Delicate Delicacies

So my flatmate, Courtney, and I have gone to two events of the Scottish Reeling Society for the University. Trying something new while abroad is a must isn't it? Even if it is weird or strange.  But these guys are not weird or strange, in fact, it is very interesting how "normal" they seem.  I feel that in the states (at least at Alabama) this activity wouldn't be cool enough and would be relegated to the realm of the anime kids and over-excited bunch.  Please don't take it the wrong way if you are lumped into this group: I, myself, have one foot in and the other tip-toeing away from the "kool kids".  My point is, that university here, or maybe even culture in general, seems more open to those groups of people and those activities that seem to scare off so many Americans.  I find that interesting. 

Anywho, the first night that we met up with the group was for their social.  Apparently clubs, or societies, do this thing here where they try to hang out at least once a week and go drinking and what have you.  While clubs back home hang out very regularly, I don't think I have come across one that does this sort of organized thing yet.  And while I do enjoy this idea, as it is more likely to inspire a family kind of environment, it is odd to me, probably because I can't even get into bars back home.

But everyone was very friendly, very kind, very smiley.  I loved it.  I can't wait to get to know them and their sport more.

Saturday was even better.  We went to a brunch with the group and tried some traditional Scottish food.  The oat cakes and butter-honey was delicious, but the other two were rather unsettling.  And it really didn't help that the other guys at our table couldn't stop talking about what they actually were.  The first we tried was haggis.  It really doesn't look gross, but it had a very interesting texture.  It was like sausage, but too soft.  Probably because it has some kind of grain in it, unlike sausage? Please correct me if that is wrong.  Then came the black pudding.  It also reminded me of sausage, and it really doesn't look bad until you bite into it and look inside.  The inside looks like congealed blood, well because it is, and that's where my stomach got me.  Granted, I didn't vomit (I have a pretty strong stomach), I did get queasy, but I did manage to finish the entire little slice.  I think that is better than having it sitting on your plate for you to look at and think more about every time you look down.  It had that same sort of oddly soft texture, which is what, I do believe, got me.  It just isn't like anything back home, or anything I've ever tasted.  Oh well, the Scottish Reeling guys were great fun and really helpful (we asked them a few questions about how our classes worked). I think I will pay the dues and join up fully, we'll see.

"It's just a wee sheep stomach."

The Dish for Vampires, Black Pudding

They don't look yummy at all in these pictures, do they?

Culture Shock

A whisper of wind through the willow,

A touch of that orange's tang,

Words do not come which give strength

Only soundness of mind to stay on.

A desire that deep within dwells,

A call of craving that softly comes,

Sensations are nearly lost

Save memory in mind to be strong.

Just one example of the natural beauty that I miss so much.

I'm going to come clean.  I am homesick already.  I looked over the four stages of culture shock this morning to find that I may have just hopped right over the first stage, the honeymoon phase.

I feel like, though, this isn't so odd as it seems.  I mean, I have pretty interesting extenuating circumstances.  I moved in July from my "home" (even though I only lived three full years there, it is where I grew into who I am), all the way across the country.   I guess if I went by amount of time spent in a place, I am from Alabama, but I feel like California is my "home".  At least for the moment: I do think I am a bit too wandering to really find a settled home anywhere.

Anyways, I feel like this move, has forced me to already go through stages of culture shock anyways and I have been homesick for the sunny and green skies of Fresno (there's quite a bit of pollution) for quite some time before I left.  I do hope that this has not caused negativity to come out in my interactions with the people that I know are still in that nice honeymoon phase of travel, but I believe I am more in the frustration stage.  And I want to get to understanding, even if it does take forcing myself into uncomfortable situations and out of my comfort zone.  Maybe being in this position will allow me to make it to the acclimation stage of things before the end of the year.  

Just musing. 

Thanks y'all

Pictures

I have been advised by my oh so wise brother that I need more pictures, so I decided yesterday to man up and just do it.  Here they are folks!

Castle Ruins

One of the many churches in the town

Constitution, Seafront, Pier and Old College

The front of the Pier

Constitution Hill and the Seafront Row

Seafront

I believe Alexandra Hall and Constitution

Just a view

The North side of the War Memorial

Constitution

My flatmate thought these towers look like the ones from Mario: I agree.

The Old College facade.

Mosaic on the Old College

Approaching the Old College on the Prom

Old College, Pier, Castle Ruins, and War Memorial

Old College

Old College

The Pier

Old College

Y Consti Cafe on top of Constitution

The War Memorial

Pendinas Hill 

The Royal Pier

A Step Down Pier (for fishing?)

Hills beyond Aber

The Pier

Castle Ruins

A Serpentine Bench

The view around the castle walls

A step out the front door

Row Houses

The Castle and War Memorial against the Sea

Street View into town

Another One

It started getting dark....

Old Towne Aber

Yup....

There is a little dragon on the base: thought that was cool...

Old College

Constitution

So there you have it kids.  Some pictures of Aber.  I will try to make myself take pictures in town, although that will take more guts than I think I have.  I know you guys want to see the view from my room, but please don't be surprised when I show you this:

I will try to talk about my room and flat in detail more (and post pictures of them, as well) when I get bedding and things.  It is still rather messy.

Getting Oriented

So it's been an interesting few days.  I feel as if I've been woefully unprepared for just about all, even though my flatmates tell me I know so much.  Figuring out school has been confusing, but figuring out people has been even more so.

I am an introvert, shockingly so, in fact.  I can spend weeks cooped up in my room, not speaking with anyone, just watching videos and reading.  It's ridiculous but true.  I am inherently shy, then, when it comes to meeting new people.  Even if I have taught myself how to be outgoing in order to get what I need, making friends is a different ballgame.  Kind of similar to the difference between american football and football everywhere else: One is brutal, but padded, while the other is just bare-faced bull.

And of course, like all new environments in the first few days, I have met many people.  I wouldn't hesitate over thirty people, in fact.  All of my flatmates are pretty awesome, and very sweet.  They are the ones I've been hanging out with, mostly, but I have been wary about spending all my time with them.  Probably because of the fiascoes and drama that sprang out of a too-close friendship with roommates last year.  We've been having amazing dinners with our flat and the one below, and whoever else shows up, almost every night.  Last night the ladies from our flat and a couple others went out for a nice sit down dinner to get a feel for how that works in the town, and then afterwards I stayed out probably the latest I've been out yet.

The Union puts on club nights: I am not sure if they are just for Freshers Week or if they do it all the time, yet, but last night was pretty good.  The music was not like the club I have gone to in Tuscaloosa.  It wasn't all hip hop or pop music.  The mix was very diverse, from "That Shit Cray" to "Hey Jude" to "The Cave".  I actually liked it, because it meant that there wasn't that pressure to "drop it low" or any crap like that.  We just stood in our circle of about ten or twelve and jumped around and sang and goofed off.  And while we were out until 2 in the morning, it felt good to do that sort of thing with people who aren't trying to impress one another or trying to shimmy-shake you into their boudoir.  We just teased and joked with one another.  It was great.

I will say, though, that I wish the international office had been able to prepare me for all the Europeans that are here.  Us Americans were joking about how we hadn't even spoken to a British person in the four days we'd been here, because our flats are all Erasmus students (Erasmus is a European exchange program) and all there Erasmus friends.  Which has been cool, because I can now say I have met two Finnish guys, quite a few Spaniards, many a German, some Frenchies and a lovely assortment of people from other mainland European countries.

At the moment I am resting and trying to decide if I want to write out my class list for tomorrow, tonight or tomorrow morning, so I can register.  It has been a long and confusing road to figuring everything out, but having other American students in the same boat is great.

A small portion of our dinner group.

The Journey Onward

So I guess I will finally sit down to write about my trip out to Aberystwyth.

The airport stuff was easy (I've done it enough, so I think I get the gist of it).  My parents and I checked in my large bag a few hours ahead of time so we could eat lunch without worrying about having to go through security. Which was good, because check-in and security got pretty busy by the time we came back.  But everything went smoothly: in fact, it was the smoothest plane excursion I have ever done.  I popped right from security onto my plane from Dublin and then took my time (and admittedly got a little confused) getting to the international terminal.  I did have a little wait here to relax, but the plane ride was very easy, and we actually got in almost an hour ahead of schedule.  Customs was probably the longest part of the trip, because there were five or six planes with 300, if not more, people on each that came in around the same time, but it really wasn't that bad: people watching is a fun hobby to partake in when people's bodies think it is 3 o'clock in the morning.

A fresh flower stand on Grafton Street.

I got the airport shuttle down to the Dublin City Centre - the Temple Bar area, in fact - and then lugged my way towards St. Stephen's Green, with my hotel just outside the park.  I arrived there around 9, but check in  time was not until 1, so they graciously took my 100 pounds of luggage, and I went and got some food.  I also did a little shopping at the mall area there and got some toiletries I needed and a couple things for my room - although, I wish I had gotten hangers there, as they are difficult to find here - and by the time I had walked Grafton Street fully and popped over to Trinity College it was time to go back to my room.  Now here's where I get really boring.

I checked in, watched and fell asleep to a movie, then woke up and organized my things.  Turns out, the lock on my backpack wasn't sturdy if kept on the security code, and it opened while I was walking and my giraffe-print neck pillow was sacrificed to the streets of Dublin.  I had no desire to look for it, I didn't really even use it, so I finished that and went to bed, again.  I woke up around dinner time and debated going to get food, but I wasn't hungry, so all I needed to do was order my taxi for the next morning and ask for a wake-up call.  Then I went to bed until four the next morning.  Such an adventurer, right?  I was just too exhausted and dehydrated to do anything else, really.

The next day of travelling was long.  I woke up at four and got ready, checked out and met my taxi on the curb.  The cabbie was very nice and for some reason he gave me two dollars off of my tab, even though I wanted to give him a tip for being so nice.  I was at the ferry early, and ended up checking in my large bag, which was a blessing.  But while doing that, I bumped into this nice lady with whom I ended up talking until her train stop in Wrexham, but I am getting ahead of myself.  The ferry ride was only two hours long, but for some reason it was the worst boat ride I've been on.  I've never been sea sick in my life (that I can remember) but this time I was terribly so.  I could not have gotten to Holyhead fast enough.  The train was quick and easy and when I arrived at Aberystwyth I was worried I would have to scoot my luggage all the way to the residences, but the Aber Heroes met us there and took our big bags in a bus for us.  The group of going to Seafront still walked, because it is only .6 miles, and it was lovely to be able to see part of the town.

The Holyhead train station.

My room is lovely, I am actually in Caerleon, and I share my flat with 6 other people.  There are two more American girls, a German girl, and a French guy and a Spanish guy.  So far there has been drinking involved with both nights I've been here, and I am just not sure how I am going to handle that.  I have made the decision to try and not drink while here, because it really just counteracts everything that I am trying to do, but it is kind of hard to get away from, without feeling like I am relegating myself to the corner.  I guess I am already feeling homesick (actually, I've been feeling homesick since we left California, and since school started in Tuscaloosa), and that is probably why I'm feeling a little socially wary and unsure.  I am an introvert anyways.

This one doesn't really cover everything that happened or anything like that, but I just wanted to get something down and push past the writer's block I've got going on.

Thanks dolls, talk to ya soon.

Jessa

Orion's Belt

Well, today is the day.  In less than 24 hours I will be in Dublin.  I was so anxious last night.  I mean, something this amazing can't really happen to me, right?  Luckily though, I tried out the melatonin tablets I am taking on the plane with me and I got a good night's sleep.  I feel charged up and ready to go, just like all my electronics, hopefully.

This morning, I woke up to what is one of the most reassuring sights in my world.  Orion's Belt was twinkling at me through the window.  It sounds ridiculous to say that three little stars are reassuring, but they are to me.  For some reason, I look up into the sky and see those shiny little dots, and everything is okay.  Maybe it is because the sight of them reassures me that the world spins, just as it has before, no matter what is happening to me.  Waking up to that sight was a gift to soothe me.

My next post may be from the airport, it may be from the plane, it may be from Dublin, but I will talk to you soon!

Ducks in a Row

Okay, they aren't exactly in a row and they're just the treads on my tub, but they're cute!

Paperwork is done: tickets are bought: bags are packed.  I am ready to go.  I packed almost all day today and then cleaned my room and bathroom before I leave.  Packing has definitely been a long process.  I started a few weeks ago by putting everything in my closet that I wanted to bring on one side, and everything that I knew I didn't need on the other.  Same with my mini dresser, but with drawers.  I went through this list over the next few weeks a lot, shifting things back and forth, but I went from half my wardrobe coming (which is a lot) to only what I need.  Here's my list of clothing:

• 2 weeks of underwear
• 6 bras
• 2 t-shirt, 1 strapless, 1 push-up, 2 sport
• 3 skirts
• 2 maxis, 1 mini
• 7 dresses
• 2 high-low,  1 shirt, 1 sweater-ish, 2 maxis, and 1 midi
• 2 thermal tops
• 5 pairs of sport bottoms
• 1 sweatpants/warm-ups, 2 running shorts, 1 pair of spandex (for volleyball), 1 pair Soffe's
• 3 pairs of tights
• 5 pairs of socks
• 2 ankle socks, 2 athletic socks, 1 thigh highs
• 7 long sleeve tops
• 2 button-down, 2 t-shirts
• 12 tops
• 2 fitted tees, 5 t-shirts, 4 tank tops, 1 lace over shirt
• 3 pairs of jeans
• 1 khaki pant
• 1 khaki trench
• 3 cardigans
• 1 nice thick pull-on
• 4 sweaters
• 2 knit, 2 t-shirts

As far as shoes go, I have 9 pairs: knee-high boots, black keds, running shoes, Seychelles oxford heels, black oxford wedges, mocassins, and a pair of deena & ozzy floral flats.
I really won't go into jewelry too much, but I have quite a selection of earrings - from feathered dreamcatchers to simple blue studs - and a few necklaces and basic bracelets.  I also am bringing 3 belts, 2 pairs of sunglasses, and quite a few scarves.  Only 2 purses are packed, and I am not using them while travelling.

Next comes the miscellany.  I have to make sure to pack my meds.  I have my prescriptions for three months (talk to your doctor about this, it's awesome), but I also bought some Unisom to help me sleep on the plane, Airborne, Benadryl and Neosporin, and Aleve which is my all around drug.  My toiletries are, surprisingly all packed with me: my plan was to buy them over there, but my mom has insisted that I have all of them - shampoo, conditioner, face/body wash, cotton swabs, etc..  I have 2 makeup palettes of eyeshadow and blush, a few tubes of lip gloss, beauty balm and powder (and my brush pack of course).  I have my perfume.  It is the one thing that I cannot sacrifice: I am obsessed with scent, oddly.  I am only bringing one color of nail polish; because, while I love to have painted nails, I know I will want to buy colors over there and the weight of those little bottles add up quickly, just like perfume.

I do not plan to have too many electronics.  I hope to buy an alarm clock there, and use my phone until I can do so.  I have my iPod and my camera as the only little side pieces: both have cords, and my camera has a wall-plug in battery charger.  I, of course, will bring my computer, and for all this I need some adapters.  Funnily, Britain has two types of plug - I think depending on the age of the building? - they are three pronged but one has cylindrical rods and the other more rectangular.  I now have two of the rectangular, which is most common, but I also have an adapter with the other style, just in case.  I have a couple of European adapters as well, and a converter.  I was told that nothing I am taking with me should really require conversion, but I got one just in case.

I could write out everything I am taking, but there are a lot of miscellaneous things, that are specifically mine. I packed some little decorations for my room, some gifts to give to the lovelies at the international office, and some other random little things that give me a little peace to have with me.  Here are a few pictures of my process:

I wanted to try to do a video, but I don't really have the resources to do it the way I want yet, so I will hopefully try this later on.  I am so excited about tomorrow!!  

Thanks y'all,

Jessa