A Month and a Half Later

So it’s been more than a month since I arrived in the UK. I guess that makes me British now? Cool. Now I can…ya…um…what is it that the British do again? Besides fish and chips? And imperialism? And YOUR MOM? Well, whatever it is, I do it now. No, but seriously I think I have somewhat found a routine for myself and it goes a little something like this: class in the morning (and evening, one day) Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, come home, eat lunch, think about all the studying I should be doing but watch Arrested Development, Family Guy, Glee, Chuck, or whatever else they have on ch131.com, maybe go for a run in 40 deg weather, then make dinner. Mondays and Fridays I don’t have class, but because I’m in a science masters program, I should be in the lab for at least two hours every single day, including Saturdays and Sundays. I usually go every other day, just so I don’t go nuts.

Now I know what you’re all thinking: Laurie, what is it that you do in lab? What is it like to study bones? Is it as exciting as the show Bones? I can answer the last of those questions right now for you without hesitation: certainly not. That’s not to say I’m not having a good time, however. Usually when I get to lab I first put on my white lab coat (my professional factor goes up by about 10 points with it on), then I grab a big brown box containing the excavated remains of a (mostly) complete individual. Then I unpack the different portions (thorax, pelvis, cranium, leg bones, arm bones, etc) and sit there putting them on the correct side in the correct position from top to bottom (for reference, there are 206 bones in the human body – more if you have a fragmented skeleton). I do a lot of drawing of the bones and marking down where certain landmarks-…and you’re asleep. Hi! Morning Sunshine! Ya, I know you came here for the squirrels. Ok, so here’s one to wake you up:

Isn’t s/he cute? Moving on…

Well a lot of you people have been asking about the LGBT scene, so I’ll tell you the little I know about it…On a Tuesday two weeks ago, I ventured out past 9pm by myself for the first time since I’ve gotten to Durham to a bar that even google maps couldn’t correctly find for me (not an uncommon thing here in the smallest city that time forgot). There was an LGBT Association social going on about a mile from where I live so I decided to go. The bar was super cute and right on the River Weir, which is the main river in Durham. I of course was awkward and tried to talk to anyone willing to talk to me as I knew no one. Surprisingly enough, I had a good time and got to meet some fun gay people. So yay for gay networking! It’s nice not to feel like the only one anymore – there was a whole bar full of em with more people, they said, than last year. Represent.

And speaking of which – coming out to people here in Durham… I feel like I went from being as far from the closet as I possibly could be in Berkeley and LA, to being right back in there when I got here. It’s difficult to know exactly how people will react to something like that, especially seeing as all my friends are from drastically different parts of the world like the middle east, other parts of Europe, etc. But ya, you know me, and I just can’t be in the closet anymore. Been there, done that. So when it’s been coming up in conversation, I freely offer it up. For instance: “You like eating broccoli? Funny thing, I like eating broccoli. Oh and ya I’m a lesbian. Big broccoli-loving ‘mo right here.” The absolute amazing thing with my group of friends is that they are so extremely supportive and accepting, that I really had nothing to worry about in the first place. In fact, two of them have totally offered to come to gay events/clubs with me, which is awesome.

In alcoholic news, I think I have definitely found my drink – cider. My friend Rory pointed out to me that I get it almost every time we go to the pubs. It’s super yummy and usually has more alcohol than the lagers and ales. Not that I know the difference between a lager and an ale…All I know is that I think I like ales better. But to stay out of that confusing mess, I just order a strongbow, which is like the Bud Light of ciders. Classy.

The Howlands Farmlands I can see from my window

Last weekend we made our way to York, a cute little town about an hour south of here. It’s about a £15 train ride roundtrip, and it was definitely worth it. We visited the cathedral and castle, because a city isn’t a city here in England without having one or the both of those, ate lunch, explored the city walls and looked at the cute shops there. I definitely want to go back there to do Channukah/Christmas shopping, or just to go back there in general because it’s so cute!

The York Cathedral

The walls around York

This week has been busy. It’s been a mix of lab work, class, studying, preparing a paper for class, journal critiques, seminars, and the biggest source of anxiety in my life right now: PhD applications. I have been trying to figure out what I would like to do, how I would like to do it, and where I would like to do it. There are about 3 “that’s what she said” jokes in that last sentence. I’d just like to call attention to that fact without actually making those jokes. At this point in time, I think I will be applying to Berkeley, Ohio State, a school in Canada called McMaster, and maybe British schools but their application dates are further into the future. Lots of work to do with all that.

Other highlights from the week included last night, which started out with “BAD football” with the archaeologists (soccer), and a Halloween party. If you’re wondering what my costume was, I’m sure no one will be surprised to find out I went as a squirrel. I wish I had come up with the idea sooner as my costume mostly just involved face paint and ear muffs. Maybe next year, then. Happy Halloween!