noughth week ends

This is the end of 00 week, which means we'll actually start doing some work, if only for the next 8 weeks. I should definitely be done with both of my courses by the first week in December, if not before. Which will give me 2-3 weeks of free time for travel! I've met both my tutors, I think things will work out well. I already have a paper due in my course on relationships and social behavior. She gave me this huge book list (even though we'll only meet 4 times) and none of the books are in the library. I'm already feeling challenged! Yesterday and today we ate lunch in the New College hall. It's cheap, the food's not bad and the place is always nearly empty. On Wednesday we had "Fresher's Fair" which is where all the organizations and clubs set up booths and you go around and sign up for what you're interested in. There were over 300 booths!! And loads of free stuff that will make great stocking stuffers!! I signed up for a few things, mostly because the students block your way and make you feel obligated, but most require a fee. We also are all officially members of the Oxford Union, which means we can go to debates and speeches that they offer here once a week or so. There's going to be a debate on the election, Senator John McCain is coming to speak, so is Carmen Bin Ladin, Sean Astin (Sam in LOTR), Heather Mills McCartney, etc. Last night we helped our friend, Kevin, move out of his apartment and into one on our street. He lived super far away, and we helped carry all his stuff for him. Let's discuss Oxford living. One of the most exciting events of the day was when the toaster kept the toast down without me having to hold the lever the whole time! Then there's our washer (we don't have a dryer so everyone's clothes are just draped all around the house), if you're not there right when the cycle ends, it gets stuck and you have to start it all over again. It can also hold about 3 pair of jeans and two shirts and handful of socks. The heat in our room doesn't work that great, and they tell you to keep the top of the windows cracked so that you don't get condensation (and thus mold) on the walls. But we all really love the electric tea pot which boils water in 30 seconds, most of us try to adjust our meals to ones that need boiling water, since it's so much easier than trying to wrestle with the stove or oven. We don't have a microwave. The shower water flows right out onto the alley, apparently the drain got clogged, because some men were here to fix it, but none of us girls know what's going on. There's no hot water in the bathroom sink, and we still don't have a vacuum. Yet we are consistently assured that our housing us above-standard, and despite it's quirks you can't help but love it's quaint charm. Well, I'm beat, I've got a whole list of books to start on and tomorrow we're going to Stonehenge and Bath, so look for new pictures!