Two weeks in...

Hello! Well, after a wonderful and relaxing Christmas break at home with my family, I've been back in England for just about two weeks now. I don't have much to report on since I had to dive right back into work almost immediately upon my return, but despite being busier than I'd like, I have to admit that it has been nice to be back in a routine again. I'm teaching a course on Tourist Art next week and the following week I'm leading a gallery talk for a group of docents so they are informed about the Mesoamerican objects in the Sainsbury collection when they give tours to visitors. Later this week I will be acting as translator for a visiting artist and museum director from Western Sahara who will be speaking at a panel and attending a couple of seminars in our school over the next few days. Apparently his English is only so-so but he speaks fluent Spanish! Who'd have thunk it?? Given that there are only a few Spanish speakers in my department, I was asked to do it, so I'm looking forward to participating.

Here's something funny. This past weekend I had the privilege of introducing my band of English friends to the joys of American candy. Surprisingly, even with all the diversity in American cuisine due to our "melting pot" culture, when I asked them right before I left for Wyoming what they wanted me to bring them from America, the overwhelming response was "Twinkies." Yes, English people are intrigued by American junk food. So, in addition to Twinkies (did you know that "beef fat" is actually one of the ingredients?? Not kidding), I stuffed my suitcase full of our classic, if slightly retro, movie candy: Hot Tamales, Sugar Babies, Mike and Ikes, Good n' Plenty, Twizzlers, Runts, Now n' Laters, Airheads, etc. Also threw in some York Peppermint Patties, a Three Musketeers Bar, a Whatchamacallit, some Fruit Stripes gum, and a box of Little Debbie Nutty Bars. A couple of hours and a massive sugar rush later, the rave reviews went to the Twinkies, but everybody seemed to find a personal favorite among the rest of the candy spread as well. Sweet. It just goes to show how easily some things can be taken for granted when you grow up with them. Imagine how the Italians must feel about cannolis...or the French about their éclairs?? I will strive to appreciate Twinkies more fully from now on. Hmm...what an odd thing to say!
Hope you're all having a great week. More posts soon!