Rain, Trains, Birds and Babes, Quizzes and Shenanigans in General

It's Thursday already! Nutty. Dodgy even. That is absolutely my most favourite British word so far! But anyway, it has been such a great week so far! I can't believe I haven't even been here a full week! I'd like to say that I have a routine but that would be a laugh! Every day is new and different, and for me, always a surprise because I never take my schedule with me anywhere! O well. Classes have started and I'm really enjoying them so far. I'm taking Early Modern Life Writings and Art and Architecture this term and then after the half term break, I'll take two other classes. They are challenging but in a good way - I'm really encouraged to read my assigned reading closely and engage the texts which I definitely never do! Awful. But I'm learning:)
One of my favourite parts of the day is getting to eat lunch at Regent's Park with the other students. So far I've sat with new people every day and I always have such a great time - the students and staff are super friendly and full of advice. As well, a group of students from Georgetown in the States just came so there are some more internationals - but of course, everyone likes Canadians better;) Today we actually spent some time in the JCR (Junior Common Room) - which is the name for the group of undergraduate students but also the name of a physical room - and Matt, Phoebe and I played Fooseball with another guy from the JCR - he was from California. And he was a wicked striker - he had serious Fooseball skills. Jealous. What else...O yes. On Wednesday, a bunch of us decided that we would have dinner and a pint at the Eagle and Child (locally referred to as the 'Bird and Babe'). This pub is right around the corner from our College (Regent's Park) and it is famous because C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein and others met there every Tuesday for beers and to talk about what they were working on and toss around ideas. oooo Yeah! So I had some Bitters and Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas - you can't get more British than that!
Now, Some of you may remember me mentioning the Quiz at the Bull. There was a point where I had no idea what that was...that time has passed because I am now a fellow participant in the Quiz at the Bull every Wednesday! Basically it's a general knowldege/trivial pursuit kind of game where teams show up at the Bull (which is a Pub/Hotel) and fill in the Quiz - history, geography, pop culture, sports, etc. and then Clive marks it and the winner gets...bragging rights. :) It was sooo great! We didn't lose! ;P Our team was made up of Sue (my host), Dave (Sue's boyfriend), Ben (Sue's son), Phoebe and myself. Sue aced the Soap Operas, Ben aced the sports, Dave did history/geography/pop culture, and Phoebs and I voted when we had to make guesses! So I'm going to do some UK general knowledge research and watch loads of football with Ben and hopefully I can help out more next time!
And today, we had one class but we had chapel here in Chalbury at the Baptist Church. Reverend Mike lead it and he has one of those really great voices that doesn't require a mic - a great pastor voice! He talked about blessings, the Beatitudes and it was really encouraging - a good way to start the day! Then we headed over to Oxford for lunch and class and the Phoebe and I went to check out the covered market. It's what it sounds like - there are all sorts of shops (chocolate, flowers, clothes, restaurants, etc.) inside a building. It was great. Oxford is so beautiful and everywhere you turn there is something new to uncover.
Tomorrow is a pretty casual day and it's definitely getting warmer! But that also means rain...
Looking forward to the weekend!
Cheers!