Fulford College Lounge

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T13:45:00.001-08:00

Thinking of all of you as we celebrate Thanksgiving in the States. Happy Holidays!

How are you guys?

2010-12-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

I attended my friends' wedding party today. The bride and groom lived in York while I did. They started dating when we lived there! For the party, one of my York friends visited Japan (Some of you might have met her before at sushi party in my place). She reminds me of you. What are you doing these days? Are you enjoying your life??

As for me, I work hard enough as a Japanese workaholic. I might change a job later (I need more rest), but will stay here to save money for London reunion. I'm looking forward to seeing you all again xxx

Not quite Fuglish

2010-07-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

This reminded me of Gildas and the Fuglish obsession:

I've changed the blog settings

2010-07-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

No more junk comments! Now, only members of the blog can comment. If you need me to re-add you to the blog, send me an email or let me know on facebook :)

So, What Are You Up To?

2010-05-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm only familiar with what a handful of the Fulfordians are doing these days, and even that info may be out-of-date now. So who is still at Uni, who's working (and what are you doing), and where are you?

I'm in Chicago still. Same job in insurance. No Europe trip for me this summer, unfortunately, but I'm taking German classes again here in Chicago.

Got my password back

2010-03-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

Guys!!! u must believe I'm pretty dumb cause I forgot my password to the blog almost 4 years ago and I've only got it back just now. Yeap...u're right, I'm pretty stupid but I hope u still love me the way I am :P
In any case I've been faithfully following what u say all this time, always carried u in my heart lol

Winter Olympics

2010-02-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else following the Winter Olympics? Reminds me of my second month in York learning about snowboard cross, speedskating, and how much the Dutch love speedskating.

Erik, it seems the Dutch have a large presence in speedskating but not much of one in short track. Why is this the case?

Four years ago we were sitting in the lounge (or lobby, family room -what did we call it?). Remember the Top Gear Winter Olympics specials? The Mini ski-jump and racing the bobsled were my favorites.

And of course we ended our stay in York with the World Cup. Can't wait!

Mini-Reunion wrap up

2010-01-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

Hey all, Just wanted to post some pics from the time in Rome. Most of these are already in a facebook album. Some highlights of the trip were sharing all the old Fulford stories, spilling sacred beer on the table, drinking some amazing wine and standing a little too long in tourist lines. I think for the little time we had together it was very fun. I suggested a less tourist oriented trip next time (maybe a beach). Ines wants a meet up in Spain which I would love. All the girls got to meet my fiance Saman (I didn't know I would have one when planning the trip) and Chiara got to tutor Saman on a little Italian. I miss you all so much already!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

2009-11-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for my time in York. I didn't get to do as much as I wanted to do, and I didn't meet many Brits who lived outside the house, but my time in York was six months well-spent.

Do your countries have large Thanksgiving festivals or holidays? Ours has become so popular and secular because it serves a purpose in the American foundation story. And that story involves Erik's hometown of Leiden!

For those of you meeting next month, have fun. I'll be back soon enough - Europe hasn't seen the last of me =)

Where's David?

2009-11-02T17:08:00.001-08:00

For Sasha:

And Erik, your cousin was spotted nearby!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Back in Merry Ol' England

2009-10-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

I've been back in York for just over a week now. It seems very odd being back. You wouldn't recognise parts of the city, as they're continuing to redevelop it. Half the shops have changed, as well. My MA course starts next week. It will be interesting to see how hard I'll have to work.

What is everyone else up to?

Hope to see you in Rome!

Mini-Reunion?

2009-09-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Fulford!

I will be coming to Italy from Dec. 21-30. If you haven't gotten the e-mail already this is your warning that plans for a mini-reunion are underway. Chiara will be near Rome and from the last set of e-mails it seemed that Rome was the city most people wanted to go too. Please e-mail everyone if you can come and tell us all what days you are free! Ciao!

Blast from the past

2009-08-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new laptop so I'm emptying out my old one's memory onto my external drive. Anyway, I re-found all the old house pictures. I'm putting some of the house dinner here (at least the ones I can show in public) and some on facebook - I may make more then one album depending on what I find. Sorry if there not the best pics but these were the ones with the most people.

Summer and thesis

2009-07-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hello there, my dear Fulfordians!

As an answer to David's post, a short update on my situation. At the moment I am working on my master thesis. (It is about the amateur ideal in cycling and speed skating in the Netherlands between 1880 and 1914. I can imagine your reaction:"Bly me! That does sound interesting!") This will keep me busy the whole summer, since I am behind schedule a bit. I have only finished my papers for the winter semester this week...
Anyway, you will not be surprised to hear that besides working on my thesis I still cycle a lot. I have actually won a real race this year in May. So that is good news. Shortly afterwards I crashed, but my injuries were not really serious so I have had a good season so far. In August I have the national time trial championships and I hope to do well.

Me as winner of the District Championships time trial of Zuid-Holland 2009! ("He's pretty..." "Yeah, pretty ... ugly!")

I will be leaving for France this weekend. Sterre and I will both be working on our thesis, but in a more relaxing and vacation-like environment. We will go, for one week, to the rural Cevennes area and the last week we will go to Aix-en-Provence for the mediterranean feel!
So, I am doing pretty well and in september my life will be turned upside-down since then I have to start looking for a job, or better: finding a job... I will post when something is new!

Adios amigos!

What's New?

2009-07-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hey all, just checking in to say that I'm still alive and doing well. What are you guys up to this summer?

Tonight is tapas night at my apartment; Ines you would be proud. We've spent 12 hours making tasty dishes and now I'm just waiting for guest to arrive. I've learned more about Spanish food in one week than I've learned about any type of food in years.

I went to England in May and had a blast. Didn't get to see any Fulfordians, but on my next trip to the continent I'm sure I'll see some of you. My original plan was to go to Europe in August, but that doesn't look likely at this point. I'm hoping to save up some money and take a two-week vacation, but it might not be until next summer.

As for the job and apartment - I'm working for the same company but I'm at a new office in a different suburb of Chicago. I'm also living in a new apartment with two new roommates. I'm outside the city, but only by 1 mile. It's still pretty urban and I'm right next to the train stop.

Well do send in your status reports as well. What are you up to??

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Dave, Lisa and I not being English! Woohoo.

Lisa Visit's to Los Angeles!

2009-06-04T17:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Had a brief but fun visit with Lisa a week ago. We did all the usual tourist things and talked about everyone from Fulford. (By the way does anyone know where Gildas has disappeared too? His Facebook profile no longer exists). Here are some pics from our day. Enjoy!

What's going on?

2009-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Updates!? Come on everyone, I miss you!~

Wee little update

2009-03-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Just wanted to update you about my life. I have decided on a law school: Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California. This means I will be living in LA for three more years (ekk!). They are giving me a huge scholarship so it's well worth the sacrifice. I am very very excited to start school again in fall. So to spice up my post here are some pictures of murals from LA (taken from my blog)and LA's Chinatown:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

Well I know that Sasha and I have some Irish blood in our veins. I can't speak for the rest of you (I'm guessing Lisa probably as well) - but today we're all Irish. What does that mean? It's nonsense, really - just go out and drink some beers =) Here are some pics from St Patty's day 2006.

Happy Birthday Sasha!

2009-02-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

Have a great birthday! May the next year be full of success!

Badly Named English Places

2009-01-23T14:46:00.001-08:00

I thought all of you would get a few giggles out of this New York Times article on very badly named UK places. One of my friends has an English husband who came from a ill named small town called Cockermouth.

Anyway Enjoy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/world/europe/23crapstone.html?em

I introduce myself...I'm aunt Chiara!

2009-01-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to inform all of you that last night I became the aunt of a wondeful nephew!
3,610 kg of beauty! I'm so excited about that!!! I talked to him for such a long time (9 months screaming outside of his mum's belly: hellooooo!!can you hear me?!:)))) and now i can see him!!
It was so exciting!!!
kisses and huggies everybody

Gelukkig nieuwjaar

2009-01-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everybody! I watched the fireworks in Berlin with my girlfriend. What did you do?

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T22:58:00.000-08:00

And to all a good night...

Happy Turkey Day!

2008-11-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

A happy (late) Thanksgiving to all of you!

Barak Obama

2008-11-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

The US has a new president Barak Hussian Obama :-)

Elections and Update

2008-11-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. A little bad news on election day. My boss was fired on Halloween and I was, as the English say, made "redundant". The US economy is in a downturn and non-profit agencies (charities) like the one I worked for are suffering. I was told that I had done a wonderful job but there was simply no more money left in the Budget to keep me on. Everything is OK I am already applying to new jobs and I am not upset. Anyhow, I just applied to law school again and will hear back in the next few months!

There has been so much tension around this election. Besides the presidential election California has some very contentious propositions on the ballot. One proposdition would make gay marriage illegal and another proposition would force doctors to tell the parents of teen girls that the teenager wants to have an abortion. Whatever happens there will be lot of social change and rights at stake...

I am going to get Skype up and going soon. I'll e-mail you all with the info. Thanks for reminding me Chiara! I was always too busy with work but now I'll have some time off to catch up. Dave it's amazing you can go to Europe right now considering the falling dollar. Just don't get stuck with a weird campsite again :-) Erik it sounds like you will have a way more "German" experience then the "English" experience you had at York. Enjoy Berlin!

To lighten up the mood a bit here is a video of Peruvian Shaman's (voodoo priests) endorsing Obama.

Good luck USA!

2008-11-03T23:30:00.000-08:00

...the whole world is waiting for the new american president...make the right choice americans!!! ;)
Kisses
Chiara

Slide

2008-10-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

The clip below shows my childhood dream! When I was little (and I once was) I had a loft bed (never knew what it was in English, just found it on wikipedia). Ok, when I was little I had a loft bed and my room was on the first floor. I figured that since after going out of bed I only went down, first to the floor, then the ground floor, I could just as well use a slide to go down. The joy that would give! But in my mind I extended the slide further and further, I imagined that I could slide all the way to my classroom. No problem, except that I had to make sure that I could grab some food on the way! And now someone created my dream the other way around. Splendid! As it turns out this slide wish is shared by more people, that's why I think you might enjoy it as well.

Me, I am by now 23 days in Berlin. I have got a room in the yuppies-with-children-as-fashion-accessories-neighbourhood Prenzlauerberg. The Berlin Wall used to be only 50 meters from my house and I live in the former communist Eastern part. I live with four german people in this house in the Ückermünder Strasse, so the experience is not as international as in York, but good nonetheless. I will live here only for five months. When I left York I promised myself that I would never again go away for only half a year, because that is gone in no-time. However I did it again this time... I am just stubborn, I guess.
Anyway, Dave I am here until March 1st. If you arrive here before that date we could meet up. Even if I have already left we could still meet up in Berlin. It is only 6 hours by train and an excuse to go to Berlin is always welcome! And for the others: if you want to come and visit me and Berlin: you are more than welcome and you can allways stay in my house!

Now that John Barleycorn has died, I'm going to make some tea and stay inside

2008-10-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I'm still in Chicago, still an underwriter, still hopelessly single... The temperatures are starting to fall; riding my bike will soon be a sweaty and slushy endeavor. I got rid of my car several months ago, so unlike the typical American commuter I take a train and bus to work while riding my bike to get the groceries. It's great!

Erik, I hope to go to Europe next year, maybe before you leave Berlin. I'd like to practice my German. I've been taking classes but haven't had the motivation lately to study. Schade!

Hope all is well with everyone =)

How Californians See America

2008-09-08T18:17:00.001-07:00

This is how Californians see the States.

Goodbye England, Hello ?

2008-09-07T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! Sorry I've been so silent. My dissertation and final exams kept me very busy this year. But I've graduated! It's hard to believe it's been 3 years already. Rather than staying in the UK or Europe, I've decided to move back to the States for at least 12 months. After that, we'll see. Maybe a Masters in Scotland?

I haven't found a job yet, so I'm moving in with my parents for a bit. Strange after 8 years of being away. Ah, well, a new adventure...

Happy Birthday Chiara!!!!!!!

2008-08-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Tutti da Fulford desidera Chiara un compleanno molto felice. Il Sasha manca Chiara e non può attendere di vederla di nuovo.

Los Angeles here I come

2008-07-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

'Ello everyone,

Sorry I have been away for so long. I'm afraid applying for Law School takes more time and effort than I want to admit. My boyfriend, Saman, heard yesterday that he got into a University for Dental school in LA. So within a two month period I will need to get a drivers licence (you can't live without one in LA), get an apartment (thankfully he is working on that), re-take the law school enterance exam and find a job. It is very crazy. So for the next four years or so I will be in the land of sunshine. If any of you make it out to California please tell me - I can still zip up to San Francisco relativly easily.

Weird birds

2008-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

I found the bit of Planet Earth with the strangely dancing birds.

Dai! Dai! Dai! :-D

2008-06-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!
...today there's the match Holland vs Italy...It reminds me the world cup we all watched together.
...Of course i'm supporting italy but I hope my team will be loyal...
Good luck holland! :-D
Dai Italia!!

Me on telly!

2008-06-02T03:50:00.000-07:00

I'm well aware of the fact that you don't speak any dutch (except for 'stroopwafels'), but I thought you might like to see a television item made about me and a race two weeks ago. It was the most important race, when it comes to level, so far and TV West (regional television) followed me in the so-called prologue of the 9 day race. This prologue was a very short individual time trial. Normally cyclist race in groups, but a time trial is individual. The prologue was only 5,3 kilometres long, and is only meant to create some general classification in the race. The next day we started racing for real with a 100 miles race, and several days later even stages with a 150 miles length.

Anyway, if you're interested in seeing me and hearing me, take a look here and skip forward to the 33rd minute, that's when it starts.

Do You Guys Remember This Game?

2008-05-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Netherlands vs Portugal - 16 yellow cards! We got to watch one of the dirtiest World Cup matches ever played.

The fouls in all their glory:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uKXq7xcnkis

House

2008-05-08T04:47:00.000-07:00

Maybe you already knew, but it came as as a surprise to me that Hugh Laurie, the actor who plays House, is actually British. And not only is he British, but he is a comedian as well. I have spent hours on youtube enjoying sketches from him and Stephen Fry. Just for fun I have placed two songs here.

Boris Is Mayor!

2008-05-03T12:10:00.001-07:00

I don't know if any of you guys watched Have I Got News For You!, but one of that show's occasional guests is now London's mayor. Boris Johnson sent former mayor "Red" Ken Livingstone packing this week. Boris is seen as something of a clown by the political elites of London, but all I can say is that he made a good talk show even better. Boy, I wish we had something like HIGNFY stateside.

Does anyone remember the number of ways one can conceal a weapon? Look under the table!! Which show was that on, anyway?

Now that the ice has thawed I can move freely

2008-04-09T16:36:00.001-07:00

Erik, that is fantastic that you're going to Berlin to study. A professor of mine recently encouraged me to look into an Erasmus Mundus grad program. There's one that might suit me in Law and Economics. Who knows - I haven't had enough of Europe and many of my friends are headed there, if not getting married. If only there was a maedchen encouraging me to come! Well Erik if I do make it to Europe next year I'll certainly visit and practice the German I've been learning at the Goethe Institute, here in Chicago. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, but it will improve with practice.

This year I will probably not go to Europe, which is sad for me because I wanted to travel the Baltic and Scandinavian countries before I was 25 [i.e. while I'm still young and fetching ;) ]. I am, however, planning on exploring my own continent with a trip to Boston and perhaps Canada. My job is going well and I'm putting in long hours now to make my summer more friendly for traveling.

So what is everyone else up to? I think I got virus-email from Gildas. Did anyone else?

Berlin

2008-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't do it only once: I'm becoming an Erasmus student again! I will be studying at the Freie Universität in Berlin from coming October until March 2009. I got selected this week. So, if you hadn't anything planned for the coming winter; you're welcome to visit me. A great chance to see me struggle with the o-so-dutch-sounding-but-very-different-indeed German language. Especially for David this could be a chance to polish his German skills a bit, and maybe attract the attention of a blonde Berliner Mädchen...
Until October, however, I will be studying like hell and cycling just the same. I really can't wait for the summer to come, I would like it so very much to just ly on the beach and day dream. What are your plans for summer? I might go to the Balkans with Sterre, and I am thinking of paying 'good old England' a visit.
I say happy Easter to all of you, for in the Netherlands it still is Easter: Second Easter day, to be precise, just as we have two Christmas days and two Pentecoste days (Who has that?! That's right... The Dutch!). Well I have to round it up for now, I have to finish a paper tonight. To speak with all of you: Cheers, Bye, Ciao, Dag, Adiós, Salut and especially for Yukino: sayonara!

HAPPY EASTER!

2008-03-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

I wish all of you a very happy easter!
xxxxxxx
Chiara

you know that you're italian when...

2008-02-27T06:23:00.000-08:00

Everytime you ask for a very-short-Espresso abroad you find it's not short enough...
Although you know that pizza abroad is just something different, you are still looking for it
You ask for a pizza pepperoni and wonder why they give you Salame...
At starbucks you ask for "coffe and milk", the bartender asks again "you want a latte?" you answer: "no: I want coffe and milk!"
You feel really frustrated when tipping is compulsory. So you barely give some coins
When they ask you if you want "italian dressing" in the salad, you always answer "no, thanks"
If they bring to you a salad with the so-called-italian-dressing you give it back and ask for a plain salad
Abroad you won't ask for a salad with oil, salt and vinegar or lemon because you believe it would be too difficult to explain
You consider weird people those who wear the jumper of their university, especially if they are inside the university
You wonder why in USA there are many so-called italian things you never saw in your entire life.
You know Italian cuisine is just unbeatable.
You know Cucina Mediterrania is the healthiest.
You have tried at least once to explain to anyone the difference between raw ham and cooked ham, without succeding
You have tried at least once to explain to anyone the difference between sausage and wurstel, failing.
When in USA they tell you that the weather it's 100 degrees you think they are joking...
you ask for mineral water even if you know the tap water is just as good
A meal without bread is not a meal; possibly several differnt types of bread
You eat a sweet and small breakfast
If you have breakfast in a bar, you ask for "Cappuccio e Brioche, perfavore!"
You never have Cappuccino after 11.00 ( a.m. no need to specify! )
You are metereophatic: your mood changes according to the weather
When you are abroad you like to list the differences with Italy
You kiss the cheeks of every girl you meet
The best food is the food of your city
You don't like the italian songs that succed abroad
You download lots of music and films from internet, and think it is morally permitted
you have read lots of books at high school. And if you din't because you copied at the exams, you pretend you've read them anyway.
You love Nutella...anytime...
You call it Ragu', not Bolognaise!!
You know some Pierre (P.R.) but call them only in the week-endwhen something is exagerated you say "che Americanata!", especially if it is a movie
You've always wanted the money to buy a Ferrari or a Maserati..but if you had enough money you would rather go on vacation in Brazil and never come back
You think your city is better than all the other cities in Italy
When you were young you used to go to the Oratorio (or know somebody who did)
You stopped going every week to the church after the Cresima
You love the Aperitivo and call it "Happy Hour"
You miss home even if you hate it
you hate cold pizza
you hate pizza with Ananas (Pinapple)
you call the subway "Metro"
At high school you did Autogestione or Occupazione (unless you went to private school)
You have a particular word to say "miss school": bigiare, zompare, balzare, marinare, bruciare, far palo...
You think queueing in line is unefficient
you never use a Taxi because it is too expensive

...everybody here comes from somewhere!

2008-02-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

...hey did you listen to the new REM single!?
A new album will soon come out !! They are gonna play in Italy in July! I've already bought tickets !I look forward to seeing them again on stage! I'm so excited about that!

Still Kickin' In Chicago

2008-02-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

I haven't posted anything in months, so I figure I'll poke my head out and make some noise. I'm in the middle of a very cold and snowy winter here in Chicago. The snow storms have made my commutes to and from work outrageously long - several times I spent three hours in the car going one way!

Besides work, I am taking German classes and brushing up on my math and econ reading. I am not as dedicated a cyclist as Erik, so the bike will remain indoors until the temps get above the freezing mark. I can't wait to start riding again, though. Chicago is very friendly for cyclists (by American standards). And the skyscrapers I see are among the best in the world.

In stupid news: someone stole the license plate to my car! It is doubly annoying because the toll-roads have cameras that scan license plates - if I don't have one then I can get a ticket. So I have to take time out of my work day to get a new one... waiting in line and filling out forms. What a hassle!

My next trip will be to warmer climbs; I'm looking to visit New Orleans. It's about a 13 hour drive from Chicago, along the Mississippi river. They don't have stroopwafels, beautiful tall blond women, or kebabs, but they do have killer jazz and creole food. I can't wait!

Hope all is well. What is going on with you guys?

Here are some pictures from my trip in September:

you know that you are a real erasmus when...

2008-02-17T07:09:00.001-08:00

- you do things that you would never do in your hometown
.- you don't want to show your latest partypictures to anyone that's not an Erasmus.
- "spending the day at uni" means a day spent in front of your mail, msn and facebook.
- not even 30 calls from the neighbours and a visit from the police can keep you from having another big party. You just move and change neighbours!
- you came to your Erasmus-country wanting to find new friends among "the locals", but soon realised that the other Erasmuses are more fun.
- the people you just know by your own made up nicknames, such as "the hunk, the pop-guy, Hi5, barefootman..." etc are people you absolutely want to invite to your birthdayparty
.- most of your time is spent preparing for or recovering from a night out.
- you to everyone proudly present old silly songs from you home country, claiming that its a classic...without being embarrassed.
- you no longer care whether it's monday or friday - it's still partynight!
- you recognize people saying hi to you in the street thanks to the pictures you took last night.
- you refer to everything as before or after a certain Erasmus-event.
- you know that nothing is better than a night out at the erasmus pubs and clubs
- although your friends complain about always going to the same places...
- you kiss anyone and anything without bothering about the consequences (good or bad).
- you blame all your bad behaviour on the fact that you're an Erasmus.
- you do a test to measure your consume of alcohol and get serioulsy worried about your health.
- you know that the time of your life is now!

...does it remind anything to you?!
xxx
Chiara

happy birthday!

2008-02-09T07:39:00.001-08:00

Auguri Sasha!

I give up

2008-01-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

...and I have to give up again...we won't have a reunion this time too...
I'm really sorry about this...i hope one day we will have one
kiss
Chiara

Decision!

2008-01-20T04:36:00.000-08:00

Hello! Hello!
...Did you make a decision?
I had a look at the flights to England and they seemed quite cheap, but we should decide these days to book in advance...
what do you think?
kisses from Bologna!

REUNION!!!

2008-01-14T06:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Fulford friends!
...as I wrote in the mail we are trying to organize a reunion in York the last week end of february,
what dot you think about it? is anybody free that period?
Do you have any other suggestion about dates?
I look forward to seeing your answers!
Kisses
Chiara

Checking In

2007-12-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

To my amazement Guillaume is on facebook. Still with a very confused look on his face! Emeline must be telling him about politics when the picture was taken. Yukino's birthday is this friday. Happy Early birthday!!!! (I will be going to Japan in May it looks like. I will e-mail you soon). I am almost done applying for law school and after that I will have way more time. I did mention fulford in the essay as the thing that changed my world view most. I miss you all so much. I owe Chiara many many e-mails! I owe Lisa a conversation about Iranian archeology and preservation. I will try to get out and visit David some time next summer (if he's not in europe somewhere). Erik I wanted to tell you there is a skit Monty Python did where they speak "dutch"; but they are just speaking English backward. You should look it up; I hear it's hilarious. I feel like I've been a bad friend and have not kept in touch as much as I need too. I miss you all! Remember all of you invited to my apartment, anytime, wherever I may be living, to visit and sleep on my couch (if you need to).

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eat lots of turkey and mashed potatoes and get drunk!

Postcard from Italy

2007-11-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

..this is my stormy sea!
I was on a "trabocco", do you remember the picture we had in the living room?!
It's a small house built on the water used by fishermen. The view from there was amazing!
Kisses
Chiara

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

2007-11-05T15:36:00.001-08:00

Remember Remember the 5th of November! I miss you all. Get drunk on some English beer and play with fire.

Law School

2007-10-12T10:52:00.001-07:00

Once again I have to say goodbye to my ever changing dream of visiting Europe (or in this case Italy. I'm sorry Chiara!). I just found out it is going to cost me a little over $500 to apply to law school! I am still planning to go to Japan (mostly because the flights are cheaper and my friend Davida would kill me if I didn't) but at least I will have another six months to save up that money.

That being said I would like everyone to know that I still think of you all the time. You are all being included in my personal essay on my Law school application (even Yiyoung). I want to go onto studying international and immigration law. I can think of no better way to impress the admissions dean than to describe my experience at Fulford. Well I've leave out the drinking.

PAJET' E' BELL'!! (Paglieta is beautiful!)

2007-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Fulford friends!
I found a video on my small hometown on you tube so if you want to enter the fantastic world of paglietani (inhabitants of Paglieta) just go this website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqgHxxNw2pM
Enjoy it!
P.S.
the title of the post refers to a song in my dialect on my town: Pajet' è bell', si nu paes' assai rar' è chi ti ved' n' t' po scurdà!! (paglieta is beautiful, is a unique place and who visit it cannot forget it!)

Italy vs France

2007-09-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

ih ih ih!
Tonight there is the match France vs Italy !
Italia ! Italia! Italia!Dai dai dai! :-D (do you remember that expression?! :-DDD)

Kisses
Chiara

The Gold Duck is Dead!

2007-09-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Trevor, the gold duck from York, has died. There is a whole memorial group for him up on Facebook. I am so sad. I allways thought he was a little mean to the other ducks, but thats what gave him character. Goodbye my duck friend.

My summer!

2007-08-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

hello fulford friends!

I update you about my summer..

Finally i didn't spend much time in my town..it was a busy summer!

I travelled trough

italy, i went to Marta's town and then I went to Sweden to visit Stockholm and Gotenburgh. Sweden was very nice but It was the saddest trip ever for me. When I was there I got really bad news from italy..so me and my friends were very anguished during the entire trip.. I swear I will never leave on friday the 17th anymore!

Anyway, what you see on the right is me with stroopwaffels! yes, I found them in Gotenburgh! they had the same brand of what you bought at the organic shop in york I couldn't resist! I had to buy them! they are so goooood! Luckely honey made sweet my trip! ;-)
On the left you have a view of Gamla Stan, the old centre of Stockholm!
If you have never been there you have to visit it! there is a good atmosphere it's a young city!
I would leave there if it was a little bit more in the south!!:-D It's too cold for me! ..but beautiful!
Now I'm back in my town and I will soon come back to bologna.
I'm still waiting for a possible date of reunion!
I send you all a biiiiiig kiss!

how's your summer???

2007-08-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

Hello, people! How are you?
I visited Taiwan for a week, and just came back to Japan yesterday. It's soooooo good. I love their foods, fruits, sweets, drinks including beer, in a word, everything! It took only 2.5 hours to go there by plane, but many things are very different from japan.
I joined a summer camp held there. the schedule was so tight, no rest from morning til midnight. but we had parties everyday from midnight till morning. crazy beer parties! :D
i still miss fulford parties!

Update from the Netherlands

2007-08-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Fulfordians, you haven't heard of me for a while now. It is because I was on holiday most of the time, the last month and before that I was finishing my bachelor thesis.
Anyway, I had a great summer so far. First I went to the Cevennes, in France, where I had a training week with my team mates. It was great, we had splendid weather and we laughed so much that the muscles most trained after that week were my stumach muscles. After that I took the train to Brescia, in Italy. It took quite some time to get there. First my three team mates dropped me off in Lyon at the train station (the wrong one, but it did not really matter) and there I took the train (with my bicycle in a giant bag), first to Lyon Part Dieu and after that the bus to Turin, and there I waited more than an hour for the train to Milan, where at last I caught the train to Brescia. That's near Lago d'Idro, where Sterre was staying with her family. She and her father picked me up, and I spent a week swimming, cycling and relaxing in general, while Sterre was working on her bachelor thesis...
After a week in Northern Italy I went back to France, which was even more of an Odysee because the sole-Italian-speaking staff of the Brescia train station did not know the French town I wanted to travel to. I had planned my journey on the website of the Deutsche Bahn (the german train company) and I knew for certain that there indeed was a train connection between Brescia and Salon-de-provence, where I wanted to go. I went a day early to Brescia to make sure that I had a ticket for the next morning. I had to explain in my best Italian that I wanted to go to Salon, but according to the Assistenza man this was not possible because the town was not in his book of French railwaystations (only the main ones were in there). I tried to explain that if he would just go on the internet that he would find how I had to travel, but even though he understood me (hurray for my Italian!) he wouldn't do it. So I asked for a ticket to Chambéry, which was possible.
The next day I left for Milan Central station and my journey began with a €25,- fine, because I had forgotten to date my ticket... I got a long speech in Italian from the conductor, ending with a perfectly understandible and well pronounced twenty-five euro. I had no chance for clemency, so I paid right away and decided not to bother about it.
I bought a ticket to Salon-de-provence, without any trouble in Chambéry and arrived there after eleven hours of train, car and bus travel. In de the Provence I had a five day race, but the level was slightly to high for me, and the climbs to steep for me (with my height and weight I am considered a heavy weight in cycling, and that's not good for climbing). In the fourth stage I had to give up, but I had a wonderful time anyway.
Last sunday I had a race in Denmark, the Fyen Rundt, together with some professional riders. I did quite well, I finished in the bunch.
But yesterday I had my finest hour (quite literally). Yesterday the national time trial championships were held and I had qualified and so I went to Zaltbommel, where it was taking place. I had to ride a distance of 44.7 kilometres and I had set a time of 59 minutes for myself, quite ambitious because there was a strong wind and I had never before ridden so fast. The first kilometres of the race I already noticed that I was in good shape, so I tried to ride a higher pace, which I could. In the end the whole time trial took me 57 minutes and 51 seconds, which put me in 12th place. Which means that I am the number 12 time trial cyclist in the Netherlands! I was really happy with this, you can imagine.
Now for the rest of the summer I'll be working a bit and cycling of course and in the first week of september classes will start again. And somewhere in mid-September Dave will visit Holland! So we'll meet up, and I'm looking forward to that.
How has your summer been so far?

Giant Lego in Holland

2007-08-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

"A huge Lego toy has mysteriously appeared on Zandvoort beach in Holland. Nobody knows where it comes from."

I would think Erik did it but the grammer is so bad that couldn't be possible...

..on an island in the sun, we'll be playing and having fun!

2007-07-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

hello! fulfordians!
these are Tremiti islands!
yesterday I went there for a day trip, they are close to m,y region but it's like to move to a tropical place..blue clear water, wonderful weather..

S.Giusto!

2007-07-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

I came back again to my hometown and that's what it looked like yesterday at S.Giusto's day!

This is the square decorated by colored lights you can also see the orchestra polaying music!

There were a lot of people, medium age 80 years!!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! will I survive till september in this place?!

I <3 Old York

2007-07-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3AMhiWklcY4/Rpbrzr5cYPI/AAAAAAAAAHk/gapUwfpCz2M/s1600-h/IMGA0002.JPG">

Hey everyone!
Just wanted to check-in and say 'Ello. I'm still alive. I have been super busy lately. I changed jobs, changed homes, and may be starting a book soon with a friend of mine. I will most probably visit Japan in Spring and if Chiara keeps making me guilty/jealous Italy will also be visited sometime after winter. I would like to just say if there is a reunion I will do everything in my power to get there. Even if I was just to see a few people it would be worth going back.

I look at all the amazing pictures I have and I can't imagine never seeing any of you again. I can get really over dramatic thinking about how far away everything is (in space and time).

Once again mi casa es su casa! Come and visit beautiful California! Sleep on my couch! Walk on the bridge! Make fun of my non English Accent!

Anyway here are a few pictures of Gay Pride in San Francisco and a recent trip to Tahoe (think really big lake, than double it, now you have Tahoe in mind)to amuse yourselves with.

Riding Around Chicago

2007-07-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

I bought a new bike so I've been exploring my town and exhausting myself ever since. Here are some pictures from an early morning ride last week.

Voluntary exile!

2007-06-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hey you!!
..this is sad..we couldn't meet on sunday.. :-(
I came back to my hometown on a voluntary exile to study and going to the beach a little bit..
but I need vacation!!!
And what are you guys doing?
I wish you a funny week end!

REUNION!REUNION!REUNION!

2007-06-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

ok, i know i'm stressing you all but..we need to organize a reunion!
fulfordians all!
let's take a decison!
I spoke with samia and she will be free in september..what a mess! everybody is free in a different period!
But we sould decide..when are you americans come to europe?
what do you think of meet up on msn on sunday at 4 pm?( european time) is it too early for americans?
I missssss you!!
in the meanwhile I send you a big hug!
I wait for your answer!
ciaooo!

Roughly One Year Ago

2007-06-13T21:19:00.001-07:00

Back in England

2007-06-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'll be going to London for six days, as a part of a course I am taking on the human geography of Europe. It is too bad that the schedule is so tight, otherwise I might have gone to York as well. Anyway, I like to go to England for a while, just for old times' sake (is that Japanese rice wine?).

Just too much

2007-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am doing too much these days. I am finishing my thesis on nationalism and landscape. Next to that I am cycling (I was second in the provincial championships time-trialing, which means I qualified for the national championships. Today the Utrecht student cycling team won the national student's championships for team time trial, thanks to me (I did by far the most work...)). Furthermore I am rounding up my year of being president of the Students of History Association. All these things nearly take too much of my time. This being the reason for my digital absence the last few weeks.

Moon River!

2007-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Moon River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you're going I'm going your way. Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbow's end-- waiting 'round the bend, my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me.

Hey! Fulfordians all!
lately nobody is posting! ..shame on you!!! :-DDD
I have this song in my mind from this morning and I want to dedicate to you! :-)
Have a nice evening! Go out tonight! ;-DDDD
A big big big big big big kiss from Italy!

..football bleah!!

2007-05-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!
tonight there is the match Milan-Liverpool! I can't stand football and i can't stand milan..it's berluconi's team! bleah bleah bleah!
I'm supporting Liverpool!!

From the wispy winds of Spring...

2007-05-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

What are the summer plans of the Fulfordians?

Me, I'm hoping to get in a little road trip of the American Midwest and of course, if I could afford it, another bike trip through Holland or a backpacking trip in the Alps.

Burn baby burn

2007-04-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

Some gas truck driver going too fast crashed and melted our freeway entrance:

Amazingly the driver of the truck survived. After walking a mile and a half with second degree burns he hailed a cab to take him to the hospital. San Franciscian's don't need terrorists; we distroy our freeways all by ourselves.

PS: the title of the video is wrong. It was not the bridge that melted it was one of the many freeway entrances leading to the bridge.

Dish of the day: cous cous!!!

2007-04-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

That's official: I definitely love cous cous!!!
this is the dish of my week end: cous cous with chicken, aubergines, courgettes, mushrooms, tomatoes and chickpeas. mmmmmmh!! so good!!
..i would like to have another of our international meals..i will never forget crepes, paella, sasha's chicken, all the delicious food everybody cooked and our fantastic barbacue under the rain :-D
i hope we will repeat it!!
kisses everybody!!

tonight!! tonight!!!

2007-04-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

The smashing pumpkins to play at heineken jammin' festival this summer!!!
that's a great news!!I discovered it tonight!!It's my dream to see them on stage!!!!
The festival will last 3 days and there will be different famous rock band..i'm so excited!! Have you ever heard about it? I think europe is full of festival during the summer..i hope I will have the time to go there!!!

There He Moves Again!

2007-04-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

For the 5th time in 2 years I'm changing cities: now I'm going to Chicago. In case you don't remember, Chicago was shown in the skyline poster I had on the wall in the Fulford College lounge.

Here is the city at night:

And here is the place I will call home for the next year. Incidentally I haven't lived in one place for one year in a loooong time.

Oh, and for the Frenchies: I'm pulling for Sarkozy!

..where is my mind?!

2007-04-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hellooooo!! Fulford friends!!!

Lately nobody is posting..how is going with your life?

..life in Italy?!..it's already hot and my mind is on vacation..but cruel destiny I've to study!!!

tomorrow it's holyday! it's the 25th of april the day when the north of italy was release from germans during the 2nd ww.

.so everything is closed and we have a day off from uni..

Do you have bank holyday during april? are you studying working, cycling? tell me your news!!!

Kisses

Chiara

Hah, I'm A Fool

2007-04-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

It turns out the Belgian BBQ story was an April Fool's joke that stuck around for a few days. It was sooo believable though.

2007-04-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

Belgians are stupid. At least the Walloon authorities are. In the French-speaking half of Belgium, anyone having a barbecue must pay a fine of 20 euros. And I thought the television tax was overbearing!

Speaking of bbq, did anyone get pictures of our bbq in York?

..a poll!!!

2007-03-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hello fulfordians!!
I have some questions for you!!
i think we should start to organize our reunion or at least think about it.
So I think it's a good idea to vote when and where we should meet!!
Should we meet in summer or autumn?
And where would you prefer to meet?
About me, I don't mind the period but if it's fall i would prefer the beginning of the academic year (september or october). For the place.. once we spoke of Prague.. I still think it's a good place but if you want to go somewhere else it's ok for me.
I wait for your opinions!!!
kisses!!

Congraduations Chiara!!!!

2007-03-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

Chiara graduated, Yippppppppppy! I wish we could all be there to talk in french and have the third water war!

Woo-hoo!

2007-03-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

It's March Madness in the US! That means 65 college basketball teams competing for one championship. It also means people calling in sick to work, yelling at their televisions, and filling out "brackets." Here is my bracket: The red X's show where I was wrong and the green boxes show where I was right. I'm already off to a bad start.

Stupid Reality

2007-03-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

So I got turned down by the scholarship committee for the money I needed to go back to England. I will most likely not make it to York next year.

I have a few options. The best seems to be to do the American grad school exam and apply for american schools next year. The positive end of this is I would have the money to travel. My friend Davida is going to Japan next year and I really want to visit her. Also my boyfriends father lived in Bolognia, Italy for 18 years so he really wants to visit Italy this summer (which would of course mean seeing you Chiara!) I miss you all so much and I'll keep you updated on all my crazy life changes.

Party invitation!!

2007-03-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hello fulford friends!!!
Maybe you've already got my mail..
I would like to celebrate with you my graduation the 22nd of march!
Everybody is invited to my party!
I wait for you!!!
I know that it's quite difficult but if you are around italy try to come!! I will be the happyest person in the world!!! :-D
I send you a big hug!!!
Kisses
Chiara

Something's new in my life!

2007-03-13T02:04:00.000-07:00

I could register to the blog! In fact, I wanted to do it earlier, but I wasn't able... thank you David!

Now I'm working for my master and for a competitive exam, and wondering who I will vote for in 40 days...
"Useful vote", to avoid bad surprise for the second round of voting seems to be the less worse, but the problem is I don't like neither Ségolène Royal, nor Nicolas Sarkozy. And I think François Bayrou ( the third man?) is not better than them.
In fact I take the easiest position that is criticizing every candidates. Because moaning is always easier than getting involved in the debates to suggest new ideas.
Rendez-vous on the April, 22...

For Erik

2007-03-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Erik, if you ever consider cycling in an event in the US or just witnessing one, it turns out that the most prestigious cycling event goes past my back window! The Philadelphia International Championship. My neighborhood, which is very hilly, is the middle section of the race. This portion is called the "Manayunk Wall" and features a 17 per cent grade. Eric Heiden the speedskater won the inagural race 20 years ago. Anyway its a really big deal here with thousands of spectators. Thought you'd find that interesting. Here is a description of the race.

What Is Wrong With France?

2007-03-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/03/06/franceban/index.php

I think France is jumping the shark.

More Good News

2007-03-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

I got into York! It is conditional on me finding the money to go, so we'll see...

Yorkies

2007-03-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

They're not for girls!

But they are available at my local supermarket in the "English Section." Look in the Italian section for offers you can't refuse. It's always nice to find little reminders of past homes.

Good news

2007-02-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

I received an e-mail from the University of Leeds, my back up grad school, and I got in!

Untimely

2007-02-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

The good news is that I met a seemingly cool guy in the York student body who is really into libertarianism (market liberalism for you Europeans). He wants to start a forum with campus members to talk about similar issues. Oh how I longed for such an opportunity!

The bad news, of course, is that I find him 9 months after I leave York. =(

Sometimes I think that I missed some great opportunities in York. Nay, I know that I did. I wanted to learn fencing, meet more English people, and improve my German. But I spent too much time thinking about French girls and future grad schools.

I envy you guys who had a full year in York, and all of you who are continuing grad studies! 6 months just wasn't enough for me.

loooong time no contact!

2007-02-25T23:18:00.000-08:00

hello, fulfordians!
i finally joined this great blog!
thanks for sasha and dave!
do you still remember me???

i'm going to graduate at the end of march!
i'll wear kimono at the praduation party!
if you want to come, everybody is welcomed, of course ;)

Reunion

2007-02-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ok here's the plan we all go to York the same weekend and sleep in Lisa's room. You'd be up for that right Lisa? ;-)

Indeed, we know where Waldo is...

2007-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Or where they are?

helloooo!!

2007-02-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hey!
what happened to the other contributors?!
Where are the fulfordians?!
I want news news news!!