Ugh...

This week has sort of been a disaster so far...well, for classes that is. Sunday I didn't do anything except figure out my classes and relax...oh yeah, and I didn't go to a pub for once! Monday my plan was to go to my art history class at 3 (the only class I had on Monday). First of all, I got lost getting to the building. The map was so confusing and didn't show any paths/roads to the building so I finally ended up getting there after asking a couple of construction workers and security guards. What a mess!

When I found the building and the classroom, nobody was there. There were a few girls standing outside the classroom, so I asked them if they were there for Art History 1 as well, and they said yes. We waited for a few more minutes and then found out from another student that class doesn't start until next Monday. Now I don't have Art History until Monday morning which means I can't figure out if I want to stay in the class until then. After that adventure, Briana and I walked around, I bought my subway pass, and then we headed back to the flat. Later that night, we went out to dinner at a restaurant called Ketchup, down the hill from our flat. We went with a bunch of other people that we had never met before. They were AJ's flat mates and most of them are Scottish or Irish. We had a good time hanging out, chatting, and getting to know each other, but then we ended the night early because we had to get up this morning for class.

Now disaster #2. This morning, my plan was to have my Figurative Sculpture class at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) from 9:30-12:30. I woke up at 8 so I had plenty of time to eat breakfast, and slowly make my way over to the subway to end up at GSA. I arrived at the subway station at around 9:05, and then realized the Outer Circle subway wasn't in service. Instead, I had to get on the Inner Circle train and ride around the entire city, as opposed to just going 3 stops to GSA. After a couple stops, I was getting annoyed so I left the subway and tried to get a taxi to get me there on time. NO TAXIS. So, I swiped my subway card again, losing another ride on my card and got back on the train to ride around the whole city. By the time I finally made it to GSA, I asked the reception desk where my class was and they had no idea what I was talking about. After calling around to different departments, she figured out who I should be talking to and sent me downstairs to another person's office. Gordon, I guess he's the director of this Study Abroad program, told me that I was at GSA on the wrong day! Aaahhhhhh!!! Supposedly he sent out an email, but it never got to me, and classes start NEXT Tuesday. I really don't understand these schools over here...shouldn't every class start this week when it says they're going to start on the academic calendar?? So, now I have to go back tomorrow morning at 10am to GSA to fill out forms, get a tour of school, and not even have an art class this week. I'm getting very annoyed but hopefully everything will be worked out by next week.

(Click on this map for a larger view.) I got on the Underground at Hillhead and was supposed to get off at Cowcaddens. Instead, I went all the way around the city, got off at Govan to find a taxi, hopped back on the train, and then continued to ride the Inner Circle to Cowcaddens.

After this misunderstanding, I walked back to my flat, stopping on the way to get a Starbucks Chai because I thought I deserved it after all of the confusion. :-)

Now I'm sitting in my flat, waiting to go to registration for my Student ID card, and then I have no idea what I'm going to be doing tonight. Hopefully everything is less stressful for you all at home...I'll update you when I have relaxed and actually have something interesting/important to tell you.

Love you and miss you all!

Love Always,

Jess