And the modules (classes) begin...

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So I started my modules this week, which means I've started riding the "school bus" and attempting to understand the way school works over here. The educational system is very different then what I'm used to. Here a full load of classes is six classes whereas I'm used to the quarter system and four classes. Last week we were handed "time tables" so that we could figure out what modules we wanted to take. Each week there is one hour of lecture and then an hour of tutorials. The confusing part is that the tutorials aren't necessarily every week and are probably in some other building or room. The lectures are really big with maybe a hundred students, each lecture  is offered only at one time. The tutorials split the class into smaller groups of about 20-25 students so you can get more one-on-one discussion.

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One of my modules had the first tutorial this week. I'm in the module with Josie, so we took the same tutorial as well. The professor was talking about how to write an exam paper to get a first mark. The equivalent of an A I believe. Last weekend I caught a cold and it decided that I wouldn't need to talk the first week of class. So I was trying to speak with the professor with a very hoarse voice. She took pity and didn't ask me to answer any questions. We were doing this exercise where we read a sentence and asked "why" or "why not" questions about it. The example was something like "GlaxoSmithKline employees 90,000 people and AstraZeneca employees 60,000 people." Someone said, "Why does GSK have more employees then AZ?" Then Josie raised her hand and asked, "What are these companies?" The professor gave her this look that asked,' Did you just miss the lesson?'  Then the professor turned to the next person without answering Josie's question. So Josie asked out loud, "But, what are these companies?" Then the professor realized that we wouldn't recognize the British companies and told us that they were pharmaceutical companies. That professor seems really cool, she's very approachable so I'm glad about that.

We end up walking home in the rain with our groceries.

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So after class earlier this week Josie and I wanted to go to Tesco's (huge supermarket) to get some food for the week. We decided that because it's so cold out that we would try to take the bus. Also we've both paid 119 pounds for a bus pass and we want to get our money's worth out of it. So we wait at the bus stop for the 110. I forget how we knew that number, but I think someone told us that was the bus to take. Once we get on the bus it takes us a while to realize that this bus is going the exact opposite direction then Tesco's. So we think that maybe the bus just goes in a circle and that eventually we would end up back at Tescos, well not the case. Josie went up to ask the bus driver how long it would be and he gave her an incredulous look and said, "This bus goes all the way to Shipley, you'd better get off at Morrisons and go back." Morrison's is another big supermarket so we decided to do our shopping there. It was nice we found a lot of good deals. By saying that I mean that we filled a cart and then had to figure out how to carry it all back. In Morrisons there is a cafe so we locked up our cart and had a bite to eat. By the time we were done it was about 6pm and raining. So we zip up our jackets and head out to the bus stop. We're not really sure what bus it is that goes back to the University so we ask the next one that comes by. He tells us that the one that is want is no longer running for the day, but the next one goes to the city center. Being as we have no idea where we are, no one we knows has a car to come find us we decide that we better take that one. We climb on with our six bags apiece and try to figure out which bus we can take from the city center to anywhere up the hill and closer to the halls. We find one that goes up and get on easily enough. Unfortunately as I go to stand up my melted ice cream container bursts open because the two- 2 liter bottles of water smashed it and starts leaking on my jeans. We end up walking home in the rain with our groceries. Food becomes and important topic of interest and takes up a lot of your time in a new country.

The rest of the week was filled with trying to figure out modules and time tables. In my very first class on Monday morning I met some British students in their third year when I was looking for the right lecture hall. I ran into him, Mark, again later in the week and talked to him about module choices. He suggested a module about the European Union Employment. I went to my Global Business Environment class but couldn't understand what my professor said. He had a very heavy Chinese accent and it would have been very difficult for me in that class. I think I will enjoy the European Union Employment class because it will give me a chance to learn about something I would at home. I have also decided to take Spanish as one of my classes. I'm not sure which level yet, I had to take a placement test, but I need to talk to the tutor before I decided which level.

Thursday I decided that I needed to go shopping for school supplies. I didn't bring anything with me because I knew the paper and binders would all be a different size then at home. I ran into Josie so we decided to buy some of our school books and then head into town for some supply shopping. I found binders for a good price at Wilkinsons (compare to a KMart, without the clothes and shoes) and some college ruled paper. Just walking into town and coming back took us a couple hours. When we got back Ramsey wanted us to go with him to Tesco's to get food. So we decided not to chance the bus and walk it instead. It was about a 20 minute walk, not too bad. We were planning on splitting a taxi to bring us back. Once we went shopping and had all our bags we decided for some unknown reason that we could walk back with all our food.It was a fun walk, we sang some Disney songs, almost lost a bottle of wine as it went rolling down the street, forgot to look backwards so we almost got lost.