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e_clareExactly one week, and I'm exhausted. This is one tiring country. And yeah, there's a lot to catch up on. I'll try to fit the good parts in.
I've got two major points about the flights over. First, how much do I appreciate the East Coast and its direct-to-Europe, no-layovers flights? I flew out of C-bus, connecting through Dulles to Heathrow. This basically sucks, because it means I spent almost all day in airports. Blah. However, this was also a good thing because I was thus able to meet up with my housemate who was on the same flight out of Dulles, and we had a good 2 hours to chat before boarding. So that was fun.
Second point: Best part of the flight over was the in-flight Mark Ruffalo double feature: Eternal Sunshine and 13 Going On 30 (which I did not watch, sadly, but was happy to have the option). Sat next to a quiet old man who read his Bible and slept most of the time--was dull, but after the screaming children on the Flight from Hell at spring break, I'll take what quiet I can get.
Arrived in Heathrow wicked early, and managed to find our way from London to Bath on the fabulous BritRail system; were the first of the housemates to arrive.
Our house is in Widcombe, which used to be an independent village but is now just another neighborhood in Bath. We live about a quarter of the way up a long, steep hill--and are all thankful it's not further up. The best description I can give is small, with lots of stairs (gotta love those row-houses). My room's on the first floor (that's second floor for the Americans in the audience). Nearest WC is on the first-floor landing; we've got our own tub and sink, and for space reasons, 75% of my stuff lives in our bathroom too; closest shower is up one flight of stairs. Clearly, a major theme of this semester is going to be exercise.
Other special things about our house include the telly (4 channels and a VCR), an egregiously out-of-tune piano and the world's most uncomfortable couch in our living room, three videos (Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown; Snatch; and Beaches), and a wee, cute patio in the back garden.
We also have two neighborhood cats who visit multiple times a day, and must have figured out long ago that homesick American students are an easy source for food and general worship. It's come to the point where, when one hops up on the windowsill outside, someone automatically opens the window and lets the cat in, allowing him to ramble freely through our dining area and kitchen.
I don't have any Monday classes, so my first day isn't until tomorrow. Do note that this does not mean I don't have work yet: I'm reading "as much as possible" of Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen) and five chapters (from two different, but identically-titled books) for Wednesday. The books for my Anglo-American Special Relationship class are all kept at the Nelson House library in town, and may not be removed for any reason; this means I get to do the 10 minute walk to the center of town any time I need to read. Fun!
The Jane Austen is clipping along as this point; as much of it takes place in Bath, the heroine spends lots of time tripping about the same streets I walk down to get my groceries. My other two classes are British Fiction Since 1945 (for next week: Lord of the Flies) and Mythologizing Shakespeare (Taming of the Shrew).
It only hit me yesterday that, yes, I am in fact taking three literature courses, with a total of 18 books to read by the end of the semester. Am I insane? Very possible--although to be fair, one course was originally supposed to be film instead of lit (it was dropped due to lack of interest). There are, by my guess, nearly as many international relations and history majors as English, so our course offerings are rather politically biased. On the up-side, after another month or so we should start getting movies that I haven't seen yet (local cinema is currently showing Stepford Wives and Bourne Supremacy)--and that will be very good indeed.
Thus far, socializing largely revolves around alcohol and consumption of alcohol in pubs. Hopefully, the novelty of the low drinking age will wear off soon--it's getting dull.
To recap last week: 45 minutes after everyone arrived last Monday, we walked down the street to The Ram. That night, there were drinking games (in which I and my tall glass of milk--no, seriously--were graciously included) and a trip to the Huntsman. Tuesday, it was the Dark Horse. Wednesday, the Hobgoblin and karaoke night at the Huntsman (I partook only of the drink at the Huntsman, not of the song). Thursday was declared a much-needed day of rest. (Keep in mind, every morning we had to be in town by 9:30 for orientation sessions and diagnostic essays.) Friday, I went to movie night at another house (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). Last night would have made for excellent partying, except we were all wiped out from our day trip to Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and the henge at Avebury (more standing stones).
For the most part, I'm enjoying myself. I've been grocery shopping a couple of times (most of you know how thrilling that can be for me), bought my school supplies, and had lots of time to wander around a very cool old city. Next entry will cover trips--this coming weekend is Devon and Cornwall, not Oxford as previously reported--and classes.
Finally, shout-outs to alc517 (your letter goes in the mail tomorrow), banannagoats and krikkit911 (more trans-atlantic phone chats will follow), beckyp (that sheriff of Nottingham is dead sexy), and newredshoes (The Jake was on TV this morning, and I totally squeed in front of my male housemates--embarrassing).
Cheers!
I've got two major points about the flights over. First, how much do I appreciate the East Coast and its direct-to-Europe, no-layovers flights? I flew out of C-bus, connecting through Dulles to Heathrow. This basically sucks, because it means I spent almost all day in airports. Blah. However, this was also a good thing because I was thus able to meet up with my housemate who was on the same flight out of Dulles, and we had a good 2 hours to chat before boarding. So that was fun.
Second point: Best part of the flight over was the in-flight Mark Ruffalo double feature: Eternal Sunshine and 13 Going On 30 (which I did not watch, sadly, but was happy to have the option). Sat next to a quiet old man who read his Bible and slept most of the time--was dull, but after the screaming children on the Flight from Hell at spring break, I'll take what quiet I can get.
Arrived in Heathrow wicked early, and managed to find our way from London to Bath on the fabulous BritRail system; were the first of the housemates to arrive.
Our house is in Widcombe, which used to be an independent village but is now just another neighborhood in Bath. We live about a quarter of the way up a long, steep hill--and are all thankful it's not further up. The best description I can give is small, with lots of stairs (gotta love those row-houses). My room's on the first floor (that's second floor for the Americans in the audience). Nearest WC is on the first-floor landing; we've got our own tub and sink, and for space reasons, 75% of my stuff lives in our bathroom too; closest shower is up one flight of stairs. Clearly, a major theme of this semester is going to be exercise.
Other special things about our house include the telly (4 channels and a VCR), an egregiously out-of-tune piano and the world's most uncomfortable couch in our living room, three videos (Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown; Snatch; and Beaches), and a wee, cute patio in the back garden.
We also have two neighborhood cats who visit multiple times a day, and must have figured out long ago that homesick American students are an easy source for food and general worship. It's come to the point where, when one hops up on the windowsill outside, someone automatically opens the window and lets the cat in, allowing him to ramble freely through our dining area and kitchen.
I don't have any Monday classes, so my first day isn't until tomorrow. Do note that this does not mean I don't have work yet: I'm reading "as much as possible" of Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen) and five chapters (from two different, but identically-titled books) for Wednesday. The books for my Anglo-American Special Relationship class are all kept at the Nelson House library in town, and may not be removed for any reason; this means I get to do the 10 minute walk to the center of town any time I need to read. Fun!
The Jane Austen is clipping along as this point; as much of it takes place in Bath, the heroine spends lots of time tripping about the same streets I walk down to get my groceries. My other two classes are British Fiction Since 1945 (for next week: Lord of the Flies) and Mythologizing Shakespeare (Taming of the Shrew).
It only hit me yesterday that, yes, I am in fact taking three literature courses, with a total of 18 books to read by the end of the semester. Am I insane? Very possible--although to be fair, one course was originally supposed to be film instead of lit (it was dropped due to lack of interest). There are, by my guess, nearly as many international relations and history majors as English, so our course offerings are rather politically biased. On the up-side, after another month or so we should start getting movies that I haven't seen yet (local cinema is currently showing Stepford Wives and Bourne Supremacy)--and that will be very good indeed.
Thus far, socializing largely revolves around alcohol and consumption of alcohol in pubs. Hopefully, the novelty of the low drinking age will wear off soon--it's getting dull.
To recap last week: 45 minutes after everyone arrived last Monday, we walked down the street to The Ram. That night, there were drinking games (in which I and my tall glass of milk--no, seriously--were graciously included) and a trip to the Huntsman. Tuesday, it was the Dark Horse. Wednesday, the Hobgoblin and karaoke night at the Huntsman (I partook only of the drink at the Huntsman, not of the song). Thursday was declared a much-needed day of rest. (Keep in mind, every morning we had to be in town by 9:30 for orientation sessions and diagnostic essays.) Friday, I went to movie night at another house (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). Last night would have made for excellent partying, except we were all wiped out from our day trip to Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and the henge at Avebury (more standing stones).
For the most part, I'm enjoying myself. I've been grocery shopping a couple of times (most of you know how thrilling that can be for me), bought my school supplies, and had lots of time to wander around a very cool old city. Next entry will cover trips--this coming weekend is Devon and Cornwall, not Oxford as previously reported--and classes.
Finally, shout-outs to alc517 (your letter goes in the mail tomorrow), banannagoats and krikkit911 (more trans-atlantic phone chats will follow), beckyp (that sheriff of Nottingham is dead sexy), and newredshoes (The Jake was on TV this morning, and I totally squeed in front of my male housemates--embarrassing).
Cheers!
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-30 09:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-31 07:18 am (UTC)...and I was just thinking about you!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-30 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-31 07:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-30 11:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-31 07:06 am (UTC)Right then. This afternoon. :)