HIKESOC CHRISTMAS FORMAL

Thursday Dec.1 was the big day! Willa and I had been the previous night to a student play at the Uni. We left just over half way through...it was kind of slow and had no plot. We met up with the others at the hiking social. It was a small gathering, without the committee members, so we decided to make up some cute awards for them. For instance, "committee member most likely to....look like Mark in 4 years" and that went to Herdie. I thought it was funny, hopefully the others did. We kind of just did it and didn't tell the committee about it, but it was all in good fun. The meal was nice, company nicer, and the dancing just cheesy! lol. Good night in all!

me and S(am)ta! hehe.

the sailors: me and Mark
Marina and me
the ladies club
the Scotsmen: Ian, Ozz, Wes, Herdie
Stephen's Kris Kringle present...too funny!

NOTTINGHAM Dec. 3 -4

I can't believe it's been 7 months since I've seen Richard! Of all the Brit exchange students last year to Toronto, he knows me the most, so you can imagine it was wonderful to see him again! I was greeted warmly by him, his girlfriend Ele, and his good friend Bertie. Bertie came to Toronto last year and was so quiet and shy, that it was good to hear him speak! He and Rich loved to put their arms around eachother as the watched TV...I dunno, it was pretty funny in their small den type thing. I think I drank more tea this weekend then my whole stay in England! Bertie's addicted and every time he came downstairs he asked "like a cuppa tea lass?" hehe.

We walked around town, went to a creepy gothic pub, then hit up another pub for lunch and eventually walked back to Rich's house closer to the Uni. The town centre is quite far from the University. Like 50min. walking distance I was told! I suppose that's the same distance from Headingley to the city centre. That night Ele and I watched Richard's ice hockey game. It was in Birmingham and we passed time in the coach playing poker with the hockey boys. I shall never look at poker the same way again! They won 13-2, and Ele and I hurt our voices cheering. We walked through the campus at night, and from what I saw it was beautiful! So large and open and green! My goodness, there was a pond, and fields, upon fields of open green grass and trees! The city centre was cute as well. Similar to Leeds, but it seemed much busier. The following day Rich and I just walked around the city, and this huge park where there were deer!! I couldn't believe these large stags were just walking around on the golf course as if they owned it. It started raining so we headed back and I just watched a movie--About a boy. I love that movie! SOOOO CUTE! I highly recommend it. I fell asleep on the coach back for about the first 1/2 hr. I don't know why I couldn't sleep more. But there's something so tranquil about sleeping on a large coach at night...I dunno, maybe I'm just weird. hehehe.

a wall

fierce, fierce

Nottingham Castle--it's actually a just mansion placed on the old site with some sort of art gallery/history exhibit inside. We didn't spend too long in there.

Me at the castle's gates...I assume the dark stones are the original.

Supposedly the oldest pub in England. We went in, and the ceilings are really low. It looks like it was built in the rock.

An old, fasionable mansion sitting high on the hill at Wollaton Park. It was closed! bugger.
Deer lingering around the park (those brown dots in the photo)
Rich admiring the trees...he made me try and climb the one on the left and took video footage (that I was unaware about) of my sad attempt. Quite funy actually looking at the video. I gave him half of this large brownie. He said ok, but only a bite--then he takes the largest bite ever and hands me back the smallest piece. hahaha.
Robin Hood and me. Everyone knows the story about Robing Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. I didn't go into the "tales of Robin Hood" which talks about the evidence they have for him. All they know is that someone like him existed. Sherwood forest is actually quite far from the city centre.

TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK

The Cantilever, Snowdonia

I love this picture! In a way it simply embodies my experience here so far. Don't laugh, there's a reason... When I first looked on the hiking website I saw a picture similar to this, and I was determined to find out where that was and go on that hiking trip to see it. Well, obviously I accomplished that and have had the most unforgettable experience thus far. The same applies to wanting to come to England on exchange in the first place. And I did it! I'm here! I knew I wanted to come to England since as far back as I can remember. The history, neat accents, rolling country-side, the romantic setting in Jane Austen's novels, castles, mystery, and culture are just some on the things that come to mind when I think of England. I still can't get over the number of people that keep asking me "why? why England?" as though I was mad to choose this as my host country. As the semester winds down England becomes more than these few descriptive words, it holds so much more to me now.

I know I came here think it will be a life changing experience, so I keep asking myself how I've changed since I've been here, what I will take back with me, what self-discovery I have realised by being in this foreign land. The honest answer is I don't know....yet. I still feel like the same goofy Katherine, but I suppose that's because I would never want to change who I am. If anything, I'm much more ambitious to see more of the world now, to see different cultures, experience a different lifestyle, take in more breath-taking views. From what I've seen and been through so far, I can't stop smiling at what I've accomplished in these short 3 months. The friendships and amazing, inspiring people I have met--regardless of whether I talk to them again and keep in touch in the long run-- have helped make my moments here so wonderful and enjoyable. I have this overwhelming sense of gladness and I think that is what makes this semester successful above everything else.

I may be speaking prematurely, because I am still here for another week to finish my essays before I go home for Christmas. At the moment there are 4 of use left in the house, soon to be just me and Jacob. I know everyone just left, but I could already feel the emptiness when I returned from the library this afternoon. Jacob from Nigeria is staying the whole Christmas vacation. It honestly breaks my heart knowing I have to leave him alone for what should be a time for family, friends, and relaxation. He was doing work in the hall foyer tonight with the radio on, when a sweet Christmas tune came on. I almost started crying, because it just reminded me how much home means to me during the holiday season....wearing my comfy polar fleece pants with my super warm slippers in front of the fire place while doing a puzzle with my mom and brother just brings a smile to my face. My sister Kirsten will be watching TV and laughing in her hyena laugh out loud at it. My dad will be eating chocolate and listening to his lovely Christmas tunes upstairs, then rounding everyone up for church by saying "wakey wakey" and flicking on our bedroom lights..... Christmas Eve we will stuff our face at Oma and Opas with Oma's wonderful German cooking. Having a fake Santa coming to the door to give presents, and opening the presents that are no doubt chocolate and money is always great to receive! Our stockings will be filled with the usual chocolate balls and random notepads and pens, maybe even a toothbrush! hehe.....

Going tobaganning, drinking Timmie's hot chocolate late at night with my friends, spending New Years with Joy watching really cheesy movies, shopping with Katherine, making cookies with Rosalia, reading Alice's cute homemade Christmas card, opening the chocolate calendars with Sarah who will get excited over the littlest things, snowboarding with Eric, skating with Alana. And although that wasn't a proper, complete sentence I can't help but look forward to all of those things because they're such comforting memories of the holidays! And on that note, I need to get my beauty sleep for tomorrow :D

1 Comment

lau|2 said...

hey kat :)

thanks for the nice comment! Both quotes are beautiful and tears do represent more... just sometimes i cry in hopes that it will changes things - when it can not. it's just a reminder that i need less of that and more action.

but on a happier note, yay to term being almost over! and i LUVVV the pic in this blog - simply breath taking. goodluck with your essay, and i hope you arrive back here safe and sound!

happy holidays to you, eric, and your family!

NORBERT

This is Norbert, my cute sheep from the German Christmas market downtown. It's standing on a rock I "stole" from Wales. I know, I'm evil. But it seems fitting doesn't it?


2 Comments

Anonymous Jenna Rocca said...
This thing is just gorgeous! The rock! Perfect!

Blogger Stefan said...
I like Norbert as a name. :)

BOLTON ABBEY - Sunday Dec.11

Bolton Abbey - The town just happens to be named Bolton Abbey...if only I could find the town. It seemed to be comprised of a bakery and town hall..hmmmm.
The Yorkshire Dales (countryside) Here we are walking in fields of heather, with large rock boulders popping at (as seen in distance).
A duck that can't make its way upstream due to the current. It was pretty funny, just like when you see seagulls motionless into the wind.

A cute, random little house pretty much in the middle of nowhere. And did I mention this is in December!!!! It looks like summer! It was the most gorgeous weather! So warm!
My crew, Martin and Paul, at Simon's Seat--the largest/coolest rocks in the area. It was freezing by the time we got up here b/c it was at a hgher altitude and the wind was howling.
countryside --just like in Pride and Prejudice Katherine!!! GORGEOUS!

It was said that the water fight scene inRobin Hood (w/ Kevin Costner) was filmed about here. (well not exactly here, but in the area, possibly the same river, I don't know).

From Bolton Abbey we walked about 4 hrs. to a small (and I mean small) town named Burnsall. We would have gone farther, but it was getting dark and the guys wanted a drink. Little did we know we'd be stuck in a crap pub for 2.5hrs. It was the hotel's pub, and when we walked in this guy asked us, "are you here to eat? No? then stand there" and pointed to these tall benches opposite the bar. Mind you, it was pretty busy at the time we got there, so once it settled down, we took a seat in the corner. I don't even know what we talked about, I was pretty tired. I just remember being appaled by this man who was alerady unzipping himself before the bathroom door which was near us. We also bought these yummy "Yorksire Dales Crisps" that came in a large canister probably making them more expensive, so I kept the canister, haha, get my money's worth. The bus ride back was maybe 45 minutes. We were on it with a guided walking group that goes every Sunday, something I think my parents would enjoy very much when they come in March, b/c the guide talks about the geography/history and such on the hike..and it's free! So all in all, it was really nice to get out into Leeds backyard and see the quaint countryside I've seen so much in movies. It was darling and so peaceful.

1 Comment

Kirsten said...
Hey, I figured it might be better to reply here than on mine...? Hope your exams went well. I don't know what you're in but I'm in biology and I'm not used to all these essay questions! But about platform 9 3/4...we just followed signs to platforms 9 and 10 and there was a wall with the sign on it so you could get pictures. I was like a superdork that weekend.

CHRISTMAS BREAK

ahhhhhh, the joys of sleeping in my own bed, with my big fluffy comforter in my own tiny room. I was surprised to find it rather clean. Kirsten just must have cleaned it. How lovely it was just to veg out on the comfy leather couches and watch TV and movies for days on end. And of course, it was absolutely wonderful to see my friends again. They didn't seem too surprised when I didn't have an accent. Joy kept insisting I did, but I think she likes to imagine things...hahaha. jk. I was pretty lucky to meet up with a lot of my college at a pub night to celebrate the end of exams (jan 20). It was like I never left. Ok I lied. The people were the same and wonderful, but friend circles have changed, co-ed residence has made Loretto even more quiet as the boys do not seem to come to Loretto anymore, lots of people have moved off campus so it was a mini reunion for old friends. Of course being in Canada, there was no smoking which was fabulous and peope drank a lot of lager and mixed drinks! Of course, I ordered a Rickard's Red and people were like "ohhhh, big ale drinker now." The pub culture is just so different from England, it was weird, it was like I wasn't really "home." I've really come to like the pub scene in Leeds. It's so relaxed and no music in most. The bars back home are louder and less intimate, but it's big city (3 mill. I think) so everywhere is always busy and active. We didn't head out until after 10:30pm, which is quite later than in England who serve alcohol until 11pm. I think there's much more conversation in bars in Canada than drinking, by far. And wayyyy much more pre-drinking. Everyone's already drunk before getting the the pub. haha. oh the cultural differences. Seeing as I'm studying "cultural anthropology" it seems fitting I think in this way. That's why I like to travel and wish to travel so much, because I want to experience different places and ways of life and all the quirks when learning about each place. :)

Rosalia (aka. Feefs) and Lara

"duhhhh, what? What's the number one rule Cramer!?" hahaha
the Schaefers!!!! :D Christmas dinner at Oma's as usual. Very nice indeed! :P YUM YUM!
me, Joy, Sarah

This is after a bunch of us watched Pride and Prejudice in the theatres. Oh so sweet! Then we put on these cool vests because my house was cold and my dad always says put on a vest and some thermal socks if you're cold. haha. I say put on polar fleece, it's even warmer! It was lovely having my friends over and just chatting with them for hours. Mommy joined us as well, but I forget what we talked about..I'm sure it's not important now anything. THis was my last outing before really getting down to work on my essays. THe rest of the break was, shall we say gruelling. I had 3 essays to complete and in no mood to do so. UGH. I managed to finish two and stayed up until awful hours in the morning. Did not bode so well when I came back to England, because my body seemed to think 7am was 2am Canadian bed time and wouldn't let me sleep until then. I feel asleep for almost a week to the birds chirping.

me, Alice, Sarah

It was so nice to finally have my Uni friends and my highschool friends under one roof the night before my departure. From top clockwise: Roberto, me, Katherine, Justyna, John, Paul. It was a very low key night, we played Cranium. Sarah really got into the game and Rosalia kept shoving ours faces with sweets. mmmmmm, Christmas chocolate is the devil, but it's soooo good! Tis a shame something so good can be bad for you. Oh well, Christmas is only once a year and I've made it one of my new Years resolutions to swim at least once a week and walk to campus every day. So far this hasn't happened, but I'll try harder once I get into the swing of things with my new courses!