Scatterbrained

My sleep patterns may have recovered from Jetlag, but my brain doesn't seem to have yet. I haven't been able to keep track of days since I got here - it takes me a while to remember what day of the week it is or to remember what day certain things happened on in the last couple of weeks. The whole lot seems to blur together. (I'm mostly over the flu though which is good.)

It seems like a month ago that I left Australia, and the airports seem like a dream.

I had my first lecture today, and now already have an assignment due on Sunday, and a whole lot of reading to do. So the holiday is over. Maybe now if I get into some sort of routine my brain will be able to keep track of everything. Up til now it probably hasn't really mattered what day it is - it's all just been like a weekend.

And so I can't remember what has happened since I last blogged and what I've already written about. In the last week or so its been quiter on the social front as everyone succumbs to exhaustion, and we get ready for the start of classes. We've had a few housewarming parties and a chilli con carne night, and this Thursday is a crepes party. We've been gradually getting around to see everyone's accomodation - some have plenty of space, (like ridiculously big 4 roomed living areas!!) which is handy for parties, but most have small kitchens with 5 chairs so its hard to have people over.

We think each nationality should have our own night with typical food. If I had an australian night I could have a bbq, vegemite, pavlova and lamingtons. I've discovered that most people don't know lamingtons or pavlova, but to have them would mean I would have to make them...and very few people like vegemite... and I don't have a bbq either...hmmmm.

Anyway, we'll see.

I'm glad I'm going to London and doing the day trips to other parts of England soon, as I'm already finding myself getting blase about being on the other side of the world. I thought of it today when I was walking up my cobblestoned, tree lined english lane to my accomodation. I saw it again like I'd seen it the first time. The air was cool in the leafy shade and there was moss growing on the damp stone wall next to me, and I remembered where I was. I have to keep reminding myself to remember how special and amazing this experience is so I don't take anything forgranted. I want to keep seeing new things too, to keep the feeling I alive that I had when I first arrived, so bring on the travel. (Fitting it in around the hundreds of books I have to read won't be easy but I'll do it!)

I'm already finding myself changing as a person since I got here - mostly thanks to the great people I've met. I love them all, and they've all already contributed something to my life, whether teaching me about England, about the world, about themselves, or about myself.

They have also opened my eyes to how narrow my life experience has been. Though I've probably experienced some things they may not have, I've realised how much there is in the world, but also how relatively small it is and there is no excuse not to explore it. I've realised I'm not a particularly 'Aussie' Australian, since I don't fit the sterotype somepeople have of Australians (particularly compared to some other aussies here who do fit it). And I think the more you travel the more international you become, which I'm looking forward to because I don't want to be just a geographically and mentally isolated Australian who never wants to leave their backyard (however great a backyard it may be.)

When I go back to Australia I won't be content to just settle anymore (don't worry I will come back though!) - but I've definitely got an incurable travel bug. There is so much to see and experience, and most importantly so many wonderful people to meet and be changed by.

Here's a picture of some of the group at our Chilli Con Carne night.