to how many statues and churches a girl can see in one day.
There isn't however a limit to WATCHING RYAN REYNOLDS FILM IN BOSTON! Yes you did read that correctly. I SAW RYAN REYNOLDS. That would be the same Ryan from The Proposal and Just Friends and.... *swoon. Needless to say Nick became completely invisible for the half hour or so that I spent dribbling watching him fire up into the air as part of his new film R.I.P.D. It was super exciting!
The Photo Evidence - It's him, I promise!
Ok so I know I'm sounding like the only exciting part of my trip was Ryan Reynolds and that's not true, we also did a trip around Harvard in Cambridge which I really recommend if you're up for being super cringey and touristy like me! It was embarrassing and hilarious being carted around in a tour being led by a freshman (i.e a really, super keen first year!) with other strangers and a sticker on my coat but I did really enjoy it. The tour was really brilliantly done, it was funny and it was insightful and Harvard really is beautiful. So if you don't go on a cringey tour, at least go and see it.
I almost forgot, we also went to see the Spin Doctors... Am I getting blank stares? Yea I figured as much...
That ringing any bells? Ye I thought it might. I bought tickets for Nick and I to go and see them on Saturday night for his birthday. The most hilarious shock of the night was when the band announced that the reason they were touring was because it was the 20th anniversary of their album... that's older than me... that made things a tad awkward! It was a fun night, even if I couldn't drink (click here for previous mumble!) and the band, although not the greatest (sorry Nick!) were actually really good fun live!
Monday saw tearful goodbyes and a horrible bus ride back to campus and reality where a whole pile of work was waiting for me... and still is waiting for me... great.
Picking up from where I left off, our next big adventure was our trip to New York. A fleeting 24 hour trip, but an exciting one nonetheless. We caught the bus on the Tuesday evening and at 9pm we saw the flashing lights ahead and before we knew it we were at Penn Station, New York City. Our first holiday together... if you can call it that! We'd arrived so late that after having some food we slowly wound our way up Amsterdam Avenue (via Times Square) to our hostel where we crashed early for the night in preparation for the next day's super-sight-seeing-tourist-extravaganza.
So we rose up the next morning to the sound of sirens whizzing past and people screaming up and down the streets and, having spent less than 10 hours in our hostel, we checked out. We mastered the subway - which makes London tubes look like a haven in comparison - and made our way down to the site of the World Trade Centre, via a Dunkin Donuts for breakfast of course - might as well make the most of being in America! The Ground Zero area is still very much a building site which we noticed as soon as we came within a few blocks of it because the area is thick with dust, and sadly you can't really see the memorial garden from the outside which is a shame. You have to book in advance in order to go in which we didn't to because apparently it's booked up for the next year or so, so maybe next time!
Sadly the previous glorious weather we had enjoyed, no longer decided to grace us and so we wandered around a grey, drizzly New York with hoods up and umbrellas seeing some of the not quite so touristy sites. We'd both done New York before and seen the Statue of Liberty etc and so where did we go instead... why 66 Perry Street of course...
Recognise it? It is of course the steps from Carrie's house in Sex and the City!!!! I was star struck, I have to admit, despite the fierce 'No Trespassing' signs and warnings.
Our next less-touristy stop was a place called The Highline which I'd happen to have come across only a few days before through the BBC news homepage. It is basically a brand new public park in the centre of Manhattan but one which is above the roads and in the air. It's amazing, and somewhere I really recommend going to if you happen to be in New York. The history behind the structure is that it once housed the railway lines which transported goods into the city, in particular into the meatpacking district, and was for a long time known as 'the lifeline of New York'. Train's stopped running in the 80s and until the 90s it stood there gradually becoming overtaken by nature until the city proposed to knock it down. Of course there was outrage and petitioning and eventually this; a park in the sky and it is fabulous!
With viewing spots to just sit and watch the traffic go by and then more landscaped areas where the original train lines have been incorporated into the foliage it really is an amazing place to visit and was definitely one of the highlights of the day!
That is of course because we had yet to visit the main attraction of the day, around which we had planned all of our sight seeing... the Rockefeller Centre! WAY cooler than going up the Empire State building I reallllyyy recommend spending $23 to see the amazing views and read about the fascinating history of the building - built during the Great Depression to provide jobs is the simple version! I loved it, probably because I completely took the whole being a tourist and taking hundreds of cheesy photos in my stride, but also because there is definitely no better way to truly capture and see the city - well, not one that I've experienced!
The rest of the afternoon was spent wondering around seeing central park and looking for some food before our long bus journey home. We also managed to fit some shopping in, of course, and I managed to get some new snow boots in preparation for the coming winter. I'm actually so excited by my new purchase that I'm sort of looking forward to the snow just so that I have an excuse to wear them... but I'm pretty sure the novelty will wear off pretty fast!
Ok, ok I know, I've been a bad blogger and have left you all hanging for over a week now. But due to the aforementioned puppy like boyfriend I have had limited time on the laptop and have instead been dragged around campus to parts of it I've never seen before and up hills and over fields etc. All of which makes for some good blogging material! Now I realise I have a lot to catch up on and I don't want to swarm you, so I'll give last weeks adventures to you in bite sized snippets, starting with the first weekend...
Nearly 2 weeks ago I was sitting here, pretty much in the same position on my bed, anxiously watching the clock every second until it would reach 10.45 - Nicks e.t.a on a megabus from Boston. It did finally arrive and despite him being a walking zombie due to his 24 hour journey it was amazing to see him nonetheless! So the week of adventures began starting with a tour around campus on the Friday. This is a picture of me at the top of Horse Barn Hill which overlooks the campus and the countryside surrounding us. A whole-lot-a-nothing except trees! And I thought my all girls Catholic Boarding School in the middle of Dorset was rural.. pfft!
On Saturday we went to the Mall. Yes I know I only went the week before but you'll be very proud to know that I didn't spend any of my money... I just helped Nick spend all of his which is even more fun!
On Sunday we caught a lift with Emily and her parents (thank you Ian and Kim!!!) to Newport in Rhode Island; 'The City by the Sea', 'The Queen of Summer Resorts', 'America's Society Capital'... you get the picture. It was beautiful. The week before had been slightly chilly - I'd even had the opportunity to wear my new winter coat - but luckily the sun came out for a final burst and it was sweltering. Probably close to 30 degrees I'd say. In fact it was so nice and sunny, that I got a ridiculous tan line on my chest from where my necklace had been! We didn't walk around the town of Newport but instead parked at the beach down the road and proceeded along the beautiful, and famous, cliff path which runs behind many of the mansions.
While it was a very gorgeous day and the walk was absolutely beautiful, as expected, it didn't go quite to plan: To put it briefly we had all gone out to some parties the night before and so I was feeling a little worse for wear that morning and hadn't really eaten that much for breakfast. We then followed the cliff walk in the blazing midday sun for about two hours hoping that it would eventually lead back to Newport where we could get some lunch (because I was of course starving by this point). But no, Newport was in fact several miles inland in the opposite direction. Of course neither Nick nor I realised this until about 2 hours into our walk and so then had to walk back in the direction we had come from. This time however we walked back along Bellvue Avenue which was the main road for all the mansions and they really were mind blowing. Newport was the town in which America's rich and famous built their Summer houses to enjoy when the southern states got too hot. Google some images, they're amazing!
My and Nick's track record of getting lost... actually no Nick's track record of getting lost is phenomenal so it wasn't really new for us at all, despite his proud reminders of being a cub scout, wolf pack leader or something - personally I'm not buying it! While the lack of a map, I have to admit was not a new folly, the lack of food was, and definitely something I don't recommend!
