second week

• The work load this semester is very big! I'm doing more per class than what seems the entire load of last semester. Hopefully I'll manage it ok but it appears holiday mode is completely over. All my classes this term have discussions in them which I'm happy about, as I've said before, the main thing I miss from British Uni are the seminars. My nerdtastic class 'Philosophy through Science Fiction' is very Doctor Who orientated which is quite surreal, I'm surprised at how popular it is over here.
• There's a fresh batch of international students that we've met. We had a pizza evening last week and also met some people going abroad next year. There was pizza with whole cloves of garlic on it which is the kind of thing I imagine my older brother would cook when he's had a bit to drink and is hungry.
• I've been trying out different classes at the gym since I've been back. I tried yoga which I think is overrated and only felt 'in touch with my body' when we spent a few minutes in the 'corpse position' (pretty self explanatory). I also turned up to a class called 'Stretch, Tone and Balance' where I was welcomed by the instructor but also warned that the rest of the group would be a little older. I was expecting people who've just had kids to people my mums age... when they turned up it was too late to leave and they were OAPs. It was rather awkward, but exercise is exercise I guess?
• There have been massive thunderstorms lately, in the middle of the night. It's very hard to sleep through torrential rain and lightening clashing right above you :| today I'm a zombie.
• This week has marked the annoyance that many internationals have felt when Americans describe spaghetti as 'noodles'. Sybs got chicken noodle soup and was almost angry when it transpired the noodles were spaghetti. Noodles apparently describe all types of long stringy egg/flour based goods.
• Here is me with a car unnecessarily big. I do not know the owner of the car but if they don't match the scale of the automobile, I'd be disappointed

back in the 'burg

After leaving my friend Claire's London apartment at 7am GMT and arriving in Hattiesburg at 2am CT- 24+hours of traveling- I'm happy not to get on a plane again for a while!

This semester Sybs and I have moved into an apartment. Technically it's 'off campus' but it's actually closer to where my classes are than when I lived in dorms... and considerably cheaper! $575 shared between two each month and water is included. That's at least 1/3 less than what I would pay in England! It's also nice to have a room to myself, windows that open and not to have the rather revolting meal plan forced upon me.

I'm quite please at how we managed to decorate the place, it came unfurnished but Walmart supplied us with a cheap sofa bed and lamp, plus some wall stickers were on sale in Barnes & Noble. Quite minimalistic, we decided it was vaguely 60s in style and I felt this was an excuse to dance the twist.

my bedroom view- we have a pool!

Shopping for food has been a bit tricky, one thing that is clear from the grocery aisles in Walmart is that Americans like their meals quick and convenient- 'Just Add ______' kinda thing. Fresh goods weren't so great; I bought a squash (which the cashier had to ask what kind of vegetable it was) and an avocado, both of which were overpriced and appeared to be wood disguised as food.

Classes started yesterday, I think I've got a good bunch- Vietnam War, Politics & Protests, Intellectual & Cultural History of America and Philosophy through Science Fiction. One of my assignment options is to start or join a political movement... I've got over-passionate about projects in the past so I think I should probably avoid that as I imagine it might reflect strangely on my university back home if they hear I chained myself to something. I think Philosophy through Sci-Fi may blow my mind a bit.

So I've been here less than a week, settled well and everything is going good!

Finals

The semester is coming to an end now. Last week we were wearing long sleeves and jeans, now we're wrapped in jackets and scarfs. Winter ! Classes are over but everyone is working for finals. Unlike my friends back at Keele, I still have five days until the semester is officially over and my last exam is on Thursday. It's hard finding motivation but easy finding distractions.

Noe and Rosie have been swapping style tips.

1. Last night we had a party at Tanja/Anna/Claire/Felix's new apartment in honor of the finality of the semester and Rosie leaving (emotional :'C ). We tried cooking a roast dinner but it turned out to be a proper student dish of rotisserie chicken, 'mac n cheese', ratatouille and stuffing- an odd combination. Then we drank sangria, danced and somehow, I ended up caroling their neighbours.

2. I can't really say that the four months I've been here (so far) has gone by quickly because it really hasn't and I think if I had opted to only study the one semester I would be satisfied BUT I am still having a lotta fun and I'm still meeting new people and gaining new experiences. Going home for winter break is going to be strange... the change in time zones, weather, briefly assimilating into British culture blah etc.  I just hope that I will be enthusiastic about returning again to Mississippi for January, but I'm sure if I spend one afternoon in a British high street during sales/watch the news/David Cameron does anything, it will be enough for me to head straight to the airport, regardless of whether my flight is that day or not.

3. There was a free SUSHI making class held at the cafeteria that Rosie and I went along to. The creations we made definitely were not especially authentic (steak sushi, hmmm), but we had fun!

4. Sybs and I got some belongings for our apartment next semester. It took a lot of self control (and Sybs firmly saying NO!) to not purchase a Hello Kitty toaster ($20? BARGAIN!) the greatest thing was getting a kettle, tea yay! I still don't own a mattress though :s

5. This is a rather silly coupon I was handed in Starbucks.

Thanksgiving

So last week I spent 5 wonderful days up North celebrating the American holiday of Thanksgiving. I was so glad to get out of Hattiesburg.. don't get me wrong I've had a lot of fun here, but it's a very small town and my assumption that there is little to do without a car in Mississippi has kinda been proved right.

In relevant fashion, I traveled via Train, Plane and Automobile across the country on Wednesday (I realised I actually was in 5 states in one day-MS, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Rhode Island (whilst on train) then arriving to Connecticut)

 I stayed with Alex and Harriet (and a friend of Harriet's) who I knew from childhood. They moved to America several years ago so it was a unique Thanksgiving in that it was mainly non-Americans in the household... JUST LIKE IN THE OLDEN DAYS! We also made headdresses

We had bucks fizz- or 'mimosa' by the American name (which I kept calling osmosis) in the morning. They got up so early to cook the turkey and followed a Delia Smith recipe. It was pretty darn amazing! Definately ate perfectly over these days and my stomach has not enjoyed returning to cafeteria food.

It was really interesting sharing details about college life in the South compared to Boston. A dry campus and visiting hours surprised them and I was surprised to discover Greek Life is pretty much a Southern + California thing. Having spent such an extensive time in one part of the country, it really opened my eyes to how absolutely different the other half is. This sounds obvious but you wouldn't imagine how different the cultures contrast.

Whilst in Connecticut I got to visit my Great Aunt Pauline. She was a GI Bride and moved to America when she was 18. It's a long way to go when you're that young and she still really misses England. It was really lovely to see her and I was surprised to discover she hasn't really lost her accent!

Sunday was spent wandering around Boston where Alex and Harriet live/study. I have really missed being in a City. I don't have the ability to walk around Hattiesburg, it's pretty flat, far from anything and with a slow pace. It was great for 3 months but I have found myself frustrated at how limited I am and really loved walking the streets surrounded by skyscrapers and people. It was a very beautiful city!

It was interesting being somewhere though where my accent was never talked about (in fact, everyone had accents!) Alex worked as a tour guide on a boat over summer so was able to give me a lot of interesting information about the city! I also got to drink tea, eat (non-American produced) Cadbury's and Wagamamas...it was nice to be able to indulge in British goods that I have thoroughly missed whilst exploring a new place.

Above is a video of some of the sites I saw (made using some awkward Ipod app called Videolicious hehe)

I've also added photographs to flickr- which there's now a link to on the side>>>>>

tidbits

 

1. I got $25 in dining dollars for taking part in a survey on Eagle Dining. We have spent as lot of time in Starbucks this week as a result. They're playing Christmas music already, which feels even more peculiar because we're all still wearing summer clothes.

2. We're starting to get small town claustrophobia and finding the inability to drive annoying. Up until this semester I have never at any point felt the need to learn to drive in my life and now I feel trapped and tempted to get in a car and see how easy it is. The bus is fine by day but stops running at 5pm. The one taxi firm in Hattiesburg runs sporadically, costs money and the cars smell of homeless people. A lot of people say 'Hey, if ever need a ride just ask' but it's not British to ask and I'm sure many of them are just being polite. I can't believe I'm wishing I could drive! The only thing to this point that has encouraged me is a) the prospect of a zombie outbreak and b)so I can steer around singing Gary Numan- Cars.

3. It's Thanksgiving break so the whole country is off- I'm going to Boston/Connecticut, yeeep! I'm a bit anxious about the cold though.

New Orleans

For the second time in a fortnight we went to New Orleans. On this occasion, it wasn't for Halloween (though we still saw a couple of people in fancy dress) and we didn't go out for the party (though we still saw many drunk people. At noon.).

When we arrived we got the most amazing Po Boys from this small little place at the outskirts of anywhere. I can't remember what the place was called but it was the best sandwich I've eaten since arriving here- bread actually tasted like bread, rather than some odd dry American brioche! I had beef, it was a dream.

We then looked around a cemetery. An interesting experience and more of the Southern Gothic. However creepy it sounds, it's an interesting cultural experience, seeing graveyards in other countries, places and religions.

We had a nosy around the Garden District; lovely posh houses, including the home of Anne Rice! I would like to live in one of these homes if anyone fancies buying me one?

 

A nice, free thing to do is the free ferry ride, it was quick but the views are just as great as from the steamboat.

The French Quarter is the part of New Orleans I'm most familiar with as I stayed there when I went on holiday (the Hotel Monteleone, where Truman Capote and Harper Lee use to drink in its carousel bar) it was particularly vibrant this Saturday with people getting their fortunes read and selling art in Jackson Square. 

 We ate Beignets at Cafe du Monde, so tasty. 

From the French Quarter we wandered into Bourbon Street, which is a difficult place to describe; A strip that is an odd hybrid of Vegas, the red light district of Paris and a British student village with amazing live music coming out of every venue, a lot of people wearing little clothing and a craving for hand sanitizer after you leave it.

 There were a couple of topless painted ladies holding signs saying 'Tits for Tips', which when I looked away I was facing the Cathedral. This was all at 4 in the afternoon, with our tutor. Surreal. 

  Anyway, I think I maybe content with never visiting Bourbon St. again as I've been a few times and it is a bit of a smelly, disordered tourist trap... I sense that New Orleans is probably full of amazing bars and venues outside the street and it would be interesting to explore these places.

We stayed in the Holiday Inn which had a pretty amazing view

The next day we went to a plantation house but it was $20 to look around so we just took sneaky pictures outside it, hohoho. These photos AND MORE are available on my flickr page!

So there's New Orleans, in all it's sober glory. It is a beautiful city and very different to a lot of other places in the South and in America. It has a really interesting history which really visible.

It kinda sucks that we missed the last Football game this weekend (there's one at Thanksgiving but I'm away and I don't think anyone is tailgating) Golden Eagles are now ranked 20th!

Autumn

HEY I've entered a photo contest which ends on the 15th- if you have Facebook, could you click on any of these photos (<hover over) and 'like' them? :) 

Rosie, Sybs and I

It's been a pretty eventful week all over town. Tuesday was voting day. The main thing everyone was really involved with was Prop 26, which would make contraceptive pills and abortion illegal in the state of Mississippi. It lost to a 56% No majority and it was very interesting watching it all as an outsider, from a country where the current government altering just the counseling requirements has caused outcry. We kept getting asked to vote/if we'd voted which eventually got a bit irritating as it should be obvious that non-citizens of the US are not eligible for US rights.

Thursday we went to Lazer Tag for Victoria's birthday, the second time in a month and I think I'm pretty lazer tagged out now... I always get a bit too involved with the game and competitive... I may or may not have yelled rude things at a random stranger that shot me.

Friday Sybs and I put the deposite down for our apartment for next semester, which we did with glee because the morning acted as a great reminder as to why we're leaving dorms. I spilled a bottle of bleach and the windows are screwed shut, so we basically had to spend the day seeking refuge from fumes.
We're also excited about being able to cook our own food. I thought the frustration of washing up and the luxury of not finding moldy items in the fridge would be worth the money but the meal plan is so restrictive and in all honesty is not the slightest value for money... there was a 'salad' this week in the 'salad' bar that consisted of grated carrots, marshmallows and glacier cherries. ! Errk.

In the evening we went Downtown to Eaglepalooza, a music event and pep rally. An act called Karmin were suppose to play but were replaced last minute. We got really cold and bought some hot chocolate which I'm certain had liquidated bananas in it. Bananas don't belong in drinks. It was a fun evening and the music was pretty good. And on the drive home we saw an owl! Just perched there, enjoying life. Sybs spotted it but didn't know the word for it so was like "Oh look guys! There's a big bird that is!... a brown bird?! Look! I know what it's called in French!'

The weekend was spent in New Orleans, but that's another blog post...