I haven't had a ton of time to update this, so this post will be filled with information and pictures. I can't believe it has already been three weeks, I think it is finally starting to go fast. Before I know it, I will have been here for a month. It is really starting to feel like home and I am immune to the british accents. I am really enjoying my classes and I think I am getting the hang of only have one class a day. I have been planning trips left and right. That helps with making the time go fast. I have days where I miss everyone back home a lot but keeping busy and getting out to do stuff always cures that.
The first round of pictures you will get are from a field trip I took last Wednesday with my creative writing class. It was to a place right in town called St. Catherine's Hill. It is a huge park with a great look out of the whole town. This was probably one of my favorite things that I have done so far! I loved exploring the nature and seeing the city from a whole new side. I wandered around there for almost two hours, taking pictures and writing in my journal. Such a great way to experience the landscape of Winchester.
My second week of classes went well, with few bumps in the road. I finally got all of my books from the bookstore. I think I will have to ship those home, I bought almost 10 books! They all seem very interesting though and I am excited to get started on the assignments for the semester. I have so much free time with only having one class a day. I usually spend my afternoons, wandering around town, running errands, stopping at pubs for a pint, or just relaxing in my room. The nights usually consist of dinner at 6 with everyone from Eau Claire, and either hanging out in the dorms for the night or going out to the bars on high street. If we don't feel like walking all the way downtown there is a little pub right up the road from our dorms (3 minute walk) called County Arm's where we can grab a pint or two and relax.
Last weekend I went on a great tour of some of the sights of England. On Friday, Jamie, Hannah, Alexa, John and myself took a train to London for the weekend. The train ride was about 17 pounds and took a little over an hour. It went really fast and gave me a chance to relax and read my book. We took the London Underground to our hostel, which was actually really nice (despite my mother's worries). Friday night we made reservations at the Ice Bar London. The bar is made of completely ice and it is in a room that is about -7 degrees Celsius. Everything from the cups to the seats were made out of ice, it was a really cool experience! You wear this bright blue jacket that makes everyone look like eskimos. It was a really fun night. After the bar, we walked around London and checked out Piccadilly Circus (time square of London). We got dessert at a little cafe and had some really delicious crepes. We then went back to a pub down the street from our hostel and had a few beers. This pub was crazy! It was called the "Travelers Tavern" and literally every single person had luggage in the place. I still don't know why but it was really fun and we talk to some interesting British people.
Saturday morning we met at the coach station early for our bus tour of Bath, Stonehenge, and Salisbury. For 70 American Dollars, we took an all day bus tour of these three historic English sights. It was really interesting and so convenient having a bus drive us everywhere. First, we went to the Roman city of Bath. This city is thousands of years old and was first discovered by the Roman's. It looks like a little piece of Italy right in England. The Roman's discovered the only hot springs in all of England and built a city and literal baths around them. The museum that holds these ancient baths was really incredible and it was amazing to see something so old! Bath was probably my favorite part of the tour. Next we drove for a little over an hour to Stonehenge. This was also very neat to see so much history, the stones are nearly 5,000 years old! There isn't a ton to do or see there though so we were only there for about 45 minutes. Finally, we went to Salisbury, a medieval city about 20 minutes from Stonehenge. It had a lot of cool architecture and we did some shopping. We also almost got left by the bus because we were five minutes late. It was a close call! Saturday night we took a train back to Winchester from London and I was happy to be back in my little dorm.
My third week of classes has been fairly uneventful. I ran some errands and did some shopping with Jamie. I came down with a little bit of a cold so I have been laying low but I think I have almost kicked it. This is nice because I am off to Spain this Saturday! Jamie and I are meeting our friends Hannah and Alexa in Madrid on Saturday morning. I am also meeting up with my best friend from high school Megan. I am so excited to see her and to see a new part of Europe. I will be sure to take lots of pictures and update my blog more so I don't have to write a novel every time :)
I also got my first care package this week. Lucas send me a box of goodies and it made me so happy. He knows exactly what to send me to remind me of home: Step Brothers, Hot Buffalo Pretzels, a picture of us, and an old t-shirt. I have such a great support team back home, I am so lucky :)
Missing everyone!!
Alexa, Jamie, me and Hannah before going out to Bar Three One. It is a club/bar right in town, fun times!
The view from St. Catherine's hill, where I took my field trip. So beautiful!
On the walk to St. Catherine's, everyone has crazy colored front doors, it is so fun!
A lot of pictures of the beautiful landscape at St. Catherine's Hill. I find it so pretty and interesting.
Everything is either covered in ivy or moss. The fences, walls, trees, ground, everything!
Stairs to the top of the look-out. They are literally built right into the hill!
Made it to the top :)
The moss that grows on everything!
My first Guinness! She (the bartender) put a heart on top of the foam as she poured it, so cool!
Moonlit walk home to campus.
Ice Bar London
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are" -Kurt Cobain
Carved into the wall in the Ice Bar
The Eskimo Girls
Roman Baths
Hannah and Alexa
Streets of Bath, they were tiny but lots of cute shops
Stonehenge
Irish Coffee in Salisbury
More of the city of Bath
The water is 145 degrees, you can feel the heat just standing next to them.
Friday night wandering around London
More Bath Pictures
The whole group at Bath
Making a wish in one of the ancient Baths
We threw the coins too high and they came down and hit us on the head!!
The whole group at the Ice Bar
Bath
My Care Package :)
This is an experience of a lifetime and I am loving every bit of it!
I still can't believe I am actually living in England, I'm not sure that will every set in.
Apologies for the overload of pictures and stories! I promise I will try and update more often so my posts aren't so long. Keep in touch, I am always interested in what everyone is up to back home. :)
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