Wrapping up

Well it’s my last week of real classes.

I’ve been moderately busy. Last week Derek, Megan, and Kendyl were here and we had so much fun. http://cathyinlondon2013.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/friends-in-london-3/ if you want to read more about it. Even though they didn’t have the smoothest trip home ever, I’m glad they’re back safe and sound now!

Since then, I’ve caught up on some sleep and done some souvenir shopping and some organizing. I threw away all the trash and things I don’t need, but my things seem to have multiplied since I got here. I’ve also found the suitcase I’m going to buy because I’ll definitely need an extra one.

It’s weird to think that in a week and a half, I’ll be leaving here. Then I’ll have a week in Germany which will be like a weird transitional limbo (in the best way possible) before I’m back home. I can’t believe I haven’t been home since before I went to Germany last time, and Italy, which seem like a very long time ago. So the fact that I left on August 12 seems like a long time ago but it also feels like I haven’t been gone for too long. Most of all I can’t believe that this experience that I’ve looked forward to for so long is coming to an end. That’s disheartening.

For example, what will there possibly be that’s worthy of Instagram-ing once I get home? No more Big Ben. No more Kensington Gardens or Regent’s Park sunsets or the commodity-crazed Oxford Street with its admittedly dazzling Christmas lights.

It seems kind of silly to think about Instagram but I actually think it’s a decent metaphor. Life at home will seem pretty ordinary after this extravagant experience. But I also know that I will have a new perspective on life at home and appreciate the simple things more. I’m really excited to see my family and see you guys again.

But I doubt I’ll ever have mimosas in class at 10:30am again like I did today 😉

Well, time to write my paper for George’s class.

Cathy

Feelin’ like a creep

Hi everyone, guess what? Only TEN DAYS until I see your beautiful faces! I’m so excited!

This weekend, I’m going to Prague (which is in the Czech Republic). There are 10 of us going. 9 of us are people that like each other and are good friends. 1 of us is someone that we’re not really sure why she’s going, and 2 of us have very strong feelings against this 1, so we will see how that goes. I don’t know a lot about Prague but I’ve heard it is really beautiful and I am excited to go to another new country!

Luckily, my hard week of papers (which was last week) is over so I’ve celebrated by not really doing anything, which is okay because I don’t really have to. Out of the past 7 nights, 3 have involved things for my theater class and 2 have involved large quantities of alcohol.

Speaking of theater, I fell in love with a play that I saw last night, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and I wrote more about it at my other blog if you want to check that out in a while!
http://cathyinlondon2013.wordpress.com

In other news, my International Relations class has turned into “Read Articles On Your Phone About The Kansas City Chiefs And Their Prospects Of Beating The Denver Broncos, But Don’t Let Your Teacher Notice You’re On Your Phone The Whole Time” class. Needless to say, that’s a lot more fun than trying to learn about something that your teacher doesn’t even know how to explain.

Today I went to Oxford Street to make some videos of social interactions between people. I had to do it for my Interpersonal Communication class, which I actually pay attention in because 1) it’s interesting; 2) it’s easy, and 3) my teacher is not a dimwit. I had to creepily try to film people while they talked or whatever, hoping they would do things such as gesture, scratch their nose, or show facial expressions, so I can make a presentation for my class and explain their illustrators, self-adaptors, and affect displays, respectively. It was super weird and it’s impossible to hold your phone in a way where it looks like you’re texting but you can still get a good video. I felt like everyone knew I was filming as I pointed my phone at them. Also, every store on Oxford Street is huge and has security and personnel around every corner, probably to look out for creepy people like me. Eventually I stood in a mall and filmed a mother and her adult daughter having some food and talking.

I can’t believe that when I get back from Prague, there will only be 5 days until you guys are here! I better start getting my projects done so they won’t be a problem once you get here!

I miss you all!

Cathy