A Random Update

I should preface this post by saying that I have not been anywhere new, seen anything particularly amazing, nor have I taken any pictures of churches, pubs, or lawns. But the past few days have been pretty great, so I thought I'd share:

1) Tonight as I walked home from a play, I walked past a man who was urinating against the side of the bookstore. He turned halfway around and said, "Sorry about this, love... Sorry!" I opened my umbrella to cover the offending article, said it was fine, and moved on. The Best Part: If he had not turned around, I would not have noticed him at all.

2) The play I saw was called "Fresher's Week" and it chronicled the craaaayzy first week of parties for the Freshman at University, and how the rest of their lives will never be as great as that one week. This is not just my interpretation of the play; a girl came out at the end and gave a lengthy monologue saying just that. How life stretches out after Fresher's week with the pressure of classes, graduation, finding a job, working for fifty years before the sweet release of death can claim you. I found it to be depressing for two reasons: Firstly, the aforementioned "final note" of the play. And secondly, apparently the best week of my life has passed, and I didn't even get to enjoy it. Yes, my friends. As much as it may surprise you, I did not dress up as a Barbi or Fireman with the 18-year-olds, and stay out til 7:00 am before a 9:00 lecture. These weary bones can only do so much.

But in all honestly, what a depressing message to give the freshman! Either "whoops! you didn't go crazy enough during Fresher's Week, so get used to a boring, monotonous life" or "Yay! You went crazy during Fresher's Week! Now get ready for your boring, monotonous life!" What happened to making your experiences what you want them to be!?! That is what I have done (or tried to do) during this whole trip, and it is the only way. Looking back, if I had just sat around and waited for things to happen to me.. Well, it would have been pretty lame. THESIS MOMENT: Catherine from Northanger Abbey does this very thing at a ball, and has a very boring time. I think Austen is commenting upon JUST THAT.

But it was fun cheering on my friend Benjamin (who lives on 26th and Clinton in P-town, and we only met in England!) and meeting up with my buddy Johnny from Germany who enjoyed picking up on the low-brow humor. Tomorrow, we are going to the Norwich Cathedral to hear the boy's choir do Gregorian chants. We have been postponing this event since we planned it, so we'll see if it actually happens.

Things I recently learned how to do: Roll sushi and make a paper crane with the Japanese society!!!! I am very proud of this. It is a skill I wish to take home. My buddy Michael from San Fransisco and I are going to go to the weekly Japanese-language meetings too!

Things I miss from home: Roxie's cheek puffing out when she's sleeping soundly. Seeing the lights of Council Crest accross the city as I fall asleep. Cooking (anything) while sitcoms play in the background.

Things I am excited for: The ROLL I finally got on while writing my paper today! Turning in my papers. My literary pilgrimage to Bath, Cotswolds, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warrick, then Edinburgh for the weekend... after my papers.