post-Germany...

So, Germany was amazing!!! Traveling all day was tiring, but it was well worth the time on planes, buses and trains. I am pretty sure that last weekend was one of the best weekends of my life! We took a train to Bristol then caught another train, then a bus then got on the plane to head for Amsterdam. When we got to Amsterdam, it was so shocking at how little English there was around us in the airport. Even though I have traveled to other coutries in Europe before, it was different because I was with 40 other Americans. This time it was just me and Mel. We had to figure out where we were going by ourselves. I loved that though. From Amsterdam, we went to Munich via plane. Then, we caught a train to Parsberg where my brother picked us up. It was so great to see my brother. I hadn't seen him in a year and half. I dropped my suitcase and gave him a hug!! He had his dog with him, too...so cute! I was so ready to sleep when we got to his house, which was only ten minutes from the train station. He took us out to dinner before we headed to his house. I got to try a new drink: apple juice with sparkling mineral water. It is such a great combination! I actually went to the store today and bought both so that I can make it here in Swansea. When we got to his house, all I could think of was sleeping in a comfortable bed. That was probably the best night of sleep I have had since I left home. On Thursday, we went to Nurmberg's old city. The old city was so neat! There were city walls and several old churches. The fact that those churches are older than anything in the US, is amazing. I loved being able to go around a foreign city and navigate without knowing where I was at or knowing anyone. Most of the signs and directions were in German. I think I finally got to feel what it's like to be the outsider. So many people come to the States, not knowing how to get around or maybe not even speaking english. I kind of know how they feel now. The next day we went to Regensburg and the following day we hit Munich. Both cities were really cool, very old, but very cool. We saw so many churches and took so many pictures. I think I took over 400 photos!

I loved spending time traveling, but I also really really enjoyed relaxing in a different environment. I was able to talk to my brother and Sonja. I also met Sonja's parents. They don't speak English very well. Her dad knows a little, but Sonja had to translate most of what we were saying. Her mother also cooked us an authentic German dinner on Friday. It was so good!! I officially love kanoodles! I also got to play with Jolie. She is so cute and very well behaved. I also met one of Kyle's colleagues and his wife, plus their dog Molly. We had so much fun the entire time. I wouldn't have traded that weekend for anything!!!

busy week ahead...

So, I talked to my brother and he is okay with Mel and I coming to visit. I am beyond excited right now!! We leave on Wednesday and will be there through Sunday. He has already planned most of our time, which is fine with me. Wednesday night we are supposed to go to dinner with he and Sonja. On Thursday he is going to take us to the train station and we are going to spend the day in Nuremburg. I researched the town a little bit, so that I would have some sort of an idea as to what we would be seeing during the day. It is a very historic town and should be an interesting day! Friday, Sonja and her parents are coming down to stay for the weekend. Sonja's mother is planning on making an authentic German dinner for everyone. On Saturday, the plan is to spend the day in Munich and then Sunday we fly back. I am really looking forward to this trip. I can't wait to see Kyle; I haven't seen him in a year and a half!! Plus, I get to meet Sonja and her parents, not to mention Jolie. Jolie is Kyle's baby: his dog. There are so many things I am looking forward to on this trip.

On top of getting excited for Germany, in two and a half hours I will be on my way to Stonehenge! I've been looking up information about the site and the town nearby that we will be visiting, Avebury. Both of them have so much historical value. It's so cool to be able to see things here that are so old and so important in the history of the world. Even though I am not from the UK, my ancestors were here at some point. That makes seeing all of this places that much more fascinating. Speaking of family, I am really hoping to find out where my mother's family was from in Ireland. I really want to go there and see where they lived. That would have to be the coolest thing that I could do while I am overseas.

Another positice thing, I figured out how to charge my point and shoot digital camera. It does require me to sit on the floor, lean against my chair and hold the plug-ins together with my foot, though. It's worth it, so I don't mind so much...lol

yellow submarine...

So, I never had really listened to the words of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" before yesterday. I think I have listened to the song at least 3 times tonight, too. It is actually really good. I have The Beatles' cd 1 and it's pretty good, too. I started listening to it on Sunday night when I was working on my essay on the 1960s. I also downloaded some The Kinks. I really dig them and want to download more of their stuff, but have been told not to download on this wireless network. Supposedly, the school will kick you off the network. I don't believe it. In fact, I am going to try downloading now.......Well, I've already downloaded three songs and counting. We'll see if anything happens. I bet they don't want people downloading because it takes up too much bandwidth. It's late, though, and hardly anyone is on, so I bet it will not be a big deal. If it is, then I'll stop. If I can download music, I will be so happy. I need some new music to listen to. Plus, I want to keep up with the American new releases. Jack Johnson is coming out with a new cd. The Audition just releases a new cd, Champion, at the end of January. I can't think of anything else I want to get right now, but I'm sure there will be tons, especially new British music. I've already heard some pretty good stuff out in the clubs.

Before I continue with music chat, I want to do a little list of things for people not to forget when they come to Swansea next year and the years to come after. First, bring a bath towell and shower shoes. You can buy them here, but probably not on the first day and after you've travelled for 10+ hours, you're going to want to take a nice hot shower! You don't need to bring a converter/adapter. You can if you want, but you can buy one at the market inside the Quadrant Center. I tell you this, because I went three weeks without my laptop or anything else electronic. It took us forever to find the right kind of plug. Remember, the market's little electronic shop will have what you need. Waterproof shoes would be helpful, but not necessary. Don't use the bedding they give you. You are better off not paying them 25 pounds for an uncomfortable duvet. You might as well go to town, to either Wilkinsons or Woolworths and buy a bedding set. It will look better in your bare room and will most definitely be more comfortable. It probably won't cost you as much either. Girls ad guys: bring clothes to go out. Even if you are not a major partier, you will go out. It's inevitable here because it is just part of the culture. You need to experience it and in order to that you will need clothes and shoes. When you pick out your classes ahead of time at home, don't expect them to offer those classes. I didn't get a single one of the classes I wanted here. I am taking interesting courses, but not what I had anticipated. Be ready to adjust. Oh yeah, try not to lose your keys and student id card in the same week. It cost me 25 pounds. :( I'm sure I will think of more helpful hints, but for now, that's all I have.

Back to the music... I downloaded some Kinks and it's pretty good. I needed something new. it's 60s British rock music and I like it. Now, I am looking for The Audition.

Other than music thoughts, I have some thoughts about my flatmates. (Sidenote: I know that I am supposed to be using this for class credit, but I figure if I can't be honest then what's the point in reflecting on my experience here?!) That said, I like them most of the time. However, there are times when I seriously won't go out of my room almost all day just to avoid them. They are loud all the time. I know that I can be loud, too, but not all the time. I am very much a person that needs quiet time during the day. It's weird, too, because sometimes they get on my nerves with their childish antics. I say that is weird, because they are all older than me, I think. Either way, they are all either older or just about the same age. I could more understand and deal with it if they were 18 year old Welsch students spending just their second semester away from Mummy and Daddy. That's not the case. They are all American and old enough to know better. I mean, they buy toys and ohh and ahhh over them for hours. Maybe I am overexaggerating a little bit, but not very much. They are loud and they do buy toys. They leave other flatmates out of trips and dinners. It's like they just didn't get the memo about manners. I was raised to always ask people to join in on community things, like dinners and whatnot. To me, it is just second nature. I guess it will just take some getting used to, but I am not sure how the next four months are going to go. It will be interesting to say the least.

It will be especially interesting if I cannot sleep at night. I am writing this at 20 minutes until 3 in the morning. I slept most of the day because last night our call buzzer kept going off. It is broken and sounds like an animal being beaten. I was woken up by it at 1:00 in the morning yesterday and couldn't get back to sleep. The night before I worked on my essay for four straight hours, then watch forty minutes of the Superbowl, left the bar and cam back to the flat. That was Sunday night, which turned into Monday morning when I didn't get to sleep until 5 in the morning. For the last three nights I have not gone out, yet I cannot sleep. Tonight, I have plans to go out, but will probably be so tired that I either won't go or will have to call it an early night. I don't have class Wednesday or Thursday, so we'll see.

Planning trips

So, my flatmates are in the kitchen nailing down their plans for Spring Break. I cannot wait, but have yet to finalize anything. There are so many places that I want to go, but other people want to go other places. I have already been to a lot of the places they want to visit. I want to go to more of Eastern Europe, while their main goals are the main attractions, like Rome and Paris. I've been and don't really want to go back to Paris. I would like to go back to Rome, though. I'm pretty sure that I would rather skip Paris and spend more time in Ireland. Then, after school is out I plan to go where I want. Next week, me and two other girls are planning to go to Germany to stay with my brother. That should be fun. He is only about two hours from the Swiss Alps and about four from Prague. I hope we get to hit both of those places. That would be amazing! My ideas for after school are to go to Istanbul, Belgium, The Netherlands, and maybe Spain. I would also really like to go to Ukraine, but am not sure if that will work out. I just love traveling and would really love to go everywhere! I know that is unrealistic, but a girl can dream, right!? I also need to get down to business on putting together my proposal for the Mueller Fellowship. I came up with a couple ideas last night. Here is the first. Basically, I would stay with my brother photographing his life in Germany. I think it would be cool to show the people back home and in Carlinville that someone from a small town in rural Illinois can make a life for himself in another country halfway across the world. Another idea, somewhat along the same lines is to photograph Alison and Stacey, my sisters, in their daily lives. Again, I would be showing people back home how two young women made lives for themselves outside the cornfields of Illinois. They are successful women and I think it would be really interesting for a lot of people to see what they have made of themselves. My other idea is to take a course at the International Center for Photography, advancing my photographic knowledge and skills. I also considered just travleing and taking photos of people in their natural habitats, specifically in Ukraine or Istanbul. If you are reading this, please take a few moments to give me some feedback on these ideas or suggestions. Thanks!

Essays and Sleeping

So, I am pretty sure that I am sick. Yesterday I slept most of the day. I think I got up at three in the afternoon and today I slept for 13 hours, more or less all the way through, getting up just twenty minutes ago at five o'clock. It may not even be that I am sick, just run down. My body is just tired and I have not been listening to it when it wants to go to sleep. Instead, I have been staying up late with friends. I have an essay due tomorrow at noon. I have yet to start writing it, but have the books that I need. Hopefully, it won't take me too terribly long. The requirement is 3,500 words with 1.5 spacing. I'm not quite sure how many pages 3,500 words is, but my paper is on politics and music during the 1960s. That means going through the chronology of what happened politically, then adding in what the musicians had to ssay in regards to politicians and policies. I have decided to look at The Kinks and maybe the Beatles. It is hard to pick out the Beatles' political statements within their music. The Kinks are much easier to read, plus their music is really good. I like the Beatles, but the Kinks are new to me, so it is fun to listen to them. Well, I should probably get going on my paper.