Almost forgot to blog today. You know why? It's because this Thursday doesn't actually exist. There was a temproal fold, and Thursday got lost. Today was SUPPOSED to be a Friday. But calendars can't just skip Thursdays to account for a sudden temporal shift - they're just not that flexible. So everyone's walking around trying to convince themselves it's Thursday when we all know it FEELS like a Friday, and that tomorrow should be Saturday. To further complicate matters, I am writing this after midnight.
No one is going to realize this unfortunate occurance until some astronomers go to look at the moon and stars only to find that they are not in the correct phase or position in the sky, at which point NASA will proceed to cover everything up. These are the descendents of the people who decided the Greeks and Egyptians didn't know what they were doing with their calendars that added days here and there to make sure the seasons were in the right month year-to-year, and instead figured that just taking a day on to the end of February every four years should be quite sufficient.
And that, kiddies, is why it snows in March now.
As for real news... there isn't any. But here is what I did today anyway.
First class was Myth lecture, in which the professor proceeded to deliver exactly what I had written in my paper to the class. Uh oh. I went to talk to her afterwards, though, and she says that's totally fine - that I came up with this stuff independently means I interpreted a very difficult text correctly, and also proved the existance of archetype. Good for me. I think I impressed her too, so that's always good.
Early Modern Culture was cancelled this week, so I went back to the room to continue sleeping. I slept pretty seriously. After I woke up I spent the rest of the day constructing timelines and plot summaries, and figuring out characters. Not a bad way to spend a day. Of course I should have been researching for my last paper but... oh well.
Lisa is now coming to visit on Saturday! Fun times shall be had as Saturday is now St. Patrick's day because the Pope said so. It's also the Ides of March I believe so we can celebrate that too.
That's all for today. To bed with me!
Showing posts with label myth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label myth. Show all posts
Friday, March 14, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
a title a title! my kingdom for... no, you know what, it's not worth it
My paper has a title and that's what counts.
Yeah that's what I did today. Wrote a 12 page paper. Only... it's 11 pages. And it's 229 words short. So, if anyone has anything thoughtful to add regarding Frye's Theory of Symbols, allegory and archetype in "Kubla Khan", or both, I'm taking suggestions now : P
What else did I do today? I slept a lot. I ate lunch. That was fun. Those two are related actually. I woke up at noon so lunch was breakfast. That was cool. Oh and when I woke up I thought "hmm maybe I will go sockless today". This becomes ironic or something later, trust me. Oh, wait, right now actually: walking into the kitchen and finding glass all over the floor while only wearing flip flops was awesome. And not being able to find a broom, that was cool too. Someone had smashed a sauce jar... my sauce jar in fact. It was empty, thank goodness. I had washed it out and left it to dry on the counter so I could use it for pouring grease if I want to make tacos... which I won't be doing til I get another container now. It's not like the thing was balancing precariously on the edge of a counter either... plus it was a pretty thick glass jar, not exactly easy to break... well, that's cool I use a lot of spaghetti sauce so whatever, but my question is this: Who the heck breaks a jar and just leaves the glass scattered all over the floor???? There was no one around or anything, so I went back into my room to wait until Phil woke up so I could ask her where a broom might be. She got into the kitchen before I got to her, completely barefoot. yikes. The two of us cleaned up the glass with no injuries. But seriously... I mean come on.
Yeah that's it, that and a really long paper. blaaaaaaaaah
Yeah that's what I did today. Wrote a 12 page paper. Only... it's 11 pages. And it's 229 words short. So, if anyone has anything thoughtful to add regarding Frye's Theory of Symbols, allegory and archetype in "Kubla Khan", or both, I'm taking suggestions now : P
What else did I do today? I slept a lot. I ate lunch. That was fun. Those two are related actually. I woke up at noon so lunch was breakfast. That was cool. Oh and when I woke up I thought "hmm maybe I will go sockless today". This becomes ironic or something later, trust me. Oh, wait, right now actually: walking into the kitchen and finding glass all over the floor while only wearing flip flops was awesome. And not being able to find a broom, that was cool too. Someone had smashed a sauce jar... my sauce jar in fact. It was empty, thank goodness. I had washed it out and left it to dry on the counter so I could use it for pouring grease if I want to make tacos... which I won't be doing til I get another container now. It's not like the thing was balancing precariously on the edge of a counter either... plus it was a pretty thick glass jar, not exactly easy to break... well, that's cool I use a lot of spaghetti sauce so whatever, but my question is this: Who the heck breaks a jar and just leaves the glass scattered all over the floor???? There was no one around or anything, so I went back into my room to wait until Phil woke up so I could ask her where a broom might be. She got into the kitchen before I got to her, completely barefoot. yikes. The two of us cleaned up the glass with no injuries. But seriously... I mean come on.
Yeah that's it, that and a really long paper. blaaaaaaaaah
Thursday, March 6, 2008
it's thursday
Myth lecture this morning. I talked to the prof afterward and she said the relevent text for my essay would be available in Hazel's office Friday. Cool. I can write a paper this weekend... yay? After class I swung by the computer lab to print of next week's reading, and then went to the bookstore. They had tons of copies of Odd and the Frost Giants! I now have a copy : ) I had to hide it from myself though because I still have to get through Calasso's Ka, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Life; A User's Manual, and Theory of Symbols before I am well and truly done for the rest of the semester : P Anyhow, I was feeling hungry at that point so I thought I'd pick up a tasty pasty (they don't rhyme, incidentally), but sadly they were all out : ( I had soup instead.
I napped after my very early lunch and got up again for Early Modern Culture. We just reviewed for the exam today, going over a lot of autumn term stuff. I asked what Sebastian and I should expect to be different from the sample exam he showed us and he had no idea. Great.
After class I was hungry again -I guess thinking burns calories? - so I ate a pretty early dinner. Someone had absconded with the dish soap though so I didn't want to get anything dirty. Ramen saves the day! yay for a self contained meal : P
So I got a bit of writing done but was largely unproductive tonight, and that is ok, for this weekend, I shall write a 4,000 word paper (that's about 15 American pages >.<)
I napped after my very early lunch and got up again for Early Modern Culture. We just reviewed for the exam today, going over a lot of autumn term stuff. I asked what Sebastian and I should expect to be different from the sample exam he showed us and he had no idea. Great.
After class I was hungry again -I guess thinking burns calories? - so I ate a pretty early dinner. Someone had absconded with the dish soap though so I didn't want to get anything dirty. Ramen saves the day! yay for a self contained meal : P
So I got a bit of writing done but was largely unproductive tonight, and that is ok, for this weekend, I shall write a 4,000 word paper (that's about 15 American pages >.<)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Another Friday
So normally I have two classes today, but 202 cancelled seminar : ) So, I just had the myth seminar. The prof somewhat redeemed herself by managing to include Harry Potter in her discussion of creation myths. Even so, I somewhat suspect that she is not in fact a classics prof, but rather some evil imitation sent to infiltrate the department... in an hour and a half seminar, and an hour lecture, she didn't give us one Greek term. Highly suspect, if you ask me.
After seminar, I printed out the forms that students have to fill out before submitting their essays. Essay submission here is absolutely nuts. There's no reason for it to be as complicated as it is, especially not for undergraduates, but there you have it. I also bought my train pass for tomorrow so I am ready to go!
Of course, got to get through the rest of the day first.
Did laundry today as well, as is my custom. Unfortunately, the drier decided that spinning my clothes around would be sufficient, and that they did not need any heat. A wasted 60p later, I've got clothesline strung all over my room, bearing soggy clothing. This is somewhat amusing, but also somewhat frustrating as there really isn't anywhere to tie off a clothes line, so I had to get creative with the wardrobe, with the result that I am now cut off from my bed. I'd take a picture if there weren't so many undergarments involved : P
Anyway, the rest of the night shall be spent in frivolity instead of refining my essays and preparing for the next one.
Tomorrow: London!
After seminar, I printed out the forms that students have to fill out before submitting their essays. Essay submission here is absolutely nuts. There's no reason for it to be as complicated as it is, especially not for undergraduates, but there you have it. I also bought my train pass for tomorrow so I am ready to go!
Of course, got to get through the rest of the day first.
Did laundry today as well, as is my custom. Unfortunately, the drier decided that spinning my clothes around would be sufficient, and that they did not need any heat. A wasted 60p later, I've got clothesline strung all over my room, bearing soggy clothing. This is somewhat amusing, but also somewhat frustrating as there really isn't anywhere to tie off a clothes line, so I had to get creative with the wardrobe, with the result that I am now cut off from my bed. I'd take a picture if there weren't so many undergarments involved : P
Anyway, the rest of the night shall be spent in frivolity instead of refining my essays and preparing for the next one.
Tomorrow: London!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
one more month
Exactly one month from today, I'll be home. Well, ok, I'll be in a plane, but that plane'll be pretty close to Chicago!
Two classes today - the new myth lecture and early modern culture (presentation day...). THe myth lecture was... well, I miss the old prof. The new lady doesn't seem as good a lecturer. She taught class from her seat behind a table, and this is not a lecture hall, so no one past the first row could see her, I'm sure. Further, she has a quiet, breathy, moist, pale voice. Mostly moist. The sound of her toungue peeling wetly off the roof of her mouth was louder than her words. It was like she was constantly trying to rewet her mouth, or suck on a cough drop or something. She began every sentence with this sort of smacking tongue noise, and it also interspersed itself throughout her speech, particularly around vowel sounds and consonant blends, so her speech ended up sounding like a series of hard consonants and tongue noises. Also, you know how some people have that problem of trailing off at the ends of sentences? Well she mumbles the first parts of her sentences, clearly articulates a few nouns in the middle, and then trails off again. It sounds like this:
there COMES a moment mumble something mumble MANIFEST itself mumble mumble mumble.
Only even the word manifest is largesly obscured by tongue noises. Oh, and whenever she thinks something is particularly important or interesting, she lowers her voice to a whisper. I guess for intensity or something?? Serioualy, I was sitting RIGHT in front of her, had both my hearing aids in and turned up... Ah, but then, then, she stood up to write something on the board. All of a sudden her voice got louder! I could hear her! Then she sat back down and I went back to doodling in my margins.
Oh, and what did she write on the board? I couldn't tell you. Her marker didn't work. But throughout the class, she got up three times to write on the board, each time apparantly not noticing her marker malfunction, or maybe just pretending it was working... i dunno. Oh yeah, and she's Russian, so I'm dealing with the accent on top of everything else.
I went back to the dorm eager for a nap. But there were workmen with hammers doing... i dunno, something with hammers.... to manbeast's door, so sleeping didn't happen. I thought I'd sign on and read some webcomics, or maybe talk to anyone awake. But the internet was out. Again. At least this time it was during office hours though! I went down to the computer desk on campus and reported it, then planted myself in a lab and worked out my schedule for next semester.
I met Sebastian to go over our projects. He actually showed up, AND he had actually done the research, so I went into class feeling pretty confident. Turns out, he sucks at speaking in front of people. I did most of the talking. Probably better that way. I think the presentation went pretty well.
I went back to the room and booked my bus tickets for March! I'm excited, and all ready to go. Well, ok, obviously I'm not packed. But other than that - ready!! Tonight I tried some "mexican" rice I bought at Tesco. Basically I need to get back to America. The end.
Two classes today - the new myth lecture and early modern culture (presentation day...). THe myth lecture was... well, I miss the old prof. The new lady doesn't seem as good a lecturer. She taught class from her seat behind a table, and this is not a lecture hall, so no one past the first row could see her, I'm sure. Further, she has a quiet, breathy, moist, pale voice. Mostly moist. The sound of her toungue peeling wetly off the roof of her mouth was louder than her words. It was like she was constantly trying to rewet her mouth, or suck on a cough drop or something. She began every sentence with this sort of smacking tongue noise, and it also interspersed itself throughout her speech, particularly around vowel sounds and consonant blends, so her speech ended up sounding like a series of hard consonants and tongue noises. Also, you know how some people have that problem of trailing off at the ends of sentences? Well she mumbles the first parts of her sentences, clearly articulates a few nouns in the middle, and then trails off again. It sounds like this:
there COMES a moment mumble something mumble MANIFEST itself mumble mumble mumble.
Only even the word manifest is largesly obscured by tongue noises. Oh, and whenever she thinks something is particularly important or interesting, she lowers her voice to a whisper. I guess for intensity or something?? Serioualy, I was sitting RIGHT in front of her, had both my hearing aids in and turned up... Ah, but then, then, she stood up to write something on the board. All of a sudden her voice got louder! I could hear her! Then she sat back down and I went back to doodling in my margins.
Oh, and what did she write on the board? I couldn't tell you. Her marker didn't work. But throughout the class, she got up three times to write on the board, each time apparantly not noticing her marker malfunction, or maybe just pretending it was working... i dunno. Oh yeah, and she's Russian, so I'm dealing with the accent on top of everything else.
I went back to the dorm eager for a nap. But there were workmen with hammers doing... i dunno, something with hammers.... to manbeast's door, so sleeping didn't happen. I thought I'd sign on and read some webcomics, or maybe talk to anyone awake. But the internet was out. Again. At least this time it was during office hours though! I went down to the computer desk on campus and reported it, then planted myself in a lab and worked out my schedule for next semester.
I met Sebastian to go over our projects. He actually showed up, AND he had actually done the research, so I went into class feeling pretty confident. Turns out, he sucks at speaking in front of people. I did most of the talking. Probably better that way. I think the presentation went pretty well.
I went back to the room and booked my bus tickets for March! I'm excited, and all ready to go. Well, ok, obviously I'm not packed. But other than that - ready!! Tonight I tried some "mexican" rice I bought at Tesco. Basically I need to get back to America. The end.
Monday, February 18, 2008
surprise package!
I definitely woke up thinking I had missed my alarm this morning - but it was just that I don't have the myth lecture Monday mornings anymore. I had some pretty entertaining dreams last night, including one wherein I finally received the package Emily sent me...
Modernity lecture was not particularly amusing, despite Clare's assurances that parts of Kafka's Metamorphosis are really quite funny... but it was my only class, so that was ok. It was a lot warmer today, and my cough seems to be much better as well. I wonder if that's connected.
Anyway, when I got back to the room after lecture, I remembered my dream, which made me realize I had forgotten to check the post room one more time for the package. I also had to go pick up the new course packet for myth class, so I went back out and did that. The new course packet is pretty thick and does not look at all interesting, but we shall see. Then I went down to the post room - and they did have the package! I was pleasantly surprised : ) I took it back to my room and opened it, rather curious as to what it was. The label said 'book' (wow I just realized that there are no double quote marks on British keyboards... I'm typing this in the library...) but that didn't tell me much. I opened it, and it was a beautiful copy of Neverending Story! Seriously, this book is very pretty. I'm trying to refrain from reading it for a few more weeks so that I'll have something entertaining to read on the flight home, but it is very tempting. So, thank you Emily for that most thoughtful package : )
Then I had a nap, and did some recreational reading. Around five thirty I went out to the library (where I am now) to do a bit more research for my presentation on Thursday. I am now ready to present (I've got a presentation Thursday and another one Friday... I hope I don't get them mixed up (oh I just found the " button. It's above the 2 where the @ sign would be on American keyboards. I've learned that British style papers don't use ", but only ', so that must be why. But my professors have said it doesn't really matter - they'll just know I'm an American : P) because Cherokee creation myths really have nothing to do with travel plays... or at least, not much).
Oh, also, there was a spectacular sunset today. The campus grounds looked amazing. And it would seem that the top floor of the library is just the place to go for great views, because... wow. You don't often get such rich, saturated color. There was a low fog today - I think that might have helped.
I'm about to go check out the Star Wars trilogy from the short-loan desk... I've got a thesis all prepared in case they ask me to prove it's for academic purposes, but really, I don't think they care that much : P Then I shall get dinner and some ice cream and proceed to stay up til absurd hours in what is technically the morning.
The End.
Modernity lecture was not particularly amusing, despite Clare's assurances that parts of Kafka's Metamorphosis are really quite funny... but it was my only class, so that was ok. It was a lot warmer today, and my cough seems to be much better as well. I wonder if that's connected.
Anyway, when I got back to the room after lecture, I remembered my dream, which made me realize I had forgotten to check the post room one more time for the package. I also had to go pick up the new course packet for myth class, so I went back out and did that. The new course packet is pretty thick and does not look at all interesting, but we shall see. Then I went down to the post room - and they did have the package! I was pleasantly surprised : ) I took it back to my room and opened it, rather curious as to what it was. The label said 'book' (wow I just realized that there are no double quote marks on British keyboards... I'm typing this in the library...) but that didn't tell me much. I opened it, and it was a beautiful copy of Neverending Story! Seriously, this book is very pretty. I'm trying to refrain from reading it for a few more weeks so that I'll have something entertaining to read on the flight home, but it is very tempting. So, thank you Emily for that most thoughtful package : )
Then I had a nap, and did some recreational reading. Around five thirty I went out to the library (where I am now) to do a bit more research for my presentation on Thursday. I am now ready to present (I've got a presentation Thursday and another one Friday... I hope I don't get them mixed up (oh I just found the " button. It's above the 2 where the @ sign would be on American keyboards. I've learned that British style papers don't use ", but only ', so that must be why. But my professors have said it doesn't really matter - they'll just know I'm an American : P) because Cherokee creation myths really have nothing to do with travel plays... or at least, not much).
Oh, also, there was a spectacular sunset today. The campus grounds looked amazing. And it would seem that the top floor of the library is just the place to go for great views, because... wow. You don't often get such rich, saturated color. There was a low fog today - I think that might have helped.
I'm about to go check out the Star Wars trilogy from the short-loan desk... I've got a thesis all prepared in case they ask me to prove it's for academic purposes, but really, I don't think they care that much : P Then I shall get dinner and some ice cream and proceed to stay up til absurd hours in what is technically the morning.
The End.
Monday, February 11, 2008
today is monday...
I woke up today feeling much sicker than yesterday. Bad sore throat... I went to class anyway. In Myth lecture we watched a French version of Orpheus that was actually really interesting... Orpheus falls in love with Death and Charon falls for Eurydice... all around good times. You know what's a great idea? Classics fan fiction. Oh yes.
Versions of Modernity was not nearly as entertaining. The lecturer called off so we had a sub. It really gets to me how teachers can be sick whenever they want but students aren't allowed. whatever.
After class I went to see Hazel about my shiny new course conflict. I am now enrolled in a different V of M seminar, with a different teacher, different students, and, knowing my luck, a different set of books to buy. Great.
Then I went home and slept til three. Woke up feeling not much better and spent the rest of the day doing things that did not involve leaving the bed - except that i did go out to buy some instant soup that turned out to be half decent, and some tea. Don't have any honey though - tomorrow I want to go grocery shopping, but we'll see how I feel in the morning.
Yeah, that's it for today. Absolutely nothing productive... meh, I'm ok with that.
Versions of Modernity was not nearly as entertaining. The lecturer called off so we had a sub. It really gets to me how teachers can be sick whenever they want but students aren't allowed. whatever.
After class I went to see Hazel about my shiny new course conflict. I am now enrolled in a different V of M seminar, with a different teacher, different students, and, knowing my luck, a different set of books to buy. Great.
Then I went home and slept til three. Woke up feeling not much better and spent the rest of the day doing things that did not involve leaving the bed - except that i did go out to buy some instant soup that turned out to be half decent, and some tea. Don't have any honey though - tomorrow I want to go grocery shopping, but we'll see how I feel in the morning.
Yeah, that's it for today. Absolutely nothing productive... meh, I'm ok with that.
Friday, February 8, 2008
bumpy day
This morning the garbage trucks did not wake me up. But the cigarette smoke smell did. Normally Ben limits himself to one a day, but when he starts this early I know I'm going to be spending a lot of time outside.
Since I was up, I had enough time before class to check my email. I found out that applying for 390B instead of 390A gets me a better chance at an actual tutoring position next Spring, so it looks like that is what I am going to do. Also, I had an email about an internship from a New York based company. I'm applying even though I am in England, so we'll see how that turns out.
I needed to rework my resume for both of these, though, and just in general anyway...
Then Myth class, where I found out that the lecture is moving from Monday morning to Thursday morning. Thursday morning is when I have my Versions of Modernity seminar. Can they do this? Well, probably. By the time I got out of class, though, the office was closed til Monday (they close at 1 on Fridays. Most places do around here. How does anyone get anything done?). I emailed Hazel, so we shall see what she has to say about that, though I have no idea what they could do about it just for me... really it shouldn't be possible for me to have conflicting classes. Maybe if the scheduled classes by computer instead of just having students look up the times and write them down this wouldn't happen? I got really lucky that all the classes I chose when I got here didn't conflict. Most students had to reschedule everything. The administration here needs to go to Purdue and figure out how to do things more efficiently. I think it's probably because they are such a small campus here... they can deal with each student individually (that's how I got my schedule: I went in to Hazel and said which classes I was in and she told me the times and I wrote them down. When I dropped one and added a different one, she tried to enroll me in a seminar that clashed with another class - which wouldn't be possible at Purdue. Luckily, I am on top of things.)
Anyway, after myth I did laundry and then I ate an ambiguous meal somewhere between lunch and dinner. Then I sat down and reworked my resume. I thought it turned out pretty well, but when I emailed it to dad the formatting got wonky. Not good. Probably I should use a more common font.
Now, I am in for the night puttering about finishing odds and ends.
Since I was up, I had enough time before class to check my email. I found out that applying for 390B instead of 390A gets me a better chance at an actual tutoring position next Spring, so it looks like that is what I am going to do. Also, I had an email about an internship from a New York based company. I'm applying even though I am in England, so we'll see how that turns out.
I needed to rework my resume for both of these, though, and just in general anyway...
Then Myth class, where I found out that the lecture is moving from Monday morning to Thursday morning. Thursday morning is when I have my Versions of Modernity seminar. Can they do this? Well, probably. By the time I got out of class, though, the office was closed til Monday (they close at 1 on Fridays. Most places do around here. How does anyone get anything done?). I emailed Hazel, so we shall see what she has to say about that, though I have no idea what they could do about it just for me... really it shouldn't be possible for me to have conflicting classes. Maybe if the scheduled classes by computer instead of just having students look up the times and write them down this wouldn't happen? I got really lucky that all the classes I chose when I got here didn't conflict. Most students had to reschedule everything. The administration here needs to go to Purdue and figure out how to do things more efficiently. I think it's probably because they are such a small campus here... they can deal with each student individually (that's how I got my schedule: I went in to Hazel and said which classes I was in and she told me the times and I wrote them down. When I dropped one and added a different one, she tried to enroll me in a seminar that clashed with another class - which wouldn't be possible at Purdue. Luckily, I am on top of things.)
Anyway, after myth I did laundry and then I ate an ambiguous meal somewhere between lunch and dinner. Then I sat down and reworked my resume. I thought it turned out pretty well, but when I emailed it to dad the formatting got wonky. Not good. Probably I should use a more common font.
Now, I am in for the night puttering about finishing odds and ends.
Monday, February 4, 2008
In which two of the mysteries of Essex are revealed.
I meant to post this a few hours ago. Seriously. I keep forgetting what I'm doing.
Today was my two-lectures-in-a-row day. Myth class was entertaining as usual. At the end of class we watched scenes from an Italian opera, Le Orfeo I believe, or possibly La. It was interesting because the producers found the stage directions and machinery from the original production, way back in the 1500s or something, and they reproduced it exactly. Even the orchestra was wearing period dress (if you just thought "Even the orchestra... is beautiful", props to you. Hee. Props. And I'm talking about theatre. Ok, sorry, back to your regularly scheduled blog.). Anyway, they really do pick the actors based on voice. My goodness. Orpheus was... pudgy. Not overweight, just... soft. Ah well. It was pretty neat anyway. And in the first scene, they are celebrating the marriage of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the two actors walk on stage, and they're holding hands, but they just look... wooden. And miserable. Yeah, good voices though.
Anyway, the next lecture was the one for which I had stayed up reading Mrs. Dalloway last night. The lecturer though, simply gave us a biography of Virginia Woolf and did not talk about Mrs. Dalloway at all. At the end of lecture we watched the beginning of the movie Mrs Dalloway, which I felt utterly failed to capture the essence of the book, but then, it was only the first ten minutes.
After lecture, I was very tired, so I grabbed a stuffed croissant on the way back to the room and ate it on the way so that I could nap immediately upon returning. I also didn't want to face the kitchen just yet. After a rather ambiguous nap, I got up, did some reading, some writing, and then remembered that I probably had actual school work to do. I picked up Life: A User's Manual and began wading through it. It's quite an entertaining book, in fact, but very very long and the rest of the class read it last semester. I am just trying to catch up.
After, and meanwhile, I had a rather amusing chat with Emily about D&D, among other things, and this is where I stand now.
Oh, also, I have discovered, I believe, why everyone calls Chris "Manbeast". His last name is Manby. That explains so much. I don't think there was ever a guy who the word "manbeast" described less. Chris is a very polite, softspoken, stuttering politics major who writes fantasy on the side... manbeast indeed.
Also cleared up is the mysterious "Ents" sign, reproduced here for those of you who do not recall:
It is apparantly short for "Entertainment". A little anticlimactic, I thought, and certainly depressing for there are no advertisements for entertainment adorning this wall, though the sign itself certainly entertained me for a while...
Anyway, I shall now continue reading my user's manual. Tomorrow is fat Tuesday! eat a donut for me : )
Today was my two-lectures-in-a-row day. Myth class was entertaining as usual. At the end of class we watched scenes from an Italian opera, Le Orfeo I believe, or possibly La. It was interesting because the producers found the stage directions and machinery from the original production, way back in the 1500s or something, and they reproduced it exactly. Even the orchestra was wearing period dress (if you just thought "Even the orchestra... is beautiful", props to you. Hee. Props. And I'm talking about theatre. Ok, sorry, back to your regularly scheduled blog.). Anyway, they really do pick the actors based on voice. My goodness. Orpheus was... pudgy. Not overweight, just... soft. Ah well. It was pretty neat anyway. And in the first scene, they are celebrating the marriage of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the two actors walk on stage, and they're holding hands, but they just look... wooden. And miserable. Yeah, good voices though.
Anyway, the next lecture was the one for which I had stayed up reading Mrs. Dalloway last night. The lecturer though, simply gave us a biography of Virginia Woolf and did not talk about Mrs. Dalloway at all. At the end of lecture we watched the beginning of the movie Mrs Dalloway, which I felt utterly failed to capture the essence of the book, but then, it was only the first ten minutes.
After lecture, I was very tired, so I grabbed a stuffed croissant on the way back to the room and ate it on the way so that I could nap immediately upon returning. I also didn't want to face the kitchen just yet. After a rather ambiguous nap, I got up, did some reading, some writing, and then remembered that I probably had actual school work to do. I picked up Life: A User's Manual and began wading through it. It's quite an entertaining book, in fact, but very very long and the rest of the class read it last semester. I am just trying to catch up.
After, and meanwhile, I had a rather amusing chat with Emily about D&D, among other things, and this is where I stand now.
Oh, also, I have discovered, I believe, why everyone calls Chris "Manbeast". His last name is Manby. That explains so much. I don't think there was ever a guy who the word "manbeast" described less. Chris is a very polite, softspoken, stuttering politics major who writes fantasy on the side... manbeast indeed.
Also cleared up is the mysterious "Ents" sign, reproduced here for those of you who do not recall:
It is apparantly short for "Entertainment". A little anticlimactic, I thought, and certainly depressing for there are no advertisements for entertainment adorning this wall, though the sign itself certainly entertained me for a while...
Anyway, I shall now continue reading my user's manual. Tomorrow is fat Tuesday! eat a donut for me : )
Friday, February 1, 2008
No one ever mentioned wind!
Everyone warns you about the rain. No one mentions the wind. It was another extremely blustery day today. I did not wear my hat because I literally don't know where it's been... so I walked to class hatless.
Class was... class. Eight people showed up for myth seminar this time. The professor said "Ah, class is almost worth having now." He lectured for an hour and a half anyway, and I got to talk about Heart of Darkness, which none of the Brits had read, and I was also exempted from knowing the significance of Britain's national anthem. Good for me. Go America.
I ate the last of the bread for lunch as part of a turkey sandwich. I really need to go grocery shopping. I did laundry too, even though I really really really didn't want to lug my laundry all the way down to the laundry room in this wind. But I wanted to wash my hat. So I did it anyway. After laundry I revised my Early Modern Culture Essay, then went to the library to check out some books for my next essay on Yeats, which I will start tomorrow because thinking is making me tired. Just looking at essays'll do that to you I guess.
Today I realized to my chagrin that I had only brought one movie with me - Constantine. A decent movie, but I watched it not too long ago. I don't know if my computer can play Region 2 DVDs but if it can, it might be worth checking one out from the library (these are my Feb. 14th plans by the way - a movie and probably some ice cream. It's traditional.) despite their weird dvd check out policies. You're only alllowed to check out a dvd for four hours at a time, but if you check it out within four hours of the library closing you can keep it over night, but you have to return it by ten AM the next morning. But you can also renew it so... whatever? Anyway I've got this sudden urge to watch Star Wars. Weird.
Lisa and I have booked our flights to Rome! We have also picked out a hostel, so we are pretty much ready to go : P
Ok that's all I've got.
Class was... class. Eight people showed up for myth seminar this time. The professor said "Ah, class is almost worth having now." He lectured for an hour and a half anyway, and I got to talk about Heart of Darkness, which none of the Brits had read, and I was also exempted from knowing the significance of Britain's national anthem. Good for me. Go America.
I ate the last of the bread for lunch as part of a turkey sandwich. I really need to go grocery shopping. I did laundry too, even though I really really really didn't want to lug my laundry all the way down to the laundry room in this wind. But I wanted to wash my hat. So I did it anyway. After laundry I revised my Early Modern Culture Essay, then went to the library to check out some books for my next essay on Yeats, which I will start tomorrow because thinking is making me tired. Just looking at essays'll do that to you I guess.
Today I realized to my chagrin that I had only brought one movie with me - Constantine. A decent movie, but I watched it not too long ago. I don't know if my computer can play Region 2 DVDs but if it can, it might be worth checking one out from the library (these are my Feb. 14th plans by the way - a movie and probably some ice cream. It's traditional.) despite their weird dvd check out policies. You're only alllowed to check out a dvd for four hours at a time, but if you check it out within four hours of the library closing you can keep it over night, but you have to return it by ten AM the next morning. But you can also renew it so... whatever? Anyway I've got this sudden urge to watch Star Wars. Weird.
Lisa and I have booked our flights to Rome! We have also picked out a hostel, so we are pretty much ready to go : P
Ok that's all I've got.
Monday, January 28, 2008
About to cannibalize my shoes for the laces...
Well, my booklight has broken. It was very nice while it lasted, but now I'm back to having to get out of bed to turn off the light when I'm ready to sleep after reading. I think if I had a string long enough, I could lead it over to the bed and then not have to get up... It's not that I'm lazy, it's that standing up to go pull the light cord wakes me up. I like to sort of fall asleep reading...
Also. Milky Ways in Britain are not what you might expect. Unless you were expecting them to be a 3 Musketeers bar... then you would get what you were expecting. Now, if you wanted a Milky Way for real, you would have to get a Mars Bar... yeah.
Anyway.
So whenever I set an alarm, I generally wake up before it goes off - usually about 10 to 15 minutes before. And then I usually just stay awake because if i go back to sleep I'll just be more tired. Today I went back to sleep after waking up and it felt good : ) When I did wake up to my alarm, I was moving really slowly for some reason, forgetting where things were and forgetting what I was doing, that sort of thing. I left for my 9 o clock class at 8 to 9 and still got there on time... it helps that the professor is never on time : P
There was a lot of fog today. I walked outside and smelled the forzen-soil smell of winter for the first time since being here. I wonder if we're in for some cold weather.
Professor Cardew showed up today wearing a trenchcoat and fedora. It was very twenties spy. We talked about German myths, which I think will be much more interesting when we can go into it in detail during seminar. Lecture actually ended five minutes early today, as opposed to five minutes late, so I didn't have to rush to my modernity lecture.
Modernity was about D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, which I have not read because it will not be on the exam and we are not discussing it in seminar and I am not writing an essay about it. When I run out of novels, I will go back to the reading lists for these classes and read what looks interesting. My teachers keep referring to the books from Autumn term. Maybe I'll read those. They also keep referring to a class called 204: Approaches to Text, which is a prerequisite for all literature courses. One of my classes at Purdue counted as an equivalent, I guess, or they wouldn't have let me into all these lit courses... but teachers keep referring to things that everyone else learned in that class - mostly categories of novels, a bit like the "36 original plots" categories, but unique to this University - or perhaps to Britain, for I have never heard of them anywhere else (how's THAT for a run-on sentence?). More and more, it seems like this university just does things in its own way, like how St. Joe's Rennselaer (or however it's spelled) has that program that makes it difficult to transfer schools... Then again, all universities in Britain may be like this. I don't know.
The Modernity Lecture was very annoying. The lecturer kept coming out from behind the podium and standing on the stairs between the sections in the lecture hall. In fact, he kept standing right at my row, with his back to me and the rest of my section, speaking in the opposite direction to the rest of the class. When he wasn't doing that, he was standing in front of the screen reading his notes off of the powerpoint slides and lecturing like that with his back to the whole class and blocking the first couple rows' view of the screen (yes. i was in the first couple rows). Good thing none of this material was important...
I've been wondering about my lack of accent, and I think I've got it figured out: I've always slipped easily into the accents of those around me (except the Lafayette accent for some reason), so when I'm talking to British people, I tend to pick one up a bit. But when I call my family, I use the American accent, because that's what they're using. So basically, the point of all this is that I'd make an awesome spy or something.
After lecture, I went up to the Sports Centre to see about joining so that I could go to Archery Club meetings. They said I only needed to buy a membership if I planned to use the weights room....
I didn't buy a membership.
Next I went to the Student Union offices to join the Societies Guild and the Travelling Society, which cost a total of four pounds (I can't figure out why Archery is 20 pounds...)
Then I went to sign up for essay writing help sessions, which should be interesting since I've never had to be instructed in essay writing outside of class before. I've got an appointment for Wednesday.
Bookstore was next. I was hoping to buy a booklight to replace my poor broken one. I asked the lady if they were sold there and she gave me this look like "What the heck is a book light?"
No. They are not sold there. Sigh.
After lunch I took a nap, and had some pretty tripped out dreams... peanut butter and a fake Milky Way I guess are a weird combination? Yeah...
When I woke up I did some reading and some chatting. I started looking up info on hotels in Colchester for June. I discovered that Colchester has LOTS of hotels. I also discovered that most of them are not very nice. The Bed and Breakfast places look a lot nicer. I guess we shall see.
Dinner was a sandwich.
And now... I proceed to stay up super late in the honored Monday night tradition ^.^
Also. Milky Ways in Britain are not what you might expect. Unless you were expecting them to be a 3 Musketeers bar... then you would get what you were expecting. Now, if you wanted a Milky Way for real, you would have to get a Mars Bar... yeah.
Anyway.
So whenever I set an alarm, I generally wake up before it goes off - usually about 10 to 15 minutes before. And then I usually just stay awake because if i go back to sleep I'll just be more tired. Today I went back to sleep after waking up and it felt good : ) When I did wake up to my alarm, I was moving really slowly for some reason, forgetting where things were and forgetting what I was doing, that sort of thing. I left for my 9 o clock class at 8 to 9 and still got there on time... it helps that the professor is never on time : P
There was a lot of fog today. I walked outside and smelled the forzen-soil smell of winter for the first time since being here. I wonder if we're in for some cold weather.
Professor Cardew showed up today wearing a trenchcoat and fedora. It was very twenties spy. We talked about German myths, which I think will be much more interesting when we can go into it in detail during seminar. Lecture actually ended five minutes early today, as opposed to five minutes late, so I didn't have to rush to my modernity lecture.
Modernity was about D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, which I have not read because it will not be on the exam and we are not discussing it in seminar and I am not writing an essay about it. When I run out of novels, I will go back to the reading lists for these classes and read what looks interesting. My teachers keep referring to the books from Autumn term. Maybe I'll read those. They also keep referring to a class called 204: Approaches to Text, which is a prerequisite for all literature courses. One of my classes at Purdue counted as an equivalent, I guess, or they wouldn't have let me into all these lit courses... but teachers keep referring to things that everyone else learned in that class - mostly categories of novels, a bit like the "36 original plots" categories, but unique to this University - or perhaps to Britain, for I have never heard of them anywhere else (how's THAT for a run-on sentence?). More and more, it seems like this university just does things in its own way, like how St. Joe's Rennselaer (or however it's spelled) has that program that makes it difficult to transfer schools... Then again, all universities in Britain may be like this. I don't know.
The Modernity Lecture was very annoying. The lecturer kept coming out from behind the podium and standing on the stairs between the sections in the lecture hall. In fact, he kept standing right at my row, with his back to me and the rest of my section, speaking in the opposite direction to the rest of the class. When he wasn't doing that, he was standing in front of the screen reading his notes off of the powerpoint slides and lecturing like that with his back to the whole class and blocking the first couple rows' view of the screen (yes. i was in the first couple rows). Good thing none of this material was important...
I've been wondering about my lack of accent, and I think I've got it figured out: I've always slipped easily into the accents of those around me (except the Lafayette accent for some reason), so when I'm talking to British people, I tend to pick one up a bit. But when I call my family, I use the American accent, because that's what they're using. So basically, the point of all this is that I'd make an awesome spy or something.
After lecture, I went up to the Sports Centre to see about joining so that I could go to Archery Club meetings. They said I only needed to buy a membership if I planned to use the weights room....
I didn't buy a membership.
Next I went to the Student Union offices to join the Societies Guild and the Travelling Society, which cost a total of four pounds (I can't figure out why Archery is 20 pounds...)
Then I went to sign up for essay writing help sessions, which should be interesting since I've never had to be instructed in essay writing outside of class before. I've got an appointment for Wednesday.
Bookstore was next. I was hoping to buy a booklight to replace my poor broken one. I asked the lady if they were sold there and she gave me this look like "What the heck is a book light?"
No. They are not sold there. Sigh.
After lunch I took a nap, and had some pretty tripped out dreams... peanut butter and a fake Milky Way I guess are a weird combination? Yeah...
When I woke up I did some reading and some chatting. I started looking up info on hotels in Colchester for June. I discovered that Colchester has LOTS of hotels. I also discovered that most of them are not very nice. The Bed and Breakfast places look a lot nicer. I guess we shall see.
Dinner was a sandwich.
And now... I proceed to stay up super late in the honored Monday night tradition ^.^
Friday, January 25, 2008
MAIL!
Woke up this morning and saw a letter from Grandma slid under my door. Yay! Also, I have no idea how they work the mail system here. Sometimes things are left on the kitchen table, sometimes slid under doors... ah well.
Of note in Grandma's letter: Spaghetti. Oh yes. We must plan a day in March/April!
Anyway, went to my one class today - Myth seminar. Today we talked about the myth of Er... exciting stuff... heh. Anyway, last seminar there were only seven people there. Same this seminar, but 5 of them were different people... The professor was a bit exasperated : P it was rather amusing. So I guess there's about 12 people actually in the class.
After class I wanted to have a look around at the clubs and societies fair, but I was really hungry. A sign outside Essex Express (the spicy chicken place) said that they had just introduced paninis to the menu, so I went there, and had an awesome cheese and tomatoe panini. I will be going there again. Then I wandered about looking for archery club. I found it! They do exist! I put myself on their mailing list, so I'll get an email when they start doing things again... only... it costs 30 pounds to join. Hmmm. I dunno. Clubs are not this expensive in the States >.<
After that I did laundry. It went considerably faster this time. I guess Friday will be my new day to do laundry! I didn't have to wait for a machine at all. After laundry, I went to put money on my print quota. Then I went to the library to pick up some books for the paper I have to write this weekend.
And that is how I shall spend this evening... researching witchcraft in England : )
Of note in Grandma's letter: Spaghetti. Oh yes. We must plan a day in March/April!
Anyway, went to my one class today - Myth seminar. Today we talked about the myth of Er... exciting stuff... heh. Anyway, last seminar there were only seven people there. Same this seminar, but 5 of them were different people... The professor was a bit exasperated : P it was rather amusing. So I guess there's about 12 people actually in the class.
After class I wanted to have a look around at the clubs and societies fair, but I was really hungry. A sign outside Essex Express (the spicy chicken place) said that they had just introduced paninis to the menu, so I went there, and had an awesome cheese and tomatoe panini. I will be going there again. Then I wandered about looking for archery club. I found it! They do exist! I put myself on their mailing list, so I'll get an email when they start doing things again... only... it costs 30 pounds to join. Hmmm. I dunno. Clubs are not this expensive in the States >.<
After that I did laundry. It went considerably faster this time. I guess Friday will be my new day to do laundry! I didn't have to wait for a machine at all. After laundry, I went to put money on my print quota. Then I went to the library to pick up some books for the paper I have to write this weekend.
And that is how I shall spend this evening... researching witchcraft in England : )
Monday, January 21, 2008
PACKAGE!
Myth class was funny today. The professor tried to show us some slides near the end of lecture. He brought in this ancient carousel slide projecter, and actual little film slides. And he had no idea how to work the thing. We viewed many upside down and sideways friezes of the Orphic Mysteries. And no, he did not explain why, if they are supposed to be mysteries, someone went and did a bunch of friezes of them...
My second class was the one i had for the first time today. And I STILL have not met the professor for this class. Apparantly, he is also the Dean of Something, and he's so busy that other people generally just take his lectures and I should talk to the TA in charge of my seminar. Sure. Whatever.
After lectures i went to go get my package!!!!!
I found Central Stores without a hassle for once! And when I got there they told me my package was in the post room.... figures. So I went to the post office, and they told me I had to go to the post room, which I had thought was the post office, but apparantly not. The post room was a little tougher to find, being in the basement of... some building. I found it eventually, showed the lady my ID and waited eagerly for her to find my package!!!
She couldn't find it. Luckily some guy working there was like "Oh hey I found it" just from overhearing me say my name. She had overlooked it because Robin was spelled with an i and not a y, and she was looking for one with a y >.< Good thing the kid was working there, or I might never have got my package!! ... !
I took it home and opened it, rather curious as to what was inside this thing that was larger than i was expecting...
There were various medications, cough drops, band-aids, neosporin, American candy (yay!!!), some hooks to hang on the door so i can hang my coat up, clothespins, kleenex, packing tape, a book light (thank goodness), a water filter pitcher (surprise!! wow!!) and also, my pig!! (also surprise!! yay!!)
I was really, really, really excited to get the pig. I missed it. It's hard to sleep without it. I know, I'm like, five. But now my bed has something other than white on it. I really am just thrilled. I can't wait to sleep tonight : P
After I got over the excitement of the package I settled down to do some reading. Chatted for a bit. Some writing... yep, that's my day.
...
PACKAGE!
My second class was the one i had for the first time today. And I STILL have not met the professor for this class. Apparantly, he is also the Dean of Something, and he's so busy that other people generally just take his lectures and I should talk to the TA in charge of my seminar. Sure. Whatever.
After lectures i went to go get my package!!!!!
I found Central Stores without a hassle for once! And when I got there they told me my package was in the post room.... figures. So I went to the post office, and they told me I had to go to the post room, which I had thought was the post office, but apparantly not. The post room was a little tougher to find, being in the basement of... some building. I found it eventually, showed the lady my ID and waited eagerly for her to find my package!!!
She couldn't find it. Luckily some guy working there was like "Oh hey I found it" just from overhearing me say my name. She had overlooked it because Robin was spelled with an i and not a y, and she was looking for one with a y >.< Good thing the kid was working there, or I might never have got my package!! ... !
I took it home and opened it, rather curious as to what was inside this thing that was larger than i was expecting...
There were various medications, cough drops, band-aids, neosporin, American candy (yay!!!), some hooks to hang on the door so i can hang my coat up, clothespins, kleenex, packing tape, a book light (thank goodness), a water filter pitcher (surprise!! wow!!) and also, my pig!! (also surprise!! yay!!)
I was really, really, really excited to get the pig. I missed it. It's hard to sleep without it. I know, I'm like, five. But now my bed has something other than white on it. I really am just thrilled. I can't wait to sleep tonight : P
After I got over the excitement of the package I settled down to do some reading. Chatted for a bit. Some writing... yep, that's my day.
...
PACKAGE!
Friday, January 18, 2008
In Which I am Convinced of the Superiority of American Candy
Today I had only one class. It was the seminar for Myth. Seminar here is like recitation in the states - the big lecture is broken up into small groups. Only, here, the big lecture is only like, 25 students. And the seminar is still taught by the professor.
I got there very early to make sure I could find the room. I found it. Very early. There was another seminar happening in there so I sort of wandered around for a bit. I guess I looked lost, because my Early Culture professor saw me in the hall and asked if I needed help! That's the first time anyone in Britain has actually OFFERED help! I got over my shock and told him that no, I was just really early and waiting for my seminar to begin. And then, he volunteered the location of a common room where I could sit and read! So I did! That guy is awesome!
There were only about 7 people in my seminar. It went all right. The professor has this habit of covering his eyes when he's trying to remember something. He looks so sad. When he is not covering his eyes, he looks like the actor who plays Peter Pettigrew, only slimmer and with less horrendous teeth. I think I impressed him with my knowledge of poetic meter and the myth of Persephone. And made the rest of the class hate me.
The seminar ended around 1:30, and I was planning on going to the Literature Department Office and asking about a literary magazine... No one so far has mentioned one, but if the university has one I think it would be neat to get involved, since the archery club apparantly no longer exists.
Sadly, the Literature Department Office closes at 1 on Fridays. I really think that anyone who works on campus must have two jobs, because nothing is ever open...
I went back to the dorm, and ran into Sebastian along the way. He said he was going to Tesco and I said that I also needed to go. He sort of looked off in the other direction and was like "Oh." I think he did not want me along, which was fine by me since I'd be faster alone. So I went back to my room and sort of puttered around a bit. I read the letter I got from grandma! It made me happy. But there wasn't much else to do. I got bored pretty fast and decided to go back out and get some Stuff done.
First stop was to register with the local health center. The sheet we got at orientation said we should do this in the first week of classes, so I figured I'd better get it done nowish. This did not turn out as I had hoped, however, because they needed to know EXACTLY how long I'd be staying, and I have no idea when my flight out will be... so I didn't register. Hope I don't get sick.
Then I stopped by the bookstore and got the very last copy of a book I intend to write my Early Culture essay on. Close call, that. Don't know where I'd've picked it up if it had been sold out.
Then I went looking for postcards, but did not find any, so I bought some chocolate and a muffin instead.
I went back up to my room, picked up my shopping list, and began the hike to Tesco. On walks such as these I am able to ponder the many mysteries of life, such as: "What will Kerial do next now that he has been captured by vampires?" and "Should I be writing in third person or first person?" and "How does one become a Great Author?" and "How can they claim that the Tesco is only a ten minute walk from the University?"
Because you know, it more closely resembles a 20 minute walk, in that it takes about 20 minutes, and is a walk.
Hey, not so bad, pretty pleasant walk on the way there. It's the way back that gets you. I purchased pasta sauce, soup, liquid soap, a dish towel, pasta, kleenex, chips, and some candy. It doesn't look like that much, but when you get to the top of the hill it FEELS like a lot. My shoulders hurt. I am glad I refrained from purchasing water and a pillow as well. Next time... when I am feeling strong.
I got back, recovered a bit, checked my email. My package from mom and dad came in! But... the office was already closed (even though they had only just sent the email) and they don't open again until Monday. I am REALLY looking forward to getting that book light so I don't have to get out of bed to turn of the light anymore.
Then I went to eat some of my new soup for dinner. It tasted like warm water lightly seasoned with onion and celery... (it was supposed to be chicken noodle). That brand fails. But at least I got some vegetables, I guess. There was no one in the kitchen at dinner. I suppose they had other things to do on a Friday night, which is just as well because it means it's quiet around here for a change. I read a bit while I ate and then took a shower.
When I sat down at my computer for my nightly blogging and chatting routine, I opened the chocolate caramel bar I'd bought and ate it... and it was delicious. But it left a weird taste in my mouth, like drinking milk and then not brushing your teeth for a while. So I opened the jellybeans and ate some of those...
A word to the saavy Tesco consumer (Hi Lisa!). The Tesco Jellybeans are, I am convinced, the origin of J.K. Rowling's inspiration for Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. The purple ones taste like a combination of potatoes and the way a house full of cats smells (only, in taste form). The green ones taste like plants after a warm spring shower.
My garbage can overfloweth with purple and green beans.
The End.
I got there very early to make sure I could find the room. I found it. Very early. There was another seminar happening in there so I sort of wandered around for a bit. I guess I looked lost, because my Early Culture professor saw me in the hall and asked if I needed help! That's the first time anyone in Britain has actually OFFERED help! I got over my shock and told him that no, I was just really early and waiting for my seminar to begin. And then, he volunteered the location of a common room where I could sit and read! So I did! That guy is awesome!
There were only about 7 people in my seminar. It went all right. The professor has this habit of covering his eyes when he's trying to remember something. He looks so sad. When he is not covering his eyes, he looks like the actor who plays Peter Pettigrew, only slimmer and with less horrendous teeth. I think I impressed him with my knowledge of poetic meter and the myth of Persephone. And made the rest of the class hate me.
The seminar ended around 1:30, and I was planning on going to the Literature Department Office and asking about a literary magazine... No one so far has mentioned one, but if the university has one I think it would be neat to get involved, since the archery club apparantly no longer exists.
Sadly, the Literature Department Office closes at 1 on Fridays. I really think that anyone who works on campus must have two jobs, because nothing is ever open...
I went back to the dorm, and ran into Sebastian along the way. He said he was going to Tesco and I said that I also needed to go. He sort of looked off in the other direction and was like "Oh." I think he did not want me along, which was fine by me since I'd be faster alone. So I went back to my room and sort of puttered around a bit. I read the letter I got from grandma! It made me happy. But there wasn't much else to do. I got bored pretty fast and decided to go back out and get some Stuff done.
First stop was to register with the local health center. The sheet we got at orientation said we should do this in the first week of classes, so I figured I'd better get it done nowish. This did not turn out as I had hoped, however, because they needed to know EXACTLY how long I'd be staying, and I have no idea when my flight out will be... so I didn't register. Hope I don't get sick.
Then I stopped by the bookstore and got the very last copy of a book I intend to write my Early Culture essay on. Close call, that. Don't know where I'd've picked it up if it had been sold out.
Then I went looking for postcards, but did not find any, so I bought some chocolate and a muffin instead.
I went back up to my room, picked up my shopping list, and began the hike to Tesco. On walks such as these I am able to ponder the many mysteries of life, such as: "What will Kerial do next now that he has been captured by vampires?" and "Should I be writing in third person or first person?" and "How does one become a Great Author?" and "How can they claim that the Tesco is only a ten minute walk from the University?"
Because you know, it more closely resembles a 20 minute walk, in that it takes about 20 minutes, and is a walk.
Hey, not so bad, pretty pleasant walk on the way there. It's the way back that gets you. I purchased pasta sauce, soup, liquid soap, a dish towel, pasta, kleenex, chips, and some candy. It doesn't look like that much, but when you get to the top of the hill it FEELS like a lot. My shoulders hurt. I am glad I refrained from purchasing water and a pillow as well. Next time... when I am feeling strong.
I got back, recovered a bit, checked my email. My package from mom and dad came in! But... the office was already closed (even though they had only just sent the email) and they don't open again until Monday. I am REALLY looking forward to getting that book light so I don't have to get out of bed to turn of the light anymore.
Then I went to eat some of my new soup for dinner. It tasted like warm water lightly seasoned with onion and celery... (it was supposed to be chicken noodle). That brand fails. But at least I got some vegetables, I guess. There was no one in the kitchen at dinner. I suppose they had other things to do on a Friday night, which is just as well because it means it's quiet around here for a change. I read a bit while I ate and then took a shower.
When I sat down at my computer for my nightly blogging and chatting routine, I opened the chocolate caramel bar I'd bought and ate it... and it was delicious. But it left a weird taste in my mouth, like drinking milk and then not brushing your teeth for a while. So I opened the jellybeans and ate some of those...
A word to the saavy Tesco consumer (Hi Lisa!). The Tesco Jellybeans are, I am convinced, the origin of J.K. Rowling's inspiration for Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. The purple ones taste like a combination of potatoes and the way a house full of cats smells (only, in taste form). The green ones taste like plants after a warm spring shower.
My garbage can overfloweth with purple and green beans.
The End.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Class
Today was the first day of classes. It began... poorly.
It began with my flatmates waking me up at 1 in the morning with an absurd amount of noise. That is all I will say about that.
I woke up tired, feeling not at all ready to face my Myth class. I left super early to look for the room, still feeling slightly ill but determined to ignore it until AFTER class. I found the room with a bit of difficulty, because i don't think it is acutally room 4.01. There is a piece of printer paper with the number printed on it, taped to the window, and the room is not by any of the other rooms. Luckily, I found it.
And what we are doing for the first half of myth class (until March) is the Myth of Orpheus. Hehehehehe. Easy. I've an essay due April 21st in that class, which means I should try to finish it before March 21st so I don't have to do it at home.
After class I went to see Julie Andrews and Hazel in the Literature Department to buy another course packet and find out some details of the class that the professor didn't seem to know. Hazel knows everything about literature classes. I also bought notebooks. Then I went back to the room to make up the sleep I missed.
After a really really long nap, I went to go look for a class to substitute for my Film Studies class, since I decided I didn't want to have to worry about citing films in my essays as well as books. Plus I wanted another 200 level course, because they are easier. I ended up picking something called Versions of Modernity, wherein we will read classics that most people in America have read their Freshman year of high school. Much easier.
I went to go put the transfer in with Hazel, and it turned out that i'd missed the first lecture: it had been that morning. But Julie Andrews said it didn't matter at all about the first lecture, and I shouldn't worry. Then I went to the first screening for the Film class I dropped, just because I had nothing better to do.
We watched Three Kings, a bloody, slightly depressing war movie. Blah. but it killed time. I went back to the dorm, had a word with Phil about noise, and made dinner. Lots of people were in the kitchen tonight, including another girl named Sophie. She was very friendly, and it was generally a good time. People actually, really cook around here. It's surprising. Most college kids I know would rather just boil something, which is what I've been doing: less effort, less time. But dinner here appears to be a whole big production. Maybe when I run out of noodles and rice, I'll actually buy some meat or something. We'll see how busy I get.
And that is it for today. I'm already sleepy, but I'm going to try to stay up as long as I can since I don't have any classes tomorrow : )
It began with my flatmates waking me up at 1 in the morning with an absurd amount of noise. That is all I will say about that.
I woke up tired, feeling not at all ready to face my Myth class. I left super early to look for the room, still feeling slightly ill but determined to ignore it until AFTER class. I found the room with a bit of difficulty, because i don't think it is acutally room 4.01. There is a piece of printer paper with the number printed on it, taped to the window, and the room is not by any of the other rooms. Luckily, I found it.
And what we are doing for the first half of myth class (until March) is the Myth of Orpheus. Hehehehehe. Easy. I've an essay due April 21st in that class, which means I should try to finish it before March 21st so I don't have to do it at home.
After class I went to see Julie Andrews and Hazel in the Literature Department to buy another course packet and find out some details of the class that the professor didn't seem to know. Hazel knows everything about literature classes. I also bought notebooks. Then I went back to the room to make up the sleep I missed.
After a really really long nap, I went to go look for a class to substitute for my Film Studies class, since I decided I didn't want to have to worry about citing films in my essays as well as books. Plus I wanted another 200 level course, because they are easier. I ended up picking something called Versions of Modernity, wherein we will read classics that most people in America have read their Freshman year of high school. Much easier.
I went to go put the transfer in with Hazel, and it turned out that i'd missed the first lecture: it had been that morning. But Julie Andrews said it didn't matter at all about the first lecture, and I shouldn't worry. Then I went to the first screening for the Film class I dropped, just because I had nothing better to do.
We watched Three Kings, a bloody, slightly depressing war movie. Blah. but it killed time. I went back to the dorm, had a word with Phil about noise, and made dinner. Lots of people were in the kitchen tonight, including another girl named Sophie. She was very friendly, and it was generally a good time. People actually, really cook around here. It's surprising. Most college kids I know would rather just boil something, which is what I've been doing: less effort, less time. But dinner here appears to be a whole big production. Maybe when I run out of noodles and rice, I'll actually buy some meat or something. We'll see how busy I get.
And that is it for today. I'm already sleepy, but I'm going to try to stay up as long as I can since I don't have any classes tomorrow : )
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