  Taking advanced placement tests is really more like going on a CIA mission to some far off land where people speak in foreign tongues (“Remain seated for the next four hours”) and make you do wacky things (seal your test booklet with stickers). Several times during the test, our instructor would read his little script; “Do not discuss the following information with anyone, at any time, for any reason.” I felt like my pencil would self-destruct or something.
The multiple-choice portion was not so hard. The questions were worded awkwardly and there was some things we did not cover (Southeast Asia post WWI, anyone? ) but for the most part, I was fine. The essays, the essays however, sucked the marrow out of my life for a whole two hours. I simply could not pay attention to Buddhism’s diffusion. My mind refused to pay attention to my hands.
It went something like this: Hand: After the Han dynasty ended in 220 B.C.E., there was a period of political instability… Brain: That boy has four pieces of lint on his sweatshirt! Woah! Hand: …confucian scholars saw Buddhist enlightenment as a threat to society… Brain: That clock is green! I like green! Hand: …nomads invaded northern China in the days… Brain: THOSE WERE THE DAA-AYS!
Boy, the way Glen Miller played, sumthin’ bout’ the hit parade… guys like us we had it made… Needless to say, it was a vicious cycle. I intended for this to be a proper post, were I might attempt being witty or self-efacing. However, I am lying low. Modest Mouse sold out for a fucking Nissan commercial and my heart needs to mend itself. Affectionately... Anna 
