Updating because if I don't, Allie can't stalk me.

My Old French Literature class, which I already wasn't too fond of because of a. the content, b. the hour [10am on a Monday morning] and c. the professor [blowhard English dude who talks and talks and talks and obviously really enjoys the sound of his own voice] is now 2 hours long, and starts at 9. This morning was torture.

However, since our prof likes to think he's hip, he brought up Buffy, specifically Once More With Feeling, the musical episode, asking which season it was in. It was obviously just to get us involved, and OF COURSE, since I'm a total geek, I kinda totally knew the season, the episode number and all of the songs by heart. So I outed myself as a total geek, and his analogy didn't even make any sense.

Whatevs.

Also Aunt Anne would like to let Mum know that it was the Moscow Ballet she took us to see, not the Dunfermline Ballet. [scoff]

There was a huge pothole right by the bus stop, and seeing as it was raining today, as it does every day, those of us waiting at the bus stop were a little apprehensive. One of the girls even put up her umbrella and held it out in front of her like a shield.

Of course, it's only about 10 minutes later when we've forgotten about it that a double decker number 61 comes barrelling down the hill straight through it. None of us got wet, but the wonderful bus driver [no sarcasm] actually got out of his little bus-driver's-cubicle and leaned out the door and asked, "Sorry about that, did I get any o' yous wet?"

_{I love this country. :_]}

ALSO I am now officially obsessed with Merlin, and have a whole new fandom to distract me from my studies.

On the bus today, the guy in front of my had "DO SOME WORK" emblazoned across his hand in blue pen. It made me smile.

After class I went shopping, because Sarah has just turned in two papers and wanted a day off, and I'll take any excuse to go shopping [geez, that's seems like all I do here if you just read my lj] and in the M&S bathrooms some lady just chatted away to me for about 5 minutes. "Och, come oan, hen, I'm bursting, Ah hate these places, they always smell. Is that another one o'er there?" Seriously, people here are so friendly [if that's the word you want to use, haha], they'll just talk to anyone.

Happy note: I just turned in my U.S. History paper, after spending the weekend in our hall's library with friends [yes, we DID actually get work done].

Sad note: Pictures from the dance studio just went up on facebook [costumes and run throughs of dances], and for some odd reason, I can't seem to stop crying.

Walking home from French the other day I decided that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012 because some dude just gave up. "Oh, bugger this for a lark," (because Mayans are obviously British in my head). "Right, I'm fed up, can't be bothered, does anyone else want a go?" And obviously no, no one wants "a go" because that's the crappiest job there is in the Mayan empire, aside from being a sacrificee. All of this probably could have been avoided if I had remembered my iPod.

So that's my life. Work, work, and more work. Hopefully once the term ends I'll have more exciting news. Love always, Rhona

But I've had a wonderful day, so, again, as I do, I'm going to tell you about it.

I had a 5 hour break in between my two lectures today (ick, I know), but instead of wasting time and then kind of, maybe, sort of doing some work, I spent the day with Sarah, one of my Australian friends, lazily wandering around the main road by the university. We didn't really do anything exciting at all, but we spent lots of time talking, and sharing our lives, and talking about my life made me realize how much I love it.

No, really. I love my family, and my friends, and my classes and my dreams, and myself. That last one sounds really pretentious, I guess, but it's completely true, and sometimes I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to feel this way.

Self-involved reflection over now.

Adding to my impossibly good mood is the fact that we had my favorite meal in the dining hall today--penne pasta with mushroom, broad beans and cream sauce, with tomato soup and sticky toffee pudding. Mmmm. And yesterday, Carmen and I went to Edinburgh for the day, and while the castle was expensive and not all that impressive, we still had a great time, and amazing food (fishcakes made from Abroath smokies [look it up! ;] ] and "mature Scottish cheddar").

I'm going to read about the New Deal now, because clearly the 10 week long intensive upper div course I took on in last winter wasn't enough.

Love and luck, Rhona

Snatches of Scotland!

The wardens (RAs, for my American friends) dragged us out of bed at 7 Tuesday morning for a fire drill, for which I basically sleepwalked outside (in the freezing cold), stood outside (in the freezing cold) and then promptly went back to bed (where it was waaaarm). It mostly seems like a dream now (a terrible, terrible, cold dream), but I do remember seeing some tall, skinny guy standing around in slippers and a dressing robe, not a care in the world. It was my friend Rob, from England, who's really sweet and shy and kind of awkward, in a wonderful way. Another one of those first years whose cheeks I just want to pinch.

That's all I can think of for now. I should try to do this more often. :/

When I woke up this morning, I gleefully said to my empty room, "Happy Birthday to me!"

I repeated that phrase multiple times today, with varying degrees of sarcasm.

After breakfast with my buddies, during which I opened my birthday cards (thank you, everyone!), I did exciting birthday laundry, which, as it turns out, is exactly like normal laundry, except on your birthday.

Checked the mail again, because I love mail, and there was both a birthday card from my parents and one from my brother. To summarize: Dad misses me because he has no one to watch his highbrow movies with, Mum says that even though I'm supposed to have a "wonderful, memorable Scottish birthday," that does not mean I can drink, and my brother is the cutest thing to ever throw a ball at my face.

I met some friends after class at the Dorothy Perkins on Buchanan Street, because they were having a "Fashion Night" which means everything is 20% off and they hired a dj, make-up artists and hair stylists--the shopping culture here is super fun. I got a few things, but then I had to get back on campus for my bollywood rehearsal, and that's where my day took a turn for the not-very-good.

No one I know has successfully managed to use the bus system to get from the city centre back into the university. No one. We've done everything else, but not that. But see, I figured, since I took a bus there, I could get the same one back. Except the street it goes down is a FLIPPING ONE WAY STREET. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ON IT GOING THE OTHER WAY, GLASGOW BUS SYSTEM? YOUR LOGIC IS ILLOGICAL

So I walked. A ways. Rehearsal was fun, blah, blah, blah, rushed out early in order to catch the minibus, which is a service provided by the university--buses that fit fifteen people, and are driven by students. The problems? They fit fifteen people and are driven by students. Who are apparently very bored and can only amuse themselves by leaving whenever they feel like it. So yeah, missed that. Also missed the other bus that can take me up to Maryhill Road, the 18, so I walked. Again. Finally I caught the bus that goes along Maryhill Road up to my halls, but I essentially walked from Sauchiehall Street to Maryhill Road, which, for those of you who know Glasgow, is quite a ways, and for those of you who don't know, I'm telling you, it's quite a ways.

I got home an hour after leaving rehearsal, tired and achy, when what should there be on my door but a poster from my wee little Irishman, Paul? So my day took a definite upturn, and now I'm going to eat a sandwich and watch the Inbetweeners with my buddies before falling into bed, because I am le tired.

Happy Birthday to me!

"Good girls don't climb steps."

"Can I buy a fag off ye, darlin'?"

"It's fair swelterin' out there, hen."

"Easterhoose? Oh, don't go there!"

That last one was my mother, trying to figure out where my dorms are. It always really freaks me out when the Scottish accent comes back in full when I'm least expecting it.

Anyway, this weeks looks to be better than last week, which I spent running between everyone in the entire french department trying to figure out where I should be, and the doctor's office, trying in vain to get an appointment. Turns out I had a sinus infection, which neatly explains the EXCRUCIATING PAIN. Getting an appointment was a nightmare, because every poor little first year away from his mummy with the sniffles decided he needed to see a doctor. D:< BUT I have antibiotics now, and I already feel better.

Things are good, even if in my us history section I feel like there's a spotlight trained on me. "And what do you think, American?"

OH AND I HAVE A FABULOUS NEW COAT THAT KEEPS ME WAAAAAARM AND IT IS FABULOUS AND I ALREADY SAID THAT BUT IT IS TRUE SO I'M NOT TAKING IT BACK. THERE.

So apparently that fluid build-up on the side of my face is maybe possibly a sinus infection. I'm not quite sure, because I've never had one before.

It was especially bad last night, but I took a really hot shower and then stuck a hot water bottle to my face, which helped. It seems to have moved from my temple to my jaw, and now I can actually feel liquid squelching in my gums, which is a rather curious feeling. I've dumped the sinus/cold medication in favor of the heavy duty pain killers I use for headaches, and I do feel better.

The side effect of being sick for a week is that since I've been taking NyQuil at night, and falling asleep at 9, I've been getting up at earlier and earlier hours, culminating in my being wide awake at 5:30 this morning. So I opened my curtains and watched the sun rise. :]

And yes, I am planning on going to a doctor first thing Monday morning.

Hi there! Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've been, um, busy.

Anyway, we've started classes now, after a week of international students orientation, and then another week called Freshers Week, where all the new freshmen, at least the ones that are 18, get completely and totally wasted for 7 nights in a row.

Classes. I am having trouble with them.

Well, that's an exaggeration, I guess. Mostly it's just my French class that's a pain--there is a long story involved that I'm sure no one wants to hear, which ends up with me being sorted into a class that's just below my level and won't count for anything towards my major. I'm working on it.

History is really good, though. I'm taking US History, which, yes, I've done before and I know pretty well, but I wanted to hear it from an outside perspective, and while there haven't been any really big differences, it's interesting just to hear the variations in rhetoric. For instance: Thanksgiving is to this day the most popular American holiday. That made me make confused!face, but whatevs.

And then there's The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Superpower, which is one whopper of a title. BUT good lecturer, small class, and there's a really nice girl that sits next to me, so I'm pleased.

She is, however, quite possibly the only Scottish person I've really talked to. All of my friends in the halls are either exchange students (because they're also in their third year and therefore easier to talk to--I didn't realize how much of a difference 2 years makes; freshman are so young!) or, weirdly enough, from England. Also, first year girls are...giggly. And kind of false. Most of the first years I hang out with are guys, and I totally feel like their mother(s).

If I sound a little subdued, that's because this french class thing is really getting to me, and I've had a cold for the past week, and now it feels like there's a liquid build up in the left side of my face, in my jaw, my ear and my temple. It is weird, and also icky. I do not like it. Also, my international friends are gone today to Edinburgh, but I couldn't get tickets because they sold out, so instead today I get to work on a french presentation for a class I don't even know I'm going to stay in.

But life is not quite as bad as that, because my Australian friends have introduced me to an Australian drama, and every night after dinner we sprawl on Sarah's bed and watch another episode on her laptop; Gran's moved back home and I'm going to brave the train tomorrow to see her; I got a gorgeous new dress in a thrift store; I got to spend last weekend with my little cousins, the youngest of which is like Ross 8 years ago, and therefore it felt just like home, and I'm in shopping heaven.

So it's all smiles and a stuffy nose,
Rhona

Went to the pub for dinner a few nights ago, and on the tv was the British version of American Idol, and on the way out, one of the servers, an older man, grey hair and beard, glasses and kindly face, asked us, "Would you turn that rubbish off before you go?"

We also went to Largs, which is where the Vikings landed, and I'm very familiar with the town and it's viking museum, because since we're the McFadyen family, wherever we are, we always manage to find the museum. It's a wee vacation town, with touristy shops and the best ice cream you've ever had (Italian gelato with Scottish tablet? YES PLEASE) and, very occasionally, sunshine.

Of course, getting there required lots of backroads, which are about the width of a car and a quarter, but they've got a wee white line down the middle, so you know which side of the road you should be on. Theoretically.

I've gotten very familiar with the bus system, at least the two buses that I need to take to get to the university. Someday I'll walk down and take pictures along the way, because I have to concentrate way too hard on where to get off when I'm actually on the bus.

There's close to no one in my halls, but Dad said that when he stopped by the front desk this morning, there were lots of people in the hall for breakfast, so I guess I'll see tomorrow.

Orientation started today, and I met people from South Carolina and Georgia. I'll try to get all the southern states in and let you know how that goes. I probably got along best with the guy sitting in what we dubbed the "Antisocial Corner", which is fine by me. :D

In other news, my face still has that dry, salty just-cried feeling, because I just said bye to Dad, as he's away back to the states early in the morning. How telling is it that the last time I'll see him for the year, he was laughing at me while I cried?

OH ALSO. Yesterday I was sick. Probably a 24 hour bug, but ugh, it was gross. I was feeling okay, until I had to walk the winding corridors and the multiple unnecessary flights of stairs of my new halls, and I only just made it into the bathroom in time. Course I came out red-faced and teary-eyed, because throwing up hurts. Then Dad made me run to the bus stop, and I was okay for about an hour before I was sick again all over the floor in Marks & Spencer. It's their own fault for putting the bathrooms on the top floor on the opposite side of the building from the stairs. Anyway, I convinced Dad to let me go back to my dorms and spent the day asleep in bed, and the night awake in bed. Fun times.

But I'm feeling better today, and shall be back up to full-Rhona capacity when the sun rises. Or maybe a few hours after that.

Love always, Rhona

I spent more than a day on a plane, and it's mostly just a jumbled mess of memories, because, ugh, planes, so here you go:

I packed way more things than I needed to, and the two suitcases I was allowed to pack halfway turned into 3 almost full suitcases ; Mum cleaned my glasses before I left, and then I cried all over them saying goodbye ; I said goodbye to the house, San Jose, and then the golden hills of California because I'm a sentimental fool ; my new green suitcase reminds me of a chrysalis and makes me smile like an idiot ; Dallas airport is ridiculous--huge, with big windows from floor to ceiling (2 floors) that let the blinding sunlight in, a monorail called Skyline, and for some odd reason, a spiky castle-esque archway about 10 feet by 10 lined on the inside with blue fluorescent lighting. Just because they can, I suppose.

While Scotland doesn't feel exactly like home, it's familiar, in a comforting way. I'm already thinking in a Scottish accent, so when I speak it comes out uncomfortably between a Bay Area Californian accent and a stereotypical Scottish one, all funny vowels and dropped consonants and I keep making a fool of myself. The surrounding countryside isn't just vaguely familiar; on the way to Grampa's house past the airport I recognized almost every single motel sign half hidden by the motorway and trees because we've stayed in them all at one point or another.

I'm frankly exhausted--I've basically been up for 30 hours straight, and I have lots to do tomorrow, so I bid you adieu. Lots of love from Scotland, Rhona

Embedding my deviantart stuff on lj? Way too much fun. And it forces me to post!

( My newest obsession )

I just figured out how to get my deviantart stuff on lj! ( Come, let me show you )

So I leave for Scotland in a week, and I'm WAY EXCITED. I'm not scared at all anymore, probably because my visa finally arrived, which I was super worried about. Also Evelyn sent me a Scottish PlayMix, and the first song is the Dropkick Murphys and OMG BAGPIPES that sound like home, and here commences the über excitement.

Some things I need to get before I leave: a red headband, because my giant head broke my old one; stationary, because the whole world suddenly decided they wanted to start exchanging snail mail; a compact, because yesterday I tried to put makeup on in the backseat of the car and ended up looking like a hungover clown with a penchant for purple; and See's candies, because they don't have them in Scotland and I need them.

Speaking of things they don't have in Scotland, bubble tea! theecohummer and I had a lightrail adventure the other day, (only without orange_mai, woe) and got Quickly, and I decided that I really had to figure out how to make my own, because I'm so pathetic I can't go a year without. So today I made some, and it actually tastes pretty good, even though I used Lipton tea instead of black tea.

ANYWAY I'm off, work to do, packing to pretend to do, and I'm trying to finish as many unfinished drawings as I can before I leave and don't have access to a scanner.

Lots of love, Rhona

Babysitting is always an adventure. I don't do it often, and the kids are great, but man, it's weird. For instance, today we acted out "Little Bunny Goon Goon", you know, that tosser who bops bunnies on the head (got it a little mixed up, as you can see), which was put on as a play by the petshop animals for the other petshop animals, so they could win the green ribbon prize (they were up against the guys who did "Romeo and Juliet"), using a flashlight as a stage light and the whole thing was mostly an excuse to stay up later and thwart my efforts to get the kids in bed by 8:30.

We also played hide and seek, and I learned that the kids nowaways sing, "Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie, if you're not ready, holler aye!" when they're done counting, which is news to me.

Anyway, Scotland is coming up really soon and I'm really freaking out, and this student visa nonsense is very frustrating. I'm so sick of filling out forms and trying to figure out what they mean. What's really depressing is I know that I'm going to have to deal with this stuff for the rest of my life, and I hate it.

Dance is fun, and I'm glad I'm taking that history class with Sara, because not only is it reinforcing my knowledge, it's getting me out of bed and doing something, which wouldn't happen otherwise. All I remember from last summer is wasting time waiting to go to dance, and that is no way to live life.

Other than that, nothing all that interesting to report. I'm going to Irvine in a couple weeks to visit Jessica, and I'm excited for that, but kind of not because it means that Scotland is only a month away.

Last night I dreamed I'm flying in a chair to visit Jessica, down the California coast, only to get halfway there and realize that I don't have anything with me--no bag, no phone, no keys. Suddenly I feel naked and land my chair (WTF?) to get on the train going back.

I think this is the second time I've had this dream. It's weirding me out.

There was gum on the button for the crosswalk. Who does that?

Anyway, it was wonderfully windy downtown today, I got a super cute skirt at the thrift store, and I saw Up! which was super cute, but also the most bizarre premise for a kid's movie. And frozen yogurt, where they let you put on as many toppings as you want, and then they weigh it. It was amazing.

Crazy shenanigans trying to find a subleaser, my hair is fabulous, classes are over, and I can't wait to start summer and whatever summer activities that entails.

Uuuuuhhhh, I haven't even been back in Davis for a day and I'm all sweeeaaaty. :[

In addition to sleeping in a bedroom and enjoying parent-paid air conditioning, I had lots of fun this weekend.

I subbed for Michelley's classes, which was a nice reminder that HEY I CAN TEACH, GUYS. It was super cute, one of the girls asked if I'd be teaching a workshop this summer, and I mentioned that it was a possibility (no promises), and they all said they'd take it! :D I was kind of a scatterbrain because I had come straight from the train, and I forgot my tap shoes, so Evangeline wore her high heeled taps (SO CUTE) and I borrowed hers, but the classes were fine. _{We also maybe got her NSYNC CD stuck in the CD player and now that's all it'll play SORRYYYYY GUYS}

Saturday I redyed my hair in time for Michelle's graduation party, which was fun and I did that thing I always do, clinging to the people I know, but at least this time there were some! We toasted Meesh, and someone called for her to give a speech. Michelle being Michelle, she shook her head and ran away. Then someone yelled, "Didn't you major in communications?"

Fanime was...boring. Which is sad. I knew it was a scene that I was over, but what's usually fun is seeing people, and even though I saw everyone, I guess I didn't see much of them? Oh, well, means I won't be missing much next year WHEN I'M IN SCOTLAND.

Oh, except for two guys dressed up as Pikachu and Charmander who performed a dance to the Pokemon theme song. THAT WAS AMAZING. ALSO, THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE SANG ALONG. AMAZING.

My only regret? My hair looked fantastic, and there aren't any pictures. Boo.

Sunday I went to a picnic! I've always wanted to ride the paddleboats that they have on Almaden Lake and I finally did it! It was fantastic, but I got sunburnt.

AND THEN I SAW STAR TREKKKKK OMG. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. The best part was sitting next my dad, who's a hardcore Trek fan, and watching him fanboy. He said the best part was watching me fangirl. ;D

Monday I was forced to sing Beastie Boys on Guitar Hero, because apparently it's hilarious. MCA's in the back cuz he's sleepin' with a whoo-ore! And then Blondie, because apparently it's adorable. I'm gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha!

3 MORE WEEKS OF THIS QUARTER I AM SO DONE

Ridiculously hot weather makes everything yucky. I am currently spending my days suffering through boring reading, wondering why it is so, so hot, waiting for classes to end, and then topping the days off struggling to fall asleep because it's hot and my allergies are acting up because the window's open because it's hot.

Very much ready for summer, thanks.