Traveling companion

Must cover more....

2007-03-06T10:28:28Z

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

Crash

2006-05-07T18:47:29Z

Was just on my way to pick up Jenny (Chris' girlfriend - favour to him) when someone didnt break and basically crashed into the back of my car. This is my first crash and to be honest I'm really quite shaken up. I'm not hurt except a bit of neck pain. and it's not like my car is badly damaged - a loose light and some square of metal which has stuck onto the offending vehicle's number plate. it was wet and we were going downhill and i had to break pretty hard (the car in front of me had done) so it simply was an accident. i guess i'm just in shock although i suppose it was going to happen sometime coz thats the nature of driving in cities. wish i could stop shaking though.

Not an April Fool

2006-04-01T18:59:50Z

I'm back in the States and absolutely loving it. I spent 6 hrs in DC and immediately felt at home again. Arriving in Charlottesville was no different. My friends all made the effort to come find me as soon as I arrived which was unexpected. I didn't manage to stay up and talk to them for too long though as by 11pm (or 5am British time) I was shattered. I had basically been travelling for 23 hrs and needed to lie down (sleeping in chairs is just not the same). Despite waking up at 5, managed to stay in bed until 10 so I could feel so much better.

Friday was spent reading, working and chatting in the sun. Everyone here is in the thick of tests and papers, which is why I didn't mind bringing some of my own work to do, but it has been lovely to find out that my friends have organised themselves to make time to see me. It's great that I can pick up where I left off 3 months ago, although I know that it's not exactly the same. It's also been fun surprising people, especially those in the IRC. Everyone knew I was only studying for a semester so the confused look on people's faces was common, but as they turned into smiles, I was happy. Haven't got a great deal planned for the next week: a few parties tonight, shopping on monday, meals with different ppl etc, but I really like that. I wanted this to be a holiday as well as a catch up and with the amount of sleep I'm getting and the amount of time for reading and chilling, I definitely feel relaxed. It's also hot and sunny, making my already good mood improve. Although I did get sunburnt from sitting in the sun for an hour yesterday, so I might have to go easy...

Being Home

2005-12-30T19:34:48Z

Oops! I haven't updated for weeks. There's so much about Virginia and the end of my USA trip which I want to describe but it seems a little redundant now I'm back. It was much harder settling in at home than I had expected. Nothing has really changed, especially at home; it was more a sense of just feeling disconnected from things. Part of me was still in Virginia while the bigger part of me wanted to be happy to be home. Yet I couldn't get excited, all I was was melancholy - which I hated. Luckily things are getting better and last night helped even more. My fantastic school friends had organised a surprise welcome home party. Although the thought had previously crossed my mind, I didn’t really think they would organise one so I was duly surprised. (but I didn’t cry!) It wasn’t massive, just my closest friends all sitting around drinking wine, eating food, catching up and laughing. Perfect. I do feel so blessed to have such people in my life and be able to spend time with them. I may get confused or depressed sometimes but I know where my home is. Thanks guys.

Finals

2005-12-08T21:32:30Z

So I have finished my final paper of the term and now only have one killer exam left. But it's not until the last day of Finals (next Friday) and therefore I'm going to take this time to sleep, eat properly, relax, pack and say goodbye. My room will be an oasis of calm and noise, due to the strict quiet rules everywhere else in the residence and generally stressed feeling everywhere you go. I have complained in the past that Virginia takes working too seriously but I knew nothing until I experienced Clemons Library at 2am. These people are crazy and have even come up with a poem, which I thought I'd share with you although I know most people don't have exams until after Christmas...

Twas the night before finals,
And all through the college,
The students were praying
For last minute knowledge.
Most were quite sleepy
But none touched their beds,
While visions of essays
Danced in their heads.

Out in the taverns,
A few were still drinking,
And hoping that liquor
Would loosen their thinking.

In my own dorm room,
I had been pacing,
And dreading exams
I soon would be facing.

My roommate was speechless,
His nose in his books,
And my comments to him
Drew unfriendly looks.

I drained all the coffee,
And brewed a new pot,
No longer caring
That my nerves were all shot.

I stared at my notes
But my thoughts were all muddy
My eyes went a blur,
I just couldn't study.

"Some pizza might help,"
I thought with a shiver,
But each place that I called
Refused to deliver.

I'd nearly concluded
That life was too cruel,
With futures depending
On grades had in school.

When all of a sudden,
Our door opened wide,
And Patron Saint Put It Off
Ambled inside.

His spirit was careless,
His manner was mellow,
He looked straight at me,
And started to bellow:

"What kind of student
Would make such a fuss
To toss back at teachers
What they tossed at us?"

"On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes!
On Last Year's Exams!
On Wingit and Slingit,
And Last Minute Crams!"

His message delivered,
He vanished from sight,
But we heard him laughing
Outside in the night.

"Your teachers have pegged you,
So just do your best.
Happy Finals to All,
And to all a good test.

vanuatu_girl @ 2005-12-05T14:02:00

2005-12-05T19:40:26Z

So I'm still crazily busy, lacking sleep and getting ill. Good news though is that my computer seems to have sorted itself out (thankfully) AND it has started to snow! they reckon it should be about 4 inches and as its finally started settling, that looks a gd estimate. That means I'll be able to make snow angels...a fact I am sooo excited about as I have never done them before. Snow ball fights, snowman formation etc are great ways to de-stress and just the thought of them have given me a very necessary kick of adrenaline so bring on the fun!

I hate technology

2005-12-01T18:25:33Z

I can not quite believe it. My laptop has crashed yet again. The new (and costly) hardrive has therefore survived being used for just over a week. If it broke in another week and I'd be ok, irritatied but ok. By then I would have handed in the papers and written the first of my final exams. I would have only needed the laptop for email. I don't think I can face more days in the computer lab. Anyone who saw my entries during that period saw what it did to me. So why the blazes did it have to stop working now!!!!!!!

Day in the Country

2005-11-21T06:24:05Z

International Students in Charlottesville (ISIC) organised the day and Jae and I decided that it would be a good way to spend the first day of the break. We left at 12.30pm and drove west of Charlottesville for 40mins (stopping off to get some more food and drink). Arriving at Star B Ranch, we met the others in our group and waited for the hay to be put on the wagon. We drove around the country lanes, but not around the 200 acre ranch which would have been more traditional, but it was fun all the same. When we got back we met the other group briefly before mounting our horses. I was on a lovely mare called Socks. He may have been a little slow and liked taking the odd shortcut but was the gentlest pony I've ever been on and the first to not want to eat all the time. He also was the first to cross the creek so I'm proud of him for that. We rode around the ranch for an hour which although was cold gave me time to reflect and admire the beautiful scenery and the quiet stillness around me. There is a certain elegance about forests which have lost the majority of their leaves. After dismounting, we went down to where the others had built a large bonfire. We left soon after as the sun was setting, but we managed to warm ourselves sufficiently first. Drove home again with Patrick and Christy-Lynne who were kind enough to stop off at Harris Teeter (supermarket). All food outlets on grounds have closed for the week and so it was important that Jae and I actually got some food. So all in all, a tiring but memorable day.

Note on the weather: at the beginning of the week I was still walking around in T-shirts, averaging as it was 24C. The cold snap came on Thursday and so on Saturday it was beautifully sunny and clear but incredibly cold. There was still frost on the ground at 3pm when we were horse riding! I was wearing hat, gloves, scarf and 4 layers for the first time in a long time and yet by the time I finished I couldn't feel my fingers or toes! Getting back to my room wasn't much better as Jae and I hadn't got our heating fixed so I spent most of the evening watching films in the TV lounge downstairs.

Papers finished!

2005-11-17T18:45:39Z

I did it and survived. Printed out the last paper at 9.25 this morning. Managed to get an hours sleep at 4.30am, when I realised that even if I wasn't tired, I wasn't actually making any sense. Thats what 18 hours in a computer lab does to you. But its done so I'm happy. Probably should get to my next class though...

Going quietly insane

2005-11-15T21:21:42Z

I feel my current msn name does justice to what I'm feeling. I won't go into details as it's not terribly interesting or necessary but things have been going on which are making my head spin so that I just wish that I could stop, breathe, and remember who Lizzie actually is. Hopefully that is what Thanksgiving Break will be. A time to sleep, a time for less pressured working and a time to get away from Charlottesville and its "work hard, play hard" attitude. Still have to survive 3 more days though.

However before I go back to essay writing, I just wanted to apologize for not being very communicative recently, either via email, msn or LJ. In case I don't say it enough, my friends are really important to me and I'm thinking about you all even when I'm not in touch. Take care, Love L xxxx

Trip to DC - 3

2005-11-07T02:50:42Z

Megan and Courtney picked up Yohanna and I at 8.30am, gave us bagels and then we drove up to Rosslyn (which is officially in Virginia but it's just outside DC.) Finally found a car park and we got on the metro. Arrived at Arlington Military Cemetary by 11.15am and met Patrick and Sarah. Us three were concentrating on war memorials for our paper and how they relate to citizenship, race and gender issues. We interviewed some really interesting people and the memorials themselves were moving, although I think the 'Women in Military Service' one let our gender down somewhat. It was an absolutely beautiful day (26C, sunny, clear skies) so we walked from Arlington to the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, World War II and Washington monuments/memorials on The Mall which may have taken over an hour but it was worth it. We took the metro from the Smithsonian to U Street, which is the heart of the African American neighbourhood. We ate lunch in the famous Ben's Chilli Balls restaurant, although not because the food is outstanding. Most people in England probably haven't heard of it, but it was a centre for Black Activism in the Civil Rights Movement and all Presidential candidates visit it as part of their campaign trail. You feel like you're sitting in history which is cool. We then had to find our final memorial which was to the African American soldiers in the Civil War. I found this memorial the most moving as it is understated and yet the names, without rank, age, or hometown, just go on. During the hour which we were there only 3 people came and saw it. The other memorials were teeming with people, one even admitted to going to Arlington just because it was good weather but few were remembering the African American sacrifices. Maybe that is too political, and I have a whole 2000 paper to write about the significance of who came and where the memorial is placed but I just wanted to note it here. By this time it was 3pm and we weren't meeting for dinner until 7. However, Patrick is from DC and I was not up for doing any more sightseeing so after having a brief look around the Post Office Museum (or really the shop) we went to the cinema. Met the others, who had been looking at museums, and Pensri, our professor, and ate a good chinese dinner in Chinatown (paid for by Am Studs dept). However the original four of us were going back to Charlottesville that night so said goodbye at 8.30pm. But I didn't get back to my room until 12.40am because it was the journey from hell.

NB Everyone mentioned is in my American Studies class.

Change in mood

2005-11-03T21:15:01Z

Yesterday I was frustrated. I found out my laptop is properly broken and that I'm in danger of losing everything on it. Now, before people start going "why didn't I back up things" etc etc, my answer is that I did...in part. All my academic stuff is saved, in various places even. BUT, I was just a tad busy this summer and so did not have time to copy all the photos and all my music to CD. I know I can find most of the music again but these photos are of last year from Nottingham, which are really important to me. So I was annoyed with myself and the computer and depressed at the thought of the cost of repair (it is fixable apparently) and the prospect of spending hours in computer rooms writing papers and reading articles. There were also other things going on which made me grouchy.

However today: I had had a decent sleep; I knew that whatever happens I could deal with so there's no point stressing; I'm actually not as far behind with work as I had anticipated; my discussion was cancelled; I got a good grade in a paper; and the weather has changed so I even had a class outside in the amphitheater: Sun/heat = happiness.

And I'm now off to share tea and biscuits with my fellow residents. :)

Numbers

2005-11-01T21:13:00Z

7 - # of Weeks left in the States
3 - # of Research Papers due in 2 weeks (total of 6000 words)
3 - # of Weeks until Thanksgiving Break - woo!
200 - # of Pages left of the book which I have a quiz on tomorrow
0 - # of Classes missed
3 - # of Times I have fallen asleep in classes *
0 - # of Assigned articles which I have not read *
4 - # of Assigned articles which were only skimmed through *
22 - # of Faces I painted white with black designs for Pippin
6 - # of Boxes I painted with a 5 different woodgrain effects (equivalent of 6*6*5=180 sides)
80 - # of Hours spent doing play-related activities *

I've mentioned FYP/Tech/Pippin on various occasions and it's because, as you can see, it has truly consumed my time. It was mainly over the last 10 days, and so it became the equivalent of a full-time job, except I didn't get the weekends off!!! I may have got little sleep and put academia second (making me a little stressed now) BUT I'm so glad I joined. I can honestly say that without FYP I would not be enjoying UVA as much as I am. Ok, so there was a 'little' tension between the director and the technical staff (over scenery, staging, make-up, costumes...) and I got on with some people better than others, but that is to be expected in a theatre group. And not that I'm biased, but I think Tech is great; Hard work certainly but the people make it worth it. Some special techies are (in no particular order) Kelsey, Sarah, Genie, Kris, Michelle, (other) Sarah, Spatz, Tamaira, Jessie, Jamie, (other) Laura, Kathryn, Catherine, Kyle, Lesley, Kate and my big sib David (he got me flowers). They involved me in what they were doing and we definitely managed to have a laugh regardless of what was happening - our dancing backstage even freaked a few of the Casties out. But now it's over. We'll still have socials every now and then but after spending so little time in my room, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself the rest of the time. Oh yeah, I remember...work.

* from the past fortnight

Hallow'een

2005-11-01T00:57:22Z

I'm in America (in case you hadn't realised) and Hallow'een is a huge deal. People have been dressing up all weekend but due to Pippin, I didn't have a chance to get a costume together (well unless I borrowed one of the Casties leotards...but no). However I have managed to experience this 'holiday', despite my actual feelings on the day as a whole and general busy-ness. After Saturday's show and before the party a few FYPpers and I went to "Hauntings" in Brown Residential College. It was scary enough that I didn't feel I had wasted my money but not so scary that I had nightmares. Basically it was just a fun walk through tented 'rooms' with students doing various scary things: jumping out of you, banging on the walls enclosing you etc. Then yesterday we carved pumpkins on the patio which was cool and much easier then when we have tried in England because there are special carving and scraping tools! We carved a cat and I must admit the years of only drawing cats when I was younger came in very useful. But today was just mind-boggling. People were dressed up to go to classes, and in all types of costumes from dark fairies to 'Cats in the Hat'. Then this afternoon was trick-or-treating on The Lawn. Literally thousands of children from around the city go around the Lawn rooms and the student residents give them 'candy'. The IRC organise for refugee children in Charlottesville to come and get their face painted and decorate pumpkins before we take them around the Lawn. I looked after Elsat, from Russia, although keeping track of him was incredibly difficult in the mele of people, but luckily he stuck close as he was just as overwhelmed as I was. Poor boy though, he got back laden with sweets and was dropping off to sleep on one of the sofas. So "Happy Hallow'een" everyone but more importantly "Happy All Saints Day" and Pinch-Punch for tomorrow. :D

Cold...but not miserable

2005-10-25T20:37:29Z

Suddenly Autumn has enveloped C'ville. As I wrote in my last entry, I was sitting outside in the warm, feeling very lucky but knowing that it wouldn't last. However, I didn't know that by Monday morning I would be desperate for a coat. I mean it didn’t help that I had to wear just a long sleeved t-shirt under my 'Pippin' shirt (to advertise the show) whilst waiting to be picked up at 7.30am to go on the FYP Bagel run, and then selling tickets (for Pippin) outside for two hours, but 5C is cold whatever you are wearing!!!

Nevertheless, it has meant the leaves are changing to gorgeous colours. On Sunday, Ben, Jude and I went "leaf-peeping" - the American tradition of driving around looking at the pretty leaves. We drove along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and it was so beautiful. It's pretty high up so you could see the hills and the settlements in the distance. It was also a crisp clear day so we were very lucky as it even meant we had a chance to hike one of the trails for a bit. Personally though, I just appreciated being out of the SAB where I had been spending much of the last few days helping with Tech for Pippin (ie the show FYP’s doing this week). But more about that later when I have time (ie when the show is finished)… as now I’m off back to the SAB to finish painting!

To clarify...

2005-10-18T22:39:06Z

Today's journal entry serves 2 purposes:
It will most likely be the last time for the next fortnight that I will have the chance to update and it gives me a chance to save for posterity why since Friday my msn name has been 'Happiness...'
* It was going to a concert in the Downtown pavillion. So there were screaming girls and Jason Mraz, (the artist, who's pretty popular over here) was a tad boring but he was a good dancer, the atmosphere was cool and the warm up act was AMAZING.
* It was when UVA beat 4th in the country, Florida State. Ok, so it was at (Am)football, and i had left at half time because I personally didn't care that much, but it made everyone else happy which has a knock on effect. Also my msn picture is now of the sea of orange which descended onto the field at the end of the game. So Cool!
* It was having the sun shine and the temperature rise to 27C so we were able to chill outside in strappy tops. Today was just as good! :)
* was finishing my mid term and my paper with time to spare and without stressing, despite only having 2 days in which to write them. (Questions were only given out on Friday)
* was having an interesting discussion with the Transgender Panel on Saturday afternoon.
* and finally, knowing that I am ready for the start of Tech Week
- sleep, eating and work are optional. But FYP are great so its going to be sooo much fun. :D

The day gets better

2005-10-12T21:29:44Z

Afternoon snack of bread and butter AND a drink of Ribena. And this is all after a half hour nap and warm shower. :D Off to Lil' sib* dinner soon...YAY!

*My Big Sib, David, is a veteran FYPer who basically shows me the tech ropes and is generally lovely. His Big Sib is Spatz (who's also a star) is cooking for all his lil' sibs and grand sibs tonight, to help spread the "FYP love". - in the non-romantic sense.

Post Office

2005-10-12T17:20:30Z

Officialdom gets everywhere. I went to the Post Office because I needed to buy some stamps and send some cards, simple enough you may think, but no. Apparently I can't write England, it has to be UK. Square cards cost extra as the machines can't handle them and I have to write my name and address, understandable especially after the Anthrax problem, but it shouldn't have been on the back, but in the front top left hand corner. I felt useless as I hadn't a clue and had been doing it wrong all this time. I made myself feel better by buying this gorgeous aubergine silk skirt (on sale-bargain!) and then after essential grocery shopping, eating the best lunch ever: Fresh Bread (and butter), chedder cheese and pate. Oh how i have missed it.

Productivity and Procrastinating

2005-10-12T02:18:04Z

My computer broke down on Friday night so I actually spent the weekend being efficient and getting the readings for the first three days done. And so Monday (once my computer was sorted) could be left to do necessary tasks like washing and emailing. However, this evening I have lapsed into procrastination and have found a new time waster: FACEBOOK. All the Americans upon my arrival have asked whether I had one and although I managed to do without before now, I have succummed. But I have no friends (as yet)...so please add me!

Right, back to reading...

Swing Dancing

2005-10-10T03:02:25Z

I absolutely love it! I've been going to lessons all term and have been gradually increasing my knowledge of moves but last night was the first time I actually went to a proper dance. I did manage to get really painful blisters on my ankles but it was so much fun that I can put up with that. I mainly danced with my friend Dave, (an Australian who I met at orientation) so we were able to have a giggle and mess up without feeling guilty. But by the end of night we had improved and I even managed to do the Charleston, with the extra complicated french doors and french windows! (basically twisting round on one leg in time) We also invented the kangeroo hop which is definitely not an official move and certainly doesn't go with the 'back step, triple step, triple step' routine we've been taught, but it was a laugh.

As the girl, i have to follow where the guy leads, which makes my life easier because I don't have to make decisions. However, it's not always simple. Sometimes a guy will continually turn you, making you dizzy, or he will put his arm in a confusing place so you go in the wrong direction, but the worst thing, which only happened to me once last night, is that the guy will drop you. But apparently if that happens he is supposed to fall to the floor too to make it look deliberately spectacular! But my partner at the time, Chris, just helped me up and apologised. Didn't mind really, and he was a confident leader so I danced with him again anyway.

Now I just have to find a way to swing dance in Nottingham!

Weekend in DC, number 2

2005-10-03T05:43:34Z

Was up bright and early on saturday morning to be on the coach by 8. I attempted to sleep during the journey but it was incredibly uncomfortable especially as I did not have my brilliant travelling companion, aka Apple. However we arrived in DC to glorious sunshine so that woke me up. It was a cultured day as we saw the Air & Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, Library of Congress and the US Capitol Building. The latter was the primary reason I decided to go back to DC. I felt that it was important as I was doing a whole module on the subject of Congress and I am a politics geek in general so it should be interesting. Unfortunately, the tour was awful. The tour guide knew the statues and paintings etc but there was no substance. also, he not only found out i was British but that I went to UVA, and so repeated the facts that Jefferson built UVA (I had NEVER been told this before!) and that despite the Brits burning down Washington in 1812, there are no two countries more similar and greater friends than the US and Britain. He also delighted in the fact that Maryland (his home state) were beating us at Am Football that day. The other things that made me annoyed were that they made me throw away my water and my spray deodrant (due to 9/11 restrictions) and that i didn't get any information that i could use for my presentation on friday, which is on any interesting subject related to Congress. (The problem is that Congress is just not interesting, so finding a topic is difficult)
However, as i said, the sun was shining and i was on a mini-holiday so i am glad i went.

In the evening we went to a vegetarian curry house (tasted better than expected) and then we drove to this cafe to pick up Key-Lime pie (its an Am must-eat). To my surprise, right next door to the cafe was "British Goods and Foods". Its not something you would expect Arlington to have, so I had to go inside. luckily I had left my money in the car, as otherwise I would have bought all the McVities biscuits and Birds Custard. And even though Ben offered to buy me something, i refused because it was a) v expensive and b) american food isnt that bad, especially the pie which we had just got. Back at the house, we watched a film, chatted, and best of all, i got to bed early!

It was so good being away from c'ville, having a really chilled evening and then waking up late on sunday morning with the realisation that i couldn't do work even if i wanted to. so i slept some more and read The Week before driving back down south.
And now with one day left of "Fall Break" I get to write a paper and read but i don't really mind as I can sleep in again because I know i'll get it done.

Crazy Americans, or Crazy me...apparently.

2005-09-30T14:36:20Z

I'm glad the week is over. As hard as I tried, I didn't manage to stay ahead of work so my sleep debt is back to normal levels. It didn't help that Jae was stressing about a mid-term and a paper so I stayed up studying with her just to make sure she didn't go to bed at 4am for yet another night. However, the funniest consequence of the lack of sleep is that I am apparently clinically depressed. It is true that I miss people, but are Americans that obsessed with therepy that they mistake that plus a relatively normal student lifestyle (lack of energy etc) as depression? It was only a medical questionnaire which I refuse to follow up with a doctor as suggested because its too far-fetched!

Living conditions

2005-09-24T04:27:08Z

Have realised that i talk about all the 'exciting' things that have been going on but i haven't described what it’s actually like to live here.

My room: is bigger than most corridor ones and is thus arranged differently. If you can imagine sitting up in bed, you don’t look at the desk next to the door, like most rooms, but you would see Jae. If you haven’t picked this up, I have a room mate, Jae, who is from Korea. She’s really lovely and has a similar sense of humour, but doesn’t always understand my accent, especially in the mornings - she’s very much a night owl. This last fact has needed some discussion, as I really struggle to study after 12am, while she’s able to go on til 3! However, we’ve reached a compromise and are adapting slowly (we work until 1.30 and I wake her up in the mornings as she can’t hear her alarm clock even when it’s laying against her stomach!)
And back to the room: cold hard floors, blinds which let the light in and no air conditioning. Nevertheless we have fans for the heat (it reached 35C today) and the other things aren’t bad, just different, and at least it’s clean, (well when I decide to clean that is). And we also have one of the best views. It looks out over the entrance of the IRC, the Munford patio, where people study, chat, meet to go out and gather for BBQs. We get bright sunshine all through the day, which admittedly makes our room boiling but I much prefer that to dinginess.

The International Residents College (IRC) consists of 350 people in 4 houses, Hoxton (Mosaic House), Lewis, Gwathmey and Munford, all named after UVA alumni. I’m on the top floor of Munford, which is all girls but the great thing about the IRC is that there are loads of ways to meet people so it the oestrogen filled atmosphere isn’t that annoying. The reason we can meet people is basically because the IRC has a £22,000 to organise trips and events. They paid for my trip to Montichello and Michie Tavern and I’m going to DC (again) with them next week. Then within the IRC we have Movie Nights, hall trips to the cinema with Chinese food afterwards and EVERY week there is ‘Breakfast of Champions’ (Bagels, cereals, cold meats, variety of spreads, breads, juices and teas/coffees) and other groups, eg the Friday discussion “That was the week that was”, which give free food too. Every fortnight we have a Sunday meal together, such as BBQs, or “Subs and Salads”, and on every other Wednesday there is a chance for 8 students to have a professionally cooked meal with some IRC staff and a special guest, such as a professor and counter-terrorism expert at the National War College in DC. But the best thing about the place is the people. It’s not all international students, and the majority of people who live here are open minded and very aware of world affairs so it’s a great mix, and its reasonably near to central grounds.

Other little silly things:
The washing machines and dryers are exactly the same make and shape as those in Nottingham. Only difference is that the dryers automatically have a cycle of 55mins so unless I remember to go down early, they shrink all my clothes!!!
The kitchen on our floor is remarkably clean but gets incredibly hot with people cooking. I mean you walk outside and you’re actually dripping. Nice.
Newcomb Hall is where I eat when I’m not cooking or really don’t want to trek it over to O-Hill, the new and much better food hall. Food isn’t that tasty at Newcomb but there is quite a variety and you can have as many dishes as you want. That’s not such a great thing when you realise the hundreds of calories you’re consuming. But before that panics anyone I’m not turning into some health freak. The cookies and brownies definitely keep me from being that and I haven’t entered the gym yet, unlike some people who go twice a day!

Ultimate Frisbee

2005-09-20T20:28:45Z

Just because I'm obviously not doing enough already, I decided to join the IRC inter-mural Ultimate Frisbee Team. Anyone who has seen me play frisbee would know that I would be more of a hindrance than a help but its in the rules that they need at least 3 girls, and so Benjamin convinced me that it would be fun.

This was partly true. I didn't take it seriously so the fact that we lost by 21 - 1 was just funny but the guys and the other team obviously see it as a serious sport and were trying to determine tactics. But what can you really say when you're running from one end of a sports field to the other trying to either catch the wierd shaped flying device or knock it out of the way of your opponent, without slipping on the wet grass?!? Americans...there's no understanding them.

Biro and FYP Party

2005-09-20T04:48:03Z

After my nap, I was calm and collected until I managed to burn my pasta supper. I was trying to cook and get ready for the party at the same time which is obviously not a gd combination. nevertheless, i managed to boil and eat some 3 min noodles, finish applying my make up, finish my article and disguise my costume so i was ready to go at 7.15pm.

The theatre was packed, especially with IRC residents and FYPers*, but luckily we managed to find our seats despite the weird numbering system, and settle down before Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine came on the stage to perform his one-man show 'Biro' (pronounced Beero, not like the pen). The play is about a man growing up in Uganda during the oppressive 70s and 80s before (illegally) emigrating to USA for HIV drugs and ending up in jail. It has won various awards and I was fascinated by the subject, but in my humble opinion, I felt that in combining so many different themes he lost some of the power in the moving story. He wrote and directed the play which could also explain the over-long show, but i'm still glad I went.

However, there wasn't much time to hang around as another girl, Kathryn, and I were supposed to be at the first FYP party and I was wearing my boots for the first time in months, making walking to the other side of grounds difficult. We stopped off at another girls house to finish getting ready before walking onto the house (well one girl was rolling as she had skates on). The theme of the party was "red light district or blue plate special", which was why I had to hide my costume at the theatre, but with 8 of us in a group it wasn't so embarrassing.

The party was much more fun than I had expected. Although I was getting to know the tech people, I had never met the production staff, the musicians or the cast. However i needn't have worried because they were just as friendly and didn't stop talking to me when they found out I was only here for the semester! So although some of the UVa students are aloof (on the brink of rudeness), the swing-dancers, most of the IRC residents and FYP are definitely changing my opinion of the Americans. The time went incredibly fast due to the dancing, drinking (yay, vodka cocktail!) and chatting. But I was getting a lift home so I couldnt stay longer. Coincidently, I saw Jude and Jo in Munford Foyer on my way back in. They had also had a good night, but they still laughed at the vision of the v tipsy, pink sequined person in front of them, despite it being Jude’s pink top! But sleep beckoned…

*First Year Players, for which I'm on the hair and make up crew in the Tech team.