Holland Tomorrow!

Woooo! Will miss Britain, but I'm coming back so not too sad. Had a great day at Bicester today; I so miss everyone at the Village. Also, now I have a new pair of Temperley trousers. And much love in my heart.

Real post coming soon, just as soon as I'm in Heemstede and have real internet.

Love,

Olivia
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

On my way to Bicester Village!

...and I figured out how to blog from my BlackBerry. How cool am I?

I've been missing my job at Value Retail so badly lately, especially since I've been in England. Living in London is just not the same as living in North Oxford, taking the bus every day to a job you love, shopping at Tesco and generally being quiet and comfortable. Last summer I learned so much about myself and I credit much of that to the team at BV. I can't wait to see how things have changed since I was last there, and to see all my former coworkers!

Currently playing on my iPod: "The Long Way Around" by The Dixie Chicks. If you don't know this song, download it. I consider it an anthem for my life and for anyone who took the path less trodden.

Love,
Olivia
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I know you're probably getting sick of the nerdy manuscripts talk

But I just keep getting to look at the COOLEST stuff.

Like this:


It's actually really illegal for me to be taking pictures in this room. Or in the library at all. But while they don't allow cameras in, they do allow laptops with integrated webcams in, so I think that gross oversight on their part means I have license to fudge the rules a wee bit.

So you can't really get a sense of it from the picture, but this is the biggest book I have ever seen. It's probably two feet long, one and a half feet wide, and weighs a good twenty pounds if not more. It's a lavish copy of Le Roman du Saint-Graal and Le Roman de Mort d'Artu, complete with gold-foiled illustrated letters and miniatures and that oh-so-good medieval manuscript smell. They smell so good! Okay, I'm weird for liking the smell of old books, but I'm a geek. What do you want?

I hate that this is one of my last days in the library for a while. I'm glad to be going back to Holland and then to Venice (!), but I really have grown to love this library and all the things I can do in it. It's frustrating when you can't find what you want, but it's so exhilarating when you connect the dots and make a discovery. I could come look at these manuscripts every day for a month and not get sick of it. I don't know how much of this will actually get into my thesis, but what a learning experience! Being able to see these things almost makes the apartment fiasco worth it. Aw hell, it does make it worth it. I never in a million years would have thought, at the beginning of freshman year, that by this time I'd be sitting in a silent room full of musty books and having the time of my life. Funny how that works.

It's exciting, and at the same time almost disheartening to see all these amazing things. I can't read Old French well enough to really take it all in, and reading the manuscripts is really difficult. I understand maybe every third word. Where do you go to learn Old French? For that matter, what does one do to improve one's modern French super fast? Le sigh. (which is all the French I feel like I know right now...)

Enough of being a downer. This is a really cool experience, there is a big smelly book in front of me, the weather is beautiful and I'm going to be in Holland in four days and Venice in six days. I am so lucky.

I love you all, hope your summers are awesome as well.


Olivia

Tales from the Crypt, part 2

Currently am sitting in front of Egerton 1069, which is the shelfmark for a manuscript of Guillaume de Lorris' Roman de la Rose, dating from 1400, written in Paris. There are dozens of illustrations, but the first one is the coolest. For some reason the British Library doesn't have a scan of that one. However, I like one, just because the proportions are so ridiculous and it gives you an idea of what the whole manuscript looks like.

Thanks to Scott, I get to thumb all these hella-old manuscripts like a pro. None of them really have the kind of comparison material I want, but do I care? Not really... This is just too awesome to miss.

Also, I can't adequately describe the way medieval manuscripts smell, but it's distinctive and really cool. Kind of musty and leathery and sort of flowery at the same time. It smells like academic heaven.

Love you all! Back to studying!

oooh also...

All you world travelers keep visiting my blog and my Google Analytics page is lighting up like a Christmas tree! It's so cool! It's like I'm world famous! Keep visiting from other countries, it makes me feel loved.

That is all.

:-)

Tales from the Crypt

....of medieval manuscripts.

I went to the Nottingham University Library of Manuscripts and Special Collections today.

which is

Party Central.

...mmmmmkay not really. But it was really quiet and really cool and in the middle of NOWHERE. I mean NOOOOOWHERE. I think maybe they're afraid if they keep the pretty things too close to civilization they will melt. Which I suppose is good. Plus, everyone there was really friendly and I had this giant room all to myself because I was the only one in the library.

So I'm sitting there, leafing through a mid- to late-13th century manuscript and I realize:

this is really fucking awesome.

I mean, okay, I got a little bored staring at Old French, like I usually do. But then I realized that not only was this Old French but it was OLD French. Like REALLY OLD. You could see where the scribe had ruled out a grid to make his writing all nice and pretty and where his pen dried up so he had to re-dip it and start over. So cool.

And I got to look at pictures like this:

Have no clue what that is? Especially on the right? Neither do I. But I'mma gonna find out....

Me, happy in the Nottingham Library:

Also, kind of sleepy from getting up way too early. But whatever. It was worth it.

Plus, VENICE IN ONE WEEK! WOOOOOOT!

I'm going to VENICE!!!!

It's going to be AWESOME.

I am once again in the British Library. The Manuscripts Collection screwed me over because they didn't tell me my letter of recommendation to see manuscripts had to mention each one I needed to see specifically, so I can't see any of the images I wanted to see. Fuckers.

But, to give myself some solace, I bought a ticket to Italy. It's what you do. I'm SO EXCITED. LIKE, SO EXCITED. I'M GOING TO ITALY. THE HOMELAND OF MY PEOPLE. (Okay, not really, I had a great-grandmother who was from Italy but I don't think that really counts anymore. But still...)

This is going to be me:

Me as I will look in Venice
(no mocking, I don't have Photoshop on my computer, I had to use Paint)

Yes, I will be walking on water. In an orange dress. Like Jesus. He was from Italy, you know. Oh wait, that's the Pope. Whatever.

Wheeeeeeeee!



Love,

Olivia

from the bl, part two

can anyone tell me why I decided to study an Old French text?

...because I really have no idea right now.

Confused face:

blogging from the British Library

I paid a fortune to get internet in this godforsaken library. But after days without real internet, it was worth it.

I realize there are lots of you gallivanting around Europe and partying, but let me tell you, the British Library is THE place to be. Look how much fun I'm having:


If sitting in a big, quiet room with a giant dusty book of Old French ain't fun, I don't know what is....

In all honesty, this is actually only the second time I've been to the library. I guess I got a little sidetracked by the drama of our arrival, and have spent more time doing anything but study than I have, well, studying. Not good. Sooooo getting on top of that this week. Starting today, though. Yesterday I was useless because I was so hungover from Jack's party that the room wouldn't really stay still. Oy.

Speaking of which, I have never been to a more fantastic affair than Jack and Hannah's Masquerade. You can't really call it a party. You can't really call it a ball. It was an Event. With a capital E. For serious. Everyone looked so pretty and had such a fantastic time. And there was free Pimm's. What else can you ask for? I shall upload the few pictures I took soon, but as I have such limited internet access it may take a while before they are shareable.

We've moved into our new place in Battersea, compliments of the amazing Mr. Barker. We were very lucky to find a place on such short notice, and even luckier to have all of us be able to stay there for the duration of our trip. It's awesome. Battersea is actually quite a nice area; it's very up-and-coming and has a lot of character. Plus it's really not too bad to get anywhere since the London transportation system is so good.

Am thinking about going to Holland earlier than originally planned. Even though things have worked out much better than I think any of us could have expected, it's been a bit shocking and I'm quite homesick. Being with family might be the best solution to my ennui.

I meant to post this before, but I will do so now because I think it is awesome:

This is from before Zack left London and Rachel went to Venice and we all had a fun video chat session from the Mews to Pittsfield. It was very 21st century of us and I am very proud of myself that I figured out how to take a screenshot. It's actually incredible how many people I've gotten to see from Harvard since I've been here, not just through the magic of internet but in real life too. I like to think people are just drawn to be wherever I am. I think it had more to do with Jack throwing a fantastic end-all/be-all party at a Medieval Abbey. But self-delusion is the solution to many problems, so I'm going to stick with my version of things...

I should probably get back to studying, though I am sad to stop blogging and thinking about happy things rather than sad, Medieval things. I am always on email because of my trusty BlackBerry, Fred, so please please please email me with updates on your lives. I may not always respond uber-promptly, but I will do so in due course and love love love to hear from you guys. I miss you all so much and hope I get to see some of you very soon.


Love,

Olivia

The Life of Olivia: NEVER boring...

So it's been an exciting couple of days. I think it's safe to say that of all my travel horror stories, this weekend has given me the best one yet. I can almost laugh about it now, because it looks like things are going to work out, but suffice it to say I'm in a rather emotionally vulnerable state....

So here begins the cautionary tale of the Saga of the Disappearing Apartment. If you are faint of heart, do not read on.

As many of you know, I was going to London to live with my friends Kelley and Paris in a sublet apartment for a few weeks to do research for our theses. We found it through gumtree.com, a sort of craigslist for London. The landlord asked that we send a Security Deposit of £200 before she sent the contract. Then, after we had signed the contract, we needed to pay the rent upfront. All of this was done through Western Union. Everyone I talked to said this seemed like pretty standard procedure.

Fast forward to my arrival in Britain on Saturday. I left Friday afternoon, flew to Frankfurt and then to London (it was cheaper that way). I took the Heathrow Express train to Paddington, and hailed a cab. I had it take me to the apartment, 40 Wilton Road. When I got there, number 40 was a boarded-up shop front, without a door or a doorbell. There was nothing around it. I called the number on the contract, and got a voicemail box, where I left frantic messages. I wandered around a bit, and realized that there was definitely no apartment. None. Zilch.

Cue panic and tears. Thankfully I happen to have a guardian angel as a friend. His name is Jack. He is amazing. I owe my soul to this man, no joke. I called him after the initial freakout period had passed. The conversation went something like this:

Jack: Hello darling.

Me: Hi. Um. I don't have an apartment.

Jack: What?

Me: So I just arrived at the address of my apartment and it's not here. I mean, there's a building and it's number 40, but it's not here. It's a scam. No one's answering the phone, no one is here. I can't believe this....

Jack: Hold on.

(Suddenly Jack arrives on a white steed. Battles evil-doers and saves children on the way back to Sloane Square.)

Almost all of that is true.

In all seriousness, this has been one shocker after another. When we went back on the website we found the listing through, two other people had posted that the same thing had happened. We paid these people nearly $2000. I've spent the past few days on the phone with Western Union and the police. Chances look pretty slim that we'll recover any of the money.

In hindsight, of course, I feel like I should have known better. I should have listened to my gut instincts that told me something was not right and asserted that fact. But that's all in the past now. Jack has been awesome and Kelley and I are staying here until we get a new place to stay, which will hopefully be soon. If you see him, give him a hug and tell him he's a hero. Because he is. His parents and family have been so kind and hospitable, I can't even deal.

These past few days have been some of the most stressful and worrying in my recent experience. But there have been silver linings. What I think I've learned, more than anything, is how important friendships are and how good people are under pressure. Zack was staying with Jack as well until this morning, and between the two of them I felt so supported and safe. It's been a surreal experience: I've come in contact with the worst of human nature and the best. I don't understand how a person could do this to another unsuspecting human being. It's hard to describe how violated I feel. At the same time, seeing how quickly my friends came to my aid and supported me helped restore my confidence and sense of security. I'm so used to being very self-sufficient and independent; it's very strange to rely on the kindness of others. That I have friends who would offer me a place to stay and a shoulder to cry on bodes well, I think.

I miss everyone back home, especially right now. Please please please email me if you have the chance. Even boring things like, "I am sitting at home/work/Starbucks doing nothing right now and I have nothing better to do than write you." Any positive contact is much appreciated.

Love,

Olivia

Things I will miss about the States....

1. American food. British food is weird. No offense, British friends, but it's weird and the peanut butter tastes funny.

2. My mother. The woman is crazy, and I love her. Who else would be so eager to get to target that she busts a tire trying to make a U-turn on Memorial Drive? (Poor Baby Ruth, I know.)

3. The weather. Yes, it's been sweltering here in Boston, but you know what it's been like in Britain? Cold and rainy. You know what it's going to be the rest of the summer? Cold and rainy. Blech.

4. American television. Am I even staying in places with T.V.? No idea. BBC2 and 3 are great and all, but when that's all you get (and that's when it's not raining) it gets old.

5. The Loeb and the HRDC. Despite the fact that I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for the past four days trying to get ready for my trip, I've still managed to be in the theater for at least an hour each of those days. For no apparent reason. It's an addiction. Cutting myself off cold turkey will not be easy.

But it's not all sadness and heartbreak. I love the U.K.! Otherwise I wouldn't be going back. So here are the Things I'm looking forward to in Britain/Europe:

1. British friends. Whether natives or visitors like me, it will be so exciting to meet up with people in Europe. There is something that feels so classy about meeting up with Harvard people in a London pub or an Amsterdam restaurant. Plus, Jack's party should be super-fun...

2. British food. It's weird, but oddly charming. Fish and chips? Awesomely greasy. M&S anything? To die for. Pub fare? Brilliant.

3. British drink. I did not try enough beers while I was there last time. I got too addicted to Pim's and Strongbow and lager. So I plan to branch out. Any suggestions?

4. The sights. Traveling is so awesome. There is nothing like it. I can't wait to see even more places and explore new landmarks.

5. Freedom. This is the freest summer I've ever had. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. And I'm so thrilled about that.

Do you guys have any suggestions of where I should go? Will you be in Britain or Western Europe this summer? Want to visit/can I come visit you? Post here! I miss you all! I promise there are lots of posts and photos to come.

T minus 16 hours till takeoff! Wooo!

i hate packing

I am packing. I hate packing.

Okay, I'm blogging, but in the middle of packing.

Does anyone want to do this for me? I will pay you in love and cookies.

Anyone?

...

Seriously. Anyone???

Bahahahahaha

#98 The Ivy League

via Stuff White People Like by clander on 5/6/08

The Ivy League is expensive, exclusive, located in the North East, and features beautiful old buildings. All of these things are beloved by white people so logically it would seem that they all love the Ivy League. But this is not true!

White people have a tortured relationship with the Ivy Leagues, and if you broach the subject in the wrong way you can offend and even anger a white person.

But before getting into the more nuanced aspects of the subject, it’s important to know that all white people believe they have the intelligence and work ethic required to attend an Ivy League school. The only reason they did not actually go to one is that they chose not to participate in the “dog and pony show” required to gain acceptance. White people also like to believe that they were not born into a privileged (enough) family to get legacy admission. This should always be at the back of your mind as you talk to a white person about the Ivy League.

Once you have determined that a white person did not attend an Ivy League School, you should try to give them the opportunity to explain why their school was actually a superior educational experience. Some easy ways to do this are to mention grade inflation, professors who value research over teaching, or high tuition costs. Any one of these will set a white person off on a multi-minute rant.

When they have finally run out of arguments about why they chose the right school, you should say “I knew a whole bunch of people who went to Harvard and none of them work as hard or are as smart as you.” This is a very effective technique for gaining acceptance since white people need constant reassurance that they are smart and that they made the right choice with their life.

If you actually went to an Ivy League school, you will been seen as a threat so prepare for a lot of questions from white people. They will constantly ask questions about how much work you had, the type of students at the school, the professors, your dorm room, your reading lists, and they will try so hard to figure out your SAT score. They desperately need a source of comparison so that they need to figure out if you are actually smarter than them. In fact, the only way to stop this line of questioning is to imply that you only got in because of your minority status. Once you say that, white people will stop feeling threatened since they can now believe they too would have been accepted to an Ivy League school if they were a minority. It also gives them a personal story about the effectiveness of Affirmative Action.

White people also like to call their school “The Harvard of the ”. Do not challenge this, it will ruin their confidence.

Love,

Olivia

Yay graduates!

I've been working with tiny people for days, so I haven't been able to post congratulations to all my amazingly awesome graduated friends. CONGRATULATIONS! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

I'm on my way to London in a few days, but I'm around Cambridge until then. Call me if you're around, I miss you all!

In celebration of Commencement

Thanks to Alison:


Congratulations, grads! I love you so much!

just found these, what the crap?

I know you've all been waiting to see me stuff baked goods into my bras. Well, here's your chance. Just found this semester's 24-Hour Plays posted on YouTube. I'm kind of terrible in this skit, but the bra-stuffing is priceless, and you can totally hear Pecci and Bill laughing their asses off in the audience.

Simon is priceless.



"HAND PUPPETS! PROSTHETICS! HAND PUPPET PROSTHETICS!
Goddammmit, Steve, just give me my magic tic-tacs."

new hair...

The deed has been done. It was really flippy all day, and this is what it looks like after drying naturally, without any flippage. What do people think?

Life is good

Sitting at home, watching House reruns. I have not taken a shower, I took my dog out walking on the beach, and I made the perfect cup of coffee. Sigh.

Lynn may be the city of sin, but it's also the city of reLAXation.

Religion guy: Have you heard the good news?
House: Miley Cyrus is playing a third night at the Spectrum?
Religion guy: Happiness is possible. Not just in this world, but in the next.
House: Oh, you're selling religion. Sorry, bought some Islam yesterday.

In other news, today is the last day of my long hair. It's time for cosmetic catharsis. I'm chopping it off.


Goodbye, long hair:
Hello again, short hair!: