Geek In the Pink

UGH these last couple of weeks have been awful. Truely

Exams = fail.

Essays = epic fail.

I found out that I was only going to get around 80% grade in Psych, and I freaked. I tanked the essay apparently, and also the exam, and I found out at the end of my Art exam. I literally burst into tears. I had a seriously EMO day after that, so upset about the fact that I definatly would never get into Oxford. My mother also got very upset and told me if I got less than 80% there was no point in being in the school, I was never going to get into University. I was so upset, I believed her. All day I freaked out about not going to University. Not fun. I was being really emo about it, about how my life was over, I wouldn't even graduate high school, etc etc. I was even planning on getting really really drunk that night, even though I hate the taste of alchohol. I had a crazy mentality of "Girls who don't go to University get really drunk on the weekends right?"

Then, I was saved. Because a couple of hours before I went out, I got a facebook message from my cousin. She has a friend in the admissions office at Trinity.... apparently, for a US applicant you need to get 1300 on the SATS.

I got 1600.

I'M IN TO TRINITY!!!!!

Well, not exactly. I have to apply and stuff. BUT WOOHOO, I got the points for Trinity! I AM GOING TO UNIVERSITY. Needless to say, I did not go out and get plastered that night. Infact, despite how upset I was at the time, I look back and laugh at how rediculous I was acting.

BUT last night, I was discovered being rather silly. Well. Stupid. My mother found a packet of ciggarettes in my bag. I feel more angry at the bag than my sister, who left the bag open in the living room. In fact, I'm not really angry at her at all. Its not her fault, I left them in there. I'm not sure why I feel the bag betrayed me o.O Maybe I felt that the bag was so cool, it could never be involved with anything bad. Its a DeathNote bag, I love it. Besides the point

I was actually giving them up. I don't find it difficult, I'm not addicted to them. I know everyone says that, but I dont smoke often enough to concider myself a "smoker" nor often enough to be addicted. Though I should really say "didn't". I'm actually in some ways glad they found out. Now I have an out. I wanted to stop for ages I just never did. Now I have a solid reason to. Though lung cancer really should have been a good enough reason, but no one ever said I was good with logic.

*sigh* I'm really quite ashamed with myself in the first place. I don't LIKE smoking anymore. I used to, the actual inhaling that a lot of people hate. I always felt dizzy after, and I always needed to stay sitting and drink something, but I didnt really care. But I couldn't have anything stronger than a Lucky Strike because I would feel sick instantly. And, I am just as aware as the next person that it was awful for me, and a stupid waste of money, and it smelt bad, and a waste of time getting outside and smoking it and then coming back inside and half the time the lighter doesnt work... etc

The only reason I still had them was because I was gonna sell them next semester *facepalm* it sounds stupid but one can get a decent profit from a half a pack of ciggarettes from desperate people on the school bus. But I suppose I might have ended up smoking them so its all for the best.

Well, congrats Neevy, you are an idiot!

OH OH OH. For mah birthday, I was very lucky. I gotted season 2 of Torchwood, YAY, plenty of Jack/Ianto action coming my way, and I also FINALLY got World of Warcraft YAY!

Actually, no. Not YAY. BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PLAY YET!

I tried to use my old user name, and it said I needed to convert to a battle.net accout, where it told me my username was incorrect, so I tried to get a new username, but I kept being sent to battle.net, and eventually I tried to input my game, BUT IT SAID MY CODE WAS INVALID, WHICH IT WASN'T! It took me two days just to install the game, then a day of these problems, now 2 days waiting for an email back from these people! ITS BEEN A FULL WORKING WEEK, AND I STILL HAVEN'T PLAYED MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!!

*takes deep breaths* *calms*

Not cool. At all.

Moro River Ceremony

-MORO RIVER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


I had no classes today.

Instead, my entire (albeit small school) spent the day in Ortona. First, a little history. I'm not entirely how to tell this piece of history, despite being well versed in it - so I have taken a summary from Wikipedia

The Battle of Ortona (December 20, 1943 to December 28, 1943)^[1] was a small, yet extremely fierce, battle fought between German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) of the German 1st Parachute Division under Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich, and assaulting Canadian forces from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division under Major General Chris Vokes. It was the culmination of the fighting on the Adriatic front in Italy during "Bloody December".

The battle, dubbed "Little Stalingrad"^[5] for the deadliness of its close-quarters combat, took place in the small Adriatic Sea town of Ortona, with its peacetime population of 10,000.

That summary is really quite awful. The Battle of Ortona was a week of fighting in the small town of Ortona during the WW2, between primarily German and Canadian troops. The town was destroyed, and many men lost their lives. Ortona credits Canada with liberating their town from the Germans. This December is the 65th anniversary of that battle.

The Veterans Association of Canada invited my school to take part in a day of ceremony in Ortona today. Naturally, my school agreed. When I first heard that an entire day would be spent away from school - so close to the exams - I was immediately frustrated. I will be the first to admit (though others normally beat me to it) that I have trouble concentrating on study after school hours (like now for example, writing a blog instead of my psychology essay,) but during school time, I concentrate and work hard. I really need good grades this year. I began cooking up my argument for exception from the ceremony. I of course respect the men and women who lost their lives in Ortona, but I have already taken part in a ceremony on Remembrance Day in November, and learnt about the Battle. My exams are soon. However, following emails with information on the ceremony to myself, and my mother, it was certain I must attend... she asked if she could come too, she thought it was fascinating. She also said that I needed my 'cultural education' too.

In the end, I am glad I went. Yes, I hate my 'A' dress uniform, complete with waist coat, tie, blazer and mini-skirt. I also wore my nice black shoes, which are (incredibly cute) heels. Ouch. But, it was very interesting.

The first ceremony involved laying carnations on the memorial statue "The Price of Piece" (link: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/images/news-nouvelles/09-0604_1_big.jpg), a tradition started by two women, sisters, 10 years ago, when the statue was erected. The women had been present at the Battle as young girls. Today, only one of the sisters is still alive, and she lay the first carnation on the memorial. There was speeches made by the Mayor of Ortona, the Representative of the Veterans Association (he had a proper title, I don't remember), a Holy Priest, and some youth representatives. This ceremony was followed by refreshments in the (closed) museum, and free time - I ate food and drank coffee.

The afternoon ceremony was a candle lit vigil ceremony at the Moro River Canadian War Graves. Every person was given a candle to lay on a Canadian grave. I was not overly pleased with the way this was done. Though it is a Canadian cemetery, there are actually many other nationalities in the cemetery, including New Zealand and Irish - my nationalities. I initially tried to lay my candle on a New Zealand grave that was in the area designated, but I was not allowed. So then, I tried to lay mine on a "Soldier of the War" marker - a man who's identity was unable to be determined. They could not get the recognition they deserved, because they could not be named. But, alas, I was directed to another grave, I think for consistency's sake. Another point, a candle lit vigil is all well and good - but it was wrong to bring candles to lay on only as many graves as there were people - there should have been enough for every grave in the cemetery.

Something that really bugged me, more than anything else, was the press. Or rather, how the press documented the occasion. The photographers and camera men did what the media are famous for - they only captured the beautiful. While I stood at the Canadian grave to lay my candle, I was placed besides the tall, blonde and gorgeous Katie. And every camera man and photographer took her picture. I was at the end of the isle, she next to me, and when they came to my side to take pictures, they aimed their cameras to cut me out and take her. Now, I'm not saying "oh boohoo I'm so ugly they cut me out" - clearly, though, the blonde and beautiful are far favoured compared to the likes of the short and ginger averages. Either that, or I have "NOT CANADIAN" stamped across my forehead.

However, I came to a realisation about respect and honour at the end of it all. My friend Gabe came up to me and asked where the Irish soldiers were buried - he and I being Irish ourselves. Unfortunately, it was difficult to locate any of them, there is only 4 or 5 buried in the Canadian cemetery, scattered, but we eventually found 2. We asked the coordinator if we could have 2 of the leftover candles, and we decided to lay them on these 2 Irish graves. My realisation was this. We are two 17 year olds. We separated from our group, given free time essentially, and we chose ourselves to pay our respects to these men, went out of our way to try to show them the same acknowledgement the Canadians were receiving, and did that. But more so than this, was our method.

The large ceremony was quiet - we stood silently, solemnly even. It was mechanical and solemn in our respect giving, with many minutes of silence, with the singing of "Amazing Grace" and "O Canada." But when Gabe and I went to lay our candles on our Irish men's graves - we were not melancholy and silent. We were laughing and happy - we were pleased to show our acknowledgments, and enjoying searching out our men in the needle/haystack situation that was this cemetery. We did not hold silence, we talked of the occasion and the men we found. We placed our candle and bowed and crossed ourselves, took a moment to pray for their souls, and moved to the second one to repeat the process.

We, I believe, were showing them the same respect, but I almost think more - we were living, and appreciating what they did for us. Many people would say the way we went about this today is disrespectful, but I don't think so. I think what we did today was just as respectful and honouring.

In the end, I am glad I went I think. However, now I really need to get some work done!

I will take a potato chip, and NOM NOM NOM NOM

Is there any truth in the origins of Rome?

The ledged of the foundations of Rome is the tale of Romulus and Remus. According to myth, Romulus and Remus were brothers, born by a Vestal Virgin named Rhea Silvia, who was raped by the god Mars. Once they were born, they were left in the Tiber River in a wicker basket. They were found by a she wolf, and nursed by her and a woodpecker until they were older, when they were found by a shepherd and his wife. They raised them to adulthood, and they blah blah blah....

This is what has been keeping me from writting to my blog as of late. This is only the rough draft of the essay that is due tomorrow!

I still have 900 more words to do, but I can manage it =]

I'm in Pysch class at the moment, researching for the OTHER essay I am writing, about Homosexuals and Transgendered people and if they should have rights. I am concidering weither or not I should condense it to only homosexuals and bisexuals, concidering the argument that transsexuals and transgendered people have a different battle to face than homosexuals - which is true, one is of sexuality, the other is of gender. Though both are on the same page in that: they are oppressed and deserve to be recognised and treated equally, I think that they are still very different things, so, even though I think everyone deserves equality, in terms of my essay, I am probably better off just sticking to one - otherwise it would be a very difficult essay to construct!

I am so tierd right now....

Ok, so here's a good point I should make. I have this crush. On this girl. And its the first time I'm felt attraction to someone in a very long time - exciting stuff, turns out I'm not asexual. Problem is I can never tell her, because she likes guys and might get weirded out. Not because she has anything against my sexuality or anything, but because we haven't known each other very long, and shes pretty shy and stuff. And we're close, I can trust her, and I think she trusts me, and I am NOT going to risk that. Plus, she lives in Ireland. No point really. So, I'm pissed that after all that not liking anyone for so long, it ends up POINTLESS. If F***MyLife were a ligitimate website, this would be a number one FMYLIFE.

I really need more coffee *goes to get 3rd cup of coffee in 2 hours* I've recently started drinking A LOT of coffee lately. I love the cappuccino in the bar/cafe up the street from my school - OH MY GOD, WOULD EMILY AND PHIL EVER STOP MAKING OUT RIGHT THERE!!!! - sorry about that, it's something I don't like to see when I'm working/writing to my blog. But yes, I really drink a lot of coffee.

OH YES, going even further back - I am an awful human being. Well, I'm not, but I sure am a stupid one. See I have this friend, sweet girl, one of my best friends, I'm really close to her, but I never see her anymore =[ Since I moved of course. I see her when I go home on most of my trips, and while I was in Dublin last weekend, I promised to see her. But I, the genius that I am, only saved her number into my Italian phone, which I then proceeded to leave behind. When I got to Dublin and used my dad's Irish phone, I got a number from my sister, and a couple of other numbers off of facebook, but unfortunatly, I couldn't get hers. I rang lots of people in my other friends phonebook, but I couldn't get her current number. Turns out she had been waiting at home the whole day for my phonecall, but I had no way to get in contact. I AM SUCH A JERK. I mean, there was nothing I could do, but SERIOUSLY, why didn't I write all these numbers down? Oh wait, I did, BUT I LOST THAT TOO. Not a clever girl me. I feel so bad, and I have NO idea how to make up for this. She knows I'm sorry, but sorry doesn't get that day back, does it?

There were other people I didn't get to see, and I only got to see my very best friend for 20 minutes in the middle of Supervised Study. So, SIGH, note to self, NEVER LEAVE ITALIAN PHONE BEHIND.

Other than that, The Convention was incredible, I met some really cool people while I was there. Best cosplay, In my opinion, was the guy dressed as Dr House. Complete with Limp. He was a Hero.

I really don't have time for this blog, I need to write these essays! There's some other drama going on here, but I'll have to write back later.

-Neevy-

I light another ciggarrette, and I float through the night...

This title is lyrics from a song I am obsessive over called "Float (My Electric Stargirl)" by the Atomic Swindlers. No one has heard of them, it breaks my heart.

On Monday, I gave in and joined Twitter. I decided I wanted to follow Stephen Fry, because he is a hero. I signed in today, and he hasn't even posted anything! Sigh. I also follow the GooGooDolls... but they haven't "tweeted" either. Not much use to me this Twitter. I'm much happier on my blog :)

I've been told by 2 Art teachers now that I should be pursuing Art at a post-secondary level. Something about me having "talent" or whatnot. So now I'm looking into English with a minor in Visual Arts. I can only do that in America and Canada, not Oxford, but hey, I wrote the SAT's didn't I? Still don't know the results though....

On Saturday I went to a meeting with the University councillor. Hes really nice, he came all the way from Canada to help us out... Really though, most of what he did was tell me that I was never going to get into Oxford, be ready for disappointment. GRRR. And he also said Princeton wasn't such a good choice, go for Standford... Okay then. I only wanted Princeton because it was the only website I could navigate and it had a scholarship for New Zealanders. But he thankfully mentioned that the better the school the less important the SAT scores (the SATS being subjective and all that jazz) and that the important thing is recommendations from your high school - and they love me here. SORTED.

In school matters, very pleased with my Parent Teacher Meetings. I have an essay due for Classics that I have done minimal research for, so I'm going to get to work on that soon... :S

In Maths I am retaking 2 tests that I bombed on at the beginning of the semester, which is great, Mr K is such a hero.

Annnnd. Nothing else of notability (I don't think that's a real word..)

GOING TO EIRTAKON IN 2 WEEKS!!

Eirtakon being the big Irish Anime Convention. I am ridiculously excited. Missing two days of school, but a bunch of my friends from all over Ireland are coming up to meet me there, and I'm doing the skit competition. I'm dressing as Mello from DeathNote.

HMMM. Oh yea, the other guy I'm running the Philosophy/Debate club SHUT THE CLUB DOWN WITHOUT TELLING ME. He decided that since no one was coming, that it was being made into a 'Risk' club. We had discussed the possibility, but he made the announcement this morning, and I was left sitting there looking like a fish out of water. I am not happy at all.

OH YEA, and I have this friend from Texas right, met him at the World Scouts Jamboree 07, great friends, not great at responding to facebook messages, but hell. It was his birthday the other day, and I sent him a happy birthday message... AND HE DELETED IT, WITHOUT REPLYING?? Not happy. I'm rather confused at the moment.

So, other than that... Nothing else of notability. I have a maths test tomorrow, and after it, I promised my friend Rob that I would catch up on FullMetal Alchemist : Brotherhood this weekend. I have to watch 22 episodes in one weekend, because I simply don't have the time otherwise.

Also, just over 2 weeks until my schools trip to Florence. It should be ok. Time to catch up on reading and such.

Well that's a long enough entry

-Neevy x

Save Me!!!

HELP ME

my sister is making me watch the "new" Indiana Jones movie. I was never a huge fan of the originals, but at least I could acknowledge them as films of excellence that never particularily interested me, but this? At least Shia LaBeouf had an ok acting role for his portfolio in this, I feel like shooting myself. The filming itself fascinates me, that they made it look like the old films. Thats as far as my interest goes. The novelty wore off fairly quickly.

March to the Future

I AM SICK

I had a sinking suspicion that it was the Swine Flu, I had all but 1 of the symptoms, but it looks like its just regular old flu-y illness. I left school out yesterday.

But Thursday, oh boy was Thursday a day to behold. Art class - normal, I'm way ahead on this kick ass assignment we are doing, which is interpret a song using visuals, all in colouring pencils (pencil crayons to you North Americans). I'm doing The Show Must Go On, and the picture I came up with is pretty.

Classical Civ we practiced for our show at the end of school. We did a play called "the Frogs" by Aristophanes. Bizzare play. Really Bizzare. We performed it after school for the parents (who were visiting for Parents Week - same week as Allies Week, coincidentally, but I had no way to celebrate that anyway) all in togas made of sheets, and I was the only one without a script !

But for Pysch class... gah! My teacher held a class telling us about what makes a person a homosexual. in the video the scientists made a rat "gay", and spewed out crap about the more right handed older brothers a boy has, the higher his chances at being gay. On monday, my entire family plans to kick up a fuss at school. I was extreamly offended. I concider myself to be bisexual. Now, I am very aware of the fact that I'm only a teenager, these things are not set in stone at my age, but for this moment in time, thats what I am. Even so, I have a lot of gay, lesbian and bisexual friends, and this suggestion that you can make a rat gay (and implication that you can therefore make a man straight again.) But anyway.

Maths was normal. Mr K, a hero, let the class out early to watch the Classics show.

I had to stay at school until 8, because my bus runs at an awkward time after school, and the parent teacher meetings were on in every classroom, so the principal gave me the key to the lab to hang out in there. I am rediculously trusted in this school. The lab is seperate from the school, no one would be checking up on me... They wouldn't give the lab key to just anyone!

The Parents Week show was pretty good. The Drama class presented a shortened adaption of Macbeth, which was so well done, LJ played the drunken porter which made the show! after the intermission there was a bunch of singing, and I gave my monolouge about the wicked queen from snow white. Apparently everyone loved it.

Now I am ill, and in bed, and Torchwood-ing. I am so obessed with that show right now, its unbelievable.

I'm going to clean my room now. In the past weeks I've horribly neglected it, seems to me a free weekend is the perfect time to deal with it. Shame I have wasted today pretty much...

The Show Must Go On...

My blog title really has nothing to do with my mood at the moment... I'm just listening to that song right now! The Queen version of course; as fantastic as the Moulin Rouge! version was, no cover could trump Freddie!

At this exact moment in time, I am sitting on my bed, wearing think track pants, a dress length grey jumper with a green aeroplane pattern that is so ugly it can never leave my house, over a pink shirt and a pink beanie hat - winter has arrived.

It turned up on our doorstep about a week ago. No prior notice, no Autumn to bear warning, it just showed up and booted Summer out on her bottom. Not best pleased. Though I cannot deny that I am pleased to be wearing my awful grey jumper-dress again; its so cosy. How can I be ashamed of something so cosy? I did buy it willingly. For a euro. Worth it. Plus, all of my other winter clothes are coming out of storage, and no girl can ever be disappointed when clothes are involved (stereotyping, god bless you)

UNIVERSITY MATTERS: I am concidering Otago University in New Zealand as a back up University. Being a citizen of New Zealand, I feel like I don't know enough about my heritage on my fathers side. I know that New Zealand is a beautiful country though. And Otago is one of the highest aclaimed Universities in New Zealand. My cousin is finishing a course there at the moment. Only problem is - New Zealand is very very far away from Italy. I wouldn't be able to come back to visit until after my course is finished.

But, of course, Oxford is my goal! Top Oxford Colleges at the moment are Balioll, Trinity and... ok... this one needs a real introduction.
Basically, this one is perfect, in everyway, in class sizes, grounds, the course... only one flaw... one tiny little thing... it's called Jesus. "hey, what school do you go to?" "yea, I go to Jesus"... whaaaat? Its just a little... weird. I'm not expressing religious predjuidice or anything, it's just a but... odd, that's all. I'm not going to let it effect my desiosion though.

SCHOOL MATTERS: school wise, Mid terms week (and a half, because my Pysch teacher decided her test would be on Tuesday....) just ended! Maths wasn't tooo bad, but I'm pretty sure that 90% isnt going to happen. Classical Civ... ha.... what to say about the Classical Civ exam.... Basically, I wrote the longest answers out of anyone. "write several paragraphs about one of these topics" I wrote 3 or 4 pages. I am hoping I get a good mark here! Especially concidering I couldn't use my arm during the next class due to excessive handwriting!!

On Tuesday I write my Pysch test. I am rather annoyed that it's being left so late, but what can I say, eh? The woman is not a good teacher. For Art we just did a simple assignment for our midterm.

I'm feeling rather off colour, and have done all week, so I will sign off. I'm going to sleep soon, after I look up some Torchwood stories online - Chpt. Jack/Ianto - YUM

Well... Chpt Jack = YUM.

Anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about is missing out.

Goodnight Bloggers!

Sorrento and the SATs

Sorrento.... How would one describe Sorrento?

KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I believe that works quite well actually.

So I sat at the back of the bus on the way there, slept a little, studied a lot... spent 10 euros on food, as the food they provided was awful.Once in Sorrento, I finally found out who I was rooming with. See, I never got around to signing up for a room, so it was left up to chance. Turns out I was with good friends KP and J, and with SD, who also neglected to sign up for a room. The room we were in had a nice balcony, decent bathroom, and what was originally 3 beds, but one of them was turned into a bunkbed!!! 4 star hotel eh? I was on the top bunk over KP.

We visited a Virtual museum of Herculaneum, which was kick ass, if I may say so myself, and this palace that I saw last year, and it wasn't important enough to remember the name then either. But the gardens were beautiful.

After a delicious dinner, (though I warn you, never order the various fruit Juices. RM made that mistake, he received a glass of what he described as "flat Fanta with water in it" while KJ recieved plain old "Flat Fanta." we figure that is where the variety comes in) we went back to our room. KJ came in with us, and this turned out problematic.

You see, KJ, she is a lovely girl, and I love her to bits. But she is very, very, very hyper. And so, KP and J hatched an elaborate plan (which RM, SM and I didn't learn about until we were actually putting said plan into action) which involved KP claiming that she and RM where going out alone as a couple, SM being sad about a phonecall, and me leaving to check up on her, and J literally just sprinting out of the room, leaving KJ to find her own roommates. I felt bad.... but KJ had a good night anyway.

So, our little group spent about an hour trying to find somewhere to hang out. Eventually we ended up looking for everyone else at the Irish Bar.... and found no one there. By this point, all our feet hurt, so we just took a seat in the back and kicked back. KP and J ordered this pitcher of beer, and we got some Coke, and we had a laugh. KP bribed RM into a glass of beer (he hates the stuff as much as I do) with some whispered promise that caused his eyes to bug out and the rest of us to giggle uncomfortably; naturally he did, much to everyones amusement. His disgusted face was priceless. However.... alcohol was actually not allowed on this trip. Mr M claimed that it was a "school night" so we were not allowed... even though we did not have school the next day... so of course, Mr S, Ms S and Mr K all happened to find us...

Mr S walked us back, after Mr K laughed saying "I'm sorry you guys, we didn't want to catch you" We were so chilled out on the walk back that I think Mr S was kind of confused, but when we got back, we checked in with Mr L and Prof, with a "These are the JERKS that were DRINKING" and everyone laughed. It was the weirdest thing. No one cared. It was obvious that they knew damn well that everyone was out getting drunk (Most of my school were training for the BeerOlympics which are taking place tonight... actually, they kick off in a half an hour)

We aren't actually in any trouble anymore - which is good, since I wasn't actually drinking!!

So yesterday we went to the Almalfi Coast, and while we were on the boat going over... we sang "I'm On a Boat Mother BEEEEEEEEEEP" and I read two FullMetal Alchemist manga books....

In any case, the rest of the day isnt worth writing about. We got back at around 23:00 and I went straight to bed!

This morning, I wrote my SATs. N and J decided not to write them, so it was just me, LC and a girl from Ancona writing them, but it was such an easy exam! I mean, some of the maths was awful but in general, I am really pleased. Though... I wish it wasn't going to take 2 months to get the results back!!

Now, I am really tired. I have watched a lot of Youtube videos today, cleaned the kitchen, but I just don't feel like doing anything. I don't even really feel like writing this blog!! Tomorrow I will be doing work for most of the day, so tonight, I'm just going to chill. I may retire early and watch my DeathNote 2 DVD for the 4th time this week... I don't even have the first one !!

Well, I'm going to sign on out. Until next time!

SATs on Saturday. Death - Imminant

It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry. -Albert Einstein

That quote actually has nothing to do with my blog, I was trying to find one to emphasis overworking in schools, but I really liked this one. So I put it in. Oh well.

So,at the moment I'm in grade 11. Technically. I'm really grade 12, but I'm 2 credits behind the rest of the grade 12 kids, so the teachers insist on calling me grade 11. My biggest concern right now? I need over 90 in all my subjects, in order to balance out my grades to an 85% average, which is what I need to take English at Balliol in Oxford. My Classics teacher, Ms I-M, insists that it doesn't matter where I do my undergrad, but I really want to go to Oxford, like my cousin did. She said it was incredible, and Oxford is so highly regarded. Plus, my parents are schmucks, they insist that everything has to be over 90 anyway, and have made me drop so many clubs until I boost the grades. I have 90% in PAS (psychology, anthropology and Sociology), 88(ish)% in Art, a 77% in Classical Civilizations, and Mr K hasn't given me a grade in Maths yet, because he doesn't think my grades reflect my ability, and I am doing some makeup tests after the SATs. Classics bothers me a lot. I lost a decent amount of marks, simply on lake of detail, so from now on I need to do exceptionally in my assignments to make up for these grades. My last essay, I think, was great, though I haven't received a grade for it yet. EEP!

Tomorrow I head out on a school trip to Sorrento! For those whose Italian geography is a little rusty (who can blame you really? Audrey never left Rome, who cares?) Sorrento is in the South West of Italy - In Napoli (Naples). It is right near Pompeii, which the new students will be visiting this trip. I, as a returning student, shall be visiting Herculaneum, another town that was devastated by Mt Vesuvius. It shall be a trip of epic proportions, I hope! Last year wasn't great, I ended up watching movies in the hotel in the evening time, because I wasn't interested in the local Irish Bar (rolls eyes in annoyance). This year should be more fun though!However, we do not return home until around Midnight on Friday night. This proves problematic. Why?

I need to be at school the next day at 8:20 am to write the SATs.

Some may ask, why write the SATs if you are going to Oxford? Well, Joe, I'll tell ya. Back up schools. I want to apply to Princeton, as they have a scholarship for New Zealanders, that I wish to apply for. Also, if I get good marks on the SATs, that looks fantastic on my University applications! But I am going to fall over dead at this exam. I can feel it. Who planned this? Silly people. Silly, silly people.

Anyway, its almost 8 pm, tonight I need to finish my catch up Anthro work, start on my Classics Seminar in 2 weeks (I do not want to leave it to the last minute), revise for my SATs, and I need to read to my sister.

She's 15, and I'm reading a DeathNote fanfiction by MRS Jeevas aloud to practice my reading aloud, as I have a minor speech defect and it causes me to jumble words, so I need to keep on top of it. Plus, I love rereading this story. And she wants to know about this story I always Quote. I'm also reading Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Tomas Hardy and 1984 by George Orwell. I'm really excited for 1984 because Animal Farm is my favourite book.

I am also planning music videos for "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers and "Slide" by GooGooDolls. I have another video idea, but no song yet!!

I will report back on Monday, following Sorrento and SATs.

-Neevy

Welcome to my blog

My name is Niamh Wallis, though I prefer Neevy. I am nearly 17 years old, and I am in my semi-last year of high school. I live in Italy, though I am Irish, and technically also a New Zealander. I study at a Canadian International school, under the Ontario curriculum.

I have, if I my say so, a rather cushy life. Of course, being a teenager, I have much I can complain about, but I know that I have it good. My parents are fairly well off, I live in a big house, have 2 personal computers (though one is a second hand beat up Toshiba, I love it anyhow) a personal camera, and an original iPod Video, thats about 4 or 5 years old, which I am overly proud of. It has lasted a very long time. And, my school is private education. 'Nuff said. Of course, during these times of economic crisis, money is much tighter, but we are doing well. I've not had to swap to private school, (though at one point that was a very real possibility) so I have nothing to complain about. I'm a cheap enough child, once I have Internet access, I don't ask for much more.

So now that I have wow'd you with my status, I wont go into politics or religion or sexuality now. Its still the first blog.

I like my school enough. It's very different to the Irish system, and I very much prefer it. It seemed a bit weird that you needed to have 40 community service hours to graduate (I have about 100, and more I never bothered to register because at this point there was no point) but semester'd education? Hot dang, thats a much better idea! I much rather that to 13 subjects at once in Ireland! I'm going to be missing two courses at the end of my last year, so I now must do an extra semester. Following which I will probably go and work in England for the rest of the year until WorldJamboree Sweden, and then, Gackt willing, I will be going to Oxford University.

Well this is long enough as an introductory blog. Ciao!