I've finally been to a class now, but nothing amazing happened, really. It's a small group of eight students and one instructor, and it's supposed to be a complement to the twice-weekly lectures. Well, we haven't had a lecture yet, and no assignments, and so we did introductions and looked briefly at two poems. The class is 17th-century literature, so we're starting with John Donne and Anne Southwell. Should be fun.
Normally, it being a Tuesday, I would've had two lectures as well. However, both were canceled today, which worked just fine for me. Last night was Australia Night at the student union, meaning you could show up dressed like an Australian. I thought this was basically equivalent to a Hawaiian or cowboy theme, in that you wear something stereotypical but recognizable. I had no idea, though, what Australians are supposed to wear. Turns out, they supposedly wear neon athletic clothing, leg warmers, sandals, and hair pulled back only on one side. Or, they wear those hats with little bobbly things dangling from the brim. I guess those aren't very good descriptions, but I was amazed that everyone there knew how to dress like an Australian.
Me, though, I don't have any bright colors (That was the only advice given: bright colors). I didn't have anything suitable to go to a club, in fact--not that there's a strict dress code, but didn't want to look like I'd never gone out dancing before. Which I hadn't. Anyway, Katy was also short of clothing, having not yet received her luggage, and so we hopped on a bus and went shopping in Hanley Center, in Stoke-on-Trent. The bus ride was about 40 minutes, including a couple of longer stops. The shopping there is pretty darn nice. Our first stop was a shoe store having a big sale, where I found a super-cute pair of knee-high, brown boots for £15. Great price, right? THEN, we went to Primark. Good heavens. Primark is a large clothing store, with ridiculously low prices on most merchandise, and everything there is about ten times as fashionable as a comparable retailer in America. Under Katy's guidance, I put together a fantastic clubbing outfit, consisting of a shimmery halter top dress over black shirt and leggings, which went perfectly with the boots. Three items. £7.50! That's IT! Now, I realize that pounds are worth more than U.S. dollars, but this is still ridiculous. We're definitely going back to Primark some time.
While in Hanley, I also bought a cheap cell phone with pay-as-you-go minutes, which means that Katy and I won't be completely isolated from each other anymore! (My dorm has a card swipe at the entrance, and hers didn't have internet until a few hours ago, so it was sort of difficult to communicate to set up plans and such.) After a slightly harrowing bus experience, in which the bus driver let Katy go by without a ticket but gave me the third degree for being nervous and confused, we were back at Keele and set to partay. Yes, that is partAy, with an A in it--not because that's what the Brits say, but because that's what WE say.
Australia Night was a blast. (I wish I could compare the clubs here to those in America, but I can't. Never been to one, sorry.) There were two places open in the student union, one with pop/rock music and pool tables, and one with techno, black lights, and fluorescent face-painting. Of course, each had a very busy bar. I had a pint of Guinness, and I'm sorry to report that I was not terribly impressed. Katy loved it, though. I think I just don't like beer. I do, however, like dancing. If this statement seems to contradict your previous knowledge of my opinion of dancing, you are absolutely on target. Why the change? Probably the outfit. I don't know.
Completely switching topics here, I checked out this cool old church after class today. I'd seen it from the road before, on my walk home from campus, but hadn't known anything about it. It's stone and tall and has a very picturesque and somewhat creepy graveyard covering the lower hill around it. The front doors are quite tall as well, and probably very heavy. I didn't get a chance to go inside it, but I'm guessing it has ornate decorations and a high ceiling. From reading a little commemorative plaque on the lychgate, I think it was built in 1870! What, you ask, is a lychgate? Good question. It's just a little roofed porch that goes over a pathway, and it's placed at the entrance to a cemetery. I only knew what it was called because the plaque used that word, and I looked it up online later. So, overall, it was an educational experience.
There was an activities fair on campus today, at which Katy and I signed up for the Stitch and Bitch society. It involves needlework and gossip. I'm planning to knit something incredibly cute, probably with buttons added. Details to follow.
For dinner tonight, I made a grilled cheese and turkey sandwich, which in itself is not remarkable. However, Katy's roommate Ally, who is here on study abroad from Hong Kong, had never had a grilled cheese before. From watching me, she learned how to do it unsupervised, and then proceeded to toast the most beautiful grilled cheese I've ever seen. It was remarkable. Then she told me she didn't know how to cook at all.
Next entry will likely include an account of my British culture course, the first meeting of which will be tomorrow.
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