Blackcurrant Bliss

As I've been at the University of Essex a few more days I've found a few more pros and cons associated with study abroad life in England.

pro: Tesco. Imagine that being said in a hushed, almost reverent voice. Have you heard of it? It's super-cheap. Some have described it as being better than WalMart. I'm sort of in love with it.
con:I still haven't seen a break in the clouds (or even a break in the fog!) since I've gotten here.
pro: Hot tea with milk tastes better without the sun anyways.
con: At least at the U of Essex, one can get lost much too easily. This is especially the case when one cannot see any but a few buildings through the fog.
pro: Have I mentioned that the people here are really nice? They even make dinner for the study abroad students. Score!

Interesting fact: Purple skittles in England aren't grape flavored. Can you guess what they are? Blackcurrant! Odd!

Interesting fact 2: British Ramen tastes and smells a bit different than its American brother. But it's still wonderfully salty. And cheap.

Interesting fact 3: At least at U of Essex clubs only refer to sports. Otherwise they're called societies. I think this sounds much more posh.

Yesterday all the study abroad students went on a campus and library tour. It was extremely exciting. I got to see posters for the socialism society. I've never seen a socialism society before, but it seems to be pretty popular over here. I was also nibbled on the leg by a duck. They're pretty ferocious over here. I think they were just love bites, though. I also got to take a ride in a Paternoster elevator. You may be asking "A what?" Youtube can answer that question. Here's a video of the elevator at Essex. I'm not sure if there's another one in the world.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w0qa91F7ACM&feature=related

I think they taped the video at half speed. If one doesn't hurry onto the elevator, in fact, one could easily be decapitated. But it's worth the risk. Only kidding, of course. It's pretty safe, I think, unless someone presses the emergency stop when there are others in between levels. It builds character, right? I have to go to a British pub now. Man I feel cool saying that!