Been feeling as if my arms are going to drop off. They've
been really sore since Saturday, my biceps (as if I have muscles, ha) are in
lots of pain and it hurts to straighten my arms. In fact, today I couldn't do
it. How ridiculous, I go to one class and nearly die of pain. I'm inclined to
blame it on the fact that I have never worked on my arms because it's my legs
that I’m not happy with and want to make skinny.
Yesterday we went for a bike ride to Starbucks as planned. I
know that my Mum and Paul are going to be smug though, they’ve been telling me
I should ride a bike for years and now that I actually enjoyed it I think they’ll
make me eat my words. It was a nice day yesterday, not too hot and really nice
to ride in. I was on Ellie’s bike which was a little small for me, so I was
doing twice the rotations that Marie was doing, but it’s okay, it’s all leg fat
burning. Nancy came along too and done really well on her bike. It’s something
I’ll probably do again once everyone’s back at work and school just take a
little trip out to Starbucks. It had been spitting rain for some of the
journey, which was nice because of the heat it cools you down and you dry
quickly. I kept getting Mum’s voice in my head saying “Your skin’s waterproof isn’t it?”
By the time we got near
Starbucks, the wind and rain had gotten quite heavy so that we couldn’t see too
well, but it soon died down. Had a lovely vanilla latte (grandee) and spent
some time people watching. Explained to Nancy that just because a man comes to
Starbucks everyday it doesn’t make him weird, it just makes him a creature of
habit. I’m very much like that when I’m home, I like to know what’s going on
and I like routine. Anyhow, once we’d finished our coffees and Rob had turned
up we went over to the AT&T store and played on the iPhones. Turns out,
people had been using them to make calls after checking the call log, and some
of the pictures people had left on there is hilarious. Must remember that if I
want to call home, find a phone shop instead of paying! The ride back was more
enjoyable, Marie swapped bikes with me.
Maybe an hour after we’d gotten back I felt a bit down. I felt very disconnected with myself and rather unbalanced. I
get bouts of homesickness quite a lot, and this was one of them. Not only that
but I’ve started to feel as if I’m stupid, like I know nothing. I talked it
through with Dom and I get the feeling its America that makes me feel this way.
It’s not as if the people aren't nice, but being 18 here I am still considered
a child. At home, I’m an adult. I’m responsible for my own debts, I can buy
alcohol, I can live on my own, I can get married, and I can smoke. Not only
that but I've always been given a lot of freedom and trust compared to other
people, and I do think I deserved it. If I hadn't been allowed to be independent
would I be able to do this trip? Probably not. I’m thankful to my Mum for that. This is why
it’s so hard for me to adjust here to being a child again, where people think I
am incapable of doing things and where my motives and feelings are questioned.
In this country, I cannot think like an adult. I suppose my A-level grades didn’t help too
much either. I don’t like being treated
as if I am incompetent.
I had two glasses of rosé and felt mildly better. Drinking
rosé did remind me of Rhea though, and that I miss her too. A gorgeous roast
dinner made by Marie helped a lot too and of course Yorkshire puddings.
Marie, Rob, Nancy and I went for a swim and that helped me
chill out a bit too, I really had worked myself up into a bit of a fluster. The
water had cooled off a lot due to the rain but it was still warmer than most
indoor pools in the UK. It was nice to just chill. Nancy took me on a world
tour around the pool on an inflatable bed, ending with shark infested waters
that I was promptly tipped into!
We all dried off and changed and watched a movie called A Shine of Rainbows which was mediocre
but entertaining. It was about an Irish woman who adopts a little boy from an
orphanage. She ends up dying and the boy has to get on with her less than
welcoming husband. It was good really, and the obviously fake seal made us
laugh. I felt a lot better today after some sleep.
Today we were going to go to the zoo, so Marie, Nancy and I
loaded up into the car and headed into Houston. I’d forgotten how much I love
playing music in the car. We got to the zoo and it was packed, I suppose because today is Labor Day. That’s sort of like a
Bank Holiday where lots of things are closed, supposedly to represent the contribution
to society and the economy by workers. We decided against the zoo and headed to
the bowling alley. We were joined by Deb, Ian, Oliver, Ryan and Aaron. I haven’t
bowled in years, and fully expected to be rubbish, but just look at these
scores!
Okay, okay. So I was playing against three children and one
man, but just look! I was proud of myself. I sat out for the second game; one
game was enough for me, so just the kids played. Nancy was chief photographer.
Once we got home, Marie
went out for a works event, so Rob took us girls to Pei Wei for dinner, and Asian
restaurant. The chicken Thai coconut curry I had was very nice, if slightly too
spicy for me, but I didn’t attempt using chopsticks again, I learnt from my
sushi experience that I am not good with them. The food was very good though.
So now, here I am. Just finished yet another hot chocolate
and just chilling out. Arranged to speak to home at 11pm because of the time
difference, so waiting around for that I’ll probably read some more of Angels
and Demons. Got to do boring things to like sort out my laundry, but I also
want to proof read and edit my mini-article I wrote on the Juxtaposition of American
and British Politics and Society. I don’t know if it’s any good, I wrote it in
about an hour whilst sitting in a hot conservatory in Louisiana, but it’s a
building block to work on, it has to start somewhere. I’ve also had two
compliments on my writing this week, which was a nice little confidence boost
to myself. My plan for tomorrow is to visit the Houston Space Centre so I must
book my ticket for that in a minute; you get $5 off booking online. Yay money
saving!
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