Library Rocks!

Lately I have found myself spending loads of time in the SOAS library and sort of grown into it. The timeless atmosphere, quiet rooms and all those shelves full of books are starting to appeal me more and more. Especially now when the end of the term is getting closer and people coming fewer and fewer.

Of course I'm not doing this just for fun but I have a good reason to spend my time in the library. The final exams. I had my first one in African politics last Thursday and the last two are within two days. So instead of studying for just one exam at the time I'm working twice as hard. And the fact I have only three precious weeks left in London is making the studying even harder. Well, now I'm not being totally truthful with you. I have spent some time partying as well. BUT I have always managed to drag myself to the library morning after. How many of you can say that? ;D

Over the weekend we have been studying in this room known as Africa study room. That's situated next to the library's vast collection of books about - surprise, surprise - Africa. The room itself is filled with bookshelves and oh my, those books are something else. Sometimes I find it extremely hard to concentrate on studying while books like Historical Dictionary of Central African Republic, Gazetteers of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria or, wait it, Gallery of Gold Coast Celebrities 1632-1958 are just so fascinating.

I'm actually there right now and like always I should be studying. But after more or less eight hours I feel like I seriously need a break (well, we have been taking some breaks during the day as well - everybody knows that you are NOT allowed to eat in the library and a girl still need to have her daily amount of chocolate). So while I'm waiting Myriam to finish her article, I'm spending my time playing backgammon and writing this post. Nice, eh? After that we'll head back to Paul Robeson to have some Raclette cheese and then carry on studying.

You find this post a bit boring? Well, welcome to my life!!! Two more days to go...

ps. Did you know there's more than one million books in the library of School of Oriental and African Studies? Okey, I think I'm starting to lose it...

Chocolate

Yay, it's examination period and that means loads and loads of chocolate. So in order to respect that here's my Top Three of Chocolate (and yes, this is another top something post) in random order:

1. Finnish chocolate (especially Fazer)
2. Swiss chocolate (Lindt - I personally blame you Myriam;)
3. Belgian chocolate (oh, divine Godiva)

Bubbling under: Ghanain dark chocolate with orange flavour; half melted Mars bar in the hot Beninese afternoon.

And in case you wonder: Yes, I'm a serious chocoholic and not even a bit embarrassed to admit! But unfortunately there isn't any songs about chocolate in my iTunes library (but oddly enough loads of about other stuff such as cloudberries, sugarcubes, milk and biscuits) so I'll just recommend something else that's sweet: Chewing Gum by Annie :)

Cat Power!

Yes, she's back...and this time she has left her guitar home. So no more guitar nursing sessions, breakdowns in the middle of the gig or clumsy performances. Chan Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power is stronger than ever when performing with new band, Dirty Delta Blues. Okey, I have to admit that I've never seen her performing on her own during those old days when her shows were more or less dictated by either depression or booze but last night's gig in The Forum, Kentish Town came very close to perfection in every way.

I arrived just in time to have a pint of Guiness before they started playing. The place was packed but not in that inconvenient way - no one was close enough to smell their breath or pour their drinks on my trousers. There wasn't any teenagers with their boyfriend troubles or chavvys jumping around. And weird enough, nobody seemed to be shitfaced like on that Badly Drawn Boy's gig last February (well, might be something to do with the Tuesday night...). But what was even weirder was the fact I didn't mind arriving, staying and leaving alone. In fact I was perfectly fine with it. I didn't even miss anyone to have a chat with after the gig, like usually. It just felt natural to sit next to these Asian girls on a bus completely fallen into my own thoughts.

The gig itself and especially Chan was amazing. Song after song the sound got bigger and braver and I was enjoying every minute of it. She was sincere, giving everything she had and dancing around the stage almost as maniac as the singer of The Rakes (whom by the way I think I saw on the gig:). From time to time she appeared even a bit compulsive with her jerky movements. But all that cohered well with her powerful yet fragile voice. They played more or less full 90 minutes - nothing like these hip indie bands with their "45 minutes and I'm gone" thing.

Several times I was sure I'll break into tears - I know I'm such a cry baby but it's usually limited only to movies. Her voice and whole presence was so touching...The only thing that actually stopped me was the fact I couldn't hear the words of the songs properly. Her voice was mixed too low and most of the time the strong sound of the guitars override her singing. But as it was the only con of the whole concert I think that's unfortunately though forgivable.

And like you might have already guessed, this post is dedicated to the whole work of Cat Power with special reference to the song called Fool from You Are Free album. I love you Chan Marshall!

Ps. to all of you (you know very well who I'm talking about) who are thinking about posting something cynical and oh so clever - just leave it! I DON'T want to hear it...