Observations and general thoughts

I am freezing right now. Why you may ask? Because the Brits only let you keep your heater on for two hours in order to be environmentally friendly. Screw the environment. I've been sick since I got here and it is probably because I can't regulate my internal temperature. Oh joy. I also sleep with two blankets and a sleeping bag and I freeze to death, well almost, every night. I really can't convey how cold it is, but no one seems as bad off as I am; DC has taken my Ohio heartiness away.

Anyway, I have just finished all my papers for my classes (round 1 of 2), I think they weren't unmitigated disasters but they were done in my usual, oh it is fine to write it the night before style, so we shall see how they turn out. You both know that is my fatal flaw. I barely got any sleep the night before they were due because I got up extremely early to finish them. I was of course distracted by episodes of Full House, but I was able to ration myself by the end. Alison, have you finished yet? Isn't it amazing. Damn you Zhao, why did you get me addicted, I have little self control.

I have a rather uneventful social calendar, but last weekend,I went to a pub with a couple other georgetown kids and I baked cookies to get me into the good graces of the bar staff, which I did. We went out with three of them after the pub closed, so that was fun. Saturday morning a week ago I went to Borough Market, which is amazing. Anything food related that you could possible what is there, and it is so fresh and probably organic. I bought walnut bread and cheese that had apricot pieces in it and a mushroom pate which was beautiful tasting. I don't know if something can taste beautiful, but this would if it were possible. They guy that sold us bread was American and he told us the one place in London to buy Luck Charms, however aside from being really far away they will also cost 12 pounds a box, that is $24, and as much as I love processed sugar, I'm not that into them.

What else? I tried to bake brownies for my flatmate's birthday, but British ovens, or maybe just mine, heat from the sides and not form the top, so it was rather difficult to gage what was and was not done and it took me like an hour to make them, but they were heartily enjoyed by my flatmates along with some tea. Actually, we turned it into a Brownie cake, because I had wanted to bake a real cake, but the Brits dont' sell cake mix. I mean really, I've looked, I went to three stores, nothing. So I had to make do with that, which was part of the reason the whole process was ridicules.

Hum, what else. My arabic class is like a joke, my teacher last year would flip out if these people did what they do here in her class. You can't take five minutes to answer a question, there is no stalling, blah.

Oh, I just had fish and chips for dinner tonight for the first time. It was pretty good. I was tired after walking around all day, I went to the Tate modern and looked at art, and I wanted to go to this pub in Borough Market, but it was jam packed full of people, and I just didn't want to deal with that, so I found another one a little more out of the way that looked pretty reputable.

I really miss being able ot play the piano. That is killing me right now. Other than that I'm well. Zhao, I want an email or a post or something. Ali, I will see you in a week. That hotel you recommended looks fine and I will probably stay there...or on the street, whatever.
Miss you both,
Elle