Time is Flying By

So I've become extremely bad at keeping up to date on this blog. My last blog was talking about the middle of October and now its almost the middle of November. Time is moving so fast and I only have another month left in Liverpool. Here are some of the highlights from the past couple of weeks:

Peak District: For my environmental resources module, we had to go on a field trip to Peak District National Park. It basically took up most of my day but it was pretty awesome. We got to hike a lot and at the top of the mountain we climbed we sat and had lunch. The sheep seriously came up to us and we were feeding them out of our hands. It was pretty exciting. The hiking was difficult but the views of the moorland and valleys was absolutely beautiful.

Lake District: Liverpool Hope University puts on trips for the international students and this one was to the Lake District which is another national park. This trip was so much fun because I was surrounded with all of my friends. We took a coach bus to the area which took about 2 hours to get to. Most of us weren't aware of what the trip entailed so, I was wearing my rocket dogs that day. The biggest part of the trip was another hiking excursion up a mountain. This walk was a lot more wet, muddy, and rocky. We got to hike past some of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. We got to stand right next to a waterfall and everything. The hike up the mountain ended when we reached the tarn. A tarn is a lake enclosed by mountains. All of the work it took to get up there was so worth it when I was able to see that glorious beauty. It was breathtaking. The way back down went a lot faster, but I slipped and my butt was wet and muddy for the rest of the day. It was so nice to be in an old city and see the small houses and beautiful surroundings.

Halloween: In Britain, they celebrate Halloween pretty well but a lot of the international students didn't really celebrate it so we wanted them all to get involved. Thursday night before Halloween some of my friends carved pumpkins and everyone was so interested in the concept. They thought it was such an odd thing. It was really nice though because it reminded me of home. Halloween night everybody met in reception and it was really exciting to see all the international students dressed up in costumes. I went as Mother Nature which was actually a pretty cool costume. Everybody went out that night and we all had a really great time.

Guy Fawkes Day: Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I can see of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. The history major in me has known about this holiday before coming here. November 5 is called either Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night and celebrates the date in which Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up parliament. So on Thursday the weather wasn't cooperating because it rained for most of the day and I had the wonderful experience of getting splashed by a car while waiting for the bus to come. It actually stopped raining just in time for the fireworks. I don't think they have as many regulations about fireworks here because at Sefton Park where we were watching them the fireworks were seriously like right over our heads. We were so close to them which was really exciting and a little bit scary. That night we went for a walk in the park and when we were leaving some guy decided it would cool to shoot fireworks at us. These were real fireworks that were exploding all around us as we all scrambled and ran for safety. I seriously thought I was gonna die by fireworks and all I could worry about was if my hair would catch on fire. All in all a pretty great day!

As my time here is slowly seeping away, I'm getting to know a lot more people and forming lasting friendships. Now all of a sudden, essays and homework are coming into play and taking up my time. I have a couple of trips to Rome, Spain, and London left before I have to leave and Liverpool still has so much to offer. I'm trying to appreciate every moment and make the most of the time I have left here. I miss everyone at home and yet I feel so at home here. Its going to feel extremely odd to be in Avon Lake and Holland, but it will definitely take some adjusting. Love you bunches and hopefully I'll update again soon.