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Me
(from Facebook) Just another week in England...
Three major events marked the last week for me: a fire in Alwyn Hall, the university's Summer Ball, and a trip to Southampton to see the the third installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean saga. Other than that, it's been rainy and cold and I haven't had much reason to go out or even leave my room, for that matter, since I have essays to write and a trip to plan. Only one more week until my mom gets here!!!
Early hours of Thursday, May 24 -- The Great Alwyn Fire OK, so it wasn't really "great," but the small electrical fire caused a great deal of excitment and inconvenience in my dorm on Wednesday night. I had just crawled into bed around 2 a.m. after enjoying a night at "bop" when the fire alarm went off. Of course, I was wearing summer-y pajamas, but these fire alarms were always pranks so I just grabbed a blanket an no shoes, and headed downstairs. As I talked with friends and waited to be let back inside, a student came over and told the security guard -- who was trying to disconnect the incessant
alarm -- that there was actually a real fire this time!
The fire brigade (yes, that's what they call it here) was called and all Alwyn residents watched them storm the building. The fire happened in a shower room (how ironic) in Alwyn East and had been put out by the time the firemen arrived. We later found out that the fire was caused by a malfunction in the fire alarm system (even more ironic) and we couldn't go back in the building until an inspector came to make sure the alarm was in working order.
Everyone was lead over to the Main Building to wait out the inspection. Many students went into a room to try to sleep, or sneaked over to another dorm to crash in a friend's room even though security wanted us all in one place, but I opted to hang out with Ceci in the main room, watching the boys of Alwyn West play a pick-up cricket game.
Cricket -- the most boring possible sport that literally goes on for days and only an English person could enjoy -- was made hilarious by these guys, who used shoes and cardboard for bats,
a small Spongebob ball, trash cans and soda cans for their wickets (I think that's what they're called) and basically ran around crazy at 3 in the morning. Security raided the small kitchen for tea and coffee supplies, and even served us chocolate and crisps at 5 a.m. There was no way I could sleep there, so Ceci and I created a "I survived the Alwyn fire" Facebook group on one of the two computers.
We were let back into Alwyn shortly after 6 a.m. I didn't want to mess up my sleeping schedule, so forced myself awake at 10:30 and went through the rest of the day/night bleary and tired with the rest of the residents of Alwyn Hall! It wasn't expected or convenient, but definitely a unique way to wind up the semester and a fun opportunity to bond with my fellow hall-mates.
Friday, May 25 -- Summer Ball I finally sprung the 32 pounds ($64!!!!) for a ball ticket and picked up a cute white summer dress for 20 pounds and shoes for 18 pounds in Winchester. So it was an expensive night! The most fun, I must admit, was getting dressed up (Anna did
Me and JOHNNY DEPP!!!!!!
(At least, a random guy dressed like him...) my hair) and taking pictures, since the ball itself wasn't that great. There were too many drunk people, lame music, and the Guildhall was too big to find people easily. Still, I'm glad I went. I wouldn't have wanted to be left out.
Anna, Liz and I had all decided not to drink, and I brought my big camera along (for once) so we also took a ton of pictures. The Guildhall had two dance rooms, but not a huge ballroom as I expected. The music and DJ acts are what made the night so pricey, but I wasn't impressed by any of them. Downstairs, there was free food -- gross kebabs -- and activities like henna tattos and a fortune-teller. I had my tarot cards read, just for fun, and the nice little old lady told me and my friends a lot of the same things! Still, she was accurate on a lot of points in my reading, and told me that I would find a love interest in 8-12 months (great...) and would someday work at a magazine.
All in all, it was an OK night that I wished wasn't so expensive!!!
Saturday, May 26 -- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
All I have to say is: IT WAS AMAZING!!!!! I *heart* these movies and had a fun time with the people that I pre-booked my Southampton tickets with. I was the only American out of the 11 that went, but had a good time with Sarah T., especially. We got back at about 1 a.m., since our train home was delayed by a fight in the Southampton station (some drunk teens -- so annoying!).
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