trampolining, salsa, and LONDON!

By a show of hands, who actually knew there was a sport called trampolining?

...not me! But, here at the University of Gloucestershire, there are tons of clubs, trampolining being one of them. The clubs here are all sports, but it is not in the competitive realm like in the states. So, you can be a beginner or rock at something, it doesn't matter. Plus, everyone is SUPER nice! So...long story short, I went to the trampolining club tonight! It was super fun! And, they think I'm pretty good...niiiiiice! I am not positive that I'll actually partake in the club, due to the fact that I'm only here a short time, but it was a lot of fun to go to it with friends!

And, to prove how "in to" clubs we are, we decided to go to salsa dancing on Thursday, so I'll let you know how that goes.

ALSO...here's another update, we booked tickets to go to London on Saturday! Can't wait!

loveeeeee

fire alarms and classes

I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe...or Schwalm Hall. 

In the week and a half that I have been living in the "freshers" dorm, the fire alarm has been pulled twice! Last night, it was pulled at 4 AM. To sum it up...not pretty. It's like the folk tale of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".  Last night, when my room went from pitch black to flashing red, I didn't even panic. I took my time to find my keys, sandals, and a jac

ket. Then, I went to get Kristen, where a funny situation unfolded, anyways...we preceded to go downstairs to the court yard, where every one was looking the same way, pissed off! But, I have a feeling that if in the case of a REAL fire...I won't panic like I should. I guess time shall tell. Oh! But! I was the one that called 999, the fire department. Interesting little plug in there! :)

But, other than that, I started classes today! I was terribly nervous! Who knows what to expect?! A big group of BCA students walked down to FCH campus together, so I felt better about that. Also, I knew someone in my class, which was a BIG help! When we got 

there, we waited outside for our 'tutor'. (Apparently, they are not called 'Professor' due to the fact that a professor is known as a very high scholar...like Dumbledore.) The professor for my Modern Lit Theory class is a little Indian man named Manzu Islam. No joke. And I sat there in utter confusion as he talked through what to expect from the class. But!  I did make a friend, who, by the way, was just

 as confused, so it's not just the American. What is a little problematic, is that most of these 'modules', or classes, are year long. So, being here only for a semester, I pose a complication to the tutor. Everything we do in the first semester will equal out to be my grade. So, this means I must be on top of everything! But, to say the least, I just have to listen attentively in this class, and Manzu seems like the type of guy who doesn't mind answering lots of questions. (good thing for me!)  

My second class was North American Women's Writing, and I can tell I will really like this class. The professor is a very nice woman named Charlotte who is super excited about this class, and that there are actual Americans in it. Should be fun! And now, I have Wednesday and Thursday off before I go to my final 2 classes on Friday, which are 19th Century American Writing and British Fiction and Poetry. Should be interesting.

And finally, to end this post, I have been told numerous times to talk ab

out my actual room here. The pictures are pretty much it. It's a tiny little cell, but it's home. I have a desk, bed, wardrobe, and my own bathroom. The end. My window is my favorite part though. It has a little step under it so I can stand and look out of it. It opens to the outside of the dorm and so I see tons of people walk by each day. I feel like I 

really am in England by staring out this window. 

Until next time... x.

weekend in Cornwall

This weekend we took off towards the southern part of England to visit the county of Cornwall! It was a beautiful getaway! On our way down, we stopped at the Lanhydrock house, which was a mansion owned by a really rich family, and we got to see 

what it was like to live 

in.  The estate covers 900 acres and is a romantic, pastoral backdrop to the house and garden with many footpaths to explore the beautiful woodlands and gardens! 

(Grandma & Grandpa, the flowers at this house were AMAZING! You'd love them!)

We then were taken to Newquay, which is a surf city in Cornwall. It was beautiful, and felt almost like being back home! We got to go out that night and explore the cute little surf town on the cliffs. The next morning, we ended up going to breakfast literally on the beach. It was gorgeous and breath taking. Afterwards, we went to a place that they call Land's End. It is the most southern place in England. It was a quick stop before we went to St. Ive's.  (Which I'm still trying to decide if this is the same as the lotion).  Anyways, St. Ive's was a very beautiful fishing town. We were told that the "cornish ice cream" is a must have while there, so, we ended up all buying ice cream and sitting on the beach. It was one of the most beautiful afternoons in my entire life. So relaxing and memorable. The boats in the marina were a gorgeous contrast to the light blue of the water and the old, rubbed white of the light house in the distance. Gorgeous.

Today, we woke up and were taken to a place that is called The Eden Project. It is hidden among the country side of England, where all of a sudden, huge biomes, that look like bubble wrap, jump up out of nowhere. In each biome, there was a different climate. We went into the rain forest and the mediterranean. It was really cool to see! Also, interesting to think about how they did it! :) Fun! 

When we got back to Cheltenham, we were all SO tired. Also, we all are starting to feel the beginning of some sort of sickness. (I believe it's the whole "you've been traveling for too long, sleep now" sickness) So, our cooking tonight was a little off as well. We ended up making frozen pizza and microwave quesadillas! Tomorrow shall be better! We planned our grocery list and we also started talking about certain trips that we would like to take while we're here. We are planning on visiting the "Harry Potter" sites next weekend. The closest is the Gloucester Cathedral, where they filmed a lot of scenes. We also want to go to Switzerland. It shall be an adventure! :) Wish us luck!

....oh ya! Did I mention classes for me start Tuesday?!....oh school!

love.

true story

FACT:

I cook! 

Last night I made pasta! And tonight, to make my lovely father proud, I made fajitas! :D It's true!

Be proud!

Tomorrow we head out to Newquey, Cornwall. As the people on my flat say, it is the only place people in England can go to surf. It will be interesting!

love.

Warwick Castle

Today we got to play tourist...finally!

The BCA group went to the FCH campus and met the Chaplain, her name is Tamsin and is very friendly. We then were given a short tour of the campus, and I was shown where my classes, or modules, time tables, what have you, will be held. It made me feel a lot better to actually see them. It still feels weird that school hasn't started yet. LONGEST SUMMER EVERRRRR! After this, we then drove to Warwick Castle. It was beautiful. The sun actually opened up through the clouds and it was a very nice day. 

When we came back, we read that the RA was throwing a party on his flat. It's still so strange for me to think that this is school! I also question how these people can just keep going!? I'm so tired by the end of the day, but they are just starting. We ended up going to a bar with a girl from our flat, Katie. She is super nice, and very British! It was a good time.

Tomorrow we have a free day. There is a "Fresher's Fayre", where all the freshmen come and can sign up for all the activities for the year...which equals free stuff. We have to call it an early night tomorrow due to the fact that we are leaving early Friday morning for Cornwall! Can't wait! 

x

love.

too much fun! :)

What can I say?! You were all right!!! I'm really having the time of my life out here! It has been only 5 days since we got here, but I feel like I have been here for months! Maybe it's still jet-lag, but I love it here! Everything has been so much fun!

So, here we are for the catch up....

On Saturday morning, we woke up and were taken to the Francis Close Hall Campus, right down the street from where I live, and where I'll be taking all of my classes. There, we got to know the other 38 students and our BCA Coordinators, Denise & Sandy! They are the nicest and funniest ladies! They are fully at our beck and call! I swear they could rule the world. While we were being "oriented", I met a girl Melissa who came to study abroad last spring, loved it so much, (she also fell in love, what a dream!), and decided to stay here. She gave me tons of tips and information, and it made me feel so comfortable. She was incredibly helpful, and she ended up showing me around the town. This place is beautiful! It's such a cute town. I could see why everyone has loved it! After our town walk, we went to an Italian restaurant named Zizzi's, which used to be an old converted church, and it was gorgeous.  The pizza oven was actually where the altar used to be. Afterwards, we came back and Kristen and I hung out with one of our new friends, Khouri! She is wonderful. But, after she went to sleep, we decided that we had to be adventurous, and so we called this guy named Grant from our group and we ended up at a club called the Boogie Lounge. We had a blast! We ended up ordering Cutie Fruities and had a blast dancing to the music of the 70-90s!

The next day we went to a church called Trinity Church, and the service started at 11:15! It lasted two hours, and when you're jet-lagged, it's not a good match. But it was nice. On Sunday, the rest of the dorm moved in. The freshman here are called "freshers", and the dorm we live in, Regency Halls, is a fresher dorm. So, it's us and them! :) But they are all SO nice! I can't even explain how nice they are. We ate dinner with our "flat" that night, and I felt like I was so lucky to be living this experience. There is a guy across the hall from us named Sonny, and he looks like the kid from Slumdog Millionaire. He's a very nice guy and very cute as well! Kris and I adore him already! (side note: I failed to mention that there is one RA for the whole building, and he happens to live on our floor. His name is Greg. And he is HOT!...just saying!) That night we went to one of the other campuses where the student union is, and inside is filled with couches, pool tables, and a bar. That's right, a bar! Wicked! :) We were fortunate enough to finally order a Sex on the Beach. We had a lot of fun dancing with some of the other people we have met, and it was a wonderful day.

Yesterday, Monday, was the first of our two-day "real" orientation. We all fell asleep to Denise telling us about the academics of the University of Gloucestshire. Not much to say about Monday...all orientation. blah blah blah. But a few of us went out to a pub last night called the Hog's Head, where Monday is "pint a pound" night. Our new friends Jenna and Lauren went with us and we had a blast!

Today we had the second round of orientation in the academics. We were given our tentative schedules also. I only have classes on Tuesday and Fridays. How lovely. Which reminds me, classes haven't even started yet! Mine won't start until next Tuesday! MADNESS! ....but funnnnn! This weekend, we leave for Cornwall and a beach town called Newquey? But it should be beautiful! Oh! and today, we finally realized that we could not keep going out for lunch/dinner. We became adults today as we walked to the grocery store in town, on High Street, called Tesco's, and planned out our meals for the next few days. We will be cooking for ourselves this semester. Wish us luck.  But I must say, it was at that moment where I realized how big of a decision it was to come here. We are on our own. But, I know we'll make it. I'm surrounded by loving friends that only a few days ago I had no idea existed. I'm having a blast. And I cannot wait to see what lies ahead in these next few weeks. Thanks for sticking with me! More pictures will come....promise! :)

love you all! Until next time...

We made it!!!!

It's true! After a very long day of flying, we finally made it to London! And it is beautiful! :)

While at MC the girls and I joked about me having BIG butterflies in my stomach, almost prehistoric big. But, when we landed, they sort of just fluttered away. I'm still terribly nervous to start classes, but after unpacking my bags, and making a home for myself in this tiny little "flat", I can honestly say I'm EXCITED! I'm in England! It's almost magical to look out my window as I write this as watch cars drive on the opposite side of the road, a woman clad in an obvious England fashion push an actual double buggy, some of the local shops, most affectionately called the "Paint-It-Yourself Pottery Company" and the "Cheltenham Rug Gallery", and see off in the distance the rolling hills of countryside. I'm in ENGLAND! :) What an adventure! As I fight jet-lag, a few of us have decided to take a walk around town! More later! Miss you and love you all!

-Cam