Ok so I am bad at blogs...lol

Well, I am not the best at keeping up with my blog obviously, but I am really going to try harder. I do have a good excuse, kinda! Unfortunately, my laptop decided to die a few weeks ago so I have been checking out a laptop from the library. On another note, Easter break is beginning this weekend! I am going to London Saturday, and I am so excited. I have bought a ticket to see Mamma Mia! at West End, and that is the highlight of my life right now! This is my list of things I want to see in London: Platform 9 3/4 (haha), Tower of London, Camden and Portabello Markets, Globe Theater, Tate Modern, Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, London Eye(if I can get over my fear of heights), Sherlock Holmes Pub, and The British Museum. I am going with a two other USM students and some of their friends. This will be my first time going to a big city since I have been in Wales.
Oh and I started volunteering at Cancer Research UK (a charity shop in town where all of the proceeds go to cancer research), and its a lot of fun. I get a lot of funny looks and questions about where I am from, but its a good experience. I went out with my coworkers the other night, and I tried my first Guiness. It tasted kinda coffee like, and it was really thick. I am told I have to try it again when I go to Dublin though.
There is so much that has happened, and I can' t remember everything lol. Maybe this will encourage me to update more.
Well, I guess this is all for now but I promise I will update after London!

Turrah (Welsh term),
Britny

Seeing Wales

So my trip to Cardiff was really amazing. It was the day of the England vs. Wales Rugby Match (loads of people walking around wearing red, welsh gear, flags, and some dressed as dragons) so it was a really hectic day to go to Cardiff. We went to Cardiff Castle only to find out that we could only see certain parts of the castle, because of a private party going on. It was still really amazing though. We walked along the outer walls of the castle and got to see the Keep. We also got to try on different types of armor worn by knights. Mail is seriously heavy and I don't know how knights were able to walk around lol. We ended the day by eating at a lovely restaurant where I asked for sour cream for my potato, and got a big vat of something called salad cream lol. Not a good alternative.
This past Sunday I went on my first hiking trip to Three Cliffs Bay. It was really fun, but really exhausting as well. It was my first time to actually go to the beach since I have been here. I also saw another castle called Pennard Castle. This weekend I am going to Bath on Saturday and on another hike on Sunday. My friend Sam is also coming to Swansea this week from Orleans, France. I am going to try and show her around Swansea and introduce her to University life here!

Travel Plans

So this week I have been working on my itinerary for Easter Break. Not an easy task! I found out today that I am in love with the flight prices in Europe. I found a flight to Dublin and also one to Italy for $40 including taxes and fees. That is unbelievable! I ordered a railpass for Italy, France, and Greece so that will also save a lot on travel! I decided to travel alone during break that way I can make the most of my time and see only the places I really want to see. I was worried about doing it at first, but I am starting to get excited about it. I will be staying in hostels and stuff, so I won't be completely alone or anything.
This past week has been a little slow; I am not used to having so much time on my hands. I am used to having so many assignments, but now all I have is 4 essays and 2 final exams for the entire semester! As a result, I sleep in way too late, and stay on the internet way too much. Last Saturday I went to this delightful little place in Swansea called The Mumbles. It is located right on the ocean, and although it is still very cold I had an amazing time. Tomorrow I am going on a day trip to Cardiff and will see my first castle! I am really excited!
Well, that is all I have for now, but I will write again soon (well I hope anyways :) )
Cheers (Pronounced Chiahs lol),
Britny

Getting Situated

Well, I am sad to say that I have never gotten over my jetlag. I think it may be caused by going out and staying up till 3 AM and then sleeping in until 1PM when able. The fact that my earliest class starts at 10 AM does not help either. The scheduling for classes is very strange here. There is no rhyme or reason like MWF or TTH schedules. I have two classes that are one day a week, one that is tuesday and friday, and one that is tuesday and wednesday. I cannot keep up with what class I have on which day without looking at my schedule or as they say here, timetable. On another note, this saturday I went to Stonehenge and Avebury. They were both amazingly beautiful, but the bitter cold took a lot of enjoyment out of it. I haven't seen the sun shine since I have been here, and it is a bit depressing. I am going to come back all pasty without a bit of tan left lol. I did meet a lot of other Americans on the trip that I may be going to the St. Patricks Day festival in Dublin with. I have been trying to find someone to travel with over my Easter break, but have not found anyone as of yet. I realized today that I have only been here a little over a week, but it feels as if I have already been here a month. I am quite homesick despite the excitement of being abroad for the first time. Oh and I almost forgot: I have joined both the hiking and sailing club (never really done either one lol) and I am really excited! My first sail is this wednesday if weather permits, and my first hike is this sunday! Well, I guess that is all for now. I miss everyone a lot!!!!

Swansea Life

So I guess I am bad at keeping up with my blog...lol. So I will try my best to at blog at least once a week. I have been having a great time so far in my new country! My room is finally put together, and I can get around by myself if needed. I also learned that going out 3 times a week is not something I am used to. I think I will stick to once or twice from now on. I really did enjoy pubgolfing, though. Pub golf consists of dressing up in golf like attire (argyle knee highs, plaid patterns, etc.) and going out to different bars and drinking holes (drinks). I didn't participate in the drinking part, because I was tired from the night before but I still had a blast dancing and seeing new venues.
The nightlife in Swansea is pretty amazing!
So no mobile phone as of yet, but I am looking forward to getting one tomorrow. Something interesting: in Britain it doesn't cost to receive texts or calls. I wish it was like that in America. I always hated that I got charged 10 cents for a stupid forward I didn't even want in the first place. Oh and I sorted out my schedule for my classes and I have no classes on Mondays! Also, my earliest class is at 10AM. I am super happy with my classes as well. I am taking The Biological Basis of Behavior, The Psychology of Early Childhood, Optics and Waves, and Roman Archeaology. I am a little nervous about the classes here, because grades are based on one exam and one essay in most cases. It is not like America, where there are several different assignments and at least two exams. Its good that I don't have to be stressed out as much during the semester, but I usually like to know where I stand grade-wise.
Well I guess I will find out what to expect on Tuesday. I will try to update soon!

Britny

I am here!!!

I'm not even going to talk about getting to Swansea cause it was literally hell lol. All I will say is luggage is not fun. Well, characteristic of Wales weather I was greeted by rainfall. I got picked up at the train station and within minutes had managed to already do something crazy. Being used to the passenger side being on the right side of the car, I tried to get in on that side and Tom said, "I have to drive". I felt really silly, but it was pretty funny. From there, I went to the student village and met my flatmates. I am in a flat with three boys and 1 girl. Everyone in the house came out to greet me and invited me to go out with them. I felt really welcome, and I went out with them even though I was 6 hours jetlagged. The club we went to was called Play; it was student night so it was super crowded but really fun as well.

Today I went shopping and had to lug my groceries and other stuff across town. Not fun. I think I am going to get my groceries delivered from now on. Too bad we don't have that option in America. Another thing I love about the UK: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I can now get anywhere in town I need to go without having to hitch a ride with someone!! The independence is amazing.

On another note, I miss everyone from home a whole lot. Its strange, because I have never had a problem being away from home but now I am so far away that it feels worse than usual. At least before I knew I could be home if I needed or desired to be. Going without communication and not having a cell phone is very strange. Tomorrow or soon I should be getting a mobile phone so I have a way to call home, but for now I am relying on email and chat. Well, I have my orientation tomorrow so maybe I will get my schedule and stuff! Yay! Well I will be back tomorrow!
For Austin: I love you!
For Sarah: I love you too prom date!

Cheers,
Britny