Nature's waterpark aka BEST THING EVER!

         After a week of classes, some homework, Wednesday movie dates (Lion King 3D with the flatmates!), it was time for another adventure. And boy was this weekend an adventure!!

         On October 14-16^th, we went to the Lake District for outdoor filled adventure! We arrived late that night and settled into out rooms, a small room with 4 bunk beds! I loved the group we got put with. The chatter was non-stop! We hit the bar for a celebratory drink in honor of our director, Amy’s, birthday. She is an alumni grad and moved to Newcastle to complete her masters. After our old director stepped down she took over and has been doing a great job! It was her suggestion that we play manhunt, and a huge game ensued around the resort, thank goodness we were the only group there that weekend! It was a blast, I haven’t played manhunt in a very long time. the last time I played was with my family and cousins (SHOUT OUT, HI FAMILY!!!! LOVE YOU COUSINS!)

          The next morning, we did a rope course, which had more team building elements then ropes, which was fun since it was different then the GO APE ropes course I completed earlier. The scariest part was climbing to the top of a telephone pole and standing on the top. You have to balance and focus really hard on not falling. I DID IT!!!

          After a weird lunch of cheese and butter (uckkky!) sandwich, we dressed for the Ghyll Scramble. Trying to describe this experience is very difficult so I would suggest youtube-ing it, so you can better understand it. the sparknotes version is a ghyll is a (freezing) cold river between two mountains in which the running water forms a water park of slides, jumps and waves that you slide and scramble through. IT WAS AMAZING! Its on the list of 100 things to do before you die list, and I totally understand why.

         We dressed in 5 layers of clothes and climbed up to the top of the river, wearing ALL of them. I was dying of heat by the time we got there, but not for long. The first plunge is soooo cold! I just adore the water so I was dancing and singing through the entire thing to stay warm, and mainly because I was having so much fun! I would do it again in a heart beat! I would have walk back up the mountain right after completing the course and done it!

         The night was filled with stories and girl talk, a great bonding experience! The next morning we hiked to the top of one of the numerous fells. I led the way and basically sprinted up the hill so excited to see the view from the top! It was gorgeous!!! The wind at the top was so strong it could have knocked you of the top. We climbed down and navigated our way back to the resort…through a sheep field! I was so close to them and man, do they stink!!!

         This was one of my favorite weekends so far! I was sooo excited for it, and it definitely exceeded my expectations! And top it all off, I came home to a lovely Halloween card from Grandma and Grandpa W!! THANK YOU AND LOTS OF LOVE!

         Time for a another week of class and next weekend I head to Scotland to meet my family!

LIFE IS A BALANCING ACT!

the group and Amy with her card

my new best friend, Chubby

Jenna and I at the top of the ladder!

Julie and I posing during the Scramble

the gurls are ready to get wet in our big, blue fleece suits!

kath and I!

after the scramble, everyone wet and happy!

my other best friend!

the group at the top of the fell

AMAZING VEIW!

         

IM ON A BOAT!

On Saturday, Ocober 8^th (HAPPYBIRTHDAY MARK), I went to Durham with the Loyola program. It was quick trains ride away and we went to see the Durham Cathedral. Its claim to fame is being used in the Harry Potter movies as the halls of Hogwarts. Once you walk into the court yard, I instantly knew what scenes it was used for, it was extremely obvious. We then climbed the 300+ stairs to the top, which means I had climb about 500 stairs in 2 days. My butt was on fire! It was a great view and a fun photo opportunity. We strolled around the outdoor market, checking out stalls and eating food.

         After most of our group left, the few that stayed behind walked about the town and discovered the River Wear…and the row boat rental stand! We rented the boat and had an extremely entertaining time trying to row it! It took us a half hour to go basically up 20 feet and back. Even though it was drizzling, I loved it! Durham is definitely a place I will go back to!

It was quite a lazy Sunday! I hung about the room all day, doing (very little) homework, and trying to plan my classes for next semester since the form is due tomorrow. It is the most frustrating thing ever!! Before I came abroad, my advisor and I mapped out the rest of my time at Loyola so that I can graduate on time. however, four of the classes that we decided on conflict with each other! After numerous emails back and forth with the dean, a plan was reached and now I have a schedule! I am taking a 21 credit course load in the spring, a normal load is 15-18 credits. Since I did 23 credits last semester, I think I will be able to handle it. I am most excited for my elective, introduction to sign language! It should be new and different.

At night, I went to church with Hannah. Last Sunday, I went to the Catholic Chaplaincy, which is a part of the school. I wasn’t crazy about the sermon, so when Hannah asked if I would go with her, I agreed. However I didn’t realize that Hannah wasn’t Catholic, so we went to the Jesmond Parish Church. It was a very enthusiastic service, with a lot of songs, which I didn’t know but caught on to by their second verse, and numerous sermons. There was no Eucharist, which was something I missed. I think I may try to find a Catholic church nearby still.

         After mass, they had a 2 pound student meal. We eat honey mustard chicken with potatoes, peas and carrots and banoffee pie (banana and toffee pie), which I loved! We meet some nice guys who was in their fourth year in the medical school and I learned that one of them is a triplet! We are the same person…except he is a guy and from a different country hhaha. We are both the baby out of two girls and a boy and are the same age. What amazed me the most is that his mother gave birth to them naturally, instead of a c-section. He said he and his sisters are an hour and ten minutes apart!! God bless that mother! He thought it was odd that we were c-sectioned.

         Now I am preparing for another week of classes! 

the Cathedral!

sitting in the halls of Hogwarts!

Katherine before our descent

Emily and I at the top, we made it!

uho, I am in trouble!

Jenna and Emily failing at rowing Tess, our big boat

TESS!!!!

Rabbits and St Pauls!

HI BLOOGING WOLRLD! Sorry for the delay, it has been a crazy few weeks! I am going to take a jump into the past, all the way back to October 6^th: the day I visited Liz.

Liz is my cousin and she is studying abroad in London through Syracuse University. I arrived in London around 7, and Liz and I went to an “organic pub” in which instead of burgers, they had rabbit and lobster. We took the tub to her apartment by Kensington Place (which was were I was earlier when I visited London. I probably walked past her apartment without even knowing it. ops!) When we walked into her apartment, her flat mates hiding in the corner and under the table because there was a bee in the apartment greeted us. So naturally, I take a broom and try to swat it out of the window! After proper introductions were made, we dressed and went to go meet her professor for a drink and called it an early night.

         The next morning, Liz, Chris and I went on a boat tour on the Thames and walked around that area. It was a beautiful day! As we walked home, I saw St. Paul’s Cathedral and decided I just HAD to climb to the top. Now both Liz and Chris are afraid of heights, but after some convincing (and guilt tripping) I was able to get them to do it. What a great sight it was! All of London spread out before you as you stand there, out of breath from the almost 300 steps up. it was amazing and an accomplished feeling. Not going to lie, but seeing Liz climb up, freaking out was a little funny too. (SORRY LIZ! I know you still love me!) We then got some well-deserved ice cream and went back to collect my bag and barely make my train home. Overall it was a great trip, with much needed family time! However it was just too short! I am waiting for the day that Liz comes here!

liz and chris making the climb!

veiw from the top =)

she made it..and is smiling!

Pictures: Fresher's Week

Go Ape! ropes course

weeeeeeeeeeee!!!

looking fly with the girls!

mud buggying! I spun out and got 5th place in the race =)

quading!

a tour of St James Park, home of Newcastle United

interviewing Noreen in the press hallway

cocktail training!

"who run the world? GIRLS"-Cesco

climb on top of a broken wall at Whitby Abby

Whitby Abby

Pictures!!: Newcastle and London!

heading over seas!!

landed in newcastle safe and sound =)

final goodbye with mom and dad

my room!

casual climbing =)

the entire group! go hounds <3

Katherine and I with Big Ben

typical London phone booth picture

How time flies when you are having fun!: Week one of classes

 What a week it has been!! Classes began on October 3rd, and its funny to think that we are just beginning classes while most American/other study abroad students are having midterms. But I am totally ok with us only having had one week =).

While I am here I will be taking classes in English, Philosophy, Theology and History. In England, the school system is very different so I will (try) to explain it to you the best I can. So there is 2 years of high school followed by a year called sixth forum in which they study only 4 subjects and each year it gets harder and more specialized. Then when they apply to university it depends on their final grade. They put down on their application their top 2 schools; each school has a grade standard that they accept. At the end of the year, you get your final grade and you find out if that grade was good enough to get you into your first or second choice. If you don’t get into those then there is a day where universities open up registration and you can register for any university, no matter what your grade, first come, first serve. It’s all a little confusing and stress full. When they get to university, they then choose the ONE subject they want to study. There is no “undecided” like there is at home. So when we American students come here, they think it is wild that we take so many different classes. Personally, I like learning different things. It helps to broaden your intellect and understanding.

My official first class of Newcastle was Introduction to Literary Studies. I sat next to my roommate Constance and she was giddy most of the time with excitement. She is a combined honors student, which means she can study more then one thing. She is studying English and History. Connie gets excited about everything! So on the way to class she usually sings, “I love learning!” It’s a great attitude to have! I really think I will enjoy this class, even though it will be A LOT of work.  Then we had Theology, which is called Philosophy of Religion. So its basically philosophy haha This is an only Loyola student course, which is fun to have the entire group together.

         On Tuesday, I attended History, Encounters in World History to be exact. It seems like a challenge, most of the information went right over my head. I really don’t think I will like this class. =( I then have my Lit lecture followed by my Lit seminar, but I didn’t have these 2 classes, since it is the first week of school.

         On Wednesday, I have one class, History. That leaves the rest of the day open for fun, so we went food shopping and I finally put the pictures up on my wall. Now I am surrounded by all my favorite people! It made me slightly homesick, so I began to skype and facebook chat people because even though I am across the pond, I love knowing what is going on in your lives. It is just as exciting as my adventure so please keep the emails coming!

         On Thursdays, I have my history seminar and then a 2 hour philosophy class called Human Knowledge and Interest, which will (hopefully) by a interesting course.

         I am currently on the train to London to see my cousin Liz!!!!! Check the blog for the details of our adventure!!

fresher's week is over =(

Freshers week is over, but that is ok because I had an amazing and productive day!! Friday was a very relaxing day of food shopping with Katherine and Cristina at the market. This is just like old fashion shopping, going from stall to stall for your veggies, fruit and cheese. It’s something I know I won’t experience in the states so I am embracing it to the fullest. I then went on another shopping trip to the actual grocery store with my friends, Jenn and Taylor to keep them company. It was such a gorgeous day (78 and sunny) that I didn’t mind the walk at all. While we were bagging Taylor’s bags the fire alarm went off and we had to leave everything in the store. It was so frustrating to sit outside waiting for a half hour!!! I then got to skype with Momma and Grandma, which made my day!! Katherine cooked an amazing meal of salmon with rice and veggies. Thanks kath!!! Our flat mates say we eat so healthy, which compared to them we do. We tried to have a well-balanced meal as much as possible. Then we booked our flight to PARIS!!! After so much planning I am excited to say I am finally going in exactly one month to Paris =) I finished this AMAZING DAY with a movie night in Hannah room, watching Anchor man and youtubing videos. It was a silly/relaxing way to end this amazing fresher’s week. Classes begin on Monday, so I have a few more days of “summer” left =)

<3 ERN