Hello again!
So guess what came back. Yup, tonsillitis. I had to miss my History class again, and I HATE missing class. I'm on a different round of antibiotics this time so hopefully these ones knock it out. Being sick SUCKS!
In other news, the trip to Bath scheduled for March 8th has been moved to the 15th, so the next blog of picture spam won't be for a while. I could upload photos of the various flowers that are already blooming here but that might be a bit boring. I must admit, the greenery coming back is rather nice. It makes my runs a lot nicer. Still really muddy though so I have to be carful where I run. I would rather not add a sprained ankle to my list of things to deal with.
As far as classes go, I've handed in my first essay. Next week there's a creative writing assignment I need to get in as well as an essay I'm not sure how to write because I missed the play we were supposed to see. My prof is going to give me the amended assignment information this Thursday after class so hopeful I'll be able to get that done quickly.
Finally, it's warming up here!! We still have a lot of rainy days but there are some gorgeous warm ones too! Today I went into town with Harriet and Evie to get things from the market and I only sore my hoodie. No jacket needed! I love the sun, makes everything seem a lot better.
Hope you're all well and I'll see you next Wednesday!
-Kirsten
P.S. A massive HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Kenna who is doing Study Abroad in Poland!! Have a great 21st and I'll see you in April!!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Reading Week
Hello!
So this week is a break for me. Shocking I know. It seems too early actually but there you go. We have no break in March but then we have two weeks off again for Easter in April. At TRU I'm used to one break for reading week mid semester and then a long weekend for Easter. None of this two week break stuff. Mind you, back home mid to end of April is the final exam period and then it's summer holidays until September. Over here we started later and go later into the year so I guess it all balances out. I will be using the second week of Easter vacation to go to Copenhagen though so I guess it all works out well in the end. More on that later!
What's new around here? I'm getting better now. Still on the penicillin but overall I'm good. I'm back out running so I'm happy. There's a lot of people getting sick here at the university so it's not surprising that I got sick in the first place. I'm hoping that's the end of illness for me though. I'll likely get a cold or two but those I can deal with. I hate missing class and last week I missed all of my classes. Not good.
As far as England goes, I know some of you are wondering about the flooding across the UK. It hasn't affected me much here in Chichester though I know it has been an issue for some people. It's wreaked havoc on the trains and transport systems so travelling around can be very difficult, with lots of delays, cancellations and detours. One of my roommates got stuck due to train delays just this past weekend. In Bognor Regis, one of the popular night clubs Sheiks was closed temporarily due to the storms. It's on the pier so I'm not surprised. It does put a damper on the partying that happens around here though. Sheiks is one of the favourite spots for Uni students on Wednesday nights. That's off topic though, sorry. Weather! It's been heating up during the days so we're almost on an even number of sunny days to rainy days now. I'm sure that will change though, as we're not even into the "rainy" season yet apparently. I'm not sure I want to know what that looks like. I've been wearing my wellie boots and my rain jacket as standard apparel so I've been at least a little bit dry when I go out. I forgot how great a pair of rubber boots are.
Other than that, it's quiet as always. I've been trying to keep up with the Olympics but haven't actually seen any events. No TV for me. Probably a good thing, no one ever NEEDS TV. Still I miss the background noise!
Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well and having a good February!
Cheers,
-Kirsten
So this week is a break for me. Shocking I know. It seems too early actually but there you go. We have no break in March but then we have two weeks off again for Easter in April. At TRU I'm used to one break for reading week mid semester and then a long weekend for Easter. None of this two week break stuff. Mind you, back home mid to end of April is the final exam period and then it's summer holidays until September. Over here we started later and go later into the year so I guess it all balances out. I will be using the second week of Easter vacation to go to Copenhagen though so I guess it all works out well in the end. More on that later!
What's new around here? I'm getting better now. Still on the penicillin but overall I'm good. I'm back out running so I'm happy. There's a lot of people getting sick here at the university so it's not surprising that I got sick in the first place. I'm hoping that's the end of illness for me though. I'll likely get a cold or two but those I can deal with. I hate missing class and last week I missed all of my classes. Not good.
As far as England goes, I know some of you are wondering about the flooding across the UK. It hasn't affected me much here in Chichester though I know it has been an issue for some people. It's wreaked havoc on the trains and transport systems so travelling around can be very difficult, with lots of delays, cancellations and detours. One of my roommates got stuck due to train delays just this past weekend. In Bognor Regis, one of the popular night clubs Sheiks was closed temporarily due to the storms. It's on the pier so I'm not surprised. It does put a damper on the partying that happens around here though. Sheiks is one of the favourite spots for Uni students on Wednesday nights. That's off topic though, sorry. Weather! It's been heating up during the days so we're almost on an even number of sunny days to rainy days now. I'm sure that will change though, as we're not even into the "rainy" season yet apparently. I'm not sure I want to know what that looks like. I've been wearing my wellie boots and my rain jacket as standard apparel so I've been at least a little bit dry when I go out. I forgot how great a pair of rubber boots are.
Other than that, it's quiet as always. I've been trying to keep up with the Olympics but haven't actually seen any events. No TV for me. Probably a good thing, no one ever NEEDS TV. Still I miss the background noise!
Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well and having a good February!
Cheers,
-Kirsten
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Day Late!
Hello!
Sorry for the late update guys! As you might be aware, Universities are germ farms and I caught the flu as well as a case of tonsillitis. I went to the Doctor's yesterday and I'm on antibiotics now but it's been a rough week. I've missed all my classes, including today's class which included a trip to a play we need to see to write an assignment worth 30% of our final grade. I've already emailed the prof about what to do and we're going to meet up after reading week (next week) and discuss how to modify the assignment or dole out a separate assignment altogether. Illness is never convenient is it?
Other than that I've been doing well. The weather here has been a mixed bag of sunny, rainy, windy, cold, warm and humid. And all of that is just before noon! I really shouldn't complain, I know weather has been much MUCH worse for everyone back home. Still, it gets boring and a bit dreary living in a perpetual grey mush.
Well enough of that. Last Saturday I was lucky enough to get up to Windsor with the International students. The city itself looks like pretty much every other British city out there except there's a massive castle sitting on top of a hill. The tours were not cheap, even with the student discount but the did give free walking tours of the outside walls as well as free audio guides for inside the castle so I guess it evened out in the end. The castle itself is almost boomerang shaped, not so much a square monster one might expect from a castle. Pictures were only allowed outside the building, so if you want to see the inside head over to google or get on a plane to England! Heathrow airport is the closest. And by closest I mean planes were flying rather low right by at the castle and had to make a rather sharp turn to avoid flying directly over it. Okay, on to the photos!
Hope you're all well and not at all ill!
-Kirsten
Sorry for the late update guys! As you might be aware, Universities are germ farms and I caught the flu as well as a case of tonsillitis. I went to the Doctor's yesterday and I'm on antibiotics now but it's been a rough week. I've missed all my classes, including today's class which included a trip to a play we need to see to write an assignment worth 30% of our final grade. I've already emailed the prof about what to do and we're going to meet up after reading week (next week) and discuss how to modify the assignment or dole out a separate assignment altogether. Illness is never convenient is it?
Other than that I've been doing well. The weather here has been a mixed bag of sunny, rainy, windy, cold, warm and humid. And all of that is just before noon! I really shouldn't complain, I know weather has been much MUCH worse for everyone back home. Still, it gets boring and a bit dreary living in a perpetual grey mush.
Well enough of that. Last Saturday I was lucky enough to get up to Windsor with the International students. The city itself looks like pretty much every other British city out there except there's a massive castle sitting on top of a hill. The tours were not cheap, even with the student discount but the did give free walking tours of the outside walls as well as free audio guides for inside the castle so I guess it evened out in the end. The castle itself is almost boomerang shaped, not so much a square monster one might expect from a castle. Pictures were only allowed outside the building, so if you want to see the inside head over to google or get on a plane to England! Heathrow airport is the closest. And by closest I mean planes were flying rather low right by at the castle and had to make a rather sharp turn to avoid flying directly over it. Okay, on to the photos!
First look at the castle
Pub! Didn't eat there but I liked the name.
Gates. That was actually the exit.
Inside the inner walls...kinda.
To be honest there were so many towers I forget which
one this one was for.
Round Tower. It's a library now I do believe.
So much castle!
Symbol for Knights of the Garter (or something like that)
More gates! (Seriously, you're never
sure when you're INSIDE the gates.)
Court yard!
The castle was well thought out. This was where an
archer would stand to fire on attackers. Well protected
but good sight too.
This did not lead to a moat. It is actually a long classroom
for school groups to use when learning about medieval history.
Props to the gardeners and landscapers who look after this stuff.
Seriously. This stuff goes all the way around.
Amazing line of sight for the castle.
So serious.
Queen Victoria directing traffic.
The inside of the castle was stunning, and very ornate. The Queen was no there when we were, which is kind of lucky for us actually. When she is there a few of the rooms of the tour are cut off because she is using them. So we were able to see everything. The restoration work the did after the fire of 1992 was extensive and very well done. The cool thing was they decided to re-make what the rooms used to look like rather than just modernize them. Of course, I'm sure over the years they've added some modern touches like internet and all that. I'm sure the Queen needs her daily dose of Flappy Bird and Candy Crush on her iPad. (Does the Queen have an iPad? I'm sure she has a gold one if she ever did get one.)
Okay that's enough blogging for today. It's also time for me to take the damn antibiotics again. They're weird over here. It comes in blister packs instead of orange pill bottles. Somehow that doesn't seem right.
Hope you're all well and not at all ill!
-Kirsten
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
February stuff
Hello!
So I'm writing this entry at the University's Costa coffee shop. The Internet went down at Havenstoke last night and when I called this morning they said that techs were working on it but they had no timeline for it coming back. Frustrating as heck because I've got things to do (like this blog) that require Internet! On the bright side, at least the Uni wifi here works so its something. I had wanted to call home today but that won't be happening. Sorry Ma and Dad!!
In other news, I'm back running regularly. Like an idiot I didn't stretch properly after my last run so I've been a bit sore. That'll teach me! I've had to mix up my running spots because the ones Ive used last semester are pure mud and muck. Too slippery to run on. The wind has been really bad too so Ive been avoiding areas with tree branches that could take your head off. Sadly, that describes most of Chichester where I live so I've ended up some strange places. It's a great way to get to know more of Chichester though!
Speaking of getting to know things, I'm off to see more England! Saturday is the trip to Winsor with the International students. Looking forward to that even if we have to be up freakishly early. I can sleep on the bus up there I guess. Not sure what we're doing quite yet. It'll be and adventure when we get there I guess. It'll certainly make up for the pictureless blogs I've been posting of late!
Class's are going just fine! I've been busy with all my reading. My first assignments will be due at the end of Februaury, just after reading break. Looking at my calendar, there's only three and a half months left to my year, then I'm heading home! I've been battling homesickness for the last little bit but it's odd thinking the year really is getting close to the end. Of course I have a lot to do before then and a lot to see so I'm going to have a great time before the end.
Hope you're all well!
So I'm writing this entry at the University's Costa coffee shop. The Internet went down at Havenstoke last night and when I called this morning they said that techs were working on it but they had no timeline for it coming back. Frustrating as heck because I've got things to do (like this blog) that require Internet! On the bright side, at least the Uni wifi here works so its something. I had wanted to call home today but that won't be happening. Sorry Ma and Dad!!
In other news, I'm back running regularly. Like an idiot I didn't stretch properly after my last run so I've been a bit sore. That'll teach me! I've had to mix up my running spots because the ones Ive used last semester are pure mud and muck. Too slippery to run on. The wind has been really bad too so Ive been avoiding areas with tree branches that could take your head off. Sadly, that describes most of Chichester where I live so I've ended up some strange places. It's a great way to get to know more of Chichester though!
Speaking of getting to know things, I'm off to see more England! Saturday is the trip to Winsor with the International students. Looking forward to that even if we have to be up freakishly early. I can sleep on the bus up there I guess. Not sure what we're doing quite yet. It'll be and adventure when we get there I guess. It'll certainly make up for the pictureless blogs I've been posting of late!
Class's are going just fine! I've been busy with all my reading. My first assignments will be due at the end of Februaury, just after reading break. Looking at my calendar, there's only three and a half months left to my year, then I'm heading home! I've been battling homesickness for the last little bit but it's odd thinking the year really is getting close to the end. Of course I have a lot to do before then and a lot to see so I'm going to have a great time before the end.
Hope you're all well!
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