It’s the last Saturday of break and tomorrow I’m headed back to college. Given that I’m from Boise, that trip back falls far short of an epic journey. But I’m in store for a long trip on Wednesday, when I leave for a few weeks to London and Paris.

Even though November just started, everyone at C of I already has his or her eye on the springtime. Or at least spring term, as we’re in the midst of registering for next semester’s classes. I have 56 credits to my name, and will register with the rest of the sophomore class next Monday. The seniors and juniors have already gotten first pick at the classes, and I’m sure many underclassmen are closely monitoring the number of open spots in the classes they intend to take.

This gigantic map is the latest addition to my dorm room.  But I didn’t cram it in over my bed just for kicks—it’s part of a class that I’m taking in preparation for a trip to London this January.

The class is officially titled “IND-307.1 London: Art/History/Literature.” It has 14 students (13 of whom are female), three professors, and one faculty member who’s surveying the course in preparation for his own trip to the UK.