Thursday, April 14, 2011

Doesn't everyone know that "Study Abroad" really means "Euro-Trip"?

This whole "do work when you are in London" thing really isn't working out for me right now. I don't think I fully understood how draining writing 16,000 words is.

Especially when I haven't written a formal essay over 1,000 words in YEARS. My education has been limited to lab reports and article reviews. I am a Biology and Conservation major, after all. I don't need to write creative, thought provoking essays! I write papers based on fact, strengthened by using examples from peer-reviewed works, which are based on studies.

I am not used to sitting in a library for 8 hours a day. And I know that is not much at all. But I NEVER go to the library for work. EVER. This is because the library is a sacred place for me. I go there to enjoy books. One of my favorite places in the world is the original part of my hometown's library. In this dimly lit room is a fireplace surrounded by comfy armchairs. One can pick up one of the hundreds of newspapers located near the bay windows or just curl up on one of the chairs and read a book. To me, this is a library.

At home, I always do work in my room. Here, it is hard to concentrate in my room due to the fact that the building behind my room is having construction done, and the workers are jack-hammering god-knows-what ALL DAY LONG. So I am forced to find another place to work.

My library at King's will fool you- it looks like a castle on the outside. In fact, it was built to house the government's most important documents until a more suitable location was acquired in Westminster. I wish the inside complimented the exterior of the building.

Instead, the inside feels like a hospital. It is bright, with white walls, laminated floors, and the humming of florescent lights constantly inundating your ears. For the past 3 days, I have called a cubby in this environment home.

This has physically drained me in a way I never thought possible. The only way I can describe it is through a scene in "Hocus Pocus", that once-creepy but now funny Halloween movie in the States that says the word 'virgin' more times in 1.5 hours than I have uttered it in my entire lifetime (Shout-out to Mary!!!). You know the scene where the witches are draining the youth from the children, and the children grow older as their youth is sucked out of them? THAT IS WHAT I FEEL LIKE.

Still, in 3 days, I have written 7,000 out of 16,000 words I need to write. That means I have finished two essays- one with a word limit of 5,000, and one with a limit of 2,000. I have reached word counts of 4,876 and 1,995, respectfully. This amazes me- I have never been that close to a word count limit! I have even finished gathering sources for the last 9,000 words.

With deadlines approaching for the first week of May, the heat is on. But I fear I won't be very productive for the next week- my family is coming to London!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!! CAN YOU TELL?!?!?!?!?! For four days we will be staying in London, and for the remaining 5 days, we are traveling the English countryside! So, my faithful readers, get ready to be inundated with photos upon my return!

Also, coinciding with my return to London and the departure of my family back to the States is my 21st birthday! Usually people are excited about this milestone. However, because I don't drink, this is just another birthday to me. And what better place to be than in England, where the drinking age is 18, and they couldn't care less about turning 21? PERFECT!

...Besides, with the way things are looking, my 21st will consist of me writing essays (and possibly finishing them all?) and then passing out on my bed. Not due to drunkenness, but by the exhaustion that takes over me after a full day of writing. Par-tay.

So, tune in next week to hear all about my adventures with my family!

Cheers!

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