Starting from the beginning

Ok, I vented yesterday on here and I know, for some of you, it wasn't a side that you would have liked to see but we have to be honest with ourselves, right?!
Since I will be back in the UK next weekend I guess I have to wrap up this story and let you know how things have been going and the nice experiences regardless of the FACEBOOK pictures right.
So the last I remember, is writing shortly before or after the elections that made Obama President of the United States.

It was a surreal moment wherever in the world you were watching the elections being broadcasted, and I know that many of you didn't sleep until after 4am; to see if he would make it.

I was only up until 2am I think and then spent the whole day on the laptop talking to people on msn, skype and facebook about the historic moment. I read newspaper reports and viewed opinion polls. It was a day well spent, even though it was touched by drama in and around South Carolina, who obviously had a McCain majority. Many different statemehts were made by various people about the African American population and the stigma's that were attached to Obama were down right uncalled for.
I heard of hostilities occurring on the USC campus, in classrooms, on the streets and all over certain parts of the country.These hostilities also filtered into my apartment, and that was a very interesting matter to resolve and I was proud of the stand point that I held.

But a statement was made by a student comedian, at the Talent show that was held to celebrate the birthday of the 'Q's Fraternity {blog on the sorority and fraternity life will soon come}. He called for the acceptance of the fact that Obama did not become President simply because of the overwhelming votes that he received from the African American and Latino population of the U.S as they consist of only less than 20% of the voerall U.S population and less than 30% of the 57% who voted for Obama.

I see my experience of the election as a miniscule incident that can be used to illustrate the wider issues that still exist with the United States and I am pretty sure that many people who are educated enough and not irrogant, will accept that Obama becoming President is a good thing, but there are still many different issues that the States need to address in regards to a vast majority of their citizens are treated { again another blog on the non- existent universal healthcare system and the educational system is in the wings people}.

OK, happy picture time
(need to find the pics I want to use LOL)

Long time coming

I know that you have been wondering why I haven't been blogging, it has been a longtime and alot has happened.
Honestly I didn't think that I was strong enough to blog, whta I have been feeling. But I will bear all and tell you that a sudden wave of homesickness has overtaken me for the past hour and even though I tried to force myself to sleep it just hasn't happened.
Some of you I have spoken to on instant messenger and given brief snippets of my time at University of South Carolina, some of you; our friendship has flourished tremendously since I have been the U.S.A and we have lengthy conversations at least three times a week and for that you don't lnow how grateful I am. If it wasn't fot speaking to you, I would have given up on all the obstacles and heavily considered packing up and returning home.

Year abroads are not easy, especially in the South of the U.S.A. I have encountered so many different things that have tried to alter who I am and frankly the person that you all have grown to love over the year or the years that you have known me. Yes, I fought my battle to try and preserve who I am but unfortunately I failed in a number of different ways.
The society on this side of the Atlantic tries to change and form who it believes you should be in so many different wyas; that I may have to explain to you all on a one to one basis.
My foundation remains but believe it has been shaken, for better or for worse, but I will be back at the end of this month and I can't wait to see you all. The thought of being back home brings many tears to my eyes, joy to my heart and a sense of comfort that can not be explained in words.

And for that reason I am awake at 1:11am East Coast time writing this blog, the first since November and maybe if I feel that USC deserves for my recollection I may tell you the good experiences that I have had out here.
All in all I am forever grateful with the opportunity that was presented to me, but it has changed me as a person and this summer will tell if it has been for better or for worse.


Isha

MUCH OVERDUE I AM SORRY

I know that there are some of you awaiting a blog from me and it will be coming very soon, hopefully by the end of this week

Pleas bear with me..Amcrica has turned my world upside down

Well, to say it’s been a hot minute is an understatement to tell the truth.

So it’s been a long time, & a lot has happened. The United States have their first black President & Alexandra Burke won the X Factor, not to my caring but hey!

Big thanks to MisterLego & the BNTL crew, and G3 for keeping me updated with what the deal has been.

But in general the States haven’t been much to write home about, the place has been annoying me, but hey what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!

So all is good in the hood, currently in LNDN & should have good times over the next fortnight, so let’s see how it goes…

Here are a couple clips from the past two months of what has been going on…

Shall give updates in the NEW YEAR… funky monkey Promise !

picture time..this better work

Heya
How are you? I'm doing very well, I must say. Was gona put something up on Friday but was too tired & was cooking some good chicken wings and potato...
Friday put a smile on my face after a week of ups and downs, but hey I guess it's all good, gotta have those times right?
What don't kill me, makes me stronger etc blah blah blah
First shout out goes to Walmart

For making me when I found *plantain* unfried of course
But it just made me crave on of those cooked meals that I had at home & Uni *good times*

So yes, that put a huge smile on my face

Then yesterday I finally broke a sweat at a ''club''..it's called good times and I think I will be a regular there.. :-)

So finally a blog without moaning! cross your fingers for me yall x

this shhhhh is BANANA'S

Hi y'all
I have spoken to some of you & you have said you don't mind if my blog is me moaning or complaining about my current environment, fair enough...but if you do want to complain then please DO!
1) why is it raining all of a sudden? It's such a remainder of home, but home I didn't mind if rained that's what you expect from the UK right? So I don't know what this Southern weather is playing at to tell the truth..
2) I NEED A STUDENT UNION or a Union night with good people and music to keep me sane! It's insane how these people are able to function but I guess if you haven't known anything 'better' you're not really missing out on anything. Yes there are clubs but I'm tired of the rubbish nights out that can go two ways...The Vista is an area made up of old warehouses that have been remade into clubs. 1) they are filled with old horny men & soldiers from Fort Jackson & ''wake music''
2)Five Points is 21+ and is made up of mainly pubs which are filled with underage horny drunkards & barley audible music...you see my problem..if not look at my facebook pictures, even and especially Union nights I have sweat dripping from my hair & neck, have a big grin on my face, or my mouth is wide open from laughing or singing..sometimes both...that is what you call a good time! Three nights in a row I have gone out & returned home with hair and makeup in tact..this shhhhhhh is BANANA'S!
3) Then there is Club Levels, haven't been there yet but it does not have a good rep. It's on the ''ghetto' side of town, basically most Afro Americans live there..kmt! Why does it make it ghetto because they live there, stereotypes...*try not to rant and rave Isha*..anyway it's the ghetto spot that most people are trying to keep me away from, simply because I am British I will find it abit too unclean? Ok?!?!? I want someone to dance with a shout "From the window, to the wall...to sweat drops down...etc" etc...see people nearly make Love In the Club...! But it's not safe! :(
I wish I was a person who could stay in and watch films and go to sleep a happy person but I can't!
Right so many of you are probably thinking go somewhere woman and see places! There is not much to see in Columbia, I haven't or really anyone to drive me anywhere & MONEY is not in abundance at the mo! It should be easy to find someone with a car right? Wrong they have cars, but many Americans have not been socialised into thinking ''ok this foreigner must be bored out of their skull let me show them around''. Many of them here seem fascinated that you are an exchange student but that's s far as it goes...Sorry maybe I am being moany, but hey all my karma should be coming back to me right now, for being eager with people I meet...I don't know call me crazy...
Yes I hear you saying ''give it time, things will change, it' just the beginning, when they find out how much fun you are things will change'' I hear you I hear you, but try and put yourself in my position..ok take yourself out of it, it's saddening right!

But hey, I'm going to Charleston next weekend for a historical day trip, which will probably have me foaming at the mouth at about how inhumane the Southerners are, but hey at least I won't be on campus, then three days after that will be Fall Break...hopefully going to Jacksonville Florida...so maybe this is just a bad week..or maybe not
Enjoy fresher's week people & let me know how second year treats you.Take lots of pictures to make me jealous & miss you even more, it's ok.... I will live...suicide is frowned upon in the Southern states, don't want to upset anyone ;)

AFM

the people want...

some of you ask me what are the people like out here? & my simple answer is so far, they conform to an extent to the worst stereotypes that we generally associate with the American college population...very clique orientated, if I am allowed to the say.

The funniest thing for me out here, is the hostility that I have come across from the Afro American female population & the majority's attempt to say a couple of words here or there to me, but not know how to interact with me..come on people I am the same as you, I just have an ''accent'' and I'm here for a year. Apart from that I probably find the same things acceptable as you do and find things wrong just as you do.

The one thing that I was ignorant to was the divisions that exists amongst the various characters that I have in one particular class which is my AFRO PSYCHOLOGY class. Only at a group meeting did it become apparent to me, that obvious not all girls get along, lol doh! so that may have been to my detriment ?! (sorry I cant change the font size to the original size lol :P, Lego or G3 help me out here :P)but yes, maybe I should have 'begged' it in my first days here...*don't roll your eyes at me those who are at Warwick, it's not the same here*...but yeh generally, its going alright. trying not to be too picky and internally critical of some of my peers, but I have been used to a certain way...not sayin that everyone should want to flock around the girl from London, but people around here..American to Americans are not accomadating of others than those who are in the friendship group and that means not even trying to make an effort with those who they meet in the classes..that in my eyes is the saddest thing.....that said and done i have met some really nice people out here!