It seems to be the law of nature as applies to me, but which ever way I am walking it is always into the wind. This is significant in London, where the wind is brisk and the temperature is low. Today I took a bus that goes wildly out of the way of where I live (getting there eventually in 25 minutes what the direct bus does in 7) just for the warmth of the bus. Tomorrow it starts at -18 with the wind chill and goes to -21 by midday. I am hauling out the parka tomorrow. It amazes me to see these young undergrads clad only in a fleecy and a headband. I guess that is another "you know you are a mature student when" moment. But really, can they possibly not feel the cold?
Today I studied at Weldon, the main library on campus, and I learned something, silence can be deafening. I decided to go to the 5th floor, a silent study area, and surprisingly, it truly is. Everytime someone shifts in their chair you notice. I need a little more noise than that to be effective. Not as much as happens when conversations are all around you (as in the GRC, the library in the FIMS building - being a very social person, I like joining in on the conversations), but more than what was offered on the 5th floor of Weldon. Weldon Library is a concrete bastion to academia that looks, feels and smells like the fortress it was built to resemble. There is some wonderful art work there, but generally, it has exposed concrete, minimal lighting and very quiet floors!
Wednesdays are turning out to be my favourite day. I am enjoying the Perspectives course. Don't misunderstand, it is also the most challenging and in some ways frightening class I am taking. But the discussions are marvelous. The only downside is the fact that there is so much to say and cover, the three hours simply fly by. I would like one of two things, that we have two classes a week, or that the class got split so that there were only 21 students in each class. We simply have too many people to really hash through an idea to its completion. But I would hazard a guess that I am in the minority there.
Cheers,
Peggy