:: Vela Dare ::

:: Friday, October 06, 2006 ::

:: Bryn Mawr Really *IS* the Best Thing I've Ever Done For Myself ::

Yesterday I had registration for the Archaeology department. The paper I had from the study abroad office said that I probably wouldn't be able to get into the class I really wanted to take on Medieval Britain and Ireland, which was why I had registered for that theology class. Well, when I got to registration it turned out that the professor registering us is the one that went to Bryn Mawr! We'd been in contact a bit when I first knew I'd been accepted, but more recently I'd almost managed to forget that there was a bryn mawr grad teaching here as well as one doing post grad-- who as I also found out yesterday is, quite coincidentally, one of the senior residents in my dorm. When I finally got into her office to register, I mentioned that I am the student from Bryn Mawr and she was so excited, and in true mawrter fashion gave me a big hug! It was so nice to have that connection, not to mention now I know there is someone who knows exactly where I'm coming from etc. and who can help me out if I have problems or anything like that. I mentioned that I had been told that the class I wanted to take was too full and before the words could even come out of my mouth she said "but that class was the reason you're here wasn't it? Well then, I can let them know that it's ok for you to be in the class." !!! So, now not only am I taking, "Archaeology and the Sea" (on seafaring cultures with an intro to underwater archaeology, eee!) I am also taking "Medieval Britain and Ireland" which really is the reason why I am here. How awesome is that?!

But wait! There's MORE Bryn Mawr wonderfulness!

I had mentioned that Elaine (the post grad) was one of my senior residents and Tamar (the professor) said that she thought she was in the office and took me to go meet her. As it turns out she was in the office, and I got a chance to actually say hello and introduce myself. She's working on her PhD-- she had come to Bristol as an abroad student and then came back to do her MA (and now the PhD) much like what I'm considering, if I like it here. But it get's better! It turns out that she did the MA program that I want to do (Archaeology and Screen Media)!!! Needless to say I was thrilled, and hopefully at some point we can get together so that I can ask her many questions about the program and graduate work at the university in general.

Anyway, after all of this I thought to myself: how amazing is it that I have these connections? This is not the first time that Bryn Mawr has brought me wonderful opportunity and I'm sure it will not be the last. It's really just all another example of how incredibly lucky I am to have found somewhere that is so good for me. I really do think that getting accepted to Bryn Mawr is the best thing I've ever done for myself. It's like some sort of mystical vortex of opportunity and community. Honestly. And I *love* it.

At any rate, I'll try to stop gushing... at least about Bryn Mawr. Afterall, you're all reading this to find out about Bristol, I'd assume.

After archaeology registration I caught a quick lunch in the Refectory which is both britishly-named and conveniently located on the ground floor of the Hawthorns (my student house.) Then I hopped aboard the free coach tour they had set up for international students... also conveniently located at the Hawthorns. The weather was pretty awful, so it was actually quite nice to just sit on a tour bus and be driven around the city in the rain. I saw about 5 million more things I want to visit/do in Bristol. I really must get a guide book to the city because there's just no way I'll remember everything. Amazing architecture *everywhere*. Really, it's just astonishing. So many gorgeous churches, and countless buildings dating to countless different time periods. We also learned lots about the river, which was very interesting. I thought many times during the tour that my dad would have really enjoyed it-- especially all the stuff about the boats and how they rerouted the river, and everything about Brunel. For instance, the Avon (no, not the same as the Stratford Avon) has the second highest tidal range in the world. It fluxuates something like 12 meters! We saw the river at low tide and it looked so empty-- it made the suspension bridge seem even higher! Unfortunately we didnt get to go on the bridge, but we got to see it from the Downs. It really is quite beautiful in a sort of industrial kind of way. We also saw the ruins of some old gas works which were very cool.

Anyway I am getting distracted by other things so I think I'll end this here. More updates to come and hopefully some pictures if i ever get a chance to walk around on a day when it's nice out!

:: find earth and reap :: 9:34 PM :: [+] :: | ::

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