It’s Saturday in the lovely outer boroughs of London, and I’m lazing about reading books, tending to my awful cold. It’s been a pretty uneventful day… I’m pretty sure it’s going to stay that way, considering the fact that I still feel miserable. I’m at least clear-headed enough to finish reading the books I hadn’t gotten the chance to finish, namely a quick re-read of the Tempest and Richard III, which are the other two plays we’re studying and watching in my Shakespeare class. That’s about all I’ve been doing today, but I figure since I’m about halfway through the program, I’ll do a quick sum up of my experience so far (providing my head allows it).

This has been a really interesting and engaging experience for me. I mean, that’s kind of a “no duh” statement, but it’s true. I’ve done a lot of touristy things, most of which I’ve related in this blog; hung out in some pubs for pub grub, which has been delicious and very fatty; and gotten a taste of what college is like for British students. I think the most different thing about studying the UK is the grading system, where grades in the 70s are considered “A’s.” I’m not sure how exactly they go about converting UK grades to those that work in the US system, but my head is really too groggy to postulate a guess and, besides, I’m not the one who has to worry about it. I’m really enjoying the instruction of Nick, whose wit has made every class entertaining while simultaneously educational. (I kind of wish I could take him back to CCNY and let him teach some of my classes…) I really enjoy the feel of British life, and if for whatever reason I had to live in London instead of Edinburgh, I wouldn’t be complaining. They’re both very old cities, and I love that sense of history that wafts up from the old cobbles of the winding backstreets… And on that bombshell, it’s time to end. (UK Top Gear? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?)

I suppose I should get back to reading and resting; I have big plans for some small bookstores tomorrow, and I want to have as much energy as possible before setting out in the morning. So, for now, I’m going to go read beautiful and philosophical things like “we are such things as dreams are made on,” which is the beginning of one of Prospero’s more infamous speeches. Good evening, and good reading!