Life in a Pound

Ah, a brand new day, brand new news, brand new stories!!! Let me recap.

Steph and I thought we'd head out early to our very first modern literature class. Yes, this is VERY exciting. We arrived at the English department because we were informed to pick up our courseware there. After waiting for a while for someone to arrive, we were told that the professor had taken them all. While we were waiting, we were talking with Kirstin, from South Africa about, what else, English of course. Steph and I were talking about how we realized that we were going to be taking a third year class with students who were concentrating solely on literature and already had two years of writing and studying for a literature class. Steph, of course, LOVES essays (sarcasm intended), and some man who overheard us smiled at us very intently at the doorway. If you haven't already guessed, he was the professor, hehe. I hope he likes our accents at least. The rest of the story goes, the three of us had coffee, spoke about the unmentionable horrors of living in Leodis (steep, steeeeeep hill to class, muggings, sketchy neighbourhood and such), while Kirstin told us about the joys of living 4 miles away in Boddington. It takes anywhere from 15 mins to an hour to bus to campus depending on the time. It's gorgeous with its own pubs and sport fields, and I was considering staying there, except I felt it was much too far away!

Literature class was definitely an experience. First of all the lecture theatre resembles one of those amusement park rides where each row can only be accessed from one doorway on eachside. Basically, each row has its own doorway on each side. To get to the front of the room you have to go outside the room and go around to another doorway. Very economical/practical.... Anyways, the subject is Modern Literature. At first glance, it seems like a really vague and obscure title. The three themes we will be discussing (in the Modern period/mostly 20th century) are Sexuality/Identity, which is related to Freud's theory, the feminist/sufferage movement etc, War and Revolution- the two world wars, the idea and intentions of war and revolution, and finally, Modernism- what is modernism. We will be reading a book a week, from Yeats, to Conrad, to T.S. Elliot, Auden, Lawrence, etc. In case you can't tell, I'm very excited! I have my first seminar/tutorial tomorrow.

Following my one class, I headed out to meet Anna and Sophie at the Parkinson steps to head into town. Having fresher's flu, I haven't been feeling too well, but couldn't pass up the opportunity. Shopping/browsing has become my after-school-extracurricular activity. We looked around, Sophie picked up some adorable pictures she developed. When she left for rock climbing with Amy, Anna and I went to Starbucks for coffee and conversation about what it's like to live in Denmark and the contrast between Europe and North America. Like I said before, everyone here has their own individual style. The stores here are tailored to inviduality. There are always some very distinct pieces to be found, as opposed to the one shirt in every colour at the GAP. As well, I believe that people have been wearing the muslim scarf as, what I BELIEVE (not entirely sure), is a fashion statement. Again, I am assuming it is the muslim scarf or headress, and I find it interesting that people can transcend religion in the name of fashion. I think it's sort of a satire, mockery at the same time- but this is just my assumption. Anyways the European lifestyle is quite different when you consider its vast, rich history and the fact that all these countries live in such direct contact with eachother versus the Canadian/American isolation in North America.

I headed back for a powernap and then a hitchike meeting. There is a campus organization by the name of RAG, accronym for raise and give- they run various charity events on campus. One of the main events is the Morocco hitchike over Easter break. In teams of three, we actually, you guess it, hitchike to Morocco- and don't worry they advocate no accidents or incidents in 15 years (so don't worry mom!). In order to participate we have to raise 300pounds so any contributions from anyone would be very much appreciated. Once again, please please let me know if you are willing to make a donation in the name of a charity soon to be announced!!!!!!

TOnight there was a Leodis dinner- basically free food, and because it is England, free drinks for the residence. So few people showed up I think we could have each had 6 drinks each. I only had one and a half, (thanks to fresher's flu and not to mention, common sense for my 10 AM class) but they let us take home some bottles (one which Sophie kind of broke by walking into a pole, hehe....) as well as a ton of food!!! That was pretty fun considering some friends of ours raided the party, which was pretty dull anyways, for some free food. Afterwards, the flat headed out to the Terrace, campus pub, and I returned to my room to sleep and write to you!

OH! We also booked a trip to Dublin!! Steph, Anna Brazil, Renata, and many others, apparently 20 others, have booked Dublin for November 10th! With Ryanair, ticket there cost 1 pound and ticket back cost only a pence!!! With taxes it's about 24 pounds round trip- very nice!!! exciting!!!!!!

My mission for the rest of this week is to decide on chemistry. As much as I'd like to go into psychiatry, I'm more inspired by the arts but I don't know what I'd do with it. BUt like Anna says, everything will work out in the end. But in the meantime.... hmm I don't know! It's been a good day- with Dublin on a pence, and chemistry on the fence :S

side note for mom: that is a freebee I am holding in my hand, the blue bag that says vodka- one of millions of promotions from the numerous clubs around here that kill too many trees a day with their excessive flyers.