Classes, Tours, and Universities

Hey Everyone,
It's a lovely semi-sunny evening here in Wales and I've finally found some time to update you all! We've been here now just under two weeks but, of course working on AC time, it feels like it's been years! We came back from summer break and jumped into the Interfaith Conference which was organized by our World Religions teacher. I found it amazingly interesting. There was some major hot debate surrounding Scientology though... the campus was seething after some of the seminars given by the Scientology representative. But AC can seeth easily. Bring any debatable issue to the college and your bound to be hit on every side with questions and scepticism that makes your head ring. I guess you get used to it when you live here but several of the guests left saying they had been asked questions they had no idea how to answer. That's AC for you; so many strong people with strong points of view and the intellect to back those views we all end up not knowing what to believe... suddenly you find yourself defending an argument you've never realized you believed in.
Anyway, a week ago codes (classes) started in full swing. August period is supposed to be about service (and it is with four hours of community service a day) but we also attend classes from 8am to 1pm. The schedule is really wierd for though... until the first years arrive on September 11th. Sometimes I have the same class three times in one day and some weeks I go without having a certian class for the whole week! I guess it keeps you on your toes...
A quick rundown of my courses:

English A1 Higher Level: Although I feel that coming to the UK to study english (ironically enough) stepped me down a level or two from what I'd be doing the US. One thing is that they just write differently over here. In the US there's a lot of emphasis on essay writing while here its all about what they call commentaries which are supposed to be easier but I can't seem to get the hang of. We've read a variety of pieces like "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, "Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, "Miss Julie" by Stindberg, and "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf. We wrote one World Lit (mine was on the author's attitude toward women in Sophocles' "Antigone" and Strindberg's "Miss Julie) and have one more to write.

Spanish B Higher Level: This is my hardest class. We speak nonstop Spanish and although I think I've improved a lot since coming, I still struggle to understand anything at all! Hopefully I'll be going to Spain for a week in March which would help emmensly!

Theatre Arts Higher Level: Unlike most Drama classes, this class is not about production at all. It's all about learning acting techniques. The skills I learn in T'arts can be applied to any aspect of life because they're about learning who I am and how I can transmit the correct message when I'm in front of one person or a whole audience. It's A LOT of work though... I'm now in the middle of researching for a several thousand word essay on Lighting Design. Ah!

Maths Standard Level: I never thought math would be my easy subject. But because I took part of Calculus at Taos High, I've just spent the last year reviewing everything I already knew. Cake!

Environmental Systems Standard Level: Another easy one. It's all common sense but it is still a lot of work just cause we do a lot of practicals. One subject I get continual 7's in for every monthly grade! Yay!

Music Standard Level: Difficult but I love it. As my 7th subject, Music is all about having fun. The theory I'm learning should help improve my piano playing... or at least help me understand what I'm playing. Plus I've come to enjoy so many more types of music! I'm a bit frustrated with the Musical Investigation I'm writing right now though. I'm comparing a Christian Choir piece with a Native American powow song. Interesting right? It is but I'm not sure what to write about... it'll come... patience.

Political Thought Standard Level: I love this class. We spend every code talking about great political thinkers and comparing their views to all different realms of today's world. Right now we're reading Edmond Burke's famous conservative novel... it's all about tradition and slow-change, etc. I'll be writing a 1,500 word Internal assassment for that class soon... not sure what about yet though. I need an interesting current affair... any ideas?

Theory of Knowledge: As a required course a lot of people don't really take it too incredibly seriously but its really interesting if you try and stay awake. It's all about asking yourself "Why do I know what I know?" I guess its like philosophy in a lot of ways. I have a ToK presentation coming soon... I think I'm going to do it on the ethical questions involved in making contact with native tribes in the Amazon.

That's it for classes but I also have the Extended Essay to do. This 4,000 word monster is due in October and must be perfect although it counts for less points on the IB than my maths portfolio. I'm writing my essay on "The Roman-Catholic Influences on Native American Pueblo Religion." I've written my outline and it's already 3,500 words! I think I'm going to have to learn the fine art of editing...

Hmmmm... other than classes and service, I'm busy trying to organize this year's musical (which I think... I hope... will be Alice in Wonderland) and applying to universities. I started filling out the common app... dum dum dum....

My universities thus far are (not nesessarly in this order): Stanford, Middlebury, Lewis and Clark College, and UC Boulder. I have one more choice open (we're only allowed to apply to five) but I'm leaving it open because we have many guest speakers coming to talk about their schools in the next couple months and, who knows? maybe I'll fall in love with one!

Okay, I think I'll try to spend the rest of the night working on... something. ... I've become quite good at prioritising! Not due tomorrow... don't need to do it! Haha, no it's cause there's always something due tomorrow. (Guess I'll go read for politics on that note!)

Maybe pictures later? I hope!
Malia