Primary shenanigans

Today I was officially called as an advisor to the primary. Basically, I am a jill of all trades and float around helping wherever needed. Today was my first official day, and the kids were so hyper I caught myself gazing longingly out the window. The parking lot, far from being pretty, was a magical world away from the boys screaming and jumping out of their seats. There were two cuties, who I would place at around seven or younger, that stole my heart. Their names are Shawn and Nico. Shawn was very style conscious (no, not in THAT way), and had a little flip at the front of his hair which he would occasionally touch and make sure it was still there. His outfit was pretty cute too, very bachelor for such a long age. He acted out until he realised that I was not happy and got more attention from me when acting considerably more reverent. The good thing about the level of pre-Christmas excitement in the children was the plus that I did not have to attend adult Sunday school. Good thing to, since I was up until half past three this morning listening to some drunk women screaming on the street. It got so bad that I was convinced she was being attacked, so I crept to the front room with my mobile (just in case) and peeked out of the curtains. The club across the street closes at 3am, so they had kicked everybody out, and the drunken women was among them. I still don't know what she was going on about, but a man who looked like her boyfriend and another girl were restraining her. Kind of creepy, not going to lie.

Oh, Becci is engaged!! Her boyfriend, Eric, proposed when he was visiting last week. They went down to London, and on the way back from Les Mis, he kneeled down in one of the very spacious taxis they have there and proposed. The date they're thinking of is the end of July, in Alaska, where they are both from. Hopefully I could maybe go. Always wanted to see Alaska. After church, where everyone makes the awkward small talk in the lobby, I got a full tale of the progression of Kent's stomach flu. Yeah, wasn't that pleased. Well, one day, hopefully, he will be able to mature a bit. But, as we know, some people never grow up.

Tuesday is the primary christmas party. I am so excited!!! I am in charge of the gingerbread cookie decorating with Jennifer. I've been wanting to decorate cookies since before Thanksgiving, so, in truth, I am probably more psyched than the kids.

Days left 'till Portland: 12 (not counting today)

So, even though I am pretty sure that nobody reads this (with exception of Uncle Dave, my one follower), I will strive to continue to write on this semi-regularly.

There is not much new happening in life. Well, fine, that is a lie. My brain is completely and utterly scrambled. Chinese is perhaps the most difficult language I will ever be called upon to learn, or, at least I hope that this is the case. Also, countless readings for my courses is certainly adding to my knowledge, but also confusing me, because I can't remember what I read from what and it all becomes a big jumble in my brain whilst trying to decide if the theory I am remembering is a traditional theory or one that is now more widely accepted. How's a girl to deal?

The answer?

Streaming online movies and TV shows. And the occasional outing out to dinner. Really my life is not that cool or fantastic. I go to lectures and tutorials, try and Skype the family, watch movies and such when I have a spare hour or two (or just stay up late), try to remember that one has to eat an actual meal and shouldn't cheat with wholemeal biscuits, and despair over the fact that since I do not yet have a cell phone, I have no solid contacts here.

I think the remedy to this is to get out of Edinburgh for a day. Or a weekend. Mani and I are thinking about going to Dublin the weekend of Halloween. It will only cost about £10 for the flight. To me that seems a pretty good deal. I think if I travel more, the less I will feel as if I am trapped in a really cold bubble of constant accent adjustments and wishing that my entire grade in International Law was not dependent on an examination. I like it here now, which is good because at first I hated it, to be completely honest.

There is one fantastic thing about living here though. I never have to shave if I don't want to. Its too cold to go around in anything that exposes your poor legs to the frigid air, so EVERYONE wears stockings or tights. More often than not they are black. ITS MARVELOUS!!!!!

I'm sure you did not want to know that. But I am convinced that the extra body hair keeps you warmer, so on that principle alone, I will not shave unless forced. MWAHAHA. Bet you wish you hadn't read this entry now, don't ya?

Grocery Shopping

Today Mani and I embarked upon a mission to find grocery stores that were big enough, and varied enough, to suit our needs. We were successful, but ended up hauling very heavy loads upon loads of groceries. One bag actually split and my yogurt nearly rolled into the street. It was difficult going getting back and then back up to the second floor where our flat is (third floor if you're in the States). But now we have food with which to feed ourselves, so I'm happy. Plus, the milk is actually good here, so I've been drinking lots of it, for which mom should be happy. On the way to the shops however, I stopped into a little shop to buy some feminine supplies. This story needs background though, because right before shopping, Mani had woken me up from a very needed nap, so I was quite out of it. I got up to the counter and she was asking me the standard questions (stamps, etc.) and I was saying no, all the while holding my bill. When she told me the total and shot a pointed glance at my hand, I realized that the bill I was holding was in fact a $20 rather than a twenty-pound note. I felt very stupid when she said, "I don't know what that is...."

The best part is Mani was standing watching the entire time and never thought anything of the fact that I was holding the wrong currency.

She redeemed herself when she literally ran into a man in the crosswalk.

Oh, that reminds me. We got up to a crosswalk and were waiting FOREVER for the walk sign to come on, and the angry, blaring noise that signals blind people to walk to sound, when all the lights for traffic turned red, and all of a sudden EVERYONE STARTED WALKING WHEREVER. No, they weren't just crossing the street, they were zigzagging, going diagonally. WHAT?! I have since learned not to question things ever since I saw Rolo yogurt. Good job, Britain.

We also stopped in a little shop where they sell office supplies, and the man who owned or managed it told me that I would get a discount on my masking tape (3.49 pounds for one roll! What a load of crock) if I could tell him something interesting about philosophy. This was after the bag split and a lot of lugging and pulling reluctant shopping parcels, so I really wasn't in the mood and muttered something about Plato and the cave allegory. Whatever, couldn't think of anything else. I knew I should have read those philosophy books that I had picked up Borders before I left, rather than at Christmas. But, he said that if I can come back and tell him something that I feel about philosophy, and not just something memorized from the books, that I can have a 50% discount on anything in the store. So I gotta get some opinions soon so that I can buy school supplies there!!!

Going to eat and then pass out. No going out for Rachel tonight. I was supposed to go to some pub quiz (?) but Mani and I are dying from only fourish hours of sleep, so probably not going to happen.

Love you all!

the "to be continued" part

Um, so I know that you are all dying for details, but there is simply no time, so settling for what I do tell you has to happen. Right now I am waiting on my bed with Mani for the UPS man to show up.

Last night I became intimately acquainted with the British system of queuing (lining up) after we had a really fun time at the bar down the street and met lots of people. Now about queuing: if you cut, you may as well accept the fact that everybody is going to hate you forever. So, we ended up standing in line to get into the 'Beach Party' for and hour and forty five minutes (Mani timed it). So after all that trouble, we stepped inside to dance to the worst music you could possibly think of (try, Like a Virgin, S Club, and Abba). So, we stuck it out and then left. It was raining, cold, and we were hungry so we stopped for some shwarma at a kebab place. Pretty interesting. Now go live your life and stop fantasizing about mine.

xxx

Edinburgh

I arrived yesterday after an hour flight from Amsterdam. On the flight I managed to pass out, and the junior philosophy major from Dartmouth who was sitting next to me had managed (in his sleep; he was long gone before we took off) to somehow get completely intertwined with myself, so to any passerby it would look almost as if we were snuggling. The one exception was that our sleep body language dictated that we were not acquainted as our heads were turned away from each other. He woke up right when I did, and we just acted as if it hadn't happened. Personally, I think that he woke up a few minutes before that, because he did not sound sleepy and his eyes were clear. He probably just did not wanted for me to wake up as he was moving and get embarrassed. Or he liked it. The first option is less creepy.

A very, VERY Scottish man drove me from the airport with six other students to our respective residences. His name was Bob. Bob fell of the curb when walking towards me and told me that he walked much better drunk, and that he was all messed up when sober. Later, in the car, he did a Scottish brogue for us. I really hope that I never am required to understand whatever language then proceeded from his lips.

To sum it all up:

My first night was spent tossing on the bed (which I am using my backpack as a pillow for), and waking up to the sound of drunk people and music coming from the street. Everything in my room is broken: the wardrobe in two places, and the set of drawers. They did not supply us with ANYTHING, most importantly toilet paper, so one of my flat mates, a girl named Aliyah from Seattle who attends Northwestern and is study abroad for a semester, had arrived the night before with her group from school, stole a huge roll from a pub down the street. Mani and I bought some today at Pound-Stretchers. And handsoap. And pillows. And a duvet cover and duvet for myself that won't clash too horribly with my sheets that are coming via UPS.

The flat:

You walk in the front door, and there is a little entrance hallway with the intercom, which we can't figure out, coat pegs, and a small closet with a lot of scary electrical type things. The carpet is hideous, thin and green. Mani and Zoe's bedrooms come next, and down the next hallway are my and Aliyahs's rooms, the bathroom, and a doorway to our kitchen and living area. My bedroom is bigger than the living area, which doesn't say much.

to be continued cuz i left came back, left, came back, and am going out tonight, so no time for writing!

Love you all!