Class, food, and a little something extra

So, I realize it has been a while since I last blogged about my adventures abroad, but nothing too exciting has really happened. Class, eat, sleep, repeat. The real fun starts this weekend when I go to London! So, here is quick run down of what my classes are like and the (***SPOILER ALERT***) TERRIBLE food. And for funzies, at the end of this blog I am going to list some of the interesting (and some scary) things I have learned while here!

Classes are classes. Who really cares right? Well, I was really excited for classes to start because I was interested to see their ways of teaching and their perspective on theatre. Well, my classes only meet once a week. Which is great for my travel schedule! So, that should mean that I have a lot of free time to sleep... not really. For 3 of my 4 classes, I have huge projects that I have to do research and outside work for. So, while it is nice only having class once a week I find that I have more outside work than I did in the states. My first week has started slowly though because 2 of my 4 classes haven't started yet. Crazy, I know. The professors don't have to start the classes right at the beginning of the semester. Those classes are Contemporary Performance 2, which is basically acting 3. And, Negotiated Study which will be performing in the Mid-winter watch parade under the direction of a MA student.

I find my Advance Drama Theory class interesting. I can't say that I like it. It isn't what I expected. I don't understand this program, but I am not going to close my mind to it just yet. It feels like this program just gives you the history and the background and the idea of theatre and not the practice. Which I find so odd. I am hoping my Contemporary Performance 2 class changes that. However, the lecture this week was very interesting. ***DANGER, YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A BLOG RANT*** I am so close to screaming at some of the students in the class. A lot of the students are rude. They talk (very loudly) during class and are always on their phones and are just plain rude in general. SHUT UP! I wonder if it is because they don't pay as much as US students do for their education. It is my understanding that depending on your financial need you either pay none or a small amount. I have been in classes where students talk during the professors lectures, but not nearly as bad as here. Maybe I am offended because I am paying a ton of money to learn. Yes, I think that is it. I pay for my own schooling and as far as I am concerned, if you don't want to learn, get out.

Sorry, about that. Moving on to a happier part of the blog now.

My photography class has started and I have learned so much already! I REALLY love that class! I was so scared because the projects are intense, but I love the professors in the photography department and I love what I am learning. I never thought I would be able to take a class like this and I definitely never thought I would enjoy it. I always thought I would stress out because I like for things like photos to be perfect. But today, we made large prints of some of our work. The process was try - imperfect, try - closer, try- even closer, try - now that's a photo. The process reminded me a lot of the way Lenny (one of my mentors/director/professor/friend from USI) works with his actors, "Ok, that is choice one". You try until you find what works for you. Every photo is different, just like every character and moment. When I walked out of the dark room and looked at my first final print I just felt proud. Now, I am not saying that this photo is great or that I am going to be the next big photographer, but to know that I did that was such a cool feeling. Someone may have exposed it differently, but that is how I chose to do it. I am really, really going to love this class.

Food. No, what they serve us in the canteen is not food. It is - I don't know what it is. There is no flavor and there are potatoes with EVERY MEAL! You think I am kidding? I'm not! And  more often than not, there are 2 or 3 choices of different potatoes with every meal. I am so sick of potatoes! I got my meal and got veggies and the lady serving me asked if I wanted potatoes and I said no and she looked at me like I had just killed someone. Plus, they are super strict on what you get with your meal. One fruit or dessert, main course, POTATO, veggie and water. You can't substitute the potato for another piece of fruit or anything. And water for lunch and dinner. I have officially given up every drink except tea for breakfast and water. I never want to see another potato again. period.

So those are my classes and the food here. As promised, here are a list of things I have learned while here:

1. People from Spain and Italy both kiss cheeks as a greeting. But, people from Spain kiss right cheek to left cheek and people from Italy kiss left cheek to right cheek.

2. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME... (I haven't done this and can't believe people actually do this) They take a shot of vodka through the eye. UNBELIEVABLE! They do it because it goes to the brain quicker! SICK!

3. Again, I haven't done this either and neither should you. It's called Gas Chamber. They put vodka in a glass and light it on fire and then place another glass on top of it to trap the gases. They then inhale the gases with a straw and once the fire is out, they drink what is left.

4. Salad Cream. Yup, they eat this stuff called salad cream. Have I tried it? No. Will I? No. When my friends and I first came across this stuff, we thought it was tartar sauce, but there was something different about it. So we asked around. We got a ton of different answers, but the most popular was this - mayo with salad bits. Nasty.

I know there is more, but that is all I can think of right now. Stop right there, it is nearly 2 in the morning and I declared this blog a judge free blog. So there you have it blog readers, I hope you enjoyed this edition of THE UK JAZ'S WAY! Until we blog together again, goodnight and loads of love from across the pond.