I've had a small cold since I've been here, but mostly I've been fortunate enough to avoid the germs... Until Thursday. Thursday I came home after class and crashed early-- 5:00 early. Friday I chose to fight it and venture out into the sunshine and try to be productive but found myself back in bed for another early night. Saturday I was unable to leave my bed.. I was suffering from a massive headache but other than that I was just achy and feverish, hot and cold chills. I just felt so darn miserable! This morning I woke feeling somewhat better but I know it won't be a late night. I am anticipating a full recovery by tomorrow.
My reason for sharing this with you all is I don't think you realize how much "home" can be like a medicine until you need that perfect remedy and can't get it. My bed here, which is usually quite comfy, didn't feel as good as settling in on couch at home in front of the TV. The tomato soup didn't have the same soothing qualities that it seems to when Mom serves it. Then on top of feeling physically down, I felt extremely lonely. I had a couple good friends checking in on me and willing to stop by, but I think something about sickness goes hand in hand with homesickness. They say getting sick overseas is normal being that you're surrounded by foreign bugs and viruses. Now that I've experienced it though I've learned 2 things: 1.) There is nothing like being at home and being looked after by your mom when you're sick, and 2.) I am going to do everything in my power to avoid illness again while I am here!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
presentations!
I am sending out my First Report Document this week, and therefore felt it was important for me to share some of my Rotary experiences thus far.I spent the weekend in Leicester with the other scholars, I also spent the weekend in Torquay at the district conference.
I have also had the opportunity to give two presentations. Both have been joint presentations with the other Swansea scholar, Claire, from New Zealand. We spoke at the Port Talbot club and at the Aberdare club. Rotarians continue to impress me with their hospitality and kindness.
My presentations have gone well. I am still working to improve my speaking skills and hone in on what is most important to say-- its hard to fit all of the things I'd like to share into a 10/15 minute presentation!
The picture included is of me exchanging flags with the president of the Aberdare club.
its best to call it an adventure
My parents haven't ever been to Europe, so having one of their children here was more than enough of an excuse to come explore. I met them in London Tuesday before last and we dove right in. We hit all of the touristy sites, some pubs and had a couple pints. My aunt and uncle came along too.
Thursday we signed up for a daytrip to Paris through a tourist company out of London. It was fantastic. In order to maximize the day, we were picked up at our hotel at 4:45am and taken to the Eurostar station to catch the first train of the day out. We were in a group of about 20 with a guide. Once in Paris, we saw the Arch de Triumphe (did you know that there is a giant 8-10 lane roundabout around the Arch, and it is different than most roundabouts because once in it, you yeild to incoming traffic... just think about it-- it's crazy!), went up the Eiffel Tower, did a boat tour on the Seine, went around the Concorde monument and the Jardin de Triolies before going to the Louvre. At the Louvre we saw the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory before distaster struck. We were getting dinner in the food court and my handbag disappeared. I can't explain the rush of emotion that hit all at once. I've been warned I don't know how many times about protecting your things and about how good thieves can be... and in the 5 minutes I let my guard down it was gone. I am my own biggest critic. I know I made a crucial mistake-- I hadn't separated out my important things from my bag and I had forgotten my money belt. So when this thief took my handbag, he took my passport as well. Checking in with security and filing a police report were quite difficult given that we were in France, we don't speak French, and they don't speak English. Luckily, we had our tour guide to translate.
Because I didn't have a passport I wasn't allowed to board the train back to London. I understand the purpose of having Border Agencies and the importance of their job, but at that very moment I have to say I was real upset that they wouldn't bend the rules. In any sense, Mom, Dad and I found a nearby hotel to crash at that evening. I was emotionally exhausted at that point. I have to insert here that I have never been more thankful to have my parents with me in the midst of trauma.
The next morning we got up and headed to the US Embassy. The sight of an American flag never looked so good. We were greeted kindly and everyone was incredibly helpful and encouraging- they were able to replace my passport that day. It was a strange feeling, dealing with the French police, the UK Border Agency and finally the US Embassy. Everyone was cordial and polite, but there was also a sense coming from the French and UK officials that they really didn't have to help me and weren't willing to go out of their way. That sense in contrast to the warm welcome we felt from the US Embassy taught me a quick lesson on the importance of citizenship and loyalty to your home country.
I was traveling a little lighter now without my bag, but we were headed back to London. We met back up with my Aunt and Uncle and pressed on with our week's itinerary. The next two nights were spent in the Cotswolds- one in Moreton-in-Marsh and one near Branbury. We stayed at quaint bed and breakfasts and spent the days exploring the nearby villages. We also made our way to Warwick castle. Parts of this castle date back to the William the Conquerer in 1068. It's hard to believe that these structures are so much older than our country!
Sunday night we made our way to Swansea. I was able to show my parents and aunt and uncle some of the area I'm staying in. We checked out the local market, some of the local shopping, took the bus out to the Gower, and ate fresh seafood in addition to showing them my house and the university. It was cool to be able to show my parents where I'm at. Now when I call/email home, they will have a visual to know what I'm talking about.
Saying goodbye was quite hard. It's hard to believe that I've been away three months already. But I dove right back in... Wednesday morning I said my goodbyes to Mom and Dad and Wednesday afternoon we had a basketball game in Winchester- our first win of the season.
I learned a lot that week. And rather than dwell on the violated feelings one gets when property has been taken, I'm going to choose to dwell rather on the things I can do to prevent the situation from happening again. Chalk it up to a learning experience I guess.
Thursday we signed up for a daytrip to Paris through a tourist company out of London. It was fantastic. In order to maximize the day, we were picked up at our hotel at 4:45am and taken to the Eurostar station to catch the first train of the day out. We were in a group of about 20 with a guide. Once in Paris, we saw the Arch de Triumphe (did you know that there is a giant 8-10 lane roundabout around the Arch, and it is different than most roundabouts because once in it, you yeild to incoming traffic... just think about it-- it's crazy!), went up the Eiffel Tower, did a boat tour on the Seine, went around the Concorde monument and the Jardin de Triolies before going to the Louvre. At the Louvre we saw the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory before distaster struck. We were getting dinner in the food court and my handbag disappeared. I can't explain the rush of emotion that hit all at once. I've been warned I don't know how many times about protecting your things and about how good thieves can be... and in the 5 minutes I let my guard down it was gone. I am my own biggest critic. I know I made a crucial mistake-- I hadn't separated out my important things from my bag and I had forgotten my money belt. So when this thief took my handbag, he took my passport as well. Checking in with security and filing a police report were quite difficult given that we were in France, we don't speak French, and they don't speak English. Luckily, we had our tour guide to translate.
Because I didn't have a passport I wasn't allowed to board the train back to London. I understand the purpose of having Border Agencies and the importance of their job, but at that very moment I have to say I was real upset that they wouldn't bend the rules. In any sense, Mom, Dad and I found a nearby hotel to crash at that evening. I was emotionally exhausted at that point. I have to insert here that I have never been more thankful to have my parents with me in the midst of trauma.
The next morning we got up and headed to the US Embassy. The sight of an American flag never looked so good. We were greeted kindly and everyone was incredibly helpful and encouraging- they were able to replace my passport that day. It was a strange feeling, dealing with the French police, the UK Border Agency and finally the US Embassy. Everyone was cordial and polite, but there was also a sense coming from the French and UK officials that they really didn't have to help me and weren't willing to go out of their way. That sense in contrast to the warm welcome we felt from the US Embassy taught me a quick lesson on the importance of citizenship and loyalty to your home country.
I was traveling a little lighter now without my bag, but we were headed back to London. We met back up with my Aunt and Uncle and pressed on with our week's itinerary. The next two nights were spent in the Cotswolds- one in Moreton-in-Marsh and one near Branbury. We stayed at quaint bed and breakfasts and spent the days exploring the nearby villages. We also made our way to Warwick castle. Parts of this castle date back to the William the Conquerer in 1068. It's hard to believe that these structures are so much older than our country!
Sunday night we made our way to Swansea. I was able to show my parents and aunt and uncle some of the area I'm staying in. We checked out the local market, some of the local shopping, took the bus out to the Gower, and ate fresh seafood in addition to showing them my house and the university. It was cool to be able to show my parents where I'm at. Now when I call/email home, they will have a visual to know what I'm talking about.
Saying goodbye was quite hard. It's hard to believe that I've been away three months already. But I dove right back in... Wednesday morning I said my goodbyes to Mom and Dad and Wednesday afternoon we had a basketball game in Winchester- our first win of the season.
I learned a lot that week. And rather than dwell on the violated feelings one gets when property has been taken, I'm going to choose to dwell rather on the things I can do to prevent the situation from happening again. Chalk it up to a learning experience I guess.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
remember, remember the 5th of November
Some of you, like me, may have seen the movie "V for Vendetta" starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. It came out in 2005. I know I really liked it, but I had no idea that it was sort of based on a true story! Come to find out the plot is based on the attempt by Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor, to blow up parliament and the king!
As the story goes... back in 1603 the English Catholics were getting tired of being persecuted by Queen Elizabeth. James I was taking the throne and they were hoping that he would allow more religious freedom. When he didn't, a small group of people decided that violence was the answer. The plan was to blow up 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath Parliament and in the process blow up the king, some lords, and the prince of Wales. When they realized that they could injure innocent people in the process, most everyone backed out-- except Guy Fawkes.
The plan was foiled and Guy Fawkes was caught before lighting the barrels-- on November 5, 1605. He was tortured and executed. The people celebrated by lighting bonfires all over the UK. Ever since, November 5th is celebrated as bonfire night, where everyone in Britain lights bonfires and shoots fireworks to celebrate the safety of the king... So tonight I am headed to the Murray's for hotdogs, a big bonfire, and fireworks :)
As the story goes... back in 1603 the English Catholics were getting tired of being persecuted by Queen Elizabeth. James I was taking the throne and they were hoping that he would allow more religious freedom. When he didn't, a small group of people decided that violence was the answer. The plan was to blow up 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath Parliament and in the process blow up the king, some lords, and the prince of Wales. When they realized that they could injure innocent people in the process, most everyone backed out-- except Guy Fawkes.
The plan was foiled and Guy Fawkes was caught before lighting the barrels-- on November 5, 1605. He was tortured and executed. The people celebrated by lighting bonfires all over the UK. Ever since, November 5th is celebrated as bonfire night, where everyone in Britain lights bonfires and shoots fireworks to celebrate the safety of the king... So tonight I am headed to the Murray's for hotdogs, a big bonfire, and fireworks :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
yes, they celebrate Halloween here!
--> Please don't be shocked as we are supposed to look like dead people! Halloween here was very similar to Halloween at home.. except because the Welsh like to dress up in costumes, "fancy dress" pretty much all of the time, Halloween was just another excuse to make a WHOLE week out of it! I have to say I missed going to the haunted house in Evansdale... But there was still enough haunting and scaring going on around here to suffice! Wednesday night in town is "student night" so all of the bigger events-- mostly revolving somehow around Michael Jackson and "Thriller," were that night. Wednesday nights are also the night that the athletes go out with their teams... so the two girls in the picture with me are teammates! I'll have to load a picture soon of us all "alive"... because we do normally look much better than this!
Swansea friends
<-- Me and the rest of the girls singing karaoke at the birthday party. Another thing that made this party a bit different than parties I've been to at home was that it was themed. They call it "fancy dress." Anika, the birthday girl, wanted everyone to dress in black, white or silver and her friends to dress sort of like gangsters and their girls. A cocktail dress wasn't something that made the cut when I was fitting my whole life into two suitcases, so I just went along with the colored theme but you can see that the other girls are looking "smart". Anika was the only one there in a color-- she's on the far left in blue. 
<--Me with a couple of the "gansters", Arron and Edward. Edward, in the middle (who does not normally have a mustache) is my host counselor's son. He's the one who introduced me to this great group of locals! 
<--The whole gang all together. Most everyone from the group went to "school" together. So another bit of English word/change (I don't really know what to call it when we have the same English words that mean slightly different things). In the UK, when someone says "school", they are referring to what we would call elementary, middle school, and freshman and sophomore years of high school. After grade 10, they can either end "school", or go on to do what they call, A-levels or "college". They pick what they'd like to study for their A-levels and they start focusing they education in a career-direction. A-levels/"college" is two years. After "college", they can apply to attend "University." This word game all gets quite confusing as you know in the US we call any type of education "school", and the education we do after high school can be called not only "school", but "college", and we usually attend either a "college" or a "university." So when I first arrived here and I told them I went to "school at the University of Northern Iowa," they were quite confused... Now that I've been here awhile though, I think I'm getting the hang of the word game.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
honorary "swansea jack"
According to legend, there was a black lab named Jack that lived in Swansea years ago that would dive into the sea and save people in trouble. Ever since, the people of Swansea have been nicknamed the "Jacks." I learned this before being named an honorary "Swansea Jack" at a 21st birthday party I was invited to last night.
21st birthday parties here are nothing like 21sts at home. In the States, turning 21 is pretty much all about a person's ability to drink alcohol legally. Here, at 21, they've been drinking for three years already! But 21 is still a big deal. I would compare it to our tradition of celebrating high school graduations. Friends and family were all invited, there was a finger-food buffet, music was being played, and gifts were given. It was very fun.
At one point in the evening, there was karaoke which quickly turned into a string of football (soccer) chants that the entire crowd joined in on. As I've gotten more involved with the athletic union at the university, I've picked up on the rivalry between Swansea and Cardiff, especially when it comes to rugby and football (soccer), but also pretty much all of the time. Never has this rivalry been more apparent than when I was in the middle of the chanting and singing about their beloved teams, putting down the nasty Cardiff teams. I am starting to wonder if all of the Welsh people eat, sleep and breathe rugby, football (soccer) and this deep divide between the Jacks and the people of Cardiff.
While we're talking sports... Comparing home to here: replace basketball, baseball, football, and volleyball with netball, rugby, and football (soccer). Granted, we've got soccer at home- but its no where near as prevalent as it is here. And I've been somewhat exposed to rugby before, but never like this! The local rugby team, the Ospreys, are practically worshiped. And netball... I'd never even heard of netball before! Apparently its huge on this side of the world. For those of you, like me, who've never heard of it, its sort of like the old 6-0n-6 women's basketball... but with a slightly smaller ball and you can't dribble- its all passing. It's quite fast-paced and all the "cool girls" do it. Haha.
You can't find baseball anywhere here. There is club "American football", volleyball, and basketball. But honestly, the American football team is quite small compared to football players at home (and although I've never watched them play, I've heard they are "rubbish"). The volleyball team is entirely made of exchange students- mostly German and American. And I think I mentioned it before, but I'm playing on the basketball team... We're alright. I applaud the girls for learning and trying but you can tell that basketball isn't something they learn in grade school. And they don't even have it available in high school! So needless to say, most of the girls started playing for the first time here at the uni. They call the basketball courts the "sports hall", the hoops are called "rings", practice is called "training", games are called "fixtures"... I'm learning a whole new terminology!
Sports culture here is simply just different. They don't have athletic scholarships or recruiting the way we do. Being here and talking to British people has sort of started to make me think Americans are a little bit sports/fitness obsessed (comparatively).
In any sense... I'm off to "training"... Missing you all in the states!
21st birthday parties here are nothing like 21sts at home. In the States, turning 21 is pretty much all about a person's ability to drink alcohol legally. Here, at 21, they've been drinking for three years already! But 21 is still a big deal. I would compare it to our tradition of celebrating high school graduations. Friends and family were all invited, there was a finger-food buffet, music was being played, and gifts were given. It was very fun.
At one point in the evening, there was karaoke which quickly turned into a string of football (soccer) chants that the entire crowd joined in on. As I've gotten more involved with the athletic union at the university, I've picked up on the rivalry between Swansea and Cardiff, especially when it comes to rugby and football (soccer), but also pretty much all of the time. Never has this rivalry been more apparent than when I was in the middle of the chanting and singing about their beloved teams, putting down the nasty Cardiff teams. I am starting to wonder if all of the Welsh people eat, sleep and breathe rugby, football (soccer) and this deep divide between the Jacks and the people of Cardiff.
While we're talking sports... Comparing home to here: replace basketball, baseball, football, and volleyball with netball, rugby, and football (soccer). Granted, we've got soccer at home- but its no where near as prevalent as it is here. And I've been somewhat exposed to rugby before, but never like this! The local rugby team, the Ospreys, are practically worshiped. And netball... I'd never even heard of netball before! Apparently its huge on this side of the world. For those of you, like me, who've never heard of it, its sort of like the old 6-0n-6 women's basketball... but with a slightly smaller ball and you can't dribble- its all passing. It's quite fast-paced and all the "cool girls" do it. Haha.
You can't find baseball anywhere here. There is club "American football", volleyball, and basketball. But honestly, the American football team is quite small compared to football players at home (and although I've never watched them play, I've heard they are "rubbish"). The volleyball team is entirely made of exchange students- mostly German and American. And I think I mentioned it before, but I'm playing on the basketball team... We're alright. I applaud the girls for learning and trying but you can tell that basketball isn't something they learn in grade school. And they don't even have it available in high school! So needless to say, most of the girls started playing for the first time here at the uni. They call the basketball courts the "sports hall", the hoops are called "rings", practice is called "training", games are called "fixtures"... I'm learning a whole new terminology!
Sports culture here is simply just different. They don't have athletic scholarships or recruiting the way we do. Being here and talking to British people has sort of started to make me think Americans are a little bit sports/fitness obsessed (comparatively).
In any sense... I'm off to "training"... Missing you all in the states!
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