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You may not hear from me much this month (think of last month as practice for this).  This is because I have a month off after successfully finishing the first of the two terms I will be spending here in Lancaster.   A few friends and I will be traveling around that glorious country, Europe.  I've started calling Europe a country to annoy my friends over here.  The reaction you get when you call Europe a country is fantastic and I recommend you all try it if you ever find yourselves this side of the Atlantic. 

   Anyway, I'll be traveling across Europe to some of it's finest cities.  Tomorrow morning I am going to Amsterdam and then I am off to Berlin.  Hopefully, I'll be able to quickly get online and do small updates of my travels while in these cities. 

Well, it's late and I have only eight hours left to pack and sleep before I have to go tomorrow so I will leave you with this British tidbit.  Today as I entered the library a british girl walked up to me and asked if I was registered to vote.  I smiled and told her I couldn't vote.  "charges?" she asked in a thick accent I couldn't comprehend.  "what?" I asked.

"Criminal Charges"

"No, no, no.  I'm not English."

"Oh, well we can register most European countries as well."

"I'm American"

"Really?  You don't sound American.  You sound European."

"Oh-kaaay. Well sorry, I can't vote."

The Moral ended up to be that since I am registered to vote I should have just said so even if it isn't in england.  Either that or I look like and sound like a European Criminal.  I'm going with the former.

Go see Ninja Turtles!!  Tune Out!

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Three main events have occurred since I last updated:  Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and Irma Thomas finally winning a Grammy.  None of these were very big in England.  Many students weren't sure what Mardi Gras was, Valentine's day was about as big as Labor Day is in America (a couple cards, low expectations) and, much like in America, Irma Thomas isn't a household name (feel free to Google her--and listen to "Breakaway", great song).  I'm pretty such Ash Wednesday isn't really a big deal here either.  They did have something called "pancake day" where everyone makes awful pancakes that are somewhere between a crepe and a real pancake.  They cover the pancakes with lemon and sugar and believe this is the best possible way to eat a pancake.  Well, that or jam.  Sugar, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Chips, or Bananas aside, they really just need some Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth to start off with. 

Speaking of racially insensitive food icons, in the supermarket where I buy all of my groceries I found Uncle Ben's rice.  It was great.  Wasn't that a good story?

Some of you may be asking why you haven't heard from me for a while.  I offer two explanations: A. My laptop won't let me update in my room so I have to walk a quarter mile to the Library and that seems far and: 2. I've been extra busy as I am now a University Athlete.  Yes, that's correct; I have joined a sports team. 

I am a member of the Lancaster Bombers, the American Football Club.  One of the team members discovered I was American and persuaded me to come out and play for the squad.  It is ALOT of fun.  I'm already a starter which should tell those of you who know me a good bit about how good the teams in England are.  I've been playing mainly Linebacker and Defensive Tackle or End but have also gotten to play as a running back.  Here, size is a bit more important than speed in running backs.  I think it has something to do with Rugby, but what do I know.  Anyway, I've got some beautiful bruises that have changed to a more greenish hue in the past day or so.  Simply lovely.

More on everything later, but not too much later, because the library is actually quite fun.

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TUNE IN!  It is a very, very small world.  Here's why:  For J-term my freshman year I went to Spain to study at University there (for a month).  Today, at Lancaster, I met someone who was there for that year and was almost certainly in the same building as I was when I was two years ago. Freaky!   

The film club at school hosted an all-night event where they showed five different films for only six quid.   (That's six British pounds sterling, or roughly twelve American dollars.  Yes, the dollar is worth half of the pound.   I checked and in November 2000 the pound was worth 1.39 American dollars.  Today it is worth 1.97 dollars. (federalreserve.gov) I can't imagine what could have happened!   Ok, but enough about money.)  

The films they showed were Forrest Gump, American Beauty, Shakespeare in Love, Gladiator, and Pulp Fiction.  I didn't stay up all night so I missed Forrest Gump but the others were great.  When Travolta starts talking about Europe in Pulp Fiction it was so much better because, hey, I knew that they would too often put mayonnaise on their fries and not ketchup.  Well, that and the lack of quarter-pounders.  The greatest part is when after each film the British students quote the film, but in British accents.  I cannot even begin to explain how hilarious it is to hear Samuel L. Jackson quoted in a British accent or Kevin Spacey for that matter.  Then the kids started talking about the TV show F-R-I-E-N-D-S.  WOW!  "How you doin'?" sounds waaaaaay different in a British accent. And not in a good way.

Yesterday, A Brit told me that they drive on the right side of the road.  This was great because I told them, no, you drive on the left.  Even if you were there it wasn't particularly funny, but I enjoyed it.  The real problem is, it's not just the road.  They also walk on the left side of the sidewalk.  If you step to the right to avoid someone you crash!  Ahhh!  This is particularly difficult when you are going around corners or something because you never know what side people will be on.  It's just downright dangerous. 

Also, I'm reading a play for one of my classes and it is totally uncreative.  It's very old and isn't bad but the characters need better names.  There's a guy named "Courtall" who does.  A woman named "Procreate" (guess how chaste she is) and other such original names as Rightwit and Meanwell.   I was almost expecting an Everyman.  Alas.  Restoration drama be what it will, I really need to go read some Yeats with passionate intensity or, perhaps, lacking all conviction.  I'm not sure yeat. (ha ha)

Later!

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Yes, tonight I am going back to the Carleton.  The Carleton is a nightclub in the town of Lancaster that everyone goes to on Wednesday night.  Everyone here says they hate the club but that all go anyway.  Why do they hate it?  It could be that its main night is Wednesday, It could be the long line at the coat check, but it's probably that The Carleton plays techno re-mixes of Dolly Parton and David Hasselhoff regularly.  I think it's brilliant!

Yes, classes are done for the day.  I went food shopping and bought a couple of posters for my room finally.  It's amazing how a few posters can change a large square box into a lively flat.  Yes, Flat!

It's odd how things that are so similar are so different over here.  I was talking with one of my friends about things that are annoying. "Annoying like how solicitors always ring during tea!"  Solicitors? Ring? Tea?  I laughed.  Fortunately, my friend thought I was laughing with them.  Alright, well I've got to go make myself dinner!  Chicken Curry tonight!

Woot

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Phonetically that title totally works.  It also marks the start of the blogs that will describe the places I travel in the United Kingdom/ Europe/ Africa?

Yes, this weekend I went to the incredible Edinburgh.  Set in the foothills of Scotland the striking architecture of the buildings and monuments only added to the magical feel of the north country’s landscape.  As I stepped onto the street of Edinburgh after an awful bus ride I had to smile as the sound of Bagpipes immediately set the mood of the day.  I love bagpipe music and was delighted that throughout the day it could often be heard on the streets. 

The castle of Edinburgh was not only an excellent tourist attraction but you could see how strategically useful its placement would be.  Next to the Castle is my favourite park in the UK so far.  It was simply amazing.  After the castle and park my friends and I went to the National Gallery where we spend several hours and I could have spent days.  The Impressionist exhibits were interesting along with the Scottish room but my favourites were the beautiful collections of sculpture as well as a small Goya exhibit. 

We visited Greyfriar’s Bobby’s statue which was very cool.  Greyfriar’s Bobby is a dog who, for fourteen years after his master’s death, would lie beside his grave and leave only for food.  The loyalty of the dog became famous in his time and continues to be a point of interest in Scotland and for those who visit.  It is impossible to convey the numerous monuments and delightful scenes seen. 

One of the most fun moments was making friends with a Scot hanging around the castle adorned in full Braveheart gear down to the painted blue face and battle sword.  He actually had helped with the making of Braveheart--largely stunt coordination.  We didn’t see any stunts but after he offered to show us the Scottish flag tattooed on his “arse” we decided to explore a different part of the city. 

Yep, Edinburgh was a beautiful place with a ton of interesting people (mainly because of their accents, but sometimes because of the wacky manifestation of their love for Scotland)

Later!

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