Week Three - Classes and Societies

Okay, it's nerd-out time.  This was the first week that I had all my classes.  I had a weird little pseudo-class at the LATIN briefing last Friday but I don't count that. Also, this was the first week that I attended any of the club stuff so I'm giving you guys my general impressions of both things that I wrote down right after they happened (or as close I could manage), without giving you a blow by blow of the class/meeting itself....because that would be boring.  

Palaeography - Palaeography is the study of ancient texts, both the development of how they are written (this is specifically known as codicology) and the writing contained with in them.  Anyone who wants to study any sort of literature in the middle ages has to have it, so, unsurprisingly, I'm taking it.  It's a skill module, meaning it's only about an hour and a half class, which is nice.  However, it means they're going to be trying to cram in as much information as humanly possible.

So far, my impression of the class is good.  Our work load is not graded, but rather for self-enrichment, which I like a great deal.  On top of that, it really is fascinating to see how writing developed.  Unfortunately a lot of it is in LATIN so I have to suffer through it in more than one class, but I'll deal if only because it means I'll be able to read Beowulf and all kinds of other fun documents in their original formats, which is beyond cool.

LATIN- Ah, yes, LATIN.  How I loathe thee, yet need thee for my studies.  My prof here is loads better than the one I had at UCSB for LATIN 2 though, which is an instant plus in my book.  I'm still not enthused about having to retake LATIN, but at least this class seems survivable.  Sort of.  It's at 9:00 in the morning and that hurts.

Age of Vikings - God, what genius thought an archaeology course should take place first thing in the morning?  Whoever they are, they need to get punched.  

So far this class is interesting, but I'm a little worried about it.  The focus is on the aspects of Viking culture that aren't commonly touched upon.  Fine.  We have to give presentations. Also, fine.  Our readings are very pedantic scientific papers that I could summarize in 3 sentences.  That worries me.  Hopefully it'll get better once we're out of the intro stuff but at this point I really can't say.

I thank God I was nerdy enough that I thought taking Archaeology at JC was cool, though.  It's going to be a huge help.

Old Norse - This is being taught by one of my flatmates, which is both a little awkward and kind of cool.  So far it looks like this is going to be a blast.  There's a significant amount of bleed over from Old English in some regards, so I'm not as thrown as I thought I'd be.  Of all the classes I've had so far, this is the one I'm really looking forward to sinking my teeth into.

Old English - Oh, Old English, I missed you.  I mean I've worked on it on my own, but it's nice to have it as a class again.  We're basically just doing translations and discussion, but the cool thing is because we're an advanced class we get to pick the texts.  This is so going to be fun, I just need to decide on the texts I would like to propose we translate. That's really hard because the texts I've liked, I've already translated either on my own or in class, and the texts I haven't translated, I don't know that much about.

Core Course: Intro to Art History - So far this class seems good, though there are a couple of students who are on that "Catholics were/are a bunch of controlling pricks" wavelength that is part of the reason none of my courses have much to do with religion (Well, that and I don't want to have to defend my religion every class.  You believe something different, that's cool in my book, I have zero problem with anyone of another faith, but please extend me the same courtesy).  Other than that, though the prof was enthusiastic and it was some very fun discussions.

We had to draw our version of the nativity though.  I do not think my dignity will ever recover.

Medieval Society - I...don't really know what I think of these guys yet.  They're definitely different than SCA, that's for sure.  There is no real game plan as to what we're doing as a club and pretty much the welcome feast was less a 'Hey, welcome to the group.  Here's what we're thinking of doing for the term' and more an excuse for everyone to get drunk on Strongbow and act like tits.

Still they seem enthusiastic and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt right now.  They get two more meetings and if I still feel like we're doing nothing, I'll quit and go do something else.

Old English/Old Norse Reading Group - This was fun.  We met up at a pub at about 5:30 on Wed and just sat around drinking and translating Old Norse.  As I mentioned on the Old Norse section, there's a significant amount of similarities with Old English so I managed better than I thought I would.

The group was bigger than I thought it would be, but they were all cool, so that just made it fun.  A bunch of us from the Old Norse class just walked over in a group too.

Sci Fi/ Fantasty Society - Holy crap, these guys are awesome.  I ended up staying the entire meeting and not only do they run some truly awesome D&D campaigns, they actually have a LARP going that doesn't sound completely devoid of anything except people being embarrassing.  These guys are hardcore enough that they made a friggin' manual for the LARP.  They're having a "convention" this weekend and I'm totally in on that.

Convention - I officially take back anything bad I've ever said about LARPing ever.  I had an absolute blast and I will definitely be doing this while I'm here in York.  They took some pictures of us in kit too, so if I can find 'em, I'll post them.

Also, in a moment of complete fail, I managed to lock myself out of my room last night.  This is the second time I've been locked out, thus marking me queen of idiots for a while.

Next week: LARP, Halloween Party and the prep that went into it along with whatever randomness I feel that I need to share.

Week Two - 8 Random Things About York and the CMS

Jesus Christ on toast, this place is amazing!  I knew the department here was fantastic when I applied, now I'm just blown away by the place.

This week was all the orientation stuff here at the Centre for Medieval studies.  It was a bit overwhelming, especially on Monday when they threw EVERYTHING at us.  Also that same day we had a LATIN test, which I completely panicked at.  I think I did fairly well, but the entire time I was taking it there was a chorus of "crapcrapcrapcrap I'm so boned" running through the back of my head.

(Note: Since the time of writing the above paragraph, I found out I was placed in the beginners LATIN.  Nothing to stress about, but I obviously didn't do as well as I'd thought.)

Something I'm becoming very aware of that's quite different from the college mentality in the states is the drinking culture.  You're encouraged to drink and, in fact, some of the research/reading groups meet at pubs.  It's a social thing though, not the way that I saw it in the states, where people drink mostly to get drunk.  It's kind of nice really.  It helps that all the CMS (Centre for Medieval Studies) people are completely nerdy/awesome and I'm really enjoying getting to know them.

I'll avoid giving you a blow-by-blow of the week this time.  Instead, I'm going to list a few things I noticed/found out on week two here.

1.) Apparently PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon for those who aren't beer drinkers) is really big over here.  If you don't get why this is odd to me, let me explain.  In Santa Barbara (and CA at large), PBR is just above cow piss and Corona in terms of cheap bad beverages.  If you want something good and cheap, you get a Coors or a Bud.  Here, PBR is like...THE American Beer.  I've seen it on tap more than I've seen Bud, which is bizarre as hell.  Also, more expensive beers in the States (Stella Artois, Fosters, Guiness, etc.) is ridiculously cheap here and considered on the level of Coors back home.  It's....wierd, like someone just took the normal ranking of beers and turned them on their heads.

Still, the local lagers here are fantastic, so I'm not complaining.  I'm underwhelmed by Carling though.  Heard Strongbow is better and I'll have to find out for myself if that's true or not.

2.) No matter where I go, if I'm at a grocery store and have to bag my crap, I will have a mini panic attack.  I thought, for some weird reason known only to the inner workings of my mind, that being out of pushy California would stop me from acting like I'm trying to get through security at an airport when I'm at the checkout line, but that's just not the case.  I get all shaky and sort of flail about, trying to get everything bagged as quickly as possible while also trying to pay my total and not hit the cashier in the face with something.  Not the most dignified behavior in the world.

3.)  I need to eat more regularly here because of the drinking culture.  Back in SB, I had a couple of Gin and Tonics Sunday night while making Salmon, or I had a beer if I went out somewhere other than In-n-Out Burger.  When I got home for the summer, I drank a bit more regularly, but it was always with a meal and I don't, you now, FORGET TO EAT at home the way I do when I'm on my own and get fixated on stuff.  However, I've discovered half a pint of lager will make me the most obnoxiously talkative person on the planet if I've had nothing to eat since breakfast.  And, given that I don't like feeling like I need to punch myself in the face when I sober up, yeah, I'll be eating more regularly.

4.)Apparently the bureaucracy of Academia sucks everywhere.  Hearing some of the PhD students talk, it sounds like unless you're doing research or actually have a medieval studies program at the school you're working at; you're probably going to be teaching classes in your area whether you want to or not.  I sort of knew that, but I'd hoped maybe over here it'd be less of a problem since, you know, all the sites and stuff are here, but alas, Medieval Studies apparently only interests us select few.

Also, on the bureaucracy thing.  They're taking a fridge from us.  We're low on fridge space for 30+ people and they're taking a fridge away.  We're raising cain about it, but, come on people.  You fill the place to capacity and then take away something we NEED?  Are you daft? What the hell are you thinking?! Arrrrgh.

5.) One washer/dryer set + 30 odd people = complete fail.  This has probably been one of the most irritating things all week.  I went down on three separate occasions with the intent of doing laundry, only to find that everything was in use or someone had left all their shit in the dryer.  I did finally get it all done, but Jesus Christ in a handbasket, it took me far longer than it should have.

6.)Nobody makes strong coffee here.  I'm not joking.  Even the expresso is weaker than what we have stateside.  It's depressing since I drink my coffee Norwegian black and I can't make the strength I like.  It tastes like I'm just drinking slightly bitter milk and that's just not right.

7.)  Whatever function you are at, it will end up moving to a pub.  Everything except my LATIN briefing did that this past week.  Orientation is over?  Awesome, let's go to the pub.  Oh, we're throwing a meet and greet for the CMS?  Let's head to the pub as it winds down.  Old English/Old Norse reading group?  To the Pub!  Not that I'm complaining much, half pints are cheap and I only get one, but it just seems to be where everything ends up, as opposed to SB where you stayed at the party and drank or go to someone's house and drink socially.

8.) York is full of nerds and God bless it for that.  There is a Sci Fi/ Fantasy society (totally joining it), a Medieval re-enactment society (also joining), The Lords of Misrule (medieval drama group, no joke), Medieval Choir, the list goes on.  It honestly makes me a very happy nerd.  I'm so glad I came here.  I really do feel like I fit in.  I mean, Christ, someone's running a PERSONA D&D GAME, how bleedin' awesome is that?!  I mean its PERSONA!

Until next time dear Blogger (which may or may not be late based on my work load).

(also, in cause you're wondering, yes, I will always type LATIN in big letters to express my loathing.)