ryn
KNR Joined: September 20th 2007
Logged in: April 30th 2008
Logged in: April 30th 2008
Travel Blog Posts
in the Highlands
After briefly checking where I was going, I hopped on a train up to Glasgow. Seven hours later I arrived, and made my way to the airport where I was meeting Kim. I'd messed up which gate she was coming out of, and so we kept missing each other. We eventually found each other and headed off to the hotel. It was lucky I'd come to save her from being lost. A bus, a couple of trains, and a few blocks later, we found our hostel. It was this huge building, more like an apartment complex than a hostel. Definitely not warm and inviting. But it was big enough that we had our own room (two empty bunks). Kim had the haggis with neeps and tatties for dinner (the mashed potatoes were excellent), and after we'd ... read more
My term is over here and though I know, everyone knows, that it's a short time, I didn't realize it was going to be TOO short. My room has the lived-in, disgruntled look of an undignified student room and I'm fairly certain that it is not what I will miss. I will not miss the inevitable smell of garbage in the kitchen or the almost complete lack of security from 10PM-8AM around the flats (unless security is called with a specific complaint of noise or other shenanigans (-- I spelt that right the first time! I'M amazed...)). People tell me there are much better cities than Swansea to be in, more exciting, more going on, just ...more. I think sometimes that it wouldn't have mattered where I'd gone for my exchange. I know that I'd've had ... read more
London Parliament
I got back yesterday morning at 8 am from a week long trip with my Dad through a bit of England and South Wales. Dad had to drive a few more hours from Swansea to London, but I was able to crawl right back into bed. I'd gotten irritatingly sick in the last two days of the trip, with a headache, earache, sore throat, full body muscle soreness, and a slight fever, so I was pretty tired by the end of the trip. That being said, it was a wonderful week. I took the train and met Dad at our hotel in London after navigating through the Underground for the first time. I checked into the hotel to find that he wasn't there yet. So I waited in our impossibly tiny room by taking a nap, ... read more
Fog out my window
I got a letter from my Dad and Marilyn yesterday, and his note at the end saying "We're assuming no news is good news" reminded me that I hadn't written in a while. See Dad? You really do have an influence on me. It's been terribly rainy and foggy lately. The winter rains have started and I woke up one morning about 3 days ago to a very thick fog (depicted in the picked picture). I had a terrible cold for about a week, with no voice for about 5 days of it. You almost forget what you sound like after that long. I was the last one of my flat to get sick so hopefully that will get rid of the illness around here for a while. I fell a bit behind on my coursework ... read more
Last Edmonton sunset
Mom drove me to the airport, and for once in my life, I was ready to go and packed more than 2 hours before it was time to go. I ran into my friend Will as I was waiting at the gate, which is the only way we see each other. He was on the same flight as me, going to London for a year. The plane left Edmonton just as the sun was going down, and my God, it was spectacular. One of the nicest sunsets I think I've ever seen here. It just goes to show how sad Edmonton was that I was leaving. I had a window seat, which was really nice. There were movies and lots of food and free alcohol to keep me entertained and full, though I spent most of ... read more
I leave in two days and it still isn't really sinking in yet. Maybe because I've never been anywhere that far away? I don't know. My mom was very nice and got me a huge rolly suitcase, which will go nicely with my big backpack. I am leaving all of my books, CD's (I'll make due with my iPod), and general stuff. The house where I'll be living is a shared accommodation and has furniture in it. I'll have to buy bedding though. I've started a shopping list which is getting depressingly long. But better to get it there so I don't have to carry as much over. The oversized baggage fee is not one I want to have to pay. main reason for post would be my proper address. I had sent one out earlier ... read more
