Language

So, I have officially been gone a week now! Time has gone by so fast. But I must say that in the short amount of time I have been gone, I have actually learned quite a lot. Adjusting to a new school, learning to use the bus service, getting used to the accent of the locals, and fitting into everyday life in a new society take some time, but have made the experience thus far a great one!

Before I get too used to everything though, I want to make a list of all the major word difference that I have noticed. This will kind of by my own dictionary for daily life here in Wales. Most of the word barriers I have noticed came from a recent trip to the grocery store...but many come from elsewhere.

American Word - British Equivalent

chips - crisps

french fries - chips

cookies - biscuits

oatmeal - porrige

skim milk - skimmed milk

1%/2% milk - semi-skimmed

cell phone - mobile

university - uni

class - lecture

study - revise

goodbye/thank you - cheers

practice (sports) - training

while - whilst

flu shot - flu jab

sweater - jumper

British Pound - also call "quid" (people find this one extremely funny when we say it with our "American accents")

Also, here, there is a Duracell Bunny....not an Energizer one!...Who would have thought?

That's all I can think of for now. Welp, cheers for now whilst I go to sleep!

In and Around Swansea

Hello Again!

The past few days have been great exploring, meeting lots of new people, and getting all settled in!

The Student Village

The path to my building

A view of Swansea

The Marina

Ocean!

I MADE IT!

It's true, I arrived earlier today in Swansea, Wales. After leaving Denver, I had a short lay over in Cincinnati and then flew into London. Things went very smoothly...but the man in customs did have to give me a gentle reminder to stop looking so nervous...haha my bad! Next, I took about a five hour bus ride here. As the taxi dropped me off in the Student Village (where I will be staying) some other American exchange students offered to take me to get my keys and help carry my bags to my room. They were so nice!

I live in a "flat" with 6 other boys and girls (all from the U.K.) where we all share a kitchen and a bathroom but have our own individual rooms. The roommates that I have met so far are extremely friendly. They even offered my some tea when I arrived!

So far so good...I am so excited to be here!