GIR as a Musketeer

He's adorable, but get between him and his taquitos and he'll gun you down in a heartbeat.  Many thanks to Max and his generous surrender of this nifty Halloween photo!

A Trip to Exmouth

Finally made it to Exmouth this weekend. Exmouth, as I mentioned weeks and weeks ago, is where the Exe River meets the Atlantic. It was a little stormy Saturday, but it held off raining until we were actually back on the train which was very kind. And it was great to finally get back to the coast. I haven’t seen water more expansive than Lake Macdonald in four years! I got some really great photos of this coastal town, including one of a pub called The Powder Monkey. But I’m not going to show them to you.

Because I hate you.

No, seriously, it’s because I can’t get to them. I had removed my ScanDisk on Friday to read off a few photos and then failed to return it to my camera. So my camera immediately began storing photos in its internal memory, a fact I didn’t realize until my camera told me I had filled the allotted memory, prompting me to say, “Whhaaaa!?! This thing never runs out of … Oh…. Right. Whoops.” So you’ll have to look me up once I get back to the States to see these truly AMAZING photos. (Author can not vouch for the “amazing” nature of these photos and the term was used exclusively for hyperbolic effect).

After returning to Exeter I took a much needed nap and took off for some lighthearted drinking and socializing at Caradon House G3. I ended up getting embroiled in an argument over the realative political ignorance of Americans and our history as a penal colony and area of exile for Great Britain’s religious fanatics with the great, great, great, etc. grandson of Gen. Andries Pretorius, of Boer War fame. The whole thing was significantly more surreal the next morning when the Cider and Black had worn off.

In general news, Sunday opened my eyes to the wonderful pub BREAKFAST. We headed over to the Imperial and they offer a pretty impressive fry-up for 2£. I had a breakfast roll to save myself a quid, but it was delicious. Also, I finally have fully functioning bank accounts, with the arrival of my PINs on Friday. I opened the account, or made the attempt to open an account anyway, on Oct. 4th and finally finished on Oct. 21st. This is probably why they don’t suggest you bother if you’re only going to be in the country for a semester. I now have two identical charge cards (I’m foreseeing problems here) to withdraw money from my various accounts. However, these cards are not excepted by National Rail, which has me wondering how useful they’ll be. We must hope for the best.

Finally, I have decided to SKIP AN ENTIRE WEEK OF SCHOOL to take a trip through the South of France and Northern Italy with Cait and Jess. This seems extravagant, but: 1. I’ll only be missing two classes and no assignments or papers that week; 2. The flight into Toulon, FRA and out of Rome, ITA cost me just under $60 American; and finally 3. How often am I going to be able to take off a week and travel through Italy? I’m an exchange student and classes are only part of the experience!

So, I think that sums up my news for now. I’ll post again as soon as something interesting happens. TTYL, TTFN.

Ps. if you were here earlier and noticed four posts all saying more or less the same thing, well, that's technology for you :D

Thanks Aunt Jo!

This is a big thank you note to my generous and keenly perceptive Aunt Jo who is super neato in every way and has on SEVERAL occasions made my trip away from home that much more comfortable.

The first of these occasions was when she sent me the Invader Zim Box Set W/ GIR Figurine and DVD of Extras. Which I preceded to tear open like a rabid badger (they have those here) and immediately watched. GIR's head also opens up and you can keep things inside it. I have an old snail shell (sans snail, found it on the floor of my flat when I moved in) in there now, which I find hilarious. If you have no idea who or what Invader Zim is, I weep for you. Your life is that much emptier.

The second occasion was yesterday when she emailed me to let me know she was super cool and had wired me some funds through Western Union. I used this largesse to buy jumpers (sweaters) and a wool coat that just MAY prove useful during the cold wet English winter. I didn't bring any sweaters with me, probably because I really only have one, and Mom doesn't like me to wear it because it's falling apart like the ones worn by the denizens of Zion in The Matrix. So now that void has been successfully filled. There is even a little left over for groceries and pub funds for next week!

So, just a quick round of applause for my aunt! Also, honorable mention goes to my mother for her donation of tea and Halloween decorations, and my father for the ScanDisk reader that allows me to show you pictures and the headset for VoIP calls. I love you all very much, and you guys have really made this transition easier!

John, I can not email you at rivvard55@hotmail.com for some reason, it just wont take. I've tried, multiple occaisons... And I can't email you to tell you this either... Catch-22. Also, Bozeman's school motto is "Mountains and Minds" provided they haven't paid someone millions of dollars to change it since I've left...

I think that's all the news I have to deliver... Yep. I'm hoping for a sunny day in the near future so I can get some pretty pictures of Exeter proper to display. In the mean time, enjoy your various cold American fall and winters. TTYL, TTFN.

School Motto

This is Exeter's motto "Probably the best university in the world", which I love because of it's hilarious mixture of arrogance and modesty. Green and White are our colors, and I think I may get a school scarf... We haven't a mascot, but we do have a coat of arms and there are pictures of that in the gallery. I have finally posted my photos!

I hate credit cards...

So, my credit card company wants to talk to me about "unusual activity" on my card, which I can only assume means use in the UK. I excplicitly informed my credit card company that I was going to be studying in the UK in the next year on MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, but clearly they weren't listening... Here's the fun part- I have to pay to make phone calls in my room and I pay that with MY CREDIT CARD! The UK phone number they gave me is inoperational, and I can't afford to call the US number because I can't buy more minutes for my phone because I CAN'T USE MY CREDIT CARD. There is a solution- I pay cash for a top-up card in Cornwall House, which is what I'm gonna do, but the whole thing is really annoying... On the plus side, between this and laundry I should be able to make a serious dent in my giant pile of UK change... I've got piles of 2 pence pieces, but nothing in this country has cost tuppence since 1905...

In the Hog's Head

From left to right: Me, Emily (Fellow Bobcat), Ben (Who provided this and all other pics currently in my gallery, which you can find by clicking the link in the sidebar of this blog), Caitlin (Canada Cait- just to simplify), and Jessica (Met her on the train... She's actually heard of and been to Bozeman!)  So come see the rest of Ben's photos- just till I can get mine up of course :)

Sorry for being so long off...

I told you this would happen once the school year began. I much to busy reading middle english lyrics and contemplating the interplay of public and private audiences in Renaissance love poetry to converse with any of you lowly colonists. JUST KIDDING of course. Having internet difficulties again, but hopefully that will right itself. Very frustrating though... Especially since it costs roughly 20 bucks for about 2 and a half hours of phone time... That's no ten cents a minute I warrant you. I'm awaiting a package from my parents (which may have gotten here yesterday or today.. haven't checked the post since Tuesday- so who knows) which will solve all my photo problems and also deliver a tee shirt, so bully there.

Saw a film called Dear Wendy on Tues. as well, which is, and I quote, 'the teen self destruction film of the year' and it was that. I'd recommend it, but only if you have a strong Zombies stomache since they come up frequently. I also 'bought' the film Goodbye Lenin! at the university bookstore with the 5£ reward card I gt for spending such a bleeding lot on my textbooks. It was very good, but it's yet another foreign film i actually have to watch (rather than letting it run in the background) because I have to read the subtitles. I have loads of pictures of campus and Dartmoor that I'm dying to load up to the web, so hopefullly, the next post I do will be illustrated. I'll also include a link for my online Photobucket gallery at that time... Right now it's just pictures of Red Lodge, which I think a few of you may be familiar with.

Well, that's really all for now. But I'll post again soon. And please, feel free to email me and keep in touch you lazy sons-a....

Bollux...

Okay, I've posted the gallery link in the sidebar, and now the blog looks completely daft, but I don't care 'cuz I'm done futzing with it. So there you are... Enjoy the messed up blog and the link to the gallery that as yet has no pictures!

This is only a test

Photobucket

This is a test post from Photobucket.com

A slow day...

Last night was Ladies' Night at Arena, a local nightclub, so we went out for free and didn't drink since we were trying to save money. Turns out it was a social night for a local public school and everyone there was 18 and dressed in a significantly skimpier version of their school uniform. So here we are, completely sober and being inundated by high school kids. Nothing quite like it to make yourself feel OLD.

Fridays and Wednesdays are free days, so I slept in and then spent most of this day doing homework and reading renaissance verse for my class on Monday. So a slow day, but also kind of a nice decompression from all the busy days. Tomorrow I'm hoping to go an a photo safari of Exeter so I'll be able to post those photos (looks like we almost have the technical difficultes worked out).

Also looking at what I want to see and do, and where I want to go. Any ideas, or areas you are desperate for photos from- let me know and I'll try to help. TTYL, TTFN

A Word of Warning...

To all those planning to come to the UK for Christmas (*hint-hint*) or whatever reason do NOT get traveler's checks in American dollars if you intend to to get traveler's checks. Get them in pounds sterling or else you'll lose the budget for an entire week- thats $120 dollars- in fees alone. It's very upseting, let me tell you, and makes the whole plan of living frugally look laughable.

Internet still down, but I'm going to take it to IT services tomorrow so hopefully this will be worked out. Coming to the library isn't a very good solution for me personally since you all live 7 time zones away and this place is only open till 11 PM or about 4PM in MT.

Had a migraine last night- only the second I ever had- and I missed sangria night for it. What you gonna do- drinking on it didn't seem like a good idea. Attended my second class today, which looks like it's going to be more interesting than I'd hoped, which is a very positive thing.

So in summation- books, classes, fees, etc. all dishearteningly exspensive. Not being able to talk to your family and friends, just generally disheartening. Having a migraine and money troubles at the same time- enough to make you whine. Which is what I'm doing, clearly. I expect I'll feeel more upbeat shortly, so thanks for your patience and commiseration. TTYL, TTFN


UPDATE: I have my internet back on line and am feeling much better... I'm such a Berk....

The First Class...

So much is different in the UK that I was unprepared for classes to be so much the same! Case in point- BOOKS. They're just as exspensive here as they are in the US... I spent £106 on books and supplies (one pad of paper and a binder). That's crazy! I'm only taking two classes!!!! And only four total for the whole year. I have a feeling, though, that I'll spend roughly as much time studying for these classes as I did on the five last semester. Sat in on my Chaucer class, which looks to be very entertaining, and have begun reading the medieval lyrics that are due for next week. Starting to get back into the flow of Middle English, but the first fewe tymes 'r alaweyes harde. Tomorrow I have my Shakespeare and re. love Poetry class... Still not entirely sure why I signed up for that, but I think I'll enjoy it all the same.

Went to the cinema on campus last night, £3, which is very cheap for movies apparently- still about $5 US. There is a discount card even for the cheap cinema but- I worked this out- as long as you see 8 or FEWER movies it's cheaper to pay full price. So I think I'll just see 8 or fewer movies. Having a little bit of Internet trouble (I'm working from the library right now) so don't be worried if I'm not IM people right now- it's not you it's me. Anyway, not much more to say. Thanks for the card Ma, it was sweet. TTFN.

The Squash

Today was the "Squash" , an annual event here at Exeter. All the student oragnizations come to try and recruit members and all the local businesses come to shill their products to the young, affluent, and newly independent 18 yr. old freshemn. It is, quite literally, a huge number of people squashed into a warren-y mess of rooms trying to get free stuff. Here's what loot I got:

• pizza
• a beer
• a packet of cheese and onion crisps
• laundry detergent
• chicken ramen noodles
• a can of baked beans
• a little plug to put in the neck of your beer or "alchopop" to prevent someone spiking your drink
• cookies
• a little Amnesty International pin
• a copy of Rudyard Kipling's Kim
• cotton candy

I also joined the Literary Society, the Creative Writing Society, and the Erasmus Society- for international students, mostly those from the EU or other European countries- which should hopefully keep me very busy with activities this year! Signed up for a trip to Ottery St. Mary's for Bonfire Night (sometime in early November) which I'm much looking forward to- although I'll be disappointed if the place isn't littered with otters and I've a feeling it isn't... I'll let you know the otter situation when it comes around...

Did you know?

A long walk on the rainy moor is actually NOT all that great for banishing a head cold- who knew? Still the views were pretty extraordinary. Got some great photos- which I will post soon, I promise- and a heck of a workout.

The day started out gorgeous- absolutely gorgeous- with bright sun, no clouds, and... Persistent light rain. Where the rain was coming from I've no idea. We loaded into some major coaches (read buses, Yanks...) and drove off to Hounds Tor which is a dramatic and weathered granite outcrop which you can see and reach fairly easily from the road. Great views of the surrounding coombes (sheltered valleys). After a brief visit we loaded back into the coaches for Widdecombe-in-the-Moor which is a very nice little village with all the earmarks of a steady tourist population and a lovely 14th century granite cathedral called, appropriately enough, The Cathedral of the Moors. From here we set off for Postbridge where we parked and unloaded for the bulk of our trip.

The moor is- above all else- squishy. That's the best way to describe it. The ground is squishy, the sand is squishy, the cow pies that look decievingly like the rocks that will assure good footing are squishy. I got very muddy even before the rain started coming down hard. Everywhere are big brackets of fern and heather- still blooming in early October, which suprised me. Attempting to avoid a particularly squichy bit of pathway I swung out along a little ledge, grabbed the stone gatepost, twisted past it, and promptly smacked myself in the forehead with one of those turnstile signs that point out the pathways. I don't think anyone saw me do this, which I find comforting, but then I did just publish my account on the internet didn't I. I pictured the moor a great deal flatter than it truly is, but all the moody dark beauty was there.

I don't have a raincoat- never need them in Montana do you- and so I did get a bit wet. The rain would come down hard for about five minutes, let up for ten, the sun would shine really warm for a minute or two, then it would cloud up and start the cycle again. All the congestion in my head and lungs made the hiking a bit more difficult and the blood blisters I had developed on the long pub crawl they day before did little to help and I started getting very uncomfortable. Just when I was about to lose it, we came over a ridge and saw the Warren House Inn, our final destination! Unfortunately, the hike had taken longer than anticipated and we didn't have time to go in. Instinct, however, tells me that they had a pentagram sketched on the wall in sheep's blood for, you know... Safety's sake. (Anyone creeped out by what I just said really needs to see the movie An American Werewolf in London).

I was really tired and really cold, so when I got home I had a hot bath and a cup of cocoa which was bliss. I'm glad I've done it if only because it was beautiful, and English, and now I don't have to do it again...

And now for the bad news...

I'm sick. Not very sick, but sick enough to make me uncomfortable and have to buy blackcurrent throat lozenges- like I said, blackcurrant is everywhere. Also, I was unable to open a bank account because the woman who helped my set up my account on Tuesday accidentally photocopied my cancelled visa. They were very nice about it, as well they should be since this is their screw-up, and I have to go back on Sunday to verify I'm not in the country illegally. Didn't go to Exmouth either- rain always makes a beach run a little less appealing. Never fear, I'll make it to the coast eventually! And I still have Dartmoor to look forward to tomorrow- I'll bring each of you back a pony. Went on an exceedingly long seeming walk along the Exe (river for which Exeter and Exmouth are named) to reach the Double Locks where I had absolutely delicious veggie sausages and mash. So strike "eat pub food" off my life list because I won't be able to afford it again this trip. Prices are quite high here, but then I'm also going through the natural expenses of settling into a new place. I just purchased some hiking boots, because regular trainers just aren't going to cut it out on the moors or up in the mountains, or even walking around Spain for long periods. Perhaps I should have brought my walking shoes Mum, but they haven't any ankle support and they've been painted beige- so there. Well, that's all the updates for now. Have a smashing day, you're all brilliant!