Today Becca read "On Chisel Beach" by Ian McElwan. WOAH. This book is the tale of two virgins wedding night, and besides being really graffic and disgusting, it also is startlingly how English they are. I think that after living here, I can appreciate little quirks of English life that are presented in books, movies or television more than before; in this book certain mannerisms or behaviors of the characters made us laugh out loud as we realized how they eerily remind us of things our English acquaintences do. It is always exciting to pick up on little things like that. In the movie Layer Cake, for example, there is a line "Even drug dealers don't work weekends." Before coming here I would not have appreciated that at all! (Many places, including shops, are closed on weekends here. It can be frustrating, but its kind of relaxing, knowing that certain things just can't be done til Monday and you simply have to make do. It isn't just time off for the employees, its actually time off for us too!) Little things like that are quite exciting.
It is also the first of many goodbyes. James is leaving tomorrow. It seems unreal that he is leaving. We will all miss having him pop around so often. He is technically a "neighbor kid" on the Flat 47 portrait, but in reality he is like a cousin who we might be legally adopting. I don't want to say goodbye!
The first goodbye is going to be hard to say. I never wanted this to happen! I hate goodbyes. Isn't it strange that after only 4.5 months, saying goodbye is just as hard as it was to say to all the people we left back at home? With a compressed time frame, the people I have met skipped many of the formalities and slow progressions that usually make deep friendships. They are markedly different than many of those I have at home, but in no way are they less important to me or lacking closeness. I'm turning so sappy. This is what goodbyes do to me.
It is odd that our time here is almost over, and that it was such a short period of time. I think the length of time I was here has been good, and has whetted my appetite for more. I cannot wait to travel again! Living a much simpler life--dial up internet, no real phone, no TV or radio, and limited resources have made me, and I think others here, focus a lot more on relationships here. I'm excited to travel more, and hopefully get to see more of the US than I have. If anyone is interested, we should plan a trip. Once, you know, we all get jobs and our bank accounts recover and our credit cards are paid off.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Today was about 24 Celsius and sunny, meaning I was awoken by Danielle coming over and enlisting me in the tanning party. She, Emily and I wore bathing suits, didn't freeze, listened to music, ate food, read trashy magazines and generally indulged for a few hours in the sun. Of course, I didn't tan (or burn, thanks to liberal application of sunscreen) but it was nice to warm up. I got a few freckles. All I can ask for I suppose.
It was nice enough to wear a dress (finally!) and just mary janes, no jacket or tights or anything. Carl and I went on a hunt for daiquiri mix, because that would have been the ultimate ending to our night...but we settled for this thing called "Carribean Twist" which is a cheaper take on Bacardi Breezers. Eh. Not so great. We made steak and Lincolnshire sausages, garlic bread, and some cucumbers for dinner, followed by ice cream outside! It was so lovely! The first real summery feeling day.
Needless to say, I have not yet started work on my essay for Irish Writing, but it is not due til Tuesday--giving me plenty of time. I finished both of my essays for Early American Lit, meaning I just have that one Irish essay and then a sit in final for Modern Lit-and then I am done! I'll be back in the States in two and a half weeks. Nuts, isn't it?
My plans for these next two weeks are pretty tame. I have to finish this paper, obviously, and then turn in all three next Tuesday. That afternoon, my former spring break immersion leader Teri will be arriving in Sheffield. She is volunteering/living in Liverpool for the year and is coming to stay for two days. My hope is that the weather will stay warmish and we can go out to the Peaks District. She leaves Thursday. The next day is my Modern Lit final, and the day of Liz's flight home. What a shit day. Saturday June 2nd, however, I am going to London! Emily, her friend from home, and myself are going for the weekend. If you have any suggestions on what to see/do/stay whatever, let me know! After that it is back here for about four days full of packing and cleaning and goodbyes. Eeek.
Because Sheffield is this boonies backwater place, there are no trains running to Manchester airport on the morning of the 10th. Instead we are taking the late train on the 9th and sleeping in a terminal (or the rail station at the airport, whichever is open). I'm not looking forward to this, as I have so much stuff to haul around, and because it is my 21st birthday. When I envisioned my 21st, it never involved sleeping in an airport terminal on top of two large suitcases with a backpackers pack as a pillow, believe me.
The sun is just starting to set (although it is 9 pm) which is something I love about summer. Because England is fairly far north, the sun sets really late in spring/summer. I wish I could be in Europe for Midsummer's-- I would definitely have to go to the Arctic Circle and see the 24 hours of daylight!!
Well, this has been a long rambling pointless post, but was bored and wanted to say hello.
Love,
Meagan
It was nice enough to wear a dress (finally!) and just mary janes, no jacket or tights or anything. Carl and I went on a hunt for daiquiri mix, because that would have been the ultimate ending to our night...but we settled for this thing called "Carribean Twist" which is a cheaper take on Bacardi Breezers. Eh. Not so great. We made steak and Lincolnshire sausages, garlic bread, and some cucumbers for dinner, followed by ice cream outside! It was so lovely! The first real summery feeling day.
Needless to say, I have not yet started work on my essay for Irish Writing, but it is not due til Tuesday--giving me plenty of time. I finished both of my essays for Early American Lit, meaning I just have that one Irish essay and then a sit in final for Modern Lit-and then I am done! I'll be back in the States in two and a half weeks. Nuts, isn't it?
My plans for these next two weeks are pretty tame. I have to finish this paper, obviously, and then turn in all three next Tuesday. That afternoon, my former spring break immersion leader Teri will be arriving in Sheffield. She is volunteering/living in Liverpool for the year and is coming to stay for two days. My hope is that the weather will stay warmish and we can go out to the Peaks District. She leaves Thursday. The next day is my Modern Lit final, and the day of Liz's flight home. What a shit day. Saturday June 2nd, however, I am going to London! Emily, her friend from home, and myself are going for the weekend. If you have any suggestions on what to see/do/stay whatever, let me know! After that it is back here for about four days full of packing and cleaning and goodbyes. Eeek.
Because Sheffield is this boonies backwater place, there are no trains running to Manchester airport on the morning of the 10th. Instead we are taking the late train on the 9th and sleeping in a terminal (or the rail station at the airport, whichever is open). I'm not looking forward to this, as I have so much stuff to haul around, and because it is my 21st birthday. When I envisioned my 21st, it never involved sleeping in an airport terminal on top of two large suitcases with a backpackers pack as a pillow, believe me.
The sun is just starting to set (although it is 9 pm) which is something I love about summer. Because England is fairly far north, the sun sets really late in spring/summer. I wish I could be in Europe for Midsummer's-- I would definitely have to go to the Arctic Circle and see the 24 hours of daylight!!
Well, this has been a long rambling pointless post, but was bored and wanted to say hello.
Love,
Meagan
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
News
I don't feel like doing a real post, but some big things have happened:
--Liz (one of my flatmates here in England) and I will be moving in together in Chicago. We have yet to find a place, but once we do, expect it to be the best apartment probably ever. I know, I know--how many times will I say I'm living somewhere and then change my mind?! This time is for real. This plan will not fall through. We are serious about this.
--Essays season is upon us! I have three essays due on May 29. Yeah. Haven't started yet.
--Emily, Natalie and I have decided to read Ulysses. We are going to work very hard and then meet once a month or so in a different Irish pub each time (in Chicago) and talk about it. We will see how this goes.
--Less than a month here in England. I can't believe it's almost over.
Oh: Have people in the US been hearing about Maddy, the British girl who was kidnapped in Portugal? It's all over the news here, headlines everyday and on TV constantly.
--Liz (one of my flatmates here in England) and I will be moving in together in Chicago. We have yet to find a place, but once we do, expect it to be the best apartment probably ever. I know, I know--how many times will I say I'm living somewhere and then change my mind?! This time is for real. This plan will not fall through. We are serious about this.
--Essays season is upon us! I have three essays due on May 29. Yeah. Haven't started yet.
--Emily, Natalie and I have decided to read Ulysses. We are going to work very hard and then meet once a month or so in a different Irish pub each time (in Chicago) and talk about it. We will see how this goes.
--Less than a month here in England. I can't believe it's almost over.
Oh: Have people in the US been hearing about Maddy, the British girl who was kidnapped in Portugal? It's all over the news here, headlines everyday and on TV constantly.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tea without milk? Fascinating.
The event I NEVER thought would happen happened:
British kids asked me to join them in a post-class hangout.
I keep hearing all these stories of Brits going to the pub after class, in between class, during a 15 minute break from class-- but have never seen it or been invited along. I assumed this was due to my crippling shyness, which generally has me leaving seminar with the pod firmly planted in my ears and my feet beating the long path back to Taptonville. Today was my last Early American Lit seminar (what a joke) and afterwards a bunch of kids decided to go to Interval, one of the cafe/bars at the union. And lo and behold they invited me along. I bet those kids, who will probably never think of it or me again, have no idea how excited I was for that to happen. I feel rather pathetic saying that, but it really made my day. It was really sweet of them. They are nice kids, and I wish we had done this at the beginning of the term instead of the end.
It also showed me, once again, that being shy is BAD NEW BEARS. Especially when in a foreign country.
Also: I finally got my Sheffield city library card, instead of just stealing books from my flatmates or using Becca's card. Hoorah. Liz is coming home tonight, releasing the garbage bags, garlic salt, and ipod speakers that have been locked in her room since Friday evening. We are all looking forward to it.
I leave for Ireland on Thursday evening (tomorrow) and am sure I will have strange stories to tell upon my return. Hopefully the literary pub crawl and biking around the Aran Islands will be fruitful.
Love,
Meagan
British kids asked me to join them in a post-class hangout.
I keep hearing all these stories of Brits going to the pub after class, in between class, during a 15 minute break from class-- but have never seen it or been invited along. I assumed this was due to my crippling shyness, which generally has me leaving seminar with the pod firmly planted in my ears and my feet beating the long path back to Taptonville. Today was my last Early American Lit seminar (what a joke) and afterwards a bunch of kids decided to go to Interval, one of the cafe/bars at the union. And lo and behold they invited me along. I bet those kids, who will probably never think of it or me again, have no idea how excited I was for that to happen. I feel rather pathetic saying that, but it really made my day. It was really sweet of them. They are nice kids, and I wish we had done this at the beginning of the term instead of the end.
It also showed me, once again, that being shy is BAD NEW BEARS. Especially when in a foreign country.
Also: I finally got my Sheffield city library card, instead of just stealing books from my flatmates or using Becca's card. Hoorah. Liz is coming home tonight, releasing the garbage bags, garlic salt, and ipod speakers that have been locked in her room since Friday evening. We are all looking forward to it.
I leave for Ireland on Thursday evening (tomorrow) and am sure I will have strange stories to tell upon my return. Hopefully the literary pub crawl and biking around the Aran Islands will be fruitful.
Love,
Meagan
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Driving Me Mad
This Monday is a Bank Holiday here in England, meaning school is canceled and most businesses are closed. I am not sure what the bank holiday is for, but I don't really care, as it allows me to have a four day weekend.
My flat is empty at the moment: Liz is in Ireland visiting her parents and Becca, Nicole and Jenny are in Scotland, hopefully not being bitten by any rabid animals. I have had the flat to myself, which mostly means I'm not here--its creepy all alone in these little shoeboxes!
I spent Friday night at Natalie and Emily's watching Chocolat and eating tons of it. We gorged for the second night in a row (Thursday was a huge Polish dinner made by Eva and her friend who was visiting from Poland, along with tons of chocolate and ice cream. Oh, and Lambrini. Of course.) It was a lovely night.
Liverpool was our Saturday excursion. A rather large group--6 people-- journeyed out and we went on the Magical Mystery tour. We got to ride on the Magical Mystery Tour bus! It was really neat. We saw all that stuff Beatles fans see in Liverpool--their homes, their schools, places they hung out, the church where Paul and John met, things like that. We also saw Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. The tour ended at the Cavern Club. We went to the Cavern Pub across the street for a drink and then wandered around the Cavern Club. It is not the actual building they played in; in the early 80's the city of Liverpool was incredibly dumb and filled the original club in, claiming they had to run a sewer line through it. They actually ran the sewer line around the corner, and so it was pointless for them to have ruined the club. However, they actual rocks from the club had beens salvaged so the place was rebuilt basically in the same spot, and you can now go and see it and lots of live music. They still have bands playing everyday of the week.
In the Cavern Pub, they have one of the coolest Beatles things I've ever seen or heard of-- an original Yellow Submarine jukebox. It is really beautiful (I will put some pictures up on facebook, but others have better ones) and only 100 were made. Four went to the Beatles, their management and friends, one to the Cavern Club, and the rest were sold. It's so neat. The machine is loaded, of course, with all the Beatles albums, and it also contains albums from other bands that have played live at the Cavern Club.
We also went to the Tate museum in Liverpool, which was really well done and a nice relaxing way to end the day. One of the freakiest exhibits is this 7 foot tall sculpture of a young girl that is incredibly life like. In the brochure, the photograph actually looks like just that--a photograph of a real person. To turn around and realize she is actually a 7 foot tall piece of plaster is a bit startling.
After a train ride home populated by leg kickers and obnoxious screamers, plus a smoker and someone with a boom box, we made our way home to Taptonville. The night was ended with reading, recovering from the excessive sweet eating of the past three days, and a bit of Pride and Prejudice. Overall, it was a lovely English day.
In good Chicago news: I have an apartment! It's at Halsted and Armitage, so it is pretty close to campus and Oz Park... plus all of the tantalizing shops of Armitage. Everyone will have to come over for a party after I move in (probably mid-June), and again in July after one of my fantastic roommates returns from her study abroad. Now I just need a job...
This weekend is also Beerfest at the University. Yes, the University has Beerfest. For four days (Friday-Monday) there are huge beer and cider tents in the Raynor gardens and lounge and people can drink to their hearts content beer from many many local breweries. There are all sorts of different kinds of beer: ales, lagers, bitters, etc. There are only four imports, so its really an English festival--kind of a good way to get a taste of the local flavor. Ha. Oh. That was a bad pun. Anyways: Beerfest. I will probably be attending this afternoon/evening with one of those fantastic roommates I mentioned above. Steph is visiting Sheffield this weekend and she, Britni and I will have to go out, perhaps to celebrate the acquisition of the apartment!
My flat is empty at the moment: Liz is in Ireland visiting her parents and Becca, Nicole and Jenny are in Scotland, hopefully not being bitten by any rabid animals. I have had the flat to myself, which mostly means I'm not here--its creepy all alone in these little shoeboxes!
I spent Friday night at Natalie and Emily's watching Chocolat and eating tons of it. We gorged for the second night in a row (Thursday was a huge Polish dinner made by Eva and her friend who was visiting from Poland, along with tons of chocolate and ice cream. Oh, and Lambrini. Of course.) It was a lovely night.
Liverpool was our Saturday excursion. A rather large group--6 people-- journeyed out and we went on the Magical Mystery tour. We got to ride on the Magical Mystery Tour bus! It was really neat. We saw all that stuff Beatles fans see in Liverpool--their homes, their schools, places they hung out, the church where Paul and John met, things like that. We also saw Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. The tour ended at the Cavern Club. We went to the Cavern Pub across the street for a drink and then wandered around the Cavern Club. It is not the actual building they played in; in the early 80's the city of Liverpool was incredibly dumb and filled the original club in, claiming they had to run a sewer line through it. They actually ran the sewer line around the corner, and so it was pointless for them to have ruined the club. However, they actual rocks from the club had beens salvaged so the place was rebuilt basically in the same spot, and you can now go and see it and lots of live music. They still have bands playing everyday of the week.
In the Cavern Pub, they have one of the coolest Beatles things I've ever seen or heard of-- an original Yellow Submarine jukebox. It is really beautiful (I will put some pictures up on facebook, but others have better ones) and only 100 were made. Four went to the Beatles, their management and friends, one to the Cavern Club, and the rest were sold. It's so neat. The machine is loaded, of course, with all the Beatles albums, and it also contains albums from other bands that have played live at the Cavern Club.
We also went to the Tate museum in Liverpool, which was really well done and a nice relaxing way to end the day. One of the freakiest exhibits is this 7 foot tall sculpture of a young girl that is incredibly life like. In the brochure, the photograph actually looks like just that--a photograph of a real person. To turn around and realize she is actually a 7 foot tall piece of plaster is a bit startling.
After a train ride home populated by leg kickers and obnoxious screamers, plus a smoker and someone with a boom box, we made our way home to Taptonville. The night was ended with reading, recovering from the excessive sweet eating of the past three days, and a bit of Pride and Prejudice. Overall, it was a lovely English day.
In good Chicago news: I have an apartment! It's at Halsted and Armitage, so it is pretty close to campus and Oz Park... plus all of the tantalizing shops of Armitage. Everyone will have to come over for a party after I move in (probably mid-June), and again in July after one of my fantastic roommates returns from her study abroad. Now I just need a job...
This weekend is also Beerfest at the University. Yes, the University has Beerfest. For four days (Friday-Monday) there are huge beer and cider tents in the Raynor gardens and lounge and people can drink to their hearts content beer from many many local breweries. There are all sorts of different kinds of beer: ales, lagers, bitters, etc. There are only four imports, so its really an English festival--kind of a good way to get a taste of the local flavor. Ha. Oh. That was a bad pun. Anyways: Beerfest. I will probably be attending this afternoon/evening with one of those fantastic roommates I mentioned above. Steph is visiting Sheffield this weekend and she, Britni and I will have to go out, perhaps to celebrate the acquisition of the apartment!
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