Reverse Culture Shock?

This last week I searched high and low for a decent fathers day present, so naturally I found myself at Old Orchard shopping mall. When I went abroad I only expected a small amount of culture shock, which I rarely received during my travels. However, I did expect a bigger culture shock when I came home after five months away from the American way of life. I guess fortunately enough I had no such feelings, until that day at Old Orchard. Being surrounded by such a diverse array of americans gave me the weirdest feeling. It made remember all the different people I had seen in last 5 months, and reminded me how different it is at home. To a further degree as I drove home I listened to a song a buddy showed while in London. My musical taste abroad became far more eclectic as I started to heavily indulge myself in trance and house music, which are quite the big deal in Europe. When I turned up the mellow trance song called "memories" by Michael Cassette I couldn't help but let the mellow track make me a little sad. I remembered all the times I listened to the song when in the UK and it made me miss my friends I had made there and the time of my life I would never get back. 

It's funny being home now. Everything is so slow and mundane. Whcich I suppose is only natural after travling my ass off the last two weeks abroad.

Here's a link to the first song I mentioned. The second is a song that really made my head spin. With its heavy house aura I could only help but imagine myself once again at a club late night in London, bobbing my head back and forth along with the crowd of music lovers around me.

"memories" Michael Cassette

"Reach Out" by Sander Van Doorn (thomas gold remix)

Alright... Its been a little too long.

Ya so now I'm back in the states, after spending the best 5 months of my life as I used Europe as my play ground. I made great friends and have made some great memories I will never forget.

The knowledge I have attained has helped me, not only to understand the world around me better, but has also opened my eyes to help me understand who I am and the family/friends I share my life with.

 Although I have failed to update this blog since Lord knows when, it should be known that it was probably due to the fact that I was too busy having the time of my life. And instead of blogging, I threw technology behind me and constantly wrote in my journal. Although I wont be sharing much of what I wrote due to its personal content. I hope and plan on sharing many fragments of the thoughts I had, through poems and short paragraphs.

Classes, Clubs and Cambridge

A very interesting week for Sir Charkna indeed. I started of my week in my usual fashion: lots and lots of sleep (standard). I hope I am just still catching up with my new sleep cycle and jet-lag. As far as school goes, I only have classes Wednesday and Thursday which gives me lots of free time, therefore I have to find a way to keep myself busy during the week when I am not traveling. I am thinking of joining the cricket team as well as the wind surfing club, which i found pretty cool that the school has them to offer. I am also considering making my own radio show, which could be quite interesting as well.

The other half of my week I enjoyed getting to know my new study abroad friends better, with shared drinks accommodated with many toasts. We also have been discussing where we would all like to travel. The most fun I have had here thus far was seeing DJ Erol Alkan at the Fabric nightclub. The light show and sound system was perhaps the best I had ever experienced. The bass was so loud at this nightclub that the hair on my arms literally stood on end dancing the night away as the rest of the club did. I was joined with my good buddy from back home Phil as well as some new buddies who showed me this electro DJ, Kaj and Will.

I plan on putting up videos of some of the nightclubs I've been to, but have to put them on youtube first... Maybe. 

Unlike in the States all clubs here stay open super late. We took the 6 am train back into Twickenham just in time for about an hour nap before we headed to the beautiful town of Cambridge where I saw the college, enjoyed the sights, grabbed a cappuccino and did some shopping. Luckily, it was a two hour bus ride where me and my mates got to catch up on our much desired (and needed) sleep. 

1 of 5 "round" churches in England (really exciting, i know)

Police officer Harkna reporting for duty

King Henry VII nice looking church

Apparently dancing is prohibited in Cambridge.... or maybe its just walking like a moron?

Oh hello spotsy

Charles Darwin's first studied specimen for his theory of evolution.

Alrighty, that seems about all for this week.

Cheers! 

The First Week Abroad!

Twenty minutes before my plane landed in London, I still had no idea what to expect. I wasn't sure what I would see, who I would meet or how my life would change. What I did know, however, was that I was both nervous and extremely anxious.

Now I am here! And I can finally take a deep breath to take in all that I have experienced during, what seemed to be the longest week of my life. When I arrived I was welcomed by a couch bus filled with other international students, mostly from the States, but a couple of Aussie's as well. We arrived at St. Mary's college for a couple brief and informative lectures. Soon thereafter, for those of us who were placed in homestay, were introduced to our homestay family's. I felt a little distraught when I found out I would not be staying in the dorms, mostly because I felt uncomfortable living with a random family from the UK. Fortunately my negative perspective changed quickly as I have a great room, a comfortable bed and a wonderfully nice family, who don't judge my 'night owl' life style. I even get breakfast every morning and I live literally a 3 minute walk from the train that goes into London. When I talked to some of my other friends who were also in homestay I again realized how lucky I was, because many of them live a 20 and 30 minute walk from campus.

The rest of my week was filled with club/pub hopping and sight seeing around London and Twickenham. As for the food, everyone who told me it would suck was right because it really does. And if it wasn't for the constant consumption of pints of beer I would have lost 10lb's by now(lol). In general I am having the time of my life and getting ready to go to class, as my first one is tomorrow. I can only imagine what else this trip has in store for me and I am ready to embrace it and make the most of this lovely adventure. Cheers!