This entry is less about what I've done and more about what I have to do. Because "Easter Break" ends tomorrow, which means I have to stop being lazy and think about the future. Which I should have been doing the entire time, but eh. To quote a band, the future freaks me out.

I get to register for classes for next semester in about three days. Looking at the list of classes that I still need to take makes me slightly worried about whether or not I can still graduate in May 2009.

Theoretically, I think I can do it. The classes that I'm taking here should be able to meet some of the requirements I need (have emailed my faculty adviser about it at home) but I'm not entirely certain. I'm entirely expecting to be screwed over in that aspect. I still have to take 4 History classes, do an internship, 4 English classes for my minor, take a class in which we learn about what it means to be a professional (easy class because what it really entails is a thought process about what kind of career you want and what expectations that career will entail for you, and it includes doing a job shadow. Considering that I'm working on getting an internship at my public library, I should be able to just use that as an in), and 2 other Arts&Humanities.

The only problem is that what I'm taking over here isn't remotely close to what is offered at Alverno - no European history classes except a general overview called "Making of the Modern World" which covered the last 300 years ...Enlightenment, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Global trade/onset of globalization ..that kinda thing. So I'm crossing my fingers that it will all work out but yeah, I'm used to being screwed.

And I can't really register for classes until my faculty adviser gets back to me about which classes I can skip. Well ... I could just do the English classes. The only problem with that is that I KNOW there is a history class I have to take, in which I do an independent research project and present it to my department heads. If I take the English classes, plus that one and the dumb professional class ... Well, I should be able to handle it as long as I can do my internship over the summer. Hopefully. I've been in touch a bit with the Greendale Public Library, who say they would love to have me. Have to email them back, as well as the Internship department at Alverno.

I also have to start studying for the GRE, if I want to get into grad school, so that I can take the test around December and then apply to grad schools. I'm mainly hoping for UW-Milwaukee, but will have to apply to others just in case. I don't even what to think about what might happen if I don't get in to UWM but accepted to other schools that may be out of state. I mean, if I can handle living in another country I can handle living in another state but there is also more involved. Grad school is about three years for a masters, and there's the entire process of moving that I would have to deal with. And while it's been fairly easy to live here - dorm life, everything within walking distance - there's no guarantee it would be that simple for me anywhere else. But I'll go wherever I need to ... I just REALLY want UWM because not only is it close to home, but they have a double masters in Library Sciences and History. It would make me way more marketable in terms of job searching.

My stomach is tying in knots just THINKING about what I have to do. Seriously, the FUTURE FREAKS ME OUT.

What I need to do this week:

Clean my room (hush)
Start working on my Archaeology paper that is due on the 17th
Meet with my adviser HERE so I know where my new class is going to be held, and what day it starts (the database system here is NOT helpful for finding this stuff out)
Register for classes at home
Email about the internship
Finish reading my library books
Remember to breathe.

Also? Haircut.

What, a juice obsession/addiction? Me? Surely you jest.


A part of me is debating whether or not I should throw the bottles out, or eventually see if I can get enough to build a fort. Clearly I have gone insane. Ah, Spring Break.

So, guess where I was this weekend? That's right, the home of The Beatles! I was there from Friday afternoon until just after 4 p.m. on Sunday. Stayed with a lovely girl named Cynthia, who is originally from Mexico. Also staying with her until Sunday were two other girls, a German and an Italian. I will not even attempt to spell their names.

Unfortunately, since it was Easter holiday/weekend, I didn't get a chance to go to many of the Beatles' themed stuff ... way too crowded for my liking. I do however have an open invitation to go back at any time while I'm staying here, and I will because I really really want to go to The Beatles' Story. There is also a really cool church that's very tall and apparently you can go to the top. I may be afraid of heights, but I want to take pictures from the top of it. I fear nothing when a camera is in my hand (okay not necessarily true, but I do find myself more likely to go out and be social).

This was also the first time that I had taken the train in England. Kind of nerve wracking, because after I bought the ticket I wasn't sure which platform I should go to, but I do what I always do when I'm traveling and uncertain - I ask random strangers. I figure as long as I don't except candy from them, it's all good.

My main impression of Liverpool is that, while it does have some nice buildings, it is pretty much a dump. You would think that a city named the Culture Center of Europe would spend more money on fixing up the place, but not so much. Of course, the places that are more likely to attract tourists seem to be nicer such as the museums and shopping centers.

There are also a LOT of pubs/nightclubs. At least one or two on every street, it seemed. So yeah, I went bar-hopping because my host was a bartender who knew all the good spots, but as anyone who has ever gone out drinking with me would know, I tend to only have one or two drinks. Three or four is pushing it for me ... I like drinks but I'm not a "drinker." Partying isn't my style, I guess I'm a bit reserved. But it was a blast. I did have my first shot of tequila ... though it was flavored and thus really tasty. My favorite pub was one that was renovated out of an old church. A bit strange, I thought, but really awesome nonetheless.

Saturday was spent at art galleries such as the Tate and Walker, after consuming my first "English Breakfast" (which was gross, by the way). I'm sure my Dad would have had other priorities coming to Liverpool (Though, my big reason WAS the Cavern Club, and I did go there), but these were the highlights for me. I also discovered that the weather in Liverpool (at least for this day) is as strange as it is in Wisconsin. One minute it was sunny, then it was snowing, then it was sunny again, then it rained for about a minute, then there was a cross between snow and hail - and those buggers HURT.

Saturday night was going out to the pubs again, especially the one Cynthia was a bartender at. The awesome thing about having a friend who is a bartender is that when the pub closes, you still get to stay. An impromptu Mexican jam session commenced, and it was awesome. Also had some Mexican beer. Not a fan of beer, but it was free - a very, very drunk man decided to buy a round of drinks for those who stayed. Apparently he's a regular there and one of their best customers. He was very nice, but as I said, drunk.

Sunday was spent watching part of a football (soccer) match at a pub, but leaving when Liverpool started losing badly. Then the train home, and uploading my pictures and videos (I caught a bit of the Mexican jam on camera, though the quality isn't as good as I would like. Cynthia tried to sing La Bamba but kept forgetting parts of it).

Here's a link to the pictures, though there are only sixty of them: Liverpool!!! Trip One

I'm not sure how to link to the videos, as Facebook doesn't seem to have a link for sharing with people who don't have a facebook account. If you REALLY want to watch them, you could email me but they're only about a minute long each.

This is why I haven't gone out and taken more pictures. Well, that and today I woke up with a migraine. The pills are getting rid of it, but it is slow and tedious going. It left me with no desire to leave my room, and all I want to do is curl up and read. And so I shall.

As promised, new photos! All 212 of them.

Check them out here:

Chester Part 3
Chester Part 4
Chester Part 5
Chester Part 6

And that's basically what I did today. I wandered down by the river, discovered a park, and some church ruins. Beautiful.

Now I'm going read Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere".

I have been told that I needed to update.

Unfortunately, the only thing I've done this week is write two papers. One I wrote on Monday, and one I JUST finished. So if you're interested in reading a paper about Enlightened Absolutism or about how the Enlightenment influenced the French Revolution ... well I could tell you loads.

Except I know you're not. Nor am I interested in talking about it EVER AGAIN.

Okay, I did have lunch with friends twice. Toy stores are still fun, even when you're 23. But I've barely had time to breathe, let alone do anything worth describing with voluminous words and a plethora of detail.

After tomorrow is "Easter break". I don't have class again until April. I have one paper left for the classes I'm enrolled in, and then I start a new class.

So after tomorrow (because I intend to hand in my paper, do laundry and SLEEP) I shall endeavor to be more interesting. I will take more pictures. I will not fall asleep as I'm typing this.

Who am I kidding? It's 12:50 a.m. here. Do you know where your children are? To quote Stephen Colbert, "check Narnia."

I'm going to bed. Pictures to follow this weekend, if I wake up.

This is what writing a paper looks like:

Apparently, 100+ pictures are not enough for my mother, who wanted pictures of my dorm room as well. Sheesh, woman. (I kid because I love. And because really, when is it ever enough?)

So here you go: MY DORM ROOM. Which is very messy right now, as I'm in the middle of writing a paper and cannot be arsed to tidy up.

Over 100 pictures taken today. You can view them here:

Chester Part One

and

Chester Part Two

Woot.

Oh, glorious day! The camera has arrived.

Along with Easy Mac, Peanut Butter (Peter Pan, which is my favorite), Grape Jelly, and best of all:

THIN MINT GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

I am going to gorge myself on the cookies and take pictures now. Have a good day!

I am going to ignore that Clinton won three of the Democratic primaries yesterday. Nope, did not happen ... uh uh.

In much, much HAPPIER news ...my camera has been mailed! My dad sent me the tracking number, along with a huge helping of ye olde Jewish guilt. I love you too, parental units :D :D :D. The camera left Indiana at 3 a.m. this morning, I don't know where it is right now.

Next time I travel somewhere, the camera will be the FIRST thing I pack.

There's an article in the NY Times about how, well, dumb American high school students are. Such as: "Fewer than half of American teenagers who were asked basic history and literature questions in a phone survey knew when the Civil War was fought, and one in four said Columbus sailed to the New World some time after 1750, not in 1492."

You can read the full article here: Survey Finds Teenagers Ignorant on Basic History and Literature Questions .

It does scare me a bit that these teenagers are going to be voting in the election coming up later this year.

HOWEVER, I don't like this survey. First, only 1,200 17 year-old students were surveyed. Only 1,200 out of ... well I don't know off hand the amount of high school seniors there are in the United States but I know there's A LOT more than that. This isn't exactly what I would refer to as a random sampling, especially since the article doesn't go into specifics about where the students go to school. Is this a survey at one individual school, or school district? How was this survey passed out? Until I know more about that, I question whether this is "American education" at fault or simply one or two school boards.

Also, some of the questions bother me. I can admit that I wouldn't know the plot of "The Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison because I never had to read it. Sometimes the required reading differs between schools, or states. Also, I had no idea that "that in the Bible Job is known for his patience in suffering. About as many said he was known for his skill as a builder, his prowess in battle or his prophetic abilities." Why is this in the survey? I wasn't aware that Bible stories were supposed to be taught in high schools. Yes, I understand that as a book it's pretty much the most influential book in the world. But that's why there are synagogues and churches, and "Sunday schools." Because it is still inherently a RELIGIOUS book, and not necessarily one that should be required reading for a public school.

I realize that yes, perhaps America's education is in dire straights. This article may be reflecting a trend that is throughout the country. However, I still don't approve of the survey. It seems to be biased, and it hardly has enough numbers to speak for the entire American education system.

I worry for these students, though. Especially since "a third do not know that the Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of speech and religion." I don't know whether they simply didn't pay attention in school, or if this was never taught to them. Which one is worse, well, I'm not sure. I don't think my teachers paid as much attention to the Constitution or Bill of Rights as they should have, though. I learned more about them in September while setting up a bulletin board in the library for Constitution Week. Perhaps I simply care more about the documents that give me my rights as I get older and can now exercise my right to vote, but I seriously don't think my high school American History teacher spent more than a day on them. Which begs the question: is it the student, or the teacher?

It's 2:20 in the morning, and these are the things I think of while waiting for the primary results to get in (what, wait for morning? Are you nuts?!). Huckabee just conceded the GOP nomination to McCain (as if there was any doubt that McCain would beat Huckabee for it, though I have to give the man his dues for sticking it out as long as he has), and the Rhode Island results are just coming in. I love democracy.

In other, less thought-provoking, news: I went out and played laser tag tonight. It was me and three British against a Frenchman, a Spaniard, and three Germans (I think?). Of course, my team won both games...even with my bad aim.

For those of you who do not believe me when I write about the dire food situation, let yesterday's experience shine a new light on it: I had lunch and fifteen minutes after I consumed said lunch, it was flying out of my stomach and into the toilet. Because vomit is totally the new black.

I am not sick; I do not have a flu. Nor am I pregnant ...that's just. Not even a possibility.

The food was just SO BAD that my stomach automatically rejected it.

Also, here is a list of food staples (for me) that I have not had since coming to England:

1. Brownies
2. Chocolate chip cookies (well, real ones. I tried getting some from a bakery here but they were like shortbread cookies with chocolate chips thrown in them. Kinda gross.)
3. Turkey
4. Lasagna
5. Fettuccine Alfredo
6. Pizza (the stuff the cafeteria serves is NOT, I repeat, NOT pizza)
7. Pancakes/Waffles
8. Real BBQ (dumping generic bbq sauce on top of baked chicken does not a bbq make)
9. CHINESE FOOD
10. Taco salad (I haven't seen in at the grocery store AT ALL!)
11. Macaroni and Cheese
12. Hot dogs
13. PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY (grape jelly)
14. Real pasta dishes. The cafeteria will serve noodles with tomato sauce, yes, but the sauce is so watered down it might as well be salsa without the spices.
15. Pumpkin Muffins
16. Mocha Frappuccino, with raspberry (I asked for one at the local Starbucks and woe, was looked at funny. They have no idea what a frappuccino even is. They only serve the things on menu board, and it's pretty generic.)
17. Tacos
18. Chicken noodle soup
19. Roast beef/pot roast (they're awfully found of serving lamb, though. Yuck.)
20. Fried chicken
21. REAL CHEESE

and the list could go on if I kept thinking about it.

Yes, yes, I know. I can't expect another country to have my favorite foods. Different cultures do things differently. Also, I'm studying abroad ... experience of a lifetime ... shouldn't complain ...blah blah blah.

Well tell THAT to my stomach. I'm going to come home a skeleton; my pants are already looser on me.

I really don't want to sound ungrateful. I AM enjoying it here, I DO like England. Beautiful country, lovely people.

I'm just hungry, is all.

By the way, today's lunch was a 'potato, onion, and cheese pie'. It tasted blargh.

It is amazing the lengths I will go to when procrastinating. Sometimes I wish the internet had never been invented, because I would be able to accomplish so much more without the distraction.

But then I realize how foolish that wish is, because the internet is AMAZING. Especially when it gives me things such as this:



My love of "Law and Order" and "Batman" knows no bounds.

... I am beginning to see this blog turn into less "Monica's travels about England" and more "Monica posts whatever see feels like, especially when she doesn't want to write her papers."

Just try and stop me. Oh, that's right. You can't! Hah. (Give the girl a blog and she turns into a dictator. Yeesh.)

Short memo:

Got an email from my dad last night. Camera to be mailed out on Monday.

Hah. I'll believe that when I see it. As in, really see it/hold it/take pictures with it.

Back to "examining the influence of the Enlightenment on the French Revolution."