Okay, I have to admit that I censored something from the previous blog for appearances sake, and upon review I've decided that I don't want a censored blog. Now, this isn't to say that I'll write my innermosts or my deepest, darkests...but if it isn't me writing--then what's the point?

I went to Manchester today with two guys I met last night: Shawn and Dimitre. Now, I know my description of Dimitre the Greek wasn't glowing--but I have a feeling it didn't express my exact feelings toward this person.

Herein lie my intentions: simply, to convey what was going through my head while I shared the streets of downtown Manchester with this certain individual (it is, afterall, called TM Mind's Eye)....

He was arrogant, flagrantly so. So much so, that if he attempted to make eye contact with me one more as if to express any connection in any shape or form--I was thinking about making a definite connection with him. Physical, actually. A solid bop to the nose. How is that for a connection?

If I had to see him one more time look a member of the opposite sex up and down, give any other female just one more once-over, sneer at, curl his lip at, or express approval or disapproval for one more woman I might have lost my Canadian civilty.

I understand the historical importance of Greece. I admire personal confidence and character strength in anyone else; nonetheless, I cannot bear self-importance. It's nauseating.

Following here are only a few thoughts running through my head as I followed behind the Greek:
"Dimitre, did you hear someone discovered the universe is not actually revolving around Greece?"
"His name was Galileo; and it's the sun."

"Dimitre, what's the Greek word for arrogant?"
"And self-important beyond tolerance?"
"What about chauvanistic?"

"Dimitre, what's that other thing Greek's are famous for? ...you know, besides philosophy and the Olympics..."

Alright then, here stops the Greek bashing. Now I'll formally declare that I do understand the difference between Dimitre and all Greeks. Furthermore, I will officially declare that I do not believe Dimitre represents the whole of the Greek culture, history or population. I actually do have faith in humanity.

I've spent a lot of time on the English streets the past few days, whether it be following behind intolerable internationals or on my own. This morning I finally ventured beyond the student village compound while I was running. I discovered the origin of the children's rhyme that goes:

Don't step on a crack

or you'll break your mother's back.

It's from England and the country's perilous cobblestone roads.

If I manage to make it home without spraining my ankle or ending up horizontal on the sidewalk it will be blog-worthy. I swear I might have hop-scotched my way halfway home in order to avoid taking a spill. Running on Canadian aspahlt is certifiably monotonous compared to the hop-skip-and-jumping I did up and down the road today.

In closing, the three most popular questions/comments addressed to me today about Canada:

"Doesn't Canada consider itself very British? Really, not at all? Are you sure?"

"Gee, there must be a lot of snow there."

"Is all that stuff they say about Canada on SouthPark true?"

"Ohhh, Canada...like in SouthPark."

"Why are they always picking on Canada on SouthPark?"