Day 7

Following up on yesterday's 'Office' post, here's a very interesting article comparing four countries' versions of 'The Office'. It's a couple years old, but still pretty accurate, I think; the author describes how each country's version of the show reflects that nation's culture, sense of humor, and attitude towards work. Having seen three of the four shows (though when in Germany, I never realized 'Stromberg' was their version of TO and only saw it once or twice), I'd agree with the points made. It also helps me better articulate why I like the US version better than the UK version, though I like both for different reasons.

Day 6

I enjoyed Thursday night TV last night, and I've been torn about 'The Office' for a while now. So far, I would have to say the hierarchy of seasons goes:

2>3>1>5>4=6

I'm sort of torn about this season, though. I'm definitely not invested as much as I used to be, when I'd scour the interwebz from the UK to find the most recently-aired episode... and was often disappointed. (Thanks, writers' strike.) And last season was just sort of there; I haven't gone out and bought the season 5 DVDs yet because there aren't many moments that I'd like to be able to see again. This season, though... I don't know. At first it was painfully unlike the show I'd grown to love; the characters have turned into caricatures, arcs have been dropped completely (Do Jim and Pam want to leave Scranton or not? Does moving up in the Dunder Mifflin universe really constitute ambition?), and I'm just not invested in the characters anymore. They're becoming downright mean, and I just can't root for people like that. (Pam and Kelly, I'm looking at you.)

But last night was somehow returning to form. The lunch out was super-awkward and cringe-inducing, which was what the show goes for in the first place. Toby telling Pam how to throw a punch = awesome. And many people seem to dislike the Dwight-Andy politeness war, but I thought it was hilarious and a nice return to classic office shenanigans. The show's not all the way back yet, but maybe it can get partway there. And then it definitely needs to end at the end of this season.

What do you think? (Quotes also welcome.)

Thursday.

Thursdays are always seemingly endless. Five hours of class, a meeting with my supervisor, a guest lecturer, and a concert... none of which I'm going to write about right now because I'm pretty tired. But I resolved to post something because I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL ON THE SECOND LAST DAY OF NABLOPOMO. So there.

Every single time I've typed NaBloPoMo this month, I've misspelled it. Also, every time I type it, I think of Michael Scott's quote from 'The Office', something like: 'One day, she's not yo' ho no mo'.' I think this should be the name of next year's NaBloPoMo.

Also, last day of class today. Hooray! Now time to write that PhD research proposal and get going on that giant scary research essay. Hooray...?

Christmas shopping tip

This is awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I just ordered one for myself. Merry Christmas to me! But if you're looking for gifts, the whole site's pretty cool, so enjoy!

Some events have transpired in the past couple days that have led me to the following conclusion: I have got to find new friends that don't make me feel inferior and/or stupid. Not that they do it on purpose, but that's how it is. Of course, it's hard to make new friends when you spend all your time in class/working/taking naps. Maybe I should start doing my work elsewhere and harassing people in the library.

Observations

I figured I should probably write about the more mundane stuff in my life, to prove it's not all glamorousness, gowns and punting. Plus, I have no class today and am procrastinating all the errands I have to do: get new bed linens, get a new cable for my computer, exchange travelers' checks, buy lights for my bike, buy some food... heh. Anyway.

• This program is incredibly difficult. That sounds rather ridiculous for two reasons: (a) am I trolling for sympathy here?, and (b) it's Cambridge, it's supposed to be hard. But when you've got eight 2-hour-long lectures a week (plus two tutorials, which are also two hours long and a chance to practice/review stuff from two classes) and are supposed to be doing exercises and 50 to 100 pages of outside reading for each class (minimum), it's hard to keep it all straight. I've already forgotten to do some exercises for phonetics and had to fake it. Oops. It'll be extra interesting next week when we have to write an 8-page paper on top of all this.
• People here are über-competitive. Which surprises me a bit, because what happened to solidarity and the 'we're all going through this together' sort of attitude? Maybe that's how the Europeans do it: they don't show that they're confused/nervous/frustrated about a class, they don't ask questions (unless said questions are phrased in such a way to show off their vast knowledge) and they don't let on that anything is less than crystal-clear to them. Also, no one works together; everyone does the problem sets on their own, everyone has their own copy of the reading, and everyone bolts out of class at the end of the day without bothering to say goodbye. Seriously, I'm not going to take your place in the Ph.D. program away from you; you can at least say hello to me.
• I feel exceedingly stupid on a regular basis. Corollary to points 1 and 2 above.
• Biking on the left side of the road isn't as hard as I thought it would be. It's actually quite fun to bike around again. Except the other day, when it was raining. That was not so much fun.
• I tried yoga for the first time yesterday. I've always wanted to try it, but it took some convincing from a friend. It was okay; some parts were easier than others (hello, no upper body strength) but today my arms are killing me. Good thing I have a week to recover. Maybe by Monday I'll be able to lift my hands above my head without my shoulders hurting.
• Laundry is a giant pain. The house has no washer or dryer, and so you must schlep all your laundry to the College (whereby a 10-minute walk turns into a 20-minute walk because your stuff is so damn heavy and awkward) and THEN schlep your clothes (some of which are wet) all the way back. At which point your stuff is all wrinkled. My plan for next time is to steal a shopping cart from Aldi and become a cart lady.
• The British version of 'The Office' is awesome! However, it doesn't quite equal the greatness that is the American version. But maybe that's just me. Either way, it's still damn funny. Also, I've converted two people to 'The Office'. I am insidious.

All right, it's time to take a shower and get this show on the road. Yay for errands.

Help me!

I am totally going through 'Office' withdrawal. I have been reloading this page nearly all day, trying to load episode 2, but it won't work! Fortunately, I could watch the season premiere online last week, but I've now been to three different sites and can't get the newest episode to work on any of them! Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

If anyone can help me out here, you will get chocolate from England. And it is delicious. I'm eating some right now. Mmmm, Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

Some day, when I win the lottery...

I would like to buy this entire website. Too bad my birthday just passed.

I hate to be such a sqealy fangirl, but...

...tonight's episode of 'The Office'? Made me so very, very happy. *sigh*

Off to NY for the (extended) weekend, to see Müs graduate! My little brother's all grown up. Except he's going back to school in the fall, so not quite. Wait a minute, so am I...

Arrr, eh?

I was listening to the radio on my drive in to work yesterday, as I do every day because the 40 minutes are otherwise mind-numbing, and this song came on. At first, I thought, what IS this? But then it made me laugh, and that's tough to do during the morning commute. I mean, come on, it's about CANADA! and PIRATES! In fact, it's about a CANADIAN PIRATE! How can you go wrong?

Also, 'The Office' is new tonight! And it's 45 minutes long! I feel like it's Friday, or my birthday.

Threat Level: Midnight!

This is the trailer someone made for 'Threat Level: Midnight', which you would be well familiar with if you watched 'The Office'. Even if you don't watch 'The Office', go watch this; it is the funniest video I've ever seen on YouTube.

Feel the need for more 'arbitrary' quote marks? 'Channeling' Moslow's 'syllabi' from 'high school math classes', perhaps? Here 'you' go.

Also, I told both directors that I'm not coming back next year. Went surprisingly well. One was really supportive, the other was a bit cooler but said that if I want a job there within the next five years, I'm hired. Which is nice, I guess. I'll have to weigh this against the endless crap that I have dealt with during the past year and a half, but having a backup plan is not a bad idea.

Reasons why today is a great day

1. It's Müs's 22nd birthday!

2. Müs got into grad school! And they are paying him lots o' money! *Edit: Not just one, but two schools on the same day!

3. Harry Potter Book 7 is coming out in July!

4. I got a very nice compliment on my report card commentaries from my boss. She even gave me the impression that they were the best-written ones of the staff.

5. 'The Office' is on tonight! And it's new!

*happy sigh*