Starting the Weekend Off Well

This week I didn't post but at least for good reasons. First, it would have been utterly boring to hear about my week full of studying and class, and due to the test I had there wasn't time to peruse the internet. Here, we get our lab grades back every next time we have lab. The first time me and my lab partner saw our score, we freaked out for a good thirty seconds because it was a 65. But here, that grade is a low A, and their grading scale applies to every assignment. The rest of the UC students and I have decided that in the states when grading you start off with 100 percent and get marked off for what is done correctly, here you start with 0 percent and get points for what you do correctly. That small distinction makes a large difference in our "marks" (grades). In two weeks, we have basically gone through and entire quarter of physics and it's been pretty stressful. I guess stress doesn't just exist at home in the states, but even in a place where the professors are relaxed and grades aren't too much a big deal, stress still exists for us exchange students.

But, this morning about 300 Americans finished their first midterm for physics in England, which means some serious celebrating, exploring, and travel after occurred.

This weekend I decided to stay local. After my weekend in London I figured it was best for my wallet and my need for rest.

During the week I started to get used to my schedule for classes, labs, and workshops. Plus, study time. It's great that here it's so easy to study with other people because we all are only taking one class. But, as usual, there always needs to be independent studying which I personally find dull. But nonetheless, at least now I'll have a better grasp on how much I need to study during the week, and the more studying, the less stress.

Right after the midterm I got ready for "tea". That apparently meant wearing a dress while walking over hills and through brush to tea. Going to tea here is a very "English" thing to do, and what every visitor must experience. The walk to the manor where we had tea was gorgeous. There were rolling hills, and we had a good amount of sunshine. Somehow the word about this place for tea got spread around. But I'm not quite sure how the first person found it. We basically trekked two fairly large hills (it wouldn't have been bad but I wasn't really dressed for a hiking occasion) and ended up overlooking what looked like a huge mansion to me, but what was our destination. Other than the actual walk we enjoyed the walk, and it was a great way to take great pictures. However, one of my friends had an accident on the way. Lets just say it's important to watch where you step in a place where cows are allowed to roam free and there is plenty grass for them to eat. But she handled it like a champ, I helped clean her up when we got there and she ended up looking just as classy as the rest of us.

Although we opted for just cream tea and not an afternoon tea, we had a wonderful introduction to this tradition. The waitress came first with our plates of two scones, clotted butter, and strawberry jam. She then brought two large tea pots with cream and sugar cubes on the side. All but one other person in our group had never had tea with milk and sugar before. I personally found this odd since I basically live off tea, milk and sugar during the school year. But, since I was young enough to remember I enjoyed tea this way. My grandma from Ireland must have had some influence on me.

After tea we came back to our flats to clean up a bit and get ready to go into Brighton. My friends wanted to go shopping and look at the antique stores we have passed in the past. My mom would be proud to know I only got a five pound top for my Barcelona trip, and an umbrella. It only makes sense if you know me, that of course I waited till it was necessary to buy an umbrella. I should have just brought one with me, but since I forgot one, I waited till after I already endured an entire day of rain in London.

I got back a couple hours ago, and I'm still pretty tired. I enjoy shopping, but I don't think I got my mom's family gene to be able to shop for hours. (My mom and "nanny" grandma used to spend days shopping for Christmas gifts for all whole family).

The night is still ahead...but for now I'll post the pictures I had on my camera...I'm sure more are to come.

Miss you all,

An American Girl in England.