Hello all...

Thanks for your comments on our other blog posts- in answer to Mel's original comment, hells yeah I went to the folk dance! I didn't choose footwear well for it and kept sliding along the floor on my tights- sometimes into the next group of doh-see-dohing crazies... good times.

My program has begun! My first assignment is a reading on reflective jounaling... and a reflective journal entry on the readings and my first impressions of the course- how reflexive on so many levels. Yesterday's class involved mapping our journeys as artists. A typical Masters this is not. My only beef (or seitan, as it were) with the program thus far is the amazing mix of international students means I have to slooow down my speaking and avoid colloquialisms, as do the teachers, one of whom I wish came with a fast forward button.

The G8 (Great Eight)- Recent Discoveries-
1) Heaven in Devon- a vegan desert complete with rich vanilla ice cream, custard, brownie and strawberries
2) That I am finally getting used to looking the proper way when I cross the street
3) That our flat actually does have heat- it's still a somewhat mysterious heating system but at least we don't need to huddle up so much with tea, blankets, and the wonders of polar fleece
4) A cycling path from right by our house all along the river- perfect for weekend morning rollerblading (a sidenote- English people look at me like I'm a freakshow when on rollerblades- I provoke chuckles, shakes of head, and many lunges by shocked canines)
5) The giant room upstairs at a place called the Boston Tea Party- giant tables, mismatched chairs, and high ceilings- great place to drink tea and finally do those pesky readings
6) I will have a dance class every Wednesday at 9am (my program gives us a chance/makes us dabble in each art form to get hands on experience discovering new forms of creative expression). It has promised to be sweat inducing.
7) My supervisor is very grandmotherly in a lovely way. She's offered to help connect me to mentoring/internship opportunities in arts therapies in the local community.
8) Severus Snape teaches at my university. Really- Rowling went here and based a few teachers on Profs here. Apparently, he's in Classics.

The future may hold- hosting a vegan cooking show? An oxfam benefit concert? More Sunday night pints at the Old Firehouse Pub? A job for Andrew with one of the two places that have taken an interest in hiring him? A boring welcome message from the dean? Well, okay so that last one is unfortunately a certainty arising in approximately 1.5 hours but as for the rest- time will tell!

Missing you (and franks red hot sauce) muchly,
Stephanie and Andrew