Of Ole Miss and the Post-Election "Riot"

Ok, post-election blog post, and this is how I feel about America: 

 

Half cringe, half frustration. You were doing so well guys! Oh, I'm definitely glad Obama won. The majority of Americans made the right choice and are clearly sensible people. For the rest of them.....

Now that it's been a full week since the election, I feel it is an appropriate time where I can comment on the situation. I knew Mississippi was going to be angry if Obama was elected, and wow was there a reaction. In fact there is a general feeling of discontent, to put it mildly, in many States in America and there is even talk of secession - really? Do you not recall the American Civil War in the 1860s? My stance on this, which is shared by most of my friends, is that the whole thing is ridiculous. Who knows what kind of government they would come up with if they managed to secede. God help those citizens. And, if they don't secede, apparently they want to move to Australia.... sure, move to Australia with a tax-paid social welfare system, universal healthcare, a ban on guns, a Prime Minister who is an athiest single woman, and whose citizens support Obama nearly 20 to 1...

There are students on campus who are talking about this, who are in support of secession, but they are pretty much the uninformed individual who thinks it's an easy funny option. And I'm sure everyone has heard about the "riot" at the University of Mississippi when the election was called.

So let's clear that up first.

This is the video of the "riot": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD0vJrRODtw

Yes, there was a reaction to the Presidential Election announcment, that much is clear. If you watch the video, you can see how about 400 students descended onto campus grounds... well, they're looking for the "riot." And it was kind of hard to find, as it was as un-riotesque as could possibly be. Really, I'd label it a "gathering." In actual fact, at most 20 students were particularly rowdy and making and encouraging racial slurs. The video really only shows people walking around. The only part of that video that upsets me is when the students yell our Hotty Toddy chant. If you're not familiar with it, this is the Ole Miss chant which we use during sporting events and social gatherings to rally students against an opposing team. It should never have been used in the context of the "riot" - sorry, "gathering" - but these were uninformed, idiotic students who were almost certainly fueled by alcohol. I don't forgive them for using it, this use of our symbol was entirely inappropriate.

In terms of what happened at the "gathering," nothing was broken, wrecked or destroyed. No one was physically attacked. The two arrests were due to public intoxication and not complying with police officers who tried to break up the crowd. An Obama Biden sign being burned was the most that physically happened, and it hasn't been confirmed that it even happened on campus. There were, unfortunately, racial slurs thrown about, which is so backward and wrong it made me angry.

But not only me. Our entire campus.

If you saw the "riot" reaction, I hope you also saw the response from the student body and faculty the day after. Everyone is disgusted with these few idiots. Dan Jones, the Chancellor for the University of Mississippi, made a statement the day after to this point:

"we are very disappointed in those students who took a very immature and uncivil approach to expressing their views about the election... all of us are ashamed of the few students who have negatively affected the reputations of each of us and of our university."

Chancellor Dan Jones' Statement: http://news.olemiss.edu/message-chancellor-dan-jones/#.UKLOA4b_7zw

The University of Mississippi is a safe campus with forward thinking individuals who do not, in any way, support racism. There has always been a dialogue about race, but this has obviously increased since November 6. I am in Graduate School and several of my classmates teach freshman classes who have taken time out of their class schedule to talk about this issue. In my History class, we spent an entire session talking about it. There are 21,000 students here, and those who know right and wrong greatly outnumber the idiots. And the entire university is responding to the acts of a few to show the country, and the world, that this really isn't the reality of Ole Miss.

The University of Mississippi is called "Ole Miss," our football team is called the "Rebels," and we have confederate symbols on campus such as commemorative statues to the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. This much is true. But this isn't because this is a racist university. It's an acknowledgement of our difficult history. We can't white wash what has happened, but we can change the meaning of what is left behind. And yes, there is a confederate statue, but we also have a James Meredith statue celebrating our first African-American student.

400 students "rioted" but 700 Ole Miss students, faculty, staff and community members responded by walking through campus the very next day in a Candlelight Walk, culminating in reading the university creed at the Lyceum - the exact spot where in 1962 there was an actual riot at the acceptance of James Meredith. Those who couldn't make it to the walk left messages supporting the walk and their continued belief in the university.

"I believe in respect for the dignity of each person, I believe in fairness and civility, I believe in personal and professional integrity, I believe in academic honesty, I believe in academic freedom, I believe in good stewardship of our resources, I pledge to uphold these values and encourage others to follow my example" - Ole Miss Creed

Candlelight Walk video: http://news.olemiss.edu/i-fairness-civility/#.UKLEZob_7zx

Now this is a true representation of our university. We are multi-cultural college; diverse in race, ethnicity, origin, beliefs, religion, and we are not only tolerant, but we encourage and promote diversity. This year we had an entire week celebrating the fact it is 50 years since the university integrated. We crowned our first African-American homecoming queen and elected our first female African-American student body president. Three years ago we elimated the song "From Dixie With Love" which was traditionally played during football games because it contained the line "the South will rise again" which no longer held a 'slave-holding' meaning to the students, but we got rid of it anyway. We also changed our college mascot, Colonel Reb, who many associated with a white plantation owner. We've made great leaps forward in changing any negative perception of our university and it's such a shame that these few students have again brought Ole Miss into a negative light when it really no longer deserves it. We weren't the only ones to see a small negative reaction on our campus. Hampden-Sydney College in Virgina saw students set off fireworks and break bottles near the Minority Student Union house, and yell racial insults and threats at its residents. However, of course, it's only Ole Miss that really makes the news. We still have a way to go, clearly, but so does the rest of America, and the world at large. I may not see it in my lifetime, but I hope one day people are judged only on their abilities, words, and actions, and not because of their skin colour, religion, or sexuality.

I believe in Ole Miss. I really do. There is no way I would ever align myself with a racist organization of any kind, and I am proud to say "our" and "we" when I refer to this university. We will continue to fight racism, and we will continue to promote learning and diversity.

We are Ole Miss.

Hotty Toddy!

Of Obama and Romney, Come On America!

If you don't know what's going on right now, then hello there, I hope it's comfortable and not too cold under that rock. It's election day, and Americans are voting for their next President.

My situation is very strange, being a Brit living in America (so of course unable to vote) and watching the election campaign unfold, especially as I live in Mississippi... and I do not agree with how Mississippi will vote. I'm not into politics, I make no claims to know what the candidate platforms really are, I sort of buried my head in the sand about that because I could and politics rarely interests me. I didn't watch the debates, because I don't really have much of an idea what's going on in this country, I only sort of have an idea of what's going on in Britain.

However, if I could vote it would be for Obama. And that's nothing to do with politics (well, actually it is a bit, I'm not completely out of the loop). It's really just because Romney is shaping up to be another George W. Bush, in that soon people will have posters on their walls with stupid Romney quotes. If you have little common sense outside of politics, I don't trust you to have common sense with politics. Sorry. And if you think aeroplane windows should open while 1000s of feet up in the air then I can already tell that you're not my man. This is not an uncommon opinion from a Brit, by the way. I'm sure there are Romney supporters, but I have not yet personally heard about one. I think he just generally offended us about the Olympics and we have never warmed to him since. Also, I can't support a man who doesn't support same-sex marriage. That's just so unbelievably backwards.

Living in Mississippi, Romney signage is everywhere. It's on people's front lawns, on their cars, and on the fraternities. I have tweets coming in from both sides, but mostly Mississippians are tweeting for Romney, and other northerners are mocking him endlessly (not hard to do). Our student newspaper, the Daily Mississipian, has been running stories for a long time about the election, and guess which side they tend to fall on. Remember that this is the only student newspaper (out of 64) who endorsed John McCain when he ran for President.

I have to say, I'm very surprised as to how open people are about who they're voting for. In Britain I don't feel that people are particularly outspoken about it, and certainly weren't when I was an undergraduate. I didn't see nearly as much around voting time on campus then as I have seen here. I have been in the presence of one debate between my friends about who they want to run the country, which didn't get heated, but it was certainly argumentative. Otherwise people seem to freely express who they are voting for, and luckily everyone seems to respect that. Despite not agreeing with how the majority of Mississippi will vote in this election (we are certainly not a swing state), I am very impressed with how they are treating each other.

Tonight I am watching the election live, and I'll be watching with some other Brits - no Americans. This wasn't a conscious choice, it just ended up that way, but I will be taking a keen interest in the floods of texts, tweets and facebook statuses as to how Americans are reacting. For this reason, I love social media. What I will be even more interested in, is the reaction once the President is announced, particularly in a State such as Mississippi. However, being on a college campus will certainly not be a clear representation of this, as a college campus is so diverse, with an increasing number of out of state students, and you find different thinkers on a college campus compared to your average American town.

But really, the important thing is for Americans to vote. I hope the number of voters have increased this year. This is such a major contest, even closer I think than the previous one, so it's more important than ever for everyone to have their say, and this can only happen through votes.

This has been a strange, out of character blog post, but this is potentially a monumental history making day, which will affect the arguably most powerful nation in the world for the next 4 years. Here are my two cents worth.

Good luck Obama, TTFN.

Of Driving Tests, iHop, and Adverts

Hello my lovelies, reminiscent of my blogging days in Australia, I am updating from my workplace. I don't have anything to do for the moment so why not? Although perhaps it would be more productive to work on one of my essays rather than updating the Pommie Diaries... but anyway.

I am a totally legit driver in the US now! I would post a photo of my driving license but I'm not going to make it easy for someone to steal my identity. Not sure if that's how it works. Also it has my weight printed on there... I'm sure it as because I already know how to drive, but that test was ridiculous. I read through the manual twice, maybe three times, and passed to the theory part with flying colours. That may also have had something to do with the fact that I got the same question three times. If the test is set on 'Shuffle,' I think it's broken, but now I am really certain of what to do when an emergency vehicle pulls up behind me. The driving practical was just silly, but again I'm sure that's to do with the fact I already passed the test so they figured I could drive. We left the rest centre, drove to a residential area, drove around in a loop, and then came back again. America is now sure I can accelerate and brake acceptably. They are unaware of my parking skills (bay parking - pro. parallel parking - scary).

But now I have that I can drive golf carts around campus and I'm about to take a test drive in a 12-passanger van. Seriously, in about half an hour. I've driven a seven-seater Kia, is a van much different?

Check out that seating cover!

In other news, I am now acquainted with iHop. What a weird place. It looks like something from the 60s, but not in a cool retro way, but a "what were they thinking when they chose this carpet" way. They seem to really like pancakes, and have come up with many many ways in which to serve them with other foods. I'm sure on the menu is a Steak-and-Pancake option. Last night I had chicken strips and waffles. On the same plate. Crazy stuff! But very useful because I ate the chicken last night and the waffles this morning. I had to protect them from my ravenous colleagues at work.

Say What???

I have also been taking advantage of the fast food options here. I recently got my pension fund back from when I was working in Australia, at least I think that's what the Super Annuation was for, and so I've taken out as much of that as possible, but I had to leave a little bit in the account because American banks are stupid and charge you in weird and wonderful ways to take out your own money. Anyway, I kind of see that money left in the account as "free money." Don't ask me why. But that means I'm okay with spending it and so I've been able to enjoy Taco Bell (meal number 8, yum!) and Zaxby's (they serve chicken fingers with chips, and a slice of toast. Random). I was on a healthy eating spree but I cave easily. America has the best food.

There are so many things right about this cereal

And now for something completely different (Monty Python reference there) One thing I've noticed about American adverts on TV is that they're strange. For example, "If you are experiencing dizziness and a lack of appetite, you are probably suffering from this condition. Take this medicine to make you feel better and all warm and fuzzy inside. Side effects include fatigue, sore muscles, losing your hearing, hair loss, and eventual death." Nice. Let's just diagnose and medicate myself, yeah? And then this is followed up by "Have you or anyone you know been taking omnidoziflopsyoxin and have suffered side effects? We can sue the bastards! Call this number now!" American adverts are very keen for you to sue people. It's like a side hobby.


I should probably get back to work before my boss looks over her shoulder. Fingers crossed I don't hit anything on my bus test drive.

Of Beignets, Huge Ass Beers, and Harry Belafonte

Yeah, I know, I've been a bad blog writer lately. Bad bad bad. But in my defence it's not quite as easy to update anymore. My prime writing time in Australia was at work.... (shhhhh...) and while I work in America as well, my boss sits behind me. Literally, right behind me. So I can't get away with anything.

Anyways, that, a trip to New Orleans, and a bout of food poisoning have kept me from updating, but I am finally back in business. Yes, I am still overusing my car, just a little, but I've restrained myself a lot more than I was. I am still plucking up the nerve to do the American driving test. Not that I don't think I can pass it, but even the possibility of failing any kind of test has always made me anxious. But I will do it. I kind of have to, my boss wants me to learn to drive a mini van.... I don't know why.

I will get to New Orleans, but I just want to say that my coursemates have been lovely yet again. They invited me out with them to the Square (where the clubs at!) and we went for a few drinks in the bars, as well as a couple dances. Turns out I really can't dance very well. I think I was in denial about it. Collin and Levi can attest to my poor partner co-ordination. Thanks for trying to spin me guys, but it only made me fall over my feet and wack you in the face. I will try practising though. As you can see from the photo below, they really are a good bunch :-)

So, New Orleans! I went as a chaperon for a group of international students I am sort of in charge of (did I ever explain my job? Well, I work in the International office at my university, and we deal with students coming to study here from all around the world), and by "chaperon" I mean responsible for head counting them on and off the bus and having my phone nearby at all times in case one of them gets arrested.

That didn't happen.

The rest of the time I revisited some favourite spots in the French Quarter avec my friend Jodie (see what I did there? French! Clearly fluent). The weather wasn't that great so I didn't take too many photos as I have quite a lot of nice ones from the previous times I've been. This time I did manage to get into Cafe du Monde though. If you haven't heard of it, it's a very famous French cafe in the New Orleans French Quarter which sells delicious beignets, which is pastry with powdered sugar. It's a nightmare to get into the cafe, the queue is always miles long. So when I say we succeeded in getting into Cafe du Monde, I actually mean we successfully found it's sister cafe in a mall with relatively no queue. But it was still called Cafe du Monde, and it sold the exact same beignets. So hah. By the way, I shared those beignets with Jodie, they weren't all mine.... although they should have been....

And I still have the cup.

A cute eating place that Jodie introduced me to from when she last went to New Orleans (separately from me, we didn't even know each other then) was a place called Camellia, which is a pink American Diner. And it's pink. It serves really yummy breakfast foods, all your classics, and it's pink.

The photo doesn't show it very well, but it is pink. Also it was the waiter's idea to put the menu in the picture for "free advertising" so if anyone is actually reading this blog, and also happens to be going to New Orleans, and goes to Camellia because of this, then I have fulfilled your wishes Chris-waiter-man!

The rest of our French Quarter wanderings was largely centred around shopping. What can I say? We're girls. And I always check out the flea market whenever I'm there. And I think I've bought a mask every single time. I did this time too, it's part of my Halloween costume. I wish I had more to share, but we only had one full day there and as I was there before in better weather I didn't bother with a few things I otherwise would have. One thing I have to say though, is that Bourbon street is very interesting, if not... "uncivilised" is how I think our Dutch student put it, and so Frenchman Street really is the place to be with all the piano bars and stuff. Couldn't resist walking up and down Bourbon though to catch a few beads, which we did, and to hold up this rather heavy sign, which we had to pay 2 dollars to do (nothing is free in this town).

What else has been happening... apart from the food poisoning, which I won't go into. It's better that way. Well, I've been neglecting facebook for 4 days now. Except this was on purpose. I'm a refresh-er, guilty as charged, and I realised I was doing hitting that silly little button on facebook too often instead of doing actual work and having a life. So I decided to detox. I've been on it once in those 4 days, but that was work related believe it or not. I do miss it. I feel like I'm missing out on what everyone is doing. How do people who have no facebook at all have a social life? Surely they never get invited to anything, as that's all done on facebook now... well, time is up Sunday at midnight and I can't wait.

It's definitely Fall in Mississippi now. It's not nearly so hot as it used to be, and I get dew on my car in the mornings. This makes me sad. The heat of summer here is extraordinary and rather unbearable but it helps me feel like I'm definitely somewhere completely different from home. Now it feels like England on an unusually sunny day. Then winter will come... dang it. I suppose it's better temperatures for standing in the grove all day this Saturday for another football game. We're not badly this year, which is always nice.

And I can't possibly forget to mention that this week has been a celebration of 50 years of integration at the University of Mississippi. On October 1st 1961 James Meredith took his first class on campus. Since then a lot has changed, and we have been celebrating that change with many events. James Meredith couldn't come unfortunately but he has been here for a book signing and to watch the Texas game recently, and he'll apparently be back after too (is he avoiding it?). The event I went to was a talk given by Mr. Harry Belafonte. What an extraordinary and humble man. He was incredibly funny, and talked about knowing Bob Dylan and Martin Luther King Jr. as if it were completely normal to know people like them. I suppose to him it is. Add of course he talked some about the Civil Rights Movement, which quite rightly, in his own words, is "not just a thing of the past, not just a moment, Civil Rights is a way of life." It was a great honour to hear him.

UM Photo by Kevin Bain

TTFN!

Of Air Fresheners, Cows and Fabulous Friends

FREEEEEEEEDDDDOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!

Do you know what happened an hour ago? Oh, actually 2. Wow, time flies when I'm procrastinating. Anyway, at 8pm tonight, I, Eleana, was in Walmart. I was in Walmart. I Was In Walmart After The Buses Stopped! See, most people here have a car, and have had one since they were like 12 or something, because America has weird laws where a person can't drink until they're 21, but they're allowed to drive when they're still not big enough to see over the steering wheel. They've had a car forever, so I'm not sure they can truly understand how over the moon I am with owning a car. Well, except when they ask me about it and the first thing I do is squeal and do my little hopping dance of delight before telling them how much having a car rocks. Which I actually do, this is not a fabrication.

I'm sure the novelty will wear off at some point and I can be as cooly nonchalant as everyone else. But for the moment, I am a child with a new toy. An expensive toy, which I am also completely freaked out about. Every time I come out of my building, I am absolutely certain someone has already bashed their door into it or it's been stolen. Every time! It is very stressful leaving my apartment at the moment. Along with the novelty, I assume this will wear off also. I hope.

The day I got it, I drove to Walmart and entered a section I'd never before had a reason to step into..... the Auto section. And boy oh boy do I know nothing about cars. For about 92% of the section I am unable to either identify the products, or tell you how you use them. The air-freshener section? I am all over that. My favourite is anything that smells like berries or sweets, which people who have smelt my perfume collection will totally understand. I also bought a steering wheel cover. Not one of those fluffy zebra pattern ones (uck) but a nice leather one with silver/white detailing. Y'know, cause I'm a girl. It's so pretty! Getting it on the steering wheel was a bitch. I accidentally honked a random person in the car park. I'm never taking it off.

The part of the auto section I am looking forward to perusing next is the gadget and gizmo section.... but I've made myself wait until I get paid. Apparently social security numbers take bloody ages to come through. Who knew? And I decided my priority was to eat rather than pimp out my ride with LED lights. Which I'm not saying I'll do.....

I am coming to the end of a rather painful couple of weeks where I had to be writing assignments basically every day. I can see the light. Just one more to go, which I should be doing instead of blogging, but so far I've successfully put it off for... oooh.... 95 hours so why stop now. After this, I have at least 2 weeks where all I need to do is the reading for classes. Happy days. Oh, and there's a trip to New Orleans coming up so muchos fun is soon to be had! The only thing that could make it better is if I could actually drive down to New Orleans in my lovely car. But that would be silly as I have free transport provided. And it would add many many miles to the metre. Which is something I now have to worry about.

You'll all be ecstatic to know that I have been socialising, which I know you've all been worried about (which is sarcasm, just in case Sheldon Cooper is reading this). Making friends somewhere new has always been the thing I have been most worried about every time I've gone somewhere new, and it's always worked out. Well, seeing as I have the weird housemate situation where only one of my housemates is good at being friendly and, well, present, I've been hoping to make some really good friends outside of my living space. And I found them! My course mates are the best group of course mates I have probably ever had.

Walking into my first history class a month ago and listening to all the second years catching up with each other and knowing everyone, I was wondering if I could become that comfortable with them, seeing as that had been something I wasn't very good at back in the Birmingham days. Tell you what though, these kids are awesome. Everyone knows each other and gets on well. They are constantly inviting everyone to dinner and to their place for a party (wish I could do that but my housing situation..... yeah). We hang out at football games, which means that for the first time I actually have tents where I'm invited to take part rather than attempting to gate crash one because I'm hungry. And the closeness means that it's much easier to speak out in class, because even if what you say is stupid, the laughter is definitely not mean (very primary school outlook, I know, but we all have our insecurities and there's mine). I know some of them read this so I just want to say thank you, because you're making a Brit very happy 4800 miles away from home (I originally wrote 3000 miles, but my Dad corrected me. Good to know he's still at home, being awesome).

And soppyness over. Phew. So I'm not going to go into Ole Miss' epic defeat against Texas last night because... well.... it pains me. I am a very optimistic person (usually) and I really thought we had a chance. But I do know why they won..... they brought a cow with them. A REAL LIFE COW. Or a bull, actually, Becca said it was a bull. But still, that's crazy, you can't bring livestock to a football game. Next time, Ole Miss should bring a live bear. And if any opponent tries to break away for a touch down, we set the bear loose. It's food for thought, that's all I'm saying.

So Packed!

Oh fine, I'll get back to that damn essay. Seriously, cannot get used to having homework again. Although my motivation levels have never been high.....

Maybe I'll watch a movie.....

TTFN!

Of Getting Wheels, Libraries, and Scary Trucks

I am mobile. Or I will be, from this weekend. I bought a car. A car!!! That's, like, grown up stuff. And it's the most expensive thing I've ever bought for myself. Before that it was my plane ticket to Australia (ouchers). I mean, travelling around Australia cost a lot, and I certainly splurged a little more than I maybe should have (could so have used the money for my car), but they were lots of little things that made up one big expensive thing. This is just one big expensive thing. And I haven't even bought tags yet (I think this means the number plate...? Silly Americanisms) or my insurance. Gulp. But it was be worth it when my sexy little blue thang arrives and I can cruise around campus like, "yeah man, I got me some wheels!"

Yeah, no I'm not going to do that. It's just so that I can get home from class and stay in the library till midnight.

What? No, I'm not lame! Or a nerd, I heard that.

This be my wheels, yo

Side note: there is a section in the library that is especially for Graduates, which I love. That's my working space. As an undergrad on my exchange year abroad I would peer into the area longingly, and just once I sneaked in to read a book and kept looking up every 20 seconds to check that a librarian wasn't about to arrive and demand to see my student ID. They didn't. Now I wish they did. I don't want no undergrad in my precious space! How dare they. It's super exclusive! My friend Joey laughed when I told him this. I think that was undeserved.

Anyway, when I picked up my rental car to go to Memphis and find my new car, I did not expect to be given this ----->
It was mahousive! I felt really bad for only being able to take up one of the six seats. I was so hyper aware of any other vehicle that passed me, in case they weren't giving my massive bulk enough room. And when I picked up my friend Jodie from her house, I was too terrified to go up her drive, which is basically a hill, in case I couldn't turn around and come down again. It was brand new as well with no scratches or anything so whenever I heard a tiny pebble get flicked up into the wheel arch, I was paranoid it had in fact shattered a window. And if I locked it and went into a garage or a shop, I was certain when I came out it had been stolen. The stereo was awesome though. I started listening to chart music and then felt bad and swtiched over to country music. That's the best bit about road trips in the south.

Also, the cabs of trucks in this country are made to scare you. I saw a bright blue cab in my rearview mirror with massive silver chrome exhuast pipes that when it beeped it's horn at me for being 2 mph under the speed limit, it shook the ground (no it didn't) and I moved quickly into the next lane. But, when it shot past me, it had this little piddling back which in no way matched it's front and made it look ridiculous. The ones that are long enough that they take a full 2 minutes to get passed you, now they are proper scary.

Short entry today because I have quite a few assignments to complete. Quite a few. A lot. More than I want. So I'm going to get on with that.

TTFN!

Of One Great Big Gripe (and some other stuff)

I'm beginning to resent email and text messaging. Anything that means I don't get an immediate response, and I can't guarantee I'm even going to get a response. If I'm sending you an email, it's not for the good of my health. Or that I just want you to know I'm thinking of you. I will never do that. You know when people send text messages, and it doesn't ask or require an opinion? Well, I'm not going to reply. Ask me a question, and my reply is guaranteed. That's why I don't send pointless texts or emails, because I know in the reverse situation you won't hear from me. So if I send you a text or email, just reply. Make my life easier.

And come to the bloody meetings I set up. I know they're out of hours, but that means that I, too, am having to work out of hours, and I did it so I don't disrupt your schedules. I would much rather be watching Law and Order and eating cinnabon ice cream. Trust me. If you're not coming, just tell me. Make up an excuse. Make up a really bad god awful excuse, and I won't care. I do it all the time. You grandmother, aunt, second cousin, and the dog have all come down with the flu in the last 20 minutes and you're the only one who can take care of them as your father has been called to come into work by NASA because the first commercial spaceship has finally been finished to ferry up those 8 richest people in the world and that celebrity who we used to know the name of but can no longer remember it and we're all unsure where she coughed up enough cash to buy a ticket, and your mother has just started menopause and has shut herself up indefinitely in her room. Give me that excuse.

I'm griping, I know. But I need the space to gripe, and my friends are too busy working, and the coffee shop where I am currently sitting is too loud for me to have a chat anyway, so this is my space. Not that you're not my friends. Of course you are! Hey Friend.

My first assignment is done and out the way. It was my worst kind of assignment, so I'm so glad it's over: A Presentation DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN.

My work station at 3am when I was hit with motivation

Seriously, I hate those things. It doesn't matter how well I know my stuff, like this time, or the fact I think the presentation looks amazing and I've actually been able to come up with some intelligent responses. As soon as I'm at the front of the class, my tongue gets in the way and my words come out in an order that makes sense, but really doesn't make sense. Like Yoda. And I go off on unprepared tangents and can't complete the thought. I couldn't bear to count how many times I finished a point "and, yeah" *desparate look at partner Joey* Confound it. You'd think at 23 I'd be used to this. I've done presentations before, and I'm quite nervous when I meet new people but I can usually muddle through somehow.

Besides that, I'm pretty sure we rocked the presentation. The first one I even felt vaguely confident about after, rather than wanting to find somewhere to hide. And my professor said that, as the first groups (there was another presentation) we had set "a good bar..... an excellent bar." I'm glad she revised that, unless she was trying to fool us and mask the grade she's really going to give us.

I ate so much food last night. Who was I kidding, thinking I was going to be sensible with what I ate. I snacked on 3 mini corndogs (they were mini, I swear) while I made dinner. I made a massive portion of cashew chicken and rice for myself and my flatmate (my flatmate ate half of hers, I guzzled the whole thing), and then had a cinnamon bun with icing (or 2) and some cinnabon ice cream.... and then I think I managed to restrain myself. But I was eyeing up the mozzarella sticks with Ranch dressing everytime I went near the fridge. Why does everything taste so good here? Actually, I'm told it's becuase they pump sugar into everything. But that's fine with me. That's how I like my food. Addictive.

So...... I really didn't get any work done this evening. I just wrote this. Such procrastination. But in this way I have selflessly given of myself to you instead of attending to my own needs. You are very welcome.

Of My Love Hate Relationship

I have a love-hate relationship with a lot of things in America. These are just some of them.

I love the way people just abandon their cars in the car park. It's like they didn't even try, they just thought "this bit's empty" and left it there. I'm sure if the car park was full I'd be pissed that a whacking great SUV has parked itself over three spaces, but for the minute it's just funny.

I hate the way total strangers are talking to me. Well, I don't hate it, I'm just not used to it, and at the moment, because of my nature, it makes me uncomfortable. I feel fake because I'm trying to be super friendly and interesting for the 30 seconds this person is in my life and calling my attention, and while they're talking I'm just constantly thinking "in a second we're never gonna see each other again, why are you bothering?" This feeling is one I hope will change. And I do hope people still talk to me. Especially if they're cute. Especially especially if they're cute and a guy.

I love the fact that the weather is actually warm instead of the poor excuse of a summer that we have in England. And I love that they have air-conditioning everywhere.

I hate the fact it's too freaking warm outside and that the air-conditioning is too freaking cold. I carry leggings and a jacket with me wherever I go so that I can fend off hypothermia inside.

I love the epic storms they have here. When it rains, it goes all out, and it's hilarious to be caught out in it. There are so many lightning storms and the thunder is floor shakingly loud, I love it.

I hate getting soaked in the rain right before going into a class. It makes the air-conditioning that much more painful.

I love kroger for having all my cashew nut and cinnamon cravings. And just America in general for having all my favourite foods.

I hate the fact that all my favourite food makes me fat.

I love that everything is drive through. Drive through food, drive through ATMs, I'm just waiting for drive through clothes stores. Can I get a drive through gym and put my car on a treadmill?

I hate the fact you need a car. The heck! You guys are making me spend thousands on a vehicle to get across a stupid bridge to my flat.

I love the work I'm doing. My Masters is perfect for me. My job is perfect for me. I can actually do the work and not feel like I'm being stupid. I even feel good enough to put forward ideas in class. Out loud. Whhhhaaaatt??

I hate the amount of reading we have to do. I get it, I get that I'm in a Masters programme and that I'm supposed to read to get good background knowledge etc etc for my future career, but dammit I want to go to a club! And go to Memphis! And eat out at restaurants! All of these things require a car though....

But most of all, I just love that I'm here again. Yes, it's still difficult making friends and I'm working on feeling comfortable with certain things, but hopefully all these things will eventually fall into place. I really do love my job, it's what I want to do in the long run. I love the fact I'm problem solving and organising events and hearing all these different accents around me again. I love the people I've met so far and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna love the people I get to meet soon. Fingers crossed my boyfriend is out there somewhere.........

Nah just kidding.

Except I'm not....


Where are yooooooou???

This is Rachael.... not my boyfriend.....

TTFN!

Of Travel and Starting Anew

I am starting anew.

To explain, once I left Australia I arrived back in the UK and lived at my parents' home for a month. It was great, having my meals and laundry done for me again (I know, I'm one of those people) and my parents were so pleased to have me around again. My Dad kept saying "I can't believe you're here! I'm so glad you're here!" even though he'd been travelling with me for the last 2 weeks and even witnessed me get on the plane to come back. My mum just gave me the odd sudden hug which is much more my style (sorry Dad, but you do know this). I got to see my sister who came home from Uni a few times, and I saw my friends for a few dinners, and even had an old school sleepover at my best friend's house like we used to do in Secondary School (with the added addition of a new tradition of consuming vast quantities of Yum Yums - pastry heaven).

I had a day trip in London to get my American Visa which went so fast! 3 years ago it took 4 hours, this time only 1 and half. Once I'd convinced them I was not going to be a threat to their country, I got lost trying to find my Mum who had come with me and was actually only down the road, and we went to a Japanese lunch place for some seriously yummy food, had a good walk around London, and then had dinner in a dim sum place before going to see Billy Elliot in the West End. Such a good time, I love London a lot.

I spent the week before I left for America watching copious amounts of TV, because of the Olympics. I am now a major fan of archery. And I don't see the point in water polo.

I would have watched the entire second week's running of sport but I had to get on a plane and leave the country again, which wasn't without it's drama. When I arrived for my flight, they told me it was delayed by 4 hours, which was a problem because I had already arranged transport to get me from Memphis Airport to Oxford, MS which I couldn't change. My Dad, of course, saved the day once again by thinking clearly instead of panicking like I was and asked United Airlines to change my flight. I managed to get one sooner than my now delayed flight, and I said goodbye to my parents once again (I'm sure sure they're getting annoyed with me having to say goodbye all the time. They've given me so many leaving presents...).

As I sat in the departure gate, something amazing happened. I was bumped up to Business Class. Hell Yes! I have asked every single time I've gotten on a flight, and finally it pays off. At first the guy offered me a Business Class seat that unfortunately had no sound so I couldn't watch TV, but I was so thrilled by the prospect of the upgrade I didn't care. Then just before I boarded he said they had a perfectly working seat available. You know when the airport staff say "can families with young children please come forward to board the plane, and anyone else requiring assistance. Business Class and First Class may board at leisure"? Well, I boarded at my own leisure, which was straight away so I could enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Business Class is something else, it doesn't even really feel like you're on a plane. You are separated from the "commoners" behind by a curtain. You have epic room to put all your bags away and stretch your legs. You have a shelf which I could put my book on. You can move the back of the seat and the foot of the seat independently to whatever position you require, or the whole seat to create a bed. You get your drinks in real glasses, you know, ones made of glass. They actually trust you with those. And proper knives and forks. Multiple knives and forks! I had two pairs of each. Little salt and pepper shakers, china plates, and steak! I had a proper steak meal. And the pillow and blanket was wonderful, if only I could have stolen it. I did steal the overnight kit they give you, with the creams and ear plugs (best ear plugs I own, they actually work) and sleep masks and a toothbrush. And the toilets are roomy. And for dessert (back to food) they came around with a trolley and made personalised ice cream sundaes. Is this for real? Do all Business and First Class airlines do all this? I must always travel this way.

If you're wondering, my technique to try for an upgrade is to wear something comfortable but still a bit smart. I wear nice shoes too. When I go to check in, I ask if an upgrade is possible, and they will usually say no. I've always found that people tend to get upgrades while they're sitting at the departure gate, but I think perhaps they must make a note that you asked. I'm also super nice and friendly, I think that helps. And they won't upgrade you unless the plane is full as well.

Anyway, when I landed in Houston I dragged my on board case along in a hobbled over Quasimodo fashion because the handle got stuck, and hit the immigration queue. It wasn't long, but it took forever, and naturally I chose the wrong queue. When I moved, that queue slowed down. I moved again, one of the officers left and only one was ushering people through. Curses, this always happens. When I eventually got through it had taken so long that they'd removed my suitcase and a few others from the baggage belt and it was just sitting in a group on the floor. It took that long. Finally I checked my bag in again, went to the departure hall, and found out that my connecting flight had also been delayed. I was sending panicky texts back to my Dad, "Ring the emergency number for Ole Miss, I've been delayed again. Tell them they have to come get me. I'm not sleeping in the airport."

I convinced myself to choke down a big mac and a few fries and sipped a diet coke feeling completely woozy the whole time. My body was very aware I was supposed to be asleep and I really wished I'd got some shut eye on the plane, the first time ever that I probably had the chance to, but I just didn't want to miss a minute. I was really paying for it in Houston.

My connecting flight was a a tiny little excuse for a plane. Really it was a flying bus. Two people one said of the aisle, one on the other. My seatmate didn't seem to know what was going on at all, so I hope he got to his destination. He was American though so he didn't have jet lag as an excuse. When I got the airport (Memphis is so tiny, it's hardly an airport) and found my driver, I was able to string some coherent sentences together about American football season and my complete confusion over baseball, and then he dropped me at my hotel an hour and 15 minutes later. I was so happy to go to bed that night, you have no idea. Or if you've ever been jet lagged before you probably do.

This is the 6th time I've had to set myself up in a completely new place with all the essentials. I had to buy linen and towels and bathroom stuff and kitchen stuff and bins and a phone and all sorts. Oh and food, which I have so looked forward to for the longest time. I got all my favourite things I'd missed (except for a few they no longer sell, curses!) and moved into my empty apartment. I took one day to prepare myself, and then I started work full time the next day. I am dedicated to my craft! And my craft is working with International Exchange Students, like I used to be. I completely love my job. I organise a lot of social things as well as trying to help them adjust into the new culture. I think I'm pretty good at it too, not to blow my own trumpet or anything.

My classes are... annoying. Well, I've been out of education for a whole year. Over a year, in fact. So I am trying to adjust back to having to read textbooks and being given homework. It's not the easiest thing, after I've been so used to coming home from work and being able to completely shut off. And all three classes end after the public transportation finishes, so I either have to get a taxi every time or walk across a highway bridge with no pedestrian sidewalks in the heat. I've tried to do without the taxis. I'm really stingy. I have a class which ends at 9:30pm! So that one I am trying to bag lifts for.

I want to go into more detail about all this, but I feel this is quite a bit of writing for one post, and I'll have much more to say as time goes. I am absolutely loving being back at Ole Miss. The place is the same, but the experience is completely different to my time 3 years ago. In good ways and in bad, but I will work on the bad. Sorry to go on so long, but I've had 2 months to catch up on, and I haven't even really finished that yet! Anyway, more next time.

TTFN!

Of The Last of Australia - Ayers Rock and Sydney

Aw man, I can't believe I'm still writing this. I've moved countries twice since I went on this trip and I'm still not finished! I'm gonna zoom through the last week of my travels even though it was probably the best and most interesting part. Then I can move on and explain the name change of my Blog.

Okay, so we could sort of see Ayers Rock when we arrived, and my Dad got all emotional about it, but first we had to move into our accommodation. Now, hotels in Uluru are expensive. The cheapest place was the one we got, seeing as I was on a budget, and even then it was the same price as the pricier hotels we'd been staying in. I suppose they figure you either pay the money and sleep there or you try and sleep in the National Park and get arrested. The cheaper place, The Outback Pioneer Lodge, is actually the most fun, and for a travelling group of 4 it's excellent and the rooms hold 4 people. It's basically a hostel, which confused my Dad when we arrived:

"How do you change with strangers in the room? Where's the bathroom? You're taking the top bunk."

The hotel/hostel has small rooms with 2 bunk beds, and a separate shower/toilet building on the complex. Not a problem during the hotter months, very much a problem in July when it's absolutely freezing in the mornings and evenings and you're trying to whip in and out of your clothing in your shower cubicle. We had the room to ourselves the first night which was great, and the second night the two Canadians who joined us went to sleep before we'd even come back from dinner. Unfortunately the guy snored. I wish doctors would cure that.

So, we arrived and moved in and after a quick lunch, we had our first tour to watch the sunset. Whatever tour you book, a coach comes round all the hotels to collect everyone whose booked it and then drives off for the tour. Our tour bus took us to the designated Sunset watching area. It may be worth considering the time of year you go to Ayers Rock, because for us in July the position of the sun meant that the sunsets were the most spectacular. At the opposite time of year, the sunrises are better.

Our tour put out some snacks and drinks and gave us camping seats, and we joined the other tours to watch the sunset. It really was amazing, the red was so vibrant and if you take a photo every 5 minutes the Rock is a slightly different colour. Definitely a good idea to bring your tripod. Dad was having fun practising with all the buttons on his camera to find the best settings and positioned the moon in different places on the shot. I don't know, I don't have the camera or the knowledge so I can't explain. But at least he was amused. One thing I will say is that for the sunset tour, unless you're doing the dinner after, you might as well skip doing it as a tour and just drive there on your own. There's no need to pay $50 each, unless you haven't got a car, because there's no commentary or anything different. I'll explain later.

At its brightest

When the sun was below the horizon

When we got back to our hotel, we queued up for the BBQ. If you stay at a different hotel, you can still come to the Outback for the BBQ, and I really suggest that you do. You queue up to purchase your meat, and you can choose from beef, buffalo, crocodile, chicken, emu, iguana. Maybe not iguana. But all kinds of different meat, as burgers or sausages or steaks. Then once you've paid you bring it over to a range of BBQ grills and cook it yourself. To one side is a heated case with vegetables, potatoes, salad and dessert. It was really great.

The next morning we got up super early to go on our sunrise tour. Now, at this point I shall recommend doing the Sunrise Highlights tour. There are many tour options available, and it will depend on how far you want to walk as well. We didn't want to do a whole lot of walking, some tours offer a base walk which is quite a big thing. Our tour was small, only a minibus full of people, and it was great. Pip, our guide, picked us up and took us past the sunrise viewing area to a layby a little further in. It meant we were on our own without all the tour groups standing around us, and he provided tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and breakfast cereals. It was damn cold. I mean it, all of me was cold but my feet were agonisingly freezing. They alternated between being painful and numb. That was my only issue with the trip. During the day it wasn't boiling, and was actually rather pleasant, but in July the nights and mornings are very cold.

Anyway, we watched the sunrise, and then we packed up and drove to the Rock itself. The great thing was that because we weren't at the viewing area with the other tours and were further along, we reached the Rock before any of the other tours and were able to look at it and have our talk from Pip without anyone else around, and get in some good pictures. Pip was fantastic, and told us really interested Aboriginal stories. He showed us Aboriginal art on the walls, and explained what a few of the symbols meant, but said that the history was very sacred and Aboriginals won't tell them everything. He also pointed out where there used to be art, but previous generations of tour guides had thrown water on the paintings to make the colours more vibrant for older cameras, and had washed most of it away.

He explained some of the stories they knew from the Aboriginals that explained what particular cracks in the Rock meant. He showed us the watering hole, where, despite the Rock being in the middle of the desert, the water has never run dry. When he brought us back to the bus and we drove around the base, he told us more stories of other Rock formations we could see, and told us where there was a sacred place for Aboriginals, which we're not allowed to take photos of (he had to tell on man off who was glued to his camera).

Our tour guide, Pip, who was awesome

We stood near the base where other tour groups were walking up the Rock to the top, and told us how Aboriginals hated that tourists would walkupon their sacred Rock, which we were not going to be doing. He told us other stories, about how a group of 4 or 5 tourists in one family climbed the Rock without a guide, in the blistering heat of summer, when the temperature was 40 degrees Celsius and the Rock was 50 degrees (it's apparently 10 degrees different on the Rock than off), in Crocs of all things, and that the Crocs had melted on the Rock and they'd all received third degree burns to their feet, and were stuck up there. It is thousands of dollars per person to get someone down off the Rock, and so that family alone spent about AUD$35,000 to get rescued.

Me, not climbing Ayers Rock

Another tourist had outlined his travels around Australia for his parents, and when he didn't check in with his parents at a designated time, they called Ayers Rock police to say he was missing. He'd climbed up Ayers Rock on his own, and had fallen off the top to a point halfway down and completely hidden, and unfortunately died. The heat at the time meant that he was practically mummified by the time they found him and brought him down.

Also, a new tour company who wanted to establish themselves at Ayers Rock stencilled their website address on top of the Rock to get aerial shots from a helicopter for brochures. Well, drawing on the Rock is completely illegal, for obvious reasons, and they went to court. If a small company, they would have to pay a fine that could completely bankrupt them, and if they were a big company, it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So, let all those stories be a warning to you.

While the sunset tour was not really necessary to purchase, I really felt that the Sunrise Highlights tour was worth every penny. It was so interesting, and Pip was so knowledgeable. It is a completely different experience to go to Ayers Rock and really find out about it's history and the myths and legends that surround it, rather than just staring at it through a camera lens.

When we got back to the hotel again, Dad left for the airport to collect a hire car, and then we made our own way to Kata Tjuta. A guided tour of that would also have been really interesting, I'm sure, but I had still been mindful of my budget, and so decided not to book one. We parked right up near it and walked as far as the Valley of the Winds, although they have much longer walks available for free too. Kata Tjuta is also pretty spectacular as a natural structure. These two rocks, Kata Tjuta and Ayers Rock, just appear on the horizon of otherwise completely flat land. It's so strange.

 When we drove back, it was getting close to sunset, so we decided to go again and watch the sunset on Ayers Rock ourselves. This is why I feel like booking a tour is not necessary if you have or hire a car. It's easy to do yourself, you go to a different area for independent people wanting to watch the sunset, and it's just as spectacular. Actually it was even more spectacular for us. I'm not sure if it was the location or that particular day but the colour of the Rock was just unbelievable, which I hope you can see in the photo.

That night we had another BBQ, because it was just so much, fun, and then went to bed. The next day we were going to get a plane back to Sydney, but first we went to the Ayers Rock Resort village to look around the shops, and watch the free boomerang throwing tutorials. They also have Aboriginal dancing a lunchtimes, although we missed it both days.

As Dad said, Ayers Rock was really a tick in the box, and I'm so glad I did it. Dad said it was on his bucket list, so he was thrilled to have seen it. It was quite the contrast, leaving Ayers Rock and the desert and arriving again in a bustling city which was so familiar to me, yet which felt different because I was no longer living there with my friends and I was showing Dad all the things he remembered from visiting years earlier and some new things.

Sydney is really special to me. It did take a while to grow on me, which I wasn't expecting as I thought I'd just love it straight away, but it was a different place than I thought it would be from programmes and pictures I'd seen. In a way I found my own Sydney, and I loved that. I met up with Jee Eun, Saki, and Olina again and I'd missed them loads. We went out to Max Brenner which would be my last time *sob* and I gave them little trinkets I'd bought on my travels. I went again to see Mrs Macqaurie's chair and the Opera House, and Westfields and Darling Harbour, and Paddy's Market and China Town. I showed my Dad where I lived before with the girls and we took my route to work so that he could also see where I'd worked at the University of Sydney. I took him inside and introduced him to my ex-colleagues who had received my postcard. I took him to my favourite spot to look at the city, which is behind the swimming pool on the campus if you are there or ever go there and want to take a look.

Dad's favourite cup of coffee

Where I worked while At Sydney University

I was genuinely sad to leave, as I always am when I've gone somewhere exciting. I'm never really sad to leave England, maybe because I keep coming back to it. But who knows when I will visit Australia again. We managed to get me on the same flight as my Dad (we were supposed to leave on different days), and we didn't tell my Mum that I was coming home early (although we had to tell me sister so that she could make sure Mum came to pick us up). The flight was very long. On the way to Australia I'd broken it up with a week in Hong Kong, but this time we just got our connecting flight and moved on. I watched lots of movies as I always do, asked for all the extra snacks we were allowed because I love aeroplane food, and then when we landed I had horrifically swollen ankles which completely freaked me out, having never had that particular problem before. I temporarily forgot about my ankles when I snuck up behind my Mum and said hello for this first time in over 5 months. She was shaking so hard (not from fright, I didn't shout boo) that my Dad had to drive us home. And then after I'd dished out all my presents (turns out I bought a lot for my sister. As in a lot. I'm going to need to pay attention next time as she didn't even by me a birthday present) and had a good chat about everything, I fell asleep on the couch. I vaguely remember when my Mum woke me up that I tried to get to my bedroom through the garden patio doors, and then didn't know what do when she put pyjamas in my hands, but finally I was in bed, in England, asleep.

I just want to thank Australia in general. And all the people that I met within it, who talked to me on planes when I was on my own, who took me places I wouldn't have been able to go by myself, who chatted with me as if no time had past even though we'd been apart for almost 20 years, who took me to the beach at night which I'd never have done myself, who made me laugh so hard about boys like I was 13 again. And to thank my Dad, for joining me on the other side of the world when I was really starting to find that travelling alone was very difficult and lonely, and encouraged me to spend a little bit more than my spendthrift ways wanted me to in order to have the best 5 months ever (although the money would definitely be useful now I'm trying to buy a car....).

And also to you, whether you're a friend of mine reading this or you were just interested in a pommie's adventures. It was nice to have people interested in what I was doing. I hope you continue to read on, now that I am continuing this blog as a Pommie now living in America. I rejected the idea of renaming this The Limey Diaries, because I don't think it's quite as catchy, or the term quite as well known.

Anyway, welcome to my new series:

The Pommie Diaries: Abroad

 TTFN!