On Christmas

Well, it's Christmas Eve, traditionally a quiet time for me, but this year even quieter. Yes, I'm here, still at St. Andrews, simultaneously enjoying and going stir crazy from the absolute quiet that has descended over Gannochy House in the past few days. It's probably a good thing I"ve been taking it easy, Friday night at the Bop I tweaked my bad knee, and that's led to all sorts of pain. Megan will be here Wednesday, Boxing Day, or as you Americans know it, the day after Christmas. I'm so very excited to see a familiar face. I dearly miss my flatmates. Since posting last, Ash, my fiery red-headed Scottish flatmate has become my closest friend here. It's worked out quiet well. Thanks to Ash, I finally feel at home here, at home someplace without all sorts of safety nets to fall back on. And that means more than I can put in words. I hope everyone is having a nice holiday. I send my love to you all!

Updates, food, etc

So, I realize I haven't updated in a while, but really it's just been due to extreme stress, business and lack of overall motivation to do anything more than I need to, so while I'm feeling energetic, after a fantastic vegetarian version of a traditional Scottish breakfast, I'll fill you all in on my life.

First and foremost, THE RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!! Yes this made me incredibly happy, yes I drank an entire bottle of champagne at 5 in the morning, and yes, it fucked up my sleep schedule, but it really was all worth it, we are the CHAMPIONS!!

Secondly, boxing: Boxing is going well, quite well actually, I'm in very good shape, cuz I run nearly every morning, and train for 2 hrs 3 times a week, in the ring, with pads and bags. Tuesday I went to a trials match in Edinburgh for a big set of fights in London at the end of teh month. Unfortunately, the trials didn't go as I'd hoped. I needed to win 3 matches, or score 150 points (points are scored with every instance of solid contact with your opponent). I went in feeling good, despite the fact, that while drunk on Friday night, I face planted into my carpet and split open my lip and then saturday boxing I broke my nose. Last weekend I was fighting quite well, after my coach set my nose that is, because I was protecting my nose, and keeping my guard up to do so better then I ever had. However, on Tuesday, 1 minutes and 42 seconds into my first fight, a fight I was winning mind you, I set my back hand down a bit to wipe blood from my nose, and my opponent got me with a solid right hook to my nose that knocked me out. I woke up to Tom standing over me with smelling salts asking me if I could see alright. Well the way amateur boxing rules are written over here, I was not allowed to box again for 24 hrs, so no more fights fore me, which means I didn't qualify for London, oh well, the UK Cup is next semester and thats the important match to qualify for.

As for food, this morning after Russian class I decided that since I haven't been eating well lately, I wanted to treat myself to a good breakfast, so I headed over to this cafe called Little Johns on Market Street, and ordered a vegetarian version of the traditional Scottish breakfast. It was exceptionally good. It included a fried egg, half a tomato, sauteed mushrooms, baked beans, toast, veggie sausage, and veggie haggis. Quite a bit of food, but damn was it good. I'm pretty sure veggie haggis is my new favorite thing in the world.

This week is almost over, and next week is reading week, which means no classes, for me. Some people are travelling and I was originally planning a trip to Stockholm to see relatives, but the deadline for my history essay was extended, and I decided that I need to stay home, take advantage of the extra time, and do well on this essay, I dont think I can bullshit 5000 words as well as I used to be able to.

For now that is all, hope everyone is well, and had a good halloween!.

HOORAY!!!!!!!

This has been the best weekend of my life!!!!

Not only did I have an AWESOME time in Oxford with Lera, that was just what I needed to remind me why I'm here doing what I'm doing


BUT ALSO....

THE RED SOX WON THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT AND ARE OFF TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!



I'M SOO HAPPY I COULD CRY!!!!!

Time for an update

Well its the end of my third week here, and the end of week two of classes. Things seem to be going a bit better. I'm getting along with people better, and I think I'm even starting to make friends. I've also finally started all my classes. I'm only taking two, a Soviet History module for postgrads, that consists of me and one other student, so that is quite interesting to say the least, it really is just a two hour long conversation with the professor, who is quite zany, and I also like that. The other class i'm taking is a Russian class, to keep up with my language skills etc. I quite like the way language classes here are structured.

I dont really know what else to say right now. Boxing is going well although I didn't make it to training this morning because I was up till 6 watching the Sox fucking lose to the Tribe. Oh well the series is tied, and we will come back and win. We've still got Dice-K to pitch, and after Sabathia and Carmona, who did not pitch well their pitching goes downhill. But jesus christ Francona better keep Gagne off the mound.

Week 1 Update

Well I've surived an entire week here! Woohoo! I've learned a few things. St. Andrews really is as beautiful as everyone told me, and I LOVE boxing! Just got back from my second workout with the club. It's intense, but its going to whip my ass into shape and its a good outlet for my anger. I haven't started classes yet, and I'm actually not sure when I do. Some people start tomorrow, but I'm not sure. My advisor is a little kooky, but I like them that way. I've not been sleeping well, which is quite unfortunate, but hopefully boxing will put me back on a regular schedule. I'm also not quite sure how I feel about my flatmates yet, but as Lera said, I'm trying desperatley to keep an open mind. It's hard though when they dont make any effort to include me and/or keep it quiet when I'm suffering from a horrible migraine.

Oh I matriculated yesterday. Which is some fancy British word for becoming an official student at the university. I got my ID card and everything. Now if only I knew when classes were staring etc.....haha

Oh well, for now I'll run on the beach (Chariots of Fire was filmed on the beach I've been running on, how could I resist) and box.

Well here we go....

Well this is it. In four hours I have to wake up to shower and get my ass ready to get on a plane to Boston, where I"ll be for two days, then its the big one, off to Scotland. I'm simultaneously terrified and super excited. BAH. I'm ready to do this, I want to go back to school. I absolutely adore Soviet history. I know I"ll be happy. Goodbyes are just extremely hard for me. and the goodbye tomorrow morning will not be happy. Bah! I need to go to bed

Scotland Ho

So, due to the fact that I hate the blog function on myspace anymore, just because it doesn't run well on a mac, I've decided to start a blog here to keep you all updated on my going ons in Scotland over the course of the next year. I leave in approximately two and a half weeks for the birthplace of golf, where I will spend almost exactly one year studying and writing to earn a silly M.Litt in Central and Eastern European Studies, with of course a special focus on Soviet history.

I'm sure no one cares, but check back regularily for updates, photos, etc.