General Tidbits

I joined the Chapel Choir, meaning I am now participating in and attending two Anglican Church services a week. My general feeling about this is: por que no?

I realized I should probably explain the tutorial system, or Why I'm Not in Classes. Basically I have a course (British History from 1815 to 1914), a tutor and a reading list. I (and the other student in my tutorial) are assigned a question to write an essay about each week. Instead of spending time in class, we do reading and research and attend bi-weekly lectures. I only met with my tutor for the first time today and so tomorrow is really my first day of school/work for the year. I'm trying my best to re-discover my personal academic motivation and discipline before, like, tomorrow morning. We'll see how it goes.

I haven't mentioned my corridor - I live in a hallway with three fresher boys (Kevin, Johnny and Shea) and one of the boys from Dartmouth, Brian. Johnny and Shea are Irish and when they talk together in the hallway, I can't make out words whatsoever. I joked to Kevin today that I was the corridor mother hen (after he asked just exactly how old I was) but he didn't find it that funny. Mother hen or not (I should probably shoot for more of a big sister role), I'm going to establish some sort of bonding time since we're all going to be together for the year.

Other cultural things:
"Could do" or "Could've done" as in "(We) could do (that)" or "(We) could've done (that)" - this is a common response to sentences like "Oh we should go to lunch at the new restaurant." "Could do." This totally fascinates me - I speak the language! I know what that means! but it still takes me aback each time.

Organ scholars - there is one Organ Scholar per grade/year. They audition for the position and are the only people in the college to study music as a subject. I am mesmerized by watching them play organ in chapel and hearing them discuss certain composers and hymns. I have a basic knowledge of piano and sacred music, but to say they're light years beyond me is to understate it.

"Cheers" - I love "Cheers" and I totally want to adopt it and start saying it though I will be a complete poser. It's generally said instead of "Thanks" but it has a different connotation (to me at least). You know, like if someone picks up a paper you dropped or something and you say "Cheers" it's so much more familiar than "Thanks." I find it's almost closer to "Holla" than "Thanks." I should probably stop trying to explain and just accept the fact that we tragically don't have an equivalent.

Also, should anyone ever invite you to see the Keble College Chapel crypt, don't get excited because it's really only a basement. Just so you know.