Life at Edge Hill

I've been talking about traveling so much that I thought at a post about home would be nice. It's funny how I consider Ormskirk home now. I feel comfortable here and like it is where I belong. It is easier for me to write in lists so here it goes

1. This time of the semester is when essays begin to be due and group projects are starting to pick up. I have 2 essays due within the next week. It really isn't as stressful as it sounds because we have known about them since day 1. Not much guidance was given because the tutors want you to explore the whole topic and be creative with your writing.

2. The Hub- where you go for meals, a convenient store, a big screen TV and to hang out. It is located in the center of campus so it is the perfect meeting place for a coffee or to hang out with some of your mates. Every week day a few vendors come to the hub and sell everything from fresh produce to clothing to school supplies.

3. The common room- each residential building has a common room with couches and a TV. This is where I met a majority of my friends. It is a great central meeting point and where everyone hangs out after class.  Because our hall is half American students and half British students, I have met a variety of people.  Everyone in our hall is friends and we have a great little community feeling.

4. Ormskirk- It is like the perfect small town you see in a movie. It has absolutely everything you need with multiple clothing stores, restaurants and pubs etc.. but is still small and friendly. It is personable and home-y compared to a big city such a London where you could live there for 3 years and still not have seen all of it.  I go to Ormskirk about 2-3 times per week. There are some coffee shops where I go to do homework with a friend or sometimes I just have to run some errands.

5. Tutors here are much less formal than professors at home. You address them by their first name and can send casual emails about questions. They are always willing to help and have many open office hours. They seem to be able to make more jokes while in class- but it may just be the British humor.

I've made great friends to where I know I never have to eat alone, always have someone to talk to, and know I have a place to stay if I want to travel to their hometown. Some of my British friends already have plans on visiting the States and I already have plans to visit some friends I met over here who live in South Carolina. I have a little over 2 months left and that is not nearly enough. Time has flown by and I am not ready to leave (nor will I ever be).

Some friends I've met along the way

The Tube and The Castle: My weekends in London and Scotland

London

This weekend I felt like I was living on the Tube (their subway system). It is really a curse and a blessing. The tube is crowded and busy, yet simple and extremely convenient. After the first day or so I got acquainted with the social etiquette of the Tube… You stand on the right side of the escalator and walk on the left. If you are only going 1-2 stops, standing is easier. Have your ticket ready when you need to scan it through the machine, don't be "that" person to hold up the line…

I saw all of the touristy destinations, which are 100x better and more beautiful in person than you would think. We went on a free walking tour which is a necessity for every city I visit. I want to know what buildings I'm looking at and the context for how and why they were built.  

Visiting for a weekend was a great getaway yet the hustle of a big city is not for me and only makes me appreciate Ormskirk that much more. There are hundreds of museums, restaurants, pubs and shopping centers which are great to see but a weekend is not enough time to see even half of the city.

Scotland 

I say this every time I go to a new city but…. Edinburgh may be my new favorite city. It is absolutely breathtaking. The history, the mountains, the people- everything was perfect. We did a free walking tour through Sandemans (all of their tours have been GREAT) and also did a tour through the Edinburgh Castle. The castle dates back 3000 years and is sitting on volcanic rock. Parts of it were built specially for cannon balls to be deflected and there is a prison inside with carvings in the wood are still remaining. We learned where the drink "Bloody Mary" came from (the war between the Catholic and the Protestants) and also the game Capture the Flag.

Walking through Edinburgh, expect to see Bagpipers, hundreds of cashmere and wool shops and beautiful cathedrals. The city is a mix of old and new, traditional and new age culture. My travel partner  Katie and I had to try Haggis (lamb) for Edinburgh is known to have the best. To my surprise, I loved it! This is just one example of the many times I have tried new things and been taken out of my comfort zone while abroad. 

On the tour, we saw the birthplace of Harry Potter. I have always enjoyed the series but have need considered myself a huge fan. After seeing the coffee shop where J. K Rowling wrote the series and walking through the cemetery where she sought inspiration for characters names, I grew much fonder of the series and the author. 

The Edinburgh Castle

 My favorite picture from Scotland- the view from the top of the castle overlooking Edinburgh

If you look closely, you can see Thomas Riddell written on the stone. This was just 1 of the many tombstones I saw that got turned into characters.

Day Trips to York and the Lake District

Hey there! 

Well today officially marks one month of being in England! Being here has become normal, sometimes I even forget I'm in another country. Days have fallen into a type of routine and classes are in full swing. I have met so many great people and I am so thankful for the awesome friends I've made. My time here would not be half as memorable if it were not for all of the wonderful people I have become close with. 

I have taken 2 day trips to other parts of England since being here. Edge Hill's student union paired with a bus touring company to offer students the opportunity to see popular English tourist destinations. They are around 30 pounds (or 50 dollars) for a day filled with a guided bus/walking tour along with time to explore independently. 

First, I went to York. The history and the buildings in the small town is so interesting and beautiful; I am extremely grateful I was able to experience it first hand. York was discovered in the 12th or 13th century. There were wood walls created by the Vikings surrounding the town but they were replaced with brick and a moat to keep out unwanted visitors. There are only six gates entering the city and the Queen is only allowed to enter through the Mickel Gates Bar with a special knock. 
In York, we walked through the town seeing modern day clothing stores along with small souvenir shops. There was also a free walking tour we took part of which explained the history of the city more in depth. If you are in England, York is a must see! 

                                        A beautiful cathedral called the York Minster

                          Clifford's Tower. Go to the top and you get a view of the whole city

You can see the 4 layers of brick all built in different centuries

                                 And now for the Lake District!

Words cannot describe how beautiful and perfect the Lake District is. It is a National Park about 1.5 hours north of Edge Hill full of Lakes, rivers mountains and valleys. Fun Fact: there is technically only 1 lake in the Lake District, called Lake Windamere. The rest are called Tarns and Meres. We took a boat ride around Lake Windamere, viewing some if its islands and the beautiful homes around the lake. We also went for a small hike through the forest and drove around the mountains on roads way too small for the bus (A warning sign said no vehicles over 6'6" wide were allowed… Our bus was 9' wide).

Our bus driver, Frank, was knowledgable yet really fun and personable. We listened to Beatrix Potter children's stories on the drive up. I didn't think I knew who she was, but after hearing Peter Rabbit, I remember hearing her stories as a child. She lived and got all of her inspiration from the Lake District. We stopped at the birthplace of Gingerbread! It was the smallest store I have ever seen, but it is where Sarah Nelson created Gingerbread. Of corse we had to buy some and try it for ourselves, and let me tell you, it is worth the hype. If you are interested in nature, hiking or merely a beautiful view, the Lake district is a must! 

                                       Beautiful, Breathtaking, Surreal

                    My good friend Katie and I had to take a picture to prove to ourselves that we weren't dreaming. It was THAT beautiful.

Next Blog: My Weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland!