Christmas

On a scale of one to bizarre, this Christmas was about an eight. Mainly because it was hot and sunny, on Christmas day. That is something you don't get in the UK. In fact it was like a British summery day except without the rain or threat of. That's probably the best thing about Christmas in Tucson, Arizona.

As you observant types will have noticed, I am now in Tucson. I'm going to try to keep this a brief ish entry cos I don't want to make my hosts feel like I am misusing their PC or owt.

Washington DC was great. Went all over the place really. Including the White House, The Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetary, Jefferson Memorial, Capitol Hill and the Washington Memorial. It was really nice weather apart from being really really cold! I even went ice skating for the first time in ages and ages, I was quite good apart from falling over onto my arse right in front of quite good looking ice rink attendant bloke!

Tucson has been good as well. It's hot and sunny all the time, except at night obviously. There are also cactus everywhere, even Phoenix doesn't quite have so many. I think I have seen enough cactus to last me a lifetime but then I suppose I should expect it seeing as Tucson is in the main Arizona desert type area. The people I'm staying with have been really nice to me although I did have to go to church on Christmas Eve with them (first non wedding/funeral church service I've attended for at least nine years).

Off back to Phoenix on friday. From there I think I'm spending New Year with one of my friends although she hasn't replied to my email yet so that isn't confirmed. After that it's either back to Flagstaff or a bit more travelling depending on my mood and whether I can persuade anyone to come with.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was really good, was nice to get out of Flagstaff and go somewhere warm, ie. Phoenix. It's now well below freezing in Flag except it's dry cold so I don't notice it so much then I nearly catch hypothermia by sitting outside in the cold at 9.30pm with my friends waiting to see "Harry Potter". Ending up in hospital really isn;t on the to do list right now especially since I have to pay and stuff.

The meal was basically like a British Christmas dinner - turkey tastic! I made sure I took a smaller portion yet I still felt absolutely stuffed afterwards! Everyone around the table had to say stuff that they were thankful for, luckily nobody really minded what you said (I believe I was thankful I still had all of my toes). The pumpkin pie we had for pudding was much nicer than the pumpkin pie I had helped to make with the find a family people a few weeks ago - bonus!

Whilst down in Phoenix, we also went to see "Rent" with Zach and Eric. I'm not usually a musical type person but I really liked it. Zach and Eric, who are both Musical Theatre majors, both said that they liked it and they are fans of "Rent". We also went on a mall crawl the day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest American shopping days of the year. We only managed two malls and I wasn't really in a shopping mood but it was good fun anyway. Zach and Eric hosted a mini fiesta on the friday night which was really cool, got very drunk though so I can't remember much. I do remember the entire room breaking into song at one point (everyone there was a music student except me, Antonia and Amber).

San Diego

As it was Veterans Day (a bank holiday), my friends and I decided that a trip to San Diego was necessary. After all, I had never left Arizona since arriving here, it was about time I went to California.

We drove there. Yes, drove. Nine hours of car fun! We drove to Phoenix first to change cars (Amber's dad lent us his very comfy Chevrolet Impala for the trip). We (well I) managed to make the CD player jam withing ten seconds of leaving the car park of the mall where we swapped cars. I felt bad about that the entire trip! On the journey from Phoenix to San Diego, I saw no less than three dead cows and several really big cacti. We were all knackered by the time we reached San Diego.

We stayed with Amber's grandma, Nonnie so free accommodation! Bonus! She was really nice, a combination of my Gran and the old lady who used to live diagonal to me when I was living in a maisonette (back in the day). She was born and grew up in Britain so welcomed me and Antonia (the other Brit on the trip) by playing "Rule Britannia" on the piano and forcing us to sing! Doesn't help that I don't actually know many of the words to that song!

On saturday we went to Seaport Village which is on the San Diego harbour front. There were loads of really cool shops. Including a hammock shop!!! Unfortunatly I don't have anywhere to put a hammock and I don't have the tropical island with whale music yet. Nevertheless, it was definately my favourite shop! There was also a really nice seafood restaurant. I had fish and chips, probably the nicest chips I've had in the US - they actually had some potato content!!

On sunday we went to Mission Beach. There were so many hunky surfer guys, it was fantastic to just lie there watching. There was this random guy called Ryan from Georgia. He was really flirty and very pervy, it took me absolutely ages to get rid of him! That kind of thing never happens to me normally, but we don't do younger (he was 19) and we certainly don't do guys with tattoos saying "Mom" on their chest!! I went into the sea with him (before I realised how pervy he was) but got soaked so had to go buy some dry clothing for the remainder of the day. He left once he realised that I wasn't really that interested and none of my friends were either. Apparently he found a more willing (and nearly naked) sixteen year old (by this point I had gone to buy dry clothing).

Note to self, next time someone digs a big hole in the sand, DO NOT volunteer to be the one buried up to the neck in sand. Whilst it was incredibly funny, it was also quite painful and really really difficult to get back out again! I had to go jump in the sea fully clothed in order to get the sand off me! Once again I was soaked, bad idea!! The sunset over the Pacific Ocean made up for being drenched and slightly cold though. Really really pretty, took some amazing photos even if I do say so myself!

The journey back on sunday wasn't half as exciting. We were all knackered, I slept for almost all the journey between Phoenix and Flagstaff! Going to San Diego was exactly the break I needed though. Right now I am trying to type up my research project from hell so it's back to earth with a bang. Fortunatly my alternating essay with this has kept me motivated until now so my happiness level is still comparitively high - yay!

plans

Guess who's off to San Diego, California next weekend? Yes, that would be me! Not only that, but will be cheap cos all I'll have to pay for is a share of the petrol (or 'gas' as I should say) and food cos we are staying at my friend's grandma's house. Bonus!

I'm never in a writing mood when I update this these days. Sorry for that but I will do my best anyway and I'll see how I get on. If this entry seems disjointed etc, then we know why.

Last week was Homecoming at NAU. Festivities started with a huge bonfire outside my hall of residence. I went with a few of my American friends. We took loads of photos (let me know if you want the link), I've even got a photo of me with some firemen - woo! On saturday there was a parade. The theme was 'Return to Mount Olympus', in other words anyone who was anyone was wearing a toga. In fact, it was toga-tastic! There was also an American football game, this time NAU's team was really bad and by half time I was truly truly bored so I left early. I was later told that things did not improve and NAU lost very very badly in the end.

I went to Sunset Crater again yesterday with my find a family. They also baked pumpkin pie, an American tradition apparently. I suppose as pies go it wasn't too bad but it definately isn't on my top five pies list or anything like that!

more adventures

Halloween is a big thing in the States. When I stupidly revealed the fact I have never been trick or treating, my friends decided that we would go. Me and fancy dress are not that well acquainted (aliens and pirates aside) so the whole prospect of dressing up was very daunting to me. In fact I didn't know what I was going as until the last minute.

Who did I go as, I hear you ask? Well, I dressed up as a typical all American cowgirl ( maybe I will upload the photos onto my MSN space). Amber dressed as Hermione Granger but Theresa decided she was too old and that she would be our chaperone. Anyway, we found a suitably residential area and off we went. My attempts at an American accent never got any better but then again, Amber's British accent made no improvements either. We got loads of sweets - enough to last a month if not longer seeing as I'm not a big sweet eater.

I had an appointment with my adviser yesterday. She dressed up as Minnie Mouse. It was very amusing and slightly surreal to be advised by Minnie Mouse. Not that it was particularly helpful seeing as I still have no idea what to do my dissertation on...

Went to Sedona on saturday on another trip with the NAU international office. It was actually really nice. The whole thing was a lot more relaxed because there was only twenty of us going so the lady running it was a lot more relaxed about everything. Sedona is really really nice. My photos of the place look almost like postcards. Of course, I did buy a few postcards for the obscure relatives I barely speak to just in case they are concerned about me. It feels weird that it is still sunny and warmish in late october, early november.

more stuff I've been doing

I went to Lowell Observatory on friday. For those of you not clued up on the world of astronomy, Lowell Observatory is the place where some astronomer type first discovered Pluto (courtesy of a telescope). It's in Flagstaff as well, I never realised that til I got here but I suppose you learn something new every day don't you? Anyway, because my eyesight is shite, I can't really see many stars usually despite the fact the skies here in Flagstaff are really clear. As a result, I was really impressed when I managed to see so much courtesy of the wonderful invention that is the telescope. For $3, we got a talk on stars (that I nodded off during), a look around some exhibit type thing and then to see in three of the telescopes. The first telescope was pointed at some constellation beginning with 'P' (I've forgotten anymore) that is sort of in a triangle shape, not that I can tell these things because to me stars are just loads of white dots. Anyway, the next telescope was pointed at the moon (I got really dazzled looking at it), it was amazing - you could see the craters and stuff like that really well. The third and final telescope was the proper big one in a dome thing (it even got rotated while we were queueing to look - how cool is that), it was pointing at some more stars (I have no idea what constellation though). It was great fun, even for someone like me who has a history of not being very scientific.

I joined a few of my friends for a wiffle ball tournament yesterday. It's like baseball/rounders but with a ball that has holes in it. As with most sports involving hand/eye coordination I was terrible at it but I did manage to hit the ball more than once - yay!

I like lists

Why I have had an unlucky week:
1. I have been set a 15 page research project to complete by the 28th October, yet it is only worth 100 out of 795 points (I get 145 for turning up) and although I've decided not to get too stressed about it, I am still hugely intimidated by the prospect.
2. I have learned to crochet but I keep adding stitches and can't be bothered to undo them all so now my scarf has a slight triangular shape going on.
3. I broke my reading glasses frame somehow and now I am the coolest kid on the block because my glasses are held together with masking tape, how embarrassing (not only that but going to get into huge trouble with the 'rents for this one).
4. I reacquired my random stutter in a class today - highly embarrassing because I didn't manage to say what I wanted to say when I was trying to say it (well that makes sense to me).
5. I owe my Dad rather a large sum of money for my rent yet for some reason, HSBC online won't let me transfer it across to him - grrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Still, I have loads of teabags now so if all else fails and life collapses around me I can always have a cup of tea. Tea makes everything better apparently. An American couple took pity on my tea less state and sent me loads of boxes of the stuff to distribute to all the Brits I know here at NAU. Bless them, very sweet.

news in brief

I went to downtown Flagstaff today. It is so much like those western film towns in some parts except slightly larger and with less gunfights. Anyway, there are loads of really cool obscure shops in downtown so we spent ages browsing around the shops. Some of the shops were quite like the ones in Camden so it didn't feel too strange. I did see the scariest rottweiler ever though and I'm not great around dogs at the best of the time so that did put a slight air of fear on me for a bit - I'm such a wuss!!!

list

I haven't really mentioned the stuff that I have found slightly odd about America so here goes:
1. The road crossings - on campus the traffic lights make peculiar bird call type sounds to signal that is safe for blind people to cross, what's wrong with a normal beep?
2. People keep thinking I am Australian, I'm not!!
3. The blank/amused looks I get when I use terms which are perfectly normal like corridor or jumper.
4. The fact that there really are people the size of airships who ride motorized scooter type shopping trolleys around Wal Mart.
5. The sheer size of portions that food in restaurants is served in - bloody hell, do they want me to put back on that three stone??
6. The university gym - intimidating cos there is stuff I don't know how to use!
7. Driving on a different size of the road, yes I am still looking in the wrong directions!
8. The blank looks when I respond 'you too' to the statement 'have a nice day'.
9. My American friends always crochet when they have nothing better to do and have promised to teach me, I always thought only old ladies did crochet...
10. The uni workload.

missing home

The main things I'm missing is the socialising with friends and drinking legally. That's not to say I haven't had some 'apple juice' on a few occasions but of course I am good so I may not have. Anyway, moving on swiftly, I've now heard from one person actually in Hull and I don't really mind whether people remember to contact me though it would be nice if they did!

Anyway, been hugely busy again with all my classes. Work comes in big loads all at about the same time but so far I've managed to keep up and the marks I've been getting back haven't been disappointing. In fact in my first English paper, I got 5.5 out of 6! I was well happy because I had been expecting a low mark as it wasn't written as well as I would of liked. I have to read 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair though and so far it is not a pleasant read, if you had to read it, you would understand.

Went to Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell on saturday with the international office. The dam is apparently the second biggest after the Hoover Dam but to be honest, dams aren't really my kind of thing and the grand tour didn't really start any enthusiasm! However at Lake Powell there was a beach so got to paddle and do a spot of sunbathing. Unfortunatly I managed to get a bit burnt - ow! Not sure what I'm doing this weekend, maybe I will go and buy myself a new coat cos it's getting a bit cooler and I currently don't have a coat. Since it snows properly here, a coat would probably be really sensible in preventing hyperthermia!

life in AZ

I've got an invite to my friend Amber's Thanksgiving celebration (apparently you sit around the table and state what you are thankful for, sounds vaguely cheesy to me). My classes are a lot of hard work but I'm still finding them all really interesting. On saturday there's a trip to Lake Powell organised by the International Office which, of course, I am going on. After all, I don't know what opportunities I'm going to get so I need to take everything offered to me! It sounds really interesting and I plan to get a few postcards to remind people at home that I do still exist!

I'm still getting on well with my room mate. Apparently I've talked in my sleep a couple of times though which is incredibly embarrassing. Aside from that, we now have bunk beds (rock on) and loads more space as a result. Got a couple of beanbags and a bucket style chair so don't always have to be sitting on my bed or the super uncomfortable desk chair. My sleep pattern has more or less returned to normal. My reluctance to get up has returned although I have got a bit better at actually getting to sleep in the first place. I really hope that lasts and isn't just the final aspect of jet lag!

settling in

The last week has been pretty busy, hence the whole not updating for ages and ages thing that seems to be happening. Of course, conveniently I do this update when I really should be getting ready to go out for a meal for one of my friend's birthdays but hey ho such is life.

Classes have started now. There is so much more work than I get at uni in Hull! I have about three or four 'papers' (essays) to do in about a week and a couple of books to read in the same timespan. On the upside I feel like I'm making friends so haven't been feeling low much at all in the last week. Sharing a room hasn't really been bothering me at the moment either as my room mate has been pretty nice!

I still find some things rather odd and get impersonated by one or two Americans. Some of them base much of their views on Britain on reading 'Harry Potter' books, better than some stuff I suppose but really, when was the last time you saw a flying broomstick? Still, nobody else has said I am Australian (although German and Dutch are rapidly catching up in my Mistaken Identity poll!)

awkward

Classes have started now. There is so much work to do! I dropped one of my subjects so now I'm doing four but that's still quite a few. I have a few papers to write still (one due either tomorrow or tuesday, since I haven't started it yet the due date's gonna have to be tuesday).

I went to dinner with some Americans today but I didn't tell the English people I usually go with cos when I'd spoken to one of them earlier they had been really vague. I saw them on my way back and I'm worried that now they think I was being rude or something. I read too much into these things but you never know really, especially as I said 'oh I couldn't find you' (a blatently unconvincing excuse). Grrr at my own incompetence! Still, I have now got a few American friends as well as English which is what this is all about really.

Flagstaff

As I am feeling mildly less jet lagged, I will try to update what has happened in the last week of being in Arizona.

The journey wasn't hugely exciting. The BA catering strike meant that we had hardly anything to eat on the flight but I suppose these things happen. The journey from Phoenix to Flagstaff was much more exciting. The scenery was amazing. In Phoenix and surrounding area it was very dry so there were loads of cacti and palm trees but as we drove north to Flagstaff the scenery gradually came more green with fir trees and loads of grassy areas. I don't think I've ever seen so much difference in such a short time.

For the first few days I was in a hall with all the other international students. To be honest it was a bit of a dump with the only good point being the amazing view from my 7th floor window. Flagstaff is surrounded by hills and mountains which made pretty good views. On wednesday I finally got to move over to my actual hall which although nicer, doesn't have the views. However, it's not hard to wander outside and around the campus to see stuff. It's nice to unpack and stick up all my photos , makes me feel less far away from friends in Britain if they are on my wall!

I was a bit jetlagged at first and for a time very homesick but I've made a few friends so at the moment I'm not really feeling homesick at all. It didn't help that for the first few days I couldn't phone home because Phoenix Sky Harbor's airport's phones won't let you phone international numbers - how stupid is that! It took me about a day to figure out how normal pay phones worked but now I've worked that out, phoning home makes things a bit easier.

Tomorrow all the American students arrive. I have a room mate so I'm a bit nervous about it all. What if we don't get on? I have spoken to her by email and she seems nice but you never really know. Tomorrow there is also a trip arranged by the international office to the Grand Canyon which, of course, I will be going on. The only drawback being that my room mate will have moved in by the time I get back and had a nose around at my rubbish!

Arriving

I have arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona in one piece and so has my luggage - bonus! It's really nice here, very mountainy and green! Phoenix (where I flew into) was like an oven compared to what I'm used to.

I'm quite jetlagged at the moment so I'll post when I am a bit more adjusted!

August 9th, 2005

I leave Britain in ten days for eight months, have I mentioned this yet? Well, I know I have but it's the key thing dominating my life at the moment. I've paid those bloody fees now so nothing in the way of planning to go. I'm excited and scared at the same time, how is that even possible? All the people I won't see for so long and all the new people I'm looking forward to meeting.

I still have a load of stuff to do related to that which I keep delaying. Probably not such a good idea but disorganisation is what I do best.