So...

I've faced a very, very rapid adjustment to being here. After getting in yesterday afternoon, I unpacked, then took a walk around campus -- pretty, but also rather deserted, with many people missing for the weekend (exams just ended). The hall I'm in is OK, but the British students I'm with (mostly, maybe all, first-years) aren't the most forthcoming of people. I'm going to need to be more outgoing.

Today, after a brief registration session, we've been thrown into the thick of it. Modules (what we in the States would call courses or classes -- here, a "course" is the equivalent of a major back home) began today, so we're registering after they've already started. This means, in many cases, violating a cardinal rule of academics: Never Miss The First Class. Nevertheless, the professors are apparently well aware of the situation, which makes it better.

The registration sessions are by school (subject area) -- today I signed up for my first module, The Politics of Science Fiction. It's at a pretty high level, so I'm a little apprehensive, but the class I went to today (well, what I was there for -- had to miss part of it for the registration session) seemed promising. Tomorrow, I register for what should be the other 66% of my courseload - American Studies.

I'll try to provide an explanation of the British educational system later for context, but I have to head off to dinner in a few minutes. In any case, I'm learning that if Nottingham is going to force me to hit the ground running academically, I had better do it socially as well. So far, so good... I think.

A brief update (not much time, and very tired):

Orientation was OK after all, the show was pretty damn good, and this city is way too expensive. Thank God Nottingham will be cheaper.

The hotel Butler put us all at, the St. Giles, doesn't have free internet access. I'm typing this on a PC on which they charge by the minute -- the rates are a ripoff compared to the internet cafe nearby, but they charge a £2 minimum there -- which would end up going largely to waste.

There's actually no real orientation today -- just got to the office, was handed some forms and papers, and sent off to the hotel. There's a group dinner tonight at Wagamama's, a national Japanese chain that's very popular here. The actual orientation comes tomorrow -- it'll likely be very boring, like I said, but hopefully useful. We have the afternoon free, and then we all meet up to go to a show together - fortunately, the show in question is Avenue Q, and not... something that I'd have much less interest in, i.e., most musical theater in general.

Wandered around SoHo this afternoon -- it's the theater district, so lots of huge marquees everywhere. Some amusing juxtapositions between the theatres themselves and the stores nearby. The repetition of chain stores and restaurants -- sometimes more than one at a given intersection -- is beyond laughable, though the same could be said of any large city.

Tonight is free -- hopefully I'll get a chance to do some nightlife stuff, like finally visiting an actual pub. Maybe I'm just too timid, but I didn't quite feel safe doing that by myself.

More later.

Thoroughly worn out -- but I might as well type all this out before I hit the sack.

My timne today was mainly occupied by museum-going. The Natural History Museum is huge, and one can't argue with the price (free)... though it has a certain been-there-done-that factor for those who have been to museums of that ilk. Dinosaur skeletons, taxidermied critters, gemstones, meteorites... all interesting, but kinda blah after a while.

The Science Museum. Also free. A lot of interesting displays of various varieties. And, oh yes, a special exhibit on video games. That wasn't free (or terribly cheap), but I decided it wouldn't be terrible to spend money on one tourist attraction. It was worth it... a surprisingly eclectic collection of games, with some very niche stuff well-represented.

After that, made a very brief trip across the street to the Victoria & Albert Museum (more art and artifacts... unlike the Soane's Museum, this stuff was actually organized). Decided to leave promptly because I was all museumed out.

Next: Tottenham Court (actually, not that far from my hotel), where there are a ton of electronics stores, in search of a cell phone. Didn't manage to get a phone yet, but I think I have a plan picked out. Should be able to get something tomorrow morning, if I get out on time. I had an inexplicable craving for Indian food -- thought of heading all the way to Brick Lane, where there are many, many such restaurants, but decided I was too hungry to take the time. Fortunately, I found a pretty good (if a little bland) Indian vegetarian place (no, it wasn't on your list, Dad) which had a very, very cheap dinner.

Odd moment of the day: a young guy at a Tube station delivering a monologue of sorts to his girlfriend that sounded like it came out of a bad movie. (No, I wasn't eavesdropping; they were right in front of me on the escalator, and I couldn't help but overhear parts of it. I only caught snatches, regardless.)

Tomorrow: I meet up with the rest of the IFSA-Butler Nottingham contingent (most of my fellow Americans there, in all likelihood), and suffer through what I suspect will be a rather dull orientation. Dull, at least, compared to being out actually seeing stuff.

Wrote this yesterday, but Blogger wasn't working at the time:

Despite being exhausted, I knew I had to take the opportunity to get some
touristy crap done.
First, paid a visit to the Sir John Soane's Museum (it's in walking
distance), a wonderfully eccentric collection of art and artifacts
(apparently, Soane kept most of this stuff that way while he was alive...
weird guy).  Photos on the web site: http://www.soane.org/

Then, headed down near Westminster Abbey.  Didn't feel like paying for the
tour, but I got some good photos of the building, and Big Ben.  Will post
them when I get the chance... which isn't now.

Next, went to Picadilly circus (I think I'm already getting pretty good at
navigating the subway).  This is basically the London equivalent of Times
Square -- giant video screens and glitzy, tourist-friendly megastores
galore.   Went a little out of the way to visit Hamleys, a particularly
famous (and gigantic -- much bigger than the Times Square Toys 'R US)
toy/game store.

Finally, I ate dinner at a cheap, unextraordinary, but sufficiently
pleasant vegetarian Thai buffet, close to the hotel where I'm staying.
The hotel, by the way (Ridgemount Hotel) is small, but nice -- I believe
it's family-owned, meaning that there's a human touch absent from your
typical chain.

That's all for now.  Going to crash soon.  (Yeah, it's not even 9 here,
but I need it.)

Anyways, this morning had an unexciting but tasty breakfast at the hotel (eggs, cereal, toast, juice, coffee.)  I'm going to head out to go to the Natural History and Science museums - both free.  If there's time after that, I might try to stop at the Tate Modern - modern art, as the name suggests, and also free.

I survived the flight, despite already being ridiculously short on sleep, and getting virtually none on the plane. Then I survived dragging all my baggage to the hotel... hell on my back. Anyways, about to head out for some museum-visiting and lunch.