Another week, more exploring. I’ve managed to stumble across a wide variety of the city’s offerings—a 35pence bagel shop open 24 hours, a Marks and Spencers (although it was mainly food), and a post office (although the queue was ridiculously long for me to stand in it). I visited another market, this time Camden Lock, in search of little trinkets that aren’t quite so mainstream. Unlike the Borough Market with all sorts of food imaginable, Camden caters to people with interests in clothing, jewelry, art, antiques and little things. There are good finds if you just rummage and search. So far it’s been a good time, wandering the cramped alleys and looking for that something that catches your eye and causes you to stop.

On Saturday evening I went to Mass at St. Charles Borromeo, a church close to one of Westminster’s campuses. I randomly chose this one because it was off a main street that I recognized and knew my way to. After returning to Harrow I hung around and watched a movie with a friend. I love my sleep too much to be constantly running around like a crazy person.

This week was the start of classes for most British universities. Due to the “strict requirements” for the Media and Design school some of my portfolio “wasn’t accepted” and I can’t take all of the classes I originally put in for. Instead I’m taking a couple classes that count as credit toward my Communications minor. Despite that setback and annoyance I somehow lucked out with a sweet schedule! I don’t have class Monday or Friday so that allows for some jam packed traveling weekends. On Tuesday I have Multiculturalism and the Media (10am-1pm) and Space/Place: Text/Context (2pm-5pm). The first seems interesting and we will end up talking a lot about the US after 9/11 and different British issues. The second was cancelled however the professor, or lecturer as they call them, didn’t tell us?! So I explored the library which is nothing like the cozy Stonehill library decorated with yellows, greens, and purples, colors conducive to learning and remembering. The Harrow library is strictly tables, uncomfortable chairs and books. That will take some getting used to considering I will be spending time there reading. At Stonehill I mainly work from my bed. UK students normally just use the library books rather than purchasing them (so unlike the American way of spending hundreds of dollars on books each semester!) My Wednesday class is already my favorite. Although I have to get up super early in order to catch the tube during rush hour to get to the Regent Street campus, my class consists of learning about London architecture and art. Entitled Art and Society, the class meets for an hour lecture and then we go out into the city to see what we are learning about first hand. Today we walked past the BBC to All Souls Church and then down the street to All Saints. Today I finally remembered to make a wish every time I go into a new church. Up until now I kept forgetting. It is a much more relaxed art history course that I’m used to which will be a pleasant change. No slide lists and intense memorization this semester! In a couple weeks we are scheduled to visit St. Paul’s and climb to the top. Some other Arcadia girls (from my first orientation are in that class) and one of them climbed it with me before! Maybe my calves won’t be quite as sore this time around! Finally, tomorrow I have Understand Public Relations from 10am-1pm. Then I can say I survived my first week of classes, even though one was not held..

Tomorrow after class, I’m headed to the pound store or the two dollar store, relating it to home, and Sainsbury’s to buy some food for dinner. Then I’m off to Sara’s flat to cook a real meal! (oh, her real last name is Chmielewski but we call her Chm for short/because there is another Sara). Then Friday I head to Worcester for the weekend for my homestay. I’m staying with a mother and her son and daughter. They are both right around my age so it should be a good time.