Hey there world, I know it’s been a while since my
last entry. I’d like to give some excuse that sounds relatable, like
overwhelming amounts of homework or a job, but I can’t. I’ve been busy, but it
has been the good, fun sort of busy doing stuff like beach BBQs and movie
nights with a bunch of my flatmates. Academic life here is very different from
back in the states. Besides the grading scale being funky, homework is nearly
unheard of. Don’t let it fool you though; it’s not as carefree as it might
trick one into believing. I don’t have assigned readings, journals, or research
anymore, but I do have to have a depth of knowledge and comprehension of
material on the subject matter. My lecturers and seminar professors introduce a
lot of material in class, and I have the choice of what material I want to go
more in depth in during individual study. I’m in Medieval Encounters and
Arthurian Adaptations, so I try to find material to study that is useful to
both classes. One might ask, if no homework, why study at all? Quite simply,
I’m scared to death of the finals, which count for nearly the entire grade of
the classes. At that point, the professors will know which students studied and
which one slacked off all semester. That and, of course, the fact that I am
here to learn, despite the
overwhelming feel of this being an extended vacation. It really is excellent,
this whole Welsh experience. I highly recommend it. Let me build it up some
more. So far, I’ve gone on a camping trip with people from around the world, been
to numerous beach bonfires (that would be beaches along the ocean), gone hiking for seven miles in
the middle of the night, done a different daytime hike every Wednesday, lost
more pub quizzes than the Scotland rugby team has lost games, dressed up
as Captain America for a Thursday night social (everyone else dressed up as
something too, I’m not that weird), eaten delicious kebabs on the beach with
intermittent Frisbee time with friends, marathoned the extended editions of the Lord
of the Rings trilogy with my flatmates, and am currently in London contemplating
my upcoming travels through Barcelona, Madrid, Florence, Rome, Scotland,
Ireland, and possibly Egypt. And no
homework. 
Again, I love Wales. I do miss home, but not so much as to fail
to appreciate the excellence of this semester abroad. There are so many
different opportunities to take here, from reading tons of books for the pure
joy of it, to joining a club that teaches one to fence or parasail. If not for
the wretched public transit, this would be paradise (seriously, two hours just
to go get a few groceries from Tesco? blegh). Those are my thoughts for the
day. More to come after Easter holiday. Later!
Again, I love Wales. I do miss home, but not so much as to fail
to appreciate the excellence of this semester abroad. There are so many
different opportunities to take here, from reading tons of books for the pure
joy of it, to joining a club that teaches one to fence or parasail. If not for
the wretched public transit, this would be paradise (seriously, two hours just
to go get a few groceries from Tesco? blegh). Those are my thoughts for the
day. More to come after Easter holiday. Later!
