Ah l'amore

As you may have guessed from the title, I am currently studying (well, avoiding studying) for my French exam. However, after what may have been a slight misunderstanding recently, I thought it would be fun to define the different levels of love/romantic interest. As I see them, anyway. Please note that these range from least amount of romantic interest (1) to highest amount of romantic interest (5).

Level 1 - The Eye Candy
This is probably someone you've never spoken to. But when you walk into class and see him lounging in his seat, wearing a charming grin as he flirts with the swooning girl behind him, you have to actively concentrate on not openly drooling. It also takes great mental effort not to stare at his beautiful eyes all through class, or get distracted when he turns around to talk to someone. However, your interest in this guy does not extend beyond imagining what you would do if you were locked in a closet with him i.e. you do not want a relationship. You just want him.

Level 2 - The guy you "like"
One step up from the Eye Candy, this guy you have actually had conversations with. Maybe you've drunkenly hooked up or a friend has introduced you. However you may have met, you find this guy to be interesting, cute and a potential great friend. Would you date him? Meh, maybe if you had no other options. This emotions may, over time, develop into Level 3 feelings but it may also simply fade before you see him again. Only time can tell.

Level 3 - The Crush
Perhaps you've developed feelings for a close friend, or maybe you really click with the guy in your Latin class (cough). You find yourself thinking about him a lot and wanting to spend time with him. You strike up conversations at every opportunity; you sms him when you find a funny picture or joke that you know he'll like; you look forward to going to lectures/the library/the Kaif just because you know that you might see him there. You imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship with him. Often, you may avoid him on your nights out because a) you don't want him to be just a once-off hookup and b) NO-ONE looks their best while drunk. No matter how pretty you may have been when the night began.

Level 4 - Relationship-in-waiting
You hook up. You spend every waking moment together. He sends you cute smses and you hold hands while cuddling and watching movies. What's the problem? "It's not Facebook official." Come on, we're all adults here. If you've talked about taking it slow then hey, that's fine. At least you've discussed where your relationship is going. But if you're being the nauseatingly cute couple while insisting that you're not actually 'a couple', please get over it. We all know that you're together. Stop trying to fool yourself.

Level 5 - Boyfriend/Girlfriend
So it's finally on Facebook and you're officially referring to each other as your boyfriend/girlfriend/soul mate. I'm happy for you :). There's not much to say about this one as it seems fairly self-explanatory. But if you've only been dating for two weeks, maybe hold off on the wedding talk. He'll still be marvelling at the fact that a girl is actually willing to hook up with him on a regular basis; he doesn't want to start picking china patterns and naming your kids just yet.

I would just like to point out that random hookups, unrequited admirers and "fun-buddies" (see, Caroline? I'm using your terms :P ) have not been added to this list. Why? Um, because they're not worth romantic interest, that's why. Don't feel the need to push yourself into a relationship with the guy just because he's into you or you had one drunken hookup. And if you're the type of person who can handle casual sex, then keep your fun-buddy that way. Romance tends to complicate things; don't start imagining feelings where none are present. Trust me, I have been down that road before and it only leads to broken hearts (his, not yours). Have your fun, but remember...play nice.

The sky is crying

I sat in my room this morning watching the rain, and thought "Even the sky is crying today..."
On the night of Sunday, 5 June 2011, a Rhodes student was travelling back from Port Alfred with two friends. I don't know the full story but there was a terrible car accident and the student - a girl named Anja - was killed instantly. I never knew Anja but from the things I've heard people say and the statuses I've seen on Facebook, she was dearly loved by many people.
I heard about the accident in the morning at breakfast, and thought it was a tragic story. It was only in the afternoon that I saw a friend's status on Facebook and realised that although I didn't know Anja, I did know one of the other guys in the car. His name was Chris and I had met him through his bartending job at Friars. We weren't particularly close, but we were close enough that we would always hug and chat when we met. From what I've been told, he was in a coma after the accident and passed away a few hours later. I didn't want to believe it when I read it.

Chris, you were one of the most incredible guys I'd met here. No matter how busy you were, you always had time to stop and chat for a while. I remember sitting in Friars with you having a lengthy conversation about the differences between Irish and Scottish Gaelic. We were so involved in our conversation that the other two at the table started getting annoyed. I also remember when I told you I was celebrating my birthday last year and I wanted a hug. You walked away a few steps, turned around, held out your arms and said "Run and jump!" I laughed and asked if you were serious. You insisted, so I did, and you caught me and swung me around. I'm pretty sure we nearly knocked someone out, but it was great fun.
I'm so glad for the little memories like that because it means that at least I have a part of you that will never go away. I don't know if there really is an afterlife but I continue to hope because it means that you're in a happier place and I'll see you again one day. I wish I had spent more time getting to know you; you were an amazing and unforgettable friend, and Grahamstown will not be the same without you. Tomorrow night, when the candle vigil for Anja is held, I hope everyone who knew you lights a candle for you as well and remembers all the special times they spent with you.

As lame as it may be, I found the most beautiful song lyrics that basically say what I'm trying to say:
"And if you were with me tonight
I'd sing to you just one more time
A song for a heart so big
God couldn't let it live

May angels lead you in
Hear you me, my friend
On sleepless roads the sleepless go
May angels lead you in."

R.I.P Christopher Wilson 15/11/1990 - 05/06/2011

Can You Feel the Stress Tonight? - 2011 Exam song

Yes I have too much time on my hands. Plus I've decided this exam song thing could be a fun tradition. Here is the new exam song for June 2011, based on the Disney version of Can You Feel the Love Tonight? I don't like it as much as Piano Man, but hey. It'll do. Enjoy :)

I can see what's happening
And they don't have a clue
They'll fail exams and here's the bottom line:
Class average drops by two.

The sweet caress of pages
There's tension everywhere
And with all this exhausted atmosphere
Disaster's in the air...

Chorus:
Can you feel the stress tonight?
The fear exam term brings?
The Rat, for once, is clo-sing early
Everyone's stu-dy-ing...

So many things to study
But how to make it stay?
It never seems to last; I wish it did!
It fades when I turn away.

I'm freaking out, I'm stressing
But what I can't decide
Is should I pull an all-nighter
Or get an early night?

(Chorus)

But if I get an early night...
It can be assumed...
My carefree days at Rhodes are history
In short, my friends, I'm screwed.

Library Girl (exam remix)

Those of you who have me on Facebook will probably already have seen this. I wrote it in a burst of inspiration while studying in the library during November exams last year. It's to be sung to the tune of Billy Joel's "Piano Man". I dedicate it to exam-writing students everywhere. Especially the Rhodents :D

It's 9 o' clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd rushes in
There's a young man sitting next to me
With a pile of books and a grin
He says "Girl, can you help me with studying?
I'm not really sure how it goes.
My summary's neat and my work is complete
But I seem to have mislaid my notes."

Chorus:
Oh I've studied all year since this started
I haven't missed one tut or class
I don't really care for distinctions
At this point, I just want to pass.

Now Fran over there is a friend of mine
She finished her last one today
She lives in Cape Town but she's hanging around
'Cause her friend is going away
She says "I don't know how I'll survive next year
Without Ella around for some fun
You guys are my mates, and you're all really great
But it won't be the same with her gone."

(Chorus)

Now Caroline's hoping to get firsts
In English she far outstrips me
She's talking to Relz, they're really good pals
And probably will always be.
Tshidi and Lulu are upstairs
I know it will be no surprise
If they both appear while I'm sitting here
'Cause I know they like to socialise (Please excuse the rather odd rhythm here...)

(Chorus)

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
Now I know how the Rhodents get by.
They party like mad 'til it hits exams
Then sit down to work with a sigh.
Now my papers are spread out in front of me
My lap is all covered in notes
I've just realised that I will not survive
If I learn anymore; I'll explode.