Crossing the Lines: 2013

Hi,As you now have probably figured, I am home from America, but for some reason I haven't bothered to update this blog. America was an experience I will never forget and it has definitely set me up for travelling in the future. I am so keen to expand my horizons, and finally cross some things off my bucket list (found here). I know that travelling costs a lot of money and precious time, not to mention I am normally so reliant on my mom that it will be a struggle, but there are so many places I want to see and visit, and cultures I want to explore. At least then I can finally expand on this travel blog. Anyway, back to America. Well, soon after my trip to San Francisco, exam period was upon us at Willamette. I'm no stranger to exams, and I never really get really uptight or in a bind about them. I did a little revision, but exams over there are completely different, and I am definitely more favorable towards them. For example, my English exam was to be taken online, which meant I could get up, sit in my own bed in my room eating breakfast and fill in the questions. It was such a nice way to take an exam. I could even cheat if I wanted to, but why would I do that (halo appears). I ended up getting a B+ for it, and an A for my creative, which made me very glad.

After goodbyes, which were extremely hard, it was time to return home to the merry old land of England, and I'll admit, I was very excited to hear the awful accents and drive on the left again. There's no place like home after all. However, my journey home was a nightmare I can only laugh at now. It was 1 in the morning on the day I was meant to be going home. I had to get a shuttle at 8 and so, typical of my bad luck, my suitcase decided to break. The zip full on BROKE. I youtubed how to fix zips and everything and I couldn't fix it so I broke down crying wondering what I was going to do. I topped up my phone and phoned my mom in tears and she said to find belts or tights or anything to stick it together. Then the phone cut off. ALL my stuff was all over the floor. I didn't know what to do. SO I put on leggings and my Trafalgar Law hoody and put my hair back and went for a walk. It's 1 in the morning and my face is red raw from crying. LOW AND BEHOLD Safeway was open so I bought 2 rolls of duct tape and the cashier said to me 'looks like you've had a rough night' so I told him in a nice way that he was an arse. I got back and used a roll and a half of duct tape to tape up my suitcase, having decided to take out half my stuff and leave it in America, which meant bye bye new leggings, pajamas, towels and shoes. Then I finally got to sleep. I got to the airport the next day with my taped up suitcase that everyone is looking at and I put it on the scale and it was too heavy! I was prepared for it being too heavy. I was prepared to pay the charge. But no, it's SO heavy they cant let it on the plane. SO I ASKED THE WOMAN 'ARE YOU TELLING ME.....I HAVE TO UNDO THE TAPE.....AND TAKE STUFF OUT?!?!!?!?!!?!?' and that seemed to be the case. so I went over to the side, undid a little of the tape and pulled stuff out. Underwear was falling everywhere but i really just i didn't care. I now had THREE BAGS of hand luggage. I went back over to the woman and the bag was then light enough to go on the plane but I had to pay $100. I was fine with that. I gave her my bank card to pay and she told me it was not working. Bare in mind, by this point, the bank had blocked my card 3 times in 4 months DESPITE THE FACT I TOLD THEM I WAS IN AMERICA! So I went to a cash point to test it out and HEY HO THE BANK HAD FUCKING BLOCKED IT AAAAGGGGAAAAIIIINNNN. I went back over to the woman and I said to her 'Okay....im just gonna go over there and have a mental breakdown.' and she said 'excuse me?' so I reiterated 'IM GOING OVER THERE TO HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN!!!' and she looked at me like O.o and then said 'okay....just try and sort it out then come straight back to me don't worry' so I just looked at her like :):):):):):):):):):):) and then went off. I phoned my mom, trying my best not to punch my fist through the window, and told her what was going on but obviously, there was nothing she could do. I had A MINUSCULE amount of credit left on my phone so I phoned the bank and ask them to unblock the card and THANK GOD my phone held out for enough time for them to do it (despite them putting me on hold). So that was that and I FINALLY checked in. Then on the way through security one of the guards was staring down my top which pissed me off. AND THEN I BOUGHT SOME FROZEN YOGHURT AT THE AIRPORT AND DROPPED IN ON THE FLOOR!

Seriously, the day could not have possible gotten any worse. It was a very long day. I couldn't wait to get home. Since then I've been working and living at home, preparing for University. I find it very strange how I used to be so fit and active. Honestly, I've become a slob, but my education is important to me this year, and so I'm focusing on work and going for walks in the woods now and again. I love walking through woods and forests, they're so therapeutic. I have missed Wales terribly, after all, it had been almost a year since my visits.
I will use this as my normal blog from now on, and keep it active and ready for my travels. I have spent a lot of this year on a plane, and now I have a taste for it.

Until next time, Tiggs.

Bye bye America.

Hello Aberystwyth.

Hi everyone!

I haven't updated in a long time so with a quick prompt from my mom, here's another blog post. I have 11 days left here in the US. Only 11. It has all gone so quickly! It's the last days of class today and tomorrow, and then my weeks are full of activities planned with friends, studying and ... I guess...the gym. A lot has happened between my last update and now.

San Francisco.

So, for Spring Break I went to San Francisco. It was amazing. It was nice to be in a big city again, especially one that's so new and different. The first day I got there I got lost trying to find the place I was staying. Ooops. I ended up walking around San Francisco for about 2 hours but I saw all the street dancers and the busy shops and shopping centre. It was nice. Throughout the trip, I met up with my friends a lot and we went hiking and visited the touristy places like Fishermans Wharf and Ghiradelli Square. So much chocolate and the sundaes were the best I've ever had - worth the $8.50.

It was a shame that all the trips to Alcatraz were full up, so we didn't get to visit it. I got some photos of it however. We visited the aquarium and went down to Monterey to see the coast. It was lovely. Me and my friends loved being tourists and bought 'I love S.F' Tshirts just to live up to the stereotype. That was until the Saturday, when tourists were everywhere and we wanted nothing more than for them to go away! On the day before I left, I went on a 6 and a half hour walk with my Ipod and visited the Golden Gate bridge and stopped off at the Disney Museum. I was tired and starving by the end of it but it was worth it.

WulaPalooza

So when I returned from San Francisco, not much happened other than movie nights (we got through all the Harry Potters and Toy Story movies), and studying. Last Saturday was WilaPalooza, which is kind of like a mini festival that happens on campus. There was facepainting and food and music. Everyone got blankets and sat outside in the sun (my feet tanned - it's something) and the people who were old enough spent the day getting drunk. Halfway through the day me and my friends went for a curry - which reminded me so much of home! Then in the evening we watched the remainder of the music performances. It was a nice atmosphere and I really enjoyed it.

Ocean Sight-seeing

Yesterday evening we went with the outdoor program to the Oregon Coast. It was lovely to be on a beach again. The beach has a massive (and I mean MASSIVE) sand dune which we climbed. It was nice to get to the top, and it was nice to run down....but the climb up left everyone shattered. We saw some eagles chilling in the trees at the top. After we went to visit a lighthouse. It was a really small lighthouse. It was cute. haha. We went on a mini tour and learned about the history of it before moving on to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We tried different samples of cheese and then got some ice cream which was so good! I bought my fifth teddy bear from there - named Tilli.

They're really the main events of the last month. Seems like so much has happened in a short space of time and now I only have 11 days left. I guess I'll use that time to try and take better care of myself before I go home. Eat better (because omg I can't remember the last day I ate healthy :') , go to the gym, tidy my room....start packing stuff. It feels so unreal. On Sunday we're going horse-riding with the outdoor program, which Im really looking forward to!

Until Next Time....

xoxo