inductions galore

So yesterday was the English induction. The St. Cross building--where the English faculty and library are--is huge and rather imposing. Apparently everyone else thinks it's ugly, but I kind of like it.

Anyway, we sat through a lengthy series of lecture, mostly in library usage and tech support. Unfortunately, our almost-identical library orientation took place at Regent's less than 24 hours before. So here I sit in this giant lecture room, having not eaten all day, listening to a morning's worth of self-evident library-related stuff. To be fair, the Bodleian system is really, really complicated. And they did give us tea and biscuits afterward.

But then I got to meet with my strand-mates (the other people doing 1800-1914). I really like the group, and it's a good size (maybe 18 or 20 people). A few of us went for lunch at the Turf after, and I think I'm really going to like spending time with them.

This morning I went to the fresh market in Gloucester Green. They run it every Wednesday, but at this time last week I was still living a hostel so I didn't pay attention to prices of food yet. Holy cow! I got a pound and a half of tomatoes, nine bananas, and a huge basket of grapes for under four quid. So I had a banana and a tomato (pronounced toe-MAH-toe, of course) for lunch. Before realizing that the English department is giving me lunch. But that's okay.

In the meantime, my room is almost perfect. I have a brand-new mattress and now I'm reasonably stocked on food. The only thing wanting may be the curtain for my closet, and I'm working on that. I got all of my photos up: take a look! See if you can spot yourself! If you can't, send me pictures...