north wales.

highlights from the past week:
the international students department has been sponsoring several events helping us to both meet fellow international students and see Bangor and the surrounding areas. last weekend they sponsored a trip through Snowdonia National Park. during this trip we stopped for a bit in the towns of Caernarfon which holds the largest castle in north wales, and Bettws-Y-Coed, home of the stunning, Swallow Falls. during my time in Bangor, both in walking around and talking with locals i have made the conclusion that Bangor is not the most attractive (architecturally speaking) town in north wales. however, it is within very close distances to some of the most beautiful areas in the country, including the number of places that we visited during this trip. due to this realization i have vowed to take the train somewhere away from Bangor each weekend.
as they say...so much to see, so little time.

{caernarfon, wales}

later in the week, i had the opportunity to listen/watch traditional welsh music, preformed by a young welsh woman singing folk music while playing the harp. as she played, an elderly man sitting in front of me taped his foot steadily, and with less consistency teetered back and forth between humming and singing quiet loudly along with the tunes that were so familiar to him. it's in these smaller moments that i'm able to really feel the welsh culture. often times it can be hard to uncover. in arriving i quickly realized the depth in which american culture has really (and sadly)infiltrated this country. it is not uncommon to hear american music coming from down the hall of my flat, the Simpsons, Friends, and Scrubs are regulars on the teli, and KFC and Subway have even nudged their way into Bangor's high street. it does not become hard to forget that i'm not in the states. however, i'm learning that the further i get away from the uni, the more i'm able to participate in these moments.

{snowdonia national park}

after a very long day of classes (all but, one class is set on thursday). my understanding community class refreshingly, opted out of the normal class setting and went out on a field trip to gain a "concrete" understanding of the community within Snowdonia National Park. my lecturer brought us to a place that he made us swear in secrecy not to share the location of. it was unbelievable, with a perfect view of Snowdon mountain, as well as both Bangor and Caernarfon. each placed in opposite directions far in the distance, making a triangle of sorts around us. the land was freckled with sheep and cattle roaming freely, and clusters of lights outlined the tiny communities spread out among the barren hills. it was made complete with the sun setting on the water behind us, and clouds of smoke raising from various chimneys across the landscape. i could've sat there for hours.

{bettws-y-coed, all of the bldgs are made of this same stone}

{swallow falls}

weaved in between these wonderful experiences and beautiful sights have been a mixture of emotions. these emotions have involved feelings of adventure, joy and wonder. complete with spontaneous smiles and the occasional throwing of my hands in the air as if to more adequately take in all that's around me. it's in other moments that I feel quite confused, unsure, and worrisome. these moment's include "simple" questions such as "why am i here?" "what do i want to do with my life?" and "who am I?". (so maybe not that simple). it becomes a bit like riding a see-saw. while this is not in itself new for me, to do this both in such a beautiful, but unfamiliar place, with out contact with those who truly know me, is proving to be quite interesting. an experience very familiar to that which i had after moving to both Oakland, and Nashville for the first times. however, it comes at a different time in my life, bringing up slightly different questions, and perhaps the answers are coming more slowly.
until next time.
cheers.

{bangor universities, main arts building}

{if you'd like to see more pictures of great britain, you may click on the black and white photo to the right, near the top of the page}