A few very exciting events happened within the past week that I would have had trouble with, had I not been able to speak English.

This past weekend, I went to a live-action roleplaying event, in which I dressed as a tribal cat and threw packets of birdseed (to represent magic) at people.

It took place starting Friday night and ending Saturday night. So all day and all night, I was in character, unless I wore an orange headband. Speaking English is very important while in character, especially while calling out the attacks you're doing, because it isn't considered an attack if the people being attacked don't know what they are being attacked with.

Today, I saw president Obama. In real life. And not all blurry and far away. And it's because I went to a rally in which Obama and some other people talked, including the guy running for governor in the state I go to school in. It was a lot of fun, and I actually talked a lot with people I waited with in line, not to mention tried very hard to call my friends afterwards in order to locate them. Because they unfortunately got there late enough that they couldn't reach where I was in line without being blocked by a wall of people, and thusly didn't see me until the end of the event.

Because I can't vote in the state I go to school in, yet I really want this person to win, I have decided to devote time to calling people and telling them to vote. Another activity that requires English.

I finally was desperate enough to brave the culture shock that the dreaded Safeway had in store for me. I had been avoiding the huge american stores that have bright lights and bad music for as long as I could, waiting outside while my aunt went to Boullineaus, staying in the car while my dad went to Safeway, and going to Whole Foods even though it's a much farther walk. But finally, since 3 people go through tissues a lot faster than one person or even two people do, and it was already getting to be nighttime, and the 2 people I live with both had class or plans, I was the only one who could go to Safeway and get what we needed. I entered Safeway and nearly felt a panic attack coming on. I shielded my eyes from the bright lights and tried to drown out the terrible music as much as possible. But within a few seconds, I was able to go down the aisles in search of what I needed. And I was rewarded along the way. I found Ritter-Sport chocolates, my favorite, the marzipan-filled one. While I was buying it, the cashier asked "how are these, anyway?" indicating the chocolate. I replied with an enthusiastic "they're delicious!"

And because I am volunteering at the study-abroad fair next week (I know that's lame, but it gives me an excuse to talk about Germany), I am going to get a bunch of Ritter-Sport chocolates to use as treats for people who stop by our table.

I have been neglecting this blog for the past week, and have not yet mentioned that I am learning French. There are several reasons for this.

1- I spent some time visiting Geneva and France during my time in Germany

2- If I learn French, I can talk to my dad and my sister Lily at the same time without having to say everything twice (because even though the English boycott was not as successful as I had hoped, I am still not speaking English with my family).

and 3- Because learning a language is fun, and I have often wished I could speak French, and Horatio Hornblower, one of my literary heroes, saves people a bunch of times because he is the only one who speaks French.

I went to the French club last night because they were showing a French movie, and that sounded interesting to me. I was able to introduce myself to people in French, but that was about it, and I had to speak English once they asked me stuff besides who I am and what i'm studying. Such as when I talked to a girl who also transferred here from my old University where I spent my first year. She said she hated it, and I told her that was funny because I loved it but had to leave when they cut my major (German).

This morning was the farmer's market. I had almost forgotten all about it, but after I woke up and ate breakfast, I suddenly exclaimed to my roommate "Today is the farmer's market!"

I went to the market and bought some strange things like pickled carrots, and when I finally found the salmon vendor, the guy remembered me. I was pretty surprised, since I have been gone for over a year, and i'm not a super rememberable person.

Situations in which I had to speak English:

-Cashier at Safeway

-French club

-Farmer's market