I'm settling in well, despite several bouts of homesickness over the weekend. I perked up a lot today. I registered with my GP, or General Practitioner. I really like the British health care system. At least, it suits me as an international student very well. I get treated for free, and I only pay part of my perscription costs. And I don't need additional insurance. British people pay taxes, but it's all free for me! Although I do pay a lot more tuition than the British students, so I guess it comes out in the end. In any case, the medical facility is very nice.

I also met one of my new flatmates! Her name is Tanya, and she's from Germany. Alicia, Tanya, Stephanie and I had dinner here tonight, making sandwiches from stuff we'd accumulated on a shopping trip to Sainsbury's: ham, cheese, cheese spread, and lettuce. Very yummy, actually. Seasoned with good conversation about the political situation in Germany, a quick lesson on comparative legal systems (I tried to explain the Supreme Court situation and discovered that they learn about Roe v. Wade in Germany and Canada--very humbling, as I can't think of a single Canadian major trial, and I don't think the Nurumberg Hearings count...), Pride and Prejudice (we all rather fancy Mr. Darcy), and our plans for world domination. Yes, it's a common theme among my friends. Coincidence? Perhaps not. Mwahaha. (*evil laugh a la Pete*) What can I say? I'm surrounded by evil geniuses. Kind of.

Seriously, I'm very happy tonight. I have groceries, I have a frying pan, I've met and like a majority of my flatmates, I'm warm and dry and well-fed. And tomorrow I have a graduate school induction. I love Britishisms. I feel like I'm going to have to do some sort of bizzare ritual to be inducted into graduate school. Blood letting? Binge drinking? But, no, induction is what we would call.... oh, now I'm having a hard time thinking of an equivilent... Maybe welcome talk? Or introduction? Explanation? I fail. In any case, I'm excited. Maybe they'll tell me whom my tutor will be.