I can't believe it's already Wednesday. It almost feels like I've been here forever already.
So, classes (and by classes I mean seminars) started yesterday and they're actually pretty good. Of course, I'm trying not to think of the three papers I already have assigned for them, but it won't be too bad...hopefully. My first seminar was my War and Strategy in the Nuclear Age. Sounds like a ton of fun, right? I have a 4 page, front and back, bibliography of reading, but the course overall seems like it will be interesting. I'm already thinking differently and learning. The professor's pretty cool too. Here's a history joke for you all that he told us.
Post WWII, a Polish general was asked how he'd handle a simultaneous invasion by the Germans and the Russians. His answer: "In the morning, the great Polish army would go and defeat the Russians. Then in the afternoon, the great Polish army would go and defeat the Germans, because we believe in business before pleasure."
Funny, right?...Well, it was for us history dorks...oh, well.
Anyway, that was yesterday. Today was our first British history intensive, focusing on Britain's development as a naval power since we'll be going to Portsmouth this Friday to see Lord Nelson's ship. Our professor was really enthusiastic and there was so much I'd never even known since I just knew the general history. It was so awesome!
After class, I went to the library to attempt to dent my reading list for War, which is a 15-20 minute walk from the house depending on how fast you walk. At least there's no hills. Anyway, as soon as I saw the library, my inner bookworm went into a squealing fit. Five floors filled with books! Five! And the building is massive! Okay, yes, it's a little strange that I'm freaking out about books and learning, but it's me.
When I got back from the library, my legs were kind of hurting (Remember, Randolph campus takes six minutes to cross, maximum), but I went out with Rachel, Lanely, and Lauren, just into town. Thing is, town is about 3 miles away, so I got a lot more walking in today, especially since we walked back too. I'm not complaining though; it's healthy.
Let me say this about the 'town' of Reading. I love it for it's diversity (I see more races of people and hear more languages walking down the street than I've seen period in Virginia) and the fact that I don't stick out like a sore thumb anymore (they're not all blond haired, blue eyed!), but I am realizing now more than ever how much of a country girl I am. Being able to get to stores without a car? Public transportation? Police sirens more frequent than once every two months? Foreign ideas I'll have to get use to. Also, the English definition of a town and my definition are clearly different. Trust me, Reading is a city. Two malls, countless shops and tons of roads and people...you're a city.
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