Last Day

How did I spend my last day in London? The sex exhibition at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington and Mexican food from Wahaca at Canary Wharf. Oh yeah.

I finally got to see Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno which I saw on that Sunday morning show that has all the suns everywhere on set. What is that show called? You know what I’m talking about it. It’s probably called the Sunday Morning show or something like that…I’m pretty sure it’s on CBS.

Anyway, I’m back in Chicagoland now so this blog will probably be on hiatus until September.

If You Find Yourself at Canary Wharf Around Lunchtime, Dear Lord, Run Don’t Walk

Just trust me on this one. It is no fun to find yourself at Canada Square (the shopping area where the tube drops you off) and see the sea of ravenous business people heading your direction. It makes me shudder to think about it and I’ve only been so unlucky with my timing to experience this phenomenon twice.

In other news, it hailed today!

The Oodles of Fun That is the Student Loan Bubble

My loans have shifted from Sallie Mae to My Great Lakes which would be fine, except that My Great Lakes applies payments however it wants! With Sallie Mae I could put my payments towards the principal, but now zero goes to principle.

This is obnoxious! I mean, come on! This left me no choice but to pay the lump sum of interest so that I can start paying the principal plus the lesser amount of interest that accumulates every month.

As you can tell, I am not amused.

Death by International Relations Theory

I should be studying the Gramscian strain of historical materialism, but I’m having fun with photos instead!

17 Mai, Gratulerer med dagen!

Happy Norwegian Constitution Day from London’s Southwark Park!

JLS Condoms!

I’ll be the first to admit that like me a good boy band (ahem, Hanson anyone?!) But could you imagine the Jonas Brothers putting themselves on condoms? Cue the evangelical backlash and mothers of pre-teen girls organizing a “Mothers Against Sex” campaign.

Anyway, the British boy band JLS has done just that. Being that I’m too scared to be seen taking photos of condoms in Tesco you’ll have to do with the generic from the Durex website.

The Top Three Reasons to Consider Getting Your Degree Abroad

I’m officially a freelance writer. Well, kind of anyway.
Article first published as The Top Three Reasons to Consider Getting Your Degree Abroad on Blogcritics.
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Walk into any high school counseling office and they will have numerous posters advertising colleges. Where I grew up, about half of those posters were from the local community college and the other half from various state schools located no more than a two-hour drive away. What you won’t find are posters or any information on schools outside of the country.  People are curious as to why the rest of the world just isn’t on Americans radar, and I think that this has to do with it. So, since your high school guidance counselor won’t tell you about universities abroad or why to go abroad, here are my top three reasons.

1. The experience. Getting visas to live and work abroad can be difficult and complicated, with the exception of one group of people: students. The experience will change your life and if you want to try it out, doing it while you are a student is the easiest way as far as immigration goes. Whether you want to learn Chinese or gorge yourself on Yorkshire puddings, immersing yourself in a foreign education system will help you acclimate to your new country, and fast too.

2. Future opportunities.  If you decide to stay, it is considerably easier to live abroad in a country if you have been through that country’s education system. Here in the UK graduates can stay for a year after they complete their degree without having to obtain a sponsor, in the form of a job, ahead of time. If you decide to move home, the skills needed to relate to people from other cultures and the ability to travel are becoming increasingly important in the workplace. (At least I hope they are…)

3. The cost. Most of the time, getting a degree abroad is cheaper for a plethora of reasons. Many countries offer degrees that are shorter in length and cheaper in cost both per year and overall. Essentially, you get more bang for your buck. If you go to school in Iowa can you visit 10 other countries on your Spring break? Well, maybe, but it wouldn’t be as convenient and cheap as if you were living abroad.

Especially if you know that you want to study abroad for a semester or a whole year, why not consider it for your whole degree?

Whitney Houston and Cyndi Lauper Make Revision Possible

The only thing that can get me in the mood to revise are these lovely ladies.

My friend Nic and fellow IR student put it best in his facebook status: ‘Did I sign up for “Latin American Politics” or “A Thorough History of Latin America from the Aztecs to the 21st Century”?’

One exam down, three to go! QMUL you will not defeat me. 

You Name It, I’ve Done It — Liverpool St. Bathrooms

(Liverpool Street Station is a major tube stop on the Central line and also a National Rail station with trains going all over the country.)

Last year when I lived in halls one of East London’s main water pipes burst leaving us without water. What did a friend and I do? We rushed to Liverpool St. to have a wee and replenish our water supplies of course! Liverpool St. station is still east but it escaped the initial water lockdown (thank god!)

So, what else have I done in Liverpool St.’s bathrooms? It has oddly come to my attention that I’ve done just about everything in Liverpool St.’s bathrooms, and at 30p a visit mind you.

-I always meet a friend there when she comes to visit for some odd reason.
-I’ve wrote out cards and other correspondence that needed to be mailed, pronto, while sitting on the toilet (no, not in THAT way.)(Oh and I understand that this might seem weird, but I always buy my cards from the Paperchase at this station. No clue really.)
-I’ve nearly had a mental breakdown after the infamous Heathrow-epic-fail of December 18, 2010.
-I’ve seen someone go into labour.
-I’ve eaten a McD’s cheeseburger while sitting under the mirrors with friends after a night out.

Why Liverpool St.? Why ME?

Why I Can’t Do Up My Pants (Arg!Trousers!)

I’ve been living out of my suitcase since I got back from Chicago because I can’t be bothered to unpack. I rummaged to the bottom to find something clean and, lo and behold, I had my daisy dukes left. Thank goodness!

There was a slight problem however. Either I’ve gotten fat or, WHAT HAS HAPPENED?! WHY CAN’T I BUTTON MY PANTS!

Oh yeah. DUH. They were dried in an American dryer which shrinks everything causing you to have a panic attack every week when you don’t fit into your clothes.

Not to fret, I’m pulling the pregnant lady trick: hair band over the button and through the loop until they stretch out a bit. Phew.