I have crawled out of my next test. Greek historiography. I think I did okay enough — not as good as history, with less time to study, but enough. Big points. References to historians. It was shorter which was helpful but also unhelpful since I had less time to word-vomit my memorized facts. My normal pen has completely lost all ink. The entire test was written in black glitter pen. So much for anonymity to avoid sexism. Though Mom’s said she could tell anyhow with her students — I should ask her how.
I bought some bubble tea and candy. My agenda today is to do nothing and make pasta. This past week has mostly been study study study. Although on Saturday I walked around town with a friend and then walked to another town and found a cool pop-up market. I spent too much money on books but got an insane amount of free bread from a church. I’m halfway through one of the books now: an Agatha Christie book called Destination Unknown: I’ve never read her before and now thoroughly understand the hype, although since it’s the 1950s she has some really weird communism opinions and orientalist tropes. I can’t believe 1950 was a real time period sometimes. Otherwise, very good. Lots of cultural comparisons: Americans have always been chipper and the English reserved and slightly judgmental apparently, and she shows that quite well without falling much into judgement. Recommend. Also, man, reading modern books is easier. I almost forgot you could get halfway through a book in a day if you tried.
Also while out my friend and I met a very weird yet friendly old lady who told us wildly dubious tales about knowing Princess Diana and Princess Fergie and saving Indian orphans while having a hit out on her. She was dressed so glittery. I don’t think I believe her but I thoroughly enjoyed her company. She told us that next time we see her we must ask her about her time in Yugoslavia. I definitely will. You meet so many strange people out and about, Soren. So many things happen. You find a an anti-commie Agatha Christie novel. You get hordes of free bread. Old women give you Princess Diana anecdotes.
There’s another market in a week and I’d like to visit again. I hope I can convince a friend to tag along. It is mostly smooth sailing now until I start up work again — except now I have to figure out how to make a British bank account. Sigh. Every task has its reward though. I love you.
With love,
Alice