The week that that was...

Last week was one of those "blah" weeks that the chick flicks showcase and end by having the actresses veg out with some desserts and movies at home. You all know what I'm talking about, those weeks that really just take it out of you and cause you to turn hermit al fin de semana (that weekend) and not do anything. For me this meant not going to Scotland, clubs, bars, dinner, breakfast, the bathroom, outside etc. A psychologist might have called it "depression" I call it mandatory nap time.

Now it might not seem a great topic to talk about but there is a lesson here. After all there is a lesson learned in anything, right? I'm not sure either but that's what adults have always told me. Anywho, the important thing that I realized and anyone considering coming abroad should realize that there are down weeks where you just have to put your nose to the grindstone and muscle out some work and then take some alone time instead of jetsetting across Europe for the weekend. As my adviser (and maybe one of yours someday) Laura Bayne put it, this is part of the roller coaster of going abroad. It had to happen eventually, the low point where you get homesick and need to just mentally flush things out. It was a build up of factors, lack of sleep, drinking, traveling to Berlin all weekend, and actually having to do some serious work that just built up and knocked me down. And maybe it took me a few days to get over it, but once you do it is freakin sweet. You get your energy back and actually feel like being productive (see I do write my blog!) so I guess it's just important to note that you'll get over the dip, you just gotta keep going.

The downside of the "downside" is that I don't have any good stories this week. I lost my bus pass in Berlin last weekend so I pretty much just stayed in as paying $3 to ride the bus one way isn't very economical and neither is riding the bus to a place where I'll just spend more money. Some American friends of mine are surprised that I don't ever go to City Centre because they love it there, in all honesty it probably reminds them of home a bit. Malls, department stores, people shopping etc. I have this problem about being a compulsive spender and so I know that if I go anywhere near that place I'll spend because I can somehow (go:figure::stinking:advertising) rationalize needing a new jacket or shoes.... which I unfortunately did on both accounts the one and only time I've been to city center. The other downside is that you're buying regular consumer quality products that you can get in the US or here, but you're paying twice the price when considering how much butt kicking the pound is doing these days in the global economy.

Speaking of the economy, I get really annoyed with my American peers who translate every pound they spend into dollars and then complain. I know it might sound a bit hypocritical after my previous paragraph but bear with me here. When I complain it's about lifestyle products, clothes, shoes, sunglasses etc. Some of them do the calculations for everything including food, drinks, bus passes, feminine products or whatever. Basically things that most people consider essential (if you're not a minimalist) to life. My argument is that when you consider the ratio of income to spending in England, it's about the same as America. If someone in England Makes 50,000 pounds a year and spends 45,000 of those pounds, they have pretty much the same lifestyle as an American who makes $50,000 and spends $45,000. So yeah while it hurts those of us here, I think it's a bit ridiculous that some Americans assume English people are wealthier just because they have a stronger currency. On a side note, it's pretty simple to see why England doesn't want to jump on the Euro bandwagon (or as my friend Flipper called "a flaming train wreck"). All national pride aside, it comes down to simple economics.

In other news I've become the resident chef of Beaumont Hall Block 3. My skill with the blade, block, and steel (read: pans) have rendered me a formidable reputation around this joint. Be looking for me line of cook books, cutlery, and pots and pans at your local Targets, Wal-Mart, ASDAs, and Saks 5th Avenue. I haven't decided on my namesake yet, it's either Chris "The Pasta Blasta" Thorburn (they pronounce it pa-sta, not pah-sta here) or Chris "The Raman Shaman" Thorburn. I'm leaning towards the latter.

I'm already planning my first infomercial. It'll be like a Barry Scott or Emeril, "Bam, this is Chris "The Kitchen King" Thorburn to sell you my cookbook 1001 Ways Raman Noodles Can Improve Your Life". You guys can see where this is going, up baby! (Seriously, someone fund me it's a sure success)

Au'revoir,

<3 Chris "The Pasta Blasta" Thorburn