Juliacentralicious

Wednesday and Thursday, just about as long as days can get

I am currently in the process of making Emily's Cuban Black Bean Soup, which we all know is a semester tradition. (If you can't tell from the time difference, this first bit is pasted in from earlier). However, I had to go to Tesco (the further grocery store) to even find black beans (and no bulk bags, either), and since we don't have a massive soup pot, I'm doing two batches at once. Also my peanut butter is tasteless. Hello, culture shock. Since I'm not willing to leave the kitchen (we have finicky smoke detectors and I'd rather not force everyone outside in the rain), I'm banished here for at least an hour.
I will admit that Tuesday was uneventful. I went to my advisor meeting (the first of many, actually), went on a campus tour, and probably took a nap. We went to the "Skool Disco" Fresher's party, but left early and crashed, which is just as well.
Now, Wednesday was quite a day. Advisor meeting number two occurred, at which nothing at all was accomplished. Then I ventured to the Societies Fair. UEd has over 200 societies (read: clubs), depending on which source you look at. This does not include clubs (read: sports). And I can safely say that each and every one of those societies could soundly whip every club at USC (and, according to my other US flatmate, every club at Carolina as well). Each booth was elaborate, having at least a very nice poster. Most had sweeties they handed out with fliers, and some had special incentives for joining right away (the Russian Club would give you a shot of vodka). Also, just about every club is only £3 to join for the whole year. And gives you loads of things—even the English Language club has a 20% pub discount you get with membership, plus organizing lectures and discussions.
If you're curious, I am on the mailing list for the following societies: English Language, English Literature, Archaeology, Scottish Dance, Tango, Swing, Ballroom, Poker, Scifi, 50 Things to do in Edinburgh Before You Leave, Chocolate (includes chocolate every week and a discounted trip to the Cadbury factory), Create (as in crafts and writing), and Philosophy. There may be more, to be honest. Yes, I know I have to narrow them down, but this is insane. They're just all too good for words.
After my flurry of joinery, Elizabeth, Natalie and I decided to join the ISC (International Students Center) trip to Arthur's Seat, basically a very big hill that is in the middle of the city. There was a massive group, but it was literally blocks away from campus. The hike up was a bit tiring (would have been infinitely better with a picnic), but from the top you had the most incredible view. The weather was perfect, too, just windy enough to counter all the sweat we had worked up.
I had enough time, on return, to have a sandwich before going to the prelim creative writing workshop of createsoc, in George Park, in the middle of campus. I give it a tepid review, maybe or maybe not worth actually joining (half pretentious, half shy and quiet students). But amusing at least (kept me away from my still-hauntingly slow internet, which I have also discovered will make my music on itunes skip and slow down if I try to load any pages. Really now.)
And finally, I went on the "Ghosts and Ghouls" tour, one of the city tours included in our Fresher's pack. The guide took us to a few places and described some gruesome deaths that had occurred, more cheese than scare, and then we went into some catacombs, which were entirely too well-lit for my taste, though apparently some people were afraid. Go figure. Sadly, no ghostly encounters, even though I tried to tempt the misogynistic ghost by standing blatantly in his corner.
A final bonus point for me: this morning I got up early and got my schedule ironed out (that's advisor visit number three, not including that I still have to email my Director of Studies to notify him of my new classes)—I'll be taking Scottish History, Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry, and Ancient History: Past and Present in the Ancient World. Top class choices, but sacrificing any possibilities of a three-day weekend, so I'm hoping I don't regret this (or that I'm at least able to skip once in a while.
This has been another frightfully long post, brought to you by the insanity of events that is Fresher's week. I promise they'll get shorter once classes start (unless, of course, I join all these societies, in which case I'll be doing exciting and note-worthy things each and every day). Later.

An addendum:
Afternoon of dance! If you were curious, I made a kickass Cuban Black Bean soup with my limited resources. Then off to the Ballroom taster lesson. As usual, I'm tepid towards ballroom. If it comes down to it, I probably won't take it. Stupid routines.
The tango lesson was wonderful. The instructor has a policy about everyone learning to lead and follow, which is a very smart move. And I met Andy's British doppleganger! I swear to god, he looks similar, and even used to have long hair! We grabbed some pretty good curry after (nothing like the stuff from LA though), and I managed to get home to dry off marginally before the ceilidh.
Now, the ceilidh was brilliant. A ceilidh (pronounced key-lee) is a big social Scottish dance. All sorts of reels and country dancing (theirs, not ours) and such. Most require a partner, though most people just ask strangers, since you may or may not rotate partners during the dance. The caller (for lack of a better word) tells you what formation you should be in (big circle, groups of four couples, etc), runs through the dance about twice with everyone, and then the band takes off. There are loads of fiddle and accordion. Most dances include the polka. Only half (if that) of the dancers actually know the dance. Everyone sweats buckets and runs into everyone else and has one hell of a time. (It even kept me from swing dancing!) Highly recommended.
Jesus, this is long. Again, sorry. Time for me to crash.

posted by Julia @ 5:02 PM