Looks Like I Made It!
So here I am in Scotland. I've only wanted to be in Britain since I have a memory of wanting anything, and here I am at last. The town of St. Andrews is incredible. Every cobble in the street, every stone in each building, every shop and pub, in short, everything in the town, is infused with a history pre-dating America. I've walked the streets dozens of times now, getting my bearings and learning what's around. I've enjoyed a pint at the student Union (the St. Andrews equivalent of a Student Center, where your bookstore would be located, has a full bar and billiard tables). I've also been in awe of the amount of bookshops around here. Yesterday I walked in and found two books by British authors that I've been searching literally years to find in the States. There they were, pretty as you please, right on the shelf.
I've been through registration, setting up my classes and sorting out all the official mumbo-jumbo. I'm taking a 100 level Scottish history, a 200 level literature class called "comedy and society" we ought to cover everything from Chaucer to Woolfe. I really hope we do a bit on P.G. Wodehouse too. He's my literary main squeeze at the moment and as he is commonly recognized as one of the best humorists of the 20th century, largely influencing most of television's great comics, I think we might. I'm also taking a 300 level Film class title "War and Cinema." I'm not sure of that one yet, I'll have to wait and see. It does, however have a leg up for most of the film classes I've taken at Marist - It screens the material in the evening rather than the morning. Do you know how hard it is to follow Casablanca at 8 am? Yeah, don't try it, just trust me, it isn't pretty.
I'm not sure where I left you guys on information about where I am. I was originally put in an apartment that is far far away from the main town. A few days before I left I was sent an email saying that the apartments had been flooded and they were relocating me to a dorm in the center of town. I was ecstatic. It's a beautiful old stone thing, apparently it was Prince William's old dorm. My roommate just arrived today. We haven't had much chance to talk yet, but she seems very nice. English. Says sorry a lot. Low key and well mannered. You can always count on the English to get along.
As for any other bits and pieces, well, there aren't many. The trip itself was trying and the jet lag was miserable, but I'm over it now. Tonight we have a Ceilidh (pronounces KAY-lee) dance with a live band. It's similar to Contra, only Scottish rather than Irish. Should be fun. Also as I was walking to the Union last night I received my first British cat-call. Even when they're obscene they're more appealing than Americans. Go figure. I suppose that's about it for now. I'll keep you updated on other interesting thingummies.
I've been through registration, setting up my classes and sorting out all the official mumbo-jumbo. I'm taking a 100 level Scottish history, a 200 level literature class called "comedy and society" we ought to cover everything from Chaucer to Woolfe. I really hope we do a bit on P.G. Wodehouse too. He's my literary main squeeze at the moment and as he is commonly recognized as one of the best humorists of the 20th century, largely influencing most of television's great comics, I think we might. I'm also taking a 300 level Film class title "War and Cinema." I'm not sure of that one yet, I'll have to wait and see. It does, however have a leg up for most of the film classes I've taken at Marist - It screens the material in the evening rather than the morning. Do you know how hard it is to follow Casablanca at 8 am? Yeah, don't try it, just trust me, it isn't pretty.
I'm not sure where I left you guys on information about where I am. I was originally put in an apartment that is far far away from the main town. A few days before I left I was sent an email saying that the apartments had been flooded and they were relocating me to a dorm in the center of town. I was ecstatic. It's a beautiful old stone thing, apparently it was Prince William's old dorm. My roommate just arrived today. We haven't had much chance to talk yet, but she seems very nice. English. Says sorry a lot. Low key and well mannered. You can always count on the English to get along.
As for any other bits and pieces, well, there aren't many. The trip itself was trying and the jet lag was miserable, but I'm over it now. Tonight we have a Ceilidh (pronounces KAY-lee) dance with a live band. It's similar to Contra, only Scottish rather than Irish. Should be fun. Also as I was walking to the Union last night I received my first British cat-call. Even when they're obscene they're more appealing than Americans. Go figure. I suppose that's about it for now. I'll keep you updated on other interesting thingummies.