Au Revior, Paris: Day Three

Montmartre

We spent early Sunday morning wandering around Montmartre, the art district of Paris.  The neighborhood was once home to Pablo Picasso.  It was only a ten minute walk from where we were staying, so we thought we'd save it until the last minute.  I love cities in the morning when they haven't quite woken up yet.  Paris was still sleepy when we looking around that morning.  We witnessed the shops slowly opening and the city beginning to come alive.  

Our last and final stop before returning to our tour bus was the Sacre Coeur.  We didn't go inside, but we hiked up the hundreds of steps to see the famous church.  The morning sunlight lit up the beautiful, old white building.  It was like it glowed against the perfect blue sky.  We didn't spend too much time there, but it was a great end to a very good trip.

The bus ride home was long.  It felt like it took a lifetime just to get out of France.  We took the ferry from Calais to Dover, UK.  Since it was daytime this time when we took the ferry we could see the White Cliffs of Dover as we pulled into the port.  It was such an interesting sight.  I've never seen anything like it.

We got home after eleven that evening, and I quickly crashed into my bed.  Class started at nine Monday morning, but the weekend was well worth lost sleep.

That concludes my adventures in Paris.  My next upcoming trip is Bath this Saturday.  Stay tuned for updates!

Settling In

The week is winding down, and I've settled into a routine.  Classes have been different, but I like all of them.  I'm taking Victorian Cities, Marketing, and Comparative Political Science.  My schedule is very sporadic.  We are not on a block schedule here at Swansea like we are in Pullman.  Each day of the week I have different class times and different rooms to find.

The most frightening thing about this new set of classes is that for every class my entire grade is based off of one project or essay and then a final exam.  Other than that, all I am responsible for is doing the readings and going to class.  That is a really weird concept to me, just having to go to class.  When I'm in Pullman, when I'm not in class I'm doing homework, writing papers, and studying for my next upcoming exam.  I'm always swamped with classwork.  That doesn't seem to be the case here.

Beach Break!

That being said, my social calendar is busier than ever!  My flat is so active!  I'm finding myself double booked between my flatmates and my other exchange friends.  I'm not complaining by any means.  I love being busy, it's just different.  At home, typically I schedule my social time around my academic obligations, but here, I have so much free time.  I'm constantly out and about doing things with my friends.

Swansea Beach

Just this week for example.  Monday, between classes, I went with Molly, my Canadian friend, down to the beach.  Tuesday, I had coffee with my assigned "buddy", a fourth year who just got back from a year in America.  Wednesday I went grocery shopping and then to the gym with my two neighbors.  Thursday I went back to the city with Molly.  Today, I'm headed out on the town for a girls night out with some fellow exchange students, and tomorrow a group of us are going to Cardiff.  I'm told there will be a bonfire at the beach to attend when I get home tomorrow night.

I expect things to start slowing down here pretty soon.  That first week of school is always a little crazy.

The weather has been okay this week.  I'm getting used to the rain.  It doesn't rain cats and dogs like it does at home, but it's this steady shower that will drench you if you're not careful.



More later, I promise.  Be sure to check out the photos page.  I have many more pictures posted there!

Welcome to Swansea University: Move In, Orientation, and My First Weekend

Panorama of my dorm room.

I got to Swansea with no troubles at all on Thursday.  The train ride from Cardiff was only an hour, and very pleasant.  It was sunny when I first arrived.  You could see the beach and the ocean running parallel to the road to school.  I found my dorm, picked up my keys and moved in.  I realized, upon walking into my empty dorm room, I could possibly be facing the most problematic part of studying abroad...having to completely restock your room.

Summer before freshman year at WSU, I, like hundreds of students before me, spent two months buying linens, hangers, mini fridges, desk supplies, and dozens of other things that simplify the transition into school.  At the end of the year I learned how to properly repack everything in order to move it all back into a room the next year.  So when I first saw my room, I felt incredibly unprepared.

After dropping off my bags, I took the bus into town and bought bed linens.  I did my best to not buy too much at one time, but even so, when I re-boarded the bus with my two bags, plus a pillow and duvet, and squeezed into a seat, it occurred to me that I was going to have to readjust my shopping patterns.  I quickly realized how spoiled I've been with my very roomy SUV and ability to cart everything I needed home in just one trip.

When I got back to campus I unpacked, posted my pictures, and settled in.  It's a nice little room.  I love the window I have on the back wall.  It takes up the entire width of the wall and helps immensely with the natural light.

After dinner, I met all of my flatmates.  I got really lucky to end up with such a great group of people.  It's a very diverse crowd, with people from Norway, France, Italy, the US, and of course, Wales and England.  I think I'll fit right in :)

My picture collage behind my desk.

Friday was orientation.  I was shocked to see how many incoming international exchange/study abroad students there were.  There were 80 kids from Brazil who were with Engineers Without Borders, then at least 150 other students from all over the world.

I met a girl from Canada, a girl from Australia, and a girl from Spain just on the row I was sitting on.  The day was just your typical orientation.  Here are the services we have on campus, be safe, go to class, and have fun.  I was surprised, however, that we didn't get a campus tour.

Afterwards, we signed up for classes.  Which, I must say, was the most inefficient process ever!  As an international student, I'm taking classes from three different disciplines:  history, political science, and business.  I had to go to each department person and get them to sign off on the classes I wanted to take.  It wasn't really like we were even getting special permission to take a class, it was just the way you registered.  Once I got all of the classes I wanted, I had to go back to the business department, where I started (they are my "home" department) and turn in my registration forms.  Between standing in line and playing Tetris with my schedule to get my classes to fit, the entire process took about six hours.  Talk about an adventure!

Over the weekend, I was way busier than normal.  Friday night I had my first clubbing experience with my flat mates. It was very different than the fraternity parties at WSU, but I think I like Swansea's social scene a little bit better. 

Saturday, they took me to the main grocery store in town, Tescos, their version of a super-Safeway. My neighbor, Marisa, patiently waited while I stood there reading labels on items I typically just snatch off the shelves back home.  It's definitely going to take some time to get used to the new brands and packaging.  I found it very interesting that the marketing for everyday goods is directed towards niche markets rather than brand name recognition. In the States I look for the packaging and label to find what I'm looking for, then closely read labels if I'm trying to choose between similar products.  Here in the UK, it seems to be there is one product for each need.  For instance, once brand of laundry detergent that specializes in unscented, allergen-free detergent, rather than several brands offering a wide selection of products based on what the individual companies believe will sell.

My two neighbors, Marisa and Alexia, at Swansea Bay.

Sunday, a group of us walked down to Swanswa Bay. The weather changes so drastically here, it reminds me of Pullman in the fact that one minute it's pouring down rain and in five minutes the sun will come out.  It's funny, when it rains it is not the huge rain drops that just pound on your head, but a steady shower that will quickly drench you if you're not careful.  After all of the snow and cold in Pullman, I don't mind the rain so much. It hasn't dipped below freezing, so I can't complain!  The bay is quite nice, but not too much to see.  Nonetheless, it was a very nice outing.

Classes started today, so expect a full report soon!

Feature: WSU Honors College Students in Action

Courtesy of WSU Honors College

I was notified this morning that the WSU Honors College has featured my blog on their Students in Action page.  The website can be found here.  

I have been active in the Honors College for two years now, both as a student ambassador and as a mentor to incoming freshmen.  We have a wonderful program centered around small class sizes and discussion based lectures.  We like to think of ourselves as "a liberal arts college in a research university."  

The classes are always interesting and engaging, but my favorite part of being involved with our program is our strong sense of community.  You can always find a friendly face on campus, and a person who shares your interests and passions.  I actually met my two closest friends through the Honors College.  The first, during freshman orientation and the second, last semester in my Honors English class.  All of our students come from incredibly diverse backgrounds.  This combined with the mutual commonality serves as a foundation for meaningful connections with other students.  Plus, it's a fabulous conversation starter!

My exchange program in Swansea is just one of several exchanges offered by the Honors College, as well as many faculty-led trips to places like Brazil, Ireland, and Scandinavia.  

Just a quick thanks to the Honors College staff who helped get the site up and running, and all of those who have helped me through the application and advising process.

An update on my departure preparations:  I leave in T-minus nine days.  I'm slowly crossing things off my To Do list.  Typically, I am packed more than a week in advance, but I am majorly procrastinating.  Luckily, it's all I have left to do, and everything's coming together.

Swansea University

I just wanted to give everyone a quick look at where I will be studying for the next semester.  My school is in Swansea, which is about thirty minutes from the capital of Wales, Cardiff, and three hours by train to London.  I've always wanted to live on the coast, so I'm really excited the school is literally a block off the beach.

Swansea University is known for its research institutions and strong academic programs.  They exchange with WSU through both the Honors College and the College of Business.

If you've got a little time to kill, here (Swansea University) is the actual school website.  It's worth a look around!

I will post actual pictures when I arrive, but here is a light overview, courtesy of Google Images.