Cambridge Pictures

The Student Library

Today was a great day for a day trip! I have made a fantastic group of friends who also love to travel and it is a lot of fun to explore new places with them. It was sunny for a while, drizzly, and then overcast, which is great for taking pictures. We took the train from Hatfield to Cambridge which was about an hour and a half -> then, we took a bus to the city centre.

The city centre was full of people, shops, and beautiful sights. The first shop we saw was a chocolate shop! (of course, haha) It was a small shop that was filled with decorative chocolates from counter to ceiling. While we were browsing the gorgeously decorated chocolate, we also learned where we could find a map of Cambridge in order to get around properly. After we obtained a map, we decided to head towards the University of Cambridge Library which happened to be located on the outer part of town.

On our way to the library, we took our time walking through the different parts of town. Viewing the shops, the historic colleges, the churches, and the beautiful architecture. We even stumbled upon two different street markets!

After exploring, while traveling towards the library, we finally arrived and we were amazed before we even went inside. The barriers on the sidewalk, from the street, were designed to look like stacks of books. However, after being easily amused by the book shaped barriers, we went inside the library only to learn that students who are members of the library could enter. So, we turned around and headed back out to explore.

We were able to see the river canal, Great St Mary's (the University Church Cambridge), and much more. The trip ended with a hot cup of tea and drifting in and out of sleep on the return train ride.

It was an amazing and full day with great company in Cambridge!

Cooking Endeavors

I know how to cook, I'm just trying to choose the most simple foods to prepare and I'm also trying to figure out what I enjoy eating here.

However, it could be an aversion I have to the kitchen since 12 people are sharing it. haha

Below are pictures of the first few times I've used the stove and the oven. Pizza, a classic, and pasta. I also used my nice mug to hold cereal :) Hooray for versatility.

(To my parents) Do not panic, I have been eating more than shown below- I even ate vegetables last night.

 

Addition

"See every difficulty as a challenge, a stepping stone, and never be defeated by anything or anyone." Eileen Caddy

Everything adds up. Good things, bad things, and especially minor things. I think I underestimated how big of a change moving to a new country would be.

There are minor frustrations such as figuring out how to use public transportation to get places, how much it will cost, and where to go. How I have to limit my grocery shopping to only get what I am able to carry back to my flat by myself- meaning more smaller trips. Figuring out the dynamic with my 11 other flat mates and how to live peacefully. Learning how class schedules work and what the professor's expectations for the course are. Paying for bus rides, laundry, printing, take out boxes, and other amenities that I am privileged to have back at my home University.

These minor things that are usually out of mind have been brought to my attention throughout this transition time.

Today was an interesting day. Filled with miscommunication and 3 hours of sleep. However, the miscommunication was resolved and a long nap was taken! The quote above was on a card that one of my friends from home gave me and I thought that it fit well for today. All of these minor things are just that. They are small things that I am able to handle. When they add up it can become overwhelming but when I take a step back, I am able to address the situation.

Moving to a new country is a big change and the difficulties I face are all ones that I can learn from and grow.

I know that it is going to be, "Really Good."

David Shrigley's "Really Good" Sculpture

Around

College Lane Campus

Kitchen

Common Area

Dollars, Pounds, Cents, and Pence.

Today I got to explore St. Albans for the first time and see the market. It is a beautiful town with much to see! From the grand Cathedral to the oldest pub in England, one will not be disappointed.

As a college student, I am always on the lookout for great bargains and sales. The Dollar Tree back at home is the place to be because everything is one dollar and I can buy cheap cleaning supplies and any other odd things that I find myself in need of. Today in St. Albans, we saw it. Pound World, right next to the Pound Store. Two stores side by side where everything costs one pound! I was finally able to get forks, knives, spoons, and other items that I had not purchased yet! (In case you were wondering, yes, I did get judged and given weird looks when I took the picture inside of Pound World.) People just couldn't comprehend how excited I was to find silverware.

The vendors had great smelling food, fresh produce, flowers, jewelry, clothes, and much much more. After exploring the market, my friends and I tried to find a local pub to eat at and we had trouble because many places were full and would only take reservations. Therefore, we were not able to eat in the oldest pub in England today. But, we did stumble across a nice pub called Blacksmiths Arms. It was a local pub that exceeded our expectations. A football game was on t.v., a group of people were betting in the background, and there was much cheer.

It was a great day and I can't wait to go back!

NC & SC Ladies 

St. Alban's Cathedral

Old Camera Parts

Bread and Pastries

Fresh Flowers

Pound World

Blacksmiths Arms

Stanborough Park

Laughing Baristas

This afternoon my friends and I went to Stanborough Park in Welwyn. We took a short bus ride to Welwyn and walked from there to the park. Before walking to the park, we stopped in a local coffee and sandwich shop to look for directions. We also bought a cup of tea! As we waited for everyone to get ready to walk to the park I decided that I wanted to document my first cup of English Breakfast Tea (in the UK), by taking a picture. However, that picture escalated into a photo session which included iPhones, tea cups, and laughing baristas. That's right, laughing baristas. As my friends and I were taking turns taking pictures of our inanimate objects, I looked up to realize that the baristas were very much entertained by our actions. What can I say? I am a typical tourist, I enjoy food, and photography, even if I'm just using my phone. Besides, I thought the take away cups were cheerful.

Enjoy!

Still No Cutlery

I think that I packed well given the fact that I wanted to bring as little as possible. I fit everything into a suitcase and a travelers backpack. I packed practically and brought the essentials so that I could pick up anything that I needed at the store here. However, I have realized now just how many little things there are in life that are important. Such as hand towels,  hand soap, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, pots, pans, and cutlery. I have no cutlery!

The oven and stove are of a unique kind that requires specific pots and pans to cook with. Luckily, I have flat mates who said I could use their pots and pans during my stay. The grocery store is a short bus ride and a minor walk away. I can only buy what I am able to carry back to my flat, therefore it has taken me a couple of trips to buy cleaning supplies and groceries. This is manageable though, once I purchase the one time items grocery shopping will become easier. However, out of the couple of times I have gone to the store, I have forgotten to look for forks, spoons, and knives. I was going to cook mac and cheese the other night when I realized, I would have not been able to eat it. Mac and cheese is not exactly a finger food.

Below are pictures of the free items I have received since arriving. Today, I picked up my UH sweatshirt (Go Herts!) and during game night the other night teams won a red UH mug. This UH mug will be useful in several ways. It's intended purpose, to hold beverages, and for my purpose holding my cereal so I do not have to eat out of the giant cereal box like a barbarian.

Until next time,

(Hopefully I will have bowls, plates, and of course, cutlery.)

Reverse Side

5... maybe 6 Flights.

I love my room. It gets great sunlight during the day and during the evening you can watch the sun set and see the city lights twinkle in the distance. The kitchen is on the ground floor and it is six flights of stairs up to my room. I knew coming to this city I would be walking a lot more and walking up six flights of stairs daily is just another thing to adapt to. However, I should learn to stop counting those flights of stairs! I counted five flights going up the first day and the next day I counted six going down. So who really knows?

One of my friends showed me a neat app on my iPhone that allows me to track my steps, miles, and it also counts the amount of floors that I climb. The other day I walked 5.7 miles and took 13,488 steps. Today I have walked 4.2 miles, taken 9,842 steps and it is only noon.  The most number of flights in one day I have climbed is 21 and that includes the others around campus. If you are familiar with UNC Wilmington's campus this is a very drastic difference because UNCW is on a very flat campus and I lived on the first floor. However, I do not mind this difference because I enjoy exercise, although my legs are saying otherwise as of right now. haha.

Happy Wednesday!

Room 11

Day Time View

Evening View 

Inside My Room

Adapting

"When we land it will be 0 degrees."

The pilot's words that came over the intercom before take off.

For those of you who don't know, I am studying abroad for the next six months in England. I am sharing this blog for those (*cough cough* my mother) who would enjoy knowing what I am up to! I will share stories about my adventures abroad including the places I travel to and the things that I do. 

So far my transition has gone smoothly but this transition period includes being able to adapt to the way of life here. Including the weather measurements, "0 degrees", being measured in celsius. 

I hope y'all enjoy this blog, you may learn something new by reading about what I learn or learn something about me and how directionally and geographically challenged I am.

Enjoy!