I walk a lot.

School

Classes started Monday and I have almost completed my first week, one more day. I have now been to all of my classes at least once, and I as far as first impressions go, the positive outweighed the negatives.  I enjoy listening to my british lecturers talk, and I know people in each one of my classes now.  I'm excited for my one non life science course, "Science in the Mass Media". I have been doing nothing but physical and life science classes for a couple years now, so this will be a nice change of pace.  I honestly don't think i have been in a gen-ed/elective since freshman year. Immunology will probably be my toughest class. With that and cell bio, I will be spending some hours in the library.  My schedule is pretty good. One and sometimes (like this coming week) zero hours of class on monday, two hours on Tues./Wed./Fri., and four on Thursday.  Cell bio is easily the most boring. A two hour block of time with the most boring lecturers.

Life in London

This past Sunday was the nicest london weather I have witnessed thus far. 45-50 and sunny.  I grabbed my camera and strolled through residential Islington, the commercial "Angel" area, and southwest Hackney.  Residential Islington was great.  There is a canal with a walking path next to it that connects Islington and Hackney.  The doors to all the flats were different colors and the people were friendly.  Angel was super busy on the weekend.  I have never seen so many people in Sainsbury's (the grocery store).  I left sainsbury's and was almost run over by a furious AMERICAN bike rider.  He shouted some profanity at me as I walked in front of him. Hey guy, maybe don't wear all dark gear at dusk and not have any lights on your bike. I still have SO much more exploring in london to do, and I'm still learning the city. Slowly but surely.  I know my area pretty well, but not anything else!  A friend and I went to a pub to watch arsenal lose to ipswich town in the carling cup last night. It was awful. 

Upcoming

Tomorrow, I leave for my homestay weekend in Southport.  Southport is northwest of London, close to Manchester.  I'm staying with Chris (the fitness instructor and mother) and Mike (the electrical engineer and father), their three kids, and two dogs.  It's a 4.5 hour coach ride to the west coast of England, but it will be cool to see a little bit of the english countryside on the way. OH WAIT IT WILL BE DARK. That's going to be a boring ride. Yawn.  Hopefully it's not too awkward and they just make me food and stuff.  I won't be the only person in the program living with them, that will help.  3 kids and 2 dogs? I wonder how big their house is if they can still have room for 2 more people...