English Revelations

PHOTOS FROM LAST WEEKEND'S TRIP ARE NOW UP ON THE PHOTO PAGE

Sorry for the lack of blogging this week. I just feel nothing really blogworthy has happened, plus I was sort of busy with this and that. The book of the week for our British Novel class was Wuthering Heights, so I polished that off. We also put Paideia capstone to rest with our final paper presentations. My presentation got a titch long winded, but whatever. Happy belated Valentine's Day to all of my online followers! Mine was rather low key. A bunch of us watched Grey's Anatomy for a bit. A majority of the Luther crew has grown addicted to the show, so I humored them and watched a few episodes. I also went to baseball. I can add a nearly broken hand to my growing list of injuries sustained. I was attempting to slide into second base when my right hand got stepped on by the second baseman's football boots (soccer cleats). Thankfully, only my pinky got nicked by the cleats, so I was spared greater injury. Although theoretically, had it been broken, I could have gotten it fixed free, thanks to the NHS. Being here over 6 months, I fall under its protection. Near major injuries aside, I did make some nice plays in the outfield, though I'm still in search of my natural throwing motion. Brandon pulled a grade A Valentine's event on Mary (for those of you not in the know, Brando and Mary are the flat's resident couple currently). He bought 6 bouquets of flowers, and hid them around the flat with cards and poems. Good idea.

A revelation happened this week in my existence here in England. I think I have officially completed the personal DE-MYSTIFICATION of England. Spurred on by a highly insightful comment by Mr. Kevin Kooienga regarding the British accent(check his blog for his take), I began to think about my place in English society. I've concluded that I've officially left the tourist/fish out of water student mode. I am, as far as I can be, English. The British accent no longer seems foreign. I use words like "knackered", "dodgy", and "cheers." Going downtown is no longer a momentous event, it's simply going downtown. I even feel comfortable hitting up The Lion (local pub). It's a good feeling, overall. But with such comfort comes increasing cultural criticism. For those of you not in England, this country is not populated by Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley clones. In fact, there are quite a bit of unsavory people about. See the Chav culture, as one example. I don't know, I just all of a sudden feel acclimated, as much as I can be, to this culture. And I think that's good, for that's what I was searching for in a study abroad experience. I don't have the opportunity to see zebras or giraffes, or be immersed in a foreign tongue, but I do have the chance to become someone foreign. To an extent of course. But it's cool. Anyways, that's what's going on right now. A bunch of us are going to watch X-Men 2. It'll be a good time. Tomorrow, Emily's parents arrive in Nottingham, the latest in a string of familial visits. Kevin's grandparent's showed up today. The next month will also see Hilary's dad, Anna's grandparents, and my own father, direct from Minnesota. So, it will be good. Quick before I go, I have to mention this. I was riding on the tram today, and saw a guy that looked exactly like Twins LHP Francisco Liriano. Besides the ghetto fabulous White Sox hat he was sporting, he looked just like him. Odd.