Uni begins!

My classes started on Monday with Geopolitics of Energy, which turned out to be a lot more interesting than I had expected. On the Tuesday I had to do a half hour presentation to the class on the link between energy resources and democracy (or lack thereof) and although I was quite worried preparing it in the previous week as I had no idea what kind of standard to expect from the German education system, it all seemed to go alright on the night. Now I just have to submit a 12 page research paper on the topic! I also met some really nice people on the course and everyone is incredibly knowledgeable and the standard very high. The class, thankfully for me, is in English and everyone speaks perfect English...as well as Russian, French, Spanish, maybe some Chinese or Polish too! It’s somewhat depressing as I struggle away with my Deutschlish, but everyone is pretty nice and helps me out. It is compulsory for International Relations students here (and all other countries too, it seems) to spend at least six months studying abroad and to take foreign language classes. For us in England, neither is obligatory and I would hazard a guess that this is probably reflected on our manner of conducting international relations as a country...

I also started German classes this week which is very useful. I found my A-level papers before I left England and I couldn’t believe how good I once was at German. Unfortunately that was five years ago but it is slowly coming back. I am pleased to be having German classes on two days a week now, especially since I now have no more international relations classes for three weeks, then suddenly start two extra classes and also more Geopolitics all at once. This is due to the odd German timetabling that is made up of ‘blockseminars’, where a class runs intensively for two weeks or so then it’s all over. Very strange and definitely confusing!
Otherwise, the weather has been gorgeous here- it has been over 20 degrees most of the week. Going to a barbecue this evening though, so making the most of it before I return to England! I’ve been following the election run-up with interest via the internet and have also watched the TV debates on YouTube and I think that they were really good. Typically, Nick Clegg made on appearance at De Montfort University in Leicester just a couple of days ago, but I guess not being there saved me the trouble of being compelled to drag myself out of bed ridiculously early in the morning.

Can’t really think of anything else to say, I’ve visited the Zwinger which is a palace here which now houses the fairly famous Old Master’s Gallery in Dresden and that was quite impressive, as you can see from the pictures. I would like to visit some more modern art galleries if I can find one. The Hygiene Museum is also supposed to be well worth a visit, despite its cold, clinical and very German sounding name! Need to get a couple of papers out of the way and then I can go off on a few more jaunts that I’m planning. More soon...