Maladie du pays

Maladie du pays aka, sick for one's homeland, homesickness.

Last weekend, was Labour Day weekend here in America. It is basically, a day to remember a unionist march that took place in New York on 1st September, or something like that. It was nice that we got a day off but I found no other celebration to really participate in. As it is anyway, many students seem to go home at the weekend here and campus pretty much shuts down, so if anything I would have much rather been in class.

Class. Stress. Reading.
With the constant assessment style of American learning, you cannot afford to skip the odd reading or what have you as it is highly likely you will something required for a test. I was perfectly happy with this, as I have alluded to before the social life here is a lot quieter than back at Keele, my interactions with other people are class, gym classes and Chi Alpha (Christian organisation), so I have plenty have time to work but my books have not arrived as they should. That has meant that this week I am forced to cram three weeks of reading into one, absolute miserable nightmare. However, I am getting through and have booked myself a solo trip to New Orleans this weekend to make up for it!

I have found that this week my homesickness is coming through a little perhaps. I have noticed that I feel anything negative at all, stress, tiredness, hunger, it is sprinkled with sadness as opposed to being the individual emotion I just deal with. I am definitely coping though and being a little homesick is just making me feel so lucky that I have such great things, places and people to miss so much. It's all good, ultimately I would much rather be doing this than not, I am having a fantastic experience.

Hectic Happiness

Madness, parties, start of class, more school pride, loving life.
So much has happened since I last blogged, I'll probably forget to mention half of it/this will be a super long post...apologies!

From two Fridays ago until last Friday, UTSA ran something called 'Roadrunner Days' (our mascot is Rowdy the Roadrunner). This has meant there have been lots of different activities going on all week to induct and welcome back students to the university.

One of the events was the lighting of the UTSA sign, the first year they've done it but President Romo would like to continue it as a tradition. It was nice to be part of something new and I found all the 'school spirit' that bit less overwhelming, good practice for when I go to our first home American football game of the season next week. The season actually started last Friday and we beat the University of Houston, at their brand new stadium 27-7! GO 'RUNNERS!

I also started my classes this week. School pride, even followed me there, at the end of each syllabus there was the Roadrunner creed, because it had to be. Very new to me. American pride was also not far behind. One of my classes is 'Intro to Global Analysis', basically International Relations and even in the very first introductory class, I found myself biting my tongue so as not to massively offend people... I think I'm going to have to express my beliefs in class, carefully but remember to like America and it's policies loads when it comes to writing papers. I am also taking 'Texas History' which will be a lot of I heart Texas, America's great, 'Europe in the 19th Century' so I will get to find out what the Americans really make of us and 'Managing Criminal Justice Organisations' which just does what it says on the tin really. Being English has really helped when introducing myself to the lecturers as I can ask them am I allowed to write in 'English english' (I can, yay!) and they should remember me.

Being remembered and making yourself known, is massively important here. There is so much constant assessment in terms of quizzes and papers but also attendance and participation counts for so much of your grade. If a tutor doesn't think you have performed well enough in class or shown up enough, you can lose a whole letter grade. In 'Texas History' in fact, if I get an A in attendance and participation then I can skip the end of term exam and be given 100% for it. Major. It's going to be a lot of work but I am ready for it and looking forward to the challenge.

This week I also experienced my first social events with Chi Alpha, a Christian group on campus that a flatmate of mine has introduced me too.We had a huge water balloon fight with about 300 people, it was so much fun and then we had loads of fun at the 'Dance of the Ages' party. I want as 90s. The party was the girls only; I don't think I have ever been to a girls only dance and I certainly haven't been to a sober one in a while, but I really enjoyed myself, just letting my hair down for a few hours.

(instagram.com/laufrancesmccann13)

Even though I have had such a good time starting to make new friends and getting to know my flatmates, I really am so appreciative of the internet for letting keep in contact with my good friends back home and those studying abroad and my family. I am also really grateful to them for wanting to keep in touch with me!Much love. Till next time. 

School Pride; Everything's Bigger in Texas

Coming from England to America I knew that there was going to be a 'peppiness' that I was going to have to get used to. In England there is pride, namely around sports but in general we're a reserved people that don't like to shout about ourselves too loudly, the Americans are the complete opposite.

On Wednesday, everyone on campus (to be fair at that point there wasn't too many) it seemed, turned out to watch the university's President Romo, undertake the ice bucket challenge courtesy of 2013's Mr and Mrs UTSA. - Check it out on YouTube. That was my first, minute taste.

Then on Friday, which was the first official day of the big move in weekend, I and quite a few more people, students, families and staff alike were introduced to the marching band and cheerleaders and it was awesome!!!!!!!! I'm a cheerleader at Keele and nowhere near the level of the UTSA team but I did miss my pom poms a bit. What I missed most though was my flute, marching band made it look cool to play and it was awesome. I'm not afraid to admit that the singing of the alma mater and the fight song may have given me some goosebumps...

Yesterday evening (Saturday), the university put on a huge night in the (highly impressive) gym with bouncy castles, games and pizza galore. Unfortunately, I had to enjoy from afar for 15 mins as before I got there my flatmate had decided to leave and I couldn't find a fellow lost sheep to befriend. Oh well, very disappointed but tomorrow's a new day and hopefully my new flatmates will be up for going to things or I at least will have that bit more confidence to say hi to people whether they be alone or in a group, we shall see and I of course shall keep you all updated.