First Couple of Days

Friday/Saturday:

What can I say about Friday and Saturday except that they were not two separate days but one very long one. I got on the plane around 7 on Friday and got off around 6:30 in the morning on Saturday, and just kept going from there until I could finally go to sleep around 8:30 pm. It was a crazy day, meeting some new people, and walking around London (as well as taking the Tube!!). I walked down Portabello Road, and then took a tour of London. We went on a River Thames cruise where we saw the Tower Bridge, the London Bridge, the London Eye, and Big Ben. We also walked around and saw Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, and Oxford Circus. We just walked around things, we never got to stop and explore places, so I am definitely planning on going back. That night when we got back to Notting Hill, where a couple of us stayed in a flat for the night until we boarded the train for Swansea, we ate at a Turkish restaurant, and we were really nervous about it, but it turned out to be some really amazing food. And then finally, we returned home and went to bed, after what seemed like the longest day of my life.

Sunday:

On Sunday we got up at a decent time and went and had breakfast at an Italian cafe called Cafe Nero, which had amazing chocolate Croissants. And then we lugged our suitcases onto the Tube and headed to London Paddington Station so that we could get on our train to Swansea, Wales. The train ride took about four hours, and we were glad to finally make it. On the train ride, I noticed how many fields there were. Some had sheep, or cows, or horses, and others were just empty. There weren't any really wooded areas, there were just fields, but the landscape was beautiful nonetheless. When we got there, we met a few others and walked to the beach that is close by to the campus and put our feet in, and then we found a place for dinner. That night we walked around the neighborhoods around the campus. It was a lot of exploring, and a lot of fun.

Monday:

Monday is the day that we really met everyone in our pre-sessional. There are about 16 of us, mostly from the US, but there is one from Canada, one from Hong Kong, and two from Germany, and everyone is very nice. That day we went to Mumbles and Gower which are both cliffs and beaches, and are both very beautiful. I loved walking around and taking pictures and just taking it all in, although it was quite amazing how much sheep poop we had to step around (it was, unsurprisingly, everywhere!!!). Gower is one place that I would love to go back to and explore more. However, not in a bus like this last time because the roads here are so narrow sometimes that fitting anything in addition to a bus on the road is a little bit scary because there is no room for bus and a car to pass each other. It actually is weird how narrow the roads are here, Finally, when we got home, we went around town and found some good grocery stores, as well as restaurants.

Tuesday:

This was the first real day of our pres-sessional, so there is not much to say here. I was in class for much of the day and it was interesting to learn about the culture that to which we are beginning to grow accustomed. Our professor is great; he is funny, and he loves teaching us foreign students about his home, but he has also traveled a lot and knows about our homes as well, which makes the class more exciting. I am excited to go on with this class.

Wednesday (today):

Today was our free day. We did not have class, so we went out. I slept in, and when I woke up and went out and got some things done, and then a group of us went out to try to go kayaking. We took a taxi to Oswich, but when we got there, we found out that kayak rentals are closed this time of year during the week, but they are open on the weekends. However, it was a 25 pound taxi ride, so we had to make the ride out there worth while, so we looked for something to do; for a serendipity moment, when we stumbled across something amazing. That is just what happened when we found a hiking trail, and when entered it, even though most of us were wearing flip flops, not hiking boots, or even sneakers, but it was something to do. It was an adventure. We ended up going to the coast, and climbing over the rocks and finding a couple of coves, taking lots of pictures along the way. The flip flops made the "rock climbing/walking" a bit difficult, but it was worth it. The scenery was beautiful. We spent a while along the rocks before we turned back, and we just walked along the coast back to the beach where we started. Then we found a short trail to Oswich Castle, and even though it was closed we snuck around and got a few pictures of it, because it was absolutely beautiful... and then we were told to leave because the castle was closed, oh well. When we got home, I called my mom, for the first time since I left, and even though I am finding that I am loving it here, I miss my home, and a part of me can't wait to be back there. But I do want more adventures like this as well.



That's all for now, until next time!!! Adios!