catch-up.

I know, I know, I know, it has been ages. But here I am, I'm alive and well in Exeter. Actually, I'm not completely well. I've catch the mid-semester plague along with the rest of my flat, so there's that little detail.

Anyways, so the last few weeks have been pretty good. After the costume party that was mentioned last post, we took a few days out to just relax and focus on schoolwork. Of course, until Wednesday! We got a full on dose of British culture with the introduction to rugby, the Exeter uni team against Bath. I had the advantage of having someone explain rugby to me for three hours the night before, so I sort of knew what was going on. Exeter won, and all in all - it was a pretty good night. Some of our Aussie boys are on the rugby team (not the one playing), so it was a good time to hang out with them in their element.

That Saturday, Anna, Layla, Megan, Scott, and I headed out to Sherbourne, which is about an hour away in Dorset. We were hoping to see a castle, but alas, both castles were closed. Instead, we went to the abbey and then wandered town and got a bite to eat before going home. Nothing too wildly exciting there.

Last week was the beginning of birthday celebrations for one of our flatmates, Layla. We threw her a surprise party on Saturday night and then went to the Lemmy on campus, and then last night we went for a lovely dinner courtesy of Megan's parents, and then we hosted a party in our flat before going to Cheesy Tuesdays. It was her big 21, so the night was pretty fantastic.

This upcoming week we've all got some assignments due, so we're holding down the fort and working on those - and then on Sunday, I'm headed into London to see the one and only Rachel!

week four.

Sort of a combination of week three/week four, because the photo above is from our "weekend trip" to London. It's pretty nuts that we can say that - oh, we're going to London for the weekend. Not a big deal. Anyways, we legitimately decided to go to London four days before we went (there was a big group from across the way in our building that was going), we booked our bus and our hostel and just headed into the city. However, we got a bit delayed outside of Bristol - we were meant to get to London about 9:30 and didn't get in until 11:45. Yes, at night. So, it was pretty rough, but we found our hostel and Sam and Simon (two guys from our exchange program) were in the room with us. So, the ratio was 6/2 with the randomers, so we can't complain very much!

Our Saturday was sort of a chill day in London. We went to Kings Cross to see Platform 9 3/4, and then wandered throughout Oxford Street, Bond Street, and Soho (and went to the biggest Victoria's Secret ever .. five stories was a big excessive?) - before meeting up with Sam and Simon, and then two girls from the exchange program as well, for dinner. We then attempted to find a bar to have drinks in, but Camden was massively busy on a Saturday night (surprise!), so we ended up at a hokey Mexican Cantina. The Australian in our group loved it, but ... definitely not authentic. They had no idea what chips and salsa was!

Our bus the next morning left at 9 am, and went straight to Exeter, so we got back in good time. I took a nap, got tea, had some food and then headed to Walkabout Australian Bar for a kangaroo burger and to watch the superbowl. I don't care about the superbowl at all, but it was fun to be the only Americans in the bar - people kept asking us questions. And the food was good (and cheap with our student discounts!), so it was a fun night.

Obviously, we got back into the swing of classes come Monday, and I'm officially in a group for a group presentation for my medieval Paris class. One of the other girls in the group is on full-year exchange, and then the other girl is a social chair of the History Society here on campus. It should be a good team, as far as I'm concerned.

Today's just been a lazy day, Layla and Anna headed out to Stonehenge for the day - but as I went there two years ago I didn't really feel much of a need to spend the money to go back today. I slept in, read, cleaned my room, made lunch, and I'm planning to skype some people later this afternoon. Tonight we're going to do some prep for the fancy dress (costume) party tomorrow. Our costumes are a surprise! I'm sure pictures will emerge tomorrow..