Stratford-Upon-Avon

Essay #1 is out of the way...nine pages total! One guy in my group managed to write a 15-page paper full of graphs and diagrams... Basically, it's been a busy academic week for everyone, but we are all completely BLOWN AWAY by how much we have learned. I think I've read at least six scientific books in the last week...which is quite a feat for me (especially the scientific part). I've been looking at the International Panel on Climate Change's recent report on human-induced changes in the global climate system. The evidence is a bit terrifying... If you have some time, I really recommend taking a look at the 'Policy Summary' section of the report. It highlights some serious climate changes we'll be facing over the next 20 years. Frustratingly enough, leaders at the G-8 summit more or less blew off the whole 'reform today for a better tomorrow' idea this week...*rant* Anyway, my next essay assignment issss:

Explore the concepts of societal vulnerability, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to a representative range of anthropogenically-generated disturbances to the global environment.

SO, give me a week, and I can scare you all a bit more with impending climate DOOM...
_______

On a lighter note, I just got back from seeing 'Taming of the Shrew' in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. The performance was done by the Royal Shakespeare Company and was fantastic. The 'shrew,' Katherine, was excellent, and the company did a great job of modernizing the performance.

Baby Bill's House!

Yeah, so we ran into THIS museum... but unfortunately entry was $10... not quite worth it...

Here's the inside of the theater.. actors ran out on stage from all directions,
so you really felt like you were in the middle of the performance.

Tomorrow I'm taking a study break to wander up to a part of Oxford called Jericho. It's supposed to have lots of ethnic restaurants and thrift shops - my kind of place! After two weeks (WOW, it has gone by fast), there are still parts of Oxford I haven't seen. Next weekend, Katy (girl with the scarf in the witchcraft photo) and I plan to go to Warwick (famous for its castle) to a folk festival. Day trips to Cambridge and Blenheim Palace are also in the works.. I love it in Oxford so much I don't really want to go on epic weekend trips and miss out on being here...

Ah, and the MOST exciting news of the coming weekend: Ol' Mom and Pop are stopping by for a day of Oxford-style bonding on Saturday. Should make for a funny blog post... I'll try and get some pictures of Dad being posh and British.

Still loving it here and still want to stay forever,
Love,
Emily