Settle Settle

What a week. I'm not sure where to even begin. I feel like my last post was months ago yet it has only been a few days.

Tuesday night we went to London's only ice bar. Clearly a tourist trap, but I have seen those ice hotels TV before and I was curious. The whole troop (imagine a group of twenty Americans trying to blend in and traveling in a herd) set out to get dinner and check out the ice bar. Apparently the theme of the bar is changed a few times a year to keep the ice fresh and we visited while it was in the "Industrial" theme. The floors were metal and the room is kept at -5 degree Celsius. You are provided with a parka and gloves before you enter. The walls, glasses, seats, and entire bar itself was made of ice blocks and they circulate people through the bar at 40 minute intervals. The whole thing was really neat and I did my best to get my money's worth by trying to eat my ice glass. Pictures are on facebook :)

I've now had all of my classes and I think I will enjoy most of them. My theatre in London class may be a joke though as I did not need a 20 minute explanation of a thrust stage, but I think seeing performances every week will be worth it. I saw a new play on Thursday called Punk Rock. It was written by one of London's up and coming playwrights and was about a school shooting. I think much of the audience felt uncomfortable because the show felt so raw and held so much tension. Hopefully discussion about it will be good.

My other classes are filled with information on British culture, both old and new. A few examples: Darwin is on the back of their 10 pound note, conservatives here would still be considered liberal by most Americans, religion is much a private matter here and the prevalence of God in our politics is seen as odd and often off-putting by most Brits.

I spent Friday and part of today in Bath, England. I went with a group of seven other kids and we took an hour and a half train ride to where Jane Austen once lived and where the Romans built their bath houses nearly 2,000 years ago. It was a gorgeous place and the Baths were beautiful. It felt nice to get out and explore a little bit. We spent the night in a hostel and explored the night life (which was surprisingly vibrant). I think it is safe to say everyone had a fantastic time.

Tonight I met up with Kaitlin Brown. It was wonderful to see a familiar face and I was glad to hear she was going through the same homesickness I am. Ask anyone who is back from being abroad and they get too excited about all their wonderful travels to tell you how lonely it can get when you are transitioning to the new place. I know all about culture shock, but this is like going through the first few weeks of freshman year all over again. I didn't expect it and I think we will both be able to help one another feel more at ease. Plus, we take classes about 5 minutes away from one another, so a quick cup of coffee is always within reach.