Ireland, My love.

Ireland was absolutely wonderful. Everything I had pictured and more. I knew there was a reason I had always wanted to go there. If I ever get a second home in another country, it will def. be in Ireland. It is such a beautiful place, with so much cultural around every corner, statues, historical buildings, castles, old homes, pubs, just everything is so great and has so much to do with the history of Ireland.

I was able to go in a big circle around ireland, from Dublin, Blarney Castle, The Barren Code, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, and so many more places. Galway is a better city to visit than Dublin, because Dublin is becoming to touristy, still liked both places. And the Barren Code was pretty amazing, just a huge stretch of rock, but the crazy thing is that there is plants and wildlife from all over that grow there, even some alaskan flower.

I def. will be visiting Ireland again one day, there is still so much i didn't get to see!
Now the trip wasn't perfect we got to experience the lovely irish weather of liquid sunshine daily, and cloudy-ness. But still thats the irish life, so I could deal with it. :P

Scotland, Home of Hamish

Being in scotland for four days was great.
 I went all over, from the lowlands to the highlands and to the Isle of Skye. It was beautiful, to put it mildy. The second day there was snow on the mountains, by the third roads were being closed because of the snow storm. It was freezing, snowy and, rainy, but wonderful. I got to see some castles, landscape, and learn some great history of Scotland. The tour guide was pretty great, she was easy-going and made some silly jokes, but also knew what she was talking about. One thing that I remember easily is that faery's are real, never forget it and don't make one mad. Other stuff is about the clan system and about fighting and how history made the present Scotland.

The first name of Scotland was Caledonia, meaning land of the woods. Romans first named Scotland, when it was still covered in forest. Interesting little fact because there is hardly anywhere near as much woods. I think the tour guide said it was 90% covered and now is only 5%.

More important note.
Hamish, is the name of the famous Scottish Cow. He was an awesome cow. I wish I could buy myself one, but it would have ot be just like this cow. Hamish would pose for pictures, look towards the camera, at least thats what is seemed like through all of his hair. You could pet him and feed him. He was the best cow ever.

Day One Edinburgh to Loch Ness	Day Two Skye day-tour	Day Three Return to Edinburgh
·    Leave Edinburgh towards Stirling passing by Linlithgow Palace- birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots ·    Stirling battlefields- where Wallace and Bruce bravely fought for Scotland’s freedom! ·    Through the Trossachs- Rob Roy MacGregor country ·    Rannoch Moor- the largest expanse of uninhabited wilderness in Europe! ·    Glencoe- site of the infamous bloody massacre in the winter of 1692 ·    Great Glen- Lochs Linnhe, Lochy, Oich, and.. Ness! ·    Fort William and Ben Nevis- the highest mountain in the UK ·    Fort Augustus & Morag’s (Nessie’s sister’s) Lodge	·    Loch Garry- affectionately known as “Scotland’s Loch”, and on to ‘The Road To The Isles’ ·    Glen Shiel & the Five Sisters of Kintail- they weren’t always there you know! ·    Eilean Donan Castle- used in the film ‘Highlander’ ·    Over the sea to Skye! ·    Broadford and ‘Beinn na Caillich’- Hill of the Old Woman, grave of Saucy Mary ·    Sligachan Glen and a Highland faerie story, and views of Glamaig - hill race run each year ·    Portree and magnificent Trotternish- ‘nish’ being the Norse word for peninsula. ·    Back over the Skye Bridge to Fort Augustus	·    Drive the full length of mysterious Loch Ness, past ruined Urquhart Castle ·    Inverness- meaning ‘At the mouth of the River Ness’ ·    Culloden Moor- where Bonnie Prince Charlie led the Highlanders in the doomed final Jacobite uprising, and changed Scotland forever ·    Clava Cairns - prehistoric burial chambers ·    Through the Cairngorms National Park to Kingussie for lunch ·    Drumochter Pass- the highest road in Britain ·    Dunkeld- shimmering River Tay and the ruined Cathedral. Back to the Lowlands! ·    Past Perth- an ancient capital of our nation ·    Forth Road / Rail Bridges

photo fun!

Class Fun

And a little bit about my classes. I really enjoy most of them, but I have one teacher who is a bit mean, he just needs to calm down and it wouldn't be so bad. I love my creative writing class, it is a lot of fun, but can be nerve-wrecking! We do random writings and then he calls on people to read their work out loud. I am always nervous at that point, but its good practice. I wrote a poem today, it had to be a school memory and we had about ten minutes to write it. I guess I could put it on here, give a sample of the class. Remember it was a quick write and poetry is not my best skill. But its a cute poem.

And this is the first draft!

Tag your it: Anger Flares, no fun and games

He lunges, he pushes: knocks me right to the cold hard ground

Crack, Pop, Snap- broken collarbone

Brother wasn’t playing games

Now pain, swelling, time for the emergency room

No salty tears from me, tag is not game for the weak.

School Tomorrow, 1^st grade

Glue smell, writing practice, spelling bee, playing games, laughter fills the air

You see an arm in a sling, yet no complaints from me

Special treatment comes my way

Less writing, more candy, help from everyone

Center of attention in 1^st grade.

Brother was mean, not playing a game

But now I’m the golden child

Sweet and sour candy, more help, extra attention, envy fills his heart

Arm in a sling, 1^st grade, its not so bad!

Hehe, silly, but cute and yes I had to read this out-loud!  

I would give samples from my other classes, but no other does things like this. My other classes are mostly reading and the only one essay maybe two. Still I enjoy them, I like my schedule here. 

Much Needed Update!

Lots has happened since my last post, I have been slacking and its time to catch up! 

Fist I have pretty much found my place here in Wales, I have a good group of friends and my classes seem to be going well. I know where to get food at and anything else I need. So yea, life is pretty good here. 

I do miss food from home though, a real home cooked meal would be good, but I have a few months to wait for that. 

I haven't got to go around and travel much because of school and being busy, but I have attended many birthday parties, including my own! Having my 19th birthday here was fun for sure! And the other birthday parties were fun. I have been shopping a few times. I really feel that when it gets warmer traveling around will get much more inviting. I really hope to go to London soon and maybe Amsterdam and Ireland over my Easter Break. I love having a 3 week Easter Break, but its hard to find stuff to do when it seems like everyone else is going home, even the other international students! So maybe Amsterdam with a couple of other people, but thats still in the beginning stages of planning and a trip to Ireland on my own, but it will be through a tour company, so I should be safe. :)

I just turned in my first assignment! Yea its almost halfway through the semester and I just now had to write an essay. It amazes me, but I enjoy it. Gives me more time for going out. I went to the movies last night and watched Valentines Day, its was a good movie, pretty funny. The theatre was no different than one at home and I much enjoyed the popcorn! 

Besides that not much has going on, just can't wait for more traveling around and warm weather! 

Some Pictures--

I Survived! (Week 1)

I have officially survived my first week in a another country alone and it hasn't been to bad. I have made friends, seen new sights, attended class, ate UK food, went out, went shopping, took a taxi, road in a train, and am still alive and healthy. :)
The image to the left is of wales right where I live. It is the view I get when I walk out and to the side of my building.
I like it here, but the walking is killer. I have to walk up this huge, steep hill to get to my building each day. I would say that I should get my legs in shape quick.
I have enjoyed my first week besides some of the annoying hiccups that I have had to deal with, but as of now things are looking up. The people are still very friendly and I meet more people every time I go out to have fun. M and I get along well and are planning many trips around the UK. I can't wait to get even more use to the area and use to taking trains or taxi's everywhere, but I don't think that will take long.

One of the biggest dangers is ice. Apparently I have decided to be in Wales on one of the coldest winters they have had in years. I have saw about three people hit the ground in three days. And I, myself came very close, but luckily I was with a group of friends and just grabbed on to one of the guys. He was going to save me or come down with me, I guess, but he did save me. Yay!



Campus was closed 2 or 3 days this first week because of the snow, which in my opinion was no more that what was on the ground when I left home, but it was a big deal here. It is pretty though, the snow seems to be more powdery here, till the ice attacks. But the snow does make for a pretty sight (and picture).





Well the first week has been tough, but it got better quick. I feel like I am settling in pretty easy. And I think I really enjoy the rest of the weeks, well months, that I have left here!

Fun Quote

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard