FEW. I can't even express how relieved I am to have this morning over and done with! I think I used up my body's supply of adrenaline for the next year or two, so do not be alarmed if I flop around shrugging my shoulders and staring blankly off into the distance in a very unSadie-like manner for the next long while.
The morning started off great, the alarm sounded and I jumped out of my comfy bed in lightening speed dashed to the kitchen to make coffee and started to restuff my brain full of European Union Law in the fear that some of the cramming from the night before had dribbled out of my ear during my sleep. At 8:45 sharp I was out my front door, just as planned. Wait, I didn't even mention the BEST omen of all. THE SUN WAS OUT AND SHINING FULL BLAST. There was no way this day could have turned out bad...until the brisk walk to school gave me time to let my mind wander and I started to flip out about the oral exam ahead.
Just as I reached the examination room my jaw dropped in horror and I realized that I had forgotten the single most important item that I absolutely positively NEED for my exam...my BRAIN! No, just kidding. I had forgotten my neon yellow exchange student grade booklet. With out that blinding little piece of paper there is no way my grade could have been recorded, so I sent a message to my loyal friend and study buddy Smella(clever code name) asking her to explain the situation if the professor should arrive and hurried as fast as I could back home.
I must have looked super ridiculous runwalkshuffling all the way down the cobble stones back to my apartment. I imagine I looked like I was doing the getoutofmywayIneedtowee power walk all the way home(you know the one, we have all done it! The one where you walk extremely fast over crossing your strides to avoid accidental leakage while simultaneously attempting to look calm and collected moving at a running speed) and when I finally got there I whirl-winded through the house grabbed the goods and hopped on my bike and sped back to school.
I got there JUST in the nick of time to add my name to the list of students being tested, took a seat and awaited my doomful scholarly demise. I witnessed about ten other students brave the panel of three professors, each one made my heart beat faster and faster while each question asked became more and more cryptic and impossible to answer. By the time there was only one person left between me and certain death I wasn't able to form sentences or tell you what color my shirt was, what street I live on, what I ate for breakfast, and I would have probably had to struggle to spit out my own name. I have never had a near death experience before today, but I am more than willing to let this be my last.
My name was called and I got up and moved in slow motion towards the the front of the room, it is quite incredible that I made it all the way up there without making a scene on my jello legs. I should have received top marks for that feat alone. I received my question, sat down at the front desk and started to frantically flip through the codice(book of treaties) trying to form my thoughts and utilize the alloted thought time as effectively as possible. Too bad I could hear my heart beats pounding away against my temples and my hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold on to my pen. Then all too soon my thought time was up. I took a deep breath, wished this sweet world goodbye and dove in. I will skip the gory details, they are not very interesting and honestly the hole affair is quiet blurry in my mind now(my memory loss is probably related to those chemicals that are released in women's brains after they give birth to make them forget how painful the event was and to make them even consider birthing ever again). The whole thing seemed to last forever, yet a nanosecond at the same time.
When I heard my lovely professor proclaim I had won(yes, I do believe won is the correct word to use in this situation) a 27/30 I wanted to jump up and do every stupid dance known to man while blowing kisses and hurling flower petals everywhere.
When I stood up and turned to face the class I found a second surprise, I had peed my pants! No, this is another joke...all though that would have made the best story ever! In reality I was surprised to see one of my bffs P mzan(second clever code name) sitting aside Smella. P mzan had sneakily crept in while I was at the chopping block and had made me an encouraging miniposter out of the back page of his law book. It was great because I had just told him the night before about how I love to make posters for my friends' sport matches or plays etc. and low and behold I had one of my very own!
Now at this very moment I should be studying for my International Law exam...but danger is my middle name so I am going to post about this joyus fairy tale day and slink off to bed to dream of warmer days.
PS The photo was taking near Burrow market in London. The English are so kind, they seem to post advice everywhere and their announcements in public transportation stations and vehicles were very polite. I may have just been thrown off by the accent though :)
Funnily enough both movies are set in California and at least parts of them in Berkeley! What an odd coincidence.
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