9 Jan

Ah, Monday morning and I don’t have class. Liane, who’s with the Theology department here, has class today. Poor Religious Studies people. I guess the excitement of the first week was just too much for me and I really, really took it easy today. I woke up late and missed breakfast again. I just had some more bread and cheese for dinner and ate that while updating my blog and reading The Rule of Four. The book is improving slightly plot-wise but definitely not writing style-wise. Nearly everyone else had gone out somewhere so I was by myself in the corridor. I proceeded to literally read and write until about 5:45 when people came back. We went down to the first dinner of the year down at the dining hall. Lainey’s best friend from high school, Kelsey, is also studying in London but at Westminster and she joined us. A lot of the Americans were together at a table and we talked a lot about schools at home and how different this place is by comparison. Liane joined us towards the end of dinner and had a quick bite before we all left. The food was pretty decent for a dining hall (Lenoir is better) and it looks like they’re going to make it a point to serve at least one vegetarian entrée for dinner. There are lots of Indians in the hall and I think that’s why they keep the all vegetarian option. Hey, it’s good for me and so I’m happy. After dinner I headed back to the room to chill and write some more. Maddy (short for Madeline) came by around 9 to inform me and Lainey that a bunch of them were going to the KCH bar (fuBar: “f***ed up beyond all repair”…I know, great name). I wasn’t doing much so I decided to join them in a bit. Katie stopped by soon after Maddy left and I extended the same invitation to her. She agreed at first when I said I’d come by to get here in about 20 minutes, but I knocked on her door she realized she was just too tired and decided to stay in. I don’t blame her; she was out by the Strand and in town all day and has just gotten back past 9. Lainey and Kelsey returned soon after I came back to my room and they told me they were also on their way to the bar. It wasn’t until I was outside the other building (main building where the dining hall, bar, computer room, lounge, common room, etc is) that I realized I’d left my ID/passcard in my room. Without it I couldn’t get back in my building either and so I hoped Lainey would be leaving by the door nearest us. Fortunately, I’d remembered to keep my cell phone in my pocket and just as I was calling her I saw her and she let me back in. I grabbed my wallet and then headed back out. Once again, I got to the door and realized I had forgotten to place my ID back into my wallet like I usually do. I started seeing this as a sign that I really shouldn’t be going to the bar but decided to press on anyway. I sheepishly called Katie and she kindly let me in. I finally got my ID and made it to the bar. Several of the Americans were there and it was nice to get some waves of recognition as soon as I entered. Gregg, Kate, Brooke, Margaret, Maddy, Lainey, Kelsey, Tom, and John were all there along with some more Americans. Yvonne was manning the bar and I told her I wanted something sweet. She doesn’t like sweet stuff (she drinks real beer and whiskey) and so she had a friend of hers recommend something. All I know that it was spirit mixed with lemonade and tasted really good. As I sipped that at a table with Gregg, John, and Brooke, a British girl came by and asked me “Are you an American?” When I responded with the affirmative she said that thought she saw some new faces and decided to meet them. Her name is Laura and she’s from Manchester where the bars and cheap and the music is great. She said she doesn’t go around much in London because it’s so expensive and when she does she makes it a point to stay near the student areas because it’s cheaper and safer. Good advice. John, a little weird when he’s not drunk, was already a little drunk and almost immediately started hitting on her. I don’t like him. Bambi was also there and dancing with a very drunk Margaret who looked like she was really enjoying herself. When I finished my drink I talked with Bambi for a bit by the bar. He’s in a contest with a friend of his as to who can lose the most weight in two weeks. He’s hardly eating anything and I don’t think it’s very wise ‘cause he’s already pretty skinny. Oh well. I guess some alcohol will help with the calories…Gregg really knows his drinks and so when I felt like trying something else I asked his advice. He recommended a “Jack and Coke” which is Jack Daniels whiskey mixed with Coca-Cola. I thought it was pretty good though the lemonade mix was better. I nursed that drink for the remaining half hour I was there that I spent talking with Gregg and occasionally with some other people. The music was a little too loud for such a small room but the selection was pretty nice and the company was good. Last call came around 10:45 and I declined suggestions to grab a final drink before the bar closed. I finished my Jack and Coke around 11 and headed back to my room. The drinks they mix are fairly weak and I didn’t feel any different at all even after having so little experience with alcohol. I don’t plan on drinking much at the bar though I will hang out there just for fun. When I got back to the room I phoned home on Skype and talked with my family. It was nice to chat with them again and we got a good bit of groundwork laid for our spring Spain trip. I bid them farewell soon after midnight and after reading some more, I called it a night.