Is that all right?

More Englicisms:

Lolly- a lollipop.

Ice lolly- a popsicle. This is possibly my favorite.

Cling film- plastic wrap. I find this impossible to say without sounding happy. "Cling film!"

Pavement-  the sidewalk. (The English find "sidewalk" pleasantly enlightening.)

Found a lovely park in Cheltenham today; didn't even know it was there! Took a shortcut home from Pittville campus, where I went with my hall mates to purchase tickets for Caesar's Ball on Saturday, and found myself wonderfully distracted by greenery and water. I found wide open lawns speckled with trees and a lovely river crossed by stone bridges, an abundance of ducks and one lovely swan, and dogs running around and playing. It was a beautiful day, one of the first here to really feel like autumn. It was sunny but windy, and I was glad for the scarf I'd brought along. The leaves are starting to change here, and all these things combined greatly lightened the somewhat dreary mood I've been in...I was extremely grumpy last night for some reason. The arrival of autumn, my very favorite season, is something I always anticipate.

Later, I fixed my timetable by adding a fourth class, Indian Religions, which will take care of my Nonwestern Cultural Heritage core. Score! Unfortunately, I'll still have to take two science courses when I get back, but at least I'll still have room for an English and a communications class each. Knowing my finalized schedule has also lightened my mood. My other classes are:

-Myth, Epic and Folk Tale (literature)- we are currently reading "The Odyssey," my copy of which has yet to arrive in the mail from Amazon;

-Archaeology of Roman Britain- I will have to dedicate an entire post to how kickass this class is;

-Prose Fundamentals- a beginner's guide to creative writing. The tutor has given us an extensive list of what we may NOT write about, so I hope I won't be feeling too limited. The class meets biweekly, but we have a workshop every Monday. I'll have to dig something out of brain by then.

I had a biology class, Aquatic Systems, and though I found the material intriguing, I had to drop the class. It's a second-level biology class, and it didn't take me long during last week's lesson to realize that I was in waaay over my head. So, when I get back, I will probably take Neuroscience and How Things Work. It'll be a rough semester (along with tacked-on depression I'll have because of leaving Europe), but hopefully I'll get through it all right.

Tomorrow, Laura, Danielle and I are traveling to Shakespeare Land: Stratford-upon-Avon! I am very excited. It will take us about two hours by train, with transfers in Birmingham, but we should be there before noon and aren't leaving until about 5 p.m. We are going to see Anne Hathaway's cottage, of course, and another of Shakespeare's homes. We're also hoping to go to our first real tea room! 

Saturday night is Caesar's ball, which promises to be an exciting event. 

Currently listening to: Damien Rice- 9 Crimes (From the album "9")

I really need to go see him and Lisa Hannigan sometime.