bringining in my birthday!

This weekend was magnificent- went to London and TRULY ENJOYED MYSELF!
It was a brilliant way to bring in the birthday week

THE LONDON BRIDGE!
Shannon & I :D

lately...

Ive been recovering from my pharyngitis. It's Friday and I am taking a random trip this weekend to see BIG BEN! I cant wait to go to London- I over packed for Spain thinking that the weather would be warmer- I was naive to think Barcelona does not have cold weather lol

The 21st birthday on Wednesday and I am so ready to celebrate. I am definitely going all out- even if I have to do it all by myself.

This study abroad is testing my patience literally. The American Girls are lovely but THERE'S A BUT. I have a strong personality and I am clashing  A LOT with a girl. It's a mutually dislike for each other I think but I just don't have everything sorted out. I am not sure if I want to step away from her because we do not get along or should I continue to be CORDIAL- because I will grow as a person from it DILEMMAS DILEMMAS.

OH BY THE WAY- i think i may have found the guy of my dreams it sounds cliche but he is absolutely perfect or maybe it's I get better along with guys and he's the first guy I've hit it off with- well either way I enjoy the company

I've decided to buy a flip- March 9th when my moo-lah comes in this project will officially be getting started. My friend Nirvana who is from London wants to take me to the school in which she attended which sparked her interest in wanting to become an interpreter. :)

-ciao for now I will post some pics soon.

FORGET YOU CEE-LO GREEN

I'm sure you all have heard the song

well someone thought of me when they saw this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3tadz5Q3o

then I looked it up in British sign language 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb34-v-E60Y

IT'S DIFFERENT!

what's the difference between american and british sign language

that's a question that i was asked today

- KEEP them coming-

THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS- what is the same?!

only a couple of signs are the same such as ALIKE and different.

I'm sure there is more but I cant think off the top  of my head

- American Sign Language is signed with your dominant hand where as British Sign Language uses 2

now back to my paper- I have pharyngitis LUCKY ME-
I've been eating my fruits and veggies!!!!

last night in SPAIN

Booked a trip to Spain with the girlies and im in love but realizing im losing the importance of my priorities. Yes, while all the way over here it is cool to travel- but I did come here for school. Some people are here just to travel and are taking classes that are irrelevant but UMMMM Im not one of those people. I am trying to graduate ON TIME AND also have fun while in England.

Barcelona is so cool but I lost my voice- last week I mentioned it being sore and last night I completely lost it after hookah NOT A GOOD IDEA. But in my defense I was losing it before I even participated in the activity.

When I arrive I will be hitting the books hard. I have 2 papers due next week on the day before my bday and I also have a presentation due March 11th.

I'm going to cave in and buy a video camera and I thought I would be finish my project when I get home but I will be working diligently on my project while I am here.

Second week of March I will begin to film-  I will start with introducing myself and my project and then asking random questions to people and video taping the encounter.

Ive enjoyed quite a lovely vacation but playtime is OVER

HAPPY V- DAY someone please call 911

Today I woke up S I C K. I have a sore throat- it sucks

Went into town to complete my outfit and I ended up not going out because I was cranky and didn't want to ruin any one's valentine day.

A couple of student came to my flat and we cooked. We cooked sausages, had mixed veggies, garlic bread, and mushrooms.

SOMEONE PLEASE CALL 911- our grill was faulty and I saw a spark during the sausages but It was only one but the Mushrooms actually caught on fire- AHHHHH

We panicked and I grabbed the fire extinguisher but I was so anxious to use it I did PULL THE PIN-
we finally got it together lol.

We should be getting a new cooker tomorrow- hopefully because ours is completely soaked with the fluid from the extinguisher :/

Edinburgh

It was beautiful. Never seen anything like it in my life. We left  at 730 and got there in the afternoon. We ONLY STAYED FOR 4 HOURS SO OUR TIME WAS RUSHED. Not sure if we will be going on any more trips with the school because for about 2 pounds more we could have taken the train and got there in 2 hours and came back whenever we were ready.

and I have pics of the castle as well :D

tomorrow will be a productive day. I will be reading and I am halfway finished with my counselling book and it would be great if I could absolutely finish it. I have other readings as well :/

OH and can you notice the weather IT SUCKS. I just want one RAY OF SUNSHINE. This is absolutely the reason why my background of my blog are raindrops

excited

Tomorrow im going to Scotland- the coach leaves at 730 and of course im up at 250. I really need to sleep but I will on the bus.

This morning I had an English bfast- at first I was not keen on the idea of eating baked beans in the morning- I usually only eat them on hot dogs

It was delicious then my friend and I went into town and bought some Vday gifts - we will be playing White Elephant a gift game which is really really cute I think.

Today I made an attempt to be productive I've been reading on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy since I have a paper due on March 1st. Another paper and presentation due March 11 and another paper due very soon my teacher is slacking and we are aware of the assignment but he didn't post it because he didn't want students to work on it early and know he happens to be pushing my buttons because I cant prioritize if my assignments not posted- My fingers are crossed on the fact that he should extend the date. I'm not good with working last minute so I am working hard to avoid any pressure of major assignments being due.

Today I did some reading and this may have sadly been my most productive day since I have been here. I have been on vacation way too long but I changed that today lol

Hopefully I can finish this book by Monday- It might be Tuesday but I'm really going for Monday because on Wednesday I will be in Barcelona until Sunday and highly doubt that I will be doing any hw.....maybe I can squeeze in time to write a outline- but I highly doubt it.

Deaf Awareness
I will be asking random students questions and videotaping it but I don't have any questions- HELP!

LATE NIGHTS EARLY MORNING

Havent been sleepy like a regular person but I did find out that I do have papers that I didnt know were due in a couple of weeks. I have time to do them but I am kinda freaking out. I have been on VACATION WAY TOO LONG.

well guys it's 420 and I will get straight to the point.

Just getting back in from Sparkle heart and it was great. My feet hurt from my heels but that was definitely expected.

There were a lot of people there and I did have a little deja vu- I remembered being there in a dream but I didnt know what it meant at that time. I felt like I was going to aggrevate my friend Nirvana by asking her to interpret everything--even though she prob wouldnt have mind. But I sucked it up- gained some confidence and met people. I went to the event with a group of 3 other girls and I definitely didnt stay in their shadow- I am so proud of myself.

I held conversations by myself and would ask someone to translate if I was really excited about what I was saying and was thinking so fast my hands couldnt process it lol

I had a magnificent time. We played all sorts of games- I won the raffle and didnt realize it because I didnt understand their numbers in sign language at first (GOOD TIMES).

I also had a conversation with a friend (Latoya). She is so lovely and from London. She explained to me her childhood experience Im not gonna say she told me everything but she did share with me interesting stuff I will be putting into my DEAF AWARENESS PROJECT.

ummmm brief description
when she was first born her mother didn't know why her child ALWAYS CRIED. A newborn baby crying (that's not unheard of) but she was definitely crying and not because she was hungry.  After 2 weeks her mother was full of frustration and took her to her sister's house- Latoya's aunt.

Latoya's aunt one day realized that she cried when the lights were off. And also when you made loud sounds she wouldn't flinch such as babies do when they are frightened. She was taken to the doctor and low and behold she was Deaf.

The reason that I shared this brief story was I thought it was so cool that- her vision was her everything. Individuals that are Deaf use their vision significantly (more than you realize) when they have hearing impairments.

Her story was soooo cool and I want to share her story in my project but I definitely would like my subscriber's ideas- questions- and comments.

the past week

I got invited to a Sign Language Class- I learned a lot so it was definitely cool :D
The teacher gave me points on how I can pick up on the sign language quicker STOP FOCUSING ON THE HANDS AND WATCH FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. I heard it before but I didn't need to apply it UNTIL NOW.


The professor Allen was showing a "film"- where a man was explaining HIS HOLIDAY FROM HELL and the students were watching and had to decipher to improve their perception of the language.  A lot of people are able to sign but when being signed to struggle (such as now- after I introduce myself and say my name I am completely lost lol)

Oh the teacher is an advocate and promotes Deaf Awareness- I'll definitely be by his side- Although he doesn't know it yet lol

My teacher read a poem that I haven't heard since my senior year of high school and I decided to put it in my poem it's titled You Have To Be Deaf To Understand. I'm trying to get creative and I think I will place this at the end of my film/project and sign it (while I sign It I cant talk or that will be Signed Exact English  (SEE) and I want to sign it in American Sign Language ASL (my mother is going to have to help me) And I will voice over it for the hearing viewers. I am so excited I ABSOLUTELY MUST START POSTING EVERYDAY. I tend to forget what's been going on but I will definitely try my best. I've been shopping for my event on Friday called Sparkle Heart. There should be Deaf people from all over North England and even London. :) I AM SO EXCITED- although I won't be able to understand a thing.


Schooling here is soo different. Classes are for 2 hours as you have heard me babble yet I see so many flaws in this education system. I am not sure if all uni's (university) are this way in England but It's horrible.
The teacher lectures for 2 hours and some classes are discussion which I love. But yeah 2 HOURS and then you are on your own for studying. That takes lots of discipline- which a lot of students don't have. This is a very big party school and there isn't a day that the British don't have a GOOD TIME.
The teacher's give you a list of the readers which is a list of books and don't specify what they want you to read. The list of books go on and on.


The discrepancy that I have is what chapter are you going to go over- there is no way I am going to read 5 whole books and you aren't going to teach all of it. I would like for you to specify what it is which reading is in accordance to what we went over in class. I have always been under the impression that anyone could be book smart and still not know a __________ thing.


Also- I have been talking to students who are just getting their results from last semester and have been absolutely bummed (I have to watch when I say bummed here- in Britain it means a totally different thing) :/      They read and read and had to write 3 essays and when they got their results they failed horribly- even though they thought they understood what was going on in the class.


In America I am used to my teacher giving us interaction- DISCUSSION- So I can engage my mind and get others views because I have a teacher who is extremely biased and I cant decipher if I should form my own rebuttals against what he is saying or is he teaching me.


HERE AFTER THE FIRST 45 MINUTES- a lot of stuff just goes over my head and I'm downing HIGHLY CARBONATED COKE TO STAY AWAKE.


But anyway after you have taken the course you get your results in AFTER A LONG TIME and then the teacher grades whether or not you have understood what was taught. I never thought I would be saying this but I would much rather get tested every 2 weeks. That way I know if I am understanding or I need to study harder. I will know where I stand!


Oh and my mother sent me goodies- cost a fortune but it may be due to packing it incorrectly :/ but I got my food so I am still happy. Now I'm just craving those darn Girl Scout Cookies.


Oh and I hope everyone had a GREAT SUPERBOWL. This Canadian name Natalie- Loves American Football and we had a little Superbowl party in her flat(room). As we shopped for groceries we entered local pubs to see if they would be showing the game and no one was. Even one Irish Pub that advertised that they show ESPN on the window- So I don't know what the point of that was lol. We ended up getting private room in the library and watching it on the BIG FLAT SCREEN.


Please Please Please comment if you stop by-
Have ideas for my project-
Want me to find out anything for you-
I would love to hear anything you have to say-

monday

today was extremely long- went to bed fairly early at 1230 am and woke up at 750 and i thought i slept in FML- my body is like clockwork with this getting up stuff too bad i am getting up to NOTHING. I let my course tutor look over my paper and he said it was FINE. ummm does that mean Im getting an A on my paper- b/c I heard he marks quite harsh- idk.

Well tomorrow I have class 2 of them and Im dreading it. I know I'm here for school but I will never adjust to the whole sitting for 2 hours at a time- babbling when my attention span is very short.

I went to the Media factory today to see if they lend out video cameras to students- my uni back at home does in the library- well it was worth a shot but my reply was NO. I'll figure something out for this final project on Deaf Awareness- goodnight