Day Four at the Library

So again, I spent numerous hours in the library - it should all pay off. I have over 15 pages of notes so hopefully it will make it easier to write the stupid thing... but if tonight is any example, I shouldn't be so hopeful. I have struggled and struggled to motivate myself but nothing happened. And really I should still be trying. I have two good hours left in the night. I could at least go through the notes searching for a feasible thread!

Perhaps I should give up - go to bed and get up early for a change. Would it happen? I doubt it.

Tomorrow is Wednesday. One of the lecture-ful days. We have a guest lecturer in An Idea of Europe in History - if it is anything like last weeks, I am not excited. It was a complete waste of time. He was supposed to be this expert on the Balkans and all he did was have us look in books! He didn't lecture or at least lead a decent seminar at all! I hope tomorrow is better. After that is Economics. Aparently the lecturer in that class things I understand things quite well when I answer a question. In my mind, it's all mixed up and I have no idea what is going on. I hope that doesn't show in my essay too much! I've got a while to work on that one though. I really hope it is a decent day! I'll have lunch with the regulars so that should be the usual blast.... :)

Well if I sit here much longer my butt will be numb and my essay will be no closer to completion.

Have a wonderful day!

Dobranoc xxx

Bathroom Multilingualism

First: Sorry that my "brief" note of complaint turned into a ranting essay.

My main point: So I was lying in the bath – which was absolutely fabulous by the way – and I started reading all the bottles along the edge. I started reading all the foreign language directions on how to wash your hair or use the bubble bath. It is very interesting to learn these directions in multiple languages. But what I wanted to tell you was – there were 12 different languages represented in our bathroom alone. That is more than the number of official languages in the European Union before the May 2004 enlargement. There were directions in English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, (which are very similar languages actually – just a few letters different!), Swedish, and Norwegian (also very similar). There was also one that I couldn’t identify which I think was possibly Luxembourgish but I am not sure. Most bottles had three or four language (with the exception of mine that came from the U.S.) The most interesting one, had Polish, Czech, and Slovakian. No one in my house is from any of those countries, so I think the German guy bought it – and it doesn’t even have German on it! He is from East Berlin, very close to these countries, so it is most likely his. Well now you know way too much about my upstairs bathroom – but I am very proud of our multilingual bath time reading.

A brief note of complaint

I want to scream. And hit. And kick. All weekend I wanted to talk to Nathan. But understandably, I guess :) , he was quite busy and conversation was hard. But today, life has returned to somewhat normalcy. So we naturally assumed we could talk. BUT it seems all things are conspiring against us. Last week, the webcams weren't working. Today, not only did the webcams have problems, but the internet/AIM didn't cooperate either. So we were left with a pitiful attempt to try and talk with five lines showing up minutes after we actually wrote them. I'm sorry about my recent bouts of anger and loneliness showing up here - but I thought it would be a good escape. At least it isn't all bottled up, right!

Today, I bought a railcard. It's going to save me money with the train rides I will have to take in the near future. Train tickets are another source of my anger as well though - so I won't explain anymore here. I am going to solve it all tomorrow, though. I will make it happen!

I apologise for the lack of new photographs for you. I am currently in a state of focused travail - all revolving around diplomacy. I am beginning to feel quite overwhelmed with this essay. It must be completed by the end of the week because I do not want to stress at the last minute. I will leave the weekend for editing and such - but not for first draft writing. Wednesday will start that - that's my goal at least! I spent the last three days confined to the library - so hopefully with one more day tomorrow, I should have enough resources to write... and write....and write. And this is only the first one....

I should not really be sitting here, pouring out whatever random rambles come out of my mind. Firstly because you really don't want to hear about them I'm sure. Secondly I would like to run a bath and start reading a book called Frontline Diplomacy: Humanitarian Aid and Conflict in Africa. I am not focusing on Africa but hopefully it will help me expand my case study on the International Committee of the Red Cross and better relate it to diplomacy in general. I have to show that either the state is still the frame of reference for diplomacy - or is it not. I haven't quite decided which way I will go. Either is feasible with the materials I have. Mostly likely, however, it will end up leading the reader to believe the state is in decline, but really make the opposite point that it is just as significant with more players becoming involved.

The more I write, the more my brain turns. I'm sure that is normal. But it seems mine is moving faster than average. Perhaps it just needs to explode. I think it might... I will leave you with these thoughts/questions that I have been mulling and discussing. If you want to respond you can - it would be nice to know. But I hope you at least think about them.

Question: how do you define spirituality for yourself? Is it living up to, or at least trying to uphold a certain set of values, outlined dogma, or other religious tenets? Or is it more flexible and personal? Do you (possibly without even realising it) project what you believe on to someone else who has a differing opinion and fail to recognise their importance and the importance of their beliefs? Do you judge others' practices or others' ways of believing without even giving it consideration or trying to understand? What would happen if the whole world was so intolerant?

Me Siento sola...

Dobry Wiecźor!

Jak tam? Jestem W Porządku. A u Ciebie? Nieźle. Na razie – dobranoc.

¡Buenas noches!

¿Que tal? Estoy bien. ¿Y tú? No estoy mal. Hasta pronto – buenas noches.

Bon soir!

Ça va ? Ça va bien. Et toi ? Pas mal. A bientôt – bon nuit !


Las lenguas son mis pasiones. Porque lucho recordar como las hablar. Una día quiero me despertar y recordar todo de que aprenda. Espero….

Me siento sola ahorra – quiero una persona quien puedo hablar – en algunas lenguas. Pero, no existe nadie.

Por eso – me duermo y espero que mis sueños sean mejor que hoy. ¡Buenos noches!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! I hope you all enjoy your day. Mine was absolutely crazy but wonderful, too. On this happy day, while most of you were all sleeping and spending time at home, I had a busy busy schedule at uni. At 8:45 AM, I meet a couple of friends on the way to our first Polish lesson! It was so amazing. It will be very hard to pick up - but it is great. Our tutor is a Polish girl named Marta. She is really nice and doesn't laugh at us too much!

Following that, I had a huge presentation in my Politics of Language in Europe class. And thankfully, it went GREAT! My lecturer said it was great and was really impressed with the set up and comprehensiveness of it! So that made my day go so much better!

After that, I had my weekly lunch a group of friends and then headed to diplomacy. Honestly, I didn't learn much from that class. It was quite boring - even the lecturer looked bored. So, to make our time a little more interesting, Tom and I looked over our Polish notes and tried to memorise some sayings! We even managed to have a fake conversation on the way home.

BUT... The real fun began after. At 6pm, I headed over to my French friend Caroline's house, to finish setting up for our thanksgiving dinner/party! Yesterday, we cooked two chickens and decided on our plan. Today, though, we cooked the two turkeys (even having to remove the giblets) and stuff them as well! We were so proud! So at this moment - I know most of you are doubting that I actually cooked! And as always, I once again forgot my camera so I cannot show you the wonderful times that we had! The food was amazing. Along with the turkey, we had roast potatoes, gravy, leek, a rice dish, some salads, carrots, corn, corrects and lots of desserts as well! It was a complete success! Our department is so great. We all get along well and love hanging out together!

We are now thinking about a mini Christmas party :) before we all leave. Our lecturer, who is deputy head of our department, already enlisted Caro and I to plan the Christmas drinks get together. So I'll let you know about that already!

I hope you all had just as wonderful time! Happy thanksgiving! :)

Nathan's result...

Nathan took the quiz to see if he came up with something different. His results were that I am a hybrid of the progressive girl and the girl next door. It turns out the girls and guys quizzes are actually different. I disagreed with Nathan and when I took the guys quiz I still came up with Progressive :). But I do like some of the girl next door characteristics! Nathan said that he thinks I'm just normal and can't be stereotypically defined :)! Sounds good to me! Well it was a good experiment!

Today was a busy one. I had my two lectures as normal but it seemed longer than normal. I am on campus for about 6 hours or more on Wednesdays and Thursdays (and that is just two lectures) so it is really draining sometimes. Tomorrow will be much worse as we have a dissertation meeting at 9:30 and my lectures go to normal time so I'll be there for over eight hours. Just too much concentration for my brain! I miss though hour and 20 minute lectures. Three hours ones are just too much!

Well I need to go outline a presentation for my Politics of Language seminar. I'm studying the language regime of the EU in general and some possible solutions for the complicated procedures and high cost of having over 20 official and working languages.

Hi ho, Hi ho, its off to work I go....

Progressive Girl?

So after working very hard today - yes again - I took some time on the internet. I wasn't in the mood to write any emails (sorry!) but I found this really interesting website. It is called Cooking to Hook Up - it is for guys mostly to see what type of girls to date and how to cook for them. But me being attracted to quizzes wanted to find out what type of girl I am! After the questions, I found out I was a progressive girl. At first I really didn't feel like that was me so I took it again changing answers to ones that I had multiple answers. After five times, I still was a progressive girl. Parts of the description might not be me but I guess in my long lasting confused state regarding life, it might actually fit me well.

The Progressive Girl

Moderation in all things, excess in nothing. -- Epicurus

Imagine that the Girl Next Door moved to the big city. Think of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. She's America's sweetheart with an urban sensibility. She's a post-Christian spiritualist, a pre-Monica Clintonite, and a dues-paying member of at least one social-change organization like NOW, Planned Parenthood, or the Sierra Club. You won't find her at an Earth First or PETA meeting, though. Those are the Granola Girl's stomping grounds. Progressive Girls want the world to be a better place, but they live out their politics in a moderate, left-of-center way [possibly me - but it really does depend].

If you are going to date a Progressive Girl, the one sin you can commit is to be a chameleon. Molding your opinions to fit hers will lose her respect [I respect others opinions, especially Nathan's, but I love being right - just ask Nathan]. One very positive thing you can do is offer her new experiences -- the Progressive Girl is fearless [to some degree maybe] about trying new things. Whether it's pluralism, skydiving [I'm not so sure about that one], Asian peanut sauce, or this book, the Progressive Girl is always looking for new ideas.

She Might Be a Progressive Girl if:

She drives: a small SUV but really wishes it got better mileage; once she can get a good hybrid, she will. [Though I would also take Jetta any day]

She can talk for more than ten minutes about: just about anything.

She begins her sentences with: "Susan Sarandon says..." [not generally, but I do respect her most of the time]

She'd never: pass up the chance for a new experience. [again, it depends]

She owns any of the following: a water filter, a tabletop fountain, an acre of rain forest, a mutt from the pound. [yes - except maybe not an acre of rain forest and my dog mostly wouldn't be a mutt]

What do you think? Tell me if you think this is me or one of the other girls?!! The website is http://www.cookingtohookup.com/quiz/ It is pretty interesting! If you take it, let me know what you are! I would love to know.

Look like me?! :)

I miss my sisters :( 

Wow!

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted something! Nothing of note has really happened - I've been reading like crazy this weekend and don't see an end to that any time soon. Today I did take a little break from the studying - I went to campus and picked up a book I ordered over a month ago. I should have asked for a discount for taking so long. Great afterthoughts.

I'm beginning to doubt my ability to write at the level of everyone around me - even though most of them speak English as a second or third language. It is completely insane. Most of the time I find myself thinking about Poland and forgetting about finishing the work here. It is quite annoying when I do honestly want to just sit down and get my work done.

The library here really isn't conducive to work. It is this dark and dreary place that is just not somewhere I want to be - plus it is always remarkably hot in there - very good for sleeping. So basically there isn't anywhere I can go to do my work. I might start using the Law Library because it is less well known and shares the same building as my department. Perhaps I will try that tomorrow. This weekend though I was quite productive in my room. I hope that continues tonight.

Something very cool happened today! I got an email and a text from two different people I used to be friends with when I was in middle school! I received an email from this guy Carl Shepherd who I guess you could say was in my "group". I remember him really well because he and I used to be the two of the shortest people (there was one guy and one girl shorter than us) in class and we ALWAYS had to line up in height order. Oh well.. at least I'm not so short here now! But even more exciting, I received a text from Sandy. Ok so most of you don't know who she is, but she and I were really good friends when we were younger! Liz and Sandy's sister were good friends, too - I think they even still talk. But anyways, it was good to hear from her and hopefully we will get to hang out when I go back to Worthing.

I don't have any new pictures yet, unfortunately. What did you think about the last ones? Post a comment and let me know :) hehe! Perhaps I will find an interesting one to post just for fun! If you want to look at some really good ones, visit Nathan's website because he has loads! You can listen to his music, too. http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~ngordon

I said I would do something interesting I think but haven't yet, so perhaps I will have better luck this week! Would love to hear from everyone!

Blurb...

Hello! :)

Well I hope you saw the pictures I put up yesterday. I went out to do so many little errands that I thought as I was going all over I should take my camera - and even remembered to! This week was surprisingly exhausting. I did a presentation on non-state agents of diplomacy where I focused mostly on the International Committee of the Red Cross. It wasn't too bad - but I think I sounded a little stupid! But it's over and that is all that matters. I have one presentation left and FOUR HUGE essays to write. I've really got to get writing. I'm also starting to learn polish - it is really hard but a great language. Too bad there are sounds that I swear my mouth will never be able to produce.

Last night was a wonderful night called bonfire night (aka Guy Fawke's night) so there were fire works going off everywhere. My roommates actually went out to a tiny village where they run around with burning tar barrels on their backs - and then have a huge bonfire at the end. I skipped this event but did enjoy my neighbourhood firework show. Go here to learn about it : it is really cool I promise! http://www.bonefire.org/guy/

The pictures from yesterday are just some more interesting things around the city. The old Danes Castle spot is actually really pretty - even though it isn't very big. My favourite picture though is probably the fire post or some of the views from campus. Hopefully I'll take some pictures of the other side of the hill on campus - so you can see where most people are - not just the really pretty side! :)

Have a wonderful weekend - tell me what you think and about life sometime!

One last one of uni for now! This is the Queen's building and a wonderful sign! :) This is the nice green side of campus - the other side has all the actual school buildings! 

Clock tower at uni! And another sculpture! Nice huh!  

This is the pretty side of my campus! There is a really nice view - obviously - and one of the nicest buildings. Oh and you can see one of the sculptures on the campus sculpture walk 

This just looks cool - it is a neighbourhood across from Uni.  

Cool huh!  

I just like the fire station! It's very nice! :) 

This is the area where the castle was - right across from the current prison.  

This is the caption for the Danes Castle - I don't know if you can read any of it but it was a Norman fort built by King Stephen.  

This is just a nice little park! With a good view, too! 

OK this is the main train station! This is where Nathan will come in if he takes the train! :) It's a pretty decent station. There is a student village here as well because some Exeter Uni accomodation is right next to the station. 

This is one of the more obscure entrances to the Exeter City Football club stadium. It is right across from St. James' hence the name and also just around the corner from my house.  

This is St James' right near my house. It isn't the main train station just a little one on a local line. It is nice looking :) 

So this is the local prison! It is on my walk home from St. David's train station. The wall is much taller than it looks because where I am standing is at least 7 ft off the ground.