a first, a second & the northern quarter

It took me a while to figure it out after I got my grades. So my overall year average was a 67, which is a 2:1, which is what my mother graduated with and what I have as a jumping off point. I failed not a single module second semester (screw you, biochemistry! and suck it, pharmacology!) I didn't do as amazingly well as, of course, most people would hope to do (I imagine), but I done good. Actually, to be honest, I wasn't happy with my grades until I worked it out that since I had a 64 first semester and now overall a 67, I must have gotten in the second semester ... a 70! A FIRST! That's the bottom of the bottom of the bottom of a first but I got it. It may have even been a 69.5 but I'm still happy with myself. Which makes me wonder where my standards have gone because I have always been the annoying person who gets the 98 and thinks, SO CLOSE DAMMIT. But I must readjust. I've come into an entirely new educational system, which in its first year is really like I've come into second year and I came out mostly, academically unscathed. Meh. I'll let my standards realign for that one.

Now, all year I've wondered where, if anyone came to visit, I would take my friends to show them my Manchester. I think I've yet to find that spot but I am willing to bet it's going to be the Northern Quarter and Deansgate. The Northern Quarter is always very quiet and empty whenever I'm there but it's got the best shops ever and I don't understand why it's not thronging with people. It's that area of town that you don't frequent that much but when you do, you always think, "I should come here more often." The vintage shops, the record stores, the hidden chippy, Affleck's Palace or Place or whatever it is. The art store, oh my goodness the art store. The Bead Shop. And then there's Deansgate where all the ridiculously expensive flats are and the high end shops and the pretty restaurants and it just doesn't seem like part of Manchester. Plattfield Park, down in Fallowfield, is nice too. We'll go there when you come visit, even on a rainy day.

Thinking back, I think I kind of wasted my first year being miserable. Like I should have explored more because I keep thinking, since in second year I'll be more settled, I'll make more of an effort to get out of Gabs. But you're supposed to do that in first year because you have time because, who cares, you're just a fresher. I wasn't ready for it, for what I'd have to deal with, living away from home, living in the UK. Who'da thunk? But everyone here thinks I love it. Which makes me wonder if I've just gotten really good at faking it or if I think that I still have to fake it and that's the real reason I don't think I like it. Was that a little too convoluted? I'm sorry, but it does make sense. Somehow.

We've just gotten home from a 4th of July barbeque with some family friends and it was really great to see them all again. My not-really-aunt gave me a large stack of delectable books to read and I can't wait to get started on them. My mom and sister are off watching the fireworks over the Rose Bowl but I really wasn't in the mood. So I'm at home with my brother and dad, who is packing because he is leaving tomorrow morning for Abu Dhabi. I already miss my dad. We went to yoga today, for the last time for 3 months. Yeah, I really really miss my dad. 

Anyways. Happy Fourth! Go listen to some Benny Benassi, his 'Rock N Rave' album. See you whenever.

Oh, and thank you, PostSecret for being my voice, always: