It is nine days to go until the Gap Year truly starts. For now though German lessons have finished and numerous things have happened since the end of the lessons, the full onset of a major heatwave being one of them. Fingers crossed I won't leave England and arrive in the U.S.A and it will be wet, that would be a slight dampener on flying in to San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. However with scorching deserts there I'm pretty sure it will most likely be hotter in the U.S.A, so winners all-around.
The most important moment of the week was graduation, which was in this heat, rather uncomfortable and a bit frantic than imagined in all honesty. Barely any sleep the night before in London, night temperature rated at 25 C made sleeping, coupled with nerves very difficult. The wake up at 6 AM added to the energy required to see people, graduate, change left me mentally drained for days afterwards, so it was nice to be able to head down out of London and all the way back home to Canterbury for a few days to recharge and plan U.S.A, Uganda and have a look at the few Universities I would like to apply to come September. The list includes UCL, KCL, SOAS, St. Andrews and possibly Nottingham. The latter is certainly a maybe given a new challenge in a new city is always a welcome new experience. The Graduation was good though, shaking hands with a couple of people I'd never seen before, and picking up that piece of paper that proves all the hard work you have done is very satisfying. Although my Dad was perplexed as to why I chose not to do English when he saw/claimed that 75% of people that picked up English degrees were women. Nevertheless I am proud of what I have accomplished and it will spur me on, the results in particular, to do a the difficult challenge of applying for and doing a Masters. Numerous pictures, several of which I looked like a bit of a fool, pulling some pretty ridiculous faces. The official photographer got the most embarrassing picture of me shaking hands and picking up my degree, whilst in the photograph with the family I managed to look at the flash not the lens rendering me a rather special looking man child. The hat on my massive head added to the moronic look on occasion, but overall it was a great day and one I will look back on with very fond memory, despite the prices.
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| Graduation |
Back home, reading a harrowing book on Rwanda by Romeo Dallaire and also had the chance to watch the film adaptation on Youtube. Really eye-opening stuff on the Rwandan genocide, the book obviously providing more insight into the failure of humanity in Rwanda in 1994. Great holiday reading added to my grim list prepared for the Kindle in the United States.
One cycle in dusty and unbearable conditions and trying to advertise the Cycle to Spain to various people, most seem pretty keen so far. All I need is 6-7 people and it could go really well, with us all set to wear an array of British advertisements cycling tops that will likely leave many Spanish going 'Que?' bemused as Pukka Pies, Marmite, Cornflakes and Iron Bru zoom by them in the Basque Region as seen here. http://www.foska.com/cycling-jerseys/road . Team Kellogs would give Team Sky a run for their money. On a serious note though the cycle will be done for a cause and that is for children destabilized by war, conflict zones, civil war and all the horrors that accompany the consequences of violence. http://www.warchild.org.uk/
Finishing with some sad news that I have to, from Thursday onwards, wear glasses permanently as apparently since 2010, my right eye has worsened. Probably my lack of discipline is to blame and squashing/breaking my glasses with my abnormally large arse will likely be the reason during the University years. The eye-drops today left me blundering home with blurred vision and severely dilated pupils (the look of person on drugs), without a car, and bike. For those who take pleasure in my pain and suffering you missed out, particularly my old revision crew in Hallward (Holly, Saz, Patrick, Ollie, Steph (when she was there :P) ) A dark day to join the rest of the family on the glasses front. Time to go for the Clark Kent or Peter Parker look. Damn.
Matthew Williams
