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Published: September 28th 2011
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Yes, its happened. I said it. I corrected myself immediately, but it still came out and I was horrified. I quickly converted to the whole football/soccer siutation, but I thought that would be where it ended.
Speaking of football, I went to see my first game last weekend. We spent a few days before trying to learn some rules, but it really didn't make much sense. We even spoke to one of the guys on the team and his explanation was mostly about huddling and then running and I think there was some kicking too but I'm not really sure. I was rather confused by this but once at the game realised that it was pretty much exactly that. Now before I get into the actual game, let me just explain how massive college teams are here. Firstly they are actually literally a massive team, I think there are about 100 players that all stand there on the sideline for the whole game. They play in the main San Francisco stadium and before the game started the marching band (literally amazing) did a massive dance where they spelled out lots of things then the Air Force did a fly past
CAL
One of the good ones before the players came running on with smoke and cheerleaders. Things died down a bit after this and the hour long game took 4 hours to actually play due to all the stopping and starting and time between quarters. There was lots of clapping and 'ooh'ing and cheering, mostly we just followed the crowd. During halftime they did one of those cool things where people hold up coloured boards and make big words. The idea was good and they made a big bear and 'cal' but then they tried to start making these complex shapes (i.e. their sponsors logos) which didn't work at all. It was really fun though and I'm definitely looking forward to the next one.
It has also been my birthday over the last week, which I am guessing you all know if your reading this. I had an incredible time and decided to celebrate all week long. It started with watching The Lion King 3D on the Sunday before which was incredible, and yes I cried when Mufasa died. Then on Thursday, we all went to sit near the Greek Theatre where Bon Iver was playing. The Greek Theatre is a big open air venue,
Players
I think this is the part where they kick it. I understand that bit so you can hear everything pretty well if you dont get a ticket, however the only place you are allowed to sit is on a practically vertical patch of grass behind the highest car park. However, despite the near-death experience of climbing up the hill to sit, it was brilliant and what made it even better is the discovery of actual apple CIDER in a shop earlier that day, I mean I'm not an alcoholic but nothing goes down better on a summer evening than a cool, crisp cider. After this we hit the hot tub and ate red velvet cake and doughnuts. Obviously not while in the hot tub as I can imagine that would go horribly wrong.
Celebrations continued into the weekend when we did a spot of shopping in the city then walked up another very steep hill to Telegraph Hill where Olivia and her boyfriend who is currently visiting had rented an apartment for the weekend where we had some dinner and drinks before heading out to an actual bar. Now I know Americans are supposed to be very hospitable and everything, but this bar had the grumpiest woman ever in it. I ordered a
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I don't think I am ever going to get sick of this. vodka, lime and lemonade and she looked at me as if I had just asked her for a steak in a vegetarian restaurant. However after much explanation she finally says 'Oh a vodka lemonade and lime', apparently these aren't the same thing.
So there we are, my birthday week of getting drunk and walking up steep hills.
Now most of the reason why I haven't updated this recently is because they insist on giving you weekly homework over here. I think I have probably done more work in the last 4 weeks than I did the whole of last semester and perhaps even the semester before that. Its also been absolutely boiling so I've really been working on my tan. I've now managed to get to the stage of tanning that my bronzer is paler than my face. Nice.
Other than work and drinking, Ive been going spinning lots (hello hot bod), eating lots (goodbye hot bod) and trying to teach people how to speak in a British accent. There is this one guy called Spencer who thinks he does the most accurate accent ever, but I think its the worst one I've heard since I've been here. I'm not sure what he thinks we talk like, but he sounds like a deaf person, and not even a British one. But then again he say to me that when British people speak it sounds like we are singing and then asked me if I could sing like Adele because I was British.
I've got to crack on with some work now, but I'm going to try and keep this a little more updated. We are going camping this weekend so unless I get eaten by a bear (apparently quite likely) or crash the car (also very likely considering by directional abilities) I will let you all know how it went.
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