Looking Up

Ok, I don't want anyone to think that I will be posting every day, but today was particularly eventful, so I thought I'd share it. Last night I was really low. I felt sort of like I was on the outskirts of various groups of friends, and my boring night in did nothing to assuage that feeling. Also, I got into bed at 11pm and didn't get to sleep until 3:00. I was frustrated and crying and stressed, so there you go.

This morning, I woke up at nine and went grocery shopping at Spar, a closer little grocery store. Then, I came back and took a much needed nap. In the afternoon, there was a lot I had to get done, but first I stopped into a coffee shop called "Middleton's," which some of the girls recommended to me. Middleton's is a small room with only three tables. The owner and his wife are both chefs and they told me that, if there was any sort of food I was homesick for, I could request it and the next day it would be ready for me. He gave me this little chocolate candy stick which was really good. Then, when I was ready to pay, I asked if he accepted tips. He said yes, so I handed him a pound. He said, "But if you tip, you have to take this," and he gave me a bag of homemade cookies! I was so tired and grateful that I almost started crying right then and there.

I went to Little Apple Bookstore to buy a class book, to the library to get a card (it was Narnia Day so everyone working there was dressed up as a character—there was even a wardrobe to go through!) to the rail station to buy tickets to Edinburgh (which was a disappointment because I ended up forgetting an ID picture), and to Boyes to buy some more kitchen supplies. I'm from the Midwest, so I know polite, but I was overwhelmed by how nice everyone was. It's all people holding the door for you and apologizing when they realize they're walking too slowly on the sidewalk and apologizing when it's your fault for standing in their way. Today was "just the ticket."

Another thing: I know I told Mom big deal, so there's a cathedral in York, it's not like I've never seen one before. Well, let me tell you: it's enormous! I had only seen the front of it, but today I walked along it and it just keeps on going! The church bells were chiming for about an hour and it was so magical. I couldn't stop myself from going into the side door. I didn't go into the main worship space, since it was huge, but the short cross-section that I did see still looked like the biggest church I've ever seen—and that's only about a quarter of the size!

This evening, we went to a neighborhood church that had an event called "Tea and Toast" where people from the congregation served us…tea and toast. The pastor was there (priest?) and sat down and talked to us. I just feel like everyone is so welcoming and hospitable.

Anyway, I'm pretty cheery now—especially since I'm about to go and watch some Jane Austen.

Getting Acquainted

I'm an English major and a Linguistics minor. I love Brit Lit and the history of the English language. So I've had it as my goal to visit Britain, especially once I became a Jane Austen and Harry Potter fan.

York is a wonderful town for a student (I wouldn't want to raise kids here though—no lawns!). Everything is history and cobblestone and brick and bakeries and cafés. But it's not a museum; it's a livable city.

So far, my experience has been tiring. It's difficult to get settled in when you have to walk everywhere (my legs!). I went to Sainsbury yesterday (the supermarket) and just about died trying to walk back. It turns out I took the long, roundabout way there. It's strange hearing this really thick accent all around me, but I feel like, in a few days' time, I could do a solid impression.

I went to my first pub last night with the other study abroad students. It was called The Stone Roses. I had a cocktail with vodka, kahlua, milk, and chocolate. Yum! However, I'm not sure that a pub like that is really my scene: dim lighting, LOUD music, and nowhere to sit. I'll have to keep checking around for a better one.

Today (Saturday) we went to the seaside town of Whitby (The image above is a picture of the Whitby Abbey). To get an idea of what Whitby looks like, picture a seaside town. Ok, that's Whitby. It smells like fish (not in a bad way) and salty wind. We walked to the pier, which was too cold to be enjoyable. I had my first fish 'n' chips there, which was "gorgeous."

On the coach ride back, I was trying to think about what made the Yorkshire landscape so different from anything I've seen in America. It's strange. It looks a lot like an American landscape, but there's something different that I haven't been able to put my finger on today. Two words: sheep and hedges. Ok, I know I've seen sheep before, but not in this capacity. Sheep are to England what cows are to the Midwest.

The British landscape is so much more beautiful (in my opinion) because all of the plots of land are divided by these cute hedges. And everything is hilly and green, and it looks awesome, even when it's cloudy.

Tomorrow I have a day of errands, including buying a train ticket to Edinburgh to visit Julia and Alex! I'm sorry this post was so scatterbrained, but I'm still getting the hang of everything. I miss you all!

One Week and Counting

It is one week until I leave for York. I hope this blog allows you to keep in touch and read about all that I am doing (aka learning to cook for myself).