Something from the Trolley?

Even though I know that Harry Potter is a work of fiction and imagination, the story seems to exist everywhere in daily life. For instance, on the train on my return trip from Scotland, the porter came by with a cart of food and, much like the woman on the Hogwarts Express jovially asked if I would like “anything from the trolley love?”

In addition, I spent a few minutes gazing at the “Elephant House,” where J.K. Rowling wrote the first draft of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I walked by the school on which the cinematic Hogwarts is based. Sadly, however, upon my visit to King’s Cross train station I realized that the platforms are labeled by letter and not by number, this was a discouraging realization since now I don’t know where to find platform 9 and ¾.

All things Harry Potter aside, as the book series does not run my life, I had an excellent first week of class and an excellent visit to Scotland. In my eight hours of class I was finally a student again, something that I have missed since May (summer lectures only sort of count). Learning “what Americans think” from a foreign professor has already started to intrigue me, and this is only week one. I also can’t realize what students here actually do considering that I have 8 hours of in class time a week and the semester is only 12 weeks long (with a week of exams, essay consultations and a reading week). I have started cooking for myself more, which is fantastic and fun, except for when the food that I buy goes bad faster than I think it should. It’s all a part of the learning game. Scotland was a weekend of good food, laughter, pretty buildings and interesting conversations. I can’t use enough words to explain how much fun I had with Lizzy and her flatmate Sarah. I had a little experience on the train ride back to London in that I had bought an “18-25 year old rail card ticket” when I don’t have a railcard. Luckily, the kindly conductor didn’t make me buy a whole new ticket (over 130 pounds sterling, gasp) but he did make me pay some extra money. Whoops. It was worth a shot/this country is too confusing.

Today marks the first rainy and drizzly day in London since I have been here. Looks like I will need to grab my wellies! It also marks week 2 of classes and the beginning of a lecture series called “AKC,” which I am going to start attending. I am sending you all my love and I do love getting emails from you so lets keep that up!

With love,

Lauren