London and Other Things

Hello, all.

Class finally started yesterday and it's been promising. I'm taking two university courses: "Modern Irish Literature and Drama" and "American Literature to 1900." The latter proves to be very interesting, even beyond the fact that it's British people teaching me about American things.

The university is big, much bigger than Luther, as expected. It takes a good amount of time to get from place to place, especially from our flat to the university itself. The students here are generally very friendly.

They're friendly in the pubs and clubs, too. About a week ago, some of my friends and I went out to a club that has student-only nights. After a cold, uncomfortable, and very long queue, as well as a victorious bathroom break following it, it was some of the most fun I've had dancing in a long time. This is the club, if you want to see it and all of its amazing rooms. We danced in the New York disco room.

Last weekend was my first trip to London with all the Nottingham/Luther students and faculty. It was a cool place, but I didn't get around to see Big Ben, the Tower, or any of the big, iconic monuments. I'll definitely be visiting again.

I did, however, go out to a London dance club, (which was way too crowded) and the Globe theater.

The Millennium Bridge, on the way to the Globe theater. Harry Potter fans might know it as the one that got ripped apart by death eaters in the sixth film.

At the Globe. We had a great guide, who was a swashbuckling, Shakespearean actor himself, complete with fantastic moustache. He knew and liked who he was.

Henry IV, Part I was the play being performed at the time. For the duration of the three-hour performance, (with one intermission in the middle), I watched as a "groundling," or what was once the peasantry and lower class that stood on the ground for the entirety of the play. It was very worth it.

If you're familiar with the play, there's a character named Falstaff in it, a drunk, fat, morally reprehensible, but lovable old man. The actor who played him was hilarious. Everyone else was great, too.

Good times here, and looking forward to more!