I'm getting used to the fact that a lot of people my age and younger drive... And I don't (yet). How so many people have cars (and are guzzling all the oil and petrol that this planet has) just astounds me.... I come from a place where people depend on public transport to now living in an area that is dominated by cars and motorways (called freeways/highways here). Of course there's the bus transit system but not much else. Oh and flights. So many flights.
Whoever says that Western culture is all the same has not travelled. I can say with ever fiber of my being there is nothing that is the same between Britain and the US. Every system is different, every mile there is something new that I didn't know yesterday. It's still rather odd to have 3 separate time zones in this country and how there are out-of-state fees for college/university. (and how one university can be $60k a year and another in the same city sells for half that). Whenever there is something odd or out of the ordinary about this place, I'll embrace John Hannah from 'The Mummy' and sigh almost exasperatedly "Americans" (For those uncultured lot, see the video for my reference)
I went to Chinese New Year in Downtown LA which was a lot of fun. Finally had some Chinese food after all these years. Still felt queasy after it. Don't think I'm going to risk it anymore and just not have Chinese food. Oddly enough I adore Korean food.
I've been to my first quidditch sessions, with the Long Beach Funky Quaffles. It's really good to see what American quidditch is like, to train with a team that has been learning under the rules and tactics of the founders of muggle quidditch (that being America). I went to the US Quidditch West Regionals on the last weekend of February, Aside from being half asleep after 3 hours of sleep it was really interesting... They'd definitely give the British teams a run for their money.
I FINALLY went to see Deadpool... Probably one of my favourite films of the modern era (my number one film being Mary Poppins of course). I can understand why it's an R-rated film... So much swearing and sex and gore. Such a perfect film. I need to watch it many many many more times before I can get my fill of it.
Going to San Diego was a good experience, which I have to admit, a few hours there is not enough to see such a great city. And this time I wont be squished in the back. Being the tallest person in the car it is not right to put me in the back. I could swear I was feeling the same pains I had back when I had to have physio and heavy pain killers in winter last year. But aside from that, there is potential to have a wonderful day or two there.Meeting the 1975 was a fun day (apart from my raging migraine and the screaming girls). Hopefully I'll have enough money to go see them in concert in April (repeat: if I have enough money, my money keeps disappearing, somehow. Can't be because I keep shopping or going out for dinners nope not at all, and especially not when I'm supposed to be saving for spring break. No not at all.)
I've also learnt what Freedom of Speech means, apart form the obvious "you can say what you want where and when you want to". I had the unfortunate displeasure of walking through a protest/couple of guys screaming about their views on my way to class. What made me want to throw a box at their face was the fact that one guy was preaching about "our Lord Jesus" and another was saying how "homosexuality is a sin and "you're all going to burn in hell you sodomising sinners". Now if I wasn't worried about being stabbed or shot I would have gone up to them and said some things to them. But I like my organs and I want to go home safely so I just gave them a dirty look and walked off in all my liberal British glory.
And with Freedom of Speech comes... The right to have a weapon? On a campus wide email a week ago came the news that a student had a small knife in his hands during a sociology class. It's a bit horrifying that a student will bring a knife to university with them. Coming from a country where weapons are kept to the armed forces and a few not so stable people, it's such a scary thought that some day because someone is having a bad day they want to go harm somebody else's life.
I've also met another student from Swansea living on my floor and it's great when people just bond instantly become really good friends. I've been relaxing with her more and eating out at restaurants and just having a marvelous time. It's getting easier being here, apart from the days when I get majorly homesick, like St David's Day (patron saint of Wales) and all the Welshies (or wannabe Welshies) start speaking Welsh and spreading the Welsh love). Having a Welsh friend here is very entertaining, especially when they skype their family and their accent comes back out in full Welsh pride.
I might be halfway through (This university term is 128 days and as I'm writing there are 69 days left till I move on from Long Beach) but the work is as heavy as ever. As much as it's highly stressful and the migraines are back with full force, high grades are much easier to get now I'm actively participating in class.
It was a good choice to come here methinks.
Tchau! (that's Portuguese apparently)
