After another week of class, I am finally settling into the routines of things. I am also starting to studying and re-realize the reason I am here is to attend uni. Although, I am still not sure if traveling or school takes precedence, I honestly think they are both very and equally important. I find it funny that some of the subjects I am taking in Bath I really enjoy, while I didn't like the introductory course I took at Purdue and vise versa. Classes are classes anyway you look at them, nothing too mind boggling.
Now on to the more exciting events of my past week! I decided to not take a Wednesday day trip because I was so wiped out from my weekend in London and I was still getting over my awful illness (it seems just as I was getting better, everyone else got sick...I hope it wasn't my fault, I'd like to blame the weather instead!). My Friday was a very filled day, I have the most lectures on Friday....it really is a horrible way to end the week! When I returned from classes, I went to this store called Iceland to do some food shopping. Almost everything in the store is frozen and costs roughly about a pound! It is very cheap...but not so healthy...but easy. I think I am most excited about returning to the states and cooking again, it is just too hard and expensive to cook for oneself and buy all the necessary ingredients to make a complete recipe. Then the excitement began as I planned my spring break and bought the plane tickets! The prices increased slightly from the last time I looked and when I actually bought the tickets more fees were added to the final price. Still, anyway you put it flying around Europe is much cheaper than flying around the US. It amazes me that flying place to place is even cheaper than taking the train. My final plan is to fly from Bristol to Valencia, Spain to Pisa, Italy then from Milan, Italy to Paris, France and then finally spend my last few days of vacation in Dublin, Ireland! I am super excited and I can already predict how fabulous my trip will be, I will remember it forever. If anyone has any suggestions or tips I'd love them!
Booking the tickets took much longer than I expected and I was meeting up with people to attend a Chemistry Ball rather soon. I showered, talked to Jamie and Aron, got dressed, and eat dinner all within an hour. I was pretty impressed I was able to accomplish everything. The Chemistry Ball, organized and supported by the university, consisted of students and professors eating, drinking, and dancing together. It still blows my mind that departments get together and throw parties, I don't think this would ever happen at home especially not supported by the university. The ball was so much fun and I got to meet so many other chemistry students! My favorite part of the night was probably when some random guy can up to me and another american student and asked 'Where did you guys come from?' My response was America! It may have been a 'you had to be there moment' but it was really funny! Since everyone has the same classes together (think more like high school classes than common US college classes), they get to know the people in their classes and when some strange person walks into the lecture hall they notice you! I also spoke with one of my professors and the first thing she asked me is if I was interested in any guys...that would not happen in the states. Then, she proceeded to tell me I have an accent, it was really weird hearing that when I view all the Brits as having accents! The night was filled with dancing...yes I danced my heart out and loved every minute of it. My only regret is that I work high heeled pumps and my feet hurt soo much by the end of the night...it was a huge struggle to walk home!
After getting approximately four hours of sleep, I was up and preparing for my trip to Cardiff, Wales. I was so afraid I was going to miss my train, so I woke up much earlier than I needed to....just in case! I also didn't buy my ticket before hand...just in case. The whole buying two tickets was not an experience I'd like to repeat. The train ride was a little over an hour...it's crazy to think it only takes an hour to get to another country...everything is so close here compared to home. It takes me ten hours to drive home from school. In ten hours, I could probably travel the majority of the UK. Once we entered Wales all the signs were written in English and Welsh, which was neat to see. I really wanted to hear people speak Welsh, but everyone speaks English or at least I didn't hear anyone speaking Welsh. Cardiff is the capitol of Wales, but it reminded me more of a State capitol than of a capitol of a country. There were two distinct parts of the town: the city center and the harbor. The morning was spent walking around the city center and venturing up to the legislative buildings and the beautiful gardens. A friend and I followed a walking tour of the city and saw/noticed much more than I think we would have seen if we were just wondering around. We stopped for lunch at this really neat place that just sold jacket pockets (baked potatoes) with various fillings. It is a common meal in the UK, but I hadn't experienced it here yet...I mean I have eaten a baked potato before, but this was so much better and very filling! Then, we made our way down to the harbor because I really want to see the water. I'm not sure what fascinates me about being on the coast and seeing the water, but I love it! It was beautiful and I think it was definitely worth making the walk to see the harbor. The remainder of the day was spent doing some light shopping/browsing and watching a rugby game. Next time I watch a rugby game I need to sit next to someone that knows and enjoys the game, so when I inevitably ask too many questions about the rules I can get answers. The crowds highlighted in the stadium appeared to be more enthusiastic than fans watching American football. It was also amusing watching an England vs. France game in Wales. The Welsh are not terribly fond of the English (there is a huge rivalry) and I happened to be watching the game with a bunch of French exchange students. To round out the trip, we found a local hole in the wall Welsh/British place to eat dinner at, of course after my infamous indecision skills of choosing a place to eat at. I didn't want to wait at one place, but by the time I actually decided on a place it took more time than if I just waited at the original place. I ordered a cottage pie, which I had really wanted to try and it was a great choice, it was in the same family as a shepherd's pie or maybe even the same thing, but just a little different :) For dessert I ordered an apple pie expecting a large piece of pie with huge amounts of apple filling. Instead I got a tart like thing smothered with custard (hot pudding substance), it was still yummy just not what I expected. Cardiff was a neat town to see, but I'm not sure I'd venture back there during my stay in the UK. I would like to see more of the countryside in Wales, if I have the time to go back. My last observation I'd like to point out about Cardiff is the large amount of American advertisements. It was weird, there was one place called USA Nails, a restaurant/pub with a New Orleans theme, and some other things that I can't remember off the top of my head right now, but there was quite a lot of American resemblance (something that I have not found to the same extent in England).
I think next up on the my travel list is Oxford or Birmingham. I would also like to visit Holland and Belgium in the near future, I am really craving some good chocolate! As soon as my exam schedule is posted I will figure out when I have more time to travel beyond the weekends. So nothing too crazy happened this past week...I just got to go to a Ball and spend a day in Wales...no big deal!
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