Exploration Lock Down

Well, I'm back to school and back to work. I've been busy working on my paper from last semester for my class which was on the Holocaust (primarily about representations of the Holocaust in culture [ie literature and museums]). I am writing about how a growing number of Holocaust exhibitions and museums lean towards the feeling of closure rather than showing that we have learned our lessons. It's been very interesting to read about all the different museums across the world but I will primarily be focusing on the Imperial War Museum in Britain, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. I have enjoyed learning about it but I can't wait to turn in my paper on Friday! I'm going to finish my research and outline this weekend and begin writing early next week.

This semester is going to be a busy one. Last semester I only had two classes (one on Mondays and one on Tuesdays) and was extremely bored the rest of the week. This semester I have a class on historical methodology from 10am - 12pm on Mondays followed by my core class, Investigating Change in the Institutions, Cultures, and Languages of Europe from 4pm - 6pm. Then I have New Europeans: Culture, Heritage, and State from 2:30pm - 4pm on FRIDAYS. Gosh, I haven't had a Friday class in ages (but luckily I like the class and what it's about). It really ruins my plans for any weekend trips this semester. So I am essentially on exploration lock down. This is in the literal sense. No weekends travelling trips for me this semester! Good thing the term only goes until the end of March, then I will be free to go wherever I want!

I'm going to try to be proactive this semester and get my essays done early. My friends and family are visiting in mid and late March and my essays are all due the week after they leave. I figure if I start early, I won't have to worry about it while they're here. I'm going to be very busy, I believe! This semester I'll have three essays instead of two that will be 4,000, 4,000, and 3,000 words, respectively. I'll also have to decide on my dissertation topic (I've got an idea in mind that I'm excited about and will reveal once I speak with my programme supervisor) and I'll have to write a proposal on that. It's a good thing I discovered this wonderful tea-for-one pot last December. I was looking for Christmas presents when I found it and decided to buy one all for myself :)

There's something about Britain that makes you want tea. While I was home for Christmas I didn't have a single drop but the minute I got off my plane in Edinburgh, my body screamed "TEA!!!!" It must be something in the air...

Dianna's Weekly Dash of Different Diction

It's been quite a long time since I did a Dash of Different Diction. I've been a bit discouraged with blogging lately but I've realised that this is something I will appreciate in a long time so I'm going to post it whether or not anyone reads it! In a catch-up effort, I'm going to just post a whole bunch of different diction you probably already know in hopes that I will have a dash of really different diction in the future.

• Boot: This the the British word for a trunk of a car. "Put it in the boot!" But, psh, everyone knows that!
• Postgraduate: Instead of being a graduate student in Scotland, you are called a postgraduate student.
• Wee: When I came to Scotland, I thought everyone would be saying "wee". Such as, "Would you look at that wee doggie! Isn't he cute?" They do say it a bit but not as much as I'd expected. My flatmate Sophie, who's from Northern Ireland, says it all the time and so do her parents. It's so cute! Speaking of cute, wee means "little" but with an emphasis on "cute little". It can also be used without the cute context. "I'll have a wee bit of that."
• Ye: Another thing I thought Scottish people would be throwing around is "ye". This is the plural version of "you". It's kind of like "ya'll" or "you guys". My flatmate, Caoimh, is the only one I've ever heard use it so I think it's just an Irish thing!
• Rubbish: People here don't really use the word "trash". Instead they use "rubbish". So you're more like to hear "Throw it in the rubbish (or in the bin)" instead of "Put it in the trash." Rubbish is also used in the context of something you're disappointed in. "That's rubbish!" would be equal to the slang "That sucks!"
  

And you'll have heard these before, but their meanings are A LOT trickier than you would ever imagine!

• Cheers: "Cheers" isn't just something you say for a quick toast when you're out drinking with your friends like "Ching Ching" (the European one...or maybe it's "Chin Chin"). Here it is a completely versatile word. I still don't completely understand when it's proper to use (or not proper to use...). In most cases, it is interchangable with the word "thanks". Here are some examples:
1. A shopkeeper hands you your change and says "cheers."
2. You take your said change and items from shopkeeper and say "cheers."
3. Someone drops something and you hand it to them and they say "cheers."
As these examples show, "cheers" is very interchangeable with "thanks" but I still don't, and neither do a lot of my non-British friends, feel comfortable using it.

• Grand: "Grand" is a tricky one because you think you know what it means, but you really don't. You'd think you would use it in the context of the word grand as you know it - when something is "grand" it's big, great, impressive, over the top, etc, etc. Here you'll hear people say, "It's grand." (your intonation should go down or stay relatively the same, not go up). What they mean is, "It's fine" or "It's okay". So if you were to say "Oh no, you've got a stain on your shirt!" your friend could reply "Oh, it's grande. It'll come out no problem in the wash." You should never (or else suffer an extreme diction failure and receive a rolling of the eyes) use it to describe yourself by saying "I'm grand!" or after a night of drinking, you wake up with no hangover (jealousy) and say "I feel grand!". We, and I include myself now that I know how to use it properly, giggle when one of our North American friends use it in the incorrect way. I'm not going to lie though, it took a couple discussions with Caoimh to make sure I got it right.

Next time on Dash of Different Diction we'll be venturing into words I'd never heard of before coming here! Hopefully you won't have heard them either.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

At the beginning of every year, I make an attempt at some New Year's resolutions. I always fail. I didn't write down my resolutions from last year but I had some for 2009. I only got two done. One was pay off my car which I did do in 2009 and the other was finish my graduate certificate at UMUC which wasn't done in 2009 but was done the following year, as you will see below. This year, I'm just writing down what happened in 2010 and what should happen in 2011. I'll leave the rest up to fate and make no resolutions this year.

2010 in review

JANUARY
-signed up for my last class for my graduate certificate in Leadership and Management at University of Maryland University College.

-lost my beautiful, amazing kitten Gambit who was only 9 months old to Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a very deadly disease he most likely had from birth.
-decided to apply to the MSc European Studies programme at University of Edinburgh.

FEBRUARY
-got rejected from the MSc European Studies because my GPA was too low (3.34/3.4 but had a 4.0 graduate record), my undergraduate career didn't fit (spoke to the programme director who'd said it would), and didn't display enough interest (okay, my first essay sucked). I pretty much begged to be reconsidered and was allowed to submit again (aka rewrite my essay which then ROCKED if I do say so myself).

MARCH
-nothing extremely noteworthy that I remember…at some point during the spring I turned down my offers to the MLitt in History at University of Glasgow and to a programme in International Education (even though it was the course I would have loved to have taken) at University of Birmingham because I knew I wanted to go to school at Edinburgh.

APRIL
-finished my graduate class at UMUC.
-got officially accepted to the MSc European Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

MAY
-officially awarded a graduate certificate in Leadership and Management at UMUC.
-started looking for flatmates.
-got accepted to the MSc Gender History at University of Edinburgh, which I turned down.

JUNE
-went to Alaska with my parents!
-applied for my visa.

JULY
-got my visa issued for United Kingdom.
-Along with Bri, went to visit Meg in Ohio (Ireland 2006 reunion!).

AUGUST
-quit working as a graduate student advisor at UMUC after nearly 2 years (my first big world job).
-left for Edinburgh, Scotland.

SEPTEMBER
-moved into my new flat.
-started classes for a Master of Science in European Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

OCTOBER
-turned 24.
-took a trip to Loch Ness and other Highland attractions on Halloween weekend.

NOVEMBER
-My Aunt’s husband, Roland unexpectedly passed away.
-went to Whitley Bay near Newcastle Upon Tyne for Thanksgiving to visit cousin Julie and her husband Andreas.

DECEMBER
-turned in my first paper for my master’s.
-headed home for three weeks for winter break.

looking ahead to 2011

JANUARY
-Semester 2 starts - time to head back to Edinburgh for the longest time I've ever been away from home.
-Holocaust paper due.
-figure out how to file taxes.
-flatmate Caoimh’s birthday.

FEBRUARY
-Dad turns 58.
-friend Mags’ birthday – trip??

MARCH
-Cousin Kelly and Aunt Eileen visiting late February or early March.
-Bri and Meg visiting together at the end.
-classes end and papers due (finish early before friends come and go on break trips).

APRIL
-spring break trip to Greece??

MAY
-Flatmate Sophie’s birthday.
-Mom and Dad come visit.
-possible Aunt Christine, Uncle Livingston, Danielle, and Madison come to visit??

JUNE
-figure out what I’m doing with my life after graduation.
-dissertation.

JULY
-dissertation.

AUGUST
-dissertation due.
-programme officially ends.
-move out of flat at the end of the month.

SEPTEMBER
-Mom turns 58.
-move back home?
-find a job?

OCTOBER
-turn 25 – cheaper car insurance! Quarter of a century!

NOVEMBER
-Have my own place?
-graduation ceremony.

DECEMBER
-Have a master’s degree. Don’t know when awarded?

I Was Home For Christmas

For the last few weeks, I've spent a wonderful time at home. I've been a lot busier than I thought I would be. Usually I just lay around and do nothing when I'm on a break (or pretty much ALL the time) but this winter break I knew I had to make a point to see some friends because I'm not going to be home for nine whole months (minimum). So what have I been up to?

First weekend home:
-I had lunch with my friend and old co-worker, Megan at Chick-Fil-A. I immediately had to go get some sweet tea when I got back!
-I went to see Tangled with Megan and another old co-worker named Kristen. Then Megan and I went shopping (begin the ridiculous amount of money spending) and had Chipotle (another must).
-Admired the wonderful new remodelled computer room.

First full week home:
-The next week I went shopping with my mom (although we ended up not buying anything...). We went into DC to have lunch and see her customers.
-More and more shopping.
-saw my high school BFF Brittany and her son Tanner. She's going to become a mommy again while I'm gone. I'm so sad I'm going to miss the birth of her little girl in April!!
-finished reading A Matter of Magic by Patricia Wrede. It wasn't bad. It's comprised of two books called Mairelon the Magician and The Magician's Ward. The second one was much better but it didn't make my list of favourites.
-Spent Christmas Eve with my parents and my mom's brother Tom and his wife Cathy. We had dinner, exchanged gifts, and watched the classic, A Christmas Story.
-Every year my mom buys Harry and David pears. This year they were monstrous in size. They're even bigger than Zeus' head!

-Spent Christmas day with my parents and saw True Grit at the movies. Every year we wake up, open our stockings, have breakfast (which is eggs benedict, orange juice, and hashbrowns), and open presents. Then we see a movie and have dinner.

Second week at home:
-MORE shopping :)
-got my car fixed up since there was a recall on the power steering.
-dinner with my friends from high school - Allison G., Allison B., Brittany, and Myrissa.
-got my hair done (FINALLY) and went to the mall with Brittany and Tanner.
-spent New Year's down at the Creek House. It was frozen and looked really pretty.

-spent the day with my dad's family for Christmas. My mom was sick and my dad hurt his back so I was the only one who went. It was great to see my family. I hope lots of them come visit me!!

Third week at home:
-MORE shopping. Can you believe it? I've spent SOOOO much.
-took Zeus to the vet. He's lost two whole pounds! Woohoo!!
-dinner with Allison B. at IHOP! YUM! Don't look at the calories they have on there!
-lunch with Megan at Five Guys

Still to come:
-dinner with Myrissa and Brittany at Outback Steakhouse
-dinner with my parents at Cristina's
-finishing The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I found it on a list titled the 10 books you should read after Harry Potter. I've just got about 100 pages left. It's definitely something I had put down and children should not be reading this (sex, drugs, and magic) but it's interesting. The article I found on it said something about it being like if HP went to college. In the book there is talk of a story that totally has The Chronicles of Narnia undertones.
-NO MORE SHOPPING!
-lots of crying and sadness on Saturday when I leave

It's been a great visit home. I'm glad I did all that stuff and got to spend time with my family! I won't be seeing my parents for SIX WHOLE MONTHS! I can't believe it's going to be that long! This last September-December period was the longest I'd been gone. And no Zeusy for NINE MONTHS! So sad :( Let's hope 2011 makes up for it...

What to do with the leftovers?

One tradition I love from the holiday season is getting Christmas cards. I enjoy sending them and I enjoy receiving them but I always find it hard to just throw them all away! They're so pretty and it seems a shame that not everyone can see them and enjoy them and they just end up in the recycling. A few years ago, my cousin over at The Spotted Sparrow posted a tutorial on how to make Christmas card gift boxes. That year, I immediately saved all my favourite Christmas cards I'd received to make them...and never got around to it. Two years later, I finally did it! This year my mom gave my cousins a lot of gift cards for the holidays so I made a special little box to put them in. I started off with this card:

I made the boxes and they ended up being the perfect size for a gift card! I ended up lining the cards with construction paper so that the receivers wouldn't see the warm holiday wishes I'd received from other people:

It was very easy and she left simple, clear steps for you to follow. I definitely recommend this for your leftover cards!

This one was my favourite. The sparkle and the scenery created just the perfect top. It looked amazing under the tree:

Christmas Is In The Air...

My favourite month out of the year is December, hands down. Everything looks so pretty with lights and festive decorations. Due to its commercialness, I think Christmas has become more than just about the religious meaning and is a time that everyone can enjoy. In fact, I think there should be two separate names. One for the religious holiday and one for the time associated with Santa, elves, reindeer, lights, and snowmen.

I love to give. It's always hard to find things for the people you love, especially when you're being sneaky about it and don't want to ask them what they want. For my new friends in Scotland this year, I decided to make something with my hands. I don't remember how I came up with the idea since I decided about two months ago, but I decided to make Christmas stockings from scratch. This was a big undertaking for me since I've never (and I mean NEVER) sewn anything in my life aside from a crappy stitching job on some hole in a shirt or blanket that I always beg my mom to help me with. This was a big risk but with the help of an Etsy tutorial I found on Youtube, I think I did a darn good job. You can watch the tutorial I used here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

First I chose a stocking pattern online. I cut it out and taped it together. You can use the one I used here.

Then I used my pattern to cut out the inside and outside of my stocking fabric. At the fabric store I bought a lovely Christmas pattern. In the end result, you will see that you can use anything! When you cut them out, bring out main pattern down a few inches. By making the inside pattern longer, it will allow it to create the cuff.

Put the main stocking pattern using the outside (or pretty side) of the fabric together. Sew around it and turn it right-side out. Put the inside stocking fabric together (pretty side together) and sew around it, leaving a four inch hole on one side of the stocking.

Put the main stocking inside the lining stocking (so they're both facing the right way) and sew the edges together. When I first watched the tutorial I misunderstood and just sewed a line all across so there was no longer an opening. Sew it in a circle. Pull the main stocking out of the lining stocking through that little hole you left before and make it so it looks like the picture below. Sew up the little hole. Make sure you leave the little hole far enough down so that when you fold it, you won't see the messy stitch line.

Tuck the lining stocking inside the main stocking and pull it up some so the cuff shows.

The one thing I wasn't happy about was creating a loop. I saved it for last and am not very happy with how mine look (I just used extra fabric) but overall, I think they look great! Here is a picture of three that I made. The one on the left is for my flatmate Sophie, who loves cupcakes. The one in the middle is mine. The one on the right is for my flatmate Caoimh who loves music. I also made another stocking for our friend Mags in the same fabric I made mine out of because I couldn't find a fabric that I thought would be perfect for her. The stockings are now hung on our mantel with care. Hopefully St. Nick soon will be here!

Not knowing anything about fabric, I bought way too much of it all so now I'm making mini-stocking that I'll give to family/friends with their gifts inside so they can use them as Christmas ornaments on their tree. It's harder and easier at the same time to make tiny ones. They're harder to make the round part rounded but I still enjoy making them. The big ones I could make in an afternoon (much faster if I used a machine) and the little ones I can make 2 or 3 while I'm sitting watching an hour of tv.

Thanksful for Thanksgiving

In America, the fourth Thursday in November is always Thanksgiving. It's a national holiday so you always have work off that day, as well as the following Friday (Black Friday! dundundun). In Britain, thanks to American television, most people know what it is and what it entails. When I studied abroad in Ireland in 2006, I didn't have a Thanksgiving dinner and went to Italy with my friend instead so we wouldn't be homesick. This year, I'm lucky to have family on the same landmass. My cousin, Julie, and her husband, Andreas, just moved from Aachen, Germany to Whitley Bay, England which is just outside of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

I went down last Wednesday after a workshop I had and was only on the train for twenty minutes or so before I realised it was snowing in whatever little town we were passing through. It snowed the entire time I was there in Newcastle. It was so pretty! On Thursday we went down to the bay (freezing!) and cooked lots of delicious food.

The main theme with Thanksgiving (besides being thankful) is FOOD!

We had:
-turkey
-stuffing
-mashed potatoes and gravy
-brussel sprouts with bacon and chestnuts
-sweet potatoes with marshmallow and brown sugar topping (half and half)
-home made cranberry sauce
-pumpkin pie with home made whipped cream

It was so great to be with family on such a family-oriented day. My parents had everyone over for Thanksgiving and we all had a skype chat with each other. It was great to see all their faces! I left for Edinburgh Friday evening after a lazy day of reading and snarfing leftovers. I decided to bring the snow back to Edinburgh with me and it's been snowing ever since! This is what it was like when I got back to my flat on Friday:

And this is what it's like now, a week and 12 inches later:

The people here don't really shovel or do anything. This is the one lucky stretch on my street where a nice man shovelled the place outside his flat and his neighbours. No one else is that nice. The streets are either super icy or super slushy. I love snow but not when people don't clean it up so I can walk! It's supposed to stay like this for quite a while. I'm okay with it as long as it doesn't interrupt my travel plans home in two weeks! Next Thursday I'm making a belated Thanksgiving dinner for my friends so they can taste the deliciousness. I'll be making a turkey for the first time in my life. Wish me luck!!

The purpose of Thanksgiving is to be thankful. This year, I am thankful for the opportunity to be studying in Edinburgh, Scotland. I am thankful for my parents, who have been so loving and supportive (both emotionally and financially!) and without them, I wouldn't have been able to come (aka thanks for the loan mom and pops!). What are you thankful for?