Week 3: Valentine's Week

Well the majority of the last week was pretty low key. Hannah and I finalized our trip to Dublin, Ireland for St. Patrick's Day Weekend (March 19-24) To say that I am excited is quite the understatement. About 10 other American exchange students are going as well, should be a good time!

Hannah's parents feel pretty sorry for us when we tell them about the quality of food that we receive, (or lack thereof) so they decided to send a package with tons of snacks from America! We got that on Friday! -Cheez Its, Pop tarts, Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Candy bars, M&Ms, Ramen Noodles, Grahm Crackers, Hershey chocolate, and Marshmallows (for S'mores!) Ryan will literally do just about anything for marshmallows, I have never seen a young adult react to the puffy goodness quite like he does. It is his own personal cocaine I feel. He offered me money if I could get my mom to send a box from the states filled with only marshmallows ("uhh but make sure they are the tiny kind, those are my absolute favorite!") and Twinkies. The people here sometimes get so desperate for a Twinkie, they purchase them on eBay. I feel like I might just start a smuggling business, and start bringing Twinkies into the country, I'll make millions.

I am greatly anticipating the arrival of my own care package filled with American treats! (THANKS MOM!!!)

For Valentine's Day, I reluctantly accepted Hannah's request to be her Valentine. (I really didn't have much choice though, she was pretty much my only offer besides my mother) We spent the day in Watford. We went shopping and I bought a couple new things at Primark and H&M. I was pretty excited!

For dinner, I wanted to take my Valentine to dinner somewhere that would show her how much she meant to me and the value that she has. And everyone knows there is only one place to go eat when you think of 'value'. Ah yes, we ate beneath the golden arches at McDonalds.

When it was time to leave, we go to board the bus. Right away, the bus driver pin points us as "Americans" He went on to ridicule us mercilessly, dogging on America and us. He called me "unintelligent" due to my honey-blonde hair color and that there was no way that I could be 21 because I looked much closer to 16. It was now Hannah's turn, he bluntly told her that it looked like she had a "rough day." I just stood there with my jaw dropped, just doing my awkward laugh that I use when I literally have no words to say. However, I knew exactly what I wanted to say..."Dude, you are a frickin' BUS DRIVER!!!" However, after totally tearing us apart, he did inform us that our teeth were very pretty. What a nice guy.

We went to the Elehouse that night and had a few drinks. I got nominated to play "Blind Date"! It was hilarious. I had to ask these 3 guys behind this huge screen questions, and based on their answers I had to pick the bachelor which I would like to go on a date with. Well 3 questions, a strip tease, and the cheering crowd's advice later, I chose Bachelor #3, Fabio Gois from London. I was probably choosing between the 3 dorkiest guys in Hatfield. It was hilarious, I loved it! It was a great Valentine's day, shopping, french fries and milkshakes, jerk bus drivers, and a nerdy date.

Yesterday, I was convinced that it would be fun to go to the Girl's Rugby practice just to learn and see what it was about. I honestly didn't know what to expect. We started off just doing some warm up drills, it reminded me of my soccer practices, so I was loving it! We threw the ball around and played some 2-hand touch Rugby, it was fun!
Then, the coach proceeded to tell us to partner up, and I was the odd one out so I was partners with a stalky girl, outweighed me by a good 20 pounds, that we're going to wrestle. "Come again?" was my reaction and a slight look of terror.
So I spent the next 15 minutes of practice being thrown on the turf and being man-handled by, Helga. (I will call her that for the sake of the story) At one point, this haas got me on all fours, straddled my back, and exclaimed "Yee-Haw" in front of the entire team. It was at that exact moment that I knew rugby was not for me. Sadly, there was an entire hour left in the practice.

Next, we moved on to learning how to tackle. Helga was also very good at this. She laid me out many times and I would have to get up, remove the grass and dirt from my mouth and ears, and take another hit.
After the tackling practice, we actually got to scrimmage, this time full-contact. I actually did very well at this and was able to blow by girls like Helga and break their tackles. I didn't get laid out once and scored multiple times. I felt like Forrest Gump, just put the ball in her hands and tell her to run, so that is what I did.

Big Mistake there.

Now, the team has my email address and has extended an invite to me to play for them.

I have never been one to turn down an invite that involves sports, however, I have never been made into someone's pony before either, might have to sit this one out.

To celebrate my ribs being bruised and being sore as hell. Hannah and I set up Beer pong in her room last night, it was a blast. We just set up 10 cups on either side of the room and sat behind them on the floor, and played for about 3 hours. I was 6-0. I feel like I earned back some dignity after my degrading Rugby experience.

Well that is all for now! I'm off to do laundry and find someone who can pop my back, I feel like I have been hit by a bus, I mean Helga.

cheers.

Jane