http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Katy-abroad/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Katy abroad en-us Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:47:52 +0000 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:47:52 +0000 So two months after the end of the year abroad I'm off again this time just for a girlie holiday to the States. But that doesn't mean it will be a doingnothing beach holiday oh no. We will be spending 5 days in the City that never sleeps otherwise known as the Big Apple being total tourists seeing the sites eating drinking and being merry Then we're spending two days on the road drivin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-433081.html Last blog entry...I've just finished my last exam I'm nearly packed which is quite an accomplishment several months' worth of stuff either ruthelessly chucked or squeezed into my suitcase and I'm leaving tomorrow. What an insane brilliant topsyturvy year this has been. I've lived in two countries in two languages in two beautiful places. I have had moments of intense gutwrenching home http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-412188.html I arrived back in Oviedo last week for the final 17 days of my year abroad and somehow 11 of them have already disappeared Time has mainly been taken up with revision and exams and Oviedo in its inimitable style has provided us with mostly grey days although it is just proving me wrong at this moment by bringing out the sunshine. I have my three final exams next week and then it is all ove http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-410461.html I'm taking a break from packing from my birthday trip home to write this excitable and surrounded by clothes and general disorder Finally we've had a week of glorious sunshine. It's been so hot 30 degrees every day. So all in all Fiona chose a pretty good weekend to visit Oviedo. Rosy and I met her from the bus station on Friday still getting used to the novelty that was hot sunny weather. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-404938.html We had yet another damp week in Oviedo but one lovely day of sunshine. Unfortunately that was not the day we decided to go shopping.We started off at the market just inside the old town. I'd never been before but Sarah who lives opposite the market was a trusty guide and when I mentioned that I wanted a ring she became a Woman on a Mission. we trawled all the jewellery stalls before final http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-401948.html Well they weren't wrong when they said it rained in Oviedo and coming from Britain you wouldn't think that would be too much of a problem. But what we don't get in Britain is the astounding unpredictability of weather. I know it's something I've mentioned before but this week wins in the fickleness stakes hands down. Ever had all four seasons in one day Brilliant sunshine temperatures in the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/blog-399684.html With 7 weeks left to go of my year abroad time is flying. The workload is piling on in preparation for the exams and that's what this week has mostly been about. I worked fiendishly to get all my creative writing pieces done for my Lengua Espanola class and now it's all ready to hand in So that's one thing out the way but I have a LOT of Portuguese to get going on before the exam and tons of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/blog-398360.html Sitting here now bathed in moisturiser drinking copious amounts of water it's hard to believe how changeable the weather was at the start of the week. One minute it was raining and blowing a gale and the next it was sunny we didn't know if we were coming or going. The umbrellas were up and down coats were on and off flipflops were put on and immediately regretted... April is the month of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/blog-395927.html The first week back at lectures is always a bit of a drag never mind when it's hot and sunny outside. It took a few days to get back into the swing of it but luckily Rosy and I had a trip to Madrid to plan which occupied our thoughts during the dull classes. We spent the time outside lectures sunbathing in the park or on the sofa watching films. The Spanish people were just beginning to reflec http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-394675.html I arrived back in Oviedo on Thursday after two wonderful weeks at home. The holidays absolutely flew by and now that I'm back here and going to lectures again it feels like I never really went away. It also feels like I have spent half my time over the last few months on planes or in airports. The journey home was something of a stressful one getting to the aiport and the flight itself was fine http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-392414.html It's a cold and grey Sunday afternoon quite a change from the last few weeks of beautiful summer weather but nevertheless we've been having a lovely day. We all find that Sundays can be 'dead' days because nothing's open nothing's going on and we don't always get together leaving Sundays for boring things like work and cleaning essential things but not necessarily fun ones. And even when y http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/blog-385796.html After the weekend in Leon we were all absolutely shattered and the weather meant we spent a lot of long lazy days sunbathing in the park broken only by the odd lecture. It really did feel like we were on holiday only with lectures We didn't even have a night out which is very unusual but which suited me down to the ground. Instead we spent Friday and Saturday evening at Jo and Sarah's on http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-384020.html The weather this week has been incredible I don't think there has been a day where it has not reached at least 22 degrees C. A shopping trip has been necessary today to get flipflops a summer skirt and a couple of light tops because all my summer clothes are still at home in Britain and the heat is just too much to be wearing shoes jeans and jumpers. I spent a very contented day on Friday si http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/blog-382219.html And miraculously touch wood the rain has gone away Sitting here now the sun is streaming through my window it is a truly joyous sight after a solid week of rain It did mean however that we got to see the truly impressive sight of Oviedo's umbrellas. The sky turns grey and suddenly everyone and I mean everyone is carrying an umbrella. I don't mean those flimsy foldup ones that slot nea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-379896.html Right it's got to be a quick one as I'm sitting here typing fast hoping that my laptop battery doesn't run out because the power's gone in the flat this morning I don't know why but it's a pain as I'd just put a load of washing on. Noone else is up yet and as it's a Sunday I don't really want to call my landlord but if it goes on for muh longer I think I'll have to. Anyway yesterday was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-377795.html Here goes part 2 another country another uni another experience After a lovely month at home recharging my batteries and writing my French year abroad project I arrived in Oviedo on Wed 18th Feb. I was sort of looking forward to it but also sort of not but travelling with Rosy made it much better than it would have been alone. Literally the moment we landed as we were waiting at the lugg http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Principality-of-Asturias/Oviedo/blog-375860.html So the time has come tomorrow I'm leaving Perpignan for good with a whole load of mixed feelings I've been back here for two weeks following the Christmas holidays in order to sit the January exams. The first week was more or less exampacked leaving little time for anything else but the second week has been much more of a whirlwind of packing doing lots of 'last...' things and generally ty http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Languedoc-Roussillon/Perpignan/blog-364678.html So here we are the 20th December 2008 which has arrived impossibly quickly and tomorrow I'm flying home for Christmas. To all intents and purposes my time in Perpignan is done. All that remains is to return for two weeks in January to sit my exams. It's kind of strange. I can't wait to go home I'm so excited about seeing my family and friends again but for all its irritations I will miss P http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Languedoc-Roussillon/Perpignan/blog-355830.html With a somewhat halfhearted attitude we made it through the last of our lectures this week which was a relief My Wednesday was saved by Rosy Katie and Franzi after an unsuccessful meeting for my year abroad project a lack of decent birthday cards for a tenyearold boy too many people in town and queues at the post office I was in a pretty bad mood. But when Rosy texted to say they were g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Languedoc-Roussillon/Perpignan/blog-354144.html The end is in sight With less than two weeks before I fly home for Christmas and only a few lectures left to go my time in France is nearly over apart from two weeks of exams in January. That's just crazy Although at the moment I can't wait to go home and I'm constantly playing Christmas songs that make me nostalgic and emotional I can't believe how quickly time has flown here. Still there' http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Languedoc-Roussillon/Perpignan/blog-352469.html