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| Belinda is not impressed with how long it took me to update my blog. |
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| My excuse is death by giant metal ant. |
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| Christmas in downtown Durham |
When I left California I made the decision that for once in my life I would keep a diary. I would write in it every day so that I would remember every moment of this year for the rest of my life. That stopped about a month and a half ago, when I stopped writing about what I wanted to happen, and had it happen.
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| Some nice autumn color from the botanic garden |
These last couple months (Yes, I know how long it's been since I last posted) have been some of the most terrifying and wonderful of my entire life. I finished out last term well, got good marks on all my assignments, and was ready for a nice Christmas break. Unfortunately, because I am a poor student, I was not able to get home for Christmas to see my family and friends, something that I was really upset about but I knew had to happen. I was pretty sure that if I went home I would never come back to England, and this year is too important.
Initially, I was supposed to go with these two guys down to the south of England near Cambridge, where one of them lives, and stay with his family for Christmas. The other guy ended up going home to Singapore, so it was just me and Lucas. Obviously, for those who know me, you know that I was terrified that this Christmas would be the most awkward thing I had ever experienced.
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| Weird four-horned sheep |
Sometimes being wrong is the best thing in the world.
His family are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Their home is adorable. I got to go to Cambridge, Lavinum, and Bury St. Edmunds, one of the sweetest places I have ever seen. We went to the Cambridge campus and explored the town, and went to the Fitz-William Museum, which is kind of like the Getty Center and the Getty Villa in one. Basically, it's gorgeous, and Lucas was kind enough to not laugh at me while I was nerding out over all the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts and talking about ever paper I've ever written on all of these topics ever. We went out for dinner several times, had a wonderful Christmas meal and watched the Queen's speech, explored the local manor (yes, you heard me, manor!), and I got a personal tour of the St. Edmundsbury ruins.
I also went for the greatest walk in my life.
Ever picture yourself walking through a small town and veering off into a field where the horizon ends in sunset and silhouetted oak trees? You turn to cross a small bridge over a stream and end up in a quiet neighborhood. You see houses, all different, all picturesque, and follow the side street between the homes and a quiet wood. You take a back alley and end up in the wooded area, surrounded by trees that russel in the wind and smell like damp earth. You walk on streets grown over with moss by a manor house behind a huge gate, all the while looking up just to see trees growing like a patchwork quilt over your head. You get to the end of the drive and turn left, while a stream runs to your side and the road goes on forever by pastureland full of horses and sheep. You walk a bit further and come to a farm. Horses stick their heads out of their stalls and whinny quietly at you. All the while it's growing steadily darker and quieter, and the birds are coming in to roost. You perch yourself on a fence and look out over a field. The windbreak sways gently in the evening breeze, while rosy pink gives way to a navy sky covered in wispy cloud. Sound disgustingly poetic? You're right, it is. And I was there...with my Englishman tour guide.
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| Cambridge |
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| Cambridge University Press (the original) |
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| Fitz-William Museum Entrance |
New Years was nice as well. We didn't go out, but stayed down south to watch the London fireworks and enjoy a few films. This, of course, included seeing The Hobbit twice in 48 hours. Because that's how we roll!
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| Random shrimp head on the fence outside the Fitz-William Museum |
While I love Durham, it was hard to leave the south. It is so beautiful and I really hope I'll get to go back again before I leave for home.
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| The Swan Pub (Apparently it's quite famous) |
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| Lavinum is known for its crooked houses |
Things since the end of break have been pretty good as well. I had some more time to spend exploring Durham before classes started and everyone returned from holiday, and I am currently enjoying all the perks that come with writing yet another paper.
We've had a lot of fun since the term started as well though. My friends and I celebrated Chinese New Year with a large meal, celebrated Burns Night...twice, and had a couple movie nights. Soccer/football season is almost over, but still a lot of fun, and we actually managed to have a rain AND snow free game last Saturday. Weather remains unpredictable. Snow, rain, sun, wind, all in a single day sometimes, but it does feel as though Spring is fighting to break through, and I am very much enjoying the fact that we are back to having sunlight until about five in the afternoon.
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| A snowy St. Mary's pathway |
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| Me and Lucas in Cambridge |
