What's Cool in Wales?

First day of classes! It went...well, once we finally managed to find (some of) the offices and get timetables. Two archaeology classes were today, so we got to start those ones, and I figured out the rest of my schedule tonight. I still have to see if I like the classes, but I think it's going to be:


If you click on the image, it should enlarge. I want to add one more class, which isn't for credit--so I can learn Irish! It is either on Wednesday or Friday, but I can't say I'd mind having Fridays free!

One of the ones I attended today is called "The Development of the Castle in Europe," and it looks pretty awesome so far. To give you an idea what it's about, here's the AIMS from the syllabus:
Hundreds of castles of different types can still be seen in the Irish landscape. They are really the principle visible reminder in our countryside and towns today of the later medieval period (i.e. from the 12th century down to c. 1600) in Ireland. Castles were one of the means by which medieval lords controlled society and land during the latter period. Their study tells us much about the way society was organized and administered during later medieval times.
Students will be introduced to current thinking on the development of castles and will be shown that these places were not purely military fortifications. Castles were also the residences and homes of lords, their families and retainers and were clearly a means by which high status was expressed. This meant that they were also the centres of their owners' estates and manors--meaning that now-vanished agricultural and administrative buildings lay within and around them. Designed landscapes were often built around important castles to further emphasise the power and importance of their owners. Castles, therefore, clearly had peaceful as well as military functions.
While the course will consider castles across Britain, Europe and the Crusader lands, it is the Irish and Welsh evidence that will be examined in most detail. The lectures are divided into groups emphasizing different themes. Students will be shown that the majority of castles built, used and occupied in Ireland, Britain and Western Europe up until the 13th century (even later in some areas) were constructed of earth and timber--not stone. This is a point that is continually forgotten, even by historians and archaeologists. Masonry castles dominate people's perception of what constituted a medieval fortress and suitable lordly residence. Timber or earthwork castles deserve far more academic attention than they have received in the past. It is hoped that the course will go some way to redressing this imbalance in castle research.
Another them will be the examination of the differences between the native Welsh, Gaelic Irish and Anglo-Norman usage of fortifications during the 12th, 12th and 14th centuries. Such questions as the recognition of ethnic differences in the archaeological record will be addressed in the course.
The course also has a more mundane element to it. The basics of the architectural dating of medieval buildings will also be taught on the course, both in the lectures and on the field trip. Hopefully this aspect of the course, which builds on Second Year courses, will be of use to students in their future careers as archaeologists. For example, a good knowledge of medieval architecture is a requisite for a post with the Archaeological Survey branch of the National Monuments Service. Such knowledge is also vital for postgraduate research in medieval archaeology.
There are, therefore, both vocational and intellectual sides to the course.

That is really long-winded, but basically this class is cool! We are graded on one final test (worth 10%) and a paper (90%). There is one field trip in February to several castles in the area; he's talking about moving it, which means I wouldn't be able to go, but if I can it should be awesome! I'm really excited about it. I have it again tomorrow at noon, so we'll see how many kids show up after partying tonight! Right now, all four of my roommates (the two Irish girls finally showed up) are out clubbing, and a lot of other students are too.

Besides classes, today was pretty normal. It was weird not having any homework, since they don't have busy work or assignments due every lecture like we do at home, but Alice and Courtney came over and we listed all the places we want to visit. We didn't make any definite plans yet since we haven't gotten dates for all of our classes yet or for club activities, but it's nice to have a list of what we want to do. However, we need help with one: we want to go to Wales (it's mostly me that's wants to go there), but I don't have any specific place in mind. Any suggestions?

After that, we watched TV for a while, ate cold pizza and chocolate chip cookies, and used the toilet paper hanging off a picture frame to blow our noses. Actually, the last was all them, but it was still funny. Tomorrow Alice and I are going to go to a sports store and try to buy some hiking boots and pants. We want to join the Mountaineering Club, and they won't even let you on the bus unless you have proper equipment (including hiking or running pants and ankle-high hiking boots). I don't know if I really want to invest in them, but we're going to look anyway. I suppose I could always use boots, since all I brought were rainboots.

We also finally set a date for our potluck dinner. We're going to do some homecooking Sunday night and tell our various roommates and API directors that if they want to come, which they're totally invited, they should bring a dish to pass! We're going to try to do it weekly, so it should be nice to have one real meal each week. :)

Okay...guess that's all for now. Feel free to email me and let me know what's going on in the states! I miss everyone...but not too much! I think I'm getting pretty used to it here now.

All right--good night!