an update of sorts.

well, I wanted a challenging education; and as far as I can tell, I’m getting it.
I spent three and a half hours in the library tonight, reading. I intend to spend most of the day tomorrow doing more of the same.
my classes are as follows:
Roots of Political Theory (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:25-11:40)
Major British Writers I (Tuesdays and Fridays, 1:25-2:40)
Contemporary Literary Theory (Mondays, 2:50-5:50)
Elementary French Intensive (Tuesdays and Fridays, 12-1:15 and discussion on Wednesdays from 3-4)

I know, only four classes. it’s strange. I feel like I’m never in class — except on Tuesdays, when three of the four fall back-to-back. but it works out well, because I have to read so much that if I had five classes I would probably go blind.
so far the most challenging is actually the government class. I’ll read our assignments — so far, The Apology, The Crito and half of The Republic (it’s Plato, giving us what Socrates supposedly said) — and think I have a basic understanding of them, but when we get to class I haven’t always made the connections that the professor apparently wants us to make. I feel like I’m just hitting the surface with my understanding of the text. it may be that I haven’t been reading closely enough, but I’m getting nervous because we have a paper due week after next and I don’t want to write about something I don’t fully understand. my struggle with this is both frustrating and encouraging: I’m not used to having difficulty grasping the concepts that I’m supposed to be learning in a class, so I’m frustrated. but I know that I’m being challenged, and that in itself is a learning experience. it’s good.

learning my way around Worcester has been interesting. so far I’ve been to a pizza place, a dollar store, the library, a coffee shop right by campus, Walgreen’s and the Salvation Army. the coffee shop near campus, Acoustic Java, is a nice little place, but it tends to be loud. not the best atmosphere for studying, which is something I enjoy doing in coffee shops. Taylor Books was my haven second semester. so I did a little research on area coffee shops and found one within walking distance — a mile isn’t exactly a stroll, but it’s definitely doable. so Abby and I gathered up our books and set out, and after between 15 and 20 minutes of walking, we found our destination: Java Joe’s. we also found that Joe owns two tiny tables and four chairs, three of which were taken. not a pleasant discovery. so we hiked back down Main Street and ended up in the place which we were trying to avoid: Acoustic Java. brilliant. next time I’ll do a little more research before walking a mile.