Things are really starting to get rolling. Jenni, Sara and I walked to class this morning, sat there for 25 minutes and finally decided that the module didn’t start until the following week. The only benefit being that we found the meeting room. After lunch, we went down to JJB to train, followed by Tecwyn’s class from 6.30-8.30. The plan was to check out Aldi after class, but unfortunately they close at 7.00.
No OP today. We start next week. Korey and I checked out the ‘health’ store on Holyhead Road. It was mostly organic foods and remedies; certainly not the sports supplements I was hoping for. Next we walked down to the other store on High Street, where I found some weight gainer, a shaker and a sample protein bar. While in the area we explored Aldi, and discovered real American peanut butter. The jar looks small, but it’s better and cheaper than Morrison’s so that is what we will be buying from now on. Upon returning, Hannah and Katie were on their way out, so I tagged along. After hauling all of their purchases up the hill, we broke for dinner and then reconvened for pre-game. There were not too many people we knew at Yellow, so I got Korey to come down. After a while Korey and I were ready to leave, and we didn’t see the girls anywhere, so we assumed they must have left without us. Wrong. We’re never going to hear the end of that one.
No class on Wednesday either. I think I’m getting too used to having this much free time. I took a day off from training, and didn’t leave my cell until dinner. I ordered a box of protein bars. I don’t think I ever made it outside of the building.
We had our first ‘real’ class today: Images of Wales. We found it odd that we would have a different lecturer each week. All of the international students managed to find their way into the same seminar group. We spent the hour looking at ancient post cards to get an idea of the importance of tourism. Next week we will have to hurry next door for our music class, but we don’t have it today. We made our way to Varsity, and planned to migrate over to the Octagon, but we waited too long. They close the doors at 12. We finished the night in Katie’s kitchen with a friendly game of ‘circle of death.’
Most of us don’t have Friday classes. Today was Serendipity, where we signed up for far more clubs than we possibly have time to participate in. I found a hooded jacket for OP as well as a dirt-cheap Wales rugby kit and a fleece for Mom. Before we entered JJB I went upstairs for a pair of goggles. After 30 minutes on the elliptical, I swam a few laps in the pool. After dinner we watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Saturday was the trip to Liverpool. Jenni waited until we walked halfway there before she reminded Korey and Jaron that they needed their tickets. We went on without them, and saw Derek running back to get his ticket as well. The buses didn’t pull up until 8.59, so we didn’t leave until quarter past. We spent a good chunk the day in Liverpool Cathedral. I toured the upper tower without a ticket. We then walked down by the waterfront. The Germans kept stopping to take pictures. We walked by the Beatles story, but decided against it. We took a quick peek inside the free Maritime Museum instead. We had hoped to take a bus out to the futbol stadium, but it was too close to match time that we would have never made it. We instead found a LFC official shop. We then bought some fresh doughnuts from a street vendor and made our way back to the bus. Unfortunately, some people cannot manage to be on time, so we waited 15 minutes before leaving them. Upon returning, we found that the Elizabeths made tacos for all of us. After dinner, we played some hold ‘em. We played with four teams of two, because several people required some assistance. Elizabeth D and I were leading the whole game until, when facing elimination, Dave and Jenni more than tripled up. On the next hand, Julie and Elizabeth K went all in. Swaff and Meatball called, and Swaff took the lead by a slim margin.
On Sunday, we went to the Baptist church on Holyhead Road. The worship was pretty familiar. We all enjoyed it, but the teaching was longer than we are used to. He seemed to use more stories than I found necessary. Following the service was a free meal. We couldn’t decline. Several people at karaoke asked why I was wearing my brace, so Swaff and I told everyone that while we were trying on soccer kits, some kid walked off with my backpack. I hurried up to him and knocked him out, hurting my wrist in the process. The truth is, it just hurt. At 11.00, we left Yellow and trudged up the hill to Rascal’s to watch the Super Bowl. They announced last call at 1.00, so at half time we left and went over to the ‘projects’ where we all huddled around a 15-inch screen.
After sitting through a lecture of Fundamentalisms, I’m not sure I like it. I am sure however, that I don’t have any other choice. We had Tecwyn’s class again tonight, and afterwards we got pizza. Tomorrow is the first day of OP.