News

So earlier this week when I was working on this (procrastinating from following my wall chart of readings), I wrote some lovely interesting news about what's been happening. Of COURSE I don't remember what I wrote now, that's why I wrote it down! Anyway, it was never posted. There's some glitch in the system. I've just spent another hour trying to figure it out in IE, but now in Mozilla it works fine. I suppose that teaches me something. I guess I should be using this browser, hey?

I will say that I hate this silly new blogger format. Screw me for accidentally allowing it to sign me up through gmail. Bugger Bugger Bugger.

Okay, now that I've vented that, let's move on to the actual news.

I'm in Week 2 of my uni course. They always assign about 100 pages (each course) per week. I know they did that at Beloit too, but I bluffed my way through most of it. My values and priorities have changed I guess--I must be more boring now. I worry about that a lot actually!!!! Certainly more serious. What happened to the carefree me?

Anyway, readings readings readings--why do they assign so bloody many? They even say that they're not going to use all of them. Sure, I know it's INTERESTING, but damn, I don't have time for interesting. I'm working full time and studying full time and still trying to maintain some semblance of a social life. Yes, I know I'm insane, but still, it's only for one year, and it's not like there are any exciting men in Myanmar anyway.

I'm going to Beijing next week! Yay! Was calculating yesterday that I'm up to country number 49 in my list. I'll post a link to that list eventually when I'm in a country that the internet actually works the way you want it to. Sam knows all about it... I aim to visit all countries before the age of 60, which means 4.2 new ones per year. Did well last year with 6 last year though my bumper year was 2004 with 8! I know I know, not really that exciting.

Anyway, my point was not that China would be a new country (I've already been to Beijing), but my point was that in the two months of this year I have entered a total of 5 countries already this year (NZ, Australia, Thailand and Myanmar twice) and clocked up god knows how many air miles. Yet even with this, I'll be lucky to get to two new countries this year (and none so far). I'm thinking perhaps I might be able to swing Oman if I visit the folks in June, and maybe something exotic like Sri Lanka in October, but this year looks like it's a year of revisiting. There is nothing wrong with that eh... see my glowing blog about Australia below. Great things happen when you REVISIT. Besides, one of my trips this year will be Amanda and Nick's wedding where I'll be a bridesmaid. What can be more exciting than that!? Still, my boss is a little bit antsy about me missing so much. I am now quite famous for going to weddings that are WAY out of my budget, WAY long-distance, WAY ridicuclous travelling time.

Anyway, Beijing... I will be escorting 35 bratty teenagers on a trip around the sites. I'm excited. The one time I went to Beijing it was summer, and I missed everything worthwhile (like the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven) because I was too busy crying tears and sitting for hours in Qingdao airport (they wouldn't let me on the earlier flight in an act of silly communist bureaucracy). Anyway, this trip is not likely to be any less stressful. Hopefully no tears this time, though maybe a few of frustration--I've already lost my voice attempting to TALK to them. What can I say, they're excited!

At first I wasn't going on the trip, but now I am, and can I say I'm REALLY excited. Something to look forward to in the drudgery of the semester of work. Especially now that my Model UN trip to Singapore was cancelled, this will be good. Okay, I'll stop raving now.

New plans! I've figured out what I'm doing this summer. I'm working. It's not as bad as it sounds however! I'm going back to CTY summer camp as an instructor. Everyone looks at me like I'm mad, but I enjoy it, plus I get paid well, which right now I need. I'll likely be at the South Hadley site in Massachussetts for 6 weeks Jun-July if anyone's in the area and wants to visit. I'm trying on bridesmaid dresses in mid June in Madison, but unfortunately won't get much tripping around in--time is short. I start here again for a new year on the Monday after the Friday finish--calculate THAT travel into crossing the date line and losing a day! It sucks.

Anyway, will probably spend two weeks in Dubai finishing study, a week in Australia doing the last exam, but don't know yet. Some enticing destination may yet appear on the horizon and tempt me away from studiousness. There's only one assignment due that week anyway...

Well, I have well and truly procrastinated the night away. Didn't do any of my readings, still have a test to write for tomorrow, and it's already 11pm. Bad Natalya. 'Night all.