So it has been raining inconsistently for the last three days. Typical Great Britain weather, right? All of this rain has brought my morale down slightly, just because I do not want to travel and site-see due to the fact that I would be soaking wet and miserable. Also, this week is rather boring because I do not have classes because it is Induction Week for the Freshers (Freshmen). At the University of Chichester, the Freshers have orientation a week after the upperclassmen go back to classes. So while the rest of us are off, the Freshers are doing different activities on campus. Then, they will join the upperclassmen next week, and the classes will resume. I’m not sure how I feel about this since I have been bored out of my mind this week since there are no classes. My tutors had assigned homework for this week, which I have done some of it already. Honestly, I am not a big fan of this structure for the Freshers. I feel that it is a waste of my time, and if I had had classes this week, I would be home a week earlier. However, that is not the case. I will just have to muscle through it. Hopefully, once classes resume, time will go by a lot faster.
Last weekend, however, I did take a day trip to Portsmouth, England. We traveled to Gunwharf Quays, which is an outdoor/indoor mall. I did not know anyone who was going, but I was okay with that. I enjoyed walking around at my own leisure. However, I did make a new acquaintance on the bus on the way back to campus. She was also an exchange student, but from Finland. We were able to strike a conversation about the culture differences between our countries. We also decided that we would try to travel and site-see together throughout the term. I am looking forward to it!
Thus far, this week has been rather boring… However, my host family is taking me out to the local pool on Wednesday, and we are going bowling Thursday night. I am looking forward to getting out and doing something different. We had a lot of fun together, and it was really nice to get out and do something that the locals do. After several days of endless rain, the sun finally decided to show its face on Thursday. I made certain that I went outside because I needed some Vitamin D! I took the bus to the Uni, and then I walked about two miles to town. I could take the bus all the way into town, but I would much rather walk. It gives me some fresh air and a chance to explore the area at my own pace. I went into town again Friday afternoon while the sun was out. Unfortunately, while I was out, it rained. I was able to stay dry in one of the shops until a bus came to take me back to the cottage where I am staying. I truly enjoy being out and about with the locals, even if I am by myself. Some locals will strike up a conversation with me, which turns out to be very stimulating conversation because they usually tell me where they have traveled in the States. They also ask me if I am enjoying my stay. I have been really surprised at how friendly everyone has been.
I am looking forward to going back to classes this week. My classes, thus far, seem very interesting, and my tutors are very enthusiastic about teaching! There are a few trips that will take place as the semester progresses; I am definitely going to try to go to as many of them as possible!
Cheers!
Location: Bognor Regis, England, UK; Portsmouth, England
