Monday

So I realized today that I may need to spend the rest of my life in the library if I am going to keep up with my classes this semester. I had my first two classes today. The first was my Education in England class, which I think is going to be very interesting. So far, it almost completely parallels the School and Society class I took last year on America's education system . It's going to be fun to compare the important issues in the systems of other countries. We went over the diagnostic papers we wrote last week as prompts for the class and I didn't do terribly. I think I have a basic understanding of what the class is going to require. The second class was my Jane Austen class. The tutor, who I think is new to the program, got a little lost on her way to Bath and so we began and ended a little late. We used the time to pick apart the first line of Pride and Prejudice. This is the part where I started to feel a little inept. I swear to you all that just about every time I opened my mouth, the tutor did not agree with my analysis. Now, usually this doesn't deter me from spewing my opinions out loud, but it was the first day of class and so I think I got a little quieter than I normally would have. I continued to try and fail to say intelligent things until I was sure that this class was going to be the end of me. For next week, we are to finish Pride and Prejudice and read the first half of Sense and Sensibility. Now, if you know me, you know that I do not read quickly. I take in every single word on a page and, consequently, take a very long time to read anything. Then, she went on to explain the criteria for an A in the class. I know, I know, I don't have to get an A... but I'm at least going to try and things like "there must be opinions of literary critics mentioned and analyzed in all your papers or your grade can't be more than a B-" make me a little worried. Not that I don't use academic journal articles for all my papers at school, I just don't usually think of it as criteria for a certain grade. Anyway, I wasn't feeling particularly confident that I would still have my mind in tact at the end of the class, but I made it through, drank some tea, and felt much better. There is definitely going to be a no slacking allowed policy as far as academics go this semester, I'll tell you that!

After class I made some lunch... although I didn't have very much food left, so it was just pasta with sauce. Then I went with Melissa, Shaina, and Annie to the post office. Paige, I mailed your birthday present!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I hope you have the best birthday ever tomorrow! Anyway, at the post office the lady told me how much it was and I actually paid her in exact change (Meg, you would have been so proud). Yesterday we played a game where one of us would pull a coin out of a bag and the others would have to say how much it was worth. It totally worked, because I found 83 cents in a not embarrassing amount of time! I was so excited! I know it doesn't sound very amazing, but I'm taking all the little victories I can get. Then we went to Marks and Spencer, which is the nice supermarket and bought food for the week. I had a salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and grilled chicken for dinner. I feel very healthy and accomplished. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a novel.