Of Holidays and Homesickness

It's autumn at Keele... can't you tell?

Four weeks. Four weeks until the end of this first semester and I still can't believe it! It seems sooo close... yet so far away. These past 9 weeks have practically flown by. I remember leaving my parents in the airport like it was just yesterday.

However, the past couple of weeks I had been stricken victim to homesickness and a mild, mild case of culture shock... It was a long fight against it, but I finally fell, and I fell pretty hard... I am sad to admit. But, after reasoning with myself and working consciously to change my attitude, I have overcome it, and it is the greatest feeling ever. I'm back to enjoying and appreciating my time here at Keele and in England. I'm also excited that Christmas is creeping ever closer and closer.

It's really starting to get cold, now. But it's not any kind of cold that I'm used to, and, in reality, it's not THAT cold. It is the kind of cold, however, that just seeps through your body and chills you... and the wind doesn't help. On most days, the temperature averages about 45˚F. Like I said, it's not THAT cold, but it is enough to make you feel eternally chilled. My many blankets have become my best friends at night~ ...and in the day time.

School continues to go very well. I got my first grade back on a paper the other day (not a big paper, unfortunately. Just a c.500 word commentary) but it was still quite nice. It was a 68, and I was very happy. (A high 2.1... apparently 70s are rarely given, so a 68 is very good.) I want to see how my essay for American studies comes back. That one was much longer, and I had to contextualise a quote from the 1970's on the role the Atomic Bomb played in Cold War American society. It was very interesting, I think, and I had a LOT of fun writing it. My classes are fun. I mostly like my Russian History and Russian language classes, though. Historical Research and Writing is so... Let's just say, after 3 years in Uni, I already know that stuff. However, I do have to take it for HIS2003 at UTSA, might as well do it in England! It is quite interesting, though, and on the Plus side-- NO FINAL. Woohoo! American Studies is nice, too, but it's just another American history class. :P Although, I have learned more about President Hoover than I thought I ever would.

December and Christmas break is coming up, and I have some exciting plans! December 2nd and 3rd I am taking a quick side trip to London and Oxford to visit one of my best childhood friends who is studying in Oxford. I've also been invited to the BUTEX AGM, which takes place the afternoon of the 2nd at the University of Westminster. The BUTEX scholarship committee is reimbursing my travel expenses, and I had already had plans to visit Oxford on the 3rd. Therefore, it kind of decided to work out. I am really looking forward to seeing Katelyn!

Then, it is time for Winterfest. I'm not entirely sure what it consists of, but all I know is that it was mildly expensive and I was very lucky to get a ticket... so, it better be good. :) That takes place December 9.

Then comes Christmas break. I will leave Friday the 16th to go to Chudleigh (You know... like the Chudley Cannons?) in Devon with Beth, one of my housemates. Then, I am super super excited to make it to Glyfáda, Greece again to see the one and only Sam, one of my best friends from High School for New Years! I can't wait to see Sam and the rest of my Big Fat Greek Family. :) I will leave for Greece on the 28 of December and return to England on the 6 of January.

I am a little sad that I won't be with my family next week for Thanksgiving. I think that is the only thing I am bummed about for the time being. Of course Christmas, but that is further away. I don't have to worry about that so soon. It will be different... the first time in 19 years that I haven't been at home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years. It's very, very weird. But I'll get over it! And I look forward to having a really good time in Devon and Greece. I think Skype is such a godsend. It lets me talk to my parents any time I really want to for free. AND I get to see their faces. It has really helped me muscle through this homesickness. While I don't want my experience here in Keele to end, it is comforting to think of how much time has already passed, and how much more time there is left. When I put it in that perspective, it makes me feel better knowing I only have 29 weeks left until I can see my family.

But enough of that nonsense! So far, since the last time I spoke, we've been bowling, out to the movies, and shopping in Hanley... quite a few times. It was all really fun! And the more and more I do here, the more and more I feel like I'm back in the States. Especially when we went bowling! It was set up in a strip mall. I haven't seen one of those in about 10 1/2 weeks. We did find a Toys R Us and BestBuy... and me and a few of my other American friends have decided we have to go to that strip mall sometime soon... just to remind ourselves of the US. Yay American Consumerism! We did locate the nearest Starbucks, Burger King, and KFC, as well. And though I am boasting our excitement about finding these things, that doesn't mean we aren't doing 'English' things, too. But I think everyone is beginning to become a bit homesick... and not just me or American nationals. Still trucking along, though, and still having a roaring good time! ((Nothing beats a simple night walk around Keele Village if you feel you need a little adventure. Keele Uni and Keele village are FANTASTIC places to explore. It's just so quaint and beautiful.)) The thing about study abroad is that you just have to focus on having a positive attitude... and staying positive. Otherwise, you begin to focus only on the differences between the two countries... and that's when that nasty culture shock sets in. However, if you can stay positive, Study Abroad is a wonderful experience! I've said it, and I'll say it again... I am so glad I came to England!

That's about all of the update for right now! Until next time. :D Peace, Love, and England!

And, Finally, Some Time

     It's been over a month now, and I am truly sorry I have not been able to keep up with this Blog! Since I last wrote, I am now over half-way into my Fall semester at Keele University, and it is blowing my mind. But, can I say, it continues to be a real joy being here, and boy am I glad I got to come! England, once again, is absolutely amazing, and the people here are as much so. Where do I even begin? So much has happened in the past month. I guess maybe I should sit back and look at where I left you and start from there.

School here is very different than back in the States. You only have one lecture a week, with a seminar time that corresponds to it. The lecture, for the most part, is just like what you would see or experience in most any University in the United States, but the Seminar would be more like what you would find in an upper division class, with discussions and presentations being the sole focus. Thus meaning, there is a lot you're required to read or do. However, it really isn't that bad. I'm only taking four classes this semester-- Historical Research and Writing (Boring... but I have to take it for UTSA. Why not take it in England?), US History in the 20th Century (I always get asked why I chose to take US history in England... And I guess it is kind of like Hermione taking Muggle Studies... but I just wanted to see a new perspective on the United States, and so far it is pretty interesting. Especially seeing WHY all of the English nationals in the class want to take US History as well.), Russian Social and Cultural History (I think this is my second-favourite class. We read lots of Russian social literature and watch movies on Russia, such like October and Burnt by the Sun. Very interesting! Very exciting.), and lastly, Russian Language... which is the class I ALWAYS look forward to. Next semester I will hopefully be taking Politics and Cinema, a class on the Holocaust, the American West, and lastly, Russian II. We will see how it all goes.

A few weeks ago, the international students all took a coach down to Stonehenge and the Cotswolds (a Gorgeous little village with cute places to shop. For those of you from New Braunfels, think vaguely Gruene... but prettier.) It was a lot of driving for just a little time at each place (8 hours of driving > 3 hours of combined Stonehenge and Cotswolds.) We thought an hour was going to be too long at Stonehenge, but we found out that we were having too much fun trying to take (failed) pictures of us jumping in front of the rocks that we were late to the bus! Here are a few pictures from the trip:

 At the coaches getting ready to go into Stonehenge!

 Stonehenge in all of her glory.

 Downtown village center of the Cotswolds. Isn't it gorgeous?

Since then, we have also had a Medics Pajama pub crawl-- lots of fun! Basically, we all wore our pajamas and crawled around Downtown Newcastle. Though it was for Medics, you didn't have to be a medic to do it. However, I think I was only one of three non-medics who went with our group. The building I live in here at Keele is FULL of med students, which I guess is probably a good thing. The great thing about Keele University is that there is ALWAYS something to do! The Union is always open, as well as Sneyd Arms and other various bars around campus. If that does not suit your fancy, you can always go out to things like a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) which is basically a barn dance, or to the Cinema. Our group tends to go to the cinema every Tuesday on cheap day, where the tickets are only £3.95. It's not an action-packed night out, but it is relaxing and fun! And you get to see a new movie in a not-so-crowded theatre.

Last weekend, we had the Monster Ball. A big, Halloween Fancy-dress party. It was pretty fun! Not as fun as the first Icebreaker, but still good. Aside from the unnerving aspect of watching a kid lose control of his muscles after drinking a spiked drink. Needless to say, I didn't buy a single drink after that. Here are some photos:

Everyone wanted to party with the Banana! I lost my B2 along the way, but I still had a lot of fun at the Monster Ball!

Tomorrow is Guy Fawkes night. Can you say... BONFIRE?? Or something. I'm not quite sure what we are doing yet, but we will figure it out.

As for now, there's not all of that much really going on, aside from school. I have a paper due next week on the influence the Atomic bomb held in Cold War American politics and culture. Woohoo! Better get on that... And, of course, Winter Fest is coming up! Managed to actually get a ticket for that. It's ridiculous how quick those sold out! It will be fun, though. And I look forward to it!

I hope to maybe try and get back to doing this blog once every TWO weeks, because we know once a week isn't going to happen. But we'll see how it goes. Regardless, I will keep writing! Just bear with me on time.

Miss the States! Until next time, guys.

P.S. I had an interview posted on UTSA's Education Abroad Services' website on my BUTEX scholarship win. Check it out!