But, we're cool!?

Its kinda funny to watch all the Americans (yes, me included but I can't watch myself can I?) go through mini crisisses of identity. Today before acting (while freezing our fingers off) I was listening one girl complain about freshmen. Here, all the foreign kids have been placed in flats with 'first years.' (They don't call em freshmen... or sophomores etc.) So naturally, thats who most of your friends will be, at least to begin with and most likely throughout the term since most of our classes are with Americans or are level one. This girl was saying how young they were, and how odd it was to be hanging out with them. She said "I would never hang out with *freshmen* at home." It made me laugh. We all have that contempt for freshmen in general social contexts cause we are so glad we have passed it, moved on and presumably up. We know where to party, who to hang with, how to not get arrested, and what classes to avoid. But now, he we are. Freshmen to the entire country, not just the school. We know nothing, are scared, lost and clueless, filled with that strange optimistic hope that filled our first semester of college all over again. In that regard, even these 'first years' we now associate with are more wise and knowledgable. Not only do they know what to do, where to go and who with, college has lost that shiny newness. And so, despite the fact that we cling to our wise, cool was of the American Junior, and quietly laugh amongst ourselves at the 'juvenile' first years, we secretly thank them for treating us as equals, not as old and unapproachable as we try to appear at home, nor as scared and pathetic as we see our past freshmen selves, but as students and hopefully friends.


SO now that I'm done with that essay..... my day:
I got up early to talk to the drama department about switching into a theatre history/theory class. She hadn't actually asked if it was ok, but she said she would and would call me later. I just realized that the unknown missed call must have been her, since there are like 3 people who even know my number. Woops. Hopefully she'll call back. I should set up my voice mail.... Anyhow. I'm taking (i think) a Postcolonial Theatre class. I don't even know what postcolonial theatre is, so it should be good. It isn't what I wanted, but when I realized that it was already approved by Lehigh to give me credit for the vile theatre history class I was trying to avoid in the first place, I figured I'd take the chance. So no matter how bad it is, its better than taking it at Lehigh cause pass is like a 40 here, and I only need to pass. Its also only one essay at the end of the term. Super easy. Now to do the million pages of catch-up reading by tomorrow morning... Half the time I think I'm nuts for making more work for myself (art classes have no tests or essays and I would have had NO finals, no homework, no reading and barely any classes AND with Wed. being party night, Thursday morning classes are stupid) but then I remember how bored I was and how I wasn't actually doing any work for the class I think I'm going to drop (computer art). It sucks, cause the computer class was what was really exciting, but it sucks as a course so its ok. Maybe I'll create a better one for summer. I meet with my tutor on Friday.
After my meeting I read about postcolonial for a bit (kinda interesting...realized I had read some postcolonial litterature, not plays but a start, namely Things Fall Apart and that Conrad book... Joseph Conrad... Heart of Darkness! - once again AP English has prepared me better for life than anything else...) and went to acting.
Oh yeah, big news: IT SNOWED IN LONDON!!! It melted after a few hours, but it was enough to freak out the Brits. They cancelled the trains...they do that a lot. So basically, my acting teacher was late and the room was frigid. Kept my coat on the whole time. But, since it was late, we didn't have to do mirror warm ups and dance to Abba. We went right into more cold readings of the script we're working on. I actually read today. I'm proud. I like language. Its funny, I'm more comfortable reading and speaking than moving, even after 13 years of dance.... odd... But the teacher told me I was the first person he heard read this one section right on the first try, ever. Mainly its cause the passage named a bunch of famous architecture in Europe and I'm an arch. dork, but I knew how to pronounce Duomo and bits of French, so I impressed him. Petty, but it felt good. 1 point for 7:55AM Arch History. I also realized that I am a huge dork for language. Thats what all of acting ahs been about so far and I find it fun.
Our assignment was to meet next week, divide up a section of the script (there are no characters, so we have to decide who says what) and memorize it. Luckily, we have next week to divide and another week to memorize. Shouldn't be bad. I'm a little worried about dividing cause there's a 'Conrad Birdie' (you know what I mean Laura) type guy in our class (the one who goes to Illinois Weslyan with Kevin) who totally thinks he is the shit, and his good friend. I'm worried that they will dominate and this script is too cool for him to have all the lines. I hope we can make this artistic. And I hope I have the confidence to speak up. I may do my homework and divide up lines before I go so I'm ready ;)
Well, after class I tried to get someone to come to lunch with me and failed so I tried out the cafeteria (average) by myself and went to work on my art project. I paste squares so well.... lame. Oh well, i think i'm far enough along. Only 1 or 2 other people had even started. Now I'm at the library and excited to head home for homework and Club Sandwich. I am so fucking long winded. Sorry! Later

!!! UPDATED CONTACTS!!!

I got a new British phone, so the old one may soon be no more. Not that anyone has taken advantage of my American number, but still. You now need an international package to call me.

New Phone number: 079 4207 0365

Basically this is loads cheaper for me. So I may be calling your dorm phones in the future. (make sure you look up international codes if you ever try to call me.)

Also, for those of you have been listening to my pleas, (not many of you)

my Skype name: cloudcover2


So please guys, get Skype so I can talk to you, unless you'd rather pay for international service.

Learning to be British

haha... I posted my 19th post on the 19th. I am so damn coordinated.

Anyway...relevance... right. So now its Tuesday, which means something must have happened since last Friday, I'm just drawing a blank as to what. Real exciting life, I know. I guess its cause I've talked in person to most of the people who read this. Leave a comment or send an email if I've missed you and you feel left out. I'd love to chat.

Lets see: Backwards from today. I have so far spent today trying to get fully settled in to London. I started the paperwork to open a UK debit bank account so I can set up gym membership so I have something to do on the 5 days a week I don't have class. It'll take a week, so no gym for me till Feb. They have some dance and pilates classes which is mainly why i want to join, but also their machines are shiny and new and some dumb voice in my head thinks I might actually enjoy it. Its better than staring at my ceiling. I am also trying to change my classes around since the ones i have kind of suck. Unfortunately the classes I want are either full (yeah, everybody wants them) or at the same time as the two pathetic classes I have. So I may be taking some very strange drama class. Its sad that I actually want a class that has homework. I'll probably regret looking for a more challenging semester later when it becomes more challenging and I'm used to being a bum, but for now I'm bored and want to meet people and do things. So yeah. I'll also have to figure out how to get them approved by Lehigh....yuck! Save that for a later date when I have all the paperwork. I had fish and chips for lunch just to feel British and now I'm sitting in the library hoping my tutor (the guy to help confused American art students) will email me soon so I can meet with him. Damn not having internet in my room....
Speaking of internet, the latest is I really can't set it up myself, but I am no going to try and bribe a neighboring flat to give me their password so I can log on in my kitchen. We'll see

Yesterday, Monday: I slept in late and went to the Lewisham shopping center to buy pants and a phone. For most of the day I bought everythign but pants and a phone, but I finally found the pants i was looking for (they;re a bit sparkly so I think I may have been a bit delerious when I bought them, but i still like them so its ok) and my new British phone! Its really crummy, but simple and it works and its cheap! So I'm happy. I'll post new contact info in a more obvious post so maybe people will see it. I also bought avacados and leechy nuts at a street market purely cause it was cheap and cool. They're not the best quality, but for £2 for a ton of food, you can't complain. I came back and made dinner (read: boiled frozen veggies and warmed up a can of bad chicken curry) and chatted with the flatmates. Then, swallowing my pride, I begged my flatmate Becky to let me come to a stand up comedy show with her. She thankfully let me come and the show was awesome! The headline comic was hilarious. I had a lot of fun and continued my quest to make friends, and though everyone was very friendly, i'm not sure if I made any headway. Anyway, the show was really really great and it was good to get out. Back at home I talked with my flatmates till 1am, they had gone to see Spamalot and I talked to them about that for a while before just generally talking. It was nice. We also finally met our new final flatmate. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name, no one really can, and its not cause we're not trying, but cause he has a really odd name and its kinda hard to hear exactly what he said. He is shy, but nice. Glad to he's here. He scared the crap out of me when he moved in cause it was like 2am. Then I headed back to my room to call home, read, and sleep.

2 days ago, Sunday: I must have done something on Sunday. Probably slept in, read, ate, etc. Oh yeah, I watched Wimbledon (the movie) with Anna. She has decided I haven't seen enough films and has made it her personal goal to change that. It was cute and pretty good. Nice to hang out with Anna. I may have made a friend. I also tried a Penguin, its a chocolate thing that I can't quite describe but really good. I probablt just loafed about other than that, talked and slept.

3 days ago, Saturday: More of the same. Slept in, ate and hung about. I really can;t remember what I did during the day. Probably nothing very exciting. But I did convince Anna to go see Pippin, the musical that Goldsmiths was putting on, and met Becky there. It was nice to go out with my flatmates, but Pippin sucks. Not really entirely this production, just the show in general. The production was average overall. Kind of on par with an average high school production, which is kinda sad. That is not to say that elements of it weren't very good. There were some actors with really good voices and sang beautifully, and some who were good actors, and a couple good dancers, just not many with all three skills. And strangely, some actors played their character really well, but sucked in ensemble scenes. The really disappointing part was the tech, or lack thereof. There was no set to speak of and the lighting was really rather juvenile, and its odd that I should be able to tell that. The costumes and makeup were surprisingly good for there being no costume designer, but definitely would have been helped by one. I was actually impressed by ho unified they really were, but you could tell that the actors were told, go find a sparkly top, fishnets, shorts and a coat. Oh well. Maybe I can get a job on a production, even though I was told not to. It wasn't on par with what I have come to expect from college, and at least tech-wise Maine South would have been embarrassed by it as well, but I am guessing it was a low-budget student show in which case it was passable. Like I said, some of the performers were quite good, it just needed a lot of polish, and maybe a better script.
After the show i ran to the library for an hour two of internet and email and made plans to watch a movie later. Back at the flat, Anna and I watched Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, which I have been meaning to read (yes read) forever. It was really good and funny but really confusing too. I may have to watch it again. Worth seeing. Its where my new facebook status comes from. Ask or watch the movie to be clued in ;)

And then Friday I just hung out. Most of my flatmates go home/to their boyfriend's on the weekend so its really quiet. Its so odd that most of the partying happens mid week. I'm not used to it. I need to throw a classic American party just to change it up a bit, not that I have really been going out mid week except for Club Sandwich (totally violating my no drinking before thursday rule). So yeah. Been pretty quiet, but two live shows and 2 movies is not too bad for 4 days. Maybe I'll be able to drum up some more excitement tonight. I'll let you know.

Mini-America or what I swore I would never do

I don't really have much to say, but I'll post so I don't fall behind.
1. this keyboard really sucks.
2. Today: I finally went to class!! Yeay!! But I don't really like it, boo :( Figures that 2/3 of my class time will be something i don't really like. Why I don't like it: 1. Its all foreign students. So I have no classes with real British kids, which is why I came here in the first place. 2. Its an intro class for dumb foreign kids so its not really indepth/doesn't teach major technique nor is it free artistic exploration like the real classes here. 3. Its about 4 weeks long. 4. Both of my classes (painting and digital media) are being rolled into one, so I don't know if Lehigh will give me credit for either and even if they did, i won't be able to take upper level painting or computer classes cause we aren't really learning anything. 5. the digital class is basic photoshop and doesn't really meet as a class 6. the teacher has no idea whats going on/how Goldmsiths works so he doesn't have any advice or suggestions, he's bsically an adjunct hired to teach the foreign kids for 4 weeks. its like babysitting 7. the damn class took so long to meet that now I can't change my class for something better 8. the two classes aren't running into the summer like they said they would, so i'm screwed for credits at lehigh and courses here. I really wanted 6 months of painting technique and 6 months of serious digital design.
Today was a horrible flashback to color theory (anyone remember how much i hated that class???). We got sweets and mixed colors based off of them in acrylics. Then we painted pieces of paper those solid colors. Then we ate lunch. Then we cut the paper up into small squares of color. Yup, we made bits of color paper today. The teacher set up a 'still life' (there was nothing living in it, just chairs and boxes and things) and told us we were going to use the pretty bits of paper to make a collage. Oooh! We're supposed to make the still like out of very colorful, but way too large, bits of paper. Later we'll paint with oils on top. Its kindergarden for college kids. I'm going to try to make the best of it, and try to be grown up and artsy, but there is no way I'm going to be able to justify this to Lehigh. I already have to talk to the interational office about figuring out what to do about summer, I think i'm going to see if I can get a tutor in painting technique and digital media so this semester isn't wasted. And there is little to no chance of learning maya (3D computer imaging) so there will be no more computer at Lehigh for me either. byebye second major. Not that Nyko reads this, but if he did he'd say teach yourself maya. And I would, except I can't get the software, the school doesn't have the software, and i don't have internet to download tutorials. Damn. I'm really sad. I just want a damn real art educations. Not this learning for American idiots crap. If they had told me that, I would have gone somewhere else. Oh well. Too late now. Just such a waste of a study abroad. I could have done this back in America. Yes I get to see a bit, yes I will see British theatre. Yes, that is good. But I'm not learning, not really, and not the way I wanted. I really wanted to round out my education by having some different teachers. No luck.
Well, thats all I did today. Two classes rolled into one. Now, to wait until Wednesday so I can go be an answering machine in acting for dumb americans. Oh, I can go in on my own time and paste colored squares too. I will, just out of sheer boredom. I think i'm going to be a bad student and paint in my room. At least I'll actually be painting. Off to kill time untill Wednesday! (yes its friday) And to make geeky freshman plans to meet people other than the creepy guy from the club who is popping up everywhere! And to see Pippin, the world's worst musical just because its £3 and at school. Wish me luck.

Oh, I may also join the gym. Ugh. And I may buy a British phone. So no more calls from you all... get SKYPE!

Communication

Please get Skype! If you are a regular reader, you probably already have it, so this defeats the purpose, but it will soon be the only way you can contact me. I mean it. AIM doesn't seem to work on my comp here, but Skype does. Soon, I will probably also buy a UK phone, which means you won't be able to call me unless you have world service.
I miss you guys and Skype is free and easy. You can do IM chats on it too, so you don't even need a mic or speakers. You may say this is redundant if it works just like AIM, but I can't get AIM. So if you want to talk to me, Skype is the only way. Please? Please?


SKYPE!

Back on the Island

So, tired and hungry I made my way to acting, mad that I didn't have the good night's sleep I wanted, but happy to have another chance at making friends. There were two new guys in class (yeay more boys!) but I think less people overall. One of the guys is uber preppy New Hampshire, but he goes to Illinois Wesleyan, but doesn't know Krystyna, but he does know Kevin - Laura's Kevin - way small world. So odd. Anyhow, we didn't get to be starfish this time, but we danced to Abba doing the typical theatre mirror exercise, which i kinda hate, but as theatre warm ups go, could be much much worse (big booty....). Then we did 'improv' pretending to leave voice mail messages. Then we started working with our first script. Its a very interesting play, i think. He only gave us the first 2 pages, but it has no characters. Like, the first bit is a bunch of voice mail messages on this girl Anna's phone. (Hence the improv...) But there is no description of Anna except what is left in her voice mail. really odd, but my teacher really seems to hate character, so thats why we're starting with this. At the end, he split the class in two so the class size would be smaller. I'm in the 'early' one. Its at 11:30. I don't mind. But he got really pissed cause very few people would volunteer to get up this early. Damn lazy Americans. Wednesday night is party night anyhow. But I like the people in my section. No luck on friends this time, but I am hopeful for next time. The class is now set up perfectly to invite people out for lunch.
I spent the rest of the day buying paint for my art class which finally starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!! Yeay paint. And going to the cheap ghetto 'grocery' store across the street to buy frozen foods. It used to only sell frozen food, now it has a few other things, like alcohol (I didn't get any), and appliances. I don't know. But it is stupidly cheap. SO thats good. I got ice cream ;) Then I ate a lunch/dinner and took a long nap. Alex woke me up by calling. I ate some noodles and decided to join my roommates at Club Sandwich. This was kinda a dumb choice given my sleep pattern, but I wanted to chill with them.
I didn't really drink given that I was already sluggish, but my one flatmate got pissed (British slag for trashed) which was really funny. She had an early class this morning and was not happy. The club was slow to pick up and I sat and sort of talked with Jason (dancer flatmate) and some of his friends, but they were drunk and odd. We then met up with the other flatmates and danced, talk, drank, took a trip to the loo, etc. I saw people I knew on my own, ie not friends of my flatmates, which made me feel cool and talked to Andrew for a while. He has shoulder length blonde curly hair which is so cool, and is a designer. I was really trying to make friends with him, but it was so hard to talk to him. Later in the night I lost my flatmates and ended up dancing 'with' him, but it was that kinda awkward middle school style bobbing around near someone and he left to go home. Then his friend moved in. I knew him sort of, like don't remember his name but know his face from talking before. He and I danced for a while, but he was getting a bit 'touchy', like "Ok dude, I don't know you so could you not put your hand there quite like that?" sort of touchy, but it wasn't a real big deal, seeing as he was kinda drunk, and the laws of dancing are different then the rest of the world. Then a really poppy fun song came on that i really like, I don't remember which now, which was perfect for American-style jumping head banging dancing, so I moved away a bit and commenced with plan 'try and be subtle that I don't want to dance close to you by dancing like a moron.' That was fun, but didn't work cause when the song changed, he moved back in again just as before. I made the typical girl excuse that I was hot and needed a break and went on a rapid search for my flatmates. But I couldn't find them. Of all the times to need a friend, or even someone I sort of knew, this was it. No luck. Then being the smooth guy he was, he invited me back to his place. Yeah, boys and smooth don't go together, dense maybe, but not smooth. I said I was really tired (true) cause I hadn't slept last night (also true) and that I wanted to just go home (less true, but close enough). He said ok, see you later. What a gentleman...not. So I walked home very quickly doing exactly what not to do, ie walk home alone at 2am in the ghetto, but no one bothered me. I heard my flatmates come in later. Guess they were still there somewhere. I went to sleep and slept in really late. Yeah, Club Sandwich #2. Not having good luck with guys at that place. Third times the charm?
So today, Thursday, consisted of sleeping, grocery shopping cause my milk had gone bad and the bastard cleaning lady threw out my Fanta. Grr. But I bought yummy food for dinner tonight and I'm excited to go cook. I've already been in the library longer than I wanted and want to eat my yummy food. I then went to the library and researched internet, not looking good, and phone SIM cards, looking really good. The creepy guy from last night came into the library while I was talking to Alex on skype (see...Skype....get it!!!) but left me alone. He came and said hi later, which is a good sign that maybe he believed me last night and there are no hard feelings. We'll see. SO thats all for now. Class tomorrow!!!!!!! I have never been so excited for class... I feel lame. More when it happens.

Eurotrip #1

Alright, so now I need to play catch-up. Despite having beautiful 24 hour internet while in Paris, I didn't feel like posting for some reason, though I took full advantage of personal internet in many other ways. So here's what I've been up to since last time:

I didn't end up going to the high school musical sing-along, sad I know, cause the people I thought for sure would want to go didn't. The lure of flashy London clubs was too much competition for perky Disney high schoolers singing lame tunes. And they didn't invite me :( but I also didn't ask to go cause I was leaving semi-early in the morning and wanted to go out only if people really wanted me to come. I was fine spending the night in. So I relaxed, packed, and went to sleep. I then got up in the morning and began my European adventure #1.
After last minute packing and a quick breakfast trying to finish off the food that would go bad (unsuccessfully, but the bananas magically disappeared while I was gone...odd.)I went in search of my bus. Because I am stupid i went to the wrong side of the road and watched it drive by, so I crossed the road and caught the next one. That's why I left lots of time. But, I got on the bus, and road it in what I hoped was the right direction. The train station was farther away than I thought and I was just starting to think it was taking me to some strange land when I saw my stop. I got off and was in front of a giant train station, the wrong giant train station that the map said was one of 4 with the same name. I finally found directions to the Waterloo International and followed the signs on a crazy twisty little path that led me to exactly the right place. It was like the pot of gold/rainbow/light at the end of a tunnel etc. I got my boarding pass and waited in line to check in. They had to check my passport (and about 6 others) to make sure we were really Youths (cheaper rates ages 16-25 or something) and went through psuedo-security (they scan your bags and you go through a metal detector, but you don't have to take your laptop out or put all your liquids in 3oz bottles in a 1 qt baggie) and got on my train. Super easy. I was like the last seat in the last car, but i got a window. Then I found out that my seat was facing backwards, and slept to avoid being sick. So i missed seeing the chunnel, which makes me sad, but i didn't want to make a mess. I arrived in Paris safe and clean, easily found the metro, bought a ticket and took it to Nyko's stop, found the street and found Nyko. Very easy, very successful trip.
I don't think I'm going to do a play-by-play of Paris, but here's basically what we did: we went out for crepes (yum! which came with cider, yeah for being legal), I had french pizza which comes with a sunny side up egg on it, which is good, but I don't think it would please Chicagoans, and I don't expect to be seeing egg pizza at Domino's or Campus any time soon, we had Kebabs which in Europe means basically a gyro with different really good meat in it and a choice of kinda odd sauces, and to a really nice local restaurant with really really good food. Nyko also thought his harddrive was crashing (he blames me) and so I took him out for a drink at a gay-friendly bar, not cause either of us are gay, but because the gay ones looked like more fun. The place was lined in red velvet (ceiling and walls) and was really cool inside. I had a margarita for the first time (so good!) and Nyko had a mai tai. We both agreed mine was better. It was also really strong. That was a lot of fun. Lets see... I think that covers food. We walked around Notre Dame and the Latin Quater, saw the Louvre, the Pompidu (inside out modern art building) and the Eiffel Tower, walked along the Seine River, walked around the shopping center, neighborhood and church area around Nyko's place. I spent one day shopping looking for jeans, a pair I brought have huge holes in them that I swear appeared magically over night, and I want to be cool and have a pair of those skinny jeans. I know, I made fun of them for a year, but I give in. I want a pair to put into my boots and look sleek and cool and pretty like all the European women. But I didn't find any that fit or were in my price range, but I did get a purse and a scarf, which is so girly and not like me, but I really like them and they fit into my look-like-a-cool-European plan. I also managed to find my way back to Nyko's place which is impressive cause I didn't really know where I was. One day we walked around the Champs Eleysee (the big famous, shopping street in Paris. Kinda like N. Michigan Ave in Chicago) and went to see car studios (for Nyko). So I got to see L'Arc de Triumph and bought some cheesy souvenirs. Mostly I just spent time with Nyko, talked and got caught up, enjoyed sleeping and his wireless internet, and ate great food like amazing Baguettes and Mille Feuille and eclaires. There was an amazing little bakery right around the corner. Sorry for not being really in depth, but if there is something you want to know more about, email me and I'll tell you the full story. (ksl204@gmail.com) I really enjoyed getting to use some of my French, but I didn't get to speak that much because I am really rusty and didn't know that much to begin with. I felt really dopey trying to talk to Nyko's friends cause I only basically understood the conversation, and by the time I'd figured out a response, they'd moved on. Oh well. The real adventure came when I tried to leave. I took Nyko out to dinner to thank him, and it took a bit longer than I thought. By the time I got to the train station, they wouldn't let me board. The train was still there, but since I wasn't there a half hour early, they wouldn't let me check in. I was really pissed. I knew I was running a little late, but not that late, nor did I think I needed to be there that early. Its a train for gods sake! I could have scanned my luggage and got to my seat in 10 mins. But no, they turned me away and said figure it out. Luckily they spoke English because chapter 12 of the French book is NOT what to do when they won't let you on your train. I could say 'ticket' 'track' 'train' and 'please', but not 'What the hell am I supposed to do until tomorrow morning? and How am I supposed to get to class?' So I resorted to English, which just made me mad, sad, lost, abandoned and look like a stupid, arrogant American. I sat in the station and kinda cried and called my mom just cause, even though I knew it would do no good. I couldn't call Nyko cause my phone doesn't like his French number for some reason. Stupid phone. (I may get a new one, which unfortunately means you all won't be able to call me cause it will be a British number :( so get Skype!!! Really guys! I want to talk to you and that is the only way!!!) So I bought another Metro ticket and made my way back to Nyko's place. I rang his doorbell and he was really confused why I came back, but he let me stay for another night. He was really counting on me being gone cause he had a lot of work. So I stayed up all night with him because there is no place to sleep while he is working. I watched Click (really good movie) and chatted on AIM. Then I suddenly realized that the Metro wouldn't be open early enough for me to get to my train on time, with way more than 30 mins to spare this time. So I stressed and found a train that would get me to the station slightly earlier. I got to the station quickly and ok, then found out that I couldn't even talk to the ticket counter until 6am. The train left at 6:22. Check in would start at 6:00 as well. So the bastards lied about their damn strict half hour check in rule. So I was really mad that they made me feel stupid for not getting there stupidly early the night before since that policy is obviously not as strict as they let on. Bastards. But they gave me a free ticket transfer, which is really nice, so I suppose I can't really hate them. I got on the train fine and slept the whole way. The train was basically empty so a grabbed a forward facing seat and stretched out across two. Missed the Chunnel again, but it was still dark so I might not ahve seen it even if I was awake.
When I got to London it was raining. Typical London. I had a hard time finding my bus stop, cause it was a different one than where I was dropped off, so I got wet, but I found it, got on my bus, and arrived safe, sound, and exhausted at my dorm. I then slept through my alarm, but managed to wake up in time for my one and only class! Yeay for making it to acting. Read on to the next post for London adventures.

I hate Aim

So as promised, I posted last night's entry without editing it at all, or even reading it, so I don't really know what I said. Enjoy.
But by Lehigh standards I really didn't drink that much. Though according to a poster, so alcohol government organization says a girl should only have 2-3 units of alcohol PER DAY. And 4-5 for a boy. Now yes, I had more than that yesterday, but Lehigh kids get that in an hour, every hour. So I think that poster is crap ;) Go Lehigh! or something... I also think these Brits would be blown away by Lehigh style drinking. We totally drink way more than they do, even if we do have to do it illegally. I don't know if we should be proud of that, but I bet Lehigh would be.
Anyway, the reason for the post: for some reason AIM won't let me sign on on my laptop. I'm going to have to use the incredibly slow library comps with the sticky British keyboards (which are different). The macs here are like the PCs in the library at Lehigh: way overused and bogged down. Its so funny. I'm used to Mac labs being empty. Maybe I should try the PCs... So all of you should download Skype and just leave it on so I can IM you when I find internet. You can do normal chat just like AIM on it except I can actually log onto it. One bit of advice: set up security settings so that only people on your buddy list can IM you because I've gotten tones of creeps looking for a girl with a webcam and one person from Turkey who won't leave me alone. But if you restrict them I'll be able to talk to you, even just chat. So yeah.
Today has been slow. I got woken up at 9:30 this morning by someone who wanted to clean my window, which sucks cause I was going to sleep until 11:30. I was so confused by why someone kept knocking on my door. Ugh. But I wasn't hung over like everyone else (yeay for not getting hangovers) so it was ok. I went back to bed after he left. Then got up, showered, ate 'breakfast' and talked with the flatmates. I booked tickets to go see a bunch of shows! ::bounces:: I get to see theatre and I don't have to go alone cause 2 of my flatmates are Drama students. I'm seeing Twelfth Night, Wave (i don't know, they said it was good), Rocky Horror :), and Little Shop of Horrors so far. Yeay! Now I'm at the library getting internet. But not aim :( Tonight I'm going to pack (I leave for Paris tomorrow morning) and maybe go to High School Musical sing along if I can convince people to go or maybe out with the mates. Then Paris!! I feel so worldly! And Nyko has internet, so yeay for a better connection. Woot. Alright. That's all for now. As always.

Club Sandwhich

Alright y’all. I decided to write this right away cause I’m a little bit tipsy and I thought you all might enjoy that. I’ve never posted under the influence before so I don’t know what will happen, but I’m not that drunk so don’t expect much. Its just taking me a couple of trys to get some of these words right. So, Wednesday night is Club Sandwich night. I missed my flatmates heading out there, so I set out on my own. I was feeling a little bit lame, but then I found the few people I know and soon found my flatmates. I spet the rest of the night playing girly and having fun with them. I met so many people! There is no way I am going to remember them all but it was so much fun. They listen to the weirdest collection of music here. Its like modern pop and R&B mixed with souped up oldies, like Rockin Robin and Beatles. It was odd but lots of fun. I drank double rum and cokes all night and could have kept going if I wanted to shove my way in line and pay for it. (I only had 2 and this really good Bailey’s and icecream creation of Anna’s before I left.) I did get offered a drink or a dance which made me feel sexy and cool, but I turned him down cause he seemed a bit off. I met a guy from Cincinatti and made fun of Ohio. I love how alcohol lets you say all sorts of stuff. My ears are ringing so bad….its all muffled, but I love it when the music’s so loud your cup shakes. It makes me feel good. I didn’t get a chance to dance with Jason but I think he’s gay. Oh well. I think we left too early (its 2:30), I could have danced all night long. But it was fun and I’m really looking forward to next Wednesday. Clubbing is so my thing. I’m going to have to get Jason to take me with him when he next goes to Soho (there’s one in London). I also am soon going to just give in to the British English. Its so much more fun… except when I want to pick up guys to dance with or buy me drinks, cause they like American ;) Later. wooo

I am Identified

Hello America!
Exciting news: I got my Goldsmiths ID today!!!! After days of waiting (and endless annoying posts for you) I finally have a shiny new form of identification. I think I am up to 5 now including my passport. I guess I must really know who I am. Other good things from today: there was sun! and blue sky! and a lot of wind and clouds, but still, I saw the sun today! Yeay! And I finally went to my first class. Woot! I love how I was excited to go to class and am kind of dreading the weekend. The bad news is I was late cause it look me 30 mins and two offices to find it. It was in a little church on the second floor, NOT in the drama building, or the PACE building nor was the information posted on the drama visiting students board nor was there anyone in the drama department who had even heard of the course. But I found it. I have now taken my first day of collegiate drama. Be proud Laura, be very proud. I stretched and did mirror excersizes to Abba, imagined a close friend and had to talk to a complete stranger like they were that person, and felt very much like those acting students I make fun of, rolling around on the floor pretending I'm a starfish. But it was fun, nerve-racking, terrifying, and fun. The best part is, this particular teacher doesn't believe in investing emotionally in the script or even the character. So I don't have to fear being forced to literally bawl in front of the class as I think about my brother being dead or something. Laura, I respect what you do and I'm impressed, but this class sounds much more like me. We're going to do close analysis of the scripts and really work to express what the author/playwright intended which is something I think theatre does not do often enough. Too many actors and directors forget about the script, which is really the main art. So I'm excited and I finally have something to do! But now I have to wait a whole week to do something again. Which is why I have finally decided to go to Paris this weekend. (Nyko doesn't know this yet.) I'm going to buy my ticket as soon as I post this. I compromised with myself and decided to go on Friday instead of Thursday. One less day in Paris :( but one more day to make friends, and to recover from the insanity that I hope tonight at CLub Sandwich (the student union/club/pub) will be. And I can go to the High School Musical sing-along! Its so lame I can't believe a college is doing it, but I'm going to go. Basically because my flatmates love it and it could be a good way to bond with them and cause the poster for the event cracks me up. It has high school musical sing-along on it with all the corny pictures, a prize for the best child costume and an advert for £1.50 Smirnoff. Too too funny. I love it. So yeah. I'll be in Paris Friday through Tuesday and then back for my acting class on Wednesday. Funfun. I also my open a UK bank account so I can go to the gym. We'll talk to daddy about that one. I'll let you know about my first clubbing experience tomorrow ;) TTFN

CONTACT INFO

!!! CONTACT INFO !!!

Post (mail):

Kathryn Lieber
Flat B8F
Loring Hall
St. James
New Cross
London SE14 6AH

Phone:

870 7115594
(you have to enter a bunch of numbers before that so if you try to call the land line google ‘how to call London’ first.)

[edit] new cell number: 079 4207 0365

I Found Internet!

Day 5: Tuesday January 9
So I slept in until 2:00 today simply because I have nothing to do. Oh well. Sleep is good. I hope my flatmates don’t think I’m antisocial or depressed or anything. Its just that the morning is kind of useless here since you all would be in bed until like 2:00 here and I can’t go to the library for internet or to even check out books and movies (which I really want to do) and I haven’t had any classes yet so I have no homework, and I can’t get into the art building without that damn ID. I’m checking again at 5 today. And if I get it, I’m going to the library! I haven never been so excited to say that. I saw that they had some really good looking DVDs that I want to check out. But in order to pass the time, I went to check out the gym today. Be very very thankful you all have a free gym. I don’t think I’m going to be able to pay for it which is sad cause its really really nice and has fun looking classes like street dance and Pilates. Bur, its either 20 pounds a month with a UK debit account (which I don’t have) or pay 90 pounds up front for 6 months (which I am not really here for.) or you could pay a 20 pound start up fee and 5.50 for each visit. Multiply all those numbers by 2 and you have the US equivalent. All the British girls here are so skinny and pretty in their skinny jeans and amazing boots and I wanted to try to get in shape with all this new free time, but not for nearly $200. I don’t know if I’d go to the gym that often. Oh well, would have been nice. So I’m still on the lookout for things to do. Hoping for my ID today. Later.
So now its later and I am sitting on the internet!!! yeay!!! I missed it so damn much. I still don't have an ID, but i have a login so I can go online now, not in my room but its better than nothing. I didn't do much after my failed gym adventure. I ordanized my closet and played more Sims. Then checked on my ID status (there was a sign that said they can't make IDs right now and didn't look hopeful that it ever would again) but I then decided to check on my internet login status just in case and it worked! So I checked my email and posted my 8 pages of blog for your enjoyment. Leave me comments! I miss you guys. Still can't decide if I'm going to Paris or not, so we'll see. Bye for now!

Part 4 and 4.5

Day 4: Monday, January 8
I was so excited when I woke up this morning: I saw sun! Actually, I saw the sun rise. (It rises really late here and sets really early. I was up at a normal time.) It looked like it was going to be a really pretty day so I left my umbrella at home and didn’t wear my new rain boots. Its raining now, and was after about 20 minutes of being outside. One American I talked to today missed the sun entirely which is completely possible here.
But weather aside, I went to my meeting this morning and made some friends! Yeay! Americans, and I know I’m supposed to integrate with the Brits and I swore I would, but the Americans are so much easier to make friends with cause we’re all lonely. (But I did talk to my flatmates more. They are nice and I like them. I girl from Muhlenberg was here last semester and taught them how to pregame ;) its so cute. As soon as I find a rectangular table they need to learn beruit/beer pong. I love being a bad influence after so many years of being way too prudish. And I did meet Micky, he popped in the kitchen, looked scared, introduced himself, and left. I don’t think the girls like him much. He’s from Hong Kong, but isn’t a visiting student.) But I found two girls who were also looking for this meeting and we were all lost together so we made friends. Eventually we found the person leading the meeting and learned all about the Media Comm department. My class in that department doesn’t start until April. Oh well. I made friends with a girl in that class and hopefully we will hang out cause we’re both bored waiting for these classes to start. Another girl was really nice (the first lost one I found) but she didn’t seem interested in trading numbers. Maybe next time. Then I went on a library tour (with that girl) and saw all the nice library things I can’t use yet because they haven’t entered the Americans into the system yet. Grr times a million. I spent most of the day trying to get my ID card and trying to get internet. I found wireless, its only in really specific places, but you need a login name to get on and you need an ID to get a login name. So I’m going back at 5 to try again. I spent part of the afternoon with my new friend Carlen. Her’s is the first new number in my phone J We had lunch (mmmm Fanta!) after being denied cards and internet again. She’s really nice and fun. The ends of her hair are blue. She introduced me to a friend of hers who is in my painting class, Jamie I think. She finished her undergrad degree and is here working towards a masters in Art Therapy so she can teach art back in the states. She’s kinda weird but nice and fun. I think I’ll like having her in my very very long painting class. But now I am back my room killing time until 5 when I can try for my ID again. I think I’ll play Sims. Oh! Apparently Wednesday is Pub night at the student Union and everyone goes out drinking. You are supposed to try and not have class on Thursday. Lehigh would so love it here. If Lehigh sold alcohol, the school would be rich. Can’t wait to go to the Pubs, sounds like so much fun! (and to help my flatmates refine their pregaming skills)!!! More when more happens.

Part 2: Still no bloody ID!!!! I want internet! Though now its midnight and I want to go online because its like, well, still only 6 or 7:30 but its closer to internet time for you. Almost. Oh well. It seems like my days are so long here. I get up semi early, I go to bed at 12:30 and I’m not tired so I stare at the ceiling and it just drags on. I think its cause part of my brain thinks its early evening still. But I really can’t believe its still Monday, I swear 4 days have gone by since this morning. I can’t wait until I have something to do, but I still can’t decide if I want to go to Paris this weekend. Besides the fact that I can’t find out how to get there or if Nyko even wants me to come until I get that goddamn bloody ID! Now it may sound like I’m just whining and it really hasn’t been that long to go without an ID but like I said, each day feels like 5. And they told us our IDs were ready on Friday, then said check back Saturday, then check back Monday, then on Monday they said check back at 5, now they’re saying maybe but lunch Tuesday. I don’t know if I’m even going to bother. But what happened after 5: I hung out with my flatmates a bit and tried to get on with the dancer. He’s not really that cute and has a really strange tick (and likes awful music) but it would be really fun to go clubbing with him and do some dancing. Can’t wait till Wednesday! Even if I go to Paris, I’m not missing this Wednesday Club Sandwich thing. Everyone is so excited. Then I got my first phone call. I’m so pathetic. I was actually really excited to go grocery shopping. Oh well. I bought Fanta and some food and such. I need to decide which alcohol goes best with Fanta and Sprite cause that’s all the mixers I have and only want to buy one bottle at a time. Rum? We’ll see. Then I finally got hungry so I made dinner (soup and canned salmon, I am so not a chef. My flatmate made really good looking tai chicken and I was jealous.) Then I got another call (same person. Soynia) and went to check out the student union/bar/pub thing. It was karaoke night. I have not legally bought my first drink. There’s another finger down in never have I ever/10 fingers. Laura and Krystyna: I’m not going to be able to even play with you any more. We met some people and tried to talk a bit. The guys we were hanging out with left to go to a hooka bar (called a shisha here) but we didn’t want to go so we sat like losers for a while. (Soynia’s friends with this kinda nice kinda odd really judgmental girl, Lauren.) Listened to bad karaoke, got bored and left. Now I’m back here contemplating ramen that I really don’t want to waste and wishing I had internet so I could post these 8 pages. And I am entirely not tired. I’m tempted to start drinking just to sleep at night, but I really don’t want to be an alcoholic. I also really don’t want to pick up smoking. Top two things on my list not to do. I also already have a bit of a British accent. I think in a British accent (yes, my thoughts have an accent) but at times I really can’t shake it. I am trying to keep some of my accent so I don’t offend anyone, but its really hard. I have always been entirely too susceptible to British accents.. Damn you Matt! This boredom thing is really brutal and my flat is dead silent and I have no classes or meetings tomorrow. Gym maybe? Wow.. the things boredom will do to you. Well, by the time I come back I may either be a smoking alcoholic with an odd Midwestern/British accent or a really fit writer with the same bad accent. This is my semester for wild fun… but no smoking, and no alcoholism please… Being dead sexy and a great linguist wouldn’t be bad, but I hope I make more friends so I don’t right posts that are quite so long. This is a bit pathetic, but my typing is getting better. Here’s to hoping tomorrow brings fun, and internet!

Third Times the Charm

Well it’s Sunday. Day 3. Jan. 7th. My dad had breakfast with me this morning and then left to go back to Chicago. So now I am officially alone. And I’m bored. I still haven’t managed to find internet, though I may just pay for dial up soon. (I know…pay for dial up? Is it the stone ages? But it’s the only service I’ve been able to find so far. I’m sitting in the library now and can’t get any wireless signal. Its supposed to be here somewhere… maybe I’ll just give in and go to an internet café for an hour. But I am sitting here, alone, amongst people who are doing homework before the term even starts (?!?) and facing eating dinner alone. Is it a sign of alcoholism to drink alone even if you don’t know anybody? Anyhow, I do have some positive things to say so let me get to them.
After my dad left I sat in my room for a bit and decided that that was pathetic and boring so I chose to be adventurous and took the bus to the mall. Dad had left me some numbers of buses that he thought went to what we assumed was the mall, but that was all I new. I head off walking down the street looking for a bus stop facing the right direction that had the numbers I was looking for. (I found a park on the way. Kinda muddy and nothing but grass, but nice and green all the same. Could be nice in good weather.) Just as I was buying a day’s bus pass one of the numbers I was looking fro drove up so I hurried on. I had no idea what I was looking for, so I just kept to the window hoping I would find some clue that stores were near by. I finally saw a parking garage and the blessed words “Lewisham Center” and another sign where all I could read was the word “shops.” I hazarded that this contained the mall and got off. I followed some teeny-boppy girls in a round about way that led to the entrance of the mall!! I was so happy. Now I wouldn’t call this a mall by Woodfield or King of Prussia standards or even Whitehall, but it had stores and that was close enough. There were a ton of the Rave and Deb type places, which is not what I was looking for, but I did find a stationary type of store that also had games, computer/video game stuff and art supplies. Here I found post-its, tape, a sketchbook, and markers. The new Harry Potter book was already advertised for pre-order and you got a Garth Nix book free with it (!!!) and as soon as I find internet to check if it comes out before I leave, I’ll be back to preorder my British Harry Potter book fro only 2 pounds ($4). Yeay Harry Potter and yeay for being in London (I hope) when it comes out!! I also have to say I already love Europe for one reason alone: they have small shoes!!! I picked out a pair of rain boots I liked and fearfully asked what size I would be citing the impossible to find American woman’s 4 as my size. Without hesitation the salesperson said I would probably be a 2 and brought them right out to me! The first pair I picked up came in my tiny size! That has never happened before! Go Europe! I also got weatherproofing spray for them so my feet won’t get wet like they did yesterday. Then I went to Woolworths (department store that didn’t bother much with really organizing the departments) and got pushpins and a cord for the dial up I hope to get (gah for hoping for dial up…so sad) because apparently European telephone jacks aren’t the same as American and I needed a new cable, but they had one and that made me happy. I also got my favorite Cadbury chocolates that you can’t get in the states: crème eggs and Flake (in dark chocolate). I tried to get Bueno and Kinder eggs, but they were not there. Yumyum. Apparently they don’t sell alarm clocks so I had to go to Argos for that. They have a strange store concept: You go in and search through a catalogue for the item you want and write down the number, then you go to the counter to pay and get an order number and a checkpoint on your receipt, last you go to the 3rd counter and wait in line for them to bring you your order. I guess it cuts down on stealing. But I got a clock radio for about 4 pounds so I can wake up for my one appointment at 9am on Monday (still haven’t found the building where it is though.) I even managed to get on the right bus and get back to my dorm. I felt so accomplished. I set my alarm clock, sprayed my shoes, and hung up some pictures. Then I set out about campus to explore, find internet, find buildings, and hopefully find friends. So far I haven’t been very successful on any of those, but tomorrow is another day. But now its dark and the library is closing so I have to leave. (Damn library closing at 5:30) Off to find dinner and friends? I hope so. Maybe an internet café if it isn’t closed/I find it, maybe cereal in my room. More when more happens.

Day 3 part 2: (The best part of this blog thing is I can ramble on as much as I want and not clog up anyone’s friends page, so I’m going to say more!)
I finally got to talk to my flatmates!! Yeay! I’m so much happier now that I’m not all alone! I found the internet café but decided not to go because I was hungry and it didn’t have food, so I went home and on my way in saw Anna (the one roommate I met earlier) helping a new girl in, Hannah. She is funny and really friendly. She’s also an English and Drama major and a musicals nut! Actually all three girls love musicals, so hopefully we’ll all go see stuff. Then Becca moved in and we all helped her up with her stuff. She’s really pretty and kind of your typical girl with lots of stuff and pretty sparkly things but she seems really nice. I didn’t get to talk to her much because she ran off to see a friend and then her boyfriend came over, but everyone seems nice. I sat and talked to Anna for quite a while learning about British school and about her. I really need a doorstop so I can keep my door open and see what everyone is doing cause I’m kind of on an end of a T shaped hallway by myself. But I’m much more excited now that people are here. I was really lonely earlier because all the normal kids were coming back from break and greeting each other and I missed all my friends, all of you, and being safe and knowing everyone and all that funness of coming back from break and seeing everyone again. Oh well, at least my flatmates seem nice and it should be fun. The two guys still aren’t here, but apparently one of them (a dancer!!!!) goes home every weekend so I may not see much of him (L). But things are looking up, much better than before. I have one meeting tomorrow morning and I still don’t know where it is, but then nothing until Wednesday. Maybe I’ll have to introduce everyone to Lehigh style drinking ;) There was a girl from Muhlenberg here last semester, which is so ironic, but those kids don’t party like Lehigh, so I’m sure I have much to teach. So what if they’ve been drinking since they were 16 (legally 18), so what if they have pubs and night clubs like Chicago has Starbucks (I cannot wait to go to pubs and nightclubs! Yeay being legal!), they don’t have beruit (I don’t think) and they don’t have Lehigh! Eh, we’ll see how things go. If I get internet and get a hold of Nyko maybe I’ll party in Paris… who knows. I plan on getting some good work done, but I also planning on having tons of fun. I was so jealous of Tomas last semester… now is my turn. I hear new people in the hallway.. I need an excuses to go out there…. Gr. Well, besides that and wondering what to do with my newfound free time, I feel much better now. My room is looking more homely, though still barren compared to the crap piles back at Lehigh, but better. I can handle better. Is it sad how much my alarm clock excites me? Or how much Cadbury excites me? You know what’s funny, you always miss what you can’t have; Hannah was talking about how much she loves American candy. Apparently things like Reeces are hard to find here. They talked of having friends in the States bring back boxes of Lucky Charms. If I had known that I would have brought tons of American crap but I thought America was so globalized the stuff would be everywhere and no one would want it. I mean, how could you crave Snickers when Cadbury and good Belgian chocolate is everywhere?! I go to Canada just for candy sometimes (well, family and candy) and I’m so excited its in the stores here. But I guess after a while I may miss Reeces. So when you come, bring Reeces, Lucky Charms and your own plate ;) and I’ll trade you cheap American crap for good Belgian chocolate. I Love Crème Eggs!!! And now I only have one left… Its taking all my willpower not to just devour the Flake.. Well I guess I’ll clean or watch a movie to keep my mind off the yummy candy. Hopefully this will actually get posted tomorrow and you can catch up on the 6 pages of back reading you have to do. More adventures tomorrow!

British is Funny (a continuous post)

Why the British English is cute: On a list of things I must do in the Res Services brochure: “keep on top of your washing up” and “Throw rubbish in the bin”
Exit = ‘Way Out’
Dish soap = ‘Washing up liquid’

London take 2

Day 2: Woke up this morning and my dad met me at my place. We took a train into West End London (still haven’t completely figured out the mass transit system. There are about 10 ways to get anywhere) for a day of walking around in the London rain. My feet got soaked so we added rain boots to my shopping list. (I also need an alarm clock.) We didn’t find either. We were reminded that you have to pay to pee over here (Urinetown anyone?) when my dad had to pay 20p (twenty pence) at the train station and I had to pay 50p later in the day. We walked all over West End, Soho (south of what I wonder?), Covent Garden, and Chinatown. (Its all right there together.) We had just crossed into Westminster (where all the famous stuff is) but it started to pour so we hid under and overhang for a bit. We had traditional fish and chips for lunch with vinegar and mushy peas (the mashed potatoes of peas) at a traditional looking pub. We found a bowling bar (everything revolves around drinking here) and ducked into a bunch of little shops looking for rain boots. I don’t think I am ever going to get the hang of which direction the traffic is coming from, even though it tells you on the sidewalk. My dad took me to see Avenue Q this evening!!! It was great, just as funny as the hype. It was a little weird seeing a show set in New York while in England, but the cast didn’t seem to have much of a British accent or an overly fake American accent so all was good. My dad liked it too which is a plus, what with the puppets having sex on stage and all. It was a lot of fun and really great. I have been dying to see the show, and it was probably more fun than Billy Elliot the Musical and cooler than Mary Poppins, but I think I will go and see more shows (including those) in the future. We then went to Chinatown for dinner where the English translations were horrible and there were whole ducks in the window so I know it was good Chinese food. Should take Tamara there to see all the ducks and chickens hanging in all the windows. My dad says the big thing to do in China is to bring one of those home to your mother. They give you a little box and everything, but they come with the neck and head still attached. Another window and chicken feet and squid for sale as well and the menu included Duck Web, Abalone, Squid and Sea Cucumber (which is a sea animal the routinely throws up its own stomach.) We had deep fried chicken with garlic (very good) Curry Chicken and Prawns in Black Bean sauce. Then we walked back to the train station (my dad got Starbucks on the way. Beware, even Starbucks is not the same everywhere. They charge a different price if you eat in or take away and serve things like cheddar and pickle sandwiches.) and took the train back to Goldsmiths. We sat around and I showed my dad some pictures from my show, called home and then Dad headed back to the hotel to sleep. We’ll meet up tomorrow for breakfast then he heads home. I have to admit that I’m a little bit terrified about this whole thing. Most people came in groups from there school and I’m the only one alone, except for the Danish girl. Its going to be a little bit tough to adjust, but I think I’ll be ok once classes start and the library opens. Wish me luck! I may need it…

I Made It!

Hello from London!
I made it. No more false starts or leading you on. I am here. I have officially started my European Adventure. I am abroad. Gone. Out of the country. Across the pond. And therefore, have no internet, so I don’t know when this will actually get posted. Today is Saturday, Jan 6 (Happy Birthday Laura!) around 10:20 London time. My dad leaves to head back to the states tomorrow morning and then I will be officially alone.

Updates so far: Arrived at Heathrow London Airport around 10:30/11:00 at night (now I should say 22:30/23:00) on Thursday. We took an adorable black cab to the Ibis Greenwich Hotel near Goldsmiths. Here official cabs are all this one make of car unlike in the States where its just any car painted yellow. They have no trunks but tons of space in the back for luggage and up to 5 passengers. The driver was very friendly and has a son who has been in Ohio for 6 years now. He talked to my dad about the Bears winning the Superbowl this year (Go Bears!) And he pointed out all the big tourist sights we passed on the way: gigantic museums, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Harrods Department store (I don’t know if it is really popular here but it was completely outlined in Christmas lights and it was one of those big old buildings with lots to outline.) Then we went across the river and could see a lit up Goldsmiths sign peaking out between the buildings. It was at this point that I began to get scared. It finally hit me that my dad was actually going to leave me here, alone, for the nest 6-9 months. Ah! But I decided to not think about it and we continued on to the hotel where a very nice French guy showed us our room. (I remembered how to say Left and Right in French so we could get directions to the bus stop. He spoke English but forgot the words left and right.) The room was tiny! My dad says this is pretty standard European, but with my suitcases we had to keep jumping over things to move around. They also are not very big on free amenities either: only one teeny tiny bar of soap and very small towels. Its not like American hotels where you get face soap, body soap, conditioner, shampoo and lotion that could last a couple days. There were also two very small single beds pushed together in the room. Apparently all the rooms are like that, even if you wanted like a queen/double bed for a couple. I slept off and on that night between the bed being not very comfortable, being very close to my dad and it being about 5:00pm Chicago time.

Day 1: The next morning we had a traditional English breakfast at the Café Rouge attached to the hotel which consists of coffee or tea (I had orange juice) eggs (fried or scrambled) sausage, “bacon” (semi crispy ham), a large mushroom, toast, and a tomato. Then we took the bus over to Goldsmiths for my foreign orientation. There are mostly girls studying abroad here and only one girl not from the states: she’s from Denmark. By now most people had been here a day or two and all the Americans are starting to get a little testy about the lack of internet. It was the number one asked question in every meeting I went to including the one about my painting class. We’re all like addicts going through withdrawal, everyone’s a little on edge when it comes to internet connections. If I weren’t going through the same thing it would be funny. But they gave us the lowdown on everything we needed to know (I forgot a pen so I can’t really tell you what was said) but all they could tell us about internet was that the library opened on Monday. I don’t think they really understood that everyone has their laptops sitting idly in their rooms waiting to be useful. We took a campus tour (I’m going to just be lost for a few days. It’s a small campus but all the paths in this city are old and tiny and windy and you know how much I love Chicago’s grid…) and then had a break for lunch. One of the speakers for the meeting didn’t show so we had gotten out early and I didn’t have a meeting until 3:15 (15:15). I tried to get my Goldmsiths ID (4th form of Identification I have here to carry [passport, drivers license, Lehigh ID, ISIC card]) but I’m not going to be in the system until Monday so I have to go back. So we went back to the hotel, got my stuff and brought it to my room and checked in. I got my bed pack, swipe card and key. I have to swipe to open a very heavy gate and then again to get into my block, then unlock the door to my flat and then unlock the door to my room. Oh, and there is a security guard right underneath my window (I’m right above the gate). I feel safe. I am also on the top floor. Suitcases get heavier the higher up you go. But all my stuff got up and I semi-unpacked. The room is nice but small. Once I figure all this internet out I’ll find a way to post pictures. The building is set up similar to Lower Cents at Lehigh in that there are 6-8 buildings around a central quad with one laundry room on the other end of the quad from me (grr). The difference is that they’re higher (I’m on the 4th or 5th floor), and there are 2 flats on each floor I am flat 8. Inside each flat there are 7 bedrooms each with their own bathroom (yeay!) and a common area/kitchen. I have room F. I have met one of my flat mates so far. She is a freshman here (and I met her boyfriend) and is semi friendly. There is one open room so far and there rest is a mix of boys and girls and they’ll come in tomorrow or Monday. My room itself is alright. There is very little storage, so I’m glad this is not my permanent room. I don’t know what I would do with all the crap I have at Lehigh in this room. All the furniture is built it, so there is no rearranging and there is no space for under the bed storage. I have a half of a closet since half of the wardrobe is shelves, a shelf-thing above the closet that I can’t reach, 3 drawers under the desk, a nice large desk the wraps around the corner and make a tiny/headboard shelf above the bed and some cubbies/shelves above the desk. Besides all the crap on my desk its pretty bare right now cause I forgot pushpins and tape and can’t hang up the few pictures I have. Oh well. I set up my plastic bag vase and goldfish. The bed is very hard and the bed pack includes only a fitted sheet (no flat sheet) a duvet, duvet cover and pillowcase. Not very comfortable, but so far it hasn’t been too cold. Having my own room and bathroom is nice, but I don’t know how to meet people and I’m kind of lonely. I wish I smoked so I had a reason to stand outside and make an excuse to talk to people. (But I won’t start just for that)
I went back to the main part of campus for my art meeting and found out that my two major classes don’t start until January 19th!!! Nyko, I think I’m coming to Paris for a week. I have acting on Wednesday (I have to wear moveable clothes. I feel like you Laura) but then nothing. Unfortunately my painting class will be on Fridays, which makes travel less fun, but I don’t think I have class Monday or Tuesday. (or Thursday at the moment…) Both of my art classes are on Friday at the same time with the same teacher (?!?) I don’t know how that will work, but they are all day. (10:00am until 5:00pm with an hour for lunch, and I complained that Lehigh’s 3 hour art classes were too long.) We did some shopping at a sort of Walmart like place but with less stuff and more food, to get basic foodstuffs, towels, pots, pans and dishes. (Tomas, you were so lucky to have Ari’s cheap ass pots. They may have sucked, but at least they were there. My flatmate gave the impression she didn’t want to share. So if you visit and want to eat in, bring your own plate, I only have one!) My dad and I went to a Mexican restaurant in Greenwich (by the hotel) for dinner. Despite being old enough here, I am too embarrassed to order alcohol, especially in front of my dad. That adventure will have to wait a few days. Back to the flat to sleep.

Get Ready, Get Set...

Ok, so the fun STILL hasn't started and I feel bad for stringing you all along on these posts that keep saying soon, soon I will do something cool and exciting that you might actually want to read about, but will proabably loose any readers I may have once had by all these really boring posts. Sorry.
But really this time, soon I am leaving. Really soon, sort of. Tomorrow we leave Florida late afternoon and arrive back in Chicago at 10/11:00 at night. Just enough time to repack, scramble around last minute trying to find all the stuff I forgot I needed, realize that I don't know of any 24 hour stores in my little suburb, decide its not worth it to drive to a bigger suburb to find a 24 hour Walgreens and just go without whatever I forgot, say last minute good byes to a couple friends via the internet, get a couple hours of sleep, and head back to O'Hare less than 24 hours later, get back on a plane and fly to London. And actually start this trip I have bee hyping up. Amd start picking up my new British accent. And loose 24 hour internet :( Now I'm getting that paniky nervous shaking in my chest that I get right before I travel, except worse cause this one lasts longer. I hope I don't screw this up, cause starting in a couple of days I'm stuck on the other side of a really big, cold ocean with the Titanic at the bottom of it, far far away from anyone I know. ::crosses fingers:: This is what I wanted, right? I've had seconf toughts at other points in this process, but ignored them by telling myself that I HAVE to go, I need this. I need a change of pace, a change of scenery, a break. A chance to fit in. A semester without engineers and without dying programs. A chance to recoup, regroup and rearm myself for the general fight that is daily Lehigh life. But now I'm thinking that this may be just as much of a fight as Lehigh is. I hope my ew flat mates treat me as well as Trembly 5 treated Tomas. That German had a damn good semester. SO feel free to post and keep me updated on you guys so I don't feel quite so isolated and lonely. Please? Hope you all have a good Spring semester.

New Years Stuff:
My new years was kind of lame, but that is to be expected. Just me and my family and the lovely old people of Florida. The city of Naples spewed soap out of the lamp posts to look like snow and the fireworks were nice too. My parents let me drink a little champagne... which is a big advancement for them. We watched the bal drop (at the right time since we were on Eastern Standard time for I think the first time ever, and went our seperate ways. Woohoo 2007.
I don't really like reviews, 2006 was what it was. Whatever. New year, new life. I'm starting over. And I don't like resolutions, I'll forget them anyway, but I do have a resolution? advice? suggesting? hope/wish? for everyone for the new year (I mean EVERYONE: me, you, the country, Lehigh administration, George Bush, EVERYONE):
Be Honest. My new thing, really this has always been my thing but its become more important, is honesty. Its the best gift you can give someone, letting them know that you respect them enough to not lie to them. And this starts with stop lying to yourself. Too many people I know lie to themselves and don't even realize that they are what they are. I think if they were really honest with themselves and everyone around them they would change the way they act, or at least who they critisize, realizing they are more like everyone else, even the people thay hate than they realize. So this year, while you're sitting alone in the snow waiting for the year to get kicking, think about who you really are and why, and see if you like it. If you do, flaunt it! Be that person fully. And if you don't tell people that's who you've been and your sorry and start trying to change. But most of all, honestly think about the people and things that you hate or critisize and ask yourself why, and see if maybe the reason is because you hate to see that trait in yourself. No one likes a hypocryte. Apologize and then try to change. Maybe both people will be better for it, just whatever you do, don't lie about it. Don't hide who you are or what your feeling, and don't cover up with excuses. Just say what you mean and mean what you say. Then you will have real relationships. That's what I'm going to work on this year. Really finding me and being that, and not trying to be someone else or apologizing for not being what people want. Take what I don't like and fix it, take what I do and live it. A bit of honesty: yes there are individual people I am thinking about when I write this, yes one of those people is me, but no I am not just attacking one person. I also wish this for the country, hoping that we will change the mistakes of our leadership by honestly evaluating what we want. If the USA really thinks W. is doing good and running the country the way we want, then we should change the constitution to refelct that, if not, then some changes need to be made. So this "resolution" is for everyone. Just Be Honest. Please. And if you can't do that, at least be honest with me. Even if that means telling me what I don't want to hear. The truth is always better. SO live well this year. Good luck and God speed.
Next entry, from London! (unless I need to vent nervousness in the wee hours of the morning before I leave, in which case, entry after next from London!) Wish me luck.

GO!