In the weeks following midsemester break, life has been at a simultaneously laid back and hectic pace. For one, I've been able to spend more time on my studies, but I am still in the bad habit of starting things last-minute. I don't really care about my grades until I have to do something. It's a backwards way of handling my education, I guess, but it's how I get things done here. I suppose I should rephrase: I have more time for my studies, but I don't necessarily always take advantage of that time.
On the other hand, I've had a lot more work to do in a short amount of time - assignments are starting to pile up. In the four-week stretch before the end of term I have two papers, two exams, and a practical report to tackle, plus weekend happenings.
This weekend, for example, I'm going to Belfast (in Northern Ireland) with my friend Claire. She's from there and invited me to go home with her for a weekend. Then the weekend after that is another ceilidh and Fraser's birthday (yay!). Theeeennnnn....the weekend after that is the weekend of our choir concert and the weekend before the first week of exams. It's crazy how my semester now amounts to a few weekends. I will be so glad to leave Uni, but I am going to miss people here. Even though I'm staying in Scotland til the first week in January, I still feel as though my semester of studying comes to an end in about a month's time.
Well...what else to say?
I have been missing home more often. I guess schoolwork and stress automatically makes me want some kind of comfort, and that is found inside my house. However, I'm sure once classes are over and there's time to relax, I'll get over this homesickness or whatever it is.
I got my first essay and my first (and only) graded presentation back. B's for both, although the essay was on the BC (or B-) side...Not necessarily grades I would accept as Kristen-like in the States, but I am willing to accept the fact that they were my first assignments in a different country, a country which has different citation and spelling methods.Fraser and I also saw the move W., a documentary about George W. Bush. It really made me see the president in a different light. I hadn't really thought about him or looked into his background or the events surrounding 9/11 before seeing that movie. So, I kind of went in to the theatre with a naive mind and came out of it thinking differently, to say the least. It was a good film overall, I'd say. Very insightful into the life of George Bush.
---Jump ahead, now writing on Saturday night---
Thursday was Fraser's flatmate's birthday. He bought £70 worth of
fireworks from Glasgow the night before (Fraser drove him there and back...I tagged along for the ride). The theme was cocktail night. He went all out on the decorations, from putting glasses of various numbers of cocktails on the doors (1 cocktail for door 1, 2 for door 2, etc). It was pretty creative. Fraser and I did the shopping before the party as well. I turned up a few hours after it began (was trying to write a story for Sigma Tau Delta, which I had forgotten about until Wednesday night). His flatmate made me a non alcoholic cocktail. I chatted with the other Americans (Kyle, Lauren, and Jill made it), then around 11:30 we went to Fubar, a night club in the city centre. That was the first time I'd gone to a club since arriving to Scotland. I was pretty nervous, but I knew nothing bad would happen. Fraser was there to make sure of that.
It's kind of crazy how safe he makes me feel, in general. I trust him 100%. That hasn't happened before in other relationships. Usually, trust is an issue. This relationship, though, is different. I feel so comfortable with him, and I know he will keep me safe no matter what.
Anyway, this weekend I am in Ireland. We got in yesterday around 6:30pm. Went to Claire's house, had dinner with her family, then went to see Quantum of Solace at the movie theatre. It was ok. Not really an incredible movie, but something to see I guess. Then we went back to her house. Claire dropped me off first, then took her friend Rachel and her boyfriend home. I then sat at her computer and typed the STD story I'd postponed, finally finishing it (all 1500 words) at 1am this morning...
Claire, her mom, and I spent today at Giant's Causeway and Derry, then went to dinner at TGI Friday's in downtown Belfast. It's been a really cold day, but we didn't face any rain except on the drives from place to place. The coast is so beautiful. I'll put up pictures soon.
Well, I suppose I should get to sleep. I will write more later...Sorry this isn't more informative. I am pretty tired, and this is the most I can think of to write!
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