General Life Update or Why I Stopped Writing this Blog and Wrote a Dissertation Instead!

So, we meet again.  Long time since I've written here...and I sort of left in the middle of things.  If I get some time I will finish the series on being an au-pair as it was a wonderful experience and I want to re-visit it and remember.

Day to day life plods on the same.  A lot of studying and essay writing was undertaken, and my dissertation was handed in in December after a lot of hard work!

Finally, it was done!  

However, time is most definitely of the essence.  I have just finished my last ever semester as an undergraduate at the University of Glasgow.  Five exams, starting at the end of April and lasting until the 17th May, a Grad Ball (which took up a bit of time as I was helping to organize it) on the 26th May and then *dun dun dun* Graduation on 26th June!
 

Then I say goodbye to it all...very strange feeling as I know I want to travel, I don't want to settle down and start a career without properly thinking about it and 'tengo muchas ganas' about seeing the world, but...and here's the rub...I don't want to disappear and lose my life again.        

Since returning home at the end of my year abroad, I have found new friends and rekindled old friendships which were affected by my previous journey.  I know how hard it is to keep in contact with people when you don't see them regularly due to being across the sea, and how easy it is to just move on.  The thing is I don't want to take the easy option.  I want and need these people in my life, not as part of the background but as friends whom I see and talk to regularly.

My last ever music club concert with the GUBB - I'm 2nd (or 4th) smallest

Hispanic Panic! with some of my best friends who all happen to be students of Spanish!

Selfie time!  

On the other hand, I know that my future, at least in the short-term cannot be here.  I have already applied to go back to Spain as a language assistant, hoping and wishing that I get placed in Barcelona in order to improve my catalan alongside my castilian.  I feel more at ease using Spanish as my everyday tongue and part of my resolutions for this year was that my 'Spanish persona' - a more confident, fiery and extroverted form of my personality - could translate over into my Scottish self.  I'm still very much an introvert (although technically I fall on the scale as an introverted ambivert) and find social situations daunting, the ball of anxiety knotting in my stomach, but I can see the difference, and others have commented on it, since coming home.

Another pic of the Big Band!  Look at Team Trumpet in the back!  

 

I think this has gotten a bit rambly...so perhaps it is time to wrap it up.  The future is a very big, scary, daunting place which I'm heading to on a daily basis.  Change is inevitable as I attempt to figure out the next step.  The next trip I take is actually going to be closer to home as I'm off to Leeds on Saturday to meet my imaginary friends for the first time and then I'm still trying to plan a jaunt to see my sister who is on ERASMUS in Maastricht, Netherlands.  Summer is rapidly approaching and my vague plans are to go to France for 6 weeks whilst studying a language course in order to have the requisite time to apply for teacher training.  And then, well, hopefully it'll be on yet another plane destined for my adopted homeland - *fingers crossed* for somewhere in Catalonia!  Preferably near a Ryanair airport so people can come visit!        


       

Writer's Block: Sheldon and Penny 4ever!

Fan-fiction - I love to hate it!  I'll admit to reading it, Supernatural fanfic, but I mainly read when I'm bored and I do agree that it allows for creative imaginations to further the story and to set up scenarios that will never be seen on the actual show - slash fic for example.  But it does broach into the region of being too fan-girl for me.  

AEx 

Little twitter argument between two sisters :)

@katherineee__ is being very weird right now.... #justsaying
@aliasecosse your just jealous cos your not as cool as me #justsaying. ;)
@katherineee__ your as cool as a cucumber whereas i'm as cool as an icelolly - ergo I'm cooler than you ;) #justsaying
@aliasecosse no no no no no. WHATS COOLER THAN BEING COOL? ICE COLD!. and thats me. ;) #justsaying
@katherineee__ BRR its cold in here! There must be some toros in the atmosphere.. and since I speak Spanish...well I'm 10x cooler that you
@aliasecosse LO SIENTO? mate... hola, me llamo katherine. ;) mi hermana es muy loca.
@katherineee__ You've got a heid the size of a planet. I mean it has its own orbit. If I threw my phone it'd be caught in your gravity
@aliasecosse mate....MATE. WHATS THE PWOBLEM?
@katherineee__ I am Pizza Pooch...hear me roar! Are you ready to face the way of the warrior?
@aliasecosse your a CREEEP. your a WEIRDO. #justsaying.
@katherineee__ You are clicking?! Like seriously?! I feel like I'm in a horror film and your about to eat me....
I am now petrified that you are going to eat me... @katherineee__
@aliasecosse HERES JONNY. no wait. it WAGNER. no wait.. it VAGNER LOUIS.
@katherineee__ you just like Alfred...oh wait I mean your just like ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
@aliasecosse well.. clearly your just like a GRUFFALO. #BOOM
@katherineee__ I think I'm done....just like your comebacks ;)
@aliasecosse so i win then? I AM THE CHAMPION MY FRIEND. your just a fat looser with body oder. your tacky and i HATE YOU. ;)
@katherineee__ Remember I know lots of things about you....Heffalump
@aliasecosse odour* loser* yea. i blame this keyboard.
@katherineee__ *tut tut* bad spellings... EPIC FAIL
@aliasecosse *tut tut* YOUR FACE. #epicfail
@katherineee__ I really don't want this to descend into YER MAW...since its the same person for us both...poor woman having you as a kid
@katherineee__ I STOLE YOUR CHAIR!!!
@aliasecosse AWKWARD...i got it back. I WIN AGAIN *happy dance*
@katherineee__ just cause this is you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2hjFNO1xQQ&feature=related
@aliasecosse your just jealous that you dont have my owl powers.
@katherineee__ But I'm a marmoset...The power of the marmoset compells you
@aliasecosse you do not have these powers that you speak of.
@katherineee__ I am not the droid you're looking for. I am a Terminator sent back in time to defeat Sarah Conner. But I'll get you too
@aliasecosse HASTA LA VISTA...MARY ANN. *shoots mary ann with ray gun*
@katherineee__ You have now left for a shower. That means I win by default. SCORE!!!
@aliasecosse mate. like naw. im still here...still winning. #WINNING.
@katherineee__ your face is worse than the SNP #justsaying
@aliasecosse your face is worse than the conservatives. #BURN
@katherineee__ the argument is less effective when I have to correct your tweets before sending #justsaying #burn
@aliasecosse your argument is less effective than mine. yea. thats right. walk away in shame.
@katherineee__ There are 9 photos of Taylor Lautner on your wall. 8 of One Direction. I win automatically...:D
@aliasecosse you fail. theres only five of one direction. i win. AGAIN.
@aliasecosse OKAY you win.
@katherineee__ Your password has been changed due to the fact that I win :)
@aliasecosse no. you dont win. TWAPING DOESNT COUNT. also you didnt change my password. therefore YOU FAIL.
At least @katherineee__ I don't play the flute!!!
@aliasecosse atleast i dont play the trumpet. BRING ON THE THE TRUMPETS. how about NAW.
@katherineee__ My instrument breaks down biblical walls. Yours just breaks my heart and ear drums
@aliasecosse at least im not rebecca black. REBECCA Y U SING ABOUT FRIDAY? and yea thats right you are now rebecca black.
@katherineee__ At least I'm still not you!!! #oohburn #boom #justsaying
@aliasecosse your comebacks are like that of a 8 year old ned. #oohburn! WHATEVAA MAJOR LOSER.
@katherineee__ DIAMOND DOUBLE U, SPLIT THEM UP...FU
@aliasecosse I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I? yea doesnt make sense but STILL. NANANANANA. i win. :)
@aliasecosse thats sooo primary 5.
@katherineee__ Weeja no canna winja over me causa ima ninja
@aliasecosse fail. mcalindish does not translate to twitter.

We conceeded in the end that it was a draw....this time...

Box

There is an opened box on my floor just waiting for me to pack away some memories. I am a bit of a hoarder, I fill empty shoe, book or indeed, any box I have with things from my past which I'll keep forever.
I love my memories but since my real memory is slowly fading the mementos help me to recall events that have become foggy.
When I die someone will have to sort through all my boxes and they will throw away my life. They will discard old movie tickets and items which have personal resonance for me will mean nothing to them. The dummy egg will be tossed into the rubbish pile along with my memories. My personal history will be wiped clean as my personal items are destroyed.

100 Facts About Me - from my Twitter

1. My name is Mary Ann E McAlinden
2. The E stands for Elizabeth, after my dads mum and the Mary Ann was my mum's mum's name
3. I am 19 years old and I do not want to turn 20 in September
4. I have a sister who oftentimes annoys me but we are very close
5. I attend the University of Glasgow where I study English Literature and Hispanic Studies
6. I love being Scottish even if I would like to live in another country when I'm older
7. I get obsessed with TV shows quite easily and if I start watching something then I have to watch it all
8. My favourite shows at the moment are Supernatural, Chuck and Buffy the Vampire Slayer but these change daily
9. I love reading. I usually have at least one book with me and once again if I start reading something I have to finish
10. I have played the trumpet for nearly 12 years and I still love playing it.
11. My trumpet is called Goldie
12. I also play the keyboard and the tin whistle. My whistle is called Bob
13. I name most inanimate objects.
14. My pendrives are called Toby and Penelope. They are in a long term relationship
15. I believe that animals and birds talk to each other in the same ways humans do. This is partly Disney's fault
16. My favourite film is The Lion King. I cry the whole way through because I love it so much it actually hurts my heart
17. I finish 2nd year of University on Friday :O:O:O
18. I have very narrow feet
19. My sister has a poster wall of 'hot guys'. I have a poster wall of sci-fi shows
20. If I had to pick a team then I support Celtic football club
21. My favourite colour is Cobalt Blue. Its just so bright and shiny
22. I love the Spanish language and enjoy learning it. I go away to Spain for nine months in October and I can't wait :D
23. I have a ridiculous amount of full cousins. There are over 30.
24. My bookshelves are in alphabetical order as are my dvds
25. I am a tad socially awkward but working on it :)
26. I used to sleep with a beanie baby dog called Nanook when I was little
27. This is one of my lucky numbers as I was born on the 27th of September 1991
28. I used to be petrified of the dark but now I'm ok with it
29. I live on a farm in the countryside. The village where I stay is a bit dire but I like the woods at my house
30. One of my closest friends is @tendercuriosity.
31. It very much excites me to play with a harmon 'wa-wah' mute. Tis awesome
32. My taste in music is pretty random. I love folk music from across the world as well as Jazz, Rock and Pop.
33. My bedroom in my old house used to be aqua marine and it was my underwater cove. It relaxed me.
34. Even though my sister is two years younger than me and doesnt look all that similar we are sometime mistaken for twins
35. I have a bulletin from Church on my wall because the artist made Jesus look Japanese
36. If an actor on TV does something I don't like then I fall out with them. Case in point James Cordon
37. I have only ever failed one exam. It was a prelim for Higher Business Management and the teacher didn't teach us the course
38. I have more male friends than female ones
39. I nearly always wear the bracelet my Great Aunt Jeanie got me for my 18th birthday.
40. I am usually very stressed out. I don't think its good for me
41. I went to primary and high school with six of my full cousins. One of whom was in the same class as me.
42. Is another of my favourite numbers. I mean its The Answer to Life, The Universe and Everything. What's not to love?
43. Despite doing English, I am a pretty bad speller.
44. I once got on the wrong train and ended up far from home and embarrassed
45. I get annoyed when people mistake England for the UK and don't acknowledge the rest of us. We are 4 countries, please remember!
46. I am a sucker for unrequited love stories. Its why I love Casteil, Spike etc.
47. If you talk in a Russian accent then I will love you. For example Misha Collins and Anton Yelchin
48. Socks are my favourite clothing items. I always wear socks even over tights. They will usually be odd but coordinated
49. I am addicted to Diet Coke
50. I am an inch taller than Daniel Radcliffe who is 5'4" and a half and I am 5'5" and a half
51. My reaction to Disney is one of adoring love. I felt exactly like the small child in the advert the entire time
52. I sometimes have entire conversations in my head when I am too shy to say anything to the other person
53. I only ever feel properly human when I am with a group of people.
54. On Friday I had to do cherography while playing Soul Bossa Nova http://tinyurl.com/5wvyk3g this is a video of that
55. I have never been more embarrassed
56. I also love characters who are isolated and or in a great amount of pain. E.g. Casteil, Spock (new movie version)
57. I want to visit almost every country in the world, especially Eastern Europe and South America.
58. I still do not know what I want to do when I graduate :S
59. One of my biggest regrets was quitting ballet dancing when I was 4 because the uniform was pink, I hate pink, but like ballet
60. I plan on visiting every US state at some point
61. I have a very overactive imagination which leads me to be terrified of a lot of things
62. I am double jointed in all my fingers
63. I wish I had more confidence and belief in myself
64. I love going to the zoo. The closest one is in Edinburgh. My family used to be season-ticket holders for Glasgow zoo before it shut
65. I can't wait to see Panic! at the disco again in May
66. My favourite word is 'eejit' it really carries all the sentiment it needs to.
67. The last time I had holidays from Uni I got back into Pokemon and also Heartbeat - Yorkshire 1950s based police show.
68. I identify myself as a fanboy for most of the TV shows I watch. I am only a fangirl for Supernatural
69. I am still single. I reckon boys just don't see me as someone to date, just as someone to be friends with.
70. Babies scare me but my cousins children are awesome.
71. My eldest cousin is in their 40's, my youngest is 13. The eldest of the children is 12 and the youngest is 1ish
72. Also one of my favourite numbers. The last time I had an exam I sat at this number and got an A
73. I have a picture of 'The Scream' on my wall as my sister @katherineee__ does the same pose
74. I made my First Communion on 3rd June 2000 along with my cousin Chris. We had Costco cake
75. I am Catholic. But I don't agree with everything my Church believes.
76. I think its very important to learn another language to increase understanding of other cultures
77. I speak/understand Spanish (almost fluently), read French (intermediate level) as well as English and Scots
78. I had a plan when I was younger to learn 7 modern languages by the time I was 21. I didn't work but I'm endeavouring to learn Russian
79. I had pepperoni pizza for dinner
80. I hated but loved school. Loved the learning and I had some awesome teachers. Hated most of the people
81. I count it as a good day when it doesn't end in tears. It is even better when I don't have a headache.
82. I have had a stress headache almost every day for nearly two years
83. My favourite subjects at school were English, Geography and Music
84. I drink about 4 litres of water a day.
85. I rarely wear make-up
86. The last film I saw in the cinema was Paul. The last I watched on DVD was O Brother Where Art Thou
87. One of the earliest books I remember reading was Flat Stanley when I was 4. I remember reading words out of the paper when I was 2/3
88. I am deathly allergic to shellfish. I once ate the tiniest bit of a prawn and had an extreme allergic reaction
89. I am scared of feet
90. I have lower than average blood pressure meaning I am prone to fainting
91. I once fainted in a classroom and banged my head off of two desks and a filing cabinet. I woke up on the opposite side of the room
92. Wednesdays used to be my favourite day of the week. It was when I'd see all my friends and then go to Big Band.
93. I really hope I get a placement near Seville, or at least in Andalucia for my year abroad. I really want to visit that region
94. I have only met my Australian cousins once but I still miss them
95. I know I'm going to be really bummed out when Uni finishes.
96. I know many embarrassing things about some of my friends
97. My ambition in life is to be warm
98. My dad causes most of the stress in my life.
99. I usually have weird dreams. I sometimes even dream the future, I once dreamt I was learning 'ser' before I started learning Spanish.
100. My brain is filled with useless trivia associated with tv, films and general knowledge. If only it was relevant

Left behind

Sometimes I feel ad though the rest of the world is moving up and growing older, while I just stay the same. Stale. Boring.
Friends I once held dear have moved on with their lives. And I no longer fit. I'm outside the cookie cutter mould of society. Not to say I'm individual, far from it. More like bland.
Next year brings with it the opportunity of living in Spain - infect it's a requirement but what then? Surely the gap between 'normality' and me will widen. And most probably my friends will leave me behind.
Of course we'll pretend that the gap isn't there but it will be. Over time little awkward pauses will become an even more awkward silence until we just don't talk anymore apart from occasional nods of acknowledgement across a crowded room, or a stilted conversation in a street which ends in a shuffling of bags and a glance at a watch indicating that too much time has passed for it to work anymore.
Sigh...

AEx

Writer's Block: Family matters

Ever since I was a little child I have always wanted an older brother. I am the eldest of two and I love my sister to pieces, even though she can be a right pain. We always fight but it dissolves and a few hours later we are laughing and chatting like best mates again.
I have a ton of big cousins, mainly boys and I when I was watching "My Family" I realised I wanted a brother - I even asked my mum to adopt one.
I would love to have a big brother watching out for me and acting daft, giving me advice etc. He could sort out my problems in a jiff if I needed him to.

My ideal would be to have a set up like the Weasely's from Harry Potter. I would love to have all those big brothers always there for me and always up for a laugh.
You could get advice from Percy - before he became an eejit. Fred and George would always cheer you up if you were feeling low. Ron would guard you from boys haha and always cause awkwardness :)

But alas I don't have a brother.
And I won't.

But I do have a sister - and since she doesn't read this I can say that she is really a great sister and I wouldn't swap her for the world

AEx

My belief in God

I am a Roman Catholic. I believe in God. I believe that Jesus was the Son of God and the Redeemer of Mankind. I was baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I was educated in the Catholic school system of Scotland. I made my reconciliation, my First Holy Communion and my Confirmation in the Catholic Church that I attend every Sunday. I was brought up in the faith of my family and will aim to bring up my children, if I have any, in the same religion.

Religious people are often criticised for forsaking science and being backwards for believing in a higher power. My beliefs are based on the marrying of religion and science. For me there are too many coincidences and random chances for there to have not been a God to have started things off. I believe in the theory of evolution. I believe the Old Testament of the Bible is an allegory for the events which created life. It was written over two thousand years ago when people didn't have the solid facts of modern day science, which still does not have all the answers. That is not to say it is all allegorical. There are historical facts and scientific data for the various Kings and of course for the prophet Moses. The New Testament also has its flaws but as it was written by different people at different times there will still be facts. An once again there is historical evidence for Jesus being real.
Another part of my belief in God is the presence of religion or some form of belief in superior beings in a lot of cultures throughout history. The Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Mayans etc. all believed in powerful beings. And most cultures have some notion of an after-life.
But truthfully I just believe. I have faith.

In recent years it has become acceptable to 'bash Catholics' for the despicable crimes of some, a small minority, of Priests and Nuns in Catholic institutions throughout the World. I detest that everyone gets dragged down for this tiny portion of people. What they did was wrong and unacceptable and certainly is not condoned by the Church as a body of people. But what everyone seems to forget is that unacceptable crimes took place in other institutions, run by other groups of people. I'm not trying to say that anything is justifiable but the comedians who make these jokes should remember this. I can laugh along when comedians who were brought up in the faith slag it off, but when someone is just trying to get a cheap laugh by alienating people different to them (and this goes for anybody for who alienates whether anti-gay, racist or anti-religion). Self deprecation not alienation.

For me Catholicism is about inclusion and acceptance. Catholicism means universal. I have no ill feeling toward anyone regardless of religious background, skin colour, sexuality etc. I have a lot of friends who are homosexual and I have do not believe they will go to Hell. If God made them that way then why would this be a sin. At the same time I do not push my beliefs on other people. If they are not interested in Catholicism or Christianity or simply do not believe in God then whilst the topic may come up I will certainly not be ramming religion down their throat. This is why I get annoyed with people who do. I respect you regardless of belief system so why do people think that it is okay for them to tell me I'm 'backwards for believing'. And yes at the same time I am annoyed by 'extreme' Catholics and Christians who try and force others to share their views, especially on matter such as family planning and homosexuality.

I hope that this has been interesting and informative. Feel free to leave comments.

AEx