Front Page News!

http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/03/studentwritten_play_premieres_tonight

Microcosm

It's most important in life to be happy, but also realise that not every day can be pixar-worthy. Studying abroad is incredible, but it isn't a natural situation to be in, it's like a speeded-up microcosm of the life you have back home. Moving in, making friends, learning about the culture, and learning academically, all in a tiny space of time. At home we were warned about the "6-week homesickness" and culture shock period, where things would get a bit tough. I haven't really had that, but I suppose friendshave caused my own homesickness.

A friend said to me that its a strange situation, being abroad, because everyone here is friends because they're here together, they're people bundled up who would never be friends at home. I agree. It's the microcosmic world abroad that people feel like should mirror their lives back home, and thus they should be popular or dead wicked cool. And I think that's why it's uncomfortable sometimes. 

These people are just interesting. Some of them are just different to me, some I don't really know and some I really value as friends and get along with. But there is a definate need within them to stick together, like they feel they must have fun and go out together and be included. Its intriguing. It's dramatic. It's life sped up. 

Watching them from the outside is interesting, because I sometimes feel the storms coming, see the microcosmic space become a little too small for the people suddenly put inside it. 

I've been in that position of quick-fitting in, and not fitting, myself. But that was in school. Now we're at uni, and never again. My best friends since school have been the ones who left the wicked-coolies at school and finally broke away, decided they didn't need the drama and the unhappiness. But that is something Mean Girls hit right on the head: it's sometimes better to be in the group and hating it, than out of it and with no friends, no-one to put up pictures on facebook with at the age of 20, no-one to get dinner with.

I think Shakespeare did it even better:

Thy friendship oft has made my heart to ache: do be my enemy for friendship's sake.

The w-c group is so formulated and mechanically constructed that it is bound to constantly stumble and grumble. But as soon as you turn your back for a moment, your opening somehow closes ever so slightly, suddenly you are not even a part of something you were.

What's the point in bad friendship? In the microcosm, sometimes it's all you can get.

So, its best to go get something more. 

 Some people stereotype the girls I live with because they seem like "sorority girls" but none of them are in a sorority. They have made me feel more included than anyone else since i've been here, like they actually want me around. I remember someone saying to me that i was hanging out with the "sorority girls" on the floor, and i was like, well actually, they're not. They aren't in sororities and they don't act like typical greek people. They are lovely. And since then I have had a far better experience from their friendship than of any others here.

Now I never thought of myself as closed minded, though I do feel as though I was so focussed on the "don't judge a book by its cover" being about race, and the hyped up British culture of not stepping out of line at all with regards to racial discrimination, that I never really thought about cultural stereotypes. I suppose if ever I look at someone and think I wont enjoy any friendship we might have, I'm justified in thinking so. But I have been a little judgemental, since being here. I've judged by my film knowledge of Americans, which is natural, but also silly. There are definitely some girls here who fit soroity down to a T. (I realise im also massively stereotyping sorority too here but there is a definate type who fit greek life, more so for frat brothers). 

Mother Theresa apparently said that if you judge people, you have no time to love them. 

So true. Experiences go by so fast that its essential to give people a chance before their love and stories pass you by. My sister also warned me of being too accommodating, though and a close friend also told me he never had friends, only acquaintances. (I bypassed this by becoming his unofficial sister, along with our other friend.) But they both have a point. You have to be selective as to who you put your trust and time into, who you spend your time following and chasing, not to get caught up with people who you chase and chase, but who never turn around to see you following.

~

Is this real life?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs

So that is what David asked his uncle.

You know, he has a point. Since moving here I often wonder the same thing, as my head is daily filled with the southern accent, as I put shorts on to go to class and walk home smelling the smells of a Greek summer evening, walk into a baseball game, past students in my hall's pool between classes, watch friends go off to cheer lead... It all sometimes feels a bit unreal.

My parents came to visit this week which was so so lovely. Having them here made me feel a bit more like I was on an extended holiday, as it was their holiday. Talking to them about home, and uni, and summer jobs, and holidays, and housing plans, etc., -- all the "real" stuff to sort out back in the U.K, made me feel all that bit closer to the reality of coming home.

AHH.

Noo, I'm not ready yet! I miss my friends heaps, and there are many times I wish I could just transport them here, particularly when they're going through tough times. But then I sit with some of my friends here, and it really panics me that there might not be many more times I'll sit and study with ___X___, or have ice cream with ___Y___. I do not like change, as I said when I left home.

The week's been really nice though, and made me miss home a little less having a touch of it here! I forget how much fun I have with my parents.

We took a trip at the weekend too which was cool. To Wilmington. Its a coastal town, with beaches -- Saturday was about 80 degrees so that was niiiiiiice -- and seafood. And downtown has a harbour and shops markets etc.And you can see across the harbour a huge WW2 battle ship.

We also tested lots of Chapel Hill restaurants - Mama Dips = amazing down home southern food for anyone who finds themselves here! (Margaret in particular have you been??) I took them to Topo (top of the hill) on St Patricks day, and mum had a suitably green beer! And we went to the Mediterranian that Andrew took Nick and I to on our first night, I haven't been there since and forgot how amazing the food was there, shall have to make the most of that before leaving!

It was just really relaxed, and lovely to go to class in the morning, then meet them on Franklin for lunch and spend the afternoons with them... They actually explored more than I have so far, so showed me some cool places! Students just don't have the time to stop, and stare...

Sad to see them go home today :(

Ooh also v. ecxiting news, my story for the DTH is going on the front page tomorrow! So exciting. I have written quite a few now, the weekly articles add up. Here are a few links to the ones that went on the website, if anyone's interested!

I wrote about 2 art galleries:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/blog/canvas/2011/02/stone_center_exhibit_explores_race_through_magical_realism
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/blog/canvas/2011/02/artery
Ginger came with me to these which was nice, -- Art History Major, she came in use!!

And a crazy play:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/02/unc_performing_arts_students_to_present_99_ways_to_fk_a_swan

And most recently a new film series that's coming out in the cinema here:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/blog/canvas/2011/03/cold_warthemed_films_promises_classics

This was reaaally cool. I had to interview the writer who was rehearsing another play in Chicago, and I had to do a joint conference interview with 4 people over the phone, and the director gave me 2 free tickets to go see the play! So nice. It was quite an interesting play, too, I enjoyed it. They had a really cool space to use, as it was all on the stage part of a stage, and the actors came through the audience, like a catwalk.

Eek, kind of nervous about the article tomorrow, but it's exciting all the same.

Anyway watch the above clip if you have 2 minutes, it just generally made me chuckle, a lot.
-- In contrast to Rebecca Black's "Friday", this is one video I am glad I helped go viral.

Love to everyone, miss you all at home 

x X x

Breakthrough

So, I went down to the Agora yesterday. 


I went over to the grill, there's the little old, southern, Spanish lady. 


~ I ordered an omelette, with tomato. ~


Not tomayto. 
And she made it for me. And she only made me repeat myself once. :D


YES. 

Hey there Delilah what's it like in New York City...

Our first (and last) Spring Break is all over! Whoever invented that was a genius, everyone's exams and most papers due before the break and then a week of fun. Everyone goes somewhere and does something, even if it's just going home. All of the on-campus residences actually close, so people have to leave, and lots of the shops shut down too. The town really is a student driven place! 


So, we started off in Orlando, Florida. Both of us desperately wanted to check out Harry Potter World, in Universal Studios, so we decided that factoring it into our break would be cheaper than going down to FL. on a weekend trip...  And it was well worth the extra spending!

We flew in our Carolina gear, and watched the Duke game in our hotel room, cheering so loudly as we won by a huge margin. GO HEELS!!! (despite their poor poor performance last night.... wont mention that.)

The Sunday was spent in Universal. Such good fun, we just spent the day being complete children and going on all the rides, getting soaked on the rapids, enjoying the sunshine, drinking butterbeer... I'm not ashamed to admit i'm a huge j.k.rowling fan so it was all just a bit too exciting..
:D
Then Monday we flew to Manhattan. 
We stayed in an amazing hostel, with evening events like comedy shows and free tours in the days, along with a huge kitchen, dining areas, sofas, computer room, and tv screen. And really helpful staff too. I didn't really know Kara hugely before we left, but we luckily have similar interests and enjoy doing similar things so it worked well. She's really easy going and kind and enjoys meeting people and making friends, so we had a lot of laughs...!


We went for a long stroll around Central Park the first day, seeing all the statues and fountains etc in there. I'd just studied Tony Kushner's Angels in America, and actually seen a performance the week before leaving, and one of the central places/monuments that feature in the play is the angel Bethesda statue in central park. Its always cool to see places you've read about, I can never really think of things as real until I see them, they rely too much on my mind's portrayal... Then we headed down to pen station and did some shopping. Lots of shopping! 


Wednesday we went to Times Square, and then across to Staten Island on the *free* ferry, there's not much over there but you get views of the statue of liberty and Manhattan etc. on the way across. Then we wandered around the harbour, and went to the skyscraper museum and museum of american Indians. One thing that really struck us was the lack of substance to the Native American exhibitions. There was very little to see at all, considering how much art and memorabilia there must be in the U.S., despite the fact tribes still exist. The museum also took an incredibly romanticised perspective of native american life. It failed to acknowledge any of the damage caused by Americans to the Native American tribes, the imposition of western ideas, the transmittal of lethal western disease, the destruction of their whole culture... The whole place was weirdly in denial of it all. There was a whole section just devoted to the horse, and its spiritual value to tribes, its history, and the development of their use in labour, etc. Interesting, yes, but slightly random? yes also.


We watched the comedy act one night when we were back earlier, which was cool. Nice to have be able to go back and not feel like we were wasting the evening staying in. It gets tricky when your under 21 in the city, they're tough on id. But there's so much to do -- the shops stay open till midnight!

Thursday I went to visit some friends in Long Island and Kara went around the UN building. It's actually my Granny's best Greek friend, who came over to the U.S after the war whereas my Granny came to the U.K. She and her husband are older now but so lovely, and seemed so pleased to see me :) They also have cats. amazing. I took the Long Island Railroad over which took about an hour.15. Was nice to spend some time in an actual family house! And speak to someone who can talk to me about people I know at home... 


When I got back we just hung out in Times Square for the evening, went to M&M world, and inquired about some shows and generally stared up at all the bright lights... The two of us just stood there in Times Square, in silence in the middle of it all for a long while... 
Friday we did some more shopping, went to the photography museum, had a tour of the national library - so cool, they have the original winnie the pooh! he's tiny -, went to the Rockefeller centre, and Lego world.. We also queued up at 9.30 on Friday morning to get Broadway tickets - $26 for Memphis! A definite highlight of the week. And got asked out for drinks by a police officer by the theatre hehe. We had such fun, ended up in the front row, which had "limited views" but we didn't really care, even a short-y like me could still see!
  
The views on the plane home were incredible, too. We got close ups of the empire state building and the Chrysler building etc., and full on views of Manhattan as we flew around it! Amazing.


It was so nice to get away for a bit, I love Chapel Hill a lot but the size of the area which is easily accessible (Campus-Chapel Hill-sort of Raleigh) is so small, and things can get a bit intense and claustrophobic. Its then that I miss London! But NYC definitely gave me my injection of city life again.... 


Brillianttt break, in wonderful company xx  

New York New York

Kara and I are off to the airport very soon, 

 a weekend in Orlando followed by the week in New York, eeee. 

Spring Break is finally heree!! :D

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mid term stress.

I have such a lot to get done this week and next week.

I have a paper for African American Poetry and another one for Arthurian Romance, alongside another paper for after spring break which I really want to get done before-hand seeing as I’m going away for the majority of the week…

Since being here I’ve tried not to get too stressed out, as you can tell from the chirpyness of my posts! I want to travel around, and get the full experience, and I don’t want this to be a moaning fest because I’m having a great time, and hey, who wants to read unnecessary complaining?! But I’m bad when it comes to stressing, and at home I let it hinder me from doing things too much, as people close to me often find. I actually just roll up into a bit of a ball of stress until I have finished, something which I have tormented my parents with since school!!

Luckily they’re incredibly understanding when it comes to it. My sleeping patterns also wander off as I’m very much a late night worker. If I don’t get stuff done in the day I just stay up as late as it takes to get it done, something which isn’t helped by the fact my brain and concentration only seem to sync up when it gets to about 11pm. Consequently, I’m a terrible morning person, and with 3x 9am starts I have to watch myself here. I sleep more deeply than anyone I’ve ever met, and even with 5 alarms (2-3 normal ones, phone, radio, a teasmade –look it up they’re AMAZING— and my friend even bought me this ingenious one which propels a mini propeller across the room to a horrendous siren which is only conquered by running to find the whizzing thing and putting it back…and supposedly waking you up...), when these combined don’t wake you up, you know there’s a slight problem.

I actually did find my perfect alarm clock. Unfortunately she came in the form of my best friend in my first year of uni, who was usefully my neighbour.

Unfortunately she has a course to do too, so couldn’t come with me just to do the same in Granville. Sigh.

Anyway, although we have more work here I do like that it keeps me in the swing of writing, as I think a lot of people at Kings find it difficult to write essays once every 3 or 6 months, and have these counting towards half or 100% of one module. I know I get out of practise so easily.

But, it means writing a lot of stuff which isn’t actually worth very much at all. My first paper on a poem was worth only 3.3% which is quite disheartening when you spend the time and even more so when you do well ….

C’est la vie.

At least I get to amuse myself by adding in the extra “z’s” along the way………

xxx