And below are some pictures from my adventures this winter break, mostly because I think blogs look much more fun with pictures:
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Goodbyes
These past few days I've had to say a lot of goodbyes. For some reason, most of my friends' school start a week before KU. Again, showing KU's superiority to other universities. So that said, the goodbyes have begun for my friends here in the STL. I have about another week or so here, and then its off to Europe. I know I've said this about 1000 times, but it STILL has not hit me. I was talking to another friend who is studying abroad in Spain (hopefully I will be visiting while I'm there). She leaves in a few days and said it still hasn't hit her either, so that makes me feel a little better about this whole I'm-not-really-going-to-England thing. However, lying in a rather large pile about 3 feet away from me right now is a pile of luggage and other things I'll be taking with me. Its been decided we're shipping one box of stuff, but everything else will be traveling with me via manual labor. The pile is actually pretty small considering how my time seems to be dwindling. I feel so unprepared, like I should have been reading more about where I'm going and memorizing things that all the British kids have known since they were like 4. Instead I'm going over there knowing nada. Well, not nada, but close enough. I just looked up the current prime minister because I didn't know (David Cameron in case you were wondering). In terms of being prepared, though, I have done a few things. Today we bought a ton of TSA regulation liquid containers, extra laundry detergent, a swiss army knife, and some TSA regulation luggage locks (all exciting items, I know). When it comes to physical things, I'm set. I have all the luggage I need, all the clothes, all the toiletry stuff, bedding, books, and what not. Its the non-physical things I've got a few concerns about.
And below are some pictures from my adventures this winter break, mostly because I think blogs look much more fun with pictures:
And below are some pictures from my adventures this winter break, mostly because I think blogs look much more fun with pictures:
Friday, December 31, 2010
This Must Be It, Welcome to the New Year
In approximately 7 hours it will no longer be 2010. Meaning it will be 2011 (just in case you couldn't figure that one out). Which means England is just around the corner. And with that just around the corner comes a bunch of holy-crap-I'm-scared-out-of-my-mind. But that's ok, because for Christmas I got CONVERTERS FOR EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! You know, just in case I decided, hey, let's go to Tanzania, I'm totally set. Though that probably won't happen. I think. Good news in the flying area of life though. My parents booked our flights for the family portion of my 1 month break. I will be meeting them in Bologna, Italy after they have had a nice stay in Milan taking tours and what not. We're then staying in an apartment in a hotel (I'm just as confused at this concept as you are right now). From there we can explore not only Bologna, but a bunch of Italy. The last three days we are there we are all flying to Athens, Greece and exploring. I'm probably most excited about that portion because all I've ever heard is Greece is beautiful. I'm also stoked to see all of the ancient Greek buildings, sculptures, and what nots throughout Athens and the surrounding area. It should be pretty damn amazing, if I do say so myself. Plus, it should be warm. As in shorts and dresses warm, which sounds so remarkable right now.
In preparation for my English adventure, I decided to become acquainted with their culture in the only way I know how as an American stuck in the suburbs: watch their TV shows via Netflix. So I've watched 4 whole seasons of Skins. Not the most appropriate of shows, and I'm definitely hoping (though I know its true) that British kids do not actually act like these ones (aka literally drink, do drugs, and have sex all the time), but I have definitely learned some valuable things. For one, the English education system is quite different than ours. They are required to go to school to 16 years old. Starting at age 5, the years count up, so year 1 is at 5, year 2 at 6, etc. Primary school goes until year 6, or when you are 10 or 11, and secondary school goes until year 11, or when you are 15 or 16. Then you can go to college or sixth form, which is 2 years and can be different things. It can be more of a college prep equivalency or it could be more of a technical school. After that, they may go to the university at age 18, which is only 3 years long. Post-graduate studies are pretty much the same. Skins takes place during college. I've also learned some slang, some of which i have no idea what they means, but I guess I'll learn. You know what would be hilarious though? If all of this new information literally is NOTHING like what the students at Leeds are like. I'll guess I'll have to wait to find out.
Your Skins Expert,
Jessica
P.S. Blog name change felt necessary.
In preparation for my English adventure, I decided to become acquainted with their culture in the only way I know how as an American stuck in the suburbs: watch their TV shows via Netflix. So I've watched 4 whole seasons of Skins. Not the most appropriate of shows, and I'm definitely hoping (though I know its true) that British kids do not actually act like these ones (aka literally drink, do drugs, and have sex all the time), but I have definitely learned some valuable things. For one, the English education system is quite different than ours. They are required to go to school to 16 years old. Starting at age 5, the years count up, so year 1 is at 5, year 2 at 6, etc. Primary school goes until year 6, or when you are 10 or 11, and secondary school goes until year 11, or when you are 15 or 16. Then you can go to college or sixth form, which is 2 years and can be different things. It can be more of a college prep equivalency or it could be more of a technical school. After that, they may go to the university at age 18, which is only 3 years long. Post-graduate studies are pretty much the same. Skins takes place during college. I've also learned some slang, some of which i have no idea what they means, but I guess I'll learn. You know what would be hilarious though? If all of this new information literally is NOTHING like what the students at Leeds are like. I'll guess I'll have to wait to find out.
Your Skins Expert,
Jessica
P.S. Blog name change felt necessary.
Friday, December 17, 2010
One month and counting...
In one month I leave. Weirdly enough, it hasn't really hit me. But the semester at KU is over, and some how I made it through the chemistry and the studio to get to this point where I am back home, sitting on my bed, unpacking the thousands of items I apparently brought to college with me. Its actually kind of mind boggling how much stuff I brought with me. Looking at how much stuff I had, I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get everything to Leeds with the limited amount of luggage space I have. I'll have to make it work thought, that's for sure.
I have more news, though. A few days ago I got my accommodation from the university. I didn't get the residence hall I wanted, but the one I did get looks pretty nice. Next year I will be living in the Tannery. Yea...go ahead and get the making fun of out of the way because the name. It has self-catering, so I'll be making my own food and sharing a kitchen with about 7 other people. I'm pretty sure I have my own bathroom too, so that should be pretty nice. Here are some pictures they have on their website:
Looks pretty nice, right? I'm pretty stoked. And don't worry, once I get there I'll be sure to add my own pictures, and maybe even a video tour of it...haha. Its about a 20 minute walk from the western side of campus, which isn't too bad, but the engineering buildings are on the east side, so I think buses may become my new best friend. It also is used by more than one university, since there are a few in Leeds, so that should be interesting. I may have the chance to meet students from other universities, which could be cool.
Its weird though, because as the days go by, I get more excited, more nervous, and even a little sad that I won't be going back to KU. The mix of emotions from knowing of the potential adventures, the goodbyes I have and still have to say, the adjustment to living in a different country, and the opportunities to discover so many new things is overwhelming.
But enough of the boring stuff. I have to continue packing (and in some cases repacking) all of my stuff from school. And from the looks of it, this is going to take days.
The New Tannery Resident,
Jessica
I have more news, though. A few days ago I got my accommodation from the university. I didn't get the residence hall I wanted, but the one I did get looks pretty nice. Next year I will be living in the Tannery. Yea...go ahead and get the making fun of out of the way because the name. It has self-catering, so I'll be making my own food and sharing a kitchen with about 7 other people. I'm pretty sure I have my own bathroom too, so that should be pretty nice. Here are some pictures they have on their website:
Looks pretty nice, right? I'm pretty stoked. And don't worry, once I get there I'll be sure to add my own pictures, and maybe even a video tour of it...haha. Its about a 20 minute walk from the western side of campus, which isn't too bad, but the engineering buildings are on the east side, so I think buses may become my new best friend. It also is used by more than one university, since there are a few in Leeds, so that should be interesting. I may have the chance to meet students from other universities, which could be cool.
Its weird though, because as the days go by, I get more excited, more nervous, and even a little sad that I won't be going back to KU. The mix of emotions from knowing of the potential adventures, the goodbyes I have and still have to say, the adjustment to living in a different country, and the opportunities to discover so many new things is overwhelming.
But enough of the boring stuff. I have to continue packing (and in some cases repacking) all of my stuff from school. And from the looks of it, this is going to take days.
The New Tannery Resident,
Jessica
Thursday, December 9, 2010
ROCKin It Out
Not too many updates. Mostly because I have been trapped in studio for the past week finishing up my project, which is quite wonderful if I do say so myself. Here are some glorious pictures:
My partner, Staci, and I created Rockreaction, a climbing center. Its basically like if the city museum and a rocking climbing were to fall and love and have it baby, this would be their baby. This is the front of our project. Yes, those are two different types of clay kneaded together, then thinned out, and glued to wire mesh that I had sculpted. My fingers do not thank me.
Here are our drawings for our project with our big model. Kinda wonderful, I know.
Here is the interior of our building. The left corner is the interior rock wall, and the back side is where the city-museum-esque activites go down.
So that's basically what I've been up to in the past 42098235082451 hours. On Friday while in studio, I did find out Jason Mraz was coming to KU for a surprise concert 10 minutes before the concert started. It was pretty damn awesome, if I do say so myself.
In terms of England/Europe stuff, the only update I have is on my potential spring break plans. As it stands right now, my parents will be coming up during my 1st week or so, meet me in Milan, Italy, and we will go to Bologna, Italy. In case you don't know where that is, here's a map: Bologna, Italy Map. From there we'll fly to Athens, Greece, spend about two days there, and then go back to Bologna. From Bologna, we can go just about anywhere in Italy where we want via train. Hopefully after my parents depart, I'll meet up with some people and go to Spain and Portugal via train. On the way back from places like Barcelona and Madrid, I can hit some other places in Europe since I'll be on the train. I will make a stop in Paris, no matter what. Its too beautiful not to see.
Finally, I have 7, yes 7, days left at KU before I won't return for another 8 months. Honestly, I still have the mindset I'm coming back next semester and every time I remember I'm not, I get butterflies and extraordinarily nervous. 40 days I'm in the St. Louis airport leaving the US for 5 months. Now my stomach is churning up a storm. Wonderful. I'm wondering if its actually going to hit me I'm leaving for so long, or if I'm going to step off the plane on the 19th and say to myself, "Oh, so this is real." I'm starting to really think the latter. Which I kind of wish wasn't so true. There's nothing I can do about it, I guess. Well, off to dinner and my last C++ project of fun (really, I just LOOOOOVE C++.......).
Now Officially A Professional Clay Rock Builder,
Jessica
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Mythbusters: Leeds Edition
On Tuesday Engineers Without Borders (EWB) had a benefit concert where bands played and happiness was abundant. While there, I met a guy who actually goes to school at Leeds and is studying abroad at KU (why you would come to the middle of wheat fields to explore the US, i have no clue). Anyways, I got ask him about all of the rumors I have heard about schools and England and just general information about the place I'll be for almost five months. Here they are:
Rumor #1: Students in England don't go to class.
TRUE - Apparently, no one goes to class. If you do, you'll be one of like 5. He said my upper level courses, like Fluid Mechanics and what not I should probably attend a little more frequently, but the others it doesn't really matter.
Rumor #2: Final Exams are worth the majority of my grade.
TRUE - Most final exams are 70-100% of my grade and last for 2-3 hours. However, a 70% and above is the equivalency of an A. So that's awesome and totally manageable.
Rumor #3: They drink. Like a lot.
TRUE - He told me its no big deal if you get out of classes early to just go get a drink or something. I get the feeling they take it all a little different than we do. I feel like here alcohol is such a big deal, while there its just part of their everyday life. Get back to you on that one, though.
Fact #1: Leeds has 3 universities in it.
So apparently there are three different "unies" (sp?) as he called them in the city of Leeds, meaning there are about 100,000 students in the city. He told me there is a huge areas of houses and stuff that only students live in, so that should be kind of cool.
Fact #2: Leeds is well good.
He said this about 15 times. He said there is so much to do. There's the city centre, which is a short walk away from the uni and has bars and shops and all sorts of fun things. I'm pretty much pumped.
Fact #3: London is great, but its so big you can't find parties.
That's a direct quote. I don't really have anything to add.
Fact #4: He's going to tell him friends to look out for me.
Not sure if I should be creeped out by that or happy that some random English dudes will make sure someone doesn't take advantage of me. I guess I'll find out.
I guess the moral of this conversation is this is going to be awesome. And I should start using phrases like uni and well good so I fit in and don't look like a moron. Oh crap. What if I use hella or holla or some other weird phrase and they all look at me like I'm psycho? Though I guess everyone kinda does that now, and I still have friends, so it can't be too bad, right? Again, guess I'll find out.
Well, that's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The Well Good American Going to a Uni,
Jessica
Rumor #1: Students in England don't go to class.
TRUE - Apparently, no one goes to class. If you do, you'll be one of like 5. He said my upper level courses, like Fluid Mechanics and what not I should probably attend a little more frequently, but the others it doesn't really matter.
Rumor #2: Final Exams are worth the majority of my grade.
TRUE - Most final exams are 70-100% of my grade and last for 2-3 hours. However, a 70% and above is the equivalency of an A. So that's awesome and totally manageable.
Rumor #3: They drink. Like a lot.
TRUE - He told me its no big deal if you get out of classes early to just go get a drink or something. I get the feeling they take it all a little different than we do. I feel like here alcohol is such a big deal, while there its just part of their everyday life. Get back to you on that one, though.
Fact #1: Leeds has 3 universities in it.
So apparently there are three different "unies" (sp?) as he called them in the city of Leeds, meaning there are about 100,000 students in the city. He told me there is a huge areas of houses and stuff that only students live in, so that should be kind of cool.
Fact #2: Leeds is well good.
He said this about 15 times. He said there is so much to do. There's the city centre, which is a short walk away from the uni and has bars and shops and all sorts of fun things. I'm pretty much pumped.
Fact #3: London is great, but its so big you can't find parties.
That's a direct quote. I don't really have anything to add.
Fact #4: He's going to tell him friends to look out for me.
Not sure if I should be creeped out by that or happy that some random English dudes will make sure someone doesn't take advantage of me. I guess I'll find out.
I guess the moral of this conversation is this is going to be awesome. And I should start using phrases like uni and well good so I fit in and don't look like a moron. Oh crap. What if I use hella or holla or some other weird phrase and they all look at me like I'm psycho? Though I guess everyone kinda does that now, and I still have friends, so it can't be too bad, right? Again, guess I'll find out.
Well, that's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The Well Good American Going to a Uni,
Jessica
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
I'm leaving on a Jet Plane
Yesterday was a memorable event. My flight to and from England was bought. I leave January 18th to get there by the 19th, and won't be back in the states until June 4th. Its crazy. I won't touch foot on US land for four and half months. I'm actually starting to freak out. No family, no friends, no unhealthy American food, no KU basketball, no American accents for over four months. I'm starting to realize all the little things about the US I'm going to miss. I can hardly stand being away from St. Louis's gooey butter cake for two months until I go home. This is double that time. And way more important than some delicious, unhealthy coffee-cake (Is that what it is? I really have no idea what to define it as.). I feel like skype is going to become my new best friend. I mean, I skype quite a bit now, but I also get to see people throughout the four months I'm off at school, whether it be through breaks or visits. But when January hits, there will be no visits, no breaks to go back home. I'm really going to miss everyone and those little things. They don't even have Twinkies in the UK. Not that I ever eat Twinkies, but its nice to know I have that option. I guess they probably have something way better than Twinkies though.
On another note, I signed up for housing. If you checked out the website I posted last time, you could kind of see my options. The living situation seems much different than here. It appears no matter where I live, I have my own room with a bed, desk, and "closet" of some sort. Most of them are self-catering, so I have my own kitchen that I share with 4-8 people. In addition, most of them share bathrooms with the same number. The one thing that weirded me out is only four of the residence complexes are actually located on campus. The others are spread out throughout Leeds, some as far as a thirty minute walk away. It kind of baffled me that you would chose campus housing and not actually be on campus. Don't believe me, check out this map. The squares are residence halls and the the blue squares are where campus is.
We had the option to chose a preferred hall, so I went with Leodis Residences (G). It seems pretty nice, decently close to campus and the City Centre, which, if I understand correctly, is like the downtown area of Leeds. That should be pretty nice. If you're feeling like a super creep, here's a link to the dorm. There's a gallery of pictures and kind of explains the accomadations. Leodis Residences Link
So I officially have a ride to England. And a place to live. Its time to get PUMPED.
The girl who will not be hitch-hiking to Leeds, England,
Jessica
On another note, I signed up for housing. If you checked out the website I posted last time, you could kind of see my options. The living situation seems much different than here. It appears no matter where I live, I have my own room with a bed, desk, and "closet" of some sort. Most of them are self-catering, so I have my own kitchen that I share with 4-8 people. In addition, most of them share bathrooms with the same number. The one thing that weirded me out is only four of the residence complexes are actually located on campus. The others are spread out throughout Leeds, some as far as a thirty minute walk away. It kind of baffled me that you would chose campus housing and not actually be on campus. Don't believe me, check out this map. The squares are residence halls and the the blue squares are where campus is.
We had the option to chose a preferred hall, so I went with Leodis Residences (G). It seems pretty nice, decently close to campus and the City Centre, which, if I understand correctly, is like the downtown area of Leeds. That should be pretty nice. If you're feeling like a super creep, here's a link to the dorm. There's a gallery of pictures and kind of explains the accomadations. Leodis Residences Link
So I officially have a ride to England. And a place to live. Its time to get PUMPED.
The girl who will not be hitch-hiking to Leeds, England,
Jessica
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Acceptance: Part 2
An e-mail I received yesterday:
Dear Jessica,
We have now received your supporting documentation, and are very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted onto the University of Leeds Study Abroad Programme . An acceptance letter has been sent to you today together with a general welcome pack...
So I've officially been accepted into the University of Leeds...aka, I'm officially going to England. The e-mail also included a link to housing, and I'm not going to lie, I'm rather excited. Check it out: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective_students.html. Instead of paying attention to the nonsense my C++ teacher yammered on about, I was checking out where I could be living next year. There's an international housing option, but I'm thinking that's not the direction I want to go in. I think it'd be kinda nice to be the token American on my floor. I mean, who wouldn't want to be?
In addition, I got some important dates. First of all, I have to be there by January 19th. That's 77 days. Or 2 months and 16 days. Its boggling my mind that in 2 and half months I will leave the US for 4 months. FOUR MONTHS. The 19th to the 21st will be orientation days. I'm hoping its not some awkward you-are-all-foreign-so-let's-shove-you-in-a-room-together type of deal. Honestly, I'm not so sure I want to make a lot of American friends. I think this experience is more about the people from other countries I meet and how they can open me up to a lot of different perspectives and viewpoints. At least, that's what all my scholarship essays say.
The more I think about it, though, the more I keep imagining what it'll be like. But I kind of don't want to think about what my time there is going to be like. Its going to be amazing, no matter what, but the more I dream, the more I may disappoint myself if there's something I don't get to do. I think I gotta just roll with the flow and let my experiences take me where they want to. We'll see what happens, and, maybe unfortunately for you, I'll make sure to write about all the crazy adventures I encounter. But for now, I'll just keep rolling with the flow of things and stop trying to determine exactly what may come.
The Potential Token American,
Jessica
Dear Jessica,
We have now received your supporting documentation, and are very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted onto the University of Leeds Study Abroad Programme . An acceptance letter has been sent to you today together with a general welcome pack...
So I've officially been accepted into the University of Leeds...aka, I'm officially going to England. The e-mail also included a link to housing, and I'm not going to lie, I'm rather excited. Check it out: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective_students.html. Instead of paying attention to the nonsense my C++ teacher yammered on about, I was checking out where I could be living next year. There's an international housing option, but I'm thinking that's not the direction I want to go in. I think it'd be kinda nice to be the token American on my floor. I mean, who wouldn't want to be?
In addition, I got some important dates. First of all, I have to be there by January 19th. That's 77 days. Or 2 months and 16 days. Its boggling my mind that in 2 and half months I will leave the US for 4 months. FOUR MONTHS. The 19th to the 21st will be orientation days. I'm hoping its not some awkward you-are-all-foreign-so-let's-shove-you-in-a-room-together type of deal. Honestly, I'm not so sure I want to make a lot of American friends. I think this experience is more about the people from other countries I meet and how they can open me up to a lot of different perspectives and viewpoints. At least, that's what all my scholarship essays say.
The more I think about it, though, the more I keep imagining what it'll be like. But I kind of don't want to think about what my time there is going to be like. Its going to be amazing, no matter what, but the more I dream, the more I may disappoint myself if there's something I don't get to do. I think I gotta just roll with the flow and let my experiences take me where they want to. We'll see what happens, and, maybe unfortunately for you, I'll make sure to write about all the crazy adventures I encounter. But for now, I'll just keep rolling with the flow of things and stop trying to determine exactly what may come.
The Potential Token American,
Jessica
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)