Juliacentralicious

Preliminary Classes Impressions and Societies Doings

Chocsoc had our first real meeting on Tuesday night-- the official business? Making chocolate houses! They gave us packages of chocolate cookies, and Nutella. Our table created, in honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, "Pirates of the Coco-bean." It was rather lovely, and you should go to the Chocsoc website to go check it out when they post pictures, and also because you should vote for it. Though in all fairness, we DID win! Hah. Also, I had quite the ordeal locating peanut butter in this city-- not like it's a purely American thing, it's just that they were sold out everywhere, which was odd.
Also, I had a couple tango classes tonight-- the teacher is quite good, and there are some really fantastic dancers there. I'm at that awkward space right between beginner and intermediate, but learning a lot and getting better, which is all I need.
As for classes, well, it's still hard to tell. Scottish History so far has consisted of a class where we show up, fill out a contact form, and leave. It's my year one class, meaning that it'll be the easiest and the largest. Also, Natalie, my flatmate, is in it with me. Should be a good one.
Ancient History is my second-year class, so a little bit smaller, a little harder. But the professors are nothing if not well-organized, and the syllabus looks amazing. (Covering Egyptian, Biblical, and Ancient Greek and Roman history.)
Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry is the most inspiring class, in many ways. The teacher is amazing. He dove right into it at the first lecture, and he knows his stuff really well. He had a Scot read the poems written in Scots so that we could hear how the rhyme and rhythm depend on the specific accent, which was incredible. And in the middle of class, he offered us tea, and we had a few minutes to have some.
Sadly, the classmates aren't so great. Let's just say that I'm used to a higher level of preparation, knowledge of poetics, and politeness from people that I associate with. This may be a problem, but I won't complain that much.
It's looking to be a good, if a little bit busy, semester.

posted by Julia @ 1:51 PM