finally finals

Ok, so as always, it has been a while. I have been to Scotland and I cannot even begin to explain how much I love Edinborough. Our Hostel was right in the middle of the city and it was so easy to find wonderful things to do. We went on a three hour tour with an overly enthusiastic guide named Gaija, climbed King Arthur’s Seat (breathtaking), went to Loch Ness, and got a 12 hour bus ride full of commentary on the spending habits of the Scottish Parliament (our driver was out of his mind). The pictures show more than I could ever say. A train ride two bus rides and a horrifying Ryanair flight later, we were back in good ole’ Oxfordshire. This past weekend we tourist-ed around our little college town and had tea, saw Oxford Castle, watched Midsummer Nights Dream (the promenade theatre version) in Headington Park, and saw where Harry Potter was filmed. It was all in all a very fun filled weekend. Finals are coming up and I will say that I am eager to be done with them. I am one film editing session, two tests and one final away from my transatlantic pilgrimage.

And now for a non sequitur…

I am currently sitting in a Starbucks in Oxford, trying desperately to crank out an analysis of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s dream for my 8 am class tomorrow (one of the things that stands between me and my journey to the States). After this paper and two tests I will be on a plane home from my two month adventure…the only problem is that I am horribly distracted by a crazy woman sitting across from my table next to the window. Apparently for the past hour there has been a fly that has pushed her time and time again to furiously leap from her chair with a rolled newspaper and smash every surface in sight in hopes of ending this poor fly’s life. She looks a lot like Queen Latifa, so these furious fly swatting fits are all the more hilarious. Just now, in an action of divine irony, she has given up on the chase and the fly is simply sitting on her rolled up newspaper staring up at her from beside her coffee cup. I can only imagine her frustration- maybe its like trying to write a term paper and having someone distract you with sudden fits fly-blood lust.

Ok, back to my paper- next time you hear from me it will probably be state side.

God Save the Queen

So I have been to London, and I should be in Ireland right now, but I am terribly ill, so I am recovering slowly but surely, cooped up here in Oxford. Luckily, they sell what are essentially narcotics over the counter in this great country- God love 'em.

London was brilliant- so much to do. On top of all of the year round funsies that exist in this great city, we were lucky enough to walk into Trafalgar's Square during Gay Pride weekend. Needless to say we watched the parade and took tons of photos with drag queens. There was also the London Eye, Big Ben, phone booths, Tower of London, Tower Bridge (AKA London Bridge...the actual London bridge is rather anti-climactic), and all sorts of other England icons. Oh and Herod's- I touched a $20,000.00 designer dress. That place is out of control- they even sell fossils and dinosaur bones (for hundreds of thousands of dollars, mind you, but the people who actually shop there are so obscenely rich they don't know what else to do with their money other than buy bones...)

For now, though, I am drinking gallons of water and sleeping every few hours. And watching sappy love movies. All in all unproductive, but we all have those days.

This coming week holds midterms and a visit to Birmingham to see the platonic love of my life- Tatum. And then, hopefully disease free, I am off to Scotland!

To see the drag queens mentioned above (and other, less interesting euro- photos) go to www.picasaweb.google.com/mollybeth35/ and enjoy!

I am beginning to feel homesickness creep up on me, but I blame my drug induced drought of activities and human contact- but for now, I miss everyone at home and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks! I love England, but something must be done about this weather- hopefully they figured out something good at the G8 Summit.

That will be all for now, it is time for a nap.
Cheers,
Molly

About two days ago my Austen professor attended a morning conference with a number of hill scholars and was able to shake the hand of not only Hill himself (probably the most influential British poet of the 21st Centure), but was also able to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury (the leader of the Anglican church-- St. Augustine was the first). I find it unbelievable that two of the most influential people in the Church and in literature were in teh same vicinity of me-- though I obviously did not get to share in teh rapture of meeting them, I am still amazed. What a place I am in.
In other news, I leave for London early tomorrow morning and I can hardly wait! Next week is full of Shakespeare plays in the Oxford Castle and a performance of Wicked in London. Also- something inconsequential yet I feel the need to say-- I have fallen in love with a certain kabob stand. I am currently eating a large box of chips (french fries for those of you who are so uncultured...) covered in vinegar, salt, cheese, and garlic. mmmmmmmmm.

cheers.

Hey party people. its been a while. I am 20 years old now, and that much more cultured. I am loving Oxford tremendously. I am actually nervous that I will hate Tech when I come home (which is impossible- I am just trying to convey the greatness of England...). I have massive amounts of free time to fill and it has been lovely to catch up on reading and pretending that I am a literature major-- it is much more plausible here than back in the technical realm that is the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The weather has been surprisingly friendly- hardly and rain save today, and the hottest it has been is about 75 (though it gets wicked cold in the evenings).
This weekend I will be in foggy London town and then the next will be Ireland and then Scotland.
I am still holding desperately onto the hope of running into Colin Firth or Hugh Grant-- I will let you know what comes of that.
For now all I have to divulge is that I am incandescently happy (to steal from Austen).
That will be all for now- and Happy Birthday to my beautiful oldest sister! I love you Emmy.

Cheers, loves.