The landscape of my friendships is forming and I'm liking the view. I've reached that crucial point, the moment where every other time you venture outside, you see someone you know. In growing up in a small city and especially in studying in an equally small city, I would always see someone or other on my way to uni or work, throw a little wave out of my sleeve or stop for a chat. I have now reached that point and am enjoying it to the fullest. Bumping into random people is one of my favourite things in the world and nowadays it happens at least once a day. Whether it is in the library, on campus or on my way to work, there is always someone to wave to. I love that.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Happiness rate
When I look back at the last 7 months, my happiness rate has definately increased. Money can't buy happiness? I disagree. Although you can be perfectly happy with a small income, no income at all is a definite happiness killer. It's only now, when I finally have job security and a relatively good income, that I can breathe, feel free to do what I want and enjoy my days off. It is still a bit of a struggle, as it always is the first two or three months after starting a new job, paying off debts and trying to find that place where you know how much is coming and going out and what the extras are. But at the moment, I am quite happy. No money worries per se, university which has finally started to be interesting, lots of friends (more on that in another blogpost) and a very busy calendar. I am living a very fulfilling life and very much enjoying it, and apart from perhaps some travelling and an amorous element, I am perfectly happy with what I have. For the travelling, once I get some money in, I'll hopefully be able to cram in a lowbudget city trip for a day or two, break away from it all for a short period (as it's the time of year where I traditionally get out of the country and explore a brand new city) and then roll back into routine again. The other thing, well, we shall see what time brings.
I must say, I am quite happy. Spring is coming (I discovered krokus's next to my front door!), I am "finding my turn" and when people ask me how work or uni is going, I always answer positive. Happiness level: reached.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Life as a working girl
I have neglected this blog for a while and to be honest, I had good reason. I am finally slipping into the pattern of work and am now routinely experiencing the feeling of relief the working man (or woman) feels when they get home after a long day, plunge down on their sofa and switch the television on. I am not working long hours (3,5 hours a day, if I'm lucky), but with all the other activities going on (uni, friends, administrative business), it always feels like a long journey home. What is more, as I cycle in and out of town every day, it is a long journey home.
I have to be in work at half eleven, most days (that's 11.30am, for those Europeans amongst us), which means getting up at ten(-ish) and setting out for town at eleven. That might sound like a dream to most of you, but if you know me and you know my sleeping habits, ten o'clock will just cut it and the thought of anything earlier scares me. Anyway, at eleven (though it's mostly 5 past by the time I leave the house), I set out, cycling up the hill to city centre. As Liverpool is basically built on a donutshaped hill (so, to get into town from out of town, you need to first cycle up a hill and then you cycle down a hill once you reach the city), I need to collect my strength beforehand. Luckily my bike is working like a charm nowadays (*), which means the hills aren't too hard to muster, althought I must admit that approximately 12 minutes into my journey, I approach the last, hardest bit of the hill (the actual part where you can feel it) and I get off my bike and walk for two minutes, as I'm usually a little too worked up by that time to want to climb it the normal way (I cycle the first part of the ride quite quickly). Then I get to the top, cross the big street, get on my bike, cycle through the park, go past uni and down Hardman Street we go. That is probably my favourite moment of the ride (apart maybe from riding down the first hill right outside my house which runs by Wavertree Park), as I can see the Liverbuildings tower over the rest of the city, with the Mersey running behind them. It's a beautiful view and if I ever get a decent camera (the one I have works, but it's hard to take really nice pictures with), I will certainly take a picture there. For now, it's for my eyes only. At the bottom of Hardman Street I turn into Bold Street and then I'm basically at work. My boss is a really nice guy, my colleagues are nice and the work itself is not too bad either. I'm still getting a grip on it, making only one sale a day, but hopefully that will soon grow to a nice number of 5 a day. I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem. After 3,5 hours I finish work (mostly it's even less, as my boss tends to have meetings and such, which means coming in later or finishing early), clocking off at 4.30pm. It is rare that I go home straight after work, as I often have plans in the evening or right after, be it with friends or for socials (frisbee, Cafe Home, Sticky Floor...). If I have to be somewhere in the evening, I tend to go to the library or to friends, hang out at either place until my appointment is due. The issue with that is that it means I often spend some money getting hot food, which would be cheaper to make at home. But considering some chips and mayo is only £1,50, I am not too worried about it. Plus, I tend to pack lunch, saving money there. I usually tend to go home at around 11pm if I have a social occasion, if not, I get home around 5 or 6, pop some food in the microwave or on the stove and put BBC iPlayer on. It's a luxury we don't have in Belgium (not the BBC, anyway) and I love the programs on it.
As you can see, my days are very filled, with adventures and fun, but also with work and a lot of sleep and tv. I am exhausted at night, going to bed at one (yes, mom, I know you think that's late, but for me, that's perfect), falling asleep right away and up and ready for the next day nine hours later.
(*) The round disk on which the gears run at the backwheel was the original one on my bike, and as I've had this bike for 12 years, it was completely worn down, as was the chain itself. I had both replaced and now it runs like a charm again and I can use my gears and get the right result for the first time in five years. I did get three punctures in three weeks because of the huge amount of broken glass in this city - if you're used to clean cities such as Leuven or Brugge, Liverpool can be a bit of a shock -, but now I'm running again.
I have to be in work at half eleven, most days (that's 11.30am, for those Europeans amongst us), which means getting up at ten(-ish) and setting out for town at eleven. That might sound like a dream to most of you, but if you know me and you know my sleeping habits, ten o'clock will just cut it and the thought of anything earlier scares me. Anyway, at eleven (though it's mostly 5 past by the time I leave the house), I set out, cycling up the hill to city centre. As Liverpool is basically built on a donutshaped hill (so, to get into town from out of town, you need to first cycle up a hill and then you cycle down a hill once you reach the city), I need to collect my strength beforehand. Luckily my bike is working like a charm nowadays (*), which means the hills aren't too hard to muster, althought I must admit that approximately 12 minutes into my journey, I approach the last, hardest bit of the hill (the actual part where you can feel it) and I get off my bike and walk for two minutes, as I'm usually a little too worked up by that time to want to climb it the normal way (I cycle the first part of the ride quite quickly). Then I get to the top, cross the big street, get on my bike, cycle through the park, go past uni and down Hardman Street we go. That is probably my favourite moment of the ride (apart maybe from riding down the first hill right outside my house which runs by Wavertree Park), as I can see the Liverbuildings tower over the rest of the city, with the Mersey running behind them. It's a beautiful view and if I ever get a decent camera (the one I have works, but it's hard to take really nice pictures with), I will certainly take a picture there. For now, it's for my eyes only. At the bottom of Hardman Street I turn into Bold Street and then I'm basically at work. My boss is a really nice guy, my colleagues are nice and the work itself is not too bad either. I'm still getting a grip on it, making only one sale a day, but hopefully that will soon grow to a nice number of 5 a day. I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem. After 3,5 hours I finish work (mostly it's even less, as my boss tends to have meetings and such, which means coming in later or finishing early), clocking off at 4.30pm. It is rare that I go home straight after work, as I often have plans in the evening or right after, be it with friends or for socials (frisbee, Cafe Home, Sticky Floor...). If I have to be somewhere in the evening, I tend to go to the library or to friends, hang out at either place until my appointment is due. The issue with that is that it means I often spend some money getting hot food, which would be cheaper to make at home. But considering some chips and mayo is only £1,50, I am not too worried about it. Plus, I tend to pack lunch, saving money there. I usually tend to go home at around 11pm if I have a social occasion, if not, I get home around 5 or 6, pop some food in the microwave or on the stove and put BBC iPlayer on. It's a luxury we don't have in Belgium (not the BBC, anyway) and I love the programs on it.
As you can see, my days are very filled, with adventures and fun, but also with work and a lot of sleep and tv. I am exhausted at night, going to bed at one (yes, mom, I know you think that's late, but for me, that's perfect), falling asleep right away and up and ready for the next day nine hours later.
(*) The round disk on which the gears run at the backwheel was the original one on my bike, and as I've had this bike for 12 years, it was completely worn down, as was the chain itself. I had both replaced and now it runs like a charm again and I can use my gears and get the right result for the first time in five years. I did get three punctures in three weeks because of the huge amount of broken glass in this city - if you're used to clean cities such as Leuven or Brugge, Liverpool can be a bit of a shock -, but now I'm running again.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
New Year's Resolutions: at last!
I finally came up with some New Year's resolutions, which is good, I think. I have five, now:
- At the end of every day, take all of the pennies out of my purse and put them in my little piggy-bank-shaped-as-a-blue-cow. This way, I get rid of the small change in my wallet and at the same time, I have a bit of saving on the side for a cream egg or some sweets from time to time!
- Wear my hair long. I have come to a habit where I wear my hair in a bun about 95% of the time, which is starting to annoy and bore me. Yesterday, a friend told me to wear my hair long more often, as I should be proud of such long hair. Therefore, I am going to try to wear it loose and long more often and truly enjoy it.
- Wear eau de toilette every day. I have lovely eau de toilette which I barely ever use, as I have perfume which I use when I go out. I should use my eau de toilette and put on a little bit every day, so I smell nice throughout the entire day and feel more feminine (because it is hard competing with the girls in Liverpool; slags though they may be, they make me feel very unfeminine when I walk through the city, in comparison to them)
- Be myself. Although I want to feel feminine and am sometimes a bit jealous of those girls wearing make-up and high heels like it's nothing, I don't want to fall into the trap of becoming one of them. Yes, they can walk in high heels and they know how to make their eyes big and beautiful, and I never seem to reach that level of glamorous, but I don't want to be one of the masses. I have my own unique style and have always prided myself in that, so I will make more of an effort to stick with that and wear what I feel comfortable in, even though it might not be to English standards. Being yourself is always the most beautiful!
- Be adventurous. I already had this in my mind, but a friend of mine made me even more resolute to add this to my resolutions. I want to fully enjoy my stay in Liverpool and now money is not (that) tight anymore (granted, it will still be very hard for the next two months!), I have more opportunity to do so. Besides, fun stuff don't always has to cost something. I want to go to gigs, have evenings out, take walks, take pictures and visit the city even more. Live life to the fullest!
- At the end of every day, take all of the pennies out of my purse and put them in my little piggy-bank-shaped-as-a-blue-cow. This way, I get rid of the small change in my wallet and at the same time, I have a bit of saving on the side for a cream egg or some sweets from time to time!
- Wear my hair long. I have come to a habit where I wear my hair in a bun about 95% of the time, which is starting to annoy and bore me. Yesterday, a friend told me to wear my hair long more often, as I should be proud of such long hair. Therefore, I am going to try to wear it loose and long more often and truly enjoy it.
- Wear eau de toilette every day. I have lovely eau de toilette which I barely ever use, as I have perfume which I use when I go out. I should use my eau de toilette and put on a little bit every day, so I smell nice throughout the entire day and feel more feminine (because it is hard competing with the girls in Liverpool; slags though they may be, they make me feel very unfeminine when I walk through the city, in comparison to them)
- Be myself. Although I want to feel feminine and am sometimes a bit jealous of those girls wearing make-up and high heels like it's nothing, I don't want to fall into the trap of becoming one of them. Yes, they can walk in high heels and they know how to make their eyes big and beautiful, and I never seem to reach that level of glamorous, but I don't want to be one of the masses. I have my own unique style and have always prided myself in that, so I will make more of an effort to stick with that and wear what I feel comfortable in, even though it might not be to English standards. Being yourself is always the most beautiful!
- Be adventurous. I already had this in my mind, but a friend of mine made me even more resolute to add this to my resolutions. I want to fully enjoy my stay in Liverpool and now money is not (that) tight anymore (granted, it will still be very hard for the next two months!), I have more opportunity to do so. Besides, fun stuff don't always has to cost something. I want to go to gigs, have evenings out, take walks, take pictures and visit the city even more. Live life to the fullest!
Monday, 17 January 2011
Essay-er.
I was getting a little lost. I read and read, and typed and typed, but it didn't feel like I was being productive. And then today, I struck gold. It is still not the masterpiece of the year, but at least now it feels like I am actually writing something which is me, and not just copying out of a book. Not that I've written anything yet, but I've made lists and conclusions and I can see the essay forming itself in front of my eyes.
As a literature student, I am used to reading a book, consulting maybe one or two sources before spinning a theory on how certain characters act or social issues are brought forward or whatever a literary style and vocabulary can create within a book. I made the analysis, I came to the conclusion, I wrote the paper. As a historian, things are slightly different. You see, you cannot invent history. You cannot have a take on history, a theory, a view on what happened. You can write about people's opinions, but those opinions are all based on facts (no matter how biased). There is nothing you can write which you create yourself, everything has happened in the past. It is a mere labour of copying the way which was walked before you and hoping that you'll find a side-way which hasn't been trod upon before. And frankly, this is a depressing matter. I myself cannot claim to have found the new road to truth, but yes, I think I might have finally found a little corner of the way which hasn't been described in detail yet. A little loophole in the theory, an excavation of the past. It is barely worth mentioning, but at least I am not copying quote after quote out of a book anymore. These are the grindings of my thoughts, a thing I might not have created from scratch, but at least it feels my own. I put my stamp on history and even though it's barely a postscript to the epos which is the past, at least the ink is there to prove it's mine and no-one else's.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Six months of Liverpool
Half a year ago, in the height of summer, I set foot on English soil (it was rather cold, I must say) and started my journey to Liverpool. I arrived in Plattsville Road late at night, dragged my suitcases in, got some food and went to bed. The next day, the adventure began. I explored Liverpool, as one of its people, for the first time. And here we are now, six months later. Do I feel like this is my home now? Maybe. With my job and my new church and new friendships forming, together with new plans, my life is taking shape more and more every day. If today would be a nice day, I would go out and do something special, but as the sky is grey and the rain is trickling, I rather curl up in bed and watch a film. A pity, you would say, at first glance. A pity that I am not doing something special on this special day. But in a way, it's perfect. Not that I spend every living moment watching films in bed, but when I have a day off and no plans, that is what I do. It is one of my favourite activities and I don't care if that sounds sad, I like it and that's that. The BBC iPlayer is a good friend in whose company I like to spend these forlorn hours of nothingness. That is the thing about Liverpool and where I live. If I am not in the centre, I am more or less confined to my room. I don't have to be, but let's face it, if I want any action, I have to leave Allerton, by bus or by bike, and head out to the city. My house is my recluse, the place where I spend time in between my life. A place far away from most of my friends, a place away from work, from school. And I like it that way. It means I can have a lazy day and stay in bed, watching films in my pyjama, without feeling guilty about all the social things going on outside my door. This is my burrow and I like it.
So, yes, I do feel at home here. I long for my bed after a wild night out, long for my room after a day in the library. The rest of my house, not so much. In six months today, I hope to be moving into a new place, a clean place, a place of my own, maybe shared with another person. And I have a feeling that until that day, I will never really completely at home. But until then, 95% of home-ness will do.
So, yes, I do feel at home here. I long for my bed after a wild night out, long for my room after a day in the library. The rest of my house, not so much. In six months today, I hope to be moving into a new place, a clean place, a place of my own, maybe shared with another person. And I have a feeling that until that day, I will never really completely at home. But until then, 95% of home-ness will do.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Work: the first days
Yesterday I started my new job as well as my essay. The job was as easy as it gets, copying names and numbers from a directory onto a sheet of paper. I also made some tea. However, tomorrow I will be starting my calls and though I am confident enough, I might get a little nervous as the evening progresses. Last time I did (tele)sales I more or less crash-and-burned, so let's hope this time is different. My boss is a pretty English guy, the lang and lanky rockstar-like dressed Scouser, which makes the job a whole lot more pleasant. Only downside being that his computer has been infested with trojans lately and that it's never fun to see your boss almost crying with frustration.
My essay so far has been interesting enough or should I say, the book I'm reading. I realise more and more that my essay is basically a summary of the core book I'm reading, but if that's what the professor wants, then that's what the professor gets.
As I am currently in the library and eager to do some more work, more will follow soon.
My essay so far has been interesting enough or should I say, the book I'm reading. I realise more and more that my essay is basically a summary of the core book I'm reading, but if that's what the professor wants, then that's what the professor gets.
As I am currently in the library and eager to do some more work, more will follow soon.
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