I've got some catching up to do...

Sorry! It's been...almost two weeks! Life got a little crazy- or, probably, more accurately, I got a little lazy.
To bring you up to speed, the wall displays DID go quite well- and we won the award for most effective. The weekend was fantastic! I went up to visit Megs and Matt in Plymouth and got to see where the Mayflower actually sailed from! They took me for Thai, and a walk through antique and fudge stores- and had me try quite the variety of ciders! We spent an evening watching Alien and eating cheese and crackers and the following day preparing a giant Thanksgiving feast complete with pumpkin pie! It was such a fantastic weekend, one of th ebest in England thus far- and so great to be around such good friends from home!
The following week, we were given the task to write about an area of weakness in our knowledge and to deliver a 5 minute teaching episode wherein we peer group teach. I picked the Talmud (from Judaism) wherein rabbis and Judaic scholars have recorded their views on the Mishna (Jewish oral law). During this presentation, I learned it costs 2 pounds to make a local call here! CRAZY!
That is why everyone has a cell phone - aka as a mobile here.
We also had a visit to the library- wherein they have a whole section for books you can take into schools as teaching aids- Brilliant! I had Thursday and Friday off, and that coupled with another weekend, were spent not doing particularly much- yet again. Most of the people in my program live out of town- so we go out on Wednesdays- and I hole myself in on the weekends, with sporadic walks to town for groceries, and doing readings and work like the 'grown-up' I'm aspiring to be. I've also watched QUITE a bit of free tv.
This week got slightly more exciting - after classes on Monday and an interview of sorts I attended on Tuesday (wherein they collected information about how I felt about the course thus far) Wednesday we went to visit the synagogue. The teacher was a New York woman, and we had a North American bond. She's invited the others and I to a Friday night service wherein she'll cook us a Jewish feast after! So excited! The synagogue was one of the third oldest in England- and she mentioned that they're usually tucked away in cities unnoticed on purpose. The community was quite small- housing maybe 80 members. Due to the small nature, it houses all denominations of Jews.
After the synagogue, well actually- it's worth mentioning that we had breakfast before it - and they had no Tabasco sauce for my eggs- devestating! Anyways, after the synagogue- we all went to the bar that had been converted from a former church, and I found chicken wings on the menu! So excited! However, though they were cheap, they were nowhere near like home- though it was a nice reminder! From there, the group went bowling- and I wasn't completely horrible. Following that, it was home to change, and then out again dancing in the worst night club experience I've had in awhile. Aside from learning that, at 23, I can no longer go to campus night clubs and feel comfortable - I was unable to move my arms, broken glass was all around me, I literally got lifted into the club because of the hoards of costumed teenagers in line, but the music was great- Hey Jude, vintage 90s music, dance music, Metallica- a really random mix. However, once I couldn't take it anymore, we went to a pub next door, where we were the only ones on the dance floor- and the night got instantly better.
The next morning, however was not. I've also learned that perhaps I should have known better than to put my body through that- but I've been out dancing in Exeter and the mystery has now been revealed and my curiosity satiatied.
Thursday was spent revelling in not needing to do much of anything.
Today, Friday, I got up bright and early (or rather, dark and early) to get on a coach bus for 2 hours to Bristol to attenda gurdwara. It's great to attend as an adult, because we got to ask so many more questions that we shyed away from as students. We had a tour, a q and a period, a service, and...the best part- langar! (Sikhs, as part of their religious duty, contribute to community work, and part of that is making delicious Indian food every day for everyone who wants it in the gurdwara!) The whole thing ended with learning how a turban was tied, and then we were back on the bus back home.
And here I am, FINALLY blogging.
So aside from the day to day, I've found a grocery store about 30 minutes nearer my place! I've received my first few phone calls from actual English people! Things are going well- it's still relatively warm here, though, as to be expected, rainy unexpectedly. I've solved that by discovering the best hot chocolate mix I've ever had. It's funny to think, that in only 7 weeks I'll be home again- hopefully relaying all these experiences to many of you in person!
Not homesick but definitley missing many things and people!
I promise to attempt to live a more interesting life on the weekends to have more to write- but in the meantime- you're up to speed.