St. Andrews

I've now been in class for a week in St. Andrews. I'm taking Physics, Astronomy, and a history class on the British Isles from the 9th to the 13th century (the reading list for which has 419 entries). The weather's been amazing–a little windier than I'm used to, but it really hasn't gotten cold yet. I've gained my weight back after my Italy trip, courtesy of the British cooking we're fed in our hall; it isn't the best tasting fare (referring to this hall in particular, not British cooking), but it'll keep me kicking.

I've joined a number of societies and clubs here already, including the Cross Country team (more of a running club that a team), the Philosophy Society, and the Golf Society. Technically, I've never played an entire round of golf in my life, but I'm hoping that will change in these next few weeks. I'm actually going to pick up a set of clubs from a friend of a friend tonight, so maybe I'll manage to get out there before it starts really raining. Speaking of golf, the Dunhill Links Championship is being played about 400 meters from my front door this weekend. They've had some complications, however, in that they had to postpone play today because of high-speed winds (I talked to someone who has lived here for over 30 years, and she said this is the first time she's ever heard of this happening). To be honest, I thought it sounded like quite a lame reason until I stepped outside myself–the waves are literally traversing in the wrong direction (out to sea) and I could barely keep a straight trajectory walking down the sidewalk. To be honest, it makes me want to golf even more–there's no telling how far I could hit a ball, if aimed in the proper direction...

I've met some pretty cool people here (even some doing both physics and philosophy!). There are definitely more people here than at UCSD who are willing to be openly eccentric and who exude genuinely interesting personalities (this is, of course, not true of the first years, who still roam in herds). I even met someone in my hall who went to Sonoma Academy (and whose family still lives in Santa Rosa). Suffice to say, I'm enjoying the people here and have found myself content in activities ranging from pub crawls to team chess (although, as Bonnie pointed out to me, I've yet to do these simultaneously).

Anyways, I best be off to dinner with my academic father and siblings (a tradition here which I'll probably elaborate on in a later post). Best to you all