Half and half today. Very excited about Thanksgiving, very excited to be done with work for the week, very excited about getting my grades on my essays back next week. Discouraged about the job-less world I live in, discouraged about getting my grades on my essays back next week. Today my friend Dave met me in town to show me some recruitment/temp/job agencies, which is what he used to get the job he has. We went in to 5, and none of them had *any* part-time jobs available. Jobs aren't growing on trees in the world today.
When it's freezing cold and I'm trying to get my mind off my cold legs on a walk home from the library at night, I put Edith Piaf on my iPod, turn it up loud, and walk as loud as she sings.
I'm surprised again that it's Wednesday -- I'm always surprised again when it's Wednesday. Wednesday's my marker day for some reason. It's my early day, the day that marks the end of the homework week and means it's time to start on next week's work or make weekend plans instead. It's the day I walk past the take-aways before they're open in the morning, and the day I don't drink my coffee in the house but take it with me on my walk to class. It's the day that feels long but always good because I feel like so much gets done on a Wednesday. But it still always surprises me when it shows up every week. Only 2 more Wednesdays of class before Christmas break and then the ice rink comes to town!
What I dislike about the English higher educational system: you have exams and essays due in the middle of January before classes for the spring start. So you get to think about those the whole Christmas vacation.
What I like about the English higher educational system: you get done in 3 years and you don't have to take any other courses but your major requirements.
Thanksgiving obstacles: The supermarket is a good 30 minute walk away (i.e. a long way to wrangle groceries home). The pie plates here are much smaller, so I think one normal pumpkin pie will fit into one and a half English pie plates. They don't use cups or teaspoons, so I've commandeered a makeshift plastic cup and teaspoon that I assume are close to the standard. They call stuffing "Paxo" because that's the brand (like we call tissues Kleenex) and so I argued with the supermarket lady for a few minutes as to whether or not I wanted Paxo or stuffing, and of course, I didn't want Paxo but she knew I wanted Paxo.
I was asked a new America question today: "Is it true that after every film you see in the cinema in America, everyone stands up and claps?" My response: "No, because America makes movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
My old heart's Christmas list: a bath/lounging robe, the complete "Faerie Queene," "The Little Prince," and the new edition of Rilke's "Duino Elegies" (while I waited for Dave in town today I went into a bookstore and found the new translation! It's my favorite so far from what I read in a few minutes. While I waited I also asked if they had any positions open. They don't).
Some Englishisms to leave you with:
take a nap = have a kip
hey, how you doing? = alright?
make dinner = make tea
1 comment:
It seems the job market is as dreary on this side of the pond as it is on yours. I am yet to make a wishlist of sorts and yours reminded me of what my aging economics professor told me--only give someone what they can eat, wear, listen to, read or spend.
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