Skribling på veggen

And here's for the next installment of the infamous York diary! (Insert dramatic, cheesy Star Wars music. Or simply some James Brown.)

Well, things are going quite well here in York. Going on day nine (or something), the last couple of days cannot be said to be anything other than calm and relaxing. Or at least as calm as they could be, especially considering Saturday shopping where traffic's a real pleasure... I waited for the city bus for nearly an hour (!), watching as one-two-three-four buses passed right by me because they were packed with people! Talk about rude English drivers! Yeah, that's something I'm infinitely happy we don't have much of in Norway. Here in England, they don't actually stop politely for you to cross the road. They just drive. Fast. I count two-three times where someone (and myself) have nearly been run over by a mad Yorker.

Apart from the crazy road rules here over the pond (left-hand driving, no lights on at daytime, general rudeness), I'm enjoying the English life very much. English breakfast with tea, eggs, toast and bacon every day. English teachers that are simply over the top in their ability to teach - I've really learned a lot interesting stuff here in just a week compared to six-eight weeks at home. English landlords (they're really nice - Bob and Claire that is). English pubs (the atmosphere is much more cosier and warming). English football....no, scratch that.

Football has been another subject you can generally bring up in any conversation and keep the boys going for days. I almost fell asleep last night after some had been at Blackburn and Liverpool matches and were relating the wonderful experience they had... Not that I really dislike them for it. They're just cute little bunnies when they get all excited like that. I just wish I could find some ounce of excitement as well. Perhaps the trip to a local pub this afternoon to watch football might change it. Or I'll just have to prop myself full of sugar and go wild (Cherry Coke seems to have the same effect as alcohol, only without the headache and drowsiness). Yeah, I'll probably do that.

Anyway, being here in England (and York in particular) makes me wish I'm not going back next Friday. It's just too much fun to be here! Great people to hang out with (with a few exceptions of course), great food, great accomodations, great school... Everything's simply great and I love every minute I'm staying here! I really have to consider spending a semester abroad. In York, of course. The oldest and finest university in England - not even Oxford or Cambridge can compare, I've heard. There's just something about being abroad that's exciting and wonderous at the same time.

Of course, I think the main reason I'm enjoying this stay so much is the people I'm here with. I've really got to know more people in my class (and some from UiO), and I think this has been a social trip as well as educational. At least I don't feel as awkward around people anymore! Kjell-Willi and Kristian have really made me at ease here, and I made some new friends from Oslo (Natalie, Tahira, Valeria, Thomas). This is the best trip I have had since Budapest last April!

This seemed to be a nice place to end (on a positive note), and to my mum, who is probably worrying about me:

"Jeg har det toppers og du har ingenting å bekymre deg for! Jeg lover norske oversettelser når jeg kommer tilbake (om jeg ikke bestemmer meg for å bli her for evig og alltid). Glad i deg!"

P.S. James Brown er den ultimate uteplass-/dansegulvmusikken! Hva skal man med trance og dance når man har Mr B?