Week Two

For many Americans Celebrating the Fourth of July is full of American Flags and drinking at the beach. If you are enrolled in summer school, you would get the day off in the United States, that was not the case here. I had a FULL day of classes this Fourth of July, and I really didn't get to even think about celebrating until around 6pm. The program threw everyone ("the Americans" as they tenderly call us) a BBQ, and it was some of the best food, if not the best meal, I have had here. They had burgers, hot dogs, and yummy chicken as well as corn on the cob and baked potatoes! As you can see I really miss American Food, especially grilled cheese sandwiches. The PAs sold us beer and wine for super cheap.They also supplied us with Budweiser, which tasted a bit like home. Then they served us their BBQ drink, which is Pimm's and Lemonade. It tasted a lot like Sangria, but maybe fruitier. And I really liked it. Then we all went out and tried to show the PA's an American Fourth of July, I don't think we did a very good job. But I tried to pay in dollars everywhere I went, just for kicks, with Erica. One of the Bartenders was actually born in Chicago, so he let me throw a dollar in his cup!
    This week I was mostly preparing for my trip to London on the weekend. I had a paper due on Monday, and a Midterm on Tuesday, and I was sure I wasn't going to be doing any homework in London so I spent most of my time in the Library. I discovered a new part of the Library my 3rd visit there, an Upstairs with stained glass windows and bookshelves with Busts of Old Men on the sides. Needless to say, I set up shop right next to the best looking bust and affectionately named him Sir Edward Wiseman (Eddie for short) with Erika.

(On the Right is a view down the center of the Bookshelves. )

Classes went well, and I had some of my first Seminars this week, which are essentially classes with only half of the students in my normal class. I actually am in the smallest classes of the Program, with my class size averaging 15-20 students total. Apparently I chose the unpopular classes, but that's ok, because I only chose these classes in the first place because they got me major credit. Erika's classes are massive, from what I hear, she has like 40 kids in her classes. Although I don't think it matters too much, the bigger classes get to have their lectures in the Old Library, which I guess used to be a church, and is really beautiful.
    On Wednesday Erika and I ventured to The Grafton Center to buy our Harry Potter tickets. We felt so lucky that the theater wasn't sold out, and we were even able to get a student discount and get VIP seats. I really like the way they do movies here because they assign their seats. No lines before Harry Potter, no worries about being there hours early. Amazing. However, upon closer examination, Erika realized that we had been sold 2-D tickets (not 3-D), in regular seats (not posh VIP seats), ON THE WRONG DAY... at midnight. Who in the world wants to see Harry Potter a day late at midnight? No one I know! So we went back on Friday and talked to a very nice guy who we explained our situation to. I felt like my mom because I asked for a manager and used the word "unacceptable" numerous times. I felt so adult in my complaints... then I realized it was for Harry Potter and I felt like a pre-teen again. The guy felt so bad for us because the VIP for the showing we wanted had sold out just earlier that day, and we had to get normal seats. He also felt bad because we bought 2-D tickets and theoretically we would have had to pay more for out new tickets. But because it was such a fail on their part they not only gave us some money back, they got us the showing we wanted, and they gave us vouchers for VIP tickets to any show in the future. We decided after that, that we didn't mind the mix up at all. All in all it was a stressful week, but I was gearing up for London on the weekend so it was definitely worth it.