Sonntag, 15. November 2009

St. Louis

After all this paper work I treated myself to a little two day trip to St. Louis, Missouri/Illinois. After a three and a half hour train ride, we, Julia, Ludmila and I arrived and walked all the way downtown through city gardens to our hotel, which was right at the Mississippi River next to the St. Louis Arch, the gateway to the west. After checking into our room, we went up the 192m high arch in a little tiny cubicle, spent hours in the museum, walked through old St.Louis and walked along the river...I almost felt like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn...there was just this atmosphere...somehow..

Back in the hotel, we had a little adventure as at 2.30 at night the alarm went on and we had to rush downstairs in hour pj's just to find out that someone pushed the alarm on purpose and for fun...After an hour we were finally be able to sleep again! It's interesting however to find out what people where for sleeping purposes....

Next day...after a nice breakfast, we visited a church close by and walked back to the Amtrak station to store our luggage. With the Metro we then went to Forest Park and as we had almost 20 something degrees outside we had a beautfiful chilaxing day in the park, close to the water and the St.Louis Zoo...

A wonderful experience....


St.Louis Arch...we were right on the top!


this was the little tiny cubicle!

Paper Marathon


Projects:
Paper on Gardening as a Place of Seduction: Done
Presentation on the Influence of the Golden Books: Done
Paper on the Reinvention of the Naughty Child in Dahl and Hoffmann: Done

Still to do:
Paper on Hair as a Gender Code in the Medieval Ages
Response Paper to Werewolf Imagery
Abstract on Hair
Second Life Project about Gardening and Seduction
Draft about Hair and Concepts of Reality
Final Exam Children's Literature



It is a well-known fact that even though you are sick, the work is not done for you. After happily and kindly sharing my bad cold with my entire floor, I have been in a state of no sleep, tons of coffee, nervous breakdowns and writing, writing, writing to finish my two big critical papers...and I made it somehow. Sometimes I am impressed and little shivers run down my spine by all the work I have done this semester...I cannot believe I have made it so far!

Dienstag, 10. November 2009

November

Music of the Month:
Quando sento che mi ami - Jose Carerras, Sissel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRnd-gacBg&feature=related

Shenandoah - Sissel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5grgB-dV2o

November has come and my stay at Illinois State, Normal, Illinois, USA is almost over. Realizing that there are less than five weeks left is scary. My eyes are filled with tears and I can't eat thinking about a life without these amazing people I have met and which have made it into my life and into my heart, which have been added to my identity puzzle, completing myself.

I have almost forgotten how emotional the last weeks and soon days are in this in between state, this grey zone between sadness of leaving and happiness of arriving. My heart is beating fast and I try not to think about it but its almost impossible.

Life is about coming and going, and I hope that our ways will cross again soon!

Mittwoch, 21. Oktober 2009

Odd thoughts...



Music: Florent Pagny - Si tu veux m'essayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBLn6Ur0S4&feature=related
Coffee: late coffee= bad decision= no sleep
Books to read: Ramona the Brave, The Myth of Pope Joan



Today is one of these days were nothing will be as usual. I have been lazy this morning, due to too much coffee last night, whicht kept me awake almost all night...good job Sarah! My head is full with odd thoughs about life, future and what I really want in life. There are tons of things on my to do list...but today...yes no maybe..we'll see.

Life sometimes is just complicated. Listening to Florent makes me happy today...Do you sometimes have the feeling that you are shortly before breaking out of something? ...that you almost can smile and feel free? I am not sure if this is explicable at all...this odd feeling inside...but today its there inside me...just waiting for its breakthrough...I am smiling already...


Lets go on a quest and stop worrying about future...at least once...Go out and enjoy life today!


Sonntag, 18. Oktober 2009

Homecoming






Another thing happened this weekend...Homecoming. I honestly did not have much time in participating as a thousand and more pages were waiting for me (and I spend most of my weekend reading in the library, lounge or in my bed), but however we had a bbq and then most of us went to the football game...here are some more impressions...

International House Opening





On Friday, the International House at Manchester Hall was officially opened and the first Marylin M. Boyd Scholarship was awarded. Many of us were eager to help and volunteered with contributing programs, leading people to I-House and preparing and serving food...

Chicago II












I am sorry for being late with updating, but work is pretty time consuming over here. On the 10th we were again in Chicago...just for a day...but its was plenty of time to see things we had not seen yet and it was wonderful to be back in one's own bed at night...

Donnerstag, 15. Oktober 2009

Ghosts at ISU

Yes...there is the proof. ISU is one of the Top 10 Haunted Campuses in the United States...


School ‘Spirit’: The Top 10 Haunted Campuses in the U.S.

You never know where you’ll find inspiration for your next campus marketing initiative. Here is a list of campuses I think make up America’s “most haunted.”

Illinois State University (Normal, IL) – The library at Williams Hall was used as a temporary holding place for older books that were not needed or referenced very often. The space is said to be haunted by the ghost of Angie Milner, the school’s first official librarian. Paranormal researchers have taken electronic readings in the library and have supported the theory that there are peculiar energy anomalies present. Students and researchers conducting work there have described books flying off shelves, smokey white apparitions among the aisles of the stacks, and feeling something brush up against them while they are reading.

Freitag, 9. Oktober 2009

Nine weeks gone - nine weeks left

Music: Peter Jöback - Stockholm i Natt

Today is a special day...nine weeks have passed so far and nine weeks of the semester are left. I don't know how I feel about it - am I glad? am I sad? It has been an emotional last week. Even though I am looking forward to seeing Daniel again, it makes me sad to think about parting from all these wonderful people I have met, who already have impacted my being more than I would have ever imagined.


I hate goodbyes...can't they be changed to "see you soon"s?


PS: Jag älska dig Daniel!

Montag, 5. Oktober 2009

October





Coffee: one
Milka Chocolate bar: one
Mood: on my way to perfect happiness (thanks to the chocolate)

Music of the week: Helen Sjöholm, Amanda Marshall
Plans for the near future: Learn Swedish!, Buy a new bookshelf
__________________________________

Dear friends and readers of this little blog,

I can't believe that it is already October. It is certainly true what people say: time flies when you are having fun (and are busy at the same time). However, I think it is my duty to inform you about my latest adventures over here and the things which are coming up.

After visiting Springfield and Lincoln with the Paderborn Summer School Students, which, I cannot say that enough, really impressed me, October came along and I had to hand in my first two big projects. It certainly was a tough week and I am happy that its over. Ludmila and I actually celebrated last week with our monthly trip to the mall to visit Victoria and all the other nice friends we have made so far (smile).

By the way I really need a date with Paul again...my hair is growing wild and right now I have almost four different shades of colour on my head, which is really weird.

Also our day at the mall was very interesting as we came to some life-changing solutions:
a) America has big kids, as even I fit in the Junior section T-shirts,
b) Victoria was sold out and
c) we have spend too much money at Victoria's so far.

The last weekend started with a 'German Oktoberfest' event at one of the German professor's house, followed by a boring but studious Saturday reading 500 pages of Medieval French romances. In the evening we had a "Chocolate around the World" event, in which people had the chance to taste four different kinds of chocolate (blindfolded) and to write down which one they preferred...and the winner is.....tatatata: Milka! Does that suprise you? Well, no of course not.

Sunday was beautiful outside and we went for a walk on the University Quad before heading to the library. After reading my 'left-overs', I fell asleep...yeah in the library. Its the perfect place to sleep I think as it is totally quiet...and the chairs were so nice! You all should try that once in awhile!

Ok...a new week has started and I am almost done with my update. On Friday Ludmila and I will be going out for dinner. As by Friday we are already here for nine weeks - which means there are only nine weeks left. Honestly it makes me sad as I really start liking it here (I wish I could stay longer or at least come back soon).

Further upcoming events:
Thursday: Midterm in Children's Literature
Saturday: Day trip to Chicago (train tickets are booked and we are ready to leave)


Furthermore ...my next trip to London in January/February is booked too, got a nice flight and a convenient hostel.

...and my floormate Caroline is going to visit me in January...and I can stay at Mareike's appartment over Thanksgiving...

So, even though I always thought that I am leading a boring life - things are happening next year. Next year - well I think this is going to be exciting and life changing in many aspects.


Dear friends of me and the little man...take care and write comments....also my post box would love to receive some mail!
Kisses and hugs



Sonntag, 27. September 2009

Springfield









On Friday Ludmila and I had the chance to go to Springfield to visit our dear friend Abraham Lincoln. First we paid tribute to his dead body by spending some quiet time in front of his grave. Then we got an exclusive and very informative tour through his home and finally spend some wonderful hours in the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library. I am deeply impressed by his life and work...too bad that he had to die so soon.



Freitag, 18. September 2009

...


Donnerstag, 17. September 2009

Fall




Do you know the feeling when fall comes around?
...When the air isn't stuffed with the heat of the summer any longer?

...When the wind blows stronger than before to clean the air, making it easier to breathe?

...When the sun is still shining but has lost most of its power?



...When the leaves are turning, making the grey world colorful

...When night sets in sooner

...When the evenings are starting to get chilly


I love fall...and its coming I can see it, I can smell it and I can't wait for it

Samstag, 12. September 2009

September

Coffee: today 2
Icecream: today 1
Cookies: today... two still waiting for me
Book: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The Performance of the Self
_______________________________________
Music of the week:
Soundtrack of My Best Friends Wedding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah-tui1ubnU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EaWA6E0Q4&feature=PlayList&p=BEEE492654FF7A6B&index=7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYBdjmNs1FE


Ok folks...its unbelievable but its almost mid September...which means basically that one third of my stay in Normal is already over. However, I think the little man and I owe our readership an update of the happenings so far.


After our Chicago trip last weekend the week past by rather without excitement, except for the fact that I hurt my foot/ankle/knee/tendon somehow last week (limped through Chicago) and have difficulties walking. Unfortunately not even an appointment with the University nurse helped as she told me the following:

"Oh you might have x, you might have y...but in order to know it for sure we have to do an x-ray...but this is too expensive..so I guess we just wait four more weeks"

...well folks...honestly... in this moment America was removed from my list of countries I would like to live permanently. Health care sucks over here and so I am trying to heal my foot on my own. We will see how its going to work out.

Next to that I am doing fine, keeping my head above the ground. For the rest of today I need to read, read, write my first paper and read. Tomorrow will be the same except for the fact that I have to be in church by 5.30ish...

So folks...hope you are doing well wherever you are...keep your fingers crossed for my foot!
Take care

Montag, 7. September 2009

Chicago

First of all I can't believe that it is already September...time flies when you're having fun and tons of stuff to do, such as going to Chicago for example which was amazing. As it is too much to talk about I will just give you an itiniary and post the pictures...

Saturday:
8 am departure from Manchester Hall
11 am Museum of Science and Industrie
3.30 pm Navy Pier
4 pm check in at Youth Hostel
6 pm Jazz Festival

Sunday
10.00 am check out of Hostel (after that everyone was able to do whatever...)
11-ish Shedd Aquarium
3.30 pm walk from Navy Pier along the water back to Downtown (Michigan Ave)
6.30 pm departure Chicago