All I wanna be is deep in cider….

Location: Harlaxton Manor
Mood: Tired but happy
Sat, 9 Jan, LATE

We had a big fancy dinner to celebrate the beginning of the program. The architecture here is simply astounding…everything is so ornate and beautiful and I’ve already heard rumors of SIX different secret passages out there for the finding. We convened in the great hall and were served wine punch and mimosas and then we had a fancy dinner served with wine. (I sipped on my glass of wine punch the whole time…it was pretty tasty.) It feels weird to be served alcohol with meals so matter-of-factly, but nobody really overindulged and it was just kind of classy. The meal was pretty good, and I got to start making friends right away. The girl who sat next to me, Alaina, is particularly nice. We seem to be into a lot of the same geeky stuff.

My roommate’s name is Laurel. She’s from Western Kentucky University and is really sweet. She makes me feel a little lazy at times (she’s very into exercise since she’s a dance minor) but maybe she’ll get me into working out and being more healthy? Not that it’s necessary here. We’re on the fifth floor. The trek is incredible. Yes, there’s a lift (elevator to those of you in the states) but it’s ancient (like, 1600s ancient) and it’s just impractical to wait on it all the time.

Anyway, Laurel invited me to go to a club in Grantham with a bunch of her friends from WKU. It was a blast! Much more fun than American clubs. It was completely packed and nobody really invaded your personal bubble like they would here. I tried cider (which is like a fruit-based beer) and rather enjoyed it. (And I would for the record like to assure my mom that I never left it unattended or out of my sight.)

All in all, it was a blast. But I’m completely dead now. I’ll probably sleep in tomorrow.