Another week gone by... Nothing incredibly significant happening on this side of the pond. Still in search of a job. Trouble is that in a few weeks I'll be off traveling for 3 weeks straight... so now I'm searching for temping type positions. Wednesday night went out with a bunch of british management post-grads. Definitely hanging out with a different crowd here then I would at home. Quite honestly I miss my network of fellow science majors. Since my chem classes meet just once a week it's been hard to meet anybody more or less gain confidants that would cover/take notes for me if I were gone. At any rate, the real excitement came on Thursday when it snowed! As I have no classes on Thursday, I got to watch it from the comfort of my room and enjoy the view. Apparently it was chaos outside. Less then an inch, which all melted by the next day. But they shut down buses to/from the university at 5pm, everything closed early, my flatmates that drove home where in the car 1.5 hours to get back as apparently a bus had slide off the road and blocked traffic. The next day headlines all read 'Chaos in the Snow!' haha. Obviously these English are not quite used to snow. So this weekend the goal is to search for a temp job, enjoy my reading, and make a bit of headway in writing my senior honors thesis for dr. waser. I suppose I should make the best of this afterall... this is the last time for a long time that I anticipate doing such great quantities of nothing....

What you've all been waiting for - I got my pictures back today! They should be up on the internet. Obviously I didn't quite know what I was doing, so every picture taken thus far is in the same gallery. Sorry if it causes problems for those with slow internet connections....

So go here: http://www.edoud.fotopic.net/

alright as i actually have stories from the past two days, i'll go ahead and update.

yesterday in its entirety was spent in london (well and on the bus there and back.) after the chaos of being dropped off in the massive complex of victoria stations, julie, darchelle, and I headed to Buckingham palace for the Fabrage exhibit. Quite an impressive display - from 'practical objects' to the famous eggs. People there were really quite nice as Julie and Darchelle hadn't been able to do the left luggage thing. The security people let them leave the bags in the cloakroom and the 'thorough search' was more like looking on top and then asking if the bag was going to explode. Then, we arranged to meet a friend of Darchelle's aunt at the Canada Waters tube station at 3. Being the cheapskates we are, we decided it would be no problem to just walk there and save a couple pounds...... With the help of our "map" - a free although NOT to scale representation of some of the main roads and cartoons of the attractions - we made it to the station a little over 2 hours after starting. Definitely got to see London! The girls dropped off their stuff at Emma's house and then we finally decided that traveling by bus would be alright... taking the bus to oxford street, it broke down. so got on another bus. ate at trafalger square. then as we promised to emma, we walked all the way down oxford street. Impressive place for the night life. around by hydepark, stopping near the Ritz for desert. And then walking very very quickly to the bus station for me to head back here to Bath and Julie and Darchelle to get back to Emma's. I dare say that good times were had by all, and I do hope to get back to London a few times this semester...

So my typical sunday, sleeping in, reading. When I finally got myself geared up to go grocery shopping, I stopped in the kitchen where Mandy and Claude were hanging out. All of us with nothing to do, so since Claude has his car here with him we decided to go to 'the coast.' Definitely an ambiguous destination when you are on an island. At any rate, Mandy, Claude, Jakub, and I drove a little over an hour and finally randomly stopped in the village of Watchet. An empty place this time of year... but on the coast just north of Exmoor National Park. So we get out to a very chilly wind, and walk along the pier and basically through the whole town. As we were first walking out on the pier in front of the ocean, these 3 kids jumped up from behind a bench and screamed 'hey. welcome to watchet' actually made me jump. but it was hilarious, they did this whole exhibition type thing - 'you want to go to the lighthouse? that way, you want to go to the beach? this way' sounded all planned, rehearsed. obviously watchet is not the most exciting place to live. It simply can not be transcribed as hilariously as it occured - it does help if you add a british street urchin type accent to the whole thing. So we wandered the beach until the wind had our hands and ears go numb. Then drove back. So thats basically the most exciting weekend so far in terms of traveling. Tomorrow its back to 'class' - all 3 of them.

I guess I should start with this past weekend. I did not travel anywhere. Instead, I embraced my status as an 'international student.' By going to parties with my flatmates and sleeping in late. I guess I never find it less entertaining to be the only American and be identifyed vaguely by my accent. Friday night was a birthday party at the house of some Spanish girls. Then, on Saturday some Greek (as in - from Greece) management majors threw a party at their house. Definitely has me meet an eclectic range of people, the fewest being actual Brits I think.
The week has been relatively uneventful. I go to class, take naps, read books, and hang out with the flatmates. I have also been attempting to plan eventual travels and study abroad this summer. I decided to not do any really long trips until after spring break in order to conserve what little money I have. It's tough when everything is twice as expensive at home. At least they have public transportation here I guess. This summmer it looks like I will head to Australia for 6 weeks. Quite a bit different from my original plan of costa rica, and even my revised plan of Argentina. It will mean giving up on earning a Spanish minor, but I will get to travel around much of Australia and stop by New Zealand and maybe Fiji on my way home.
Wednesday night, Julie and Darchelle arrived via London from where they are studying in Madrid. Spent a couple of hours at The Bell, listening to the band until things closed as always at 11. Yesterday we got a rare day of sun and spent the majority of it wandering Bath, even finally going on the free walking tour that the Mayors office does. I'm done with classes for the day, so for entertainment we're going to see the matinee of 'Touching the Void' at a cinema nearby. Hurray for student discounts! Nothing huge planned for the weekend, but on Saturday I'll spend the day with the girls in London.

so it has been awhile...
First my flatmates have been absolutely wonderful. 3 are also new exchange students: Jean from Chile, Claude from Luxembourg, and Jakub from Czech rep. The others have been here awhile and the girls are actually working and not students: Danny from England, Harry from Japan, Mandy from Germany, and Suzanne from Scotland. Quite an iternational group for sure. Sometimes it means that I do get real food too.

Classes are also working themselves out, at last. Their system is still crazy. Right now it looks like my schedule is this: Monday - 9:15, biopolymers; 11:15 synthesis of medicinal compounds; 1:15 cellular neurobiology. Tuesday - 3:15, cellular neurobiology. Wednesday - 11:15 contemporary literature and film of the british isles. Thursday - maybe nothing, or maybe i'll take international british history. Friday- 9:15 cellular neurobiology.
I also, thankfully, got a spot in the field ecology course that will be April 3-8 in the Glower peninsula of wales. If anyone has a good field guide and/or stat book.... i'd love to borrow them.

So LOTS of freetime. Might make Thursday a day trip sorta day. And if necessary it wont be a problem to just skip town on wednesday afternoon for a long weekend. Went out a couple of nights this week. Already very evident that drinking (along with everything else in the country!!) is darn expensive. So I'm thinking of finding a nice hobby for my spare time. motorcycle classes in bristol? samba percussion club on monday nights? hmm.... what to do, what to do.

I've been all over town at this point. It is really quite compact - 15 min to walk from The Circus and the Royal Crescent to the Abbey. But beautiful since everything is made of bath stone. I even walk up and back from campus regularly - saves money on the bus and gives me a decent workout. I'm not such a fan of the uphill climb, but still....

I do have internet in my room now, which is basically my only source of entertainment besides actually going out and doing things. No TV which will be very good for me. Just the occasional movie with the flatmates. Really thats about all the news I can come up with. Hope for a more entertaining weekend!

so time for a better update from bath. After a lovely night sleep in my own room and bed - at last... Yesterday went on a trip with a bunch of the exchange students to Stonehenge and Salisbury. A beautiful sunny morning until we stepped out of the bus at stonehenge and were hit by stinging rain sleet. ack. glorious english weather for ya. Did the walk around the stones, impressive of course if a little overwhelmingly touristy. Then four hours wandering around in Salisbury - spent one or so wandering the cathedral and examining their original magna carta. Giant lunch and pretend shopping as we were all to cheap. Definitely will be expensive living here. Prices seem reasonable because I still think in dollars. Then you basically have to multiply everything by 2... sigh. Spent the last couple of days grocery shopping and setting up house if you will. Kindof what I had to do this summer in Indy but a little more so since I cant just go get stuff from home if i need to. So back to pasta, chips and dip, crackers, bread. the basics. haha. at least everyone else in my kitchen unit seems to know how to cook. Everyone has been great in giving me advice and welcoming me and the other 2 new exchange students. A very international group. The other two new students are a guys from luxembourg and chile. added to people from japan, germany, england, and france. They all seem to go out together pretty often - of course classes havent started yet either. Outside I have more or less set myself up with a group of American friends. plus one from denmark. Went over to their residence hall last night - 5 min away or so. hung out in the kitchen drinking a bit before heading down to Green Park pub for awhile. Met some English students and hung out till the place closed at 1 - they actually rung a bell and did a last call and everything. never heard that in Spain for sure. It will take some getting used to that things close so early here - normally pubs close about 11pm... when i am ready to go out in the US. it is probably better though - more sleep definitely. We hung out a while longer at their residence hall and I walked home around 3. People still awake in my kitchen - 2 chilean guys and the french girl. They made me taste pico, this chilean alcohol drink. eh. no great in my mind but the chileans love it. then a long long sleep and today havent accomplished much. went out to buy more house supplies and did laundry at long last. Now i am stealing my neighboors computer since although my laptop is set up, I cant arrange to get internet until things at the university open on monday. For those who are interested - I do have a phone in my room so just email me and I will send you the number if you ever want to call. Of course at this point care packages would be much appreciated too..... havent quite figured out where i pick up mail but I am sure I can handle it.

Spent a few hours wandering around Topkapi Palace on Thursday morning. Definitely impressive - the residence of the Ottoman Emperors. After getting a bit cold, I headed back to the hostel for a break and then off to a Hamam. Ah. we definitely need those in Indiana. Something to do on cold winter afternoons. It's really just like a massage in a bubblebath. And then the marathon journey across Europe! Arrived at the airport a bit before midnight. Flight left on time at 3:45 am. ack. Arrived around 6am at the Cologne/Bonn airport. I had thought I might go into town and wander a bit, but instead I spent the entire time lounging around, sleeping, reading, and eating at the airport. Not a bad day actually considering I was still recovering a bit from being sick. Left Germany, arrived Stansted airport around 7am. Definitely not the not the most convenient airport from which to get to Bath. I ended up taking buses via Heathrow and arrived downtown Bath around 2am. Bus up to the security office to collect my key. All going well - even ran into an exchange student from germany doing the same thing. At any rate, bad communication somewhere and they had no key for me - or the german either. Instead they gave us "emergency rooms," on campus housing basically set up like hotel rooms for when people visit for conferences. A nice 5 hour rest, then up and to the orientation session. The campus is pretty small so no trouble there. It is also expected that you just show up to classes you may like and then finally register by the end of February. Already met quite a few americans which is kindof nice after the wilds of Turkey. Haven't been back down to town and my room - hopefully this afternoon before the free buffet dinner. I am in Carpenter house which is right in the middle of everything. Everything is rather terribley expensive here though - might even have to come up with a budget to make it through till after the summer! Tomorrow they are taking us on a little excursion to Stonehenge and Salisbury. Hopefully in a day or so I will have my laptop and internet set up in my room. Also a mobile phone eventually... we'll see if I can afford it I guess!

I don't think I did much after Taxim Square... Walked a french and american to the metro stop to figure out where it is when I have to go to the airport. then got followed back by a weird old guy. I have resorted to speaking only in Spanish and calling them names in said language. no one here speaks it. and they still dont leave me alone. everyone in the world just trying to sell carpets. geez. I'm working on my comebacks too... amazing how good it can make you feel. probably not nice, but fun.

So yesterday woke up and was all ready to do good cultural activities. Spent an hour or two wandering around in the Hagia Sofia. amazing building. Even got myself into the Blue Mosque right before lunchtime. Thought I was going to have to cover my hair but didnt. Unfortunately the rest of the day I was out of commission due to unhealthyness. Got two new roomates - an american and a norwegian. Good people that I am meeting at 11 to go see the Topkapi Palace. After that maybe a Hamam? Anyway, I guess I dont have much but wanted to let ya know I am still alive...

and i did go out that night. around the corner to TNT bar where they had a live band. a school holiday so not many people around. pretty interesting range of music - the first song i heard was "perhaps, perhaps,perhaps" by Cake...but in Turkish. definitely odd. so i just hung out. tasted raki for the first time. the worst tasting drink i can imagine - i am obviously not a fan of aniseed. so i didnt finish it and went to bed around 12:30. up way to early to get on a bus to istanbul.

hours later arrived, got a free dolmus ride into sultanhamet - the center of the old town- and checked into the interyouth hostel that is across the street from Aya Sofia. crazy city. Spent a good amount of time wandering around in the afternoon and have NEVER had so many people just start talking to me. almost all are of course trying to sell something. but it is really driving me nuts that you cant go down a street without people from the shops asking where you are from and wont you come in for some tea? got me very on edge last night but i am getting better at telling them to leave me the heck alone or just ignoring them. last night went out to taxim square in the new town. definitely the center of the nightlife. a great place to people watch. went to a bar with a pretty good band and not too expensive cover - drank beforehand of course. stayed until about 3am. here in istanbul the party does go all night long. i bet it is pretty awesome in the summer time. at any rate a taxi back and to bed very tired like.

this morning woke up and walked back up to taxim square - maybe 45min away? across the golden horn. and walked down the hill via the main pedestrian street. lots of people out just walking as today is still the festival of kaban bayrami. found some pretty cool covered marketplaces and cafes to wander in. eventually made it back to sultanahmet and did another circuit of the blue mosque, the hippodrome, and aya sofia. i think there is a mosque on nearly every corner here in istabul. makes it very creepy at the call to prayer times. all the different calls echoing in the streets and sounding so strange and foreign. istanbul is definitely a cool city however. lots to do...