Adventures in Illness

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!!

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

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!

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

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!

21!

Hello all!

So as you may or may not know, I turned 21 this past Sunday! I didn't have a big party or anything, just hung out with my roommates and friends from next door, but it was great! I made myself a vanilla funfetti cake, which is basically a white cake with sprinkles mixed through it. Generally you see Betty Crocker boxed mixes for it but I did mine from scratch. It was nice to bake again, it's been a while since I last did anything.

Mmm Cake!

I did add candles in the shape of a 21 when we all got down to the eating part. Jim and Nikki from next door came over to help Evie, Hayley and I eat it. Harriet is still away on holiday so she didn't get a piece! I wasn't nice enough to save some for her. SORRY HARRIET!! 

Like every year I ordered Chinese for dinner. The Lotus, while delicious was not Lucky Yeung's and I  miss my spicy pork and bean dish. I'll have to get some when I get back home. 

As far as gifts went, I had saved a few Christmas presents to be bday presents. So my skittles from Sherry and the tea from my parents weren't opened until now. On Monday I received a lovely package from my cousin Mary containing a jar of Cheese Wiz. I've been craving the stuff like MAD! 

After all the eating of cake, Nikki, Hayley, Evie and I all went to see American Hustle at the theatre. That movie is LONG! I can see why its up for oscars to be honest. They like their long and plot heavy flicks. All in all it was a pretty good movie though. 

What else? Oh! I was able to FaceTime home on my birthday. It was really nice to talk to my Ma and Dad. They sang Happy Birthday too which was really sweet. Too bad there isn't a hugging app that comes with FaceTime. Oh well. 

Other than my birthday it's been quiet. I've been doing reading for my classes and trying not to let the crappy weather get me down. It's cold and rainy. At least my Hunter boots and welly socks are getting good use! 

My plan for today is to do a bit more baking. I've got a bunch of baking ingredients than need to be used in the next day or so before they expire. 

OH! I purchased my plane ticket home! May 18th! I'm looking forward to being back on Canadian soil. 

I hope everyone is doing well! 

-Kirsten

Insert Clever Title Here

Hello once again!

So what's been happening this past week? Well Evie and Hayley moved back in for the new semester. Harriet isn't back until the 4th of February because of her program. I've had 3 of 4 classes and so far they don't look too bad. My history classes are going to flow together quite nicely because they are both focused heavily on the world wars, one being about contemporary Europe and the other about Facism up to 1945. My english courses shouldn't be too bad this year. There's a creating writing class (short stories) and then a contemporary drama course. I haven't had the intro class yet, that's tomorrow. But judging by the Moodle (online class resource) it's not too different from the english drama courses I did back at TRU. I actually really enjoyed those classes so this one should be good. According to the Moodle we are going to see a play for that class as well so I'm very much looking forward to that.

In other news I've redyed my hair, with help from Hayley so I'm back in the shocking red territory. Why can't my hair just grow this colour? Scientists should get on that. I'm also back focusing on the whole dieting thing. I've been eating way too much comfort food so that needs to stop. The good thing about doing it now is that almost every girl on my housing block also seems to be into the eating healthy thing so there's less outside temptation. That being said my birthday is coming up and I'm eating what I like that day. Diets resume on Mondays, as does running.

Speaking of running, the mornings here are ridiculous! There's heavy fog and frost so the sidewalks are slippery and it's hard to see five feet down the road. I've actually been too nervous to cross a road because I can't see oncoming cars. By midday it all clears up and it's quite sunny and warm. Then by about dinner time it gets cold and rainy. I can't seem to dress appropriately so I'm always either too hot or too cold. Ugh.

That's all I've got for now, sorry there's no pictures this week! I'll try to get a picture of the fog over here one of these mornings.

All my love to everyone!
-Kirsten

Food Words, Rude Words and I Love Yous.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So my parents have headed off home and I'm once again on my own in England. It's funny walking around Chichester on my own now. It feels a bit like there's something missing, because I got used to showing my parents around my corner of England. Admittedly I'm homesick but it's okay. My courses start up soon and my roommates move back in on Saturday, so I'll be longing for peace and quiet soon enough.

So let's talk about Christmas!

As I said on my blog last time, my parents and I headed off to Paris for New Years! We took the Eurostar train under the English Channel. Surprisingly you're only under there for 20 minutes. The train goes something like 300 miles an hour but you don't really feel it. The ride is super smooth, much nicer than the regular commuter trains I take to get to London or Portsmouth. The train dropped us off at the Gare de Nord station and we took a taxi over to our vacation rental apartment. The stairs up to our floor were both twisty and very narrow. The walls were funny because they weren't quite straight. Some of them bowed inward so hallways would narrow a bit and then let out again. The place we had was great! Small but it worked for us just fine. Plus free wi-fi! We did have a bit of an issue with the keys to the building though. On our first day out the security gate at the bottom of the stairs clamped down on the key and wouldn't let go. We were stuck for about 20 minutes before Dad was able to get the key out! The door key to the apartment was much the same, you have to barely turn them and jiggle it in just the right way to get in. Dad had the magic touch with the keys after our initial lock in, so I just left it to him.

Our first day out was spent at the Louvre! Ma was super smart before we all left and bought this thing called a Paris Pass. It had passes to a bunch of museums, attractions and tickets for the metro. Using the museum pass we were able to skip the massive lines and use a sort of side entrance to get in right away! I didn't take that many pictures in the Louvre, I mostly wanted to walk around and see the place. We did it in two days, the bulk of it on the first day. Even with the two days we didn't see everything. The place is MASSIVE! Here are the pictures I DID take in there!

Louvre! The glass pyramid is where the general public 

enters the museum! 

Ma and Dad! 

Venus de Milo

Code of Hammurabi

Close up of the writing on the Code. 

Mona Lisa

That last photo of the Mona Lisa was actually taken on Louvre day 2. We got there just as it opened and pretty much ran over to see it. It's really hard to get close to the Mona Lisa at other time of day, as the crowd is at least 16 people deep. There's signs at all the major picture stops warning people about pick pockets. I had a death grip on my bag the whole time, not going to lie. 

We went to see the Eiffel Tower on New Years Eve. The lines were massive but they're always long at the major attractions. We decided to walk up, rather than taking the elevators. 700 stairs to the second level. You have to take an elevator if you want to get to the very top. Dad was awesome and got pictures off the side as I was a  bit too nervous to get near it. It's very well enclosed but the heights were bothering me a bit too much. Weirdly enough I felt safer at the VERY TOP of the tower. That might've been because you were in a room with windows rather than a metal grating at the ledges. 

Eiffel Tower

Views from deck one! Very green grass. 

View from deck two! 

Ma and Dad at the very top!

We also saw the Arc du Triomphe, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The day of the Arc du Triomphe was a looooot of walking. It was also the day of the worlds most overly posh bathroom. (Posh: elegant or stylishly luxurious). The bathroom was 2 euro each. You'd wait in line then an attendant would show you to your stall. When you were done, the attendant would go clean the bathroom and then show the next person in. At least you knew it was clean? 

After we saw the Arc du Triomphe, we got on a hop on hop off bus tour around the city. From there we saw the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. A little backstory, I've had a computer background of this bookstore for about six years. It's been on my bucket list to go there AND WE WENT IN! It's amazing in there. It's crooked and busy and filled with squishy chairs, nooks to read in and people who try to hard to look like their famous writers. I was in heaven. 

Like the TARDIS, it's bigger on the inside. 

My bag! The photo on the bag is the upstairs of the

store. I bought a notebook and a book in there too. 

Next photos: Notre Dame! The line to get in was around the block but moved very quickly, so that was awesome! We weren't standing in the cold for too long. The inside was absolutely amazing. You're not supposed to take photos inside but a lot of people do. 

Notre Dame!

Guess who! (Yes I was happy to have them with me.)

As far as language in Paris, we got by. The longer we were there the better we got! By the end we were all able to order food and drinks without too much trouble. We actually found the people in Paris really friendly and helpful when you opened with french. Sometimes our conversations were a mix of french and english but we got there in the end and it was a good time! I actually find the people in Paris are nicer than the people in London. 

Okay this post has gone on long enough. I will be adding more pictures and more info from the trip as I remember it in the coming weeks. 

Love you all, 

-Kirsten

(Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN GRANDPA!)