Manchester again!

I have been a very very lazy blogger, and since I'm spending today procrastinating doing other things, I think I'll jot down some bloggage. I was just over at the Dudley Caving Club's blog, which is quite a fantastic caving blog, mainly for South Wales caves, but some very lovely photos and descriptions.

Caving is my new love. It seems an odd sport, as most people think: "why the hell would anyone want to go underground, into darkness, into cold, wet, and muddy spaces? Sounds horrific!" Well, most of that is true, but the tradeoff is getting to see amazing underground rock formations that few have seen, and feeling very accomplished when you wriggle out of that hole after anything from 4 to 10 hours underground. It's so physically demanding that cake is not just suggested but required! Who could say no?

I'm rolling along with my degree, learning more and more Chinese and more and more about China. My literature class is definitely my favorite. The works of Chinese writers from the Republican Revolution period resonate with me: the feeling of loss of identity, studying in a foreign country... Very fascinating.

My friends have been lovely, and besides feeling a bit burnt out from spreading myself a bit thin across various society events, life is very good!!

Manchester so far...

I’ve been studying and living in Manchester for six months now. It’s about time for me to reflect on what I think of everything! So much has happened since I first arrived, and I feel like I’ve changed a lot, or perhaps I’ve returned to my old self.

Socializing is something I was never very good at. But coming to university, you have no choice but to force yourself to be outgoing. It isn’t just a survival instinct, but with so much going on around you, making friends is the best way to enjoy life. I know that I was so thrilled to be meeting people with similar interests that I just couldn’t keep quiet! Second semester really started off with snowball-like momentum. I cannot believe it’s been 5 weeks since we started. I’ve been very active within the clubs I’ve joined, and I’m starting to get to know my classmates better. I've been occupied with some social activity probably 4-5 nights out of 7!

I’ve also gotten into a few new things, like caving, and mahjong. I didn’t know anything about either before I started at Manchester, but now I’m learning how to rig caves, and can play a full game of mahjong! I get quite the feeling of accomplishment knowing how I've improved. My studies are going well, and I’m learning so much! I still feel a little overwhelmed, but there are periods of calm for me to gather my thoughts before I dive back into the swells.

I’ve kept up with my dancing, albeit not nearly as frequently as before. But I’ll always be a dancer in my heart, and I’m glad I haven’t given it up yet. I will also always be a bookworm at heart, and though I’d practically forgotten how to read, I’m finally getting back into my “bookish” habits. (I mean read academically, not just read. How could I have really forgotten how to read??) University is really about finding yourself, and I feel like I’m on the way to discovering/rediscovering who I am!

Life in Manchester is fascinating, though not without things that are frustrating. I’m often reminded that England is not the US, and that customs and culture are actually quite different! It’s little things, like TV shows I haven’t seen, pop stars I don’t know, or customs I’m not familiar with, like boys and girls sharing a house even though they aren’t going out. (That may be a student thing, but I still believe it’s less common in the US). I pronounce words “wrongly” all the time, or call “monobrows” “unibrows” (silly me). Sometimes I feel like punching things because I’m so frustrated with that feeling of displacement!

But all in all, I feel like I’m learning a lot, and expanding myself. I may not be there yet, but hopefully by the time I get my degree I’ll know who the hell I am!

Yes, Guy-sensei, the Springtime of our lives.

This is why I love Naruto-style ninjas. None of that sneaking around in the dark wearing black all the time. No. We shall parade around and cry manly tears at our hard work while wearing bright green unitards. Ah, Guy-sensei, I would follow you into the sunset...