Birthday Parties Galore...

Wow, sorry if my blog is in danger of flatlining. This is the week of birthdays (and therefore mega partying). Allow me to recap.

Last Thursday: Baraka social for the Morocco Hitch + we brought some friends along for the ride. Good times
Friday: Sophie's birthday. All out party at our flat, filled hallway with balloons, lots of cake, bowls of wine, chocolate fountain, pizza, etc. (unfortunately, we missed an Otley run for my friend Nico's birthday which was on Saturday)
Saturday: my first day of work, then Amy's birthday with bangers and mash for dinner, followed by a night out
Sunday: recovery day
Monday: Ola's birthday, another night out
Tuesday: Work! chess, pass out
Wednesday: Work all day, Jeff's Bday!! surprise party for him at Gustavo's place. And he didn't suspect a thing!
Thursday (aka tomorrow): Veena's birthday = party on Friday!! somehow I am suspicious tomororw will be another night out..

(brief mention: to assure good friends and family back home that I am not wasting my time and money partying, I have gotten 4/5 marks back from first semester so far, and I assure you, I have done very well!! I promise ;) it's all about the balance!)

So yes, I've been insanely busy, got an essay to write for next week before my parents come with my sister, followed by the Morocco Hitch and maybe other travels. What a mouthful...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hi! Although I have loads of work to do I am procrastinating as usual. Why not a blog post??! So what's new:

1) I got a job. Finally, after handing out maybe 20 resumes I get an interview with a cute couple needing someone for their jewlery store. I start training next Saturday and work the two days a week during which I don't have class. Pretty sweet, especially considering that they hired me knowing I'd need to take 2-4 weeks off for the Morocco hitch and when my parents come up.

2) Oh ya, I'm doing the Morocco Hitch. I've set up a site for sponsorship- I need to raise a minimum of 300 pounds, but of course, it's for charity, so I'm thinking we can do better! If everyone honestly just donates a pound, not only would I know how many of you actually read this, your money will go to help establish quality education in Africa through Link Community Development. Go to http://justgiving.com/rachelwayne

3) I've put up at least 15 flyers throughout campus for my first entrepreneurial venture as an essay editor. We shall see how this goes. Plus I am still employed for the GUILDS temp company and still working as a residence advisor, so I technically have 4 jobs right now! (but it's not at all as bad as it sounds)

4) I officially figured out classes: I am taking Buddhism through the Religious Studies department (and loving it), the philosophy of religion, biological and abnormal psychology, as well as technological change through history (yay to fulfilling another artsci credit!)

5) I got 3/5 final mark/exam marks back (they're one and the same anyways) and did really well!! Should have the rest by Monday, I hope.

6) Did some fundraising throughout the student union and the grocery store. Made a nice sum of money, but still needing more for the hitch!!! working on that this weekend!!

7) I attended (and dragged Steph and Anna) to a lecture today on Islam and Globalisation which I very much enjoyed. I thought I'd write a little about it- the lecturer basically identified globalisation as an economic phenomena that all too often leaks into the political sphere and democratic processes- so who really has the balance of power here? The trans-national corporations, or national governments? He had some very interesting points about globalisation as a fact, and how the Islamic community has to adapt (not conform or transform) in accordance to these changes. He got some rude feedback/questions from the audience, but I appreciated his argument and his criticism of 'Western' globalization (although you may not necessarily be inclined to agree).

8) ummm what else, I am trying to think... aw HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! I've gotten cards from my parents and sis, and from flatmates- soo cute! I wish I had those little cards we had in grade school to hand out.

9) oh, and I'm still an enthusiastic member of the chess club, and now on a mission with Steph to encourage as many people as possible to come out and explore their inner nerdiness. you know you want to! (Jason, watch out this summer!)

10) Oh yes, how could I forget! I saw the Vagina Monologues last night here at Leeds University. I have to say that the production was pretty impressive!!! The group scenes, I thought, were so well done with some very creative interpretations!! Although I will forever be partial to last year's production at Mac, only because I was in it, I will admit, that I was very much entertained!

I think that about covers it... p.s. that sign was hung on the door of someone that lives on Steph's floor. I thought it appropriate for the occassion :P
(as in I think it's funny and by no means is this a reflection of my own personal mindset/views).

Whether you are single,
or taken,
Have a Happy Valentine's Day!


Love,
~ Rach. xx.

Belly Dance, Carnage, Oh the Good Old Happy Days!!

Hey!!

So our belly dancing show for Womankind charity on Saturday night went SO well. We managed to pull off our group circle dance that had us all worried in rehearsal. Speaking of rehearsals, Steph, Lindsday and I made the tiny backstage dressing room into a model photo shoot with all the pictures we were taking. I performed in 4 numbers, and apart from being so nervous to the point of shaking, I had loads of fun! The belly dancer, who is amazing and works at the Spice Bar even performed a number. The highlight, I have to say, was the samba drums at the end where we were all on stage dancing freestyle to the beat. What was really funny was that right before the show started, there were only a few rows of chairs set up in the auditorium, and I jokingly said that there's no way that'd be enough because Steph and I had invited many many more people. Well I'm glad to say that they had to put out twice as many more chairs for the show than they had originally set up and I was very happy to see that my flatmates and friends had come out to watch, so thank u thank u and I hope you enjoyed the show!!

Afterwards I headed to a party up in North Hill Court which was fun although it kept me out veryyyyyyy late, but was followed by a delicious pizza on the way home. Sunday I got to hang out with Anna and her brother David who came in from Edinburgh. We took a walk through Hyde Park and Headingly (think Westdale student ghetto) and ate at a quaint cafe. Good food, good people, good conversation- a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Sunday night, was Carnage. Well, what can I say. Dress up in the offical Carnage t-shirt. Get 'free entry' to 6 bars/pubs (ahem, but not club Halo..grr) and sign your friends shirts (new and old) all night long and vice versa. We started out here at the flat, dressed up as really rediculously good looking nurses with our shirts and little nurse's cap, took loads of photos, headed to Walkabout, Revolution, Varsity.. I don't think we made it to all the bars.. haha anyways it was a good fun night!

hmm, anyways I just did some laundry, however, I had to wash one of my loads twice because the washer didn't seem to wash it at all, much to my dismay and frustration especially when a load costs 1.60- and that's pounds, not dollars. off i go!!

Gingerbread Belly Dance Bonanza

Well it's been quite an interesting few days. For one, I am flip flopping all over the place with respect to my last course credit.hmmm. On the job front, the search so far has been unsuccessful, but nonetheless I will certainly keep looking. ahhh, so what else is new?

1) The gingerbread house has been finished, and as I write this, unfortunately, it has also been entirely destroyed and eaten. While full credit goes to Jeff and Steph for the idea and construction of the gingerbread house walls, roof, and chimney (with a hand or two from Anninha, Renata, and I), completion of the project seemed rather bleak when we didn't have the proper ingredients to make icing. Nevertheless, I think I managed to sort that out by adding heaploads of icing sugar- we went through about 4 tubes of the stuff.. mmmmm... very sweet, as you can imagine. It was also David's birthday so Ola, Anninha, Renata, and Steph, and Jeff and I, as a present, made him a mini but not so small version of him in gingerbread which basically consisted of a really skinny body with freakishly long legs and arms (see photo above- guess which one..) We also built and decorated the house with tons of icing sugar (the chimney was overflowing with it), sprinkles, chocolate sauce, macadamia nuts, and banana chips, and gumdrops- we had to get creative. Jeff smashed the house with his elbow a couple days later, sending pieces flying everywhere, all of which has now been eaten!!!

2) the University of Leeds bellydancing society is putting on a show this Saturday on campus at Riley Smith Hall, "The Elements" for charity. I am in 4 numbers and have been so busy with daily rehearsals, but I have fallen in love with it. I am of course a bit nervous about dancing in front of literally everyone I know in Leeds, so there will be a belly dancing party in Steph's kitchen tomorrow, which coincidently, is aptly located such that all of Leodis Residence will be able to see us... show time!

3) After Steph and I finally tracked down the chess club, which I should mention stood us up twice last semester, we finally found them (they changed the room) conveniently in the campus Old Bar on Tuesday, and we brought Jeff along for the ride. I am quite aware that this definitely makes me a nerd, and no, I am not ashamed, the chess club, ironically, seems to be another excuse to drink at Leeds. I ended up having 3 pints, initially against my own will, but hey, how could I refuse- I haven't been drinking too much at all recently anyways. It was actually quite fun, I think we sat in the Old Bar for at least 4-5 hours or so. I feel like I am actually getting quite good and hopefully I'll pick up a few tips here and there from one of the guys, but hey, I challenge anyone reading to a game!

4) Tonight, being a Thursday night, I headed, of course, to the Spice Bar. I went at first with the belly dance society for the shisha and to watch the belly dancer, who is amazing. One of the best parts of the night was when one of the songs we are all performing on Saturday came on, and we all stood up and danced to it for everyone. Then my flatmates joined us, along with Arsh and Matty, followed by a whole bunch of international students, as well as the chess club. It was nice to have such a large group of maybe 15-20 people!!! Hopefully next week we can have a repeat!

So performance this weekend, Anna's brother is coming to visit! oooh and carnage ;)


- xoxo.