Ireland and final supervision

I was in Ireland last weekend, Saturday morning to Tuesday morning. Don't believe me? Here are the pictures.

Saturday we flew to Belfast- beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful.
We took a bus to Portstewart, along the northern coast and ate kebabs and watched the sunset along the beach. Then we ate icecream.
Sunday we took a bus to the Giant's Causeway. There are hundreds of hexagonal pillars, big and small, that make up this causeway into the ocean. Rumor has it a giant named Finn McCool built it to cross to Scotland and challenge a Scottish giant. Between you and me I don't buy it. The Scots have no giants. As an interesting side note, if I ever change my name I'm changing it to Finn McCool.
As we took the bus to the Giant's Causeway we noticed that we passed about a million idyllic scenes including castle ruins along the coast. We decided to screw the bus, we're walking. We walked to the closest town and saw the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland, established in 1608. It was really cool. My wallet fell out of my pocket there and when I ran back about 15 minutes later someone had turned it in, all my money and everything still inside. Good still exists in the world!
We walked to the Dunluce castle ruins and cruised around. Then we kept walking. It was a perfectly sunny and warm summer day, a huge blessing except that we were sweaty and getting sunburned, so when we reached some beach about 4 or 5 miles from Portstewart we decided to call a cab. It was for the best because by the time the cab came and got us and took us back to Portstewart it was dinner time and we had all dehydrated ourselves a bit.
After dinner there was more ice cream and sunset. We went back to our hostel where we sat around and Drew sang Irish songs to us.
Monday morning we took a bus to Coleraine, then we got on a train which we later disembarked because of terrorist threats against the train or tracks or something. We switched train to bus, back to train, lot's of waiting, and we finally arrived in Dublin around 17:00. Most of the museums and things were closed but I loved to walk around and see beautiful architecture, Trinity College, and other lovely sights. We walked along these shopping streets basically doing circles as we tried to find old medieval Christian crosses for Drew and Tyler, the classical/medieval historians. We turned up one street and I stopped dead in my tracks. You will not believe what I saw. I still cannot believe what I saw.

Riverdance

You guys, fate placed us outside the Riverdance theater on Monday night at 18:15, just in time to get student discount tickets (I was shaking. I WAS SHAKING!), grab kebabs, get back to the theater, and have a seat to witness the epic victory of Irish feet that is Riverdance. Ever since Grandma Berg went to Ireland so many years ago and brought back the VHS recording with the man Michael Flatley himself I have wanted to see Riverdance. I could not keep calm. And I loved it, almost to the point of hyperventilation.
The show ended at around 22:10 so we headed over to O'Donoghue's, a famous Irish pub where we passed the next 2 1/2 hours singing with drunken Irish folk singers on their guitars and accordian-type of instruments.
When the pub closed we walked to St. Patrick's cathedral and walked around. Then we headed to the Temple Pub, another famous pub, where we watched more live music and danced with Irish people. It was fun. The bartender gave me a pint glass as we left.
We arrived at the airport at 3:30 or so. We were the first through security and then the first at the gate so got in line and passed out on the floor. I was tired. We made it plane - train - taxi - feet back to Cambridge safe and sound.

We arrived back in Cambridge at around 9:30 at which point Jason, Sara, and I ate breakfast in the cafeteria and I went back to my room and finished my last supervision paper, my last undergrad paper EVER. Here's the crazy part: my paper covered the Spanish transition from Franco's dictatorship to democracy. I talked about the important role of the king and argued that the constitution was the watershed event. Dr. Steinberg didn't really go over my paper, he just asked me questions.

First he asked me about the king, Juan Carlos I. I told him why I thought he played such an integral role.

Steinberg proceeded to tell me about his hour-long one-on-one interview with the king on the very subject of democratization, including how Franco took the king's hand as he lay on his death bed and his last words to him were, "Preserve the unity of Spain." Oh. Thanks, I um, have never met the king so I didn't know that.

Then Steinberg asked me why I chose to talk about the constitution and not other events as the beginning of democracy in Spain. I articulated my point to my best abilities.

Steinberg told me about his conversation with Camilo Jose Cela. Cela wrote the constitution. No joke, he WROTE the Spanish constitution of 1978.

Luckily the supervision went well. Steinberg seemed pleased, I was pleased. You know when you just narrowly avoid a huge accident and at the time you're fine but then as soon as it's over you freak? That was me. At the time I felt great, but as I walked out of there I realized, "Oh holy shizz that could have been a total disaster!" Then I freaked, but mainly I laughed. Who has conversations like that? I loved it, and it was a great way to end my undergrad career.

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Quick Reads

Do you ever wonder what goes on inside my head? It's a fascinating place to be. I'ma give you a brief glimpse into my thoughts, but let this be indicative for 95% of what I'm thinking at any given time.

Before the fireside: I liked dinner. It was tasty.
During the fireside: I will not partake of the refreshments as I just ate dinner and dessert and am therefore too full to enjoy more sweets.
Shortly after the fireside: I suppose some soda would be tasty
... 5 minutes later: That cookie was tasty
... 10 minutes later: That cookie was tasty
... 11 minutes later: That cookie was not so tasty but this next one will be so it evens out
... 12 minutes later: Yep. It was.
1 hour later: Good heavens, I think I'm going to die

So as I sit here making empty promises to my stomach about a diet or some sort of strict regimen, I have been reading and BEHOLD, articles to gladden your heart and stokify your enthusiasm.

Normandy!
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/travel/08Cover.html

Oberammergau!
http://www.economist.com/node/16740861?story_id=16740861

My/Mom's new BFF!
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-5,00.html

el domingo

Sunday

Sunday makes me happy on many levels. Today Sunday made me happy because I got to relax before church. I had a lot to do before church- finish editing my talk, shower, get ready, go to the library and print my talk- and the last thing I wanted to do was rush any of it, so I got up a full two hours early. Bear in mind I need about 20 minutes to get ready these days. I had so much time this morning! Ideally I would make a habit of such a practice, but I prefer honesty to idealism. I honestly do not see myself doing this every week.

Church went well. I pulled a Dad and went over my talk so many times before I gave it that I felt pretty good about just winging it. Then Brother Guy of the bishopric (that's his name, not like I forgot it and just made it up) recognized Elder Johnson of the First Quorum of the Seventy presiding. Now, during Sunday School I had heard a voice behind me that sounded so familiar and I couldn't quite place it. Right then I placed it. General Conference! The talk went well, though. I talked about Elder Perry's talk "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home" or something like that. Since I have the four greatest examples of this in my own family, the whole thing basically wrote itself. Plus I feel super at ease in that ward, despite the occasional visiting general authority. It's the bishops father, which makes sense because the bishop is incredible. This was my last Sunday in this ward (I'll be in Ireland next Sunday) and it pains me to leave it. They made us feel so welcome! I mean, hello! They had me give a talk!

After church we ate lunch together and a few of us decided it was too nice a day to waste, so after a brief nap we walked back to Granchester where I got tea a few weeks ago. I'll repeat that in case you missed it. I ate, napped, and walked to a idyllic British town. Are you kidding with me, Life? This is what I get? I'll take it!

It gets better. We got back, ate dinner, chatted, and then Bishop Johnson and Elder Johnson gave a two hour fireside. The bishop talked about Moses 1:39, Abraham 3, dependability, and not losing focus of our mission. God's mission is to glorify others so we should do the same. Elder Johnson got up and asked, "Well, what do you want to talk about?" He got two questions, one about marriage and one about the Law of Consecration and work. He took over an hour. It was the funniest fireside I've ever attended but as he finally wrapped up his words I wanted to cry. I really wanted him to keep talking! I won't draw any inappropriate parallels to 3 Nephi, but his words were just what I needed not only to start this week (prediction: a lot of stress) but to just get my act in gear. I'm working on it.

Oh, speaking of Elder Johnson, Mom, after I gave my talk he said you're great. I agreed that you are. He's never met you but he said he could tell you are off the hook. Just thought I'd let you know.

I forgot Spain pictures!

Oh, Spain. I love you.

7 - 1 - 8 - 3 - 6 - 4

What's this? A new algorhythm Stephen Hawking just shared with me? Yeah right, first of all I don't even know what an algorhythm is. Second, I teach HIM these sorts of things. I shun the spotlight.
Actually I thought I'd share my sleep schedule with you. It interested me to note the pattern. Good news is statistically speaking my odds of getting a restful night's sleep are in my favor tonight! Maybe then I won't keep blogging like a drunken dialer. But oh hey guess what!

I WAS IN SPAIN TODAY!

I looked at air fare to Spain at least four times a week since I got here. At my supervision Dr. Steinberg was shocked that I should have to miss out on a trip to Spain simply because I could not find two other students to go with me. The tickets tripled in price since I first started checking BUT after years of toying with the idea of going to Spain I got permission from Dr. Kerry Wednesday at 17:30 or so (thank you, Pops!) and at 17:31 I booked a round-trip flight to the Madrid-Barajas Airport! I couldn't stand it! I caught the 5:45 bus the next morning and Monica came and picked me up with some friends at 13:00. Delicious doner kebab for lunch, dropped my stuff off, and from there we went to Alcala to visit Monica's family, the family I lived with for 3 months! The second the train arrived at Alcala I recognized everything and felt as though I had never left. Except that her brothers were unrecognizable. I freaked out. They're adults now! We hung out and watched The Simpsons just like old times, went and got tapas at 22:30, and took a bus back to Monica's apartment in Madrid at 1:00. I was exhausted.

Friday morning Monica wasn't feeling well so I spent all day by myself which ended up working out perfectly, oddly enough. I was out and about from 8:50-22:00, which is by far the longest I've been alone in months. Isn't that crazy? I cannot remember the last time I went more than a few waking hours alone. I don't think I'll make solitude a habit, I mean I prefer hanging with peeps so don't expect me to turn into a hermit. As I sat on a bench on a cobblestone street next to El Escorial de San Lorenzo eating my sandwich it felt SO NICE. As I cruised the Prado and spent hours staring at nothing but Goyas it felt SO NICE. Deciding which metro stop to take without consulting and coming to a consensus felt, yes, SO NICE. Eating Palazzo gelato in the royal gardens, staring at the palace and listening to Vampire Weekend? Ditto. It surprised me how easily I got around considering I hadn't been there in 5 years. I never got lost, and even when I couldn't remember which bus to take to get back to Monica's apartment I literally picked one of the dozen that stopped at the Atocha train station and got off when I saw the grocery store by her building. It worked out perfectly! The only snag I hit was in waking up at 4:00. My ipod was still on London time so when the cab showed up downstairs and called at 4:15, my alarm read 3:15. I jumped out of bed, changed into jeans, shoes on, hair in a pony tail, teeth brushed, out the door! Whew! It worked out perfectly, though. I miss it already. When I said good bye to Monica's family I told them, "Well... See you in five years!" but I hope it does not take me that long to go back.

I got back to Cambridge around 9:00 and walked into Kings around 9:30. I got hot chocolate and a pastry at the cafe and from then on my day has been full of doing odds and ends around the room, homework (I'm at the library right now), and working on my talk. Who knows how long I'll be here. My first thought when I walked into Kings was I'M HOME! Then I realized that, no, I'm out of here in two weeks. So sad. Spain feels like home. Cambridge feels like home. Neither are actually home. I get too attached. I planned on spending the day in London today but I'm glad I decided to take it easy for once. This relaxation fits the bill perfectly.

Sorry nothing too exciting. More like another list of Things Beth Did That She Liked. Obviously it's all wildly exciting to me but I'll have throw in a chase scene or death (not a pivotal character, obviously... never a pivotal character) in there to keep the audience entertained.

Tuesday Supervision

I love my supervision. Have I mentioned that I cannot get enough of it?? I am shocked with myself for ever doubting that I wanted to take this class. Me and Jonathan Steinberg, sitting in the basement of this iconic building, talking about history (and art, but more on that later...) and my work and his work and his life. And let me tell you he has seen and done some incredible things! AAAA! I walk out of there wanting to EXPLODE. I don't even care that every Monday night is an all-nighter preparing for it. I don't care that I spent more time in the library this past week than I did all Winter Semester at BYU. I don't care that I got an hour of sleep Monday night and didn't have time to shower (well I do care but it's worth it) because this class is unreal. I wish everyone could have a supervision-- NO!-- I wish everyone could have Steinberg as their supervisor. I will gladly trade having one of the crappiest rooms in the program, which I do, because I have the most off the hook supervisor. BAM. Yesterday we talked about a book called Goya by Robert Hughes. I read it last week and wrote my reaction to it, how it changed my perception and where I did or didn't agree with him. Then we chatted.

I'm currently on leave from the library. The troll at the front of the library allowed me to sneak out for a few minutes. Ok there's no troll, I just made that up. But I went across the street to get a sour apple rope (they cost 10 pence and call to me from afar more often than I'm comfortable with) and then I came back to my room to get my computer which unfortunately wasn't charged so it's charging a bit right now before I haul it to the lib. I just realized I'm sitting in the dark.

I should include pictures. I will include pictures. Let's see... ah, yes! Sunday I finally punted. Our living quarters, Bodley's Court, are right off the Cam River. Punting is a big deal. It's like a gondola but less Italian more English, less spaghetti more fish n' chips. I hadn't ever been so Sunday we gave it a shot. I am probably the worst punter ever but boy oh boy was it fun. So there you have it, I punted. DR. LEO MARVIN! I PUNTED! I PUNT!

JK the punting pictures aren't on my computer and I'm too lazy to look for my camera. I kid you not. I'm actually that lazy. Now back to the library. I know you're all probably thinking, "Oh whatever, she's probably just going to fall asleep and not study." Joke's on you, I ALREADY fell asleep at the library today. It was the first time I had slept at a Cambridge library. As I woke up and immediately wiped the drool off my face I remembered why I'd been trying to avoid that one. Ick.

FYI I fly into Amsterdam 21 August at 9:00. I speak military time now so you can just assume that means AM. 21:00 means PM. See? Told you I was fluent. Anyway I am very pumped to see you guys! You are all the best, I miss you, and I love you!

More Week in Review

So over on this blog's sister site (AKA Facebook) I posted my first album of England and Scotland. I was going to hop over here and invite all the famsters with facebook to take a gander. I know I talk a big game but I am actually not at all tech savvy, so when I published the album all the picture tags and explanations vanished. In a fit of exhausted rage I immediately deleted the album. Cutting off the nose to spite the face? Possibly. But there's an hour of time I will never get back and if Facebook thinks it can mess with this girl it has quite another thing coming. Now I'm back to the blog.

I think I left off with Wednesday? Wednesday we went to this place called Grandchester. The Bloomsbury Group, a collection of influential 20th-century writers/Cambridge groupies/great minds/BFF's/Bad-A's like Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, and EM Forster would get together there for tea, so what did we do? We walked over and got tea. It is a charming town about 30 minutes away on foot. The raspberty tea tasted like heaven and scone with black currant jelly and clotted cream did as well. The scenery defies description. The walk looks straight out of Band of Brothers (the England part, not the Bastogne part). In short, I shall return.
Wednesday night we went to Downing College, which is a few colleges over from Kings where I live, and watched a performance of Love's Labors (or Labours) Lost. Every summer Cambridge does Shakespeare in the Park at different colleges in Cambridge. We brought snacks, sat on the grass, and watched. We sat front row! At one point one of the actors came and sat behind me, next to Erin. Another time one of the characters recited a sonnet to me! Bless his heart, he didn't know me, but he soon realized that I'm the last person he should have picked. I turned bright red, laughed uncomfortably, and avoided eye contact at all cost. So uncomfortable.

So YESTERDAY: We went to this music festival in London's Victoria Park. There were a bunch of stages all around. The stages had bands or DJs at all times so music played constantly. We watched some bands I enjoy or learned to enjoy like Mixed Tapes, No Age, Caribou, and others. We spent the last 4 hours at the main stage to ensure front-row placement. We watched a scream-o band with a geriatric, and I'm not exaggerating, lead singer who mumble-yelled into the microphone the whole time. Think Johnny Cash meets Bob Dylan but louder and devoid of any talent. It was worth standing through that mess, however, as the last band came out. PHOENIX!!! I have wanted to see them live for so long and they did not disappoint. They even sang my favorite song, which never happens, and I spazzed. The second the last song ended Sara, Erin, and I turned around and pushed our way through thousands of smelly hipsters, running at full speed, to get to the tube, next tube, and finally our train back to Cambridge.

Ughhh story of my life, or at least the blog, but I am super tired and have an early morning so I'll write about today... TOMORROW! I'll post the usual out of order, single-file pictures. Once again, the blog is all screwy over here and that's the only way I can do it. I apologize. I love you all! Glad to hear we have no news from Steve, because it beats the alternative!