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.