Down to the Wire

This week marked a monumental moment in my lifetime - probably in anyone's lifetime, but definitely in mine. This past Thursday marked my 21st birthday. Not only was it a day that I was counting down to because I would be 21 years old, but I would also be turning 21 on the 21st. That key detail made the day all the more special for me.

My birthday was celebrated much like my other birthdays: a family dinner. This year, however, I was able to bring my friend Judith along, so it was pretty great. There was a very awkward conversation which led to a mild argument about Catholics and the state of their soul (a conversation which I apologized profusely to Judith for after dinner), and then that calmed down, only for another one to pop up...so basically, I've decided from here on out to make a rule that on my birthdays, we're not discussing religion or politics at dinner anymore. Along with that decision which, trust me, it's definitely a decision for the betterment of things, I've also come to the conclusion that the Great Wall of Chocolate from P.F. Changs is most definitely the most fantastically perfect cake in the world. It's just....beautiful. Don't believe me? See for yourself:

Quite honestly, it's perfect. I definitely think everyone should experience this cake in their life. At least once.

Saturday night was a night with my friends for my birthday, and it was a whooooole lot of fun. There were pancakes involved, and while I generally do not like pancakes, they were most definitely delicious. Unfortunately, Judith got sick and wasn't able to come, but it was better that she stayed home to get better. She seems to be doing way better today.

And in everything Sussex related - this Friday is the application deadline! I've still not heard back from Arelis, which is honestly really frustrating to me. I emailed her a week and a half ago, worried because I don't have a passport still. Processing is a 6 week deal, and though I've had the paperwork completed, I haven't been able to go to the passport office yet due to conflicting schedules. Fortunately, tomorrow morning I will have the opportunity to go to the office and get the paperwork processed. The problem is that on February 7, she moved the deadline for the Sussex application up to March 1, even though the university itself does not need the application until May 1. So even if I'd gone to get my passport during that week or the week following, I still would not have had the passport number for my application in a timely manner that would allow me to have it by March 1.

So basically, I'm getting nervous and worried. I'm going to try and stop by her office tomorrow morning after I go to the passport office and see if there is any information that I can get pertaining to the situation. If everything gets derailed over something as simple as this, I am going to be so wildly upset, it'll be ridiculous. This is something that I've been working extremely hard for, and if all the hard work and effort was for no reason, I'm going to be absolutely heartbroken. Prayers and good vibes would be welcomed if you could spare them.

Aside from that, everything is going well. I'm ordering my transcript tomorrow, my Italian professor is writing an academic reference for me, and everything seems to be in order. I'm just starting to get worried and nervous because it's me and that's what I do. 

I hope everyone's having a wonderful February!

Until next time - Keep Calm and Brighton On!

-Tayma xx

Lent: The Language of Exhaustion

Sitting at my computer currently, it's actually difficult to come up with a sufficient blog post for everyone this week. My head hurts, I'm super tired, and all I know is that my dryer is taking a decade just to dry a simple load of laundry.

This week began what should be a Holy time, but it's actually just felt like hell week for me. Why might that be?

Well. Lent started.

What did I give up? Coffee and caffeinated drinks.

Which, if you know me in reality, you know that is like telling a car to run without gas. It's been a total of 4 days and I still have a dull headache and I want nothing more than a Venti Iced Vanilla Soy Latte from Starbucks. I'm almost positive that by the end of this 40 day period, I'm going to be dreaming of coffee far too much for one person. But that's the point, right? Give up something that matters. If I gave up something like cheese, it wouldn't really matter because lactose intolerance limits my cheese/dairy intake as is. Giving up coffee, though? As a college kid? As a person who probably has more coffee than blood in her veins? Yeah, that's a struggle, and though it has only been 4 days, it feels like it's already been ages. The second day of Lent, I was so tired and wiped, I came home and passed out for four hours when I only intended on a 20 minute pick-me-up nap. At least that's not a problem now.

In addition to Lent starting this week, Thursday marked 1 week until my birthday. It's pretty exciting if you ask me, and my friend and I went shopping today for birthday supplies. Hence the exhaustion that I am currently experiencing. I'm thinking that sleep is in order, but I still have homework to do. Looks like an early morning for Tayma it shall be!

I realize this post hasn't much to do with Sussex, but I'm waiting to hear back from my current adviser on some information. I don't hear back from her as quickly as I heard back from Bryn, but when I hear anything, you guys will hear all about it! Next weekend, you guys should have an extremely quality post coming your way with birthday anecdotes and pictures! Yay!

Alrighty, then! Until next time!

Keep Calm and Brighton On!

-Tayma xx

Sweet Hearts, Van Winkle, and Narratives, Oh My!

Hello, Bloggerverse! It's been a bit of time since my last post (about two weeks), and I've been busy, busy, busy - what else is new?

This past week in particular was quite something, to say the very least. Classes are most definitely in full swing, and my reading load for each course is growing consistently. Unless we're talking my Italian class, in which case, the assignments are just piling up and running together and bouncing up out of nowhere. I already have my second exam tomorrow afternoon, and I'm freaking out about it a little bit. Sure, I pay attention in class, I study outside of class, and I do my homework, but honestly, I feel like the only thing that I've learned since my last exam is that Vanilla Ice's real name is Robert Van Winkle, and that essere is seriously the worse verb in the entirety of the Italian language. It is never conjugated the same! Essere is a thorn in my side, and I cannot say that I appreciate it much.

(Yes, I did photoshop 'essere' over Vanilla Ice)

Another thing this week taught me: I don't know as much about a narrative as I thought I did. Potential problem? Yes, since I'm sort of studying English Literature. Ironically, it was Art History of all classes that drew my attention to the fact. Connecting a narrative to a work of art, such as a painting or a sculpture, definitely changes how you view narratives and somewhat challenges your knowledge of them. We had to make a narrative illustration of Little Red Riding Hood for class, and while it didn't exactly teach me more about narratives, I definitely did get in touch with my inner five year old and bang out an amazing drawing (if I do say so myself).

(please ignore the dorky glasses)

I also spent the week finalizing everything - and I do mean everything that I could where Sussex application is concerned. All that is left is to get back course credit information so that I can fill in my preferred classes and to get my passport. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a good day to get that completed. I have a lot of homework to do, but I need a passport or else England (as much as I may love it) may not be too willing to allow me onto its beautiful soil.

And if you're wondering what "Sweet Hearts" in the title of this blog has to do with, I just finished a novel in my American Lit class entitled Sweet Hearts by Melanie Rae Thon. It's an extremely moving piece of literature, insanely well written. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

All of that being said, I apologize, again, for missing a week of posting. Things are both progressing and staying still, it seems, and there are only so many different ways that I can say "application in progress!" before it just becomes a broken record. On the weekends that I don't post, though, it's not due to lack of motivation, but the fact that I have so much homework or so many things to do that even taking a break to eat seems like a major road block in productivity.

With that, I will leave you all to the rest of your Sunday. Monday's going to come far too quickly and the amount of homework that I have remaining is quite ridiculous. That's what I get for wanting a degree, I suppose!

Keep Calm and Brighton On!

-Tayma xx