Lights, Camera...one more week

Not a whole lot to report on in terms of what's going on with my schooling here in Glasgow. I just had my enrollment orientation today for Film Journalism and it went as smoothly as I could have imagined, aside from only four of the 12 people in the Masters program actually showing up. The professor seems like a pretty nice guy, he prefers being called, "Davy," to, "David," or "Dr Archibald." I met a few of my fellow peers in the program: one from Edinburgh, one from all over Europe (apparently it's "a long story") and one from Thailand. Everyone seemed chatty enough and got along well. Tomorrow I have more of a formal orientation for post-graduate taught students in the university's College of Arts programs so we'll see how that goes. Cheers!

Yummy Curry

Oh man, just got back from dinner with Tori and boy am I stuffffffed. We went to a place called Mother India located about 10 minutes walking distance from our flat. It's across the street from the Kelvingrove Museum, which I'm thinking we'll be visiting sometime this week so I'll have pictures up of that place soon.

Anyway...

First let me begin by saying this was a quaint little place, probably seating no more than 40 people (and that's really packing 'em in), that made one feel like they were in a friend's kitchen. The staff were very pleasant and very helpful in letting us know what items on the menu were. The owner of the cafe wandered around the tables checking in with everyone, making sure peoples time there was spent in enjoyment.

Tori and I each ordered two dishes and sides of spicy rice and garlic pitta bread. I picked out a chili garlic chicken curry and spicy potato fritters, while Tori had chicken tikka and some spinach and potato burrito.  While my spicy potato fritters and Tori's spinach and potato burrito lacked a strong flavor, we still consumed most of them. The chicken dishes, on the other hand...forget about it. They were great! Tori's better than mine, but I gobbled mine up faster than I usually tend to eat. We each cleaned our plates and sat back in delight as we knew digestion would soon be taking place.

I must say that I'd never had curry before this evening but if we can continue to go to places like Mother India's my days as a picky eater could soon be a thing of the past. Cheers!

Kelvingrove Park and The Scott Monument

Let's see, what have been up to as of recent? Not too much in terms of the touristy thing. I've just been walking around my end of Glasgow with the hope of becoming more and more familiar with the streets around me. I took a stroll through Kelvingrove Park the other day.

It is an absolutely beautiful park though I hear I probably shouldn't be strolling through it after nightfall. Apparently it's the place to be if you're looking for a male prostitute - and with my hair I don't need that sort of mistake identity. Though, on the other hand, if I need narcotics I'm told that's the place to seek it out. No matter, during the day it is really a joy to walk through. There's playground equipment, a giant slide - which is awesome by the way - as well as numerous walking trails. Additionally, there are a few monuments devoted to war veterans. 

I begin classes this week; I'm really excited about that. My first will be on Tuesday from 12-5pm, so a bit of a long one but it only meets once a week. Then I believe my other course is on Thursday but I don't have the time for that one yet.

Oh I guess I forgot to mention that I took another trip with Tori to Edinburgh. She is loving her program and the people and I guess she found someone to carpool there with so that'll help save monies. Well, while we were in Edinburgh we went up the Scott Monument - dedicated to Sir Walter Scott - and had a wonderful view of the city. The monument is just over 200 feet tall, and it was 287 steps to the top lookout. Obviously I wouldn't recommend this hike to those afraid of heights but I also wouldn't recommend it for the claustrophobic. The stairwell is absurdly narrow and if I had been any taller my head would have scraped the ceiling. However, once you get to the top all that fades from mind and you get to see Edinburgh in all its splendor. Then you get to hit all 287 steps again on the journey down. Did I mention there is only one stairwell? Oh, and that there aren't any guides? This means that there are people going up and down at any given time so if a larger person is on their way down you might have to about-face and head down as well. There are four different lookout points so you won't have to go all the way back to the beginning but you may be waiting a while before you can continue upward. Below are a few of my photos, Cheers!

FUNNY GAMES REVIEW

I was disappointed with the last film I watched. However, I'm not entirely sure why.

The movie I watched was a psychological thriller featuring many "nana-nana-boo-boo-you-can't-touch-me," moments. I don't mean to be so vulgar but that was the first thought that came into my head and for two very specific reasons. The first is because one of the characters has the ability to break the forth wall, four times to be specific. Funny right. One of the villains in this film likes to repeatedly taunt the audience, begging anyone who's watching to yell at the screen. He asks the audience questions that have already risen in their own heads then knocks them down like an older sibling to a child. His sick sense of "funny," causes the blood to boil.

The second reason: We find out with twenty minutes left in the film that these villains have the ability to play God, reversing time and changing scenarios if they don't go according to their plan. What? If that's the case, what's the point in caring for the protagonists knowing they cannot possibly have any chance of survival? I was slightly disappointed in myself when the last person died because, at that point, I no longer cared.

Having said that there are indeed some very cool parts to this film.

The most positive thing about this movie is its originality. I have never seen anything quite like it. (Technically it's a remake but I say original because the person who made the first film, both writing and directing, did this version - American - as well). I don't care if you can point out another one that came before; no other movie is quite like this. Also, there were specific scenes that seemed to run for nearly eight or nine minutes - single frame - which is an eternity in film time. This was what really built up the suspense in the film. These were scenes that forced the audience to the edge of their seat with the overwhelming sense to scream, "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MOVE!"

This movie gets a three out of five stars. I haven't done a star rating before (I don't think) so I'm giving it a shot. The reason I haven't mentioned the title of this film is because, right after my viewing, I was trying to figure out a way to describe this movie to a friend without the cliche of, "oh, you just have to see it, I can't tell you anything." That description disappoints four out of five times. Unfortunately, I don't think any description works aside from that one. In my own writing I feel I've already said too much and I don't think anyone who reads this would pay money to see this film. So, Funny Games, three stars. Cheers!

Back in the stone age

What's the longest time you've gone without internet or television readily available to you? Right now, I'm on day four. Sure it's not too bad, and I can always find a cafe or library to tap into their wi-fi but not having it at night is horrible. Most shops here tend to close up around 5:00 or 6:00, which makes for a long six hours of zero connection until I can finally go to sleep. And with my schedule, falling asleep at midnight is a challenge, usually it's closer to 1:30/2:00a.m.

But here I am now, at Big Mouth Cafe in Glasgow's west end. It's a nice little place to have a cup of joe and do some reading or web surfing. Not much has been going on in the past few days with Tori and I. We went to Edinburgh and hiked around there for a day. The place is really stunning. Stone buildings everywhere, a castle, and what I would call Gothic architecture in any direction you look. It seems much larger than Glasgow, and I'm pretty sure it actually is. Unfortunately, Edinburgh - to me - seems a little less friendly than Glasgow. People are in more of a hurry and bustle on by with their heads down. Not like in Glasgow, where people are smiling and offering help to any looking confused and befuddled.

I've got orientation coming up this week starting Tuesday and continuing through the week until classes start on the 12th of September. I'm really excited and my schedule doesn't look to be too challenging but with my luck I'm sure to be looking at it wrong. It seems like most of my courses will be in the same building so that will be nice.

A few days ago, Tori and I went to IKEA and all I want to say about that place is that it is the closest thing to hell on earth I've ever had to experience. I don't know what it is that makes me hate the place but when I was inside, I felt like I lost all sense of reality and my location on the planet Earth. Word to the wise, if you have to go there know exactly what it is you're looking for and get out as soon as you can.

Well the cafe is getting ready to close so I must go. I checked out two movies from the library here - which apparently costs money and isn't free, eff that noise - so hopefully in the next few days I'll have reviews for them. I won't say what they are but I will mention they're certainly not new movies, just a couple that I haven't seen yet. Until next time, Cheers!