We've Learned to Change, but Did We Change to Learn?

I got a letter from Chris last week, and he asked what I've been learning over here in London. I didn't really know how to answer that at first, because my classes are all rather easy.

And yet I'm here for a semester of my college education. I ought to be learning something, oughtn't I? In Adolescent Psychology, most of what we've talked about was mentioned in my AP Psychology class in high school (I knew Gillam was a good teacher). My Media class mostly watches movies about non-Western culture and briefly discusses them (actual movies, not documentaries; the kind that play in theaters). All I've learned in English Palaces and Country Houses is not to eat in the class room because the professor is a real stick in the mud who would rather us fall asleep during his lecture than silently enjoy a bit of chocolate. I'm always a little paranoid that he'll try to teach us something important and I'll miss it because I have so much trouble staying focused in there, but the most substantial thing he's tried to teach us were the orders of classical architecture, and I learned that from Mr. Vellios back in high school. And I've learned that my theatre class has no tests, just a couple of essays about shows, and the professor really enjoys my writing.

It's not all that bad. I do enjoy my classes mostly. I enjoy the free field trips to the theatre and to old palaces. And the movies and discussion in my media class really aren't bad. ... Psychology is pretty unforgiveably dull, but what's a semester without one of those classes? (erm, exciting??)

So the classes are all easy. But that doesn't mean that I'm going the whole semester without learning. I'm just not learning traditional 'class-room' things. For example, I've learned how to use the London Underground system (The maps make it look intimidating. It's delightfully easy, in fact).

And I've learned a few random Greek words over spring break (but I can't spell them, so it's no use on the blog. You'll just have to take my word for it).

I've learned that the foggy, rainy London stereotype exists for a very legitimate reason. I've learned that just because the English drive on the left side of the road doesn't mean that they walk on the left side of the sidewalk (any side of the sidewalk is fine, just don't run into anyone else. This does not apply to escalators, however, where the rule is strictly 'stand on the right, walk on the left').

I'm also learning things about myself. I'm learning just how much I really appreciate home and the relative quiet friendliness of the Midwest. While I've found Londoners to generally be friendly, most of the American College is from the North East, and while I've made some very good friends from them, there's a definite difference in background and culture. And London is never, ever entirely quiet.

I always knew I liked driving in my car with the windows down and the music up, singing at the top of my lungs, but being without that makes me realize how much I miss it.

Similarly, I always knew I like my privacy, but I'm learning that I can, in fact, adapt to sharing a room for more than a week.

I'm also learning that I can never figure out how to end blog entries. I just run out of things to say and click "publish post."