Reading Week Is A Lying Whore

It builds you up with all these promises of sleep, regular meals, free time...

I've not posted anything in a week. This is because school has consumed my soul. I do almost nothing but work. Well, I also clean, think about work, plan out when I will do my work, think about how much I want to avoid my work... It is crazy. I have no class this week but am doing work more than if I were in school. I keep thinking I should go away, explore England, dance merrily through the streets, but I just don't have the time. Or, if I do do something fun I just feel guilty for not being on my work.

Dance competition was lovely. I only got an hour of sleep the night before, stupid insomnia. But I was up before the sun doing my hair and getting packed. Took the bus to the comp, which was at Leicester, which is somewhere in England, and I'd tell you more specifically if I knew anything about British geography. The comp day was fun. I was missing DCDI (Ballroom at Maryland (my dance team where I was president in undergrad) hosts one of the biggest competitions on the East coast) so it was rather bittersweet. John and I didn't do so hot in Standard. But it was ok, still a lot of fun. Lots of people on the team did well, so I was super excited for them. Then Latin was later in the day. We danced well! Made several callbacks, though no finals. And we had a great time, it was so exciting to make it as far as we did. When it came time for the team match, though, we were given away to the Featherwaits team (an offshoot of Oxford) which was a little sad... until the Featherwaits WON. So there, take that, Warwick! That's what you get for not keeping us for yourselves. I have my next comp in two weeks, and, in my tradition, have not yet ever danced with the boy who will be my partner! Sadly I had to return John to his real partner. So goes the life of a partner theif...

Worst part of the day: they put me in a comp team dress for team match. This is a costume, the fancy sparkly lycra kind that one can wear at advanced levels. I have some at home. The ones for the team here are SKIMPY. I was not tan. I have gotten way out of shape since I've been here. I had just eaten my weight in pasta. I was not happy. Not. Happy. Someone will pay for this some day. Until then-- crash diet before next competition in 2 weeks.

Best part of the day: I found Ian! I met Ian about four years ago at dance camp in Florida. At the time he was Oxford's team president, so we made friends over the week, if I remember correctly we placed really high in the intercollegiate waltz competition. Well, we've kept in touch over the years, he is one of the two people I knew in this country when I arrived here. But, I had no idea he would be at this comp. Well, it was totally all kinds of awesome to see him. My partner looked kinda surprised at how happy I was to see this guy (picture me running across the room to jump hug him, and having a several minute conversation while in this awkward hug position), but it was just so nice to see someone I knew. I do have friends here, but no one I have any kind of history with. To see someone who has known me longer than one month, even if most of that time was just chatting online, was unbelievably cool. I mean, just being able to run up and hug an old friend, and to be able to say "that's my old friend"... anyway, I can't articulate why it was so meaningful, but it was great, and gave me a little boost.

Well, homework calls. This week I've been working a bunch for a group project due at the end of term. Picture: I've climbed a lamp post, wedged myself in a fence, and stood on top of a statue... More to come on that project later, but enjoy those images for now. Oh, and picture me doing this outside covered in mud in 40 degree weather in a tshirt. That part adds to it. Additionally I've been writing little papers for a project due Monday. So, back to work...


Shout out to anyone who wants to come visit me. Come visit me!!!!!!!