Two Down and Two To Go

Well I've managed to make it through my first two modules! Yesterday, Monday, I had my Drama course and on my sheet it said that the class started at 5 p.m. Though when I first signed up for the class it said it started at 5:30 p.m. Well it started at 5:30, that way we can have time to have tea and whatnot. Luckily there was one other girl that was there early as well, so we went to the little food court area and had a snack and whatnot. Then we headed back to the classroom, except it wasn't a classroom, it was a studio. I mean we sat on the floor. It was so cool. It is a stage, there's lighting all above and everything. Very cool. So that was difference number one. Then we got an assignment in class where we actually left the builiding to go to the library to do the research and then come back and report our findings. It was so different, then once we had accomplished that, we had to memorize a page from a play that he had given us and then he would randomly call on our groups to perform it. Sort of crazy. Our group didn't called on, but there's still time in the year! After that we went over what would be happening the rest of the term and it's going to be pretty hectic. I have a lot of reading to do already. I actually went to try and buy the book that I needed and they didn't have it! So they had to order it for me. I won't have the book until Tuesday, so I'm hoping that the library will have what I need so I can begin my work! Overall though it looks like it is going to be a good a class and well I hope that the end of the semester production goes well! Yup, I have to put on a 15 minute stage production.... it's going to be crazy!

My abnormal psychology class, is a lot different than what I thought. We have rotating teachers... which I have in my drama class as well, and so the first teacher came in and just started the lecture. He's a great teacher and I think that will be okay. Then the second teacher came in after the first hour was over and gave us some information about the module which we were supposed to have already looked up on webct. Well I hadn't, nor had the girl next to me, so we were both so lost, but it looks like there is going to be a presentation, an essay, an exam and a small group study session! It's a lot of work... especially since the first small group session is week 4 and we've got loads of questions to answer and a debate to prepare! So lots of work! Thankfully I was able to find that book and can get started, though there are about 28 other books that are considered helpful "resource" books. Haha, so I have to go through those as well!!! I absolutely love it! Well I'm off to check webct, will talk about my last two classes once I've had them!

More Pictures... Because I forgot some the first time!

This is the race track, where well races are held when it's not flooded over!!!
We were walking to a pub, to get fish and chips and the sun was setting and there was a beautiful swan and the water just looked great. This is a part of the River Severn! Yup, my flat is named after the river!
This is a view of the frozen racetrack
This is the Crown and Anchor, we pass it all the time walking into town and it's supposed to be a great little pub, where you can just chill out and watch some sports. We went in, but they didn't have fish and chips so we have to go back another time.

This would seem like a random picture, but not only is it on our walk out of campus to town, if you look into the trees... those big bundles are bundles of mistletoe!

First Week Wrap-Up

Wow, I can't believe that I have been here 6 days already. It just doesn't feel that way at all. I definitely feel like I have gotten into the swing of life here at Worcester. Though life has been pretty chill for now, I am truly enjoying my time here. All of the flatmates are getting along, which is good, because there are about 25 or 30 of us. Though I must admit I'm looking forward to seeing how the dynamic will change once classes start tomorrow.

Yup, that's right classes start tomorrow! I am soooo excited! I have class Monday - Thursday, one on each day. My schedule is as follows: Drama class (the actual title is ridiculously long!) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday night, Abnormal Pyschology from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, War, Democracy and The Media from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Social Psychology and the Media from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. So I think that it's going to be a pretty interesting semester. Of course I'm a bit nervous going into the classes, because it's a completely different style of teaching and there isn't as much work either. There are usually one or two main assignments and that's the bulk of the work that you will do for the entire semester, which is a bit scary in itself to know that your grade is in the hands of one or two projects. So who knows what will happen. I am really excited though to finally be integrated into the college. We have been the majority on campus for the past week, so for the first time we won't be and we'll finally be able to meet the other students and see how the other half lives. Plus only first year students live on campus, then after that you have to live off campus... so it's been pretty interesting... not to say that I haven't met great people, because I have. But I am ready to meet the rest.

After I get through my first week of modules (aka classes) I'm going to start looking into my travel time. I've got about three weeks off of school, plus my long weekends. I know that some of the girls and guys here want to get together and go to Liverpool and a few other places for a weekend, so that could make the price of a place to stay a lot lower if we all go in on it together. So it should be fun! At any rate, I've babbled on long enough and it's about 1:30 a.m. and I am ready for bed. It's still a bit funny to have to think and remember that everybody else is 5 hours behind me and just getting ready for their evening and I'm heading to bed! But I've actually not had a problem (thankfully) getting on the sleep pattern, so I am grateful for that! Eating is still a bit off though, but I am attempting!!!

Purely Pictures

These are all pictures taken during the tour of the town. Yay for orientation!

My bed!
My desk!
My sink!
This last picture is of the corridor of flat 2. It's not actually that long.. you can see into flat 1 as well.

Up and Running At Last

My most sincere apologies for not being able to get online sooner. I've had major issues with technology and with getting here. For those who don't know my flight got cancelled Sunday morning so I had to buy a flight that morning and it ended up being Pittsburgh to Newark then Newark to Birmingham. The words to wake up to on the day of your departure are not "cancelled flight" especially at 8:47 a.m. Oh well, we booked the other flight and I booked it to get ready and was even done early! We began to drive to Pittsburgh and the weather wasn't great, but I was hoping that it wouldn't affect my flight. At any rate, we got there and I checked in and got ready and then we had some lunch and I was on my way. I made it to my gate only to find at the boarding time at 3:30 that all planes in Newark were grounded. We ended up sitting there until about 4:30. I thought that once we got on the plane we would be okay, but definitely not, because Newark decided to only build 2 runways for themselves. At one point we were tenth in line. By the time we landed it was 6:15 p.m. and by the time we got to the gate it was 6:23 p.m. not to bad unless you have to be at the next gate by 6:45 p.m. to begin boarding AND you have to check in to your flight as well! So I book it to the monorail and then find out that I have to go through security again! So I'm standing in security and it's 6:40 p.m. and as soon as I'm done I'm flying down the hall because of course I fly out of gate C95. I get to the gate at 6:55 p.m. and they were boarding the back of the plane... thankfully I made it! When I got on the plane there was a package of a pillow, blanket and headset, I thought that was pretty cool. We got served dinner and breakfast on the plane which was good except that it really messed up my eating schedule, which is still a bit messed up now. I even slept for an hour!! Hard to believe but I did, it was hard to sleep when the lights were on, but that's okay. The movie that was shown was The Lake House and it was actually good in my opinion, lol. I arrived in Birmingham at 7:30 a.m. and had to wait for the mini-bus driver. Thankfully not until noon as was feared, but only until 9 a.m. Then I met Belinda, who actually lives on the third floor in flat 5. She is from Australia and very cool, later that day we actually went out exploring and it was awesome. We've been partners in crime ever since, hah! Just joking. At any rate, it was about an hour drive back and then we just came back and unpacked and then went wandering. We didn't want to sleep because we didn't want to get messed up with the whole time zone thing. It worked actually I haven't felt the jet lag or anything, the only thing that is different is my eating schedule and I'm hungry at lunch now and that's the only time. It's really weird. At any rate, the three days I've been here, we've gone out during the day to explore the town and it's really cute and has all these old buildings and it's just really awesome, plus you have to walk to get there, so it's great exercise. Don't have a lot of pictures of the city yet, but will take some more tomorrow. Tomorrow begins orientation and then it ends on Friday. So not to bad. Everybody in Severn Hall or at least our 6 flats is awesome, we have some people from Australia, The States, Sweden, Finland, France, Canada, Czech Republic and Spain. We're supposed to be getting more people too, because there are two rooms empty in my flat, flat 2. We actually got 4 more boys today, so should be good! We all get along great as well. Last night a bunch of us went out to a pub and it was really good, but the next pub we go to we're getting fish and chips and that I can't wait for! Well I'm going to be off for now and I'm going to attempt to post some photo's of my room, it's not extravagant but that's really okay, because I'm not in that often except to sleep. I've got my new phone and internet now... I ended up having to go and buy a brand new phone but that's okay, because it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be and it's pretty cool too! Speak soon!

Who would have thought....

I never would have thought that I would be writing this from the Pittsburgh airport... nor did I think that my flight would get cancelled at 6 a.m. this morning or that I would have to buy a new plane ticket and that would end up taking me from Pittsburgh to Newark to Birmingham. LoL.... oh life's little obstacles that the like to throw at you!!!!