January

So, according to the blog gods, I haven't posted anything since I got back from Russia in November. I thought about it (and about my homework) and decided (obviously) that this was unfair to you, my faithful and loving readers. Also, lots of things have happened since November. I had exams, for example. Then I went home, and saw all of you, my faithful and loving readers, so you already know some of what has happened since then.

Since I got back here, two weeks ago:
I got back on Saturday.
I went to the SPICE GIRLS concert in London on Sunday.
I started classes on Monday.
Monday: Human Geography, International Politics, European History (20th c.)
Tuesday: International Politics, Ethics
Wednesday: Human Geography, Macroeconomics
Thursday: Ethics, European History (20th c.) seminar
Thursday night was Harry Potter theme night at the pub.
I went to Cardiff (capitol of Wales) from Friday to Sunday.
I had classes again from Monday to Thursday.
Thursday night was Future theme night at the pub.
I was in London on Saturday.
London Dockyards, London's fancy-schmancy financial/battery park-type district. Amazing. It was like I was in Chicago.
Today is Sunday.

As you can see, I've been very busy.
I feel that some of this needs a bit of explaining.

Why, for example, did I go to a Spice Girls concert?
Well, faithful readers, the fact of the matter is that I am a child of the '90s. Despite what preferences may or may not have been in the '90s, that is where my past lies. And one simply cannot recall that era without remembering the prominence of the Spice Girls. I never got to see a concert when they were at their peak. In fact, nobody in the states did. They split up just before their first tour. (One of them left, actually, they didn't completely split.) They were, however, all together at their reunion concert. It was in London, and it was simply outstanding. Their music is really... I won't say good, but it definitely is fun. The thing about reunion tours is that the band only does the music that managed to stay popular after an interim of however many (in this case ten) years. Therefore, all of the music was excellent, and I even knew...some of it. The concert was a very good time. I even managed to get to my first class on time (and awake) the next morning.

How did I manage to go to Cardiff a mere six days after my return to the United Kingdom?
Well, I'm glad you asked. As it turns out, last weekend was my one and only completely free weekend, and I wasn't about to spend it writing papers or something of that nature. So when Amanda asked me if I'd like to join a group going to Cardiff, all I needed to know was "where is Cardiff" and "How much is it going to cost me" before signing up. As it turned out, there were about 20 students from here in Cardiff last weekend, which was a bit much, really. They were all pretty cool people, though, several of whom I hadn't known very well before going, and we really had a good time. Cardiff is actually an awesome city. There is an unbelievable castle right in the middle of it, and it is home to the Welsh Assembly, which is a lot less impressive than Parliament in London, but still, its something. Also, Welsh people are very nice. We stayed in an amazing hostel, and got to shop at a little home-grown organic market. The whole weekend was lovely.

London Dockyards, you ask? How can you feel like you are in Chicago when in London?
Well, I'm glad you asked. The dockyards was a fieldstudy for Geography, which was quite interesting. The East and West India Trading Companies used the area for just that--dockyards (shipping, etc.) As the shipping industry changed and things began coming in big containers on barges, the industry needed to employ fewer people. The area fell into kind of disrepair, but through government encouragement and cheap land, developers and companies went in and now it actually resembles, I don't know, Battery Park or something like that. They were all North American developers, too, so a lot of the buildings really do look like something you'd see in Chicago. The field study was a good time, really. It was a good way to get back into the routine of having fieldtrips every weekend.

Next weekend: Oxford. Then, possibly, a weekend of me traveling to Lisbon. But I haven't booked the tickets yet, so who knows, really.

Photograph 1: (Left to right): Me, Jen, Erin, Marta, Bronwen and Meghan before the Spice Girls concert.
Photograph 2: The Spice Girls singing their official Spice Girls song.
Photograph 3: Laura-Beth and me, outside the Keep in Cardiff Castle.
Photograph 4: Laura-Beth and me, with a dragon in Cardiff Castle.
Photograph 5: The London Dockyards at night.