First Day of School!

   Monday was my first day of school!  I have three classes: Transformations of Self & Society (Sociology), Anthropological Theory, and Social Anthropology 1.  They should be really interesting!  All of my classes have about 200 students, and they meet in big lecture halls.  The grading is different than what I am familiar with in U.S. colleges/universities.  All of my classes meet twice a week for an hour, so that is only 6 contact hours per week, less than half the time of my usual U.S. school schedule!  Also, the lectures aren't mandatory.  There is no attendance taken, no record of you showing up (or not), and no credit given.  Which could potentially make it much easier to justify skipping class.  (But I won't, Dad!  Don't worry!)  All three of my classes have the same assessment style:  40% of my final grade is based on ONE paper, and 60% of my grade is contingent on ONE test.  Eeeek!!  There is absolutely no room to "have a bad day" and bomb a test!

   Grading is different in the U.K. because students start with 0 points, and are awarded points based on the quality of their work, working up from 0.  In the States, students start with 100 points and have to do something wrong to lose points.  In effect, it is extremely rare for a student to receive a 90 or above in the U.K. type university system.  It doesn't appear there are letter grades here, just "points."  However, because I have a GPA, the points must translate into an A, B, C, or D, based on the same percentage value (90= A-), so that means unless it turns out I am a genius, my GPA is going to suffer.  Ugh!

  While there is an extensive bus system in Edinburgh, buses are much more expensive-- a four-week bus pass costs about $80.  So I walk to lectures, about 15 or 20 minutes, right along a bustling street.  I enjoy the walk because there is really good people watching.  It is strange, I always pass this woman who crouches and talks crazily to her dog.  Not just petting them, or saying "Good boy," but actually having a full-on conversation, and occasionally chuckling like her dog told a funny joke.  She always glares at passerby.

I also just so happen to pass a Starbucks no matter which building I'm going to...... Funny how that works out!

I will take pictures along my walk to class tomorrow and post them-- sorry I went so long without posting!  I am waiting for a (somewhat) sunny day to take pictures of the city, but looks like I should just go for it now, because I think the weather will be cloudy every day!

Love and miss you all,

Kate