Where change is a constant

I don’t know how your Christmas decorating is coming along in the States, but it is everywhere here. I picked up a Kingston Christmas itinerary yesterday. The season officially began on November 16 with the lighting of all the decorations. In the town centre by Starbucks, there are little wooden hut buildings that are set up especially for the season. I love the little candy shop; it reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I got some mint fudge there that looked amazing. But, it tasted terrible. It was like I was eating a candle, and I’m not a picky eater.

As Christmas is coming around, it is starting to feel like autumn as well. The other night I was sitting with a friend in a quiet restaurant/pub, next to the fireplace, and looking out of the window we watched the leaves flying everywhere. Then there are those days where I’ll walk out of the house and the smell of fall fills the air. It reminds me of home; it feels perfect.

I met a girl named Lucinda who was fascinated with the idea of our prom and homecoming. I’m having my mom bring over the “American” type of pancake mix and cornmeal to make real corn bread for her. It’s hard to describe food that you've been eating your entire life and you don’t really think about how you make it or what is in it—like sloppy joes, meatloaf, or corndogs—when they don’t have cornmeal here.

As much as I love all of the free time I get with only having class two days a week, I much prefer the way lectures are set up at Tech where I go to class every day and have about three hours of lecture per class each week. For my Holocaust class here, I only have eleven hours of lecture for the entire semester. I'm getting confused in some of my classes and will have to email my professors to ask for some extra help. At Michigan Tech, we have learning centers where you can get help from a tutor. I prefer the education system in the States.

My friend Melli from Germany came to visit me for the weekend. I know her from my high school when she was an exchange student for a year. I haven’t seen her in about a year and a half. She arrived at Gatwick Airport on Friday evening, which was easy to find but confusing to leave and find my way home. We couldn’t do too much that night, so I showed her my flat and a bit of Kingston. She was able to meet a lot of people on Friday night, a lot of them being people that I just met that night also or the night before, but it was still fun.

We both managed to sleep somehow in my tiny, not even the size of a normal, single bed with one pillow. Melli had been to London four years ago and saw all of the tourist stuff, so I took her into Camden for a different environment and outlook on London that most people visiting don’t get to see. She enjoyed herself there a lot and later we introduced her to the college nightlife in Kingston. We, of course, had to go to the wonderful kebab shop and get chicken and fries before heading to bed. People were amazed how well Melli spoke English. One lady in London told her that she had an American accent and wouldn’t believe us when we said Melli was from Germany. On Sunday we didn’t do much. We slept in and went to Jo Shmoes, a restaurant on the river. I was sad to see Melli go, but cheered up when we decided that I would go to Berlin in three or four weeks!

This Thursday (23rd) the study abroad coordinators from the University are putting on a Thanksgiving dinner for the students from the States. They are supplying the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and ham. I can’t believe it is already Thanksgiving. It feels especially strange without hunting season. Not only do they not have hunting season, but they can’t even own guns here. Not even their regular police carry guns, although there are certain police cars that are armed. 

Well I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!  Make sure to eat lots, since it is the only day  you can eat as much as you want and not feel guilty about it.

Until next week,