Differences encountered so far:
*Plugs have two round prongs instead of our two flat rectangle things
*Belgium has two languages, the speakers of each not really like the speakers of the other
*Belgium has a king and a parliament, we have a president and Congress
*Europe has internet cafes, we have Borders and other WIFI places
*Belgium has small grocery stores, we have huge ones
*Stores close at 6ish but US stores stay open until 11 or so
*Belgium has communes, DC just has areas called different things
*You can't really get skim milk in Belgium, a fact greatly lamented
*Water fountains don't seem to exist really in Belgium, another fact greatly lamented
*An abonnement in Brussels allows you a month of public transportation for a flat rate, DC Metro charges you every trip
*French fries are called frites because Belgians know they were invented in Belgium not in France
*Things normally carried in a CVS are split between a pharmacy (Apotheek or Pharmacie), a grocery store, and Di which sells shampoo and makeup and stuff like that
*Well, Belgium speaks French and Flemish, we speak English
Others will come to me throughout my stay so be aware that these comparisons will continue. For now, au revoir...I think that's how it's spelled...
08 September 2006
End of the First Full Week
Tuesday: Free day, wandered around the Grand Place; toured the Royal Palace (only open until the 10th), saw a ceiling that at first looked like green velvet but was really 1.4 million jewel beetles...a lot of dead bugs but very pretty. Had a scoop of mango ice cream, probably was gelato, but it was amazing. :) And started the chocolate collection for the semester. :D
Wednesday: Bus tour of Brussels and the Royal Museum of Central Africa. The tour was great, actually saw trees and grass which I don't usually with living in the city. The museum was...interesting. All the animals were taxidermied so they were...dead. I'm used to models or was blissfully unaware of the state of the animals I was looking at. At any rate, I saw more dead butterflies and animals than I was prepared for. And turtles in jars...poor Great A'Tuin relatives.
Thursday: First day of classes! Safety talk by a police officer first thing, basically a lecture on how to avoid pickpockets. Like any of us would really walk down the street with their wallet hanging out of their pocket or purse...whatever. Then a class on the structure of Belgium's government and a guest speaker explaining the history of Belgium to 1555. My French test was awesome, she asked for those with no experience with French to raise their hands, there were 7 or so of us, and we put our names on a paper and then were done.
Friday: Went to register in the town hall of the commune (Brussels is split into 19 communes, or small communities) mine being downtown as I'm in the commune of Bruxelles, or the heart of Brussels. They seemed to be confused so I'm glad that my host father was there because he could explain things. Sara and I now have to go to the police so they can confirm I live where I say I live. Just finished a class on the origins of the EU and we finish up Belgian history this afternoon.
Everyone is planning or beginning to plan weekend trips. My problem is that I don't care about drinking, nor do I want to find ways to do such things. I'm a history person, I want to go to the tourist spots, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and museums, like the Louve. And I don't want to go to the British Isles because I'm saving those for the spring. And I've done Venice, though I suppose going back would be okay because it was pretty cool. Rome would be cool too. I've a feeling I may be traveling on my own a bit, which is okay with me because, if I do say so myself, I am excellent company. :) But don't worry Mum, I'll find people to go with so I'm in a group and thus safer. We shall see.
Wednesday: Bus tour of Brussels and the Royal Museum of Central Africa. The tour was great, actually saw trees and grass which I don't usually with living in the city. The museum was...interesting. All the animals were taxidermied so they were...dead. I'm used to models or was blissfully unaware of the state of the animals I was looking at. At any rate, I saw more dead butterflies and animals than I was prepared for. And turtles in jars...poor Great A'Tuin relatives.
Thursday: First day of classes! Safety talk by a police officer first thing, basically a lecture on how to avoid pickpockets. Like any of us would really walk down the street with their wallet hanging out of their pocket or purse...whatever. Then a class on the structure of Belgium's government and a guest speaker explaining the history of Belgium to 1555. My French test was awesome, she asked for those with no experience with French to raise their hands, there were 7 or so of us, and we put our names on a paper and then were done.
Friday: Went to register in the town hall of the commune (Brussels is split into 19 communes, or small communities) mine being downtown as I'm in the commune of Bruxelles, or the heart of Brussels. They seemed to be confused so I'm glad that my host father was there because he could explain things. Sara and I now have to go to the police so they can confirm I live where I say I live. Just finished a class on the origins of the EU and we finish up Belgian history this afternoon.
Everyone is planning or beginning to plan weekend trips. My problem is that I don't care about drinking, nor do I want to find ways to do such things. I'm a history person, I want to go to the tourist spots, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and museums, like the Louve. And I don't want to go to the British Isles because I'm saving those for the spring. And I've done Venice, though I suppose going back would be okay because it was pretty cool. Rome would be cool too. I've a feeling I may be traveling on my own a bit, which is okay with me because, if I do say so myself, I am excellent company. :) But don't worry Mum, I'll find people to go with so I'm in a group and thus safer. We shall see.
04 September 2006
My first few days...
I'm in Brussels! Yay! So to recap my time so far:
Thursday:
Travel day. Small-world theory event: Danielle Stuart (who I went to middle school and high school with for 7 years) was not only on my first two flights but sat across the aisle from me on the first flight. She's studying at Oxford (oooo). So that was awesome. But my flight from Miami to London was a little cramped. I got very little sleep due to the woman in front of me leaning all the way back and me in the middle seat with a guy on either side, the one to the left with a loud iPod and the one to the right moving all the time. And the plane was too warm. The flight from London to Brussels was pretty short but not bad due to me knowing/meeting the other two AU students on the flight.
Friday (Traveling took all night so the last flight was on Friday but is up there ^):
After the flights I basically crashed at the hotel, taking a nap before our orientation at 5. We all had dinner at Le Grand Cafe downtown and then we all went out exploring. My group wandered around looking for chocolate and found it by the famous statue. After that we wandered more and then went back to the hotel to sleep.
Saturday:
More general orientation with a tour of the Grand Place by Jerry (our professor). Very entertaining and informing, actually. One of the best guided tours I've had in a while. Then we met our families. I and Sara Scott, another AU student, are staying with the Layson family composed of Pablo, originally from the Philippines, Sara, originally from Italy, and their youngest, Sophie who's a senior in college. They are all very nice and helpful. And Sara's apparently a wonderful cook and so far, I certainly agree. I'm living on the Rue de la Révolution (such a cool name for a street) which is in Upper Town of the commune of Bruxelles, which is the heart of Brussels). I'm a five minute walk (or so) from the cathedral and only about ten or so more minutes from the Grand Place and the very center of the city. It's a nice area with easy walking distance to the park near the American Embassy, should I feel homesick I can go and look at the flag waving and the 24 hour guard and I'm sure the feeling will cease immediately.
Sunday:
Mass at the Cathedral in French. Didn't understand a word but it seemed shorter than at home. No kneeling either. And the hosts were thicker. Beautiful church though, Gothic with high ceilings and arches and a gorgeous organ. Very nice. I won't mind going every week. Maybe go once or twice to the other church nearby with an English mass. Spent the rest of the day organizing my room which is a little bigger than Sara's but we're going to switch in October. My room has the shower room up a short set of stairs which is unusual but kind of cool.
Monday (today):
Woke up, tried to get an abonnement (which will get me a month of unlimited metro travel which is necessary for getting to school) but failed as it isn't open until 10, got to the AU Brussels Center at Alma just fine, had more orientation and a campus tour, and am now waiting on my internship appointment with Catherine the internship coordinator. All in all, a good time so far.
~ Jennifer
Thursday:
Travel day. Small-world theory event: Danielle Stuart (who I went to middle school and high school with for 7 years) was not only on my first two flights but sat across the aisle from me on the first flight. She's studying at Oxford (oooo). So that was awesome. But my flight from Miami to London was a little cramped. I got very little sleep due to the woman in front of me leaning all the way back and me in the middle seat with a guy on either side, the one to the left with a loud iPod and the one to the right moving all the time. And the plane was too warm. The flight from London to Brussels was pretty short but not bad due to me knowing/meeting the other two AU students on the flight.
Friday (Traveling took all night so the last flight was on Friday but is up there ^):
After the flights I basically crashed at the hotel, taking a nap before our orientation at 5. We all had dinner at Le Grand Cafe downtown and then we all went out exploring. My group wandered around looking for chocolate and found it by the famous statue. After that we wandered more and then went back to the hotel to sleep.
Saturday:
More general orientation with a tour of the Grand Place by Jerry (our professor). Very entertaining and informing, actually. One of the best guided tours I've had in a while. Then we met our families. I and Sara Scott, another AU student, are staying with the Layson family composed of Pablo, originally from the Philippines, Sara, originally from Italy, and their youngest, Sophie who's a senior in college. They are all very nice and helpful. And Sara's apparently a wonderful cook and so far, I certainly agree. I'm living on the Rue de la Révolution (such a cool name for a street) which is in Upper Town of the commune of Bruxelles, which is the heart of Brussels). I'm a five minute walk (or so) from the cathedral and only about ten or so more minutes from the Grand Place and the very center of the city. It's a nice area with easy walking distance to the park near the American Embassy, should I feel homesick I can go and look at the flag waving and the 24 hour guard and I'm sure the feeling will cease immediately.
Sunday:
Mass at the Cathedral in French. Didn't understand a word but it seemed shorter than at home. No kneeling either. And the hosts were thicker. Beautiful church though, Gothic with high ceilings and arches and a gorgeous organ. Very nice. I won't mind going every week. Maybe go once or twice to the other church nearby with an English mass. Spent the rest of the day organizing my room which is a little bigger than Sara's but we're going to switch in October. My room has the shower room up a short set of stairs which is unusual but kind of cool.
Monday (today):
Woke up, tried to get an abonnement (which will get me a month of unlimited metro travel which is necessary for getting to school) but failed as it isn't open until 10, got to the AU Brussels Center at Alma just fine, had more orientation and a campus tour, and am now waiting on my internship appointment with Catherine the internship coordinator. All in all, a good time so far.
~ Jennifer
12 August 2006
It Came!!!
My Student Visa is at my house and has been for a week. I'm very relieved. At first, the website said to get it in at least three weeks before you left and it'd take about a week for US citizens. Then, the Atlanta consulate told my dad that it wouldn't be ready by the 14th of August and it'd be a stretch to get it done by the 31st, which is when I leave for Brussels. And then, low and behold, it arrives last Saturday afternoon. So, I'm relieved. I was prepared to start calling on Monday, bugging them about it. I mean, I'm fairly boring...my parents are financially stable, I'm perfectly healthy (ish) with no diseases, I don't have a criminal record...why would it take so long? But maybe the person was just being cautious. At any rate, I'm glad to have one less thing to worry about. Now if only the airports would stop freaking out...
15 July 2006
Feeling...
Creative. It's a slightly uncomfortable feeling, I admit. I've been feeling inklings all week but only now have a way to fully deal with them as other avenues have proven unsuccessful. I went to Jo Ann's.
If you've never been to a craft store, start with Michael's. It's the best for everything...but it doesn't have fabric. Which is sad, but so it goes. So, I went to Jo Ann's to solve that problem. The thing is, you go in feeling creative looking for something to quench that feeling only when you get to the fabric department, the feeling only intensifies and worsens. Too much there...too many avenues for creativity. So, I picked about five fabrics and...ran. Sort of. Walked, really. But now I have about 3 yards of various fabrics for pillows.
Yes, I'm going to make pillows. And they're sort of going to match each other! I found a purple and a green that match and two blues that match. Then I made the mistake of walking by the flat quarters and found very pretty oriental squares, so I had to get black for the backs of those pillows. I wish my mum had never taught me how to sew...or use the sewing machine. Then this disease wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, off to go deal with this creativity. Good thing I don't have enough time to make another quilt. I'm such a nerd sometimes...or simply a freak as schwester likes to say...c'est la vie.
If you've never been to a craft store, start with Michael's. It's the best for everything...but it doesn't have fabric. Which is sad, but so it goes. So, I went to Jo Ann's to solve that problem. The thing is, you go in feeling creative looking for something to quench that feeling only when you get to the fabric department, the feeling only intensifies and worsens. Too much there...too many avenues for creativity. So, I picked about five fabrics and...ran. Sort of. Walked, really. But now I have about 3 yards of various fabrics for pillows.
Yes, I'm going to make pillows. And they're sort of going to match each other! I found a purple and a green that match and two blues that match. Then I made the mistake of walking by the flat quarters and found very pretty oriental squares, so I had to get black for the backs of those pillows. I wish my mum had never taught me how to sew...or use the sewing machine. Then this disease wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, off to go deal with this creativity. Good thing I don't have enough time to make another quilt. I'm such a nerd sometimes...or simply a freak as schwester likes to say...c'est la vie.
24 June 2006
Six Months and A Day...
Until Christmas. My mum's favorite thing about her birthday (tomorrow) is that it's in the middle of the year between her favorite holiday- Christmas. She gets presents every six months at any rate. There's a tropical wave off the coast right now. Sounds happy, doesn't it? It could turn into a tropical depression, thus taking it's sadness out on the rest of us. Then turn into a storm then a hurricane. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Great dark clouds though. No strange mental ramblings to report today, unfortunately. Just my usual Saturday hour or so in Borders. Heard that song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"? Very interesting. Gets stuck in the head far too easy, in my opinion.
So, in honor of the song, I shall close with the lyrics.
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
KT Tunstall
two, three, four (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) well my heart knows me better than i know myself so i'm gonna let it do all the talking. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) i came across a place in the middle of nowhere with a big black horse and a cherry tree. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) i fell in fear, upon my back i said don't look back, just keep on walking. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) when the big black horse that looked this way, said hey lady, will you marry me? (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but i said no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me (ooooo,woo-hoo) and my heart had a problem, in the early hours, so it stopped it dead for a beat or two. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but i cut some cord, and i shouldn't have done that, and it won't forgive me after all these years (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) so i sent her to a place in the middle of nowhere with a big black horse and a cherry tree. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) now it won't come back , cause it's oh so happy and now i've got a hole for the world to see (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but it said no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me no, no, no,no-no-no said no, no, you're not the one for me (ooooo,woo-hoo) (not the one for me, yeah) (ooooo,woo-hoo) said no,no, no,no, no, no, no you're not the one for me said no,no, no,no, no, no, no you're not the one for me big black horse and a cherry tree i can't quite get there cause they've all forsaken me big black horse and a cherry tree i can't quite get there cause they've all forsaken me
So, in honor of the song, I shall close with the lyrics.
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
KT Tunstall
two, three, four (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) well my heart knows me better than i know myself so i'm gonna let it do all the talking. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) i came across a place in the middle of nowhere with a big black horse and a cherry tree. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) i fell in fear, upon my back i said don't look back, just keep on walking. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) when the big black horse that looked this way, said hey lady, will you marry me? (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but i said no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me (ooooo,woo-hoo) and my heart had a problem, in the early hours, so it stopped it dead for a beat or two. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but i cut some cord, and i shouldn't have done that, and it won't forgive me after all these years (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) so i sent her to a place in the middle of nowhere with a big black horse and a cherry tree. (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) now it won't come back , cause it's oh so happy and now i've got a hole for the world to see (woo-hoo,woo-hoo) but it said no, no, no,no-no-no i said no, no, you're not the one for me no, no, no,no-no-no said no, no, you're not the one for me (ooooo,woo-hoo) (not the one for me, yeah) (ooooo,woo-hoo) said no,no, no,no, no, no, no you're not the one for me said no,no, no,no, no, no, no you're not the one for me big black horse and a cherry tree i can't quite get there cause they've all forsaken me big black horse and a cherry tree i can't quite get there cause they've all forsaken me
18 June 2006
Father's Day
Happy Father's Day. A few more gray hares from me. <- my father's day card to my dad. It had gray bunnies on the front. It was his kind of joke.
We're up in Gainesville, FL visiting my grandparents today. They moved about a year and a half or so ago to this retirement community, Oak Hammock, from Frederick, MD. I've decided I really am happy for them because their leaving the area meant I am less homesick at school, more independent, more social, and more self-reliant. I liked their house though....and the city. Anyway. Gainesville's the home of the University of Florida, UF to the Floridians. Sprawling mass of a school with about 48,000 people attending in a given semester. The city's population (normal) is about 50,000. Thus, the apartment complex on every corner around here for the students. I like my smaller school. :)
Not too much else going on for me...working, filing and the like. Typing envelopes on a typewriter! It's kind of fun...quite loud but makes me appreciate computers all the more. And my iPod helps keep away the boredom and some of the mental wanderings while filing. I'm too efficient at it though...I get done far too quickly and things don't pile up fast enough. And I can't just sit around until they do pile up again. More's the pity.
My mum's birthday is this coming Sunday. We're going to the beach. One would normally think that for a person living in Florida, thus an hour and a half or so away from the beach most of the time, the beach would be a nice place to go. Not so much for me. I think it's the sand. Or the sunscreen thing. Or the heat. Either way, I'm not a big fan. So, I'll bring a book and just read. The week after that is the 4th of July. I don't have to work that day, which is nice, but I do have to work the day before. And we're going to the beach again. But my dad always has a concert he has to play on the 4th so at least they'll do the beach thing while I'm not there. Then it's Pirates time. The movie comes out on my dad's birthday. He's well aware that we'll be going to see it that day. He's voiced no objections so if he has any...well...whatever.
Other than the holidays coming up, not much is going on. Work, blah, meeting a friend to go to the local fitness room, yadda yadda...going through DVDs the family has acquired in my absence, fun.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight. Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you.
So fine. I watched the Sound of Music yesterday. I'm also trying to pick up a bit of French for Brussels. It's slow going.
We're up in Gainesville, FL visiting my grandparents today. They moved about a year and a half or so ago to this retirement community, Oak Hammock, from Frederick, MD. I've decided I really am happy for them because their leaving the area meant I am less homesick at school, more independent, more social, and more self-reliant. I liked their house though....and the city. Anyway. Gainesville's the home of the University of Florida, UF to the Floridians. Sprawling mass of a school with about 48,000 people attending in a given semester. The city's population (normal) is about 50,000. Thus, the apartment complex on every corner around here for the students. I like my smaller school. :)
Not too much else going on for me...working, filing and the like. Typing envelopes on a typewriter! It's kind of fun...quite loud but makes me appreciate computers all the more. And my iPod helps keep away the boredom and some of the mental wanderings while filing. I'm too efficient at it though...I get done far too quickly and things don't pile up fast enough. And I can't just sit around until they do pile up again. More's the pity.
My mum's birthday is this coming Sunday. We're going to the beach. One would normally think that for a person living in Florida, thus an hour and a half or so away from the beach most of the time, the beach would be a nice place to go. Not so much for me. I think it's the sand. Or the sunscreen thing. Or the heat. Either way, I'm not a big fan. So, I'll bring a book and just read. The week after that is the 4th of July. I don't have to work that day, which is nice, but I do have to work the day before. And we're going to the beach again. But my dad always has a concert he has to play on the 4th so at least they'll do the beach thing while I'm not there. Then it's Pirates time. The movie comes out on my dad's birthday. He's well aware that we'll be going to see it that day. He's voiced no objections so if he has any...well...whatever.
Other than the holidays coming up, not much is going on. Work, blah, meeting a friend to go to the local fitness room, yadda yadda...going through DVDs the family has acquired in my absence, fun.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight. Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you.
So fine. I watched the Sound of Music yesterday. I'm also trying to pick up a bit of French for Brussels. It's slow going.
10 June 2006
Mental Wanderings and Long Words
So, while at work this week, filing away, I came across a name of a company suing somebody. They were called Superior Hobbies. So, I got to wondering…do they only stock superior products or do they simply have a snooty idea of what is a ‘superior’ hobby? In addition, does the Superior Hobbies place have an inferior hobbies section to placate the less cultured hobby enthusiast? And if in a parallel universe the store would be called Inferior Hobbies and stock superior goods or still stock inferior goods. Or would they have their own ideas of what is an inferior hobby?
It was after the parallel universe thought that I decided that either I had a really impressive imagination or just that such thoughts were brought on by filing, hours of nothingness, and paper cuts. Either way I’d spent too much time on the thought, though I did manage to pass some time considering the idea that I spent too much on the whole thing. Such is how I
spend my days, until August 11th, at least. I never want to be a secretary unless it’s a title, so that knowledge is something at least.
Also, fun and very long words:
floccinaucinihilipilification, noun: Estimating something as worthless
antidisestablishmentarianism, noun: opposition to the separation of church and state
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, noun: A lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica., i.e. "black lung"
End note: Ann Coulter needs to get over herself. Or simply fade out of existence, taking her narrow minded, nonsensical ideas with her. And that is the end of my soapbox rant for today.
It was after the parallel universe thought that I decided that either I had a really impressive imagination or just that such thoughts were brought on by filing, hours of nothingness, and paper cuts. Either way I’d spent too much time on the thought, though I did manage to pass some time considering the idea that I spent too much on the whole thing. Such is how I
spend my days, until August 11th, at least. I never want to be a secretary unless it’s a title, so that knowledge is something at least.
Also, fun and very long words:
floccinaucinihilipilification, noun: Estimating something as worthless
antidisestablishmentarianism, noun: opposition to the separation of church and state
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, noun: A lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica., i.e. "black lung"
End note: Ann Coulter needs to get over herself. Or simply fade out of existence, taking her narrow minded, nonsensical ideas with her. And that is the end of my soapbox rant for today.
03 June 2006
An Ode to Borders
Borders, Borders,
Thou art wonderful.
You have good movies,
You have good music,
You have good books,
Thus your name.
You feed and magnify my book store addiction
But I don't care,
Because you're just that cool.
And you gave me a dessert for my birthday.
And you have mango smoothies that taste real.
Fin.
So, the air conditioning is working, but because we have dial-up at home and not the nice, fast wireless Borders has, I'm at Borders right now. And drinking my smoothie...and eating my chocolate creamcheese muffin that they warmed up for me. I love this place. :)
Thou art wonderful.
You have good movies,
You have good music,
You have good books,
Thus your name.
You feed and magnify my book store addiction
But I don't care,
Because you're just that cool.
And you gave me a dessert for my birthday.
And you have mango smoothies that taste real.
Fin.
So, the air conditioning is working, but because we have dial-up at home and not the nice, fast wireless Borders has, I'm at Borders right now. And drinking my smoothie...and eating my chocolate creamcheese muffin that they warmed up for me. I love this place. :)
01 June 2006
An Ode to the Creator of Air Conditioner
Oh, Air Conditioner Creator
Your product is one of the best inventions ever
You made Florida habitable
You made summers bearable
And now your creation is not working at my house
You should have foreseen this problem
And made them self-fixing
Thank you.
Your product is one of the best inventions ever
You made Florida habitable
You made summers bearable
And now your creation is not working at my house
You should have foreseen this problem
And made them self-fixing
Thank you.
30 May 2006
Happy Birthday to Me!
That's right, my 20th birthday is today. Well, at 8:36 tonight. Not doing much today, checking email, hanging out with my family. We went to MGM on Sunday though, so that counts as an activity. My mum has a thing about doing something special for birthdays. So, we'll have a nice family dinner, open my gifts, then play Munchkin. Great game. Funny. All my choice, of course. This has been a pretty good year, I think. This next one should be even better, what with all my study abroad plans.
I start my summer job tomorrow. I have enjoyed relaxing this past week though. Won't happen again until August, unfortunately. Well, so long for now.
I start my summer job tomorrow. I have enjoyed relaxing this past week though. Won't happen again until August, unfortunately. Well, so long for now.
21 May 2006
Home Sweet Home
Yes, I am back home in sunny Florida. Well, perhaps too sunny due to the fires over in Brevard County. And hot. Ugh. I miss DC weather already. I'm slowly unpacking my stuff. We barely fit everything in the car. It's my own fault for having too many books...and clothes. But I needed stuff for about three different types of weather so it's really not my fault. And I'm a girl, so there you go. I don't start at the courthouse until the 31st, the day after my 20th birthday. Hooray! Almost out of the teens. I'm excited.
Oh, and if you should die today and God asks you why He should let you into heaven, like this rather...annoying evangelist asked my mum yesterday when she was going door to door, tell the person that you'll be praised for not pushing your faith on other people like I would tell Him. Or, my mum's "that's between me and Him". But my advice is to make it witty and pointed.
Oh, and if you should die today and God asks you why He should let you into heaven, like this rather...annoying evangelist asked my mum yesterday when she was going door to door, tell the person that you'll be praised for not pushing your faith on other people like I would tell Him. Or, my mum's "that's between me and Him". But my advice is to make it witty and pointed.
12 May 2006
New 'Be' Slogans...
Ideas for the AU "Be" campaign:
'Be A Failure At Life'
Or, for the philosophy majors:
'Be A Logical Fallacy'
'Be Bright' in glow-in-the-dark letters
'Be A Failure At Life'
Or, for the philosophy majors:
'Be A Logical Fallacy'
'Be Bright' in glow-in-the-dark letters
10 May 2006
Chaos...not just a theory
Wow...today was one of the longest desk shifts of my life. Granted, the 8 hour stretch that one time was pretty bad but today's 6 hours, wow. I must have checked about 50 or so people out of their room. And most of them came all at once when I was trying to check out the vacuum and the carts. And usually I was the only one there. Because Housing and Dining decided, oh, after finals is a great time to put everyone on single staffing. Wrong! Luckily the RD and one of the RAs were around a lot to help, at least in the first couple hours.
But I got to relax by going to dinner with a bunch of people on the floor, which was great. A nice end to a crazy day. And now, I'm already tired! Doesn't seem right.
But I got to relax by going to dinner with a bunch of people on the floor, which was great. A nice end to a crazy day. And now, I'm already tired! Doesn't seem right.
09 May 2006
Tuesday, Once a day of pain, now a day of joy
Right now I am incredibly happy that I am done with finals! Done, done, done!
And...*whispers* I'm actually feeling okay about them....I mean, I think I got the major points across well enough. Now, I just have to pack. But I'm not leaving until Sunday, so I've got lots of time, which is really kinda nice. I'll start on Friday, I think. Or at least, Thursday night.
Tomorrow, I'm treating myself to work for 6 hours. A special treat for finishing finals. Just for me. But, I'll just be watching movies, so all is well.
In honor of today:
Beautiful Day
U2
The heart is a bloom,
Shoots up through the stony ground.
There’s no room,
No space to rent in this town.
You’re out of luck,
And the reason that you had to care.
The traffic is stuck,
And you're not moving anywhere.
You thought you'd found a friend,
To take you out of this place.
Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace.
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
The sky falls, and you feel like,
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
Don't let it get away
You're on the road,
But you've got no destination
You’re in the mud,
In the maze of her imagination
You love this town,
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over, and it's been all over you
It's a beautiful day (day . . .)
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
hoo . . hoo . . . hoo
Touch me
Take me to that other place,
Teach me . . . oh,
I know I'm not a hopeless case.
See the world in green and blue,
see China right in front of you,
see the canyons broken by cloud,
see the tuna fleets clearing the sea out,
see the Bedouin fires at night,
see the oil fields at first light,
and see the bird with a leaf in her mouth,
After the flood all the colours came out.
(Day . . .)
It was a beautiful day (day . . .)
Don't let it get away,
Beautiful day (day . . .)
Touch me,
Take me to that other place.
Reach me,
I know I'm not a hopeless case.
What you don't have,
you don't need it now,
What you don't know,
you can feel it somehow,
What you don't have,
you don't need it now,
don't need it now . . .
[It] was a beautiful day...
And...*whispers* I'm actually feeling okay about them....I mean, I think I got the major points across well enough. Now, I just have to pack. But I'm not leaving until Sunday, so I've got lots of time, which is really kinda nice. I'll start on Friday, I think. Or at least, Thursday night.
Tomorrow, I'm treating myself to work for 6 hours. A special treat for finishing finals. Just for me. But, I'll just be watching movies, so all is well.
In honor of today:
Beautiful Day
U2
The heart is a bloom,
Shoots up through the stony ground.
There’s no room,
No space to rent in this town.
You’re out of luck,
And the reason that you had to care.
The traffic is stuck,
And you're not moving anywhere.
You thought you'd found a friend,
To take you out of this place.
Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace.
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
The sky falls, and you feel like,
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
Don't let it get away
You're on the road,
But you've got no destination
You’re in the mud,
In the maze of her imagination
You love this town,
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over, and it's been all over you
It's a beautiful day (day . . .)
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day. (Day . . .)
hoo . . hoo . . . hoo
Touch me
Take me to that other place,
Teach me . . . oh,
I know I'm not a hopeless case.
See the world in green and blue,
see China right in front of you,
see the canyons broken by cloud,
see the tuna fleets clearing the sea out,
see the Bedouin fires at night,
see the oil fields at first light,
and see the bird with a leaf in her mouth,
After the flood all the colours came out.
(Day . . .)
It was a beautiful day (day . . .)
Don't let it get away,
Beautiful day (day . . .)
Touch me,
Take me to that other place.
Reach me,
I know I'm not a hopeless case.
What you don't have,
you don't need it now,
What you don't know,
you can feel it somehow,
What you don't have,
you don't need it now,
don't need it now . . .
[It] was a beautiful day...
06 May 2006
Late Night/Early Morning Ramble
I’d like to admit, here and now, that I am a bit of a prude.
I’m at work right now, sitting at the front desk of Letts Hall watching people come in and out. Mostly in right now, and about seven times out of ten, they’ve been drinking. I just don’t see the point. How is this fun? I can get clubbing, I guess, dancing can be fun… but drinking? Just doesn’t seem necessary. Perhaps it’s part of the stereotypical college experience, but why be a stereotype? Why fall into that trap? I guess you get a buzz or something…but I don’t see how that is worth it in the long run. There are so many other things that can touch your soul and give you that bit of euphoria. Cultural things, music, plays, movies, books.
Yes, I’m tired and have a headache but I still believe all this. Maybe I’m too self-conscious about giving up even a little control to be a stereotype. But why is that bad? Call me boring…I say my liver will hold up longer and I’ll be happier with myself in the long run.
I’m at work right now, sitting at the front desk of Letts Hall watching people come in and out. Mostly in right now, and about seven times out of ten, they’ve been drinking. I just don’t see the point. How is this fun? I can get clubbing, I guess, dancing can be fun… but drinking? Just doesn’t seem necessary. Perhaps it’s part of the stereotypical college experience, but why be a stereotype? Why fall into that trap? I guess you get a buzz or something…but I don’t see how that is worth it in the long run. There are so many other things that can touch your soul and give you that bit of euphoria. Cultural things, music, plays, movies, books.
Yes, I’m tired and have a headache but I still believe all this. Maybe I’m too self-conscious about giving up even a little control to be a stereotype. But why is that bad? Call me boring…I say my liver will hold up longer and I’ll be happier with myself in the long run.
05 May 2006
Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
But Swiss time was running on
It seemed that we would lose the race
We ended up at the Grand Hotel
It was empty cold and bare
But with the Rolling truck Stones
thing just outside
Making our music there
With a few red lights and a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what we get out of this
I know we'll never forget.
Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
Deep Purple
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
But Swiss time was running on
It seemed that we would lose the race
We ended up at the Grand Hotel
It was empty cold and bare
But with the Rolling truck Stones
thing just outside
Making our music there
With a few red lights and a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what we get out of this
I know we'll never forget.
Smoke on the water, fire in the sky
21 April 2006
After this Semester is over...
After this semester is over I shall:
> Have a couple weeks off before having to start work.
> Have to work for the summer at the County Courthouse, Small Claims/County Civil division until August 11th. Thus having to be around the most bitter old woman I have ever had the displeasure to meet. She just sucks the...light out of anything and everything.
> Have to go back to filing my life away for the summer
> Have only a couple months to get things in order for the next year
> Have only a couple months until I go to Brussels, Belgium for the Fall semester!!
I got in! Brussels Enclave: European Union program, Fall 2006!!! I'm so excited. I get an internship (hopefully someplace cool), a homestay so I can experience the culture hands on, and many academic field trips. I can't wait. This'll be my primary medium for communication with everyone still in the US, so expect many updates. :) Now I just have to survive the rest of the year!
> Have a couple weeks off before having to start work.
> Have to work for the summer at the County Courthouse, Small Claims/County Civil division until August 11th. Thus having to be around the most bitter old woman I have ever had the displeasure to meet. She just sucks the...light out of anything and everything.
> Have to go back to filing my life away for the summer
> Have only a couple months to get things in order for the next year
> Have only a couple months until I go to Brussels, Belgium for the Fall semester!!
I got in! Brussels Enclave: European Union program, Fall 2006!!! I'm so excited. I get an internship (hopefully someplace cool), a homestay so I can experience the culture hands on, and many academic field trips. I can't wait. This'll be my primary medium for communication with everyone still in the US, so expect many updates. :) Now I just have to survive the rest of the year!
22 March 2006
Spring Break 2006 in Boston with family
>Walked a lot, thus feet hurt most of the time.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play.
>Got up earlier most days than I do most days for college. Thus, life was sad. I think I slept better though. Most likely because it wasn't on my dorm room's mattress.
>Went to a lot of cool historical places. Like Salem. Lexington and Concord. Plymouth. A few graveyards. Old North Church. Boston Common. To some, Filene's Basement has historical significance.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play. With the Boston Symphony.
>Went with my schwester on a couple college tours: Boston College and Brown. Realized schwester could likely get into Brown with no problems based on grades. Very proud.
>Went to three new states in one trip.
>Spent time with the family.
>Went to a cool restaurant: Finagle A Bagel. Isn't that just a great name? I think so too.
>Had a snow flurry happen a couple times.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play. Hey, the guy's got talent.
Basically, very fun. I get fingerprinted for my FBI Identification record so I can go to Brussels next fall on Friday!
>Walked a lot, thus feet hurt most of the time.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play.
>Got up earlier most days than I do most days for college. Thus, life was sad. I think I slept better though. Most likely because it wasn't on my dorm room's mattress.
>Went to a lot of cool historical places. Like Salem. Lexington and Concord. Plymouth. A few graveyards. Old North Church. Boston Common. To some, Filene's Basement has historical significance.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play. With the Boston Symphony.
>Went with my schwester on a couple college tours: Boston College and Brown. Realized schwester could likely get into Brown with no problems based on grades. Very proud.
>Went to three new states in one trip.
>Spent time with the family.
>Went to a cool restaurant: Finagle A Bagel. Isn't that just a great name? I think so too.
>Had a snow flurry happen a couple times.
>Heard Yo-Yo Ma play. Hey, the guy's got talent.
Basically, very fun. I get fingerprinted for my FBI Identification record so I can go to Brussels next fall on Friday!
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