Hurricane Sandy + Trip Update!

First hurricane experience...

...and thankfully not that terrifying. Granted, some parts of the US have been horrifically hit by the (somewhat oddly named) storm, so hoping everything turns out okay for them (or you, if you're in an area which has been hit hard). Here, the storm was expected to hover over us and cause some damage, but it ended up skimming us really. It caused trouble in CT but we were central enough - and inland enough - that we didn't experience much of the storm, in this part of MA. Honestly, I've seen worse days in Leeds... The storm was worrying enough that they shut the university and we were confined indoors all day (apart from the odd one or two who you would hear shrieking and holding onto their umbrellas in vain - though god knows where they were trying to go...). The uni provided packed lunches for us, as all dining services were shut early. They took it seriously which is definitely a good thing - though, most of us were just happy for any excuse to have a day off... Thankfully, the storm passed us by - but the day was very overcast and dark, and we experienced HORIZONTAL RAIN and random gusts of gale force winds which lasted a couple of seconds a time. Honestly, it was just a 'bad weather' day for us - but just north in Cambridge and Boston they experienced much more severe weather, so all things considered we were fairly lucky here in central MA. Now the weather is back to its usual overcast self...

OH LOOK WHAT DAY IT IS, TOO...

Well, it's the last day of October so...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2SPOOKY4ME
[not my gif] 

Which means...ONLY FIVE WEEKS (sort of ) TIL THE END OF TERM OMGGGG

Christmas trip!

We now have accommodation sorted for our three days in Boston and our week in NYC! Just DC accommodation to sort out. We use the site airbnb - which I heartily recommend! - as hotels around that time of year are hella expensive, obviously. So we're travelling on a budget - as students are wont to do. Should be a fun experience! After DC, I have about ten days with nothing planned. WHAT TO DO. But Christmas is now sorted thank goodness. I'm saving trying egg nog til then. BETTER BE WORTH IT, AMERICA.

Salem trip update~

An update will emerge about Salem, MA and things you can see and do there! I will get around to writing the info posts very soon - especially as I need to remember things about Boston for my trip at Christmas! Also expect info posts on travelling, accommodation, NYC and DC too~ When I'm not being buried under books.

-G~

Adventures Ahoy~

New York Christmas!

Thanks to the wonderful work of a good friend of mine, we shall be spending the Christmas holiday in New York City! I am like...dying of joy right now. 

SO EXCITED OMG.

The plan is a Boston to New York to Washington DC trip! Honestly, to go back to the United Kingdom during this time and then to come back would not only be very expensive (travelling to London then back North) but also it took me WEEKS to adjust to the time-zone and, well, EVERYTHING here. So may as well see some more of the States! I have been to NYC but only once and in the middle of summer so very much looking forward to seeing NYC in the winter! I have never been to Washington DC so, of course, I have my magnifying glass and encyclopedias out to investigate-- Okay, I bought a pocket guide. /I AM OFFICIALLY ADDICTED. 

Next to this, an amazingly lovely friend has offered I stay with her during the Thanksgiving period which is very exciting! I've never experienced a proper Thanksgiving before. In return, American friends, CELEBRATE BONFIRE NIGHT WITH ME! /i actually forgot Americans don't celebrate it... //I don't have any fireworks but I still need to try proper smores soooo--

WHY ARE YOU ALL SUCH AWESOME PEOPLE. GODDAMN.

New England foliage

Picture taken by yours truly!

Though I haven't had a chance to really explore Massachusetts and the surrounding country, the trees on our quiet campus, at least, began to turn to a gorgeous vibrant pink/red colour. The tree outside my window - though clearly a kingdom for the many, many insane squirrels who reside here - has not undergone this surprisingly picturesque transformation. Oh, of course, trees change back home - but a couple of trees in particular are amazingly vivid looking here.

Plans and plots and work, work, work...

I am busy! So busy. Really busy. Like...amazingly busy. I had to write my midterm exam today and just...ARGH. My eyes are so empty feeling. Wait, that makes no sense. BUT IT DOES. Luckily, dinner and The Walking Dead are awaiting me this evening. 

God bless this show ;3;

I must somehow catch up on my reading - hence the slow updates on this blog. I still need to write about Boston so I shall try and get some done in the near future. You don't mind?

Apart from drowning under books I am also worryingly addicted to the American vers. of Netflix (SO WORTH THE SUBSCRIPTION OMG) and I can easily watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report here - an intervention may be needed. 

GPOY.

Oh and of course: THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. I've thus far seen the two presidential debates (sorry, vice-presidents). So far so interesting. And occasionally infuriating. American politics is very different to the British system... Different methods, concerns, etc. Never really struck me as being that different until I started taking more of an interest in it to be honest. I find it strangely fascinating... The final presidential debate is tomorrow, I believe. No doubt I will be sat eating pretzels and shouting incredulously at my laptop screen during it. ;D

-G~

*As always, gifs belong to their owners who are super talented. I've only just mastered MS Paint. (-_-;)

Autumn 2012

October started yesterday!

And, though, yes, I did start the new month with a day-long migraine, I figured it was about damn time I posted on this thing. 

The leaves are beginning to change colour here. If you come from a country with deciduous trees this isn't all that exciting...but surprisingly the trees here go particularly flourescent pink/orange/red which makes me figure HEY WAIT...THESE TREES ARE KINDA DIFFERENT. I know. Brainstorm of the century right there. I'd like to get my Countryfile hat on and take some photos of the trees...PERHAPS I WILL. Just up from my accommodation building is a walkway with trees on either side, all of which are in different stages of prettifying... I'm a terrible photographer though, so if I do take a photo try to enhance it with your own beautiful imagination.

ESSAY SEASON

In capslock just to MAKE IT MORE TERRIFYING. YA SCARED YET, ARE YA? All things considered I got started sort of early and my drafts are doing okay so luckily these two essays aren't gonna be the kind that makes me throw books across the room and screech like a pterodactyl at well-meaning and concerned friends (god help me if I ever get to PhD level...). All that said, I should be done with these essays by tomorrow lunch-time which means I can get started on my journal work.

JOURNALS? I hear you a-scream. Or ask, politely. 

Yes. Journal work is something I've never done before for university courses; basically, these appear to be informal pieces of writing - thoughts on a piece of literature or just general musings on how to apply a theory, for instance. When a book or week of study is particularly fruitful these things can actually be really fun to write...but when a week is difficult (DAMN IT POST-STRUCTURALISM WHY DO YOU EXIST) then it can be a bit...hellish. 

It's keeping on top of the work which is the most challenging. Compared to my studies at home, I find there's more weekly work, which was something they warned us about before coming to the US, whilst back home you have 2-3 essays per term...if that. If you have an exam you sometimes only have the one essay. The essays back home are the big concern, and though you have slightly more here, and more weekly work, it means less grade-wise. Which is a good and bad thing. You do a lot more work = tiring. But it's not as grade-decisive = good? I guess I'm not too concerned. I just want to do well and not fail miserably - but as this year does not touch my actual grade back home...it's nice not having all that pressure for a year. INSTEAD WE HAVE MORE PRESSURE. But you know what I mean... Shush.

Cult movies and free buses to Boston make for a happy self~

God bless this movie.

They do surprise sort of screenings here of an evening, which is really nice. It gives you a chance to unwind and chill out with friends which is a god-send when you're as busy as I currently am. These screenings thus far have been the Marvel movies (I went to see X-Men First Class) and a society here screens famous bad movies (WHICH IS A SERIOUS GUILTY PLEASURE OF MINE OMG) and we managed to go to a screening of The Room. EVERYONE THREW SPOONS. WE HECKLED. WE RECITED LINES OF DIALOGUE. Honestly one of the happiest moments of being here thus far (also fun fact: second time I've seen that film in full; I recommend everyone try and go to at least one screening, even if you're not sure exactly what you're off to see...TRUST ME ON THIS, HOLMES). So much fun. I just love cult movie gatherings like those - I certainly hope to see more of these over the weeks. Tonight is my third visit to a screening here: Hitchcock's Psycho which I am very looking forward to and shall be going to shortly.

Another third for me is a trip to Boston! A good friend and I are going to be adventuring Boston this Saturday. The university has free shuttle buses to Boston which is possibly one of the best things ever. A FREE SHUTTLE. I had no idea about this until a few weeks before heading here so was glad to see it was as awesome as it sounded. Though a tad chaotic at the beginning - hope this next trip will be a little more controlled. I do not need to be sandwiched between strangers again. As delightful as that was. No really. Who doesn't love being squashed by people cramming onto a bus with no queueing. /my English angry-appreciation for queueing comes back in full force in such situations. If you're ever stuck in a crowd and you hear someone shouting: OH NOW REALLY THIS IS TOO MUCH. WHAT OF THE QUEUE. ...it's me.

HEY YOU PROMISED THINGS WHEN YOU GONNA DELIVER?

Yes! The posts about Boston are forth-coming. Expect an entry on the Aquarium and ferries and such very soon. Hopefully this next trip to Boston on Saturday will give me a much needed push to hurry up and get some writing done! I have pictures to illustrate and everything. Don't say I never spoil you.

-G~