Arrival Blog 3- First Week of Classes

Well, my wonderful week started with a pleasant surprise on Sunday. I was going to set up my voicemail on my local phone and was greeted with the usual automated person, but she had a beautiful accent! Suddenly a 'chore' became an 'adventure'.

Classes have begun and I can already tell that it will be an excellent semester. The professors are passionate and exciting. My German professor is off on paternity leave, so I have not started that class yet, but the others are going quite well.

The view while walking to the Business School campus:

My history course:

Ready for the first day of class:

On Monday I enjoyed a lovely evening out with students for "Language Exchange Night". I was able to sit at a table with students who wanted to learn English and spoke German and we were able to talk back and forth. It was very helpful and will probably become my usual Monday evening activity.

Best hot chocolate at Language Exchange Night:

Today is Saturday the 30th of January and I went on a wonderful hike up to Constitution Hill. The hill looks over the city and the ocean and the site is absolutely stunning! I organized a day where the international students can all just hang out up there for the afternoon. We walked up together and enjoyed the outdoors. I took tons of photos! It was a very successful first week!

Found pasties while grocery shopping! Isn't this Irish, though?:

The perfect "British" street while on our hike:

Some of the photos of the hike:

I hope you all enjoy the photos and I hope to have more for this next week! 

Hwyl fawr (Good bye) for now!

Arrival Blog 2- Orientation

This week has been less of a 'tourist' week and more of a 'student' week. I have had a lot of orientation meetings and have gotten to meet loads of international students. It has been such a wonderful week!

Here is my video:

Here are a few photos:

We traveled far for Starbucks...

The campus

Another view of the campus

The beautiful city at the bottom of the hill

The yogurt is so tiny here!!

I also have received all of the schedules from my classes and I have come to the realization that school in the UK, or at least at Aberystywth, is amazing! I have classes for 4 weeks, then some classes are cancelled during the 5th week for Reading Week, then classes for 3 weeks, then a 3 week Easter break, then classes for 3 weeks, then 1 week off, then I have a 3 week period that is left open for finals examinations. Instead of 1 week for all of my exams, there is the possibility that they will be spaced out over 3 weeks. Did I mention I am currently registered for 3 classes, which is considered a full load here?

Arrival Blog 1- First Week

I am finally here. After years of dreaming about what it looks like and how it will be to arrive, I finally got to experience it. The feeling was absolutely amazing! I left Seatac airport on January 13th and my lovely boyfriend gave me his video camera so I could also record videos of my trip! I made a few videos along the journey which are posted throughout.

Video 1- our departure: 

On the 14th we arrived in Birmingham airport and my friend, Brooke, and I were exhausted, but the excitement kept us going. We worked our way through the airport and a couple hours later we caught our train out to Aberystwyth. We fell asleep at various points along the trip, but I posted a photo below of the beautiful grassy rolling hills and cute little pastures. It looked like some scenes from Heidi. Around 5pm on the 14th, we finally reached the platform at Aberystwyth. By 8pm, I was going to sleep and probably slept for a good 12 hours. From the time I had left my house on the 13th to when I finally got into my flat on the 14th, I had been travelling for over 24 hours.

Video 2- flight from Iceland to England:  

Video 3- landed in Birmingham, England: 

Video 4- waiting for our train: 

Video 5- the countryside in Wales: 

Video 6- our arrival: 

The 15th was a day to explore and familiarize myself with the town and campus. I met some of my flatmates and one girl, Lydia, showed Brooke and I around the upper campus and then into the town of Aberystwth. We toured inside the old college (photos below), explored the ruins of an old castle (photo below), walked along the boardwalk, and finally made it to a grocery store.

The 16th was a fun day of going back into town with Brooke. I got my phone set up with service, bought a few more things from the store, picked up a few postcards, and just enjoyed being in town. The entire time along our walk, we called everything "cute" even if it was the simplest of buildings, because everything looked perfect.

Today, the 17th, I am going to continue to meet more people and maybe I will familiarize myself with the campus. We have formal tours on Wednesday during orientation, but an extra look will never hurt.

Note to self: The seagulls are very loud in the morning- earplugs are advised.

Hwyl fawr (good-bye) for now!

Pre-Departure Blog 2- Leaving Washington

I have officially completed phase one! My apartment in Missoula got emptied out and the keys were turned in before I went home for the holidays. Bye-bye cute little place (picture of me on my balcony). I then spent three weeks in Washington getting to enjoy some great rain, food, and company.

Now that the holidays are over, it is time to get ready for the big departure. I am ready to leave Washington! I am down to less than 24 hours and the level of excitement I am feeling is unbelievable.

The next time I blog, I will be in WALES! Time certainly has gone by quickly. On Sunday evening I was amazed that I could say, "I depart for my trip this week." I cannot wait to post my very first photos.

Hwyl fawr (good-bye) for now!