Hey everyone. Today I'm feeling like crap. I've got some kind of cold- but i'm really not complaining. I went out and had a fantastic time last night. I made a few friends and fell deeper into love with the people i've been hanging out with since I arrived. So, i know everyone is lost and has no idea about who i'm talking about so I'll try to qualify. Celeste and Kim are both from Humboldt university in California. Celeste is probably the person I'm most kindred with. She's athletic, playful and just great. When she arrived she had litteraly one bag on her back and she'd been traveling before she got to brighton. Taught me a good lesson (with my 5 bags that I could barely handle myself) about what I really "need." She reminds me that death is but a breath away and I should live now now now! Kim has the best laugh - the harder she laughs the higher the pitch gets...its wonderful. Last night we went out with Kim and her friend Sade (from australia) whom she met at an easter seals camp where they both worked with people from ages 7 to 45 (i think) with disabilities. She reminds me of how important helping others is oh and how good laughter is for you. Oli and I are betrothed. He's from Hamilton, New Zealand and we've worked out the perfect plan for both of us to get green cards into each respective country. The bonus is (that oli's wonderful) but really that his parents are suisse, so he has access to not only New Zealand, but all of the European Union (and a nifty suisse passport). I thought an american green card for him was a good trade off for my personal access to both the E.U. and New Zealand. Oli's face gets all scrunched up in the most fabulous way when he smiles and when we make him giggle is the most precious thing you've ever seen. It's like his joy is too big for his face to hold. Plus he's a hockey (field- the "real" kind apparently) player so I have someone to go cheer for. Then there's severina or Sevy. We most match musically- at least with our fanatacism for it. She doesn't much like music from the 60s and 70 though- I'll have to work on her. She's a lit major and is hillariously quirky. She's such a tiny little thing but she packs a big punch. Picture Daria, slightly smaller with more excited sarcasm and a dry sense of humor. I'm dying to meet her family- especially her mexican grandmother about whom she recounts fabulous and outrageous stories. She's initiating me into icelandic rap and a welsh band that really likes Kronenbourg beer. Then there's Christina from ohio. She reminds me most of Dani. Within the first 6 hours of knowing her we were already picking at each other with heavy sarcasm. She explained to me why it's ok to have a celebrity crush on vin deisel quite convincingly. She's always up for fun or hanging out. She gives great face. When she laughs (which is often- sometimes all the time) her eyes get all squinty and her face looks like the comedy face. ( you know the comedy and tragedy faces one's laughing one's crying- yeah she's the laughing one). And her sarcasm seeps into her facial expressions beautifully. There are many others Two Ashleys (one from new jersey, one from ohio), a billy and allison (who are engaged), two angela's (one's a grad student- from new york and the other was here last semester- from minnesota), another kiwi named greg. for those of you who don't know "kiwi" is a nickname for new zealanders. We have a brian from chico, a heather from texas, a kristen from kansas, a sheena and Aubrey from Las vegas, an eryn from idaho, and an abbey from ohio. Abbey is actually just our student guide kinda but she lives in my flat. She came through USAC two and a half years ago and has just stayed. She works for the american office and graduates sometime this year. Hrm perhaps I'll take over her job. *wink*
Besides last night which included dinner, a pub (with pool- british not american. Joshua- you should be proud to know that i've become quite good at british pool. can't play nine ball though. the balls are smaller and divided equally into two colors red and yellow. Last night I won twice. once by myself and once with celeste), and finally a club, I've been on one pub crawl which was wonderful and been out to a few pubs in town in smaller groups. I never pictured myself coming to brighton and going clubbing but man I love to dance. Good atmosphere here- none of that reno live crap. In addition to pubbing and clubbing I've been attempting to plan a trip to india this winter, either before my parents come after christmas or if they decide to come in spring for the whole month I have off. Celeste is going with her cousin and I asked to tag along. I've purchased a book on india and I'm glad to learn so much even if I don't get to go this time. I did find a relatively cheap ticket, but haven't had the gall to buy it yet. Have to talk to my mum first. As I said before I should be getting my classes sorted out later this afternoon and I hope *fingers crossed* that I'll only have class on wednesday and thursday. FIVE DAY WEEKENDS! WOO! I've planned a jaunt to italy in october. Dani will be here next weekend for Van morrison and we're heading out to Salisbury (i love you kes) and stonehenge, possibly wales. I've secured a long weekend in Dublin after the radiohead concert- perhaps with free accomodation. This weekend I'm taking a small tour of East sussex and am going to paris the first weekend in november. I'll write more when I get info on my classes.

about brighton: it's a city of about 260,000 people but where i live (in the south downs or sussex downs) looks more like a pastoral countryside. We live about 20 minutes out of town on a bus, and I've purchased a three month bus pass. The city is lively and reminds me SOOOO MUCH of san fransisco. When you're driving (or in my case riding) into town you come through the south downs (which are hills- pretty big ones too, but no mountains) it looks like a pretty well populated traditional english town. Cute cottages and old red brick buildings. some victorian houses but by the time you get through the downs it morphs into Berkley with it's quaint livelyness (i know that might not make sense but it does to me) and bohemian streets, as you get closer to the ocean the city explodes into san fransisco without the nasty smog and dirty streets. Victorian town houses squashed together painted in different variations of all pastel colors or white. Not quite so steep streets but hilly anyway all mixed in with this extravagent building called the Royal Pavillion and an old pier. The beach is very well kept, clean and rather touristy but beautiful all the same. The weather here has only recently turned cold, and my campus is notorious for having nasty winds. I hope to find a pair of ear muffs so I don't get another ear infection. I think it's about time for my nap- it speeds along the healing process. I just want everyone to know that I miss and love them but am extraordinarily happy here and feel so grateful and thankful that I'm privileged (sp?) enough to have this experience.

peace,

shavawn