It's Black Friday Black Friday

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!

New Yorker's New York

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!

A Weekend Away

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....

Stranger On A Bus

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 :)

Lamb Slam

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...

In The Basket

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...

In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

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...

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15637074

WOOOAH Something Is On Fire

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.

SCORE... no.. TRY... no... Touch Down?

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...

About that Marching Band....

Essentials For A Year Abroad

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!

*Kieran, Joe, Ed and Dan... meanys!

6 Weeks (ish) and Counting

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...