Back in the USA

So I arrived back in the States last night and for some odd reason it feels as if I've never left.  How does this happen?  How can it be that after five months of being away, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in my room, driving my car and running errands?  I suppose it is because I by every sense of the phrase, hit the ground running.  Our flight got in, we returned home and I right away had to begin unpacking and doing laundry so that the next day I could complete a long list of items on my to-do-list.  

I suppose it is also because tonight (about 24 hours after returning) I began my summer class where I had already missed one session.  Low and behold there was no easing in at all, already I was two chapters behind and had a quiz on 3 chapters.  Yep, I am back in the American school system for sure, and if I want to pass I have to get back in to the mind set of scheduling, daily homework assignments and being in class for longer periods of time.  Gone are my days at Leeds where I only had sessions of one hour for each class once a week.  Gone are the days at Leeds when you could meander your way through the class, reading at your pace and working towards one essay that would be due many weeks into the semester.  Nope, that luxury is all over.  I now have to dance to the American tune.  Its back to to-do lists, schedules, early mornings and late nights.  I hoped this wouldn't happen, but I can't stop it, its inevitable.

I hope though, as I catch up to all of this I can use some of the English habits, of enjoying life a little more than what is listed in your planner. 

The end has arrived....

So just finished my last/only exam at University of Leeds and it was one of weirdest exam experiences I have ever had.  My exam took place in the Sports Center, so I went to the main entrance and waited around with some other students.  We were then told to look for our seat number (I was 269) and get in the queue.  So I waited in a line with 300 other university students to get into the exam room.  When I entered the room, a proctor was on a mega-phone telling us to put all of our coats and purses against the wall, and to only take our pencils and student id cards with us to the desk.  I felt like a part of a herd being shepherded around the room.  So I placed my things down, and headed for my seat, which probably took me about 5 minutes to find.  We were all facing forward and our papers were face down on our desks.  I was worried that it wouldn't be the right exam paper and since I couldn't look at it I was nervous I would turn it over and I would have another person's exam (you see there were more then one exams being taken in the one room).  

So when the man yelled over the mega-phone that it was time to begin, I was relieved to see I had the right exam.  The next problem, the answer sheet.  Unlike any kind of answer sheet I had before, the area you filled in were squares instead of circles (looked more like this.... [ A ]  ).  So while it said to fill the whole square in, all I could think was where are all the boundaries?  How do I know that I've filled in the right amount of square?  Will the computer read what I've filled in?  So I asked a proctor, who asked me if I'd prepared for my exam.  I said of course I'd prepared, but unfortunately I've never taken an exam in the UK and want to be sure I understand what "filling in the square" actually means.  He said that what I had done looked fine, so I hoped for the best and continued.  

I had 80 questions to answer in 60 minutes, and luckily I finished them all.  But when the exam was over, we had to sit quietly to wait for all 300 of our papers to be collected.  We then were let go to find our belongings along the wall and then were herded out of the room and back out into the open air.  Its just really interesting to me how impersonal all of my final projects and exams have been.  Unlike at home, we turn our essays in to the departmental office with a generic form during the office hours, and then collect it from the office when its ready to be picked up.  One class, I turned in my essay and my professor was sitting right there, but she didn't speak a word to me, only the secretary did to ask if I was turning in all of my material.  How's that for personal relationships?

My design project had to be hung up between the hours of 10 am and 12 and then we left our work there to be picked up the following week.  We could hang wherever we could find an empty spot, and I only knew 3 other people hanging up their work around me.  Everyone else was in a different section of the module, and I had never seen half of them before.  Then this exam...let's just say how the conduct their school system is just a very different experience than what I'm used to and I'm wondering how I'll adjust back in to NC State's school system.  There will be a lot more "checking in" and weekly assignments and personal contact that I will not have had for 5 months.  We'll see how that goes...huh?

WOW!!! Time flies!

So I am realizing that it is the point of the semester where I am almost finished!!! Can you believe it? Because I can't! Not only am I amazed that this semester is almost over, but I have all these mixed feelings about whether I'm excited to go home, sad about going home or looking forward to seeing people. I have no idea, and its especially hard to think about as I am stressing out over finishing up all my course work and planning my final trip to Spain and Italy (I leave on Saturday).

So yeah already I'm thinking about the things I will miss once I leave England:

1. The Otley Run (a fun and intense night of pub hopping)
2. English Pubs in general
3. Tetley tea
4. Leeds night life
5. MY FRIENDS OF COURSE!!
6. being close to Europe
7. not having class every day of the week
8. Leeds shopping district
9. cheap student tickets at the theater
10. England's wonderful transportation system
11. the accent!
12. the wide variety of student life (the student groups and events)
13. the style
14. The Leeds Student Union (what a wonderful feeling knowing you can grab a pint in between classes, I haven't done it often but its nice to know its an option)
15. Hyde Park in the sunshine!
16. The words: cheers, love, car park (they just sound so PROPER)

That's all I have for now and I'm sure I'll think of more, especially when I return to the States. Its just an amazing feeling knowing that I have done it! I have lived overseas and tested out another country's university system. I have traveled and I have seen things that I never thought I would see.

This may be a bit of a sentimental post, mainly because its sad to think I'm even at the point where I have to think about coming home. But everything good must come to an end I suppose, and mine is almost here. I just hope I end it knowing that I have experienced all that I could!

Back in England!

I just arrived back in Leeds Saturday night at 2 am and I am still overwhelmed with all the places I saw, the people I met and the cultures I experienced.  There is so much going on in my head, but I do know that this experience can never be taken away from me and I will have these memories for a lifetime.  

After Nice, France, we headed to Geneva, Switzerland.  Geneva was a pretty town sitting right on Lake Geneva and looking out towards Mont Blanc.  While I was there I toured the UN as well as the Red Cross Museum.  Switzerland is a beautiful country, with picturesque landscape and villages spotting the hillsides.  But it is also a very expensive country and it did quite a toll on my bank account.  Just to get "cheap" food was equivalent to about $10.  I now know though if I ever go back I want to go to the Alps.

After Geneva, it was onto Vienna, Austria.  To get there we took a night train.  This was a very interesting experience.  Think plane seats but with 6 people crammed in a car facing each other while also trying to get a good nights sleep.  Sounds comfortable doesn't it?  I probably finally got 2 hours of sleep once I figured out I could push my seat down so I could be horizontal, but I really had to curl up in order to fit.  However, once we got to Vienna we had the whole day ahead of us and it was a beautiful day.  Vienna itself is a mecca of culture.  There are art museums and operas and a wonderful market full of decadent foods. 

One night in Vienna we waited in line to get standing tickets so we could see an Opera in Vienna.  The line took about 2 hours, we got 4 quid tickets and then got to stand for 2 hours to watch just the first act of the opera in German.  Need less to say, it was really interesting and we got our money's worth with just the first act.  But it was rough to stand for that long.  

After Vienna, we headed up to Prague, Czech Republic where we got to see the lively Easter Markets and learn about all the effects communism had on the area and see how some of those affects can still be felt.  

After Prague, we were off to Berlin.  Another city full of recent history that can still be seen and felt.  It was interesting as well because Berlin is now a very liberal city.  It went from being a city being oppressed by communism and Hitler's regime, to being one where alcohol can be drunk in the streets and marijuana can be smoked in the parks.  However, it was a wonderful preparation for Amsterdam, a city of much controversy.

Yes, while I was there I walked through the red light district and enjoyed the atmosphere of a coffee shop.  But once you go outside of this area there is a lot more culture than many know, including the Van Gogh Museum which was a wonderful display of many of Van Gogh's works.

This is where my trip ends.  There are many more stories to tell and many more things that I saw and experienced.  But this is just a synopsis.  Now its back to essay writing in a currently sunny (crossed fingers) Leeds.

Adventures in Europe

Hello Everyone!!! I am currently in Nice, France where I have been enjoying the sun (as well as my sunburn) and the beautiful Meditteranean Sea. So far the trip has been wonderful and I can hardly believe that my friend Diana and I have been traveling for 2 weeks already!!

We began in Barcelona, Spain where I was able to revisit sites that I remember from years ago when I was there with a high school group. It was very cool to be able to remember where I was going as well as to utilize my spanish speaking abilities. I believe that my second time in Barcelona allowed me to find more interest in the city. There is so much beauty there, beautiful parks and markets and interesting sites as well. Some highlights were listening to street music and watching street performers, seeing Park Guell again and eating a wonderful paella dinner.

We then flew to Rome, Italy to begin our Italian tour. Since I was only there a year ago things seemed very familiar and I could remember my way around quite well (which was cool). You could definetely feel a different vibe from Spain to Rome as well. In Barcelona the streets seemed more empty late at night...however, in Rome when we arrived at 8 there were still many people shopping and walking. In Rome, we walked around the Roman ruins, Piazza Navona, the castle and the river as well. Since I had done a lot of the sites only a year ago Diana and I split off from each other quite a bit. I attempted to explore places I hadn't seen before (the Isola and the Parco Gianicolense) but on the way to finding the park I just ended up getting lost on that side of the river. Which was definetely and experience and a lesson in map reading.

We then took a train towards Pisa the next day but stopped in Florence for the afternoon. Another place I had already been, and could recall the areas and streets fairly well. It was raining here, but we walked around the markets, the Duomo and the river. We attempted to see the David but the line to get in was 2 hours long!!! I've decided that while I don't enjoy traveling in large groups it definetely has its up sides for getting into museums faster.

We then finished our travels to Pisa where we stayed for 2 nights. However, Pisa can be done in an afternoon because all there is to see is the Leaning Tower (which is 15 Euros to go up!!). But it was nice to be able to sleep in and watch some TV instead of walking and touring all day.

It was then off to Venice. I was VERY excited about Venice and it definetely lived up to what I thought I would see. Right away we were walking across bridges and along small and narrow streets. There are no motor vehicles or bicycles and it is easy to get lost. Venice is the one place where a map is no use because the streets never go straight for long and will dead end where you thought they continued. So in Venice, we got lost a lot...but it was okay because its an island and you can't get off! In Venice we took day trips to Burano, Murano (glass blowing) and Lido each had its own feel and different nuances. It was also in Venice that we had one of the best hostel experiences yet. It was in Venice that we met our travel buddy for a few days, Robert from LA.

Robert had been traveling for 20 some days already and had been wanting to go to Nice but never made it, so he decided to tag along. It was fun having a third travel buddy (as well as a guy to help with our bags...lol). But the 3 of us headed to Nice, where we have laid on the pebble beach, walked along the shore and seen Monaco and their fancy cars (as well as had my first gambling experience...and it was a bad one at that...but don't worry mom and dad I only lost 5 EUR to the slot machine).

That is a very short but long summary of my travels so far in Europe. Tomorrow we head to Geneva, Switzerland. This trip has been wonderful, life changing and has already allowed me to grow. I have learned how to use European transportation, figured out ways to communicate in languages I don't understand and find my way back to a hostel every night. This is the time of my life and I am looking forward to the next two weeks! Hasta Luego, Ciao, Au revoir!!!

Comic Relief

Hey everyone! So I just got back from a great trip to Ireland! We stayed at a hostel in Belfast, which ended up being a much quieter, smaller place than it was made out to be, but still nice. So on Friday we just walked around and saw some sights. Then on Saturday we went to Dublin. Where we did a really good free walking tour which told us all about the history of Dublin, plus we saw pretty much all the main sites! We then took a tour of the Guinness factory (where we tasted fresh Guinness, straight from the brewery...if you say you don't like Guinness you would if you tried it fresh), then headed back to Belfast. Then on Sunday we took a tour of Northern Ireland where our main destination was the Giant's Causeway. It was beautiful with the typical Irish cliffs and the roaring sea. On the drive there we saw wonderful landscape with sheep dotting the hills every where you looked. Beautiful...no other way to describe it.

Anyways, when I returned I was quite tired since I hadn't gotten much sleep all weekend with many early mornings, so I decided to watch a little television, and ended up watching all these shows on Comic Relief. Let me explain what this is very briefly, because I found it very intriguing. This is the brief description from the website (www.comicrelief.com)

"Since 1985, Comic Relief has inspired the nation to have a laugh while raising cash to help change lives. Our vision is a just world, free from poverty.

Our mission, thanks to our comedy heritage and the fantastic relationship we enjoy with the BBC, is 'positive change through the power of entertainment'.

And our biggest tool, in trying to achieve these two goals, is the ability to inspire people across the whole country especially those who don’t normally do charity - to do charity."

So while this is an organization, there is one day that is chosen to be "Red Nose Day", where everyone in the nation is encouraged to do something 'funny for money'. So for the past few weeks, but mainly this past weekend, there have been people doing funny things for money. For example, there was a show on TV called "Lets Dance for Comic Relief" where celebrities around the UK danced their versions of famous dances to help raise money. Another example (though not very funny at all), is 9 UK celebrities got together and decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise one million pounds for mosquito nets in Africa (they ended up raising close to 3 million). HOW COOL IS THAT?! Just this year they've almost raised 60 million pounds!! Anyways, I couldn't stop watching this event! I was amazed that a whole nation comes together (particularly on one day) to raise money, learn about the world and be entertained! See for yourself, here are a few videos I found.

http://www.rednoseday.com/about_rnd
(video on what red nose day is)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_huKc-z0BU
(a short skit done by English footballers and a tv show character for entertainment on RND)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VULq7oRugiU&NR=1
(a news clip on the celebrities who climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief)

Small Rant

So I am taking an on-line class on Environmental Sustainability. The topics are really interesting, including topics on air, water and land. The course includes writings on how the developed world is effecting the developing world and what some of the issues are with our earth's resources. How conflict occurs over water, how land has been overtaken by agriculture, and how biotechnology is a potential way to help improve our situation. So as you can see there are some interesting topics, ones that are especially relevant to us today.

However, what I am disliking about this class is all of the reading that must be done on-line. I feel like this is a topic that should be discussed. I feel it requires more interaction. I think many would agree. Another interesting thing, is an article my mom sent me the other day about education in the UK and how emphasis on outside classroom work (mainly on-line) is potentially beneficial for students and their learning. However, from my experience so far with on-line classes I find I have less motivation to learn more than what is given to me on-line. I find myself being so bored with reading the on-line material, that no matter how interesting the topic, I lose interest.

I may be old-fashioned (interesting I know since I grew up in the technology generation), but I like contact with the outside world. I like to have interesting conversations with people about topics in order to improve my learning. I like to be hands on, to see the world, see what's going on for real versus reading it all on the web. I think the web is a good starting point, but it is not a means to an end. There is so much more out there to see and experience!

I was watching a show on the BBC the other day discussing my generations use of facebook and how it has actually created social problems for my generation. That people my age depend on it so much that they have lost the social skills of past generations. Some main factors for this are that people can change who they are on facebook for however they want to appear, their language changes (aka jk, lol, awk., most def., whatev...you see my point), and they speak more on-line than going out and practicing socializing face to face with another breathing human being.

I of course say this as I type on my on-line blog, and just got off facebook because I needed a break from my course work. But then, I am a prime example of what I feel is a problem with technology. I am a firm believer that our generation (and future generations) need to remember to get off-line more often. We need to use what the internet was created for in the first place, a place to find information/research and communicate. And I mean this in the most basic sense. I don't mean research as in only find your information from the web or communicate for 5 hours a day (you know what I mean, checking your e-mail every 5 minutes, talking on chat services, checking your facebook account all the time), I mean use the internet then GET OFF and go get a life!

I myself need to work on this. I find myself on-line when I'm bored all of the time. My friend Diana and I were talking about this the other day. We were discussing how we get so caught up with what is on-line that we missed out on what was a gorgeous day. We were lamenting that we hadn't gone for a long walk, a jog, sat outside and read a book or visited a nearby park. I don't know how to solve this dilemma and I am by no means suggesting that the internet is evil, in fact it is a very useful and potentially a salvation for some of our environmental problems of today. All I am saying is we all need to take a look as to how much we use it a day, and why in the world we aren't taking more advantage of the wide world we have in front of us!

Wow...March already?!

Hey all! I know it has been a while (maybe too long)...but things have just been so crazy here! Since the last time I posted I have completed and turned in two 1000 word philosophy essays, had a visitor from North Carolina, been planning my whirl-wind tour of Europe in a few weeks and traveled to Newcastle, London and Manchester!

First things first, the philosophy essays. At first I thought, 1000 words no big deal. And philosophy no problem because the topics are interesting (one was on the existence of God and the other on whether others have minds) and I just need to write about what I think. WRONG! 1000 words was actually quite hard to write, mainly because I wanted to write more than that and you get counted off if you have more than 1000 words! Second, I had to do a lot more research than I had expected because while I can talk about the topics, and my own thoughts, I had to write an argument as to why my thoughts were right and use historical context to do so. I'm sure many of you are thinking, duh! But it has been such a long time since I have written an essay that I have forgotten what it takes. But I think they turned out alright, they are both 50% of my grade anyways.

Also, my friend Catherine just came to visit me for a week for her spring break all the way from North Carolina! She just left on Sunday, and it was sad to see her go but it was also really nice to have someone from home here with me. When I picked her up from the airport we went straight to London where we stayed for about 2 1/2 days. A condensed list of what we did there includes:

1. Touring the Shakespeare Globe Theater
2. Tate Modern
3. the National Gallery
4. Watching the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
5. taking it easy in a book market
6. Trafalgar Square

And well you get the idea. We then headed back to Leeds where I showed Catherine what students here in Leeds do, and what life is like. She also had the chance to meet and hang out with my flat mates, as well as some of my other friends here at Leeds. We then went to Manchester for the day to see some of those sites, including the Fashion Market (right up our alley), a cathedral, the Lowry (which had interesting art exhibits) and the best of all we got to see an exhibit with 10 drawings from Leonardo da Vinci! Which was very interesting since I have learned about him all throughout my school days and have even based a project or two on his sketches and ideas.

I am now getting ready for my next big trips! First I am off to Belfast, Ireland this weekend with a group of 6 others. We will also be heading down to Dublin for a day to experience the St. Patty's day festivities, which I hope will not disappoint, even though we won't be there for the actual day of St. Patrick's.

The next weekend I begin my tour of Europe with some friends I have met in Leeds. A break down of the trip goes like this:
1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Italy (Rome and then up north to Venice and such)
3. Nice, France
4. Geneva, Switzerland
5. Vienna, Austria
6. Prague, Czech Republic
7. Berlin, Germany
8. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

So yeah, its a lot but I'm going with great people and will be seeing wonderful places! That is for the most part what has been going on here, in a very shortened version. But life has just been great, the weather has been warming up. I feel more at "home" in England and am looking forward to the next few weeks! Hope all is well for everyone else, I am now headed to go see "Flashdance" at the Leeds Grand Theater (students get GREAT discounts), where I actually just went last week to watch "Swan Lake: the Ballet". Will be in touch!

Kicking it into Gear

These past few weeks in Leeds I have felt like I am still on break. It has been a blur, surreal and just completely weird that I am in England...living. It has not been until this week that I have realized that I actually have school work I need to complete and responsibilities to tend to. I still have to apply for internships for this summer, have essays to write and above all things ARTWORK to complete! I'm coming to this realization slowly but surely. For example, I went to the library for the first time today. I checked out books and started to do research.

I was originally under the impression that I would just jump into my school work, do work for classes everyday and be just as productive and motivated as I have been at home. However, it has been a slow process of getting to that point. Its weird because this is not like me at all. I have found that its not because I don't care, it is because it has just taken me that much longer to adjust. I never thought this would be the case, but I am still trying to figure out my routine here. Some differences between school at home and here:

1. At home I have classes everyday and we have class time for each subject at least twice a week, but here I have all my classes on one day out of the week, and then every once in a while I have class on monday or wednesday

2. At home we have assignments and projects throughout the whole term to monitor our progress, here most of my classes I only have 2 assessments (1000 word essays) throughout the whole semester each worth 50 percent

3. In GD we have intensive studio time throughout the whole week, here we only have a 1 hour lecture and the rest is up to us

4. In GD at home we are very product based and have many projects completed by the end of the semester, but here we work on the same project all the way through and are very much graded on our process

5. At home a lot of the lectures are mandatory to attend and your attendance is kept track of, here the lectures are so big and there is no affect on your grade based on your attendance (or at least not in the classes I'm taking)

6. At home, passing is a 70%, here a 40% is passing and it is hard to get above a 70%

There are many more things I have noticed, but as you can see there is a lot to try and get used to. I am just now really starting to get a handle on things and have started to realize that while we don't have class multiple times a week, there are expectations of us, we just need to make our own goals and deadlines. We need to structure ourselves, our professors aren't going to do it for us.

I am enjoying this type of learning system so far, mainly because I am an independent person, so I like the independent system. However, you could easily get lost here and forget to get things done. Furthermore, you could easily go out 7 days a week, and sleep all day (but don't worry I have not gotten into that pattern). Besides the school system, everything is really amazing here. I am starting to figure out what I need to do here, adjusting to the fact that I am actually here and am learning how to get around. I even have started to participate in more of campus life. I have attended a few film society meetings, gone to a Bell Ringing meeting, and a wine society meeting! There is so much to be offered to students here and I am starting to feel comfortable enough to take advantage of it. The adjustment period is still continuing, but each day I feel just a little more apart of life here.

Day Trip Pictures

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
















Posing with my Beatle friend, outside "The Cavern" where the Beatle's first played in Liverpool


















Albert Dock, the interior of the square where many of the tourist places including the Beatle's Museum and the Tate are located


















The Tate Liverpool Cafe wall, where we had a wonderful light lunch


YORK, ENGLAND

Diana (my Canadian friend) and me on top of the York Minster



York's main river Ouse



The York Castle

Been A While...

So it has been a while since my last post, but I have been busy trying to get used to classes, life, my new flat mates and getting over being sick (ugh...).

Give and take. I have learned that in life you can not always have everything that you want and while the grass may look greener on the other side, most likely it is not. It is just different. As some may know I have moved into a new residence, one for first years and undergraduate students versus postgraduates and mature students. Some of my main reasons were the travel time to get to campus from my old residence, and the quiet/atmosphere. I wanted to be able to walk to campus versus taking the bus, and I wanted to be with British people and really experience life on Leeds campus. So far, it has been everything that I wanted, friendly people who talk amongst themselves, cook dinner together and go out together. They have been kind and asked if I would like to be included in the festivities. However, while I find their socializing very kind, it can become quite frustratingly loud at times.

Take right now for example. In the flat either below me or above me or next to me there is a very loud party going on. Normally I would say oh well and possibly join in. However, I have been sick and would like some quiet time but I can't seem to find it even with ear plugs in. So in that sense the other residence was "better". But it is what it is, I will get used to this atmosphere but as a 21 year old surrounded by 18 year olds just ending their first year in college I find myself feeling old and a little bit less "fun" than them.

Being sick in a foreign country, that is a whole different issue. Now, I have realized I am only going on my third week here in England and I have found my survival skills have started to kick in. First of all, I needed to find food, ways of communication and a doctor. I have also learned that while I may want to be pampered and have my food brought in to me and tea be made, I have to do these things for myself. It is a harsh reality of course, realizing you don't have your mom there to take care of you. I have dealt with this in North Carolina as well, but at least there I had a car to drive myself places, knew the doctors and knew how to handle absences. Here I am starting a fresh. I have to walk or take public transportation to get to a supermarket and I still don't quite understand the system of how things work here.

It will all come in more time and I am learning. Figuring out ways to cope, sucking it up and doing the things that need to get done. It is all a part of the experience and I am finding it kind of exhilarating knowing that I really am more on my own here, even more so then when I started college.

Some things I've already started to become accustomed to.
1. Driving on the left side of the road (luckily I've had fewer run-ins with being hit)
2. The bus system (I've started to get on the correct bus now and look like less of a lost puppy)
3. Having classes meet only once a week (though while I'm used to that, I have yet to get used to what my expectations are for the class)
4. Using an electric kettle (so much faster than a teapot)
5. Calling it "take away" vs. "take-out"
6. Living with boys (at first a little weird, but not so bad anymore)

Some things I have yet to get used to.
1. The accents, I still have a hard time understanding some of the accents, especially the northern ones
2. Not wearing coats when you go out at night (I swear girls go out in mini-dresses and heels when its 20 out...some of my flat mates didn't even wear coats one night when it was snowing!)
3. People going out almost 7 days a week (in the states I can hardly do 2 without feeling like I'm behind in my coursework)

As I said earlier, things are different everywhere you turn. It is not meant to be better or worse. I am still just adjusting to life here in Leeds and each day I feel just a little bit less like a tourist and more like a student in England.

Classes and Life in Leeds

(The Parkinson Building, the equivalent to the Bell Tower on State's campus)


(the local cemetery on our campus, right behind my new residence)


Time, space and memory. This is the basis of my design class this semester at Leeds. I don't know how the term will go, but I already know its not what I expected. For the past year and a half I have been sitting on a computer trying to figure out what design means to me. I've tested the waters in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver, and now its back to the drawing board for me as I am I asked to create work that is more what my Fine Arts classes in high school required. The class is split up into different categories, including: painting, sculpture, digital media (what I am in) and printmaking. We then have one hour of lecture time each week and the rest of the time it is up to us to find inspiration, discover materials/mediums and explore what the project means to us. There is no "required" studio time in the sense that you need to come say hi and touch base and then you are free to leave if you need/would like to. How different this is from design classes at home.

At NC State, we have a very structured system consisting of 5-6 projects a term and due throughout. Here, we are working on one project the whole time. Exploring the subject in depth and creating a piece with deeper meaning and a more thought out path. This excites me, but it also makes me nervous. I have never spent that much time working on one project, instead I am asked to go through the whole design process for an in depth piece in two- three weeks. Now I have the chance to explore and discover as I please and I just hope I don't let myself down. Already I'm starting to ask the questions:

"What is a memory?"
"Does a memory fade or become enhanced depending on a situation or and experience?"
"Are we really aware of time? Or is it more of an idea that we can never fully fathom?"
"How can you express the passing of time?"

And my list goes on. But what excites me most is how this project can so easily relate to some of the other courses I am taking. In my course called "Philosophy of the Mind" we will be exploring how humans minds work. Whether technology or a robot has a mind, could they ever have a mind? Do we really of a soul? Can our body and mind really be aware of death? Etc. Another course is "Philosophy of Religion" and another "Insights into Creativity, Innovation and Leadership". All of these courses are about how much you want to take from it. We are asked to read certain things, but we can also explore additional texts if we are interested. There are no daily or weekly assignments due, just 2 essays to be turned in. This gives us the opportunity to really become and independent learner and take our own education in our hands rather than being told what we should learn and when we should do it.

It is different, but it is also refreshing to have this kind of learning at the tip of my fingers. As for the rest of my life here at Leeds, things keep getting better. Today I will be moving out of my current residence (which is a 30-45 minute commute to campus) and into a residence on campus. I am very excited about this move because I will be closer to university of life and have more access to all that Leeds has to offer!

I have also enjoyed a few nights out on the town, exploring the pub scene and getting to know a few of the locals as well as my new international friends. As each day passes, I can't be thinking more about how this is an experience that everyone should take. Because already it has helped me find my passion for learning again, explore my interest in different cultures and provide me with the opportunity to travel. So until next time! Cheers!

Slang/Culture Shock

So I have started to get the hang of things here in Leeds. I have met more people, started to figure out the bus system and tried to work through the academic system. However, there is still quite a bit to get used to. First of all there is the slang. I mentioned some of these things in my past post, but as I continue to speak with the English, I notice more and more that I have a hard time understanding their accent as well as their slang. Such as "cheers" to either say "goodbye" or "thanks". Another word I found interesting was the use of the word "love". As I was trying to figure out which bus I needed and where it went, the men I asked would say "oh you need to be other at that stop love" or "this is your stop love". It was fairly funny and something that I'm sure only sounds good with a British accent. You know if an American man said that we would think he was being creepy. Also, I've been encouraged by the English to start using these words, but I find whenever I say words particular to England I want to say them in a British accent and then I just feel like a phony or I smile/laugh wondering if anyone noticed what I just said.

As for culture shock, right now I'm just trying to get used to what people wear, what college kids do to have fun and how to work through the academic system. More and more I am confused by the outfits of people here in England. On friday night me and a group of exchange/Leeds students went out to a few pubs/clubs and we kept seeing women dressed in very short, skimpy dresses with heels and NO COAT! And its probably 2 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) and windy! And guys are wearing jeans and t-shirts. I mean they look nice and all, but really! I was freezing and I had on a long sleeve shirt and a winter coat. Also, as for what people do here....well, they drink. And I mean this in all seriousness. Sure, they have movie theaters and sports facilities but they all drink. A few girls and I were looking for a low key night to go to a coffee shop and chill, but all we could find were pubs and bars. I'm wondering how this will work out, especially on my pocket. I've asked some Leeds students and a few mention they may have a beer rather than a meal...but I'm not so sure if I can do that.

Another thing I'll mention is the academics. I have already found its much more independent and I haven't even begun classes yet! Many of the classes don't have any assignments throughout the term, but only have the final exam which is worth 100% of your grade. So your expected to just keep

(this is my "timetable" aka schedule as of right now)

up with the readings throughout. I also just found out that first years can take any classes they want and do as well or poorly as they like because none of their classes that first year count towards their degree! Lastly, is scheduling. Each week you have to look up your schedule because each week it may be different. You may have a lecture one week, a "tutorial" another and maybe nothing for a class the next week. Its very hard for me to figure out which classes will work with my current classes because I can't decide if the schedules clash or not. And if they do, there's no way of really knowing until you've been accepted into the course and then you get an e-mail saying you have a "timetable conflict". I could probably go on a lot more about this little dilemma, but I think you get the gist.

Right now, I'm headed to bed, but I'll be back to fill you all in on my day trip to York and hopefully to have some pictures (because I have yet to really take any!...sorry!). Cheers!

Here in Leeds

It feels so surreal to know that just 48 hours ago I was in a totally different continent. I was at home talking with my parents, petting my dog and cats and driving to the store. I am now in a flat with grad students who stay to themselves, trying to find the cheapest food available and walking 30 minutes to get to campus. It is a big change. I knew this all along, anticipated it and even tried to prepare myself, but its so different now that I'm actually here and experiencing it.
From the moment I stepped out of the plane in Leeds my experience began. First of all, even though they speak English here, half the time I can't understand what they're saying or the slang they use. Such as "cheers", "topping off my mobile" and the "hash button". Secondly, I have learned very quickly that if you want to get anything productive done it better between 9 am - 12 and 1 pm and 5 pm. If you're outside of those times, either no one's in their office or they're gone for the day. For example, the taxi dropped me and my bags off at my residence hall, only to find that the warden that checks people in was not there and wouldn't be back until 5 that evening. So I waited outside the building not knowing what to do, and was without a phone to call anyone. Furthermore, I had no idea where I was and was sure I wouldn't be lugging my 3 suitcases around with me to figure it out (especially not after 12+ hours of traveling). Luckily, I have learned you just have to strike up a conversation and you'll probably be better off than before. So, lucky for me I asked the next person who left the building to hold the door, and low-and-behold, he asked what was wrong, offered me a place to put my luggage, lent me his extra "mobile", and was my tour guide and guardian for the rest of the day. It was probably the nicest thing that has happened to me so far, and at a time when I needed it the most.
From there, things have become just a little less hectic, but I have learned that its every man for himself here. You won't get much help if you ask for it from the locals, and when you do ask you probably won't get a detailed answer (or good directions). However, don't get me wrong, I am already enjoying myself. I have met Germans, Australians, fellow Americans, Africans, someone from Denmark, Holland, and the list goes on. It is a huge melting pot here and I'm loving that! So stay tuned as I share my adventures about this place called Leeds, England. It has already turned out to be an interesting one!

One Week Away!

So I'm leaving for England in one week and I'm getting very anxious!  I wish I could just jump on the plane and GO!  But just like many other times in life, I have to wait.  However, its not so bad, I'm reading books about England, finishing up my website and spending some time with my family and friends here in St. Louis (which rarely happens anymore).  

It was actually pretty funny, the other day when my mom and I were shopping at the Galleria, we stopped into "Sephora" and inside was a newswoman.  She asked me if I would mind doing an interview with her and while I wasn't too fond of the idea I thought why not.  It was about a new drug that could be used to help thicken and lengthen eyelashes.  I'm not a huge make-up wearer, nor am I very fond of excess spending on beauty products (especially medical ones), so I don't think I gave the answers the drug company may have preferred, but oh well, I had my 20 seconds of fame on the St. Louis news.  

I've also been trying to get used to the cold weather again.  After being in Costa Rica with my family for a week, I've been spoiled with 80 degree weather and warm nights.  But its back to the cold and each day it keeps getting just a little bit colder and its supposed to be 0 here soon....no fun.  I'm a big believer in if its going to be cold there might as well be snow on the ground!  But its just one other preparation for the cold weather in England I suppose and its probably just as well.