Fri Nov 01 2002 14:17 French Invasion: Actually, it's just a national holiday week or something, and with Eurostar's specials they all decided to come to London. It took me a while to figure out this seeming phenominon. I have been asked directions many times recently, which is very flattering because it means I look like I know what I'm doing.

Which I don't really. I have no idea where I am going to live when I get bac, or how I am going to register for classes, or attend the mandatory orientation! I'm sure it will work our eventually but right now it's a big mess.

My ambivilence increases as December approaches and the time starts going faster and faster. Why did God make England and California so far apart? Why?

Fri Nov 01 2002 14:26: Actually, that entry was for yesterday but I was having troubles....

Well, its paper time again and I have sucessfully put it off. Atleast I know my topic: EFTA and Europe at 6's and 7's. Should be lots of fun to write. Assuming I ever get around to it. Tommorrow my roommates are going to Paris, except for Kathy because she is sick, so actually that makes just Laura going but Marissa is going too and she is a psuedo-roommate so she counts. Anyhow, with them gone there will be less to distract me and I will be able to concentrate on my school work for once and get it all done so I never have to worry about it again!

Tonight we are going to Primrose Hill to see fireworks in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day (which is actually Nov 5). There have been fireworks going off for several weeks now- they must believe in celebrating early- but although we can hear them quite well we have never seen them, which is kinda frustrating, but if tonight is anything like the fireworks display at the Thames festival it will more than make up for it.

Fri Nov 01 2002 15:37: Well, I didn't work on my paper, but I did a lot of inbox cleaning out. unfortunatley, yahoo is having problems uploading my file I am trying to send to mylself since I forgot a disk.

This is supposed to be a very rainy weekend, joy.

Sat Nov 02 2002 13:01 musings on Harry Potter (or, procrastinating my EU paper): Right now I am reading Madonna, an Intimate Biography. It is interesting, if poorly written. However, (Laura and)I must also re-read the first 2 Harry Potter in preparation for going to see "The Chamber of Secrets" next Friday (yay!). I don't know how I'm going to do this, since I don't want to buy them, the FSU library doesn't have them and I don't know if a public library is going to let a shady American borrow books. I am trying to devise how I might steal one of the Harry Potter posters that are populating the Underground, but they are all encased in glass and I have this fear of getting arrested. I might have to settle for taking my picture with the huge billboard on Tottenham Court Road. Wouldn't I love to take home a 38 bus with a Harry Potter poster on the side of it? Don't think it would fit in checked luggage, though.

Sun Nov 03 2002 16:29 Using my difficult to obtain computer....: There are about 20 odd computers in the labs here at the FSU building in London, study center to probably a thousand students. (These are the same people who told us not to bring our labtops, because we "wouldn't need them".) It's paper time, which means that there is atleast a half an hour wait, unless you want to come and 3 in the morning which is slightly impractical for those of us who live a mile away. I was hoping everyone else would see the logic, too. This does mean, however, that I am actually working on my EU paper!!

The weather here in London is tempermental at best. It was nice and sunny when I left my flat, thinking to myself that I should be enjoying this nice day. I even took a detour! Right about the British Museum it started raining, then hailing. By the time I got to the study center 2 minutes later I was soaked... Why didn't I think to bring an umbrella? Although I doubt it would have made much of a difference!

Sun Nov 03 2002 17:10 Observation:: If you thought Anglo-European relations weren't complicated, you were wrong.

Quick Quiz: Do any of you Americans out there know what the term "special relationship" is referring to? Just curious, thanks.

Mon Nov 04 2002 14:17: I have approximatley 3 hours before EU class, but it doesn't matter if I finish my paper because I can always turn it in on Thursday. It would be nice to have it out of my hair, though.

Speaking of hair, I finally got my hair cut!! I was so nervous, after having numerous friends tell me horror stories of their experiences in British hair salons. I was so scared my hair was gonna get chopped off! I felt like I was putting my life into Bertha's hands, but she did a very good job and only took off an inch. (I think she got the hint after I said "Please only take off an inch" and "I really like my hair long" about 50 times.) Then she blow dried it straight so it actually looks longer than before! Its all nice and shiny and healthy looking, in fact it probably won't look this good for a while. I'll be sure to take pictures.

Here is yesterday's account: Hours spent watching the news for glimpes of the Harry Potter premiere(took place in Leiscester Square, I would have gone to gawk myself had I known about it earlier): approx. 3 (not good) Number of times it occured to me that the under-aged Daniel Ratcliff is actually very hot: 6 (very bad) Progress on securing perfectly legal access (library card) to Harry Potter books to read in preparation for the Big Night: good. Progress in securing access to Harry Potter movie poster, legal or illegal: not good. Top news stories of yesterday: Posh Spice kindnapping plot (Kathy I agreed that it was weird how the British adore the Beckhams to such an extent, its like the second royal family... not long before we find ourselves falling into the same trap!), the Diana butler verdict, and how the Queen should pay for the trial, which is estimated to have costed the British tax payer 1 1/2 million pounds, the funerals for the school children who died in the quake in Italy (very sad), and of course, the Harry Potter premeire!! Progress on EU paper: getting there.

I saw a car that had a "Harry Potter premiere car pass" sticker in the window parked on the street on the way back to the flats from Budgens, but Kathy and Kay wouldn't let me stick around to see who it belonged to. It could have been J.K. Rowling herself!!

Here are the problems with studying/ writing papers in my current situation: Limited access to computers at study center. No desk at my flat, forcing me to study at the kitchen table, which I associate with eating. Proximity of refigerator to kitchen table. Proximity of Off Liscence to flat. Presence of remaining bags of Cheetos and Belgium chocolates in Mango shopping bag underneath bed. Proximity of TV to kitchen table, even if there are only 5 channels. Excitement re: Harry Potter on Friday. Split ends in hair that need cutting off. Appox. 1 million other things in London I would rather be doing. The fact that I know I can turn in my paper on Thursday. I think that's about it.

Fri Nov 08 2002 16:15: HARRY POTTER TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Um, so I didn't read the books or watch the movie, but I did get a library card, and lose it 5 minutes later, so I had to pay £1.20 for a replacement. All the Harry Potter books were checked out. Maybe I will go by Borders and read a chapter just to get in the mood, but I don't know if I have time because I have to go to the post office and Sainsbury's because we are having mexican food tonight. Plus, I found out I register on the 21st, so I wanted to go try to decide which classes I want to take. I think I'll have to pick out about 50 because won't get into any of the ones I want. Its going to be very hard to go from having priority registartion. Oh well.

Oh, and I got an A on my core midterm! 74 is actually a very high score in England.

I'm sure there are other things I mean to be saying about since Monday, but I can't think of them right now, so I'll get back to it!!

Fri Nov 08 2002 17:17: Just spent hours on my.ucla trying to figure out which classes I should take, proving difficult since they haven't put up all my transferring classes so when I do a degree progress report it says I need everything, but I know thats not true, I just don't know what do need, and I don't know which French am in. Oh well, I just hope they hurry up.

Fri Nov 15 2002 15:32: So, its been a while, and I have nothing to blame except the lazy spell I have been going through where I had no compelling reason (class)to walk all the way to the study center for almost a week and so didn't. This also means that I haven't been the the grocery store so the contents of my cuboard consist of: a jar of olive oil, half a package of spagetti, 3 packettes of instant oatmeal, and a can of soup. Its pretty sad. Hopefully my lazy phase passes soon enough for me to get my act together on the 3 papers I have due in a few weeks!

Despite my laziness, this past week has been very eventful and fun. First of all, Harry Potter was adventerous and awesome!! The book, of course, was 500 xs better, and I actually got to read it because we borrowed them from Laura's aunt! (We went over for Sunday dinner at their house, and I even got to go swimming!) Then, on Monday Laura and I went to see a play called Mrs. Warren's Profession by GBS which was really good and some guy said "I love the way you lot talk". Tuseday I didn't leave the flat or my PJ's except to go to The Globe. On Wednesday we had class at the V&A, the boys were back from their weekend in Amsterdam, and we enjoyed wrecking havoc on the interactive displays (I designed a lovely bookplate). I think Tom missed Laura because he randomly tackled her in an intersection near High Street Kensignton. They both went down but luckily were unharmed and people driving by in taxis seemed very amused. Yesterday, after watching St Lawerence do their secnes in the FREEZING COLD, we had our first rehearsal for Shakespeare which went very well. Today I am going grocery shopping.

It's amazing how time flies. 5 weeks from tommorrow I'll be going home! 1 week from yesterday Mom and Leonard are coming, the day before that, Wednesday, is our big Thanksgiving celebration, and we have our friends from Spain staying with us until Tuesday. Crazy. crazy times.

Here are some notable quotes: "Way to Djahonaly (sp?) Gallery"- sign in V&A "How do you say that word?"-Marissa "Diagonally"-Rachel "Oh, is that how they spell it here?"-Tom. "Toot your support"- sign outside our firestation "But I don't have a tooter!"-Rachel. (While crossing the Millenium Bridge)"Is it safe to drive the boats when the tide is so low?"-Rachel "It's probably the Coast Guard, unless they're on strike to!"-Laura.

Just so everyone knows, esp. those who are planning on coming for a visit soon, England is going through a peroid of relative civil unrest. The firefighters are striking, and so various other groups are also striking either to show their support (as is the case at UCL) or because they think it's dangerous to work while there are no proper fire fighters on duty (as is the case in the Tube). Although the tube had their own strike a few weeks ago, so I don't know. The monarchy is getting a lot of criticsism because of this Diana Butler thing, but I really don't understand any of that and I think I missed a big revealation or something because all of a sudden there are all these inquiries and they are talking about how the Prince of Wales is selling off official gifts and I really don't see how that relates. Not to mention, most of England doesn't want to join the Euro or this dumb war the Americans are starting, but a few of them think for various reasons that they should. I think that Tony Blair is the man to sort it all out, even if the firefighters don't.

Mon Nov 18 2002 09:35: I just got a bunch of very special emails which should keep me happy for a while, atleast until I realize I came here to work on my papers... But the reason I am working on my papers now instead of waiting until the last possible moment is because Mommy and Leonard are coming on Thursday(!) and I want to spend this weekend with them, not in the computer lab!!

Other good news: I got a spot in the dorms, so now all I have to worry about is parking. Hmm. Oh yeah, and registeration. Marissa is in Granada this weekend visiting a friend, and she called to say there was a Zara there, she thinks they have my jacket and if they have a small she is going to buy it for me! I fell in love with this jacket in Madrid, but I have yet to see a small. I did find it in the shop on High Street Kensignton, but the thing that Zara does in regards to their price tags and euros vs. pounds, they change the currency sign but not the actual price of the item, so it's silly to buy anything from them in England.

Friends from Spain are here right now, and we are having a great time! Yesterday we went to Camden Market and today they went to look at rocks, then tonight we are taking them out on the town. Tommorrow night we are seeing Measure for Measure for Shakespeare (last night me and Laura watched the Kenneth Branagh -who is also in Harry Potter!- Much Ado About Nothing to do our reviews on, bringing back memories of high school) then on Wednesday is our big Thanksgiving dinner (a bit early if you ask me) and on Thursday I get to see my family (or 2/3 of it)!

Mon Nov 18 2002 09:53: So... according to my.ucla.edu, its 76 degress in Westwood right now. Hmmmm.

Mon Nov 18 2002 11:12: Please see previous entry about difficulties in writing papers here. I'm hungry and want to go get a be good to yourself cajun prawn wrap and be good to yourself rasberry farmhouse yogurt from Sainsury's but I know if I leave my computer I'll have to wait for hours to get another one. There was only one other person in the lab when I got here early this morning, so I got a nice chair, fast computer, AND a mouse that has a little rolly thingy on it. So I'll probably just ignore the hunger for a while. I keep checking my email, but its 3 am in California, so thats pretty pointless.

Mon Nov 18 2002 11:15: Does anyone else think its funny how they say "River Thames", instead of "Thames River", as is stardard for all US rivers, as far I know?

Mon Nov 18 2002 11:32: Have now resorted to cleaning ou inbox and writing long overdue emails. (That's productive, right?) There is no food whatsoever in my bag.

Wed Nov 20 2002 10:21 YIKES!!!! : Family is coming tommorrow, and today is shot. However, not as shot as their today is, as mom pointed put, because they lose 8 hours of it. Or perhaps that 8 hours lost is floating somewhere between today and tomorrow, I'n not really sure how that technically works.

Yesterday I walked all over London and was very productive. I would have felt sucessful if I hadn't been so worn out. I am having housing issues, and I have to register tomorrow, with still n idea what to take. I think I am developing a complex about the study center. All this stupid security is driving me up the walls.

Thu Nov 21 2002 23:32: Just so everyone knows, family is safely arrived! Outings to the British Museum and who knows where else tommorroww! Had a bit of an adventer when I bought groceries to leave at their flat for them, but couldn't get into the building. I ended up leaving them on the window sill.

Today was our last rehearsal for Shakespeare, and by the end it was coming together quite nicely, despite several initial mishaps. Our practitioner described my and Malini's enterance as 'smashing!'.It will come together even more after we get together tomorrow! Come Tuesday we will be performing on the Globe stage, if that's exciting. I also learned a fun fact about Shakespeare today, if anyone is interested.

I am sucessfully registered for 2 classes at UCLA: French 14 Culture and civilization, and Philosophy 21 Skeptcism and Rationlaity. Leonard helped me register and he even took Philosophy 21 with the same professor! How exciting is that! I have a couple leads in the apartment hunt, one of which sounds awesome, so everyone keep their fingers crossed for me!

Mon Nov 25 2002 17:29: I just got back from shopping with mom! which was great fun. Soon I have to go to EU class and I haven't really done papers because I'd rather hang out with my family or read HP. But I am going to work really hard tomorrow all day.

The housing search is.. well.. going, and I'm a bit busy and overwhelmed at it all but soon I'll be on top of things again, hopefully! I can't believe we have like 3 1/2 weeks left. I don't think I've been keeping up with my post it countdown....

Tue Nov 26 2002 13:38: Shakespeare tonight. Should be interesting... seeing as how a member of our group left for home this morning and another is apparently still in Amsterdam.

Last night, as predicted, I read HP #3 intead of writing my papers. oh well, they'll get done eventually. As soon as I pass through this phase where all I want to do is lounge around the flat in my pjs drinking Diet Coke and reading. And when I do leave, I go shopping... Hmmm. Yesterday while shopping with Mom I discovered the top floor of Muji. How this managed to go unnoticed until now, I have no idea. Soon I will make up for it though. I didn't buy anything.. yet. I am excersising great restraint by not going back. And I saw a cute hat in Dorthy Perkins. Well, I'll get my act together today! Must finish stupid journals, then I'll get to work on my review and my analysis. If only the thought of coming to this Godforsaken place didn't give me the heebygebbies! Yeech.

Wed Nov 27 2002 11:13: Well, we survived our performance, and I got recognised in the Apple Tree, oddly enough, and I got about 5 compliments on my hat yesterday! Macbeth was good, too. Shakespeare is over, except I still have to write my dumb papers...ugh. Mom and Leonard went to Cambridge today.