No, that doesn't stand for National Honors Society.
Rather, National Health Service!!
After almost three months of general ickness, I decided to try out the National Health Service. As an international student enrolled at Cambridge, I am entitled to full health benefits, just like a normal English citizen. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about the NHS - some great (Free! How can you beat free?)and some skeptical (the doctors are not so good).
However, I have no complaints. I never had to wait very long, and my doctor was super helpful. The downside is that you HAVE to book your appointment either that day, or 4 weeks in advance. So there were a lot of early-morning alarm clocks that woke me up to call right when the office opened. And they are closed on bank holidays (which seems strange to me - the whole thing was closed, although, of course, the hospital is open, so if its serious enough . . . ). Best part, at the end of the visit, I just left. No need to pay anything - even when they took some tests!
Yes, those tests. Apparently, my body and gluten have had a falling out, and are no longer friends. My English doctor suggested I see a gastro and dietitian when I get back in the States, and that I might want to try gluten free in the meantime. No more blueberry muffins, I guess. But, thank God! Diet Coke is gluten free.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
past week
Thought I'd let you know what's new here, in case we haven't chatted in a while . . .
Poor luck had me writing two papers this week (which includes piles of books), so the week in total is a bit blurry. Thursday night saw me working until 1 AM, only to wake back up at 5 AM to finish up that last paper. Ironically, because it was in late, my prof didn't have time to read it. So I read it to him, and noticed billizons of typos - I guess that's what happens when you get up with the sun to discuss Thomas Hardy. It probably wouldn't have been an issue, since it was orally delivered, until he decided he wanted to read it himself to "mark it properly". Whoops!
Wednesday was All You Can Eat Ben and Jerrys at the Union, so I trekked down (not really, we took the bus! we didn't want to risk an ice-cream cramp on the way back) with my friend Emma and Anna to sugar-load. Emma (we play badminton together) is a genius - she insisted we re-line once we got our ice cream, so we ate while we waited to eat some more! It was amazing. My new favorite is the Mango Berry Swirl Sorbet.I had two cups of it (about 6 scoops). :)
Actually, in retrospect, I'm loading in the social hours this week. Last weekend I went to Oxford to Jake's birthday, and got to stay with Janeane, which is always super. And I experienced my first Sunday Roast at a pub - more tasty than I anticipated. Morgan Romine and Gentzler are in from USA/Oxford, so there's been some activity there. And tonight I'm going to my first Eurovision party - basically its American Idol, but all the constants represent members of Europe, and its supposed to be cheese-tastic. AND next week I'm attending my first formal swap with another college - a lecture buddy invited me to an "English major swap". Busy busy.
I'm home three weeks from Tuesday. See you soon, friends.
Poor luck had me writing two papers this week (which includes piles of books), so the week in total is a bit blurry. Thursday night saw me working until 1 AM, only to wake back up at 5 AM to finish up that last paper. Ironically, because it was in late, my prof didn't have time to read it. So I read it to him, and noticed billizons of typos - I guess that's what happens when you get up with the sun to discuss Thomas Hardy. It probably wouldn't have been an issue, since it was orally delivered, until he decided he wanted to read it himself to "mark it properly". Whoops!
Wednesday was All You Can Eat Ben and Jerrys at the Union, so I trekked down (not really, we took the bus! we didn't want to risk an ice-cream cramp on the way back) with my friend Emma and Anna to sugar-load. Emma (we play badminton together) is a genius - she insisted we re-line once we got our ice cream, so we ate while we waited to eat some more! It was amazing. My new favorite is the Mango Berry Swirl Sorbet.I had two cups of it (about 6 scoops). :)
Actually, in retrospect, I'm loading in the social hours this week. Last weekend I went to Oxford to Jake's birthday, and got to stay with Janeane, which is always super. And I experienced my first Sunday Roast at a pub - more tasty than I anticipated. Morgan Romine and Gentzler are in from USA/Oxford, so there's been some activity there. And tonight I'm going to my first Eurovision party - basically its American Idol, but all the constants represent members of Europe, and its supposed to be cheese-tastic. AND next week I'm attending my first formal swap with another college - a lecture buddy invited me to an "English major swap". Busy busy.
I'm home three weeks from Tuesday. See you soon, friends.
Friday, May 16, 2008
One month from today I will be heading home. Flight gets in at 6 PM STL time, and I already have my first few meals planned : dinner at IHOP, lunch at Chipotle, dinner at El Maguey, lunch at That's a Nica Pizza - for their yummy roast beef sandwhiches, dinner at Cecil Whit's. I. can't. wait.
Also, in other exciting news - Hermonie Granger (Emma Watson from the HP movies) is coming to Homerton next year. How crazy is that?! Def. wouldn't happen at Billy Jewell!
Also, in other exciting news - Hermonie Granger (Emma Watson from the HP movies) is coming to Homerton next year. How crazy is that?! Def. wouldn't happen at Billy Jewell!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
summer weather
I wish I could tell you that I've been academically busy . ..
but I haven't.
England has been channeling Orlando the past week, and its been in the 80s and higher, with sun, and no clouds. In addition to making my room a sauna (no AC + bee hive outside window = warm warm warm room), it has sucked away my academic motivation. Stuff is still getting done though, don't worry.
But I've also found room in my schedule for other things. Like internet television. I've already caught up on all of this season's Grey's Anatomy, I'm 13 episodes into the first season of Brothers and Sisters, and I'm almost done with the whole show of Scrubs (yes, all 7 seasons) and The Office (US). Aren't you impressed at what I can do, when I put my mind to it? :)
So yes. Internet TV. Some hall bonding at the college bar (we watched Indiana JOnes (#2) down there the other night on the big screen - the archeology students were gearing up for Indy's release here in the UK). Badminton in the hottest gym alive on Saturdays (I lose all my water weight in 1 hour). That's my Cambridge life, 3rd term.
I come home a month from Friday. I can't wait.
but I haven't.
England has been channeling Orlando the past week, and its been in the 80s and higher, with sun, and no clouds. In addition to making my room a sauna (no AC + bee hive outside window = warm warm warm room), it has sucked away my academic motivation. Stuff is still getting done though, don't worry.
But I've also found room in my schedule for other things. Like internet television. I've already caught up on all of this season's Grey's Anatomy, I'm 13 episodes into the first season of Brothers and Sisters, and I'm almost done with the whole show of Scrubs (yes, all 7 seasons) and The Office (US). Aren't you impressed at what I can do, when I put my mind to it? :)
So yes. Internet TV. Some hall bonding at the college bar (we watched Indiana JOnes (#2) down there the other night on the big screen - the archeology students were gearing up for Indy's release here in the UK). Badminton in the hottest gym alive on Saturdays (I lose all my water weight in 1 hour). That's my Cambridge life, 3rd term.
I come home a month from Friday. I can't wait.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Quick update to make you all jealous with my English life . . .
This week, the Union was packed with great speakers and a wonderful debate. Plus, with my mom visiting, and first week of term homework, I was a busy bee.
Monday: Field Marshall, Baron Vincent of Coleshill - former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee spoke at the Union. Union members can RSVP for the dinners they take the speakers to and the Union pays for part of your meal, so I figured this would be a good time to try out the membership perk and pick the guy's brain on NATO policy in the 1990s (if you didn't know, my current internship is with an international affairs journal on their upcoming issue on NATO). Unfortunately, his speech and dinner was pretty dull - the guy was super sweet, but not really willing to give away anything too remarkable as far as career reflections/gossip goes. However, I did make a new friend at the Union, who is just super.
Wednesday: A childhood dream come true. Quentin Blake came to the Union to talk about his latest works in England - he was the illustrator for almost all of the Roald Dahl books, and his work is STILL associated with Dahl, almost 20 years after Dahl's death. Not only is Blake incredibly funny, he is so sweet. I went to this dinner too, and unfortunately was at the other end of the table, so I didn't get any face time with him, but still - I will never have the opportunity to share a table with Quentin Blake again, so I'm not really complaining. Ok, maybe I am a litte. He did some drawings for people at the other end of the table, which made me almost collapse of jealousy into my burger, but I was able to calm myself with the abundance of wine at the table. However he did sign my termcard, so that's something.
Wednesday saw me with three hours sleep as well, as I raced to finish a paper due Thursday morning. It wasn't any fun - working from 12-2AM and then 5:30 - 12 PM, but it was an "outstanding" paper (says my supervisor) so maybe I found my creative timeslot. Shh. Even if I did, I'm not waking up that early again if I can help it.
Then YESTERDAY the Union debated "Is Jordan A Feminist Icon?". Jordan is way trashier Brittany Spears here, but, unlike Spears, doesn't have any talent other than being half naked. She was a "glamour model", which is another way of saying she does topless modeling for The Sun, a British "newspaper". Anyway, she's made tons of money, and has extended her empire into loads of other, non-boob related items such as bed linens and haircare, but the Union debated whether making your success at the pleasure of men makes you a feminist icon because of the extent of your success and self- management, or if feminism deserves more than that (I think the Nos won).
The debate pitted the Editor of the UK Comso Magazine, Catherine Townsend (modern day Sex and the City - type writer), Abi Titmuss (who apparently is REALLY famous now) and Jenni Trent Hughes against the editor of UK Good Housekeeping, 2 student debaters and Edwina Currie - a former MP who had a famous affair with a previous Prime Minister. It was amazing - funny, and at times awkward (esp. when they started taking jabs at one another . . . ), but really top notch. It was a great evening.
I also received news that I'll be returning to Europe - Belgium, in particular, in September. So when I say goodbye in 7 weeks, it won't have to be too sad.
So, in addition to all that excitement, I then got to hang out with my mom for three days! So great! We went to the Roald Dahl museum, had high tea in London, and went punting in Cambridge. So, good start, I'd say, to the last term.
This week, the Union was packed with great speakers and a wonderful debate. Plus, with my mom visiting, and first week of term homework, I was a busy bee.
Monday: Field Marshall, Baron Vincent of Coleshill - former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee spoke at the Union. Union members can RSVP for the dinners they take the speakers to and the Union pays for part of your meal, so I figured this would be a good time to try out the membership perk and pick the guy's brain on NATO policy in the 1990s (if you didn't know, my current internship is with an international affairs journal on their upcoming issue on NATO). Unfortunately, his speech and dinner was pretty dull - the guy was super sweet, but not really willing to give away anything too remarkable as far as career reflections/gossip goes. However, I did make a new friend at the Union, who is just super.
Wednesday: A childhood dream come true. Quentin Blake came to the Union to talk about his latest works in England - he was the illustrator for almost all of the Roald Dahl books, and his work is STILL associated with Dahl, almost 20 years after Dahl's death. Not only is Blake incredibly funny, he is so sweet. I went to this dinner too, and unfortunately was at the other end of the table, so I didn't get any face time with him, but still - I will never have the opportunity to share a table with Quentin Blake again, so I'm not really complaining. Ok, maybe I am a litte. He did some drawings for people at the other end of the table, which made me almost collapse of jealousy into my burger, but I was able to calm myself with the abundance of wine at the table. However he did sign my termcard, so that's something.
Wednesday saw me with three hours sleep as well, as I raced to finish a paper due Thursday morning. It wasn't any fun - working from 12-2AM and then 5:30 - 12 PM, but it was an "outstanding" paper (says my supervisor) so maybe I found my creative timeslot. Shh. Even if I did, I'm not waking up that early again if I can help it.
Then YESTERDAY the Union debated "Is Jordan A Feminist Icon?". Jordan is way trashier Brittany Spears here, but, unlike Spears, doesn't have any talent other than being half naked. She was a "glamour model", which is another way of saying she does topless modeling for The Sun, a British "newspaper". Anyway, she's made tons of money, and has extended her empire into loads of other, non-boob related items such as bed linens and haircare, but the Union debated whether making your success at the pleasure of men makes you a feminist icon because of the extent of your success and self- management, or if feminism deserves more than that (I think the Nos won).
The debate pitted the Editor of the UK Comso Magazine, Catherine Townsend (modern day Sex and the City - type writer), Abi Titmuss (who apparently is REALLY famous now) and Jenni Trent Hughes against the editor of UK Good Housekeeping, 2 student debaters and Edwina Currie - a former MP who had a famous affair with a previous Prime Minister. It was amazing - funny, and at times awkward (esp. when they started taking jabs at one another . . . ), but really top notch. It was a great evening.
I also received news that I'll be returning to Europe - Belgium, in particular, in September. So when I say goodbye in 7 weeks, it won't have to be too sad.
So, in addition to all that excitement, I then got to hang out with my mom for three days! So great! We went to the Roald Dahl museum, had high tea in London, and went punting in Cambridge. So, good start, I'd say, to the last term.
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