So every university student I know can procrastinate. I say, if we could get degrees in it, we'd all graduate with top honors. To damn bad we can't... But every single kid I know has a method on how to procrastinate to the best of your ability and still be able to write that paper, study, or get that extra hour of sleep before an exam if it is at all possible. Here are just a few of my favorites:
1-Cooking: for some reason, you would think that during exam season lunch would consist of a quick sandwich, breakfast a piece of toast, and dinner is a pizza that you either order for delivery or put in an oven for a few minutes and do work while it cooks. From experience, I think college kids all become the next Chef at the next 5 star restaurant during exam week. We all come up with elaborate meals, making sauces that go on top of various vegetables or meat, make soups from scratch, try something new that will require us reading a recipe in detail and go to the store at least twice, etc. Something as simple as a Tuna and Cheese Toastie becomes a work of art that probably looks better than most modern art does anyway. (Sorry to any modern art enthusiasts, I just don't get it) On Tuesday, I made a pizza for dinner. I was trying to make something quickly so I could get back to my studying in two shakes of a lamb's tail, as my grandmother would say. But nope, that is not what my procrastinating brain told me to do. It told me to sauté up some onions, roast a little garlic and grate up some fresh cheeses for toppings for my pizza. Cooking and preparing the toppings took even longer than after I put my pre-made cheese pizza in the oven to cook. Sad, or genius? To prove my point, I am known for my baking during stressful times in my life. I love to make cookies, cakes, breads, pies, anything I can get my hands on when I'm stressed out, I have the burn scars to prove it. If I have enough flour, butter, eggs, milk, and sugar, it's done. The funny thing is, I don't like sweet things that much. I have a salt tooth. Why do I spend my time slaving over a bowl, wooden spoon, and an oven in an apron when I know that I won't eat any more than a mouthful? Procrastination
2-Gym: Go to any university campus, the University of Virginia (UVA) most notably, and everyone is running! I mean everyone! You can't get down the street without seeing someone running. We love to keep in shape in college. Our metabolism is slowing down, yet we don't want to get out of shape in the possibility that we will meet the next hottie by us on the treadmill. I'm pretty sure we care more about our weight than we did in high school, and we can't seem to get rid of the extra pounds like we did those 2-3 years ago. That has an easy explanation, we drink more beer. But we shall save that argument for another day. When people were working out in the States, I knew it was for Spring break the majority of the time. In the UK, I don't have an answer, maybe they are just health conscious as a culture? If you have an opinion on that, let me know. Now what happens when you work out properly? You sweat, now to procrastination method number 3---
3-Showers: As a girl, I like to shower. As an American, I shower at least once a day if not more. I can't get over my own personal hygiene. I have to be clean. Sometimes I can't even sleep if I feel gross. Now anyone will know, that nothing feels better than a good shower. The hot steam, the smell of your body gel or shampoo, how wonderful it feels to have water hitting that spot in your back that you now have a knot in your muscles from being hunched over a desk. Or even better, a not that hot, but not that cold shower after a work out to cool you down. You think to yourself, "After I shower, I'm going to put in a good few hours of work, I just feel so relaxed that I could conquer the world." When in actuality, you could simply just conquer bed because you are that relaxed. Some people take quick showers, like, me and some already take 20-30 minute showers. Well extend your normal shower time by about 10 minutes, and thats how long a shower will be during exams. It just feels too good, and there is no way you can work study material into that time of your day. But then we have a problem, you get out and your wet... oh no! Need to do something with the hair, put on some clothes, because you can't study in a towel, and now where are those favorite pair of socks??? Procrastination
4-Cleaning: Well crap, can't find your favorite socks? How the hell can you study without those? Maybe they are dirty and in the laundry, well you better do it, just in case. Maybe those fuzzy warm socks are in your sock drawer, better organize that, along with the closet too! Everything has to be just neat enough. Well, you've already come this far, might as well wash the sheets, towels, vacuum if you can. Let's go ahead and take out the trash, that would make sense. The rest of your room is clean, might as well. Lets get the bathroom too. Who knows, the socks may be behind the toilet. Well better organize the desk, that just makes sense. You should probably have your notes in a very shapely fashion, in order, and maybe even color coded before you begin your studies. Nothing wrong with that. You look around at your bathroom that smells like bleach, clean floor, nice warm fresh from the dryer sheets, empty laundry basket, and completely organized room, and maybe you finally feel like everything is in it's place and now you are able to study. But where are your damn socks?
So in conclusion... college kids have exams. They are hard, they are long, they require a lot of studying that sometimes we just can't fit it all in. But we do try most of the time. Before we hit that breaking point where we can't read anymore, do equations, research, open a notebook or even try to get to the private silent study rooms at the library, we procrastinate. But on the bright side of not being smart and planning ahead, we end up being well fed, in shape, clean, and even have our rooms tidier than our mothers even thought was possible. Well maybe I shouldn't speak for all mothers, my momma wouldn't believe it. The question I leave for you to answer is this: I have an exam in the morning, I did study for it, took a practice test and did very well. Was writing this piece of literature my method of procrastination? We all have our methods of procrastination, it may not be the best idea in the world, but hey-
isn't that the life of a University student?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Bored and Observing from Heathrow Airport
I know this is late, but this is what happens when you have 5 days of hanging around waiting for your flight, followed by 2 weeks of non-stop movement to see everyone you know and love, to coming back to school just to study for 4-6 hours a day while attempting to get over jet lag, buy groceries, and do some laundry (if I can get any coinage)... Well here it is:
6-Really the flight crea and check in people don't know more than you do. They only know what their computer screens tell them when they click into the right screen with the correct striking of the keys on the keyboard. They claim they do, you put your trust in their hands, and yet they know nothing. Maybe that's why terrorists strike airports so often. Let's face it, it's complete chaos in an airport. People are running around, no one know's what's going on, and what's more people are tired and only worried about themselves. So the most observant of people, well they aren't on the ball, that's why they are now x-ray scanning or touching EVERY inch of your body in the US now when you go through security. Let's face it, people are selfish. And they will always be so, anyway that they can.
8- Heathrow makes it impossible to find toilets. It's like they want you to wander through the shops as much as you can to spend more money! I'm thinking that this may have something to do with airports being a money-sucking machine. And there is nothing you can do about it. Take the average price of anything anywhere, double it, multiply by 9, divide by 4, subtract 10% and amazing! You have the airport price! I wish that I had that kind of skill, because people will pay for it at the airport. I've been in the airport for 2 hours, and yesterday i had a 3-course meal with 2 glasses of wine, just for dinner, and I've still spent more money here than at the hotel! How is that possible? I smell like Chanel Coco Madmoiselle because it's amazing, and although I didn't buy it, I was really temped in the duty free store. Not a good idea... 49 pounds, I wish I had that to spare, but I don't... darn being a poor-starving-university-student-living-overseas!
9-Almost anyone who is travelling and brought a laptop has a Mac.
This makes me feel like I fit in. They must think I'm an important business person, or well not because I'm wearing leggings and sneakers and my Univeristy hoodie... So they must think that I'm a spoiled university student. Which I'm pretty close, just not quite. I work for most of what i have, just sometimes I call mommy and daddy and get them to send me money. But only when I'm desperate and say... stranded at an airport for 5 days and don't have enough money for food, hotel rooms, and needing to pay down my credit card so I can keep charging the room. Thanks parents, Grandmother, and anyone else who helped me out... Man I keep getting wiffs of this Chanel... I'm going to ask for this, or possibly buy it if I can get it any cheaper.
Most importantly, it's time to finally board the plane that i've been waiting 5 days for. I will be home soon, and it's only been 5 days and 4 hours since I started my traveling adventure. I will talk about this for years I am sure. And now my departure anxiety issues will only get worse I'm sure.... Now I will have to be at the airport 4 hours early at least!
7-Nothing excited waiting passengers more than the arrival of their flight crew. We loooooove it! you start getting impatient and getting closer to the check in desk, pacing if there is space, packing up your things like you're ready to go when you know that you aren't departing for another 45 minutes anyway. Being in an airport makes me want to work for an airline. Just which one? Ane how? I can't be a pilot because of health issues, even thought that is one of my life's ambitions to get my pilots license. I have to be a flight attendant then! I would be good at it I'm sure, just like I'd make a good bartender. Simply because, let's face it, I have the personality for the job. And I love people, I'd love to meet people, new ones every day if possible. I'll work on that another day, when I'm less tired, stressed out, or needing something to fill the void.
This makes me feel like I fit in. They must think I'm an important business person, or well not because I'm wearing leggings and sneakers and my Univeristy hoodie... So they must think that I'm a spoiled university student. Which I'm pretty close, just not quite. I work for most of what i have, just sometimes I call mommy and daddy and get them to send me money. But only when I'm desperate and say... stranded at an airport for 5 days and don't have enough money for food, hotel rooms, and needing to pay down my credit card so I can keep charging the room. Thanks parents, Grandmother, and anyone else who helped me out... Man I keep getting wiffs of this Chanel... I'm going to ask for this, or possibly buy it if I can get it any cheaper.Wednesday, December 22, 2010
I feel like Eloise at the Plaza
Eloise at the Plaza, its a story about a little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York. She causes a lot of trouble and manages to get everyone angry at her, but she is just so damn cute! So it doesn't matter.
Thanks to the loveliness that is the BAA, British Airways has put me up in a hotel for the past 4 days, and I check out tomorrow to **hopefully** catch my flight. Hotel living is kinda fun and sad at the same time. I get to lounge around in my room and watch TV, which I haven't done in months! I mean, who thought that catching Dukes Of Hazard last night on TV would make my trip. Thank god no one tried to talk to me after that, or they would have heard the worst of accents. But at the same time, it's a bit lonely.
It was more fun when Anna was here, because there was someone to talk to. I really now only have myself to talk to, and as my Aunt Mary says: "At least you know you're having an intelligent conversation." The plus side is, I don't have to worry about waking anyone up, or having them wake me up. I can do whatever I please and no one can stop me. I really have no responsibilities right now, and therefore no one to answer to. I could be doing some studying for my exams in January, but I'd rather not. I might work on my Chemistry coursework that is due when I get back, but I'm not going to stress over it just yet.
The most interesting thing about being in a hotel is eating alone. I could just order room service, it's about comparable to the restaurant... but I feel that is even more sad, and then I would never really leave my room. So I go to the restaurant. It's funny how many people are down there eating at a table for 1. I even thought about asking one of them to join me, or just sitting at one of those tables and making conversation. But that would be weird, maybe I'll try it tonight when I go down. And I will report back as necessary. Who knows, I may meet the love of my life down there.
Here is what one does in a hotel:
1-eat
2-sleep
3-take really long showers
4-watches TV
5-goes to the hotel bar/restaurant
6-talks to people at home
7-goes exploring
8-reads
9-Anything else that doesn't involve studying
I think a nap may be in order... along with some lovely TLOTR:FOTR (if you don't know what that is, shame on you)
Thanks to the loveliness that is the BAA, British Airways has put me up in a hotel for the past 4 days, and I check out tomorrow to **hopefully** catch my flight. Hotel living is kinda fun and sad at the same time. I get to lounge around in my room and watch TV, which I haven't done in months! I mean, who thought that catching Dukes Of Hazard last night on TV would make my trip. Thank god no one tried to talk to me after that, or they would have heard the worst of accents. But at the same time, it's a bit lonely.
It was more fun when Anna was here, because there was someone to talk to. I really now only have myself to talk to, and as my Aunt Mary says: "At least you know you're having an intelligent conversation." The plus side is, I don't have to worry about waking anyone up, or having them wake me up. I can do whatever I please and no one can stop me. I really have no responsibilities right now, and therefore no one to answer to. I could be doing some studying for my exams in January, but I'd rather not. I might work on my Chemistry coursework that is due when I get back, but I'm not going to stress over it just yet.
The most interesting thing about being in a hotel is eating alone. I could just order room service, it's about comparable to the restaurant... but I feel that is even more sad, and then I would never really leave my room. So I go to the restaurant. It's funny how many people are down there eating at a table for 1. I even thought about asking one of them to join me, or just sitting at one of those tables and making conversation. But that would be weird, maybe I'll try it tonight when I go down. And I will report back as necessary. Who knows, I may meet the love of my life down there.
Here is what one does in a hotel:
1-eat
2-sleep
3-take really long showers
4-watches TV
5-goes to the hotel bar/restaurant
6-talks to people at home
7-goes exploring
8-reads
9-Anything else that doesn't involve studying
I think a nap may be in order... along with some lovely TLOTR:FOTR (if you don't know what that is, shame on you)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
LHR, my Frenemmy
December 18, 2010:
Ever seen the movie 'Love Actually?' Honestly, who hasn't? It's one of the great recent Christmas movies that has come out recently. Although it is great, there hasn't been much competition for amazing Christmas movies. But that is an argument for another time, place, and day.
The reason I bring it up, is 'Love Actually' starts with the super awkwardly sexy voice of Hugh Grant (I love Hugh Grant) saying something along the lines of "if you ever need to believe in love, go to the Heathrow international arrivals area..." They never said anything about the departure zones.
I was supposed to be leaving for home on Saturday (18/12/10) to go back to the US, where everything is bigger, steak can be served at every meal, and anything will probably give you a heart attack just from eating it (although it is probably worth every delicious bite). And here I am, stuck, at Heathrow. Where there is probably the best shopping, food, lounging areas, or anything else that makes you think of comfort, happiness, and spending too much money. But you have to get past security first. Which means you have to have a boarding pass. Which means that you have to have a flight that is taking off. Which I don't have...
Why? You might you ask... simply because Heathrow airport got some snow. Oh LHR! One of my favorite airports. I rave about how I love to fly in and out of here all the time. I'm a pro! I love to take the Heathrow Express from terminal 1-3 to terminal 5. It's so fast, and well, AWESOME! But nope, today British Airways (BA) had to cancel flights from 10-5 today. There is a total of about 5-8 inches of snow, and the roads were pretty terrible on the way in today. Ashley and I worried about it on our way and even laughed when traffic slowed down and we just kept saying "it can always get worse." The sad thing is: I knew about my flight getting cancelled at about 9 AM, I was just already on the bus on my way to Heathrow and there was no turning back. It's kinda ironic. There is nothing that I can do to fix it, except maybe offer to shovel. But at the same time, there isn't that much snow, why can't they cope? On our drive in today, there wasn't a single plow that I saw on the road and it was a 4 hour drive. Where are all the plows? Scotland?
I'm not hating on the system, I understand they have no idea what to do and how to appease 2,000 people who are all stranded before the holidays. But man, it's fun to sit next to some sisters from Frankfurt and hear them swearing in German as they try to get home. Or even some other American citizens who are on my same cancelled flight discussing the ability to pay for hotels and trying to find out where to go for the night, and even worse: how to get there. I'm only a few hours into my waiting, but I think I'm going to stick it out. Hope for the best. I'm sure I'll be updating this every little bit, for you it may be a new paragraph, for me a few hours. I think I need to find a way to play my epilepsy card.
Update 1(3:30 PM): Ashley's flight got cancelled and she is coming to terminal 5, where it is considerably less crowded, to join me. This should be fun as we try to figure out what to do about a hotel. BA is paying for it, I have a letter to prove it, so why not?!? I'm going to go try to talk to someone again, who I'm sure will tell me to go home if I can and call and reschedule. But I want to get out of here soon... so no, I'm not going back to Cardiff. That is a residence, not my home. Virginia is my home, get me there!
Update 2 (8:30 PM): no hotels, they were way to expensive and the queue for hotel reservations was crazy not fun times. We were in line for almost an hour, when the lovely Anna showed up and we decided it would be better to find a plug to charge our phones and get a good dinner and go find a place to camp out and go to bed! Well, trashy magazines, sausage and mash, and a lovely bit of relaxing on a couch later... we are back to hanging out in Terminal 5. Keep in mind I'm the only one flying out of this terminal (if I get a flight). But it's so comfortable, and less crowded, and somehow has happy babies, not screaming ones. There is a queue from one side to the other in the terminal, with who knows how many twists and turns for rebooking in the morning. The desk for rebooking doesn't open until 5:45 AM... and its not even 9 PM yet. Oh I can't wait for the morning!!!! Well it seems we are getting comfy, as Anna and Ashley have blankets. But i'm sure I'll have something to say in the morning. Especially now that I finally have internet after trying for 6 hours to get onto it, and paying 9.95 pounds for it for the next 24 hours.
Update 3 (10 PM): MOM GOT ME A FLIGHT! Ok, by this point I know you don't care. But she did, and she is awesome. She told a stranger that she loved them, but hey, it worked. This means I'll be stateside tomorrow by about 3 PM! Hopefully that will actually happen. Now if only I didn't feel bad about leaving Anna and Ashley with the luggage while I go have a celebratory drink at the 5 Tuns, I wish they could just bring it to me instead of me walking the 27 feet... now just waiting for the confirmation email.
December 19, 2010
Update 4 (5:45 AM): looks like most flights are cancelled again today... I think Anna and I are going to go find a hotel, because this floor is not comfortable. Ashley stands a chance, but we are considering trying to get a room simply for the shower and the actual bed to sleep on. Well here I come Radisson Hotel...
December 20, 2010
Update 5: We did get a hotel. We did take a shower, which was very much needed. But the best part: We took baths. I haven't evne had to option to take a bath for the last 3 and a half months. I dont understand how this is working. BAA keeps cancelling most flights, today for the third day in a row all flights have been cancelled for the rest of the night starting at 4 PM. They will be trying to get international flights, and have eased the night flying restrictions to allow airlines to operate through the night if they can. it feels like they don't know what they are doing. i have to say, hope is gone for most. I'm sticking with my Thursday flight, and praying I don't get bumped. If anyone knows where I should go to pray and/or make sacrifices to the airport gods... let me know, because I'm going to apply to be head priestess. Anna has run back and forth from the airport so many times today! I just hope that the next time she goes she can stay and get on a flight. I know our plan for the day involves finding food, watching movies, and doing what we can to get home earlier. I hope for the best...
Ever seen the movie 'Love Actually?' Honestly, who hasn't? It's one of the great recent Christmas movies that has come out recently. Although it is great, there hasn't been much competition for amazing Christmas movies. But that is an argument for another time, place, and day.
The reason I bring it up, is 'Love Actually' starts with the super awkwardly sexy voice of Hugh Grant (I love Hugh Grant) saying something along the lines of "if you ever need to believe in love, go to the Heathrow international arrivals area..." They never said anything about the departure zones.
I was supposed to be leaving for home on Saturday (18/12/10) to go back to the US, where everything is bigger, steak can be served at every meal, and anything will probably give you a heart attack just from eating it (although it is probably worth every delicious bite). And here I am, stuck, at Heathrow. Where there is probably the best shopping, food, lounging areas, or anything else that makes you think of comfort, happiness, and spending too much money. But you have to get past security first. Which means you have to have a boarding pass. Which means that you have to have a flight that is taking off. Which I don't have...
Why? You might you ask... simply because Heathrow airport got some snow. Oh LHR! One of my favorite airports. I rave about how I love to fly in and out of here all the time. I'm a pro! I love to take the Heathrow Express from terminal 1-3 to terminal 5. It's so fast, and well, AWESOME! But nope, today British Airways (BA) had to cancel flights from 10-5 today. There is a total of about 5-8 inches of snow, and the roads were pretty terrible on the way in today. Ashley and I worried about it on our way and even laughed when traffic slowed down and we just kept saying "it can always get worse." The sad thing is: I knew about my flight getting cancelled at about 9 AM, I was just already on the bus on my way to Heathrow and there was no turning back. It's kinda ironic. There is nothing that I can do to fix it, except maybe offer to shovel. But at the same time, there isn't that much snow, why can't they cope? On our drive in today, there wasn't a single plow that I saw on the road and it was a 4 hour drive. Where are all the plows? Scotland?
I'm not hating on the system, I understand they have no idea what to do and how to appease 2,000 people who are all stranded before the holidays. But man, it's fun to sit next to some sisters from Frankfurt and hear them swearing in German as they try to get home. Or even some other American citizens who are on my same cancelled flight discussing the ability to pay for hotels and trying to find out where to go for the night, and even worse: how to get there. I'm only a few hours into my waiting, but I think I'm going to stick it out. Hope for the best. I'm sure I'll be updating this every little bit, for you it may be a new paragraph, for me a few hours. I think I need to find a way to play my epilepsy card.
Update 1(3:30 PM): Ashley's flight got cancelled and she is coming to terminal 5, where it is considerably less crowded, to join me. This should be fun as we try to figure out what to do about a hotel. BA is paying for it, I have a letter to prove it, so why not?!? I'm going to go try to talk to someone again, who I'm sure will tell me to go home if I can and call and reschedule. But I want to get out of here soon... so no, I'm not going back to Cardiff. That is a residence, not my home. Virginia is my home, get me there!
Update 2 (8:30 PM): no hotels, they were way to expensive and the queue for hotel reservations was crazy not fun times. We were in line for almost an hour, when the lovely Anna showed up and we decided it would be better to find a plug to charge our phones and get a good dinner and go find a place to camp out and go to bed! Well, trashy magazines, sausage and mash, and a lovely bit of relaxing on a couch later... we are back to hanging out in Terminal 5. Keep in mind I'm the only one flying out of this terminal (if I get a flight). But it's so comfortable, and less crowded, and somehow has happy babies, not screaming ones. There is a queue from one side to the other in the terminal, with who knows how many twists and turns for rebooking in the morning. The desk for rebooking doesn't open until 5:45 AM... and its not even 9 PM yet. Oh I can't wait for the morning!!!! Well it seems we are getting comfy, as Anna and Ashley have blankets. But i'm sure I'll have something to say in the morning. Especially now that I finally have internet after trying for 6 hours to get onto it, and paying 9.95 pounds for it for the next 24 hours.
 |
| The queue for rebooking, featuring 5 Tuns in the background |
December 19, 2010
Update 4 (5:45 AM): looks like most flights are cancelled again today... I think Anna and I are going to go find a hotel, because this floor is not comfortable. Ashley stands a chance, but we are considering trying to get a room simply for the shower and the actual bed to sleep on. Well here I come Radisson Hotel...
 |
| waxing the floor around the people sleeping... I would hate to have that job! |
December 20, 2010
Update 5: We did get a hotel. We did take a shower, which was very much needed. But the best part: We took baths. I haven't evne had to option to take a bath for the last 3 and a half months. I dont understand how this is working. BAA keeps cancelling most flights, today for the third day in a row all flights have been cancelled for the rest of the night starting at 4 PM. They will be trying to get international flights, and have eased the night flying restrictions to allow airlines to operate through the night if they can. it feels like they don't know what they are doing. i have to say, hope is gone for most. I'm sticking with my Thursday flight, and praying I don't get bumped. If anyone knows where I should go to pray and/or make sacrifices to the airport gods... let me know, because I'm going to apply to be head priestess. Anna has run back and forth from the airport so many times today! I just hope that the next time she goes she can stay and get on a flight. I know our plan for the day involves finding food, watching movies, and doing what we can to get home earlier. I hope for the best...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Another item marked off the to do list...
For anyone who doesn't know, the UK is going through some pretty terrible times. Like most universities did in the states, the tuition fees have to rise due to cuts in education. Coming from a family of educators, I realize how important education really is. Heck, I've been in the education system for 20 years non-stop if you count pre-school and learning to read at home before I even entered kindergarten. (If not then its only 17 years... but still I have another 3 ahead of me) This is all I know, this is all I know how to do, going to class is what I do best. It's my fulltime job and I try really hard to be sure to do well and realize that especially college is for education, not just a social life.
Well here comes the problem. The UK tuition fees have been capped at the University level at somewhere below 3,290 pounds a year. That's only about $6,000 a year. For my last year at JMU my tuition was somewhere in the ball park of $7000. Which really isn't that bad for in-state tuition, and JMU is considered somewhere in the middle of the tuition fees world. That did not include the $1,200 I had to pay on books and lab fees, etc. But it overall isn't too shabby.
Now here is the problem... with the cuts in education that the government has been creating, there is now an issue of how to fund the university. They decided to raise said cap of fees to 9,000 pounds a year... which is about $14,000 a year give or take a few hundred bucks. Thats kinda crazy, and the worst part about it is that the government loans they are offering aren't increasing with the tuition cap. Therefore:
Problem
So there have been loads of protests, and recently I got to go to a bit of a sit in at here at Cardiff. It started as a trip the library to work on my biology coursework that is due in soon. I was in the silent section of the library, 2 floors up from where the protest was occurring and still I could hear them. As an international student, there is no cap, they just make me pay an absurd amount and I just say "OK, sounds great to live in another country and get the degree I want. Why not?" I figure, they might think about raising mine as well, and its on my bucket list to attend a protest. Its like the gods were trying to tell me to do this right now! The sit it was relatively peaceful, and there was a lot of chanting, but it was nice all the same. They walked into City Centre and literally stopped traffic here in the capital of Wales. As I told my sister later that day "might as well buy me a beret, learn french, and spend all my time sitting in coffee houses fueling up for the next fire that I plan on fanning"
But at least there weren't any rubber bullets or tear gas. This was a protest, not to be confused with the JMU Springfest Riots of 2010. Now that was some crazy s***. I'm really hoping that thing here don't get that bad. The student protests have been going on for weeks while the JMU riots went on for less than 12 hours. Lets see who can do the most damage. Right now JMU is still in the lead with the most number of vandalized cars, accidents involving police dogs, and best youtube videos. But JMU also looses because it was just a drunken fest, while at least the students here are rioting for a cause. Recently, students have been getting arrested in higher numbers in London, but really considering the amount of protestors and as of today 3 national days of protesting, not including the sit ins, and the vote due before Christmas in Parliament, I really would like to see if these protests pay off. If you want real information on the UK tuition fees, I say go to BBC and click on the education tab. If you want my version, watch the video's below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-4qcJ53QU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wexfpL9yuII
Well here comes the problem. The UK tuition fees have been capped at the University level at somewhere below 3,290 pounds a year. That's only about $6,000 a year. For my last year at JMU my tuition was somewhere in the ball park of $7000. Which really isn't that bad for in-state tuition, and JMU is considered somewhere in the middle of the tuition fees world. That did not include the $1,200 I had to pay on books and lab fees, etc. But it overall isn't too shabby.
Now here is the problem... with the cuts in education that the government has been creating, there is now an issue of how to fund the university. They decided to raise said cap of fees to 9,000 pounds a year... which is about $14,000 a year give or take a few hundred bucks. Thats kinda crazy, and the worst part about it is that the government loans they are offering aren't increasing with the tuition cap. Therefore:
Problem
So there have been loads of protests, and recently I got to go to a bit of a sit in at here at Cardiff. It started as a trip the library to work on my biology coursework that is due in soon. I was in the silent section of the library, 2 floors up from where the protest was occurring and still I could hear them. As an international student, there is no cap, they just make me pay an absurd amount and I just say "OK, sounds great to live in another country and get the degree I want. Why not?" I figure, they might think about raising mine as well, and its on my bucket list to attend a protest. Its like the gods were trying to tell me to do this right now! The sit it was relatively peaceful, and there was a lot of chanting, but it was nice all the same. They walked into City Centre and literally stopped traffic here in the capital of Wales. As I told my sister later that day "might as well buy me a beret, learn french, and spend all my time sitting in coffee houses fueling up for the next fire that I plan on fanning"
But at least there weren't any rubber bullets or tear gas. This was a protest, not to be confused with the JMU Springfest Riots of 2010. Now that was some crazy s***. I'm really hoping that thing here don't get that bad. The student protests have been going on for weeks while the JMU riots went on for less than 12 hours. Lets see who can do the most damage. Right now JMU is still in the lead with the most number of vandalized cars, accidents involving police dogs, and best youtube videos. But JMU also looses because it was just a drunken fest, while at least the students here are rioting for a cause. Recently, students have been getting arrested in higher numbers in London, but really considering the amount of protestors and as of today 3 national days of protesting, not including the sit ins, and the vote due before Christmas in Parliament, I really would like to see if these protests pay off. If you want real information on the UK tuition fees, I say go to BBC and click on the education tab. If you want my version, watch the video's below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-4qcJ53QU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wexfpL9yuII
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Christmas
For anyone who is not in Cardiff, a few weeks ago, they turned on the Christmas lights. It was quite the event, the Dr. Who cast was there and "pressed the button" so to speak... Bob the Builder sang some songs and most importantly, they turned on the lights. The Christmas is what I'm calling the beautiful decorations all around town. The lights, little stands, it's like Christmas Town at Bush Gardens... but real! (and minus the Amy and Steph and the worst snow storm of 2009) Songs were being sung, the lights dance and sparkle everywhere. Its just so exciting every time I walk into town. I want to go to the ice-skating rink and ride the ferris wheel, go to Starbucks and get hazelnut latte, have roasted chestnuts... they are frickin' everywhere! I have only heard of them in the Christmas song, not actually seen them in real life! I'm pumped... but sadly I can only participate so much in all the festivities. Now as an American, I am strictly banned from listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.
Here is the problem: there is no Thanksgiving here. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. Maybe that is because I bounce back and forth between my two families: one where a house of almost 100 people gets together and you vaguely remember that you are related to every single person in the room (isn't that terrifying) and then the other I get to go to the beach and hole up with the Bitto side of my family and have a great time at the Outer Banks, NC and just sit around, shop, and eat for a week. The best part about Thanksgiving is seeing most of my family in such a short period of time. There is also the food! I love Thanksgiving dinner, don't get confused... dinner is not at 6 PM, oh no, its at 2 or 3 at the latest. That way you essentially eat everything you can at that meal and you don't eat dinner. I mean can you really stop someone from finishing off that turkey leg and I mean, the Cranberry Sauce! That is hands down my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I don't want any home-made with the cranberries still being all crunchy on the inside of my sauce, give me the can and i'll open it and cut it into slices based on the lines from said can. Yes, I know, it sounds horribly lazy and frankly American, but hey... we are the ones who celebrate this holiday of feasting!
But as Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday... I will be missing my family. I will not be in the Outer Banks with my siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and my granny. I will miss them, but this also means I have something to look forward to. Christmas. I get to go home and see them, I get to listen to my Jackson 5 Christmas CD that my mom mailed me a month or so ago, I get to do everything but decorate the Christmas tree because it will already be done by the time I get home. I have already made the Christmas playlist on my iTunes, and I'm psyched! Come this Thursday night, my flatmates will be sick of me because Christmas is all that will be coming out of my computer's speakers for a quite some time.
So now, something to look forward to.... The Christmas
Here is the problem: there is no Thanksgiving here. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. Maybe that is because I bounce back and forth between my two families: one where a house of almost 100 people gets together and you vaguely remember that you are related to every single person in the room (isn't that terrifying) and then the other I get to go to the beach and hole up with the Bitto side of my family and have a great time at the Outer Banks, NC and just sit around, shop, and eat for a week. The best part about Thanksgiving is seeing most of my family in such a short period of time. There is also the food! I love Thanksgiving dinner, don't get confused... dinner is not at 6 PM, oh no, its at 2 or 3 at the latest. That way you essentially eat everything you can at that meal and you don't eat dinner. I mean can you really stop someone from finishing off that turkey leg and I mean, the Cranberry Sauce! That is hands down my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I don't want any home-made with the cranberries still being all crunchy on the inside of my sauce, give me the can and i'll open it and cut it into slices based on the lines from said can. Yes, I know, it sounds horribly lazy and frankly American, but hey... we are the ones who celebrate this holiday of feasting!
But as Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday... I will be missing my family. I will not be in the Outer Banks with my siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and my granny. I will miss them, but this also means I have something to look forward to. Christmas. I get to go home and see them, I get to listen to my Jackson 5 Christmas CD that my mom mailed me a month or so ago, I get to do everything but decorate the Christmas tree because it will already be done by the time I get home. I have already made the Christmas playlist on my iTunes, and I'm psyched! Come this Thursday night, my flatmates will be sick of me because Christmas is all that will be coming out of my computer's speakers for a quite some time.
So now, something to look forward to.... The Christmas
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
American Halloween vs UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress
If you haven't seen the movie Zombie Land... do. That is the only way I can describe the UK Halloween. Now in America we do it... well right! We put on the least amount of clothing, or possibly the most creative we can acquire and we put on a show. Everyone looks crazy, and it is just so much fun! Ok, maybe there are the few (or many) girls in College who dress up in the scankiest outfit they can (usually just a bra and a pair of hot pants) and grab a hat of sorts and say they are _______ (insert Firefighter, Policeman, Disney Princess, Fuzzy Animal, etc here). Its a good time. Girls are excited because they let out their inner freak and guys are happy to look. The best part about it, it is totally acceptable! Also, we don't dress up on just Halloween. In the college scene at least, you get Halloween weekend. If Halloween does not fall on a weekend night, then you get the weekend either before or after (depending on which it is closer to) and the actual day to dress up! Thats at least a weekday, plus a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and occasionally Sunday to dress up!
On occasion you do get the people who just shouldn't be dressed that way at all. You know, the girl who has her bum hanging out of her skirt, or worse, skirt not even covering half her butt. Maybe you have a drunk person who has had 3 too many and now they have a costume that is falling apart and they don't care. Then there are the people who just went to the costume shop and bought the dorothy costume that involved the thigh high socks, poofed out skirt and corseted top. They just lacked creativity! And there is always the cross dressing male. They are there to make me smile, and I am greatly appreciative of it. Now while I really wish that I was posting pictures of Halloween from last year, I'm pretty sure I lost them all in my computer switch. Sorry to those I facebook stalked to find ones of me from last year, and if you so desire, I will remove it if you ask me to :)
Now here in Cardiff, I did not know we only do scary. You can put on a Buzz Lightyear suit, but you better have some face paint and plan on giving yourself the face of a someone who has contracted the T-virus (for Resident Evil fans) or look like Bill Murray (for Zombie Land fans). Everyone is dead, everyone has face make up on, and everyone has a bit of fake blood. How does that happen? There were quite a few girls dressed as animals of sorts, or maybe a dead pirate, or the occasional cop or something, but they all looked like they were dead. That is a lie, there were many cats. They kinda took over the population with Zombies. It was kinda creepy. I didn't really like it much, but I understand the need to be something scary on the scariest day of the year.
Well, I have to say these Britons have us Yanks beat in one aspect at least...
They know how to fancy dress. They go out on regular nights in a theme, such as Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's, or Back to School (wearing school uniforms), or Cops and Robbers. Granted, we are doing it this week for me and a few friends birthdays, but I still enjoy it. You could just grab everyone you know, tell them you are all dressing in a theme, and people actually do it! The only time that works in the US is halloween if you have a group costume (Legends of the Hidden Temple contestants, for example), or a Toga Party. Even at the Toga party I had to provide togas to some people, even if they were out of town. When we had everyone who was dressed appropriately for the toga theme, it turned out to be one of the best parties ever. It was so much fun and no one cared what we looked like. Now only if I can get people to do that all the time in the states.
So it comes down to this:
American Halloween vs UK Halloween: America wins. We have better candy (don't believe me, come get some candy corn from my room), better costumes, and we make it anywhere from a 3-5 day event. Like everything else it is bigger :)
American Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress wins. Everyone in a single theme looking crazy together, why the eff not?
UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress again... Its just better, more fun, and can fit any type. You can choose to be super slutty with the choice of outfit or you can cover up all parts you deem appropriate to do so. What I wouldn't give to do fancy dress every day (and plus, then I don't have to try to look good, I can just go and say i'm doing fancy dress and i will be accepted) Plus, I really don't like dead clowns, so halloween looses here...
On occasion you do get the people who just shouldn't be dressed that way at all. You know, the girl who has her bum hanging out of her skirt, or worse, skirt not even covering half her butt. Maybe you have a drunk person who has had 3 too many and now they have a costume that is falling apart and they don't care. Then there are the people who just went to the costume shop and bought the dorothy costume that involved the thigh high socks, poofed out skirt and corseted top. They just lacked creativity! And there is always the cross dressing male. They are there to make me smile, and I am greatly appreciative of it. Now while I really wish that I was posting pictures of Halloween from last year, I'm pretty sure I lost them all in my computer switch. Sorry to those I facebook stalked to find ones of me from last year, and if you so desire, I will remove it if you ask me to :)
 |
| Good variety here: cute, super hero, slutty, and cross dressing male |
 |
| Super Hero Home Made costumes... thats how we do it |
Now here in Cardiff, I did not know we only do scary. You can put on a Buzz Lightyear suit, but you better have some face paint and plan on giving yourself the face of a someone who has contracted the T-virus (for Resident Evil fans) or look like Bill Murray (for Zombie Land fans). Everyone is dead, everyone has face make up on, and everyone has a bit of fake blood. How does that happen? There were quite a few girls dressed as animals of sorts, or maybe a dead pirate, or the occasional cop or something, but they all looked like they were dead. That is a lie, there were many cats. They kinda took over the population with Zombies. It was kinda creepy. I didn't really like it much, but I understand the need to be something scary on the scariest day of the year.
 |
| Flatmates dressed as fuzzy animals... notice the fake blood to the right and the creepy clown... |
Well, I have to say these Britons have us Yanks beat in one aspect at least...
They know how to fancy dress. They go out on regular nights in a theme, such as Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's, or Back to School (wearing school uniforms), or Cops and Robbers. Granted, we are doing it this week for me and a few friends birthdays, but I still enjoy it. You could just grab everyone you know, tell them you are all dressing in a theme, and people actually do it! The only time that works in the US is halloween if you have a group costume (Legends of the Hidden Temple contestants, for example), or a Toga Party. Even at the Toga party I had to provide togas to some people, even if they were out of town. When we had everyone who was dressed appropriately for the toga theme, it turned out to be one of the best parties ever. It was so much fun and no one cared what we looked like. Now only if I can get people to do that all the time in the states.
So it comes down to this:
American Halloween vs UK Halloween: America wins. We have better candy (don't believe me, come get some candy corn from my room), better costumes, and we make it anywhere from a 3-5 day event. Like everything else it is bigger :)
American Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress wins. Everyone in a single theme looking crazy together, why the eff not?
UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress again... Its just better, more fun, and can fit any type. You can choose to be super slutty with the choice of outfit or you can cover up all parts you deem appropriate to do so. What I wouldn't give to do fancy dress every day (and plus, then I don't have to try to look good, I can just go and say i'm doing fancy dress and i will be accepted) Plus, I really don't like dead clowns, so halloween looses here...
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