i thoroughly enjoyed "sitting" in the kitchen today, the way i normally would have had i been home... seeing all of the cooking going on, catching up with everybody, helping out if needed... sadly, it was a 2D and dual-sensory experience, and i wish i had been there!! but alas, a skype date with my family was the best that could be done, and i can accept and appreciate that for what it is....
enjoy the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, YAMS, veges, waldorf salad, veges and DESSERT!
off on my final adventure in the morning - more to report from Deutschland! Tschuss! (i need to brush up on my vocab and phrases, I wont have Elke around this time!)
Thursday, November 27
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!!
I've spent my morning/day trying not to dwell on the fact that I am missing the holiday, and so far so good! Of course I miss seeing everyone, and the food... well that's self explanatory, but I'd have to say that I'm pretty OK missing it - and by that I mean I am not terribly homesick! Potentially Skyping tonight with the fam and "sitting" at the table as mom likes to call it will induce some homesickness, but I'l hoping that that isn't the case. I've got myself some yams to make! Yay! Although, it seems as though I'll be using the microwave to make them ... ? and I don't have marshmallows, and I'll be having to crush the pineapple from chunks... but, they'll turn out fine I'm sure. Being sick will have the advanage, being that I can't really taste much, I'll just pretend that they are as fantastic as usual... hehe
Let's see... what else... I've been steadily working on my papers and what not. And by steady I do mean SLOOOOOOWLY. But, I have 2 pretty much completed, and one outline/thesis to write up tonight, and I will have met my most recent timeline goals (that timeline has been changed and pushed back so many times, and yet I still haven't "fallen behind" regardless of how little time I've actually spent doing my work - a true testament to the expectations here... and yet I find that I'm just doing the assignment, not really obsessing over it the way I normally would, and probably should...)
Going to Cambridge tomorrow! Justine and I are going down for the day and then I'm off to Germany in the morning! I'm pretty excited about it! More details to follow, and hopefully some fun stories to tell!
You all are still sleeping in - except for the cooks who are probably getting turkeys stuffed and into the oven right about now...
But, Enjoy the holiday!
xoxo
I've spent my morning/day trying not to dwell on the fact that I am missing the holiday, and so far so good! Of course I miss seeing everyone, and the food... well that's self explanatory, but I'd have to say that I'm pretty OK missing it - and by that I mean I am not terribly homesick! Potentially Skyping tonight with the fam and "sitting" at the table as mom likes to call it will induce some homesickness, but I'l hoping that that isn't the case. I've got myself some yams to make! Yay! Although, it seems as though I'll be using the microwave to make them ... ? and I don't have marshmallows, and I'll be having to crush the pineapple from chunks... but, they'll turn out fine I'm sure. Being sick will have the advanage, being that I can't really taste much, I'll just pretend that they are as fantastic as usual... hehe
Let's see... what else... I've been steadily working on my papers and what not. And by steady I do mean SLOOOOOOWLY. But, I have 2 pretty much completed, and one outline/thesis to write up tonight, and I will have met my most recent timeline goals (that timeline has been changed and pushed back so many times, and yet I still haven't "fallen behind" regardless of how little time I've actually spent doing my work - a true testament to the expectations here... and yet I find that I'm just doing the assignment, not really obsessing over it the way I normally would, and probably should...)
Going to Cambridge tomorrow! Justine and I are going down for the day and then I'm off to Germany in the morning! I'm pretty excited about it! More details to follow, and hopefully some fun stories to tell!
You all are still sleeping in - except for the cooks who are probably getting turkeys stuffed and into the oven right about now...
But, Enjoy the holiday!
xoxo
Tuesday, November 25
for AJ...
per her obsessiveness of checking this thing, i will write this lovely post, and dedicate it to her! haha - and Gingerbread house making will be a huge highlight of my first week back!! YESSSSS
143!!!!!
its tuesday, i woke up thinking and wishing it was friday, but i feel so well rested! and my ailments are getting better! yay!! still not good, but better, and i'll take what i can get!!
determined to be productive today - actually going to the library to work on a paper, and finish a draft - thats my goal! it shouldn't take too long. once i actually sit down and work i get stuff done pretty quickly, but my attention span is that of a 6 year old boy with ADD these days, so thats something that is going to need to be fixed by January when school actually starts up again.
Bummed I'm missing Thanksgiving on THursday, and that I missed Dad's bday - age not to be disclosed ;-) - last night, but thats life being in England. a Skyped Thanksgiving will have to do, at about 10pm here I'll be "sitting" at the dining room table, eating my attempted yams from 6000 miles and 8 time zones away.
Getting excited about Germany next week!! Going to see Connor play with be great! I'll get a taste of what it was like for my dad when he was there. And then going to Anja's again will be great! Hopefully she doesn't overfeed me, again (I don't think a person can eat 4 pieces of afternoon cake, a huge lunch and then 10 slices of bread for dinner! ahhh) But I really am looking forward to that as well.
Less than 3 weeks!!
Miss you all! Love you all!!
xoxo
Natty
143!!!!!
its tuesday, i woke up thinking and wishing it was friday, but i feel so well rested! and my ailments are getting better! yay!! still not good, but better, and i'll take what i can get!!
determined to be productive today - actually going to the library to work on a paper, and finish a draft - thats my goal! it shouldn't take too long. once i actually sit down and work i get stuff done pretty quickly, but my attention span is that of a 6 year old boy with ADD these days, so thats something that is going to need to be fixed by January when school actually starts up again.
Bummed I'm missing Thanksgiving on THursday, and that I missed Dad's bday - age not to be disclosed ;-) - last night, but thats life being in England. a Skyped Thanksgiving will have to do, at about 10pm here I'll be "sitting" at the dining room table, eating my attempted yams from 6000 miles and 8 time zones away.
Getting excited about Germany next week!! Going to see Connor play with be great! I'll get a taste of what it was like for my dad when he was there. And then going to Anja's again will be great! Hopefully she doesn't overfeed me, again (I don't think a person can eat 4 pieces of afternoon cake, a huge lunch and then 10 slices of bread for dinner! ahhh) But I really am looking forward to that as well.
Less than 3 weeks!!
Miss you all! Love you all!!
xoxo
Natty
Sunday, November 23
its still snowing!!
at first i was a bit skeptical of my weekend in Norwich, i wasn't sure if it was going to amount to anything. but, im so glad to report that it did!! Its been snowing for 2 days now!! last night when i ventured over to a friend's flat and it started to snow we all ran out side and had a huge snowball fight, and then proceeded to make our way around campus to see whoelse would come out and have a war with us - so much fun!! and now i'm waking up to snow, again!
although, i must say, there isn't much to be said for productivity when it snows... i just don't want to do my work! snow, plus being sick is not fun! sore throat, turned runny nose, turned sinus headache, turned earache and watery eyes (and as i write this my nose is bleeding from blowing it too much :-/ ). but, i jjust hope i get this sickness out of me before i come home! i don't need to be bringing english germs with me to get everyone sick!
getting medicine, and attempting to write an essay now.... have a great sunday everybody!
although, i must say, there isn't much to be said for productivity when it snows... i just don't want to do my work! snow, plus being sick is not fun! sore throat, turned runny nose, turned sinus headache, turned earache and watery eyes (and as i write this my nose is bleeding from blowing it too much :-/ ). but, i jjust hope i get this sickness out of me before i come home! i don't need to be bringing english germs with me to get everyone sick!
getting medicine, and attempting to write an essay now.... have a great sunday everybody!
Saturday, November 22
Monday, November 17
Edinburgh!
Went on a trip to Edinburgh this weekend with the International Student Society, and had such a great time!! I really wish we had been there for longer, that I had done and seen more, but that tends to be the way I feel about most places!
Being that it was a pre-organized trip, the transportation and accommodation was included in the price, but looking back it would have actually been more economical to take the train up (instead of a 10 hour bus ride with people talking loudly behind me non-stop both ways!!) and to stay at a different hostel. But, nonetheless, it was still fun! And I got to know some other students better, which is always a plus!
So, we left early Friday morning, got there after dark (which isn't actually saying much because its pitch black at 4 these days) and it was nearly 7 by the time we got situated in the hostel, which was a 30 minute shuttle ride/10 pound taxi ride to the city center. Justine and I ventured into town that night to find something to eat for dinner and then quickly found our way on a Ghost Tour of Edinburgh. I knew where we were to meet, which tour group, etc. and we were running a bit late, so when we saw a group starting we jumped in - little did we know it was going to be a Boys Rugby team! Regardless, it was still lots of fun, and we were taken down into the underground vaults in the city and heard loads of ghost stories.
Saturday we woke up at a decent hour, and made our way into town, again. We decided to do one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours because they take you to all of the "must see" places and point stuff out along the way. Came to realize that Edinburgh isn't that massive of a city - but it is really hilly! The Castle sits atop the highest hill in the center of the city, with the Royal Mile on the slope down towards everything else, and a cliff on the opposite site. The castle was quite interesting - like its own little enclosed village inside! It was so windy up there, too! I was literally being blown sideways! needless to say, my hair didn't like that very much... haha
Had a look around the old prison in the castle (which housed prisoners of war), as well as the Scotish crown jewels, and some of the state apartments.
What else... did a lot of shopping! I still need to go through all of the bags and see what exactly it was that I bought! Oh, and saw a tartan mill where they make all of the different tartans for the different scotish clans which is a HUGE deal. Oh, and yes! men do walk around in kilts like its a normal thing! That was something slightly unexpected, I must say...
As part of what we paid for for the trip, we got free entry to a nightclub, which was so much fun! I had a really great time hanging out with the other people in our group and meeting some Scots along the way! For a big city though, I was a bit surprised that the club closed at 3 (which may seem late, but for a big city like Edinburgh, I would have expected something a bit later), and taxis could not be found at that time of night! We were all waiting for taxis for an hour! and it was freezing!!!
Sunday we got a bit later of start, decided to sleep in past check-out, and missed the instructions about when and where to meet at the end of the day to head back, an hour of constantly calling the tour leaders' phones, one of them finally picked up and told me what I needed to know. And, we found that we only had 3 more hours in the city!!
I had really wanted to climb up this huge hill that overlooks the city, but Justine would have none of that, not feeling 100%, so we had fun wandering around the city some more.
Again, I wish I had more time there! I would have loved to go to the Highlands for a day trip, to see Loch Ness, to tour the Holyrood Palace, seen a Scotish dance show, and gone to some of the art galleries, but time did not allow for that, and I didn't want to drag someone along who wasn't interested in some of that and make them pay, too... any takers for next time?! In the summer months perhaps when its not so cold!!
Well, there is ACTUALLY work to be done! Finally! But, I must run off to a seminar now, but another update to soon follow with some more "normal" but equally interesting (?) things in my life...
but, all I can say is that the next 3 1/2 weeks are going to fly by! I'm actually getting past culture shock, and enjoying myself now! I really am disappointed that that took far too long for me to get over, because now I'm just getting ready to head home!
Oh well...
Seminar, presentation work, gym til late... back on Skype if anyone will be around!
Being that it was a pre-organized trip, the transportation and accommodation was included in the price, but looking back it would have actually been more economical to take the train up (instead of a 10 hour bus ride with people talking loudly behind me non-stop both ways!!) and to stay at a different hostel. But, nonetheless, it was still fun! And I got to know some other students better, which is always a plus!
So, we left early Friday morning, got there after dark (which isn't actually saying much because its pitch black at 4 these days) and it was nearly 7 by the time we got situated in the hostel, which was a 30 minute shuttle ride/10 pound taxi ride to the city center. Justine and I ventured into town that night to find something to eat for dinner and then quickly found our way on a Ghost Tour of Edinburgh. I knew where we were to meet, which tour group, etc. and we were running a bit late, so when we saw a group starting we jumped in - little did we know it was going to be a Boys Rugby team! Regardless, it was still lots of fun, and we were taken down into the underground vaults in the city and heard loads of ghost stories.
Saturday we woke up at a decent hour, and made our way into town, again. We decided to do one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours because they take you to all of the "must see" places and point stuff out along the way. Came to realize that Edinburgh isn't that massive of a city - but it is really hilly! The Castle sits atop the highest hill in the center of the city, with the Royal Mile on the slope down towards everything else, and a cliff on the opposite site. The castle was quite interesting - like its own little enclosed village inside! It was so windy up there, too! I was literally being blown sideways! needless to say, my hair didn't like that very much... haha
Had a look around the old prison in the castle (which housed prisoners of war), as well as the Scotish crown jewels, and some of the state apartments.
What else... did a lot of shopping! I still need to go through all of the bags and see what exactly it was that I bought! Oh, and saw a tartan mill where they make all of the different tartans for the different scotish clans which is a HUGE deal. Oh, and yes! men do walk around in kilts like its a normal thing! That was something slightly unexpected, I must say...
As part of what we paid for for the trip, we got free entry to a nightclub, which was so much fun! I had a really great time hanging out with the other people in our group and meeting some Scots along the way! For a big city though, I was a bit surprised that the club closed at 3 (which may seem late, but for a big city like Edinburgh, I would have expected something a bit later), and taxis could not be found at that time of night! We were all waiting for taxis for an hour! and it was freezing!!!
Sunday we got a bit later of start, decided to sleep in past check-out, and missed the instructions about when and where to meet at the end of the day to head back, an hour of constantly calling the tour leaders' phones, one of them finally picked up and told me what I needed to know. And, we found that we only had 3 more hours in the city!!
I had really wanted to climb up this huge hill that overlooks the city, but Justine would have none of that, not feeling 100%, so we had fun wandering around the city some more.
Again, I wish I had more time there! I would have loved to go to the Highlands for a day trip, to see Loch Ness, to tour the Holyrood Palace, seen a Scotish dance show, and gone to some of the art galleries, but time did not allow for that, and I didn't want to drag someone along who wasn't interested in some of that and make them pay, too... any takers for next time?! In the summer months perhaps when its not so cold!!
Well, there is ACTUALLY work to be done! Finally! But, I must run off to a seminar now, but another update to soon follow with some more "normal" but equally interesting (?) things in my life...
but, all I can say is that the next 3 1/2 weeks are going to fly by! I'm actually getting past culture shock, and enjoying myself now! I really am disappointed that that took far too long for me to get over, because now I'm just getting ready to head home!
Oh well...
Seminar, presentation work, gym til late... back on Skype if anyone will be around!
Saturday, November 8
oops... its been nearly 2 weeks!
just realizing today that I hadn't updated this thing in nearly two weeks, which can mean only one of two things: 1 - i have been far to busy to sit down and take the time to update or 2 - nothing all that interesting has happened... more likely 3 - i've been waiting for something extremely interesting to happen to give me some inspiration to write, but that hasn't come...
last weekend i went to London, again, yay! (alright, so that was actually REALLY fun, but I just was being lazy all week about not writing). I had 2 friends come up from Spain for Halloween, and Justine and I took our litle train ride down to see them. Marissa and Katie were staying with some of her H.S. friends who are studying in London for the semester, and Justine and I stayed at a hostel nearby, which was actually really nice! Went on on Friday night to the biggest night club in London, which was a blast! On Saturday we had a lazy day, and Justine and I opted to avoid the pouring rain at all costs and go see Phantom of the Opera in the afternoon. It was so great! Bummed we weren't able to make it into Westminister Abbey, but I am determined to make my way into that place before I leave London! Even if that means getting myself to London quite early on Dec 13, checking my bags in at Heathrow and taking the Tube up to see it!
Nothing too eventful this week here... just been going to the gym everyday - which is quite necessary as I don't get much inadvertent exercise because I'm not up walking around from class to class, or walking to get food, etc. Took up a bit of swimming for exercise and leisure - which I'm finding that I really should have been in Ms. Welch's 7th grade swim class, because I never really learned the strokes properly (and Mom, you can't even argue that Peggy teaching me when I was 5 counts). Let's see... what else... got a pedicure on Tuesday :-) and walked into town yesterday (it took nearly an hour!) just because I felt like it and did a little bit of shopping.
If there is any day that I wish I had been home for, it would have been Tuesday! There was election coverage, but being that we are 8 hours ahead it was announced at 4 am, and I was sadly asleep!I went to take a nap I had set my alarm to get up around 2 to make my way down to the pub to see the excitement, but this genius set it for the wrong am/pm, so I woke up around 7, bummed at myself, but checked online to see that Obama had won :-)
Oh, and I registered for classes for next semester! Yay! I've nearly gotten in to all of the ones that I want, and if I'm able to get into a psych class I need then I'll be taking 18 units, and I want to see if I can get in on some directed research with a professor, or get some sort of 2-unit internship (I'll have to use some networking there...)
Anyways, that enough for now! Its Saturday, I have no plans, I could do some work, but really? I'll find some adventure to do, hopefully...
last weekend i went to London, again, yay! (alright, so that was actually REALLY fun, but I just was being lazy all week about not writing). I had 2 friends come up from Spain for Halloween, and Justine and I took our litle train ride down to see them. Marissa and Katie were staying with some of her H.S. friends who are studying in London for the semester, and Justine and I stayed at a hostel nearby, which was actually really nice! Went on on Friday night to the biggest night club in London, which was a blast! On Saturday we had a lazy day, and Justine and I opted to avoid the pouring rain at all costs and go see Phantom of the Opera in the afternoon. It was so great! Bummed we weren't able to make it into Westminister Abbey, but I am determined to make my way into that place before I leave London! Even if that means getting myself to London quite early on Dec 13, checking my bags in at Heathrow and taking the Tube up to see it!
Nothing too eventful this week here... just been going to the gym everyday - which is quite necessary as I don't get much inadvertent exercise because I'm not up walking around from class to class, or walking to get food, etc. Took up a bit of swimming for exercise and leisure - which I'm finding that I really should have been in Ms. Welch's 7th grade swim class, because I never really learned the strokes properly (and Mom, you can't even argue that Peggy teaching me when I was 5 counts). Let's see... what else... got a pedicure on Tuesday :-) and walked into town yesterday (it took nearly an hour!) just because I felt like it and did a little bit of shopping.
If there is any day that I wish I had been home for, it would have been Tuesday! There was election coverage, but being that we are 8 hours ahead it was announced at 4 am, and I was sadly asleep!I went to take a nap I had set my alarm to get up around 2 to make my way down to the pub to see the excitement, but this genius set it for the wrong am/pm, so I woke up around 7, bummed at myself, but checked online to see that Obama had won :-)
Oh, and I registered for classes for next semester! Yay! I've nearly gotten in to all of the ones that I want, and if I'm able to get into a psych class I need then I'll be taking 18 units, and I want to see if I can get in on some directed research with a professor, or get some sort of 2-unit internship (I'll have to use some networking there...)
Anyways, that enough for now! Its Saturday, I have no plans, I could do some work, but really? I'll find some adventure to do, hopefully...
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