No. 65: Whistle

No. 65: Whistle while you walk to class.

So, it wasn't on the way to class, but on the way to the bus stop from my exam, still counts though, yes?

As I walked across the quad that's still layered with about 5" of glistening snow I began to whistle to this song... (probably one of my favourites at the mo!)

The Civil Wars - Eavesdrop

Beautiful song right? Gorgeous lyrics!

Anyway, I was whistling and then I saw my bus, so... I tentatively sprinted, (there's sneaky ice patches hidden under the lovely white blanket!)

So yes, that's number 65 crossed off.

C.

No. 2: Ice-hockey

This weekend myself and Vince, (shout out to my 104 '"buddy!") headed to U of I's ice-rink to watch the University team play ice-hockey. I can officially cross that one off my list.

I imagined it to be fast, furious and unforgiving and on the whole, I found these to be true.

In my head there were going to be a lot more players, but surprisingly there were only 5, or maybe 6 on each team?

Fast, it definitely was, you'd be watching one end and in the blink of an eye the puck was being fought over on the opposite side.

Dangerous, is potentially another adjective I'd choose to describe the game. Hockey sticks could easily be branded as weapons in the fight for the puck! There was actually a slight scuffufle between two players in which the ref had to intervene, but in his gliding across the ice towards the disagreement, he himself tripped and flew into the arguing players landing fiercely onto the ice, inches from the wall!

A lot of my time was spent gasping or squealing, eagerly watching (and hoping!) the players would get back up again after their tremendous falls. Although it has to be mentioned just how skilled these guys are, they zoom around like Pigwidgeon when he's just been let out of his cage!

However, despite this mishap, our team actually won, woohoo! (#goillini)

It was a lot of fun. Especially since the students here really get behind their teams and support them. Every time we scored and therefore their goalie missed, they would stand and chant and point at the poor guy shouting: "You suck!" over and over.

But hey, team spirit I guess?

C.

Final Twin Fun.

The dreaded week of finals is here.

Final meet-ups. Final meals. Final walks. Final drinks. Final chats. Final hugs.

Oh, and also the pesky finals themselves.

Since myself and my twin room-mate are procrastinators to the CORE and actually don't want to be editing, writing or redrafting silly papers on finals week, this is what ensues...

Rolling around the living room carpet wrapped up in quilts; what else are you to do with your evenings during finals week?

Here are some photos of our late night fun! (okay, so it's only 10.30, cut us some slack!)

"I'm a burrito on the floor."

"Burritos don't have to write papers!" 

"Burrito's don't have to take finals"

"Seriously, I'm a burrito."

"Actually I feel like a mermaid"

Oh how I'll miss this goof.

C. 

P.s Hope you feel better soon Jen, wrap up warm like this! 

No. 48: Go to class in your pyjamas

Hello!

So yes, I officially completed mission go to University in your pyjamas! I was joined by three wonderful friends (who I'll miss lots and lots!) also strutting their stuff in glorious sleeping attire!

At first it felt weird leaving the apartment in the comfort of your pyjamas, like I was forgetting something, i.e getting dressed. And yes, there were some vacant, blank and confused stares with head turns, but... who cares!

Because:

A) Pyjama's are super comfortable.
B) You'll probably never see half those head turners again anyway.

Of course, here is some photographic evidence... also known as friends in pyjamas, out in the snow! (special shout out to Kaitlyn repping the no-coat look in the snow!)

"We look good in pyjamas!"

C.

No. 67: Ice Skate & No. 34: Go to an a capella concert

So yesterday felt extremely Christmas'y. What with waking up to snow, going ice-skating and then attending a Christmas Carol Choir concert (look at that beautiful alliteration there!) I couldn't help but fill to the brim with Christmas cheer.

Ice-skating. I used to go ice-skating with some friends when I was in secondary school almost every Friday night. I was never the most elegant, or the fastest but I could at least maintain a good speed and not have to waddle around like an uncoordinated baby penguin.

Oh, how things have changed.

The minute I stepped onto the ice I suddenly couldn't remember what you had to do, therefore I resorted to clinging with all my might onto the side frames and doing the all important shuffle.

However, it wasn't too long until my brain remembered how to kind of skate, (mostly motivated by the shame of seeing 3 and 4 year old's whizzing , zooming, tumbling and bouncing back up again!) Myself and my friend managed to begin to glide around (almost smoothly) there were of course  few hiccups here and there, but all in all it was very fun, and thankfully no bruises or broken bones were incurred.

Then we met another friend and headed to the Christmas carol choirs at the Krannert Centre. It was a lovely way to end a Christmas'y afternoon, even if Silent Night wasn't sung! (I know right, how weird?!)

Looking forward to crossing some more off of this list soon!

C.

No. 6: Volunteer

Hello!

So today I can officially cross off number 6 off of my list! I volunteered at the U of I's study abroad session for US students going to England.

It was so much fun! We had to wear bright orange T-shirts (of course, it's the school colour!) and stand at the front of a large group of anxious students and answer their many questions.

It was so interesting to see preparation for travel and studying abroad from the other side, as it were. Of course a lot of the questions were similar to the ones I also had plaguing me before I arrived on the shores of the Land of the Free.

But what was most interesting for me was actually answering these questions. Being asked direct questions about your own culture and then attempting to clearly advise someone else on how to navigate this system was illuminating for yourself, since it caused you to be reflective and question your own ways.

I also met a couple of lovely girls who will be studying next semester at my University, it was so nice to meet them and to feel able to help them with their questions in their preparations!

For the first time, I think ever, I actually didn't feel nervous about standing in front of a large group of people and talking! I know I've done it plenty of times before, but there's always been that niggle in the pit of my stomach. Today however that niggle was absent, and was replaced with calmness, I really do think the relaxed attitude of some of the American students I've got to know has rubbed off on me... WIN.

Anyway, here is some photographic evidence of my volunteering... also known as silly poses.



C.

15 days...

Hello!

So since the last time I posted I've been to Washington DC and NYC! (I know right, insane!) however those posts will have to wait since they'll be meaty and will need some time.

But! Since I only have the grand total of 15 days left in Champaign, (yes, insert sad tones, sighs and possible tear'y eyes here!) I'm attempting to cram in everything I wanted to do whilst I was here while also studying for those pesky final exams.

This results in me basically accepting every invitation people give me to do crazy things as well as me roaming the streets visiting coffee shops and museums galore.

The first of these crazy invites was from my house mates, for one of their education classes they've had to learn to play the ukulele, I know... crazy, but they invited me to their recital/presentation at a pub in downtown Champaign. It was so much fun!

The pub was really quaint and super chilled with everything wooden. I got the pleasure of watching my house mates play along with this local band, it was cool and also hilarious; one of my house-mates very clearly would have preferred to be anywhere else than there playing a ukulele, however she was great! Go Serblin! :P

Anyway, there's a short anecdote for now!

P.s I have made arrangements to fulfil numbers 6 & 48 off of my list of things to do, watch out for more!

C.

101 things to do at U of I... well, 79

So, since I've realised I've only got a little over a month left here are UIUC, I remembered this list I found on the U of I website* before I came here, and how much I wanted to do, see and experience at this American University.

Therefore... I've decided to do as many of these things I can possibly do in the time I have left!

There were originally 101 ideas but I've cut some out since they aren't/weren't possible with being here only for a semester anyway.

However, as for the rest, I'm going to do my best to go and experience them and then I'll pop back here to cross them off as I go!

Wish me luck!
*Thanks to the writer of this post, original article can be found here:
 http://blog.admissions.illinois.edu/?p=5454

1. Ring the Altgeld Bells
2. Experience all the sporting events (football, softball, soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, men’s/women’s gymnastics, volleyball, etc.)
3. Do research
4. Sky dive
5. Go to a concert at Krannert Center
6. Volunteer
7. Go to notable restaurants like Courier Cafe and Papa Del’s
8. Decorate and get photos with the Alma Mater (she's currently missing still! :/)
9. Go inside every University building
10. Read/study on the Quad
11. Get frozen custard from the Custard Cup  Genuinely sad that I can't do this one since it's closed! :( 
12. Go rock climbing at the ARC
13. Learn an instrument (the School of Music offers lessons on campus!)
14. Visit Allerton
15. Attend the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival
16. Join a club
17. Tutor a friend
18. Go to Bevier Cafe
19. Listen to music in the Union Courtyard Cafe
20. Nap on the Quad
21. Join a cause
22. Learn to cook
23. Swing dance, (I've seen this, but I've not participated... yet anyway!)
24. Use the many Illinois library resources
25. Take a walk in the quiet streets of Urbana
26. Attend Quad Day
27. Go to the dining hall A La Carte (“Late Night”) (Especially at Busey-Evans – they have chocolate covered strawberries!)
28. Attend a random lecture
29. Visit Downtown Champaign
30. Golf at the U of I Golf Club
31. Visit the Champaign and Urbana Public Libraries
32. Picnic in Illini Grove
33. Watch a Marching Illini Rehearsal (on the South Quad during the fall)
34. Go to an a capella concert
35. Become friends with a professor
36. Watch an outdoor movie on the Quad
37. Pull an all-nighter studying (pulled one in NYC, does this count? I'm going to go with yes!)
38. Order Insomnia Cookies late at night after studying
39. Play laser tag at Krannert
40. See a movie at the Virginia Theater
41. Perform at an Open Mic Night
42. Create a personal website  (This is it!)
43. Attend an academic conference
44. Write for the Daily Illini
45. Create a short film
46. Become a better writer
47. Meet your Dean
48. Go to class in your pyjamas
49. Meet alumni (SAA and ESAA)
50. Have a dinner party
51. Ask a professor about his/her research interests
52. Prank a friend (all in good fun)
53. Sit in the front row of class
54. Visit the Arboretum
55. Go to a tennis match
56. Visit every campus library
57. See the Fistulated Cows
58. Take a walk on the Quad after dark
59. Play Frisbee and/or croquet on the Quad
60. Explore the basements of campus buildings
61. Join our Illinois social network, Always Illinois
62. Volunteer with children at the Orpheum Museum
63. Climb a tree
64. See live bands at the Canopy Club or the Highdive
65. Whistle while you walk to class
66. Relax your muscles with a professional massage
67. Ice skate at the Ice Arena
68. Learn how to solder
69. Eat at every dorm specialty restaurant in one week
70. Play in a table tennis tournament
71. Go to Illinites
72. Practice parkour
73. Camp at Kickapoo State Park
74. Eat at the Illini Union Ballroom for lunch
75. Ride the 22 Illini bus around the entire loop
76. Go thrift-store shopping in downtown Champaign
77. Visit the Krannert Art Museum
78. Play broomball
79. Take a tour of the greenhouses

Sports Direct.com

So generally I'm only a 'sports fan' when there is tennis to be watched, but since coming here and being exposed to the American sports culture, especially in the college scene, I have to say... I'm really into it!

So far, I've been to a college football game, college basketball game and a Cubs Baseball game in Chicago!

My personal favourite has to be basketball, I can't wait to see more (got a sweet deal on three tickets!) It's so fast paced and intense especially in the State Farm Center, also known as the Spaceship... see below!

At first when we were watching, it was so quiet, it was unnerving! The game had started and we'd won numerous points, but the crowd were so silent you could actually hear the players shoes squeaking!

But, as soon as we reached 10 points the crowd erupted! I was informed by a lady sat next to me it's called the 'Orange Hush'. If you're really into basketball you can be part of this group called 'Orange Crush' which go to every game and cheer ecstatically for them, however for the first 10 points they're silent, and then as soon as we hit that mark... they go crazy!

I mean crazy.

There was somebody dressed as a Native American, crazy chants and dances, they even had HUGE cardboard cut outs of everyone from the marching band's conductor all the way to The Grumpy Cat!

At one point the opposing team from Alabama were taking a free throw and the saxophonist from our marching band, stood right behind the net, shouted aloud: "If you miss this shot I'll buy you a pony!"

It worked. And overall we won 80-63. It was so much fun.

Seeing an American football game was also an incredible experience with the cheerleaders the entire marching band, the fireworks, the supportive student fans, the big screen and all other American-ness that goes along with it. However, it's very stop-start'y, I reckon the game wouldn't last so long if they didn't stop all the time?! It was still so much fun, sadly we didn't win the game I saw, but since it was an evening game they put on a fireworks display after the game so that made it all better, in my opinion anyway!

Baseball was extremely fun! However, it was also extremely cold and I was not prepared for that, so I spent most of it shivering! My friends and I weren't accustomed to the fact that at a certain point in the game everybody stands up and sings the following song... needless to say, it was hilarious!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwNCBxUFSG0

C. 

English 206.

I have to dedicate a whole post solely to one of my English classes because, well, it's just pure magic.

It's called: "Enlightenment Literature and Culture."

When I originally chose it, it was only to partner with another module here to equate to a module back in Liverpool that I would have taken, so I wasn't really too excited about it, but oh my... I'm SO glad I took it; below I'm just going to list some hilarious things and interesting teaching styles this teacher has incorporated into our classes!


1) We studied Narrow Road Through the Backcountry, by Matsuo Basho, it's a travel narrative with interspersed haiku's throughout. So this teacher decided to make us each write a haiku on a page about literally anything and pass it on to the next person for them to write a continuation. This happened twice and then she collected them all in.

2) Mrs W. also made us do something similar but not a haiku this time, only rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter (!) ; she also gave us prompts this time: U.S intervention in Syria, an Elegy or satirical views of UIUC. She made the room dark and said this would be what it would like during the Enlightenment, limited lighting and for fun, people would compose poems and would socially add verses together on the spot!

With both of these exercises she took away our efforts and then arrived to class the next day with print outs of them all grouped together like an Anthology, it was so cool reading everybody's and seeing how everyone has creative capability within them.

3) When talking about the character Macheath in the Beggar's Opera, she ACTUALLY said in class: "the actor who plays Macheath is meant to have a crotch-melting tenor" YES. She said those words. I almost died.

4) When depicting the scene of a theatre and theatre goers during this period she had us sit in a semi circle, enclosing a picnic blanket on the floor which represented the pit/stalls. She made some people sit on the floor there and basically cast them as commoners and prostitutes. She gave them a big bag of rubbish to demonstrate how people would throw crap at the stage during the performance to drag down the playwright's reputation if they didn't like them! She then also gave burger king crowns to two people casting them as royalty. It was hilarious.

5)She wheeled one of those old TV sets into class, the one that makes your heart jump at the thrill of a film lesson. Then she played a clip from one of the texts and handed out oranges, since these apparently were the equivalent of our theatre snacks of popcorn/ice-cream. T'was a good, since we kind of got a film lesson, plus the perk of a sweet nutritious treat!

6) One of the texts we've studied is called The Love Suicides at Amijima it is a Japanese drama which is actually performed with puppets really intricately. To demonstrate how difficult if is to realistically portray the story with puppets, what did she do? 

Of course she nominated people to act as puppets and puppeteers.

One poor guy had to sit down at the front of class and then two other people had to control each half of his body whilst another student narrated the play, I hope you can imagine of course how insanely funny this was, to see three people who know each other fairly (?) well, (perhaps only from class) standing at the front and manipulating another person in relation to the story... I nearly cried.

7) The moments when she chooses to use curse words to question what is going on in the text always makes me giggle. A personal favourite: "It's like WTF Kant, what are you saying?"

8) Final thing (so far!) the fact she quotes Death Cab for Cutie, and sends links to the class of The Who performing Baba O'Riley.

C. 

Such a foreigner.

Hello!

So I've not posted in a reallllllllly long time... oops.

This will be a short one to just recount something I found hilarious.

Whilst I was buying something in a shop on campus the other day, I got chatting to the guy who was serving me, when he asked where I lived and he realised it wasn't on campus (having to get the bus everyday to university seems unusual to some people here?!) he was like:

"Oh, so do a lot of foreigners live there?"

At first I was like, "foreigner?"

To which he looked at me like I was a right goof.

Then I remembered...I am a foreigner!

I took this slow response to be a good sign, interpreting that since I've settled in here I forgot for a moment that this wasn't England.

Of course there are a number of things I definitely miss about England, but I found this mishap of mine hilarious, and also nice to recognise my enjoyment at how smoothly and fun things are going!

C. 

Chicago baby.

Hello!

So last weekend I visited Chicago for the first time.

OH my.

It really is wonderful! Definitely a favourite city I've been to so far, it's just got everything and it's so beautiful with the contrast of the man-made epic skyscrapers and buildings to parks and the pier at the lake!

It was a bit of an adventure too! Me and my friend got the Greyhound coach there... a rickety old coach turned up and we thought: 'Hey, this is where the adventure begins!' Man, we were right. About half way through our journey the coach was going up an incline on an interstate... very, very slowly. Very aptly, just as I had joked about how slowly we were going and how it'd be funny if we just stopped, just that happened.

Our coach broke down.

I know! It was pants at first since we were meeting another friend and this would mean she'd be by herself for however long this ordeal would last, but it did all work out in the end and ended up giving us a story to tell.

We had to wait for the recovery bus and since we had nowhere to go we soon started chatting with fellow passengers and joked the time away.

When the recovery bus eventually did pick us up, because our location was so dangerous, (we were over a train track and on a flipping interstate!) they had to call the state police to close down a lane of the interstate so we could walk around the front of the recovery bus to get into it. So after all this, I can officially say I've walked on an interstate and also declare that I won't be travelling with Greyhound in the future if it can be avoided!

2 hours later than originally planned we arrived in Chicago, we grabbed a taxi to the hostel which was SO lovely, and began to explore the nearby streets, where we witnessed a random and very short lived marching procession about the troops in the Middle East, before we found a pizza place to curb our travelling hunger until the following day where we would venture into downtown.

The following couple of days were spent exploring the city, it's truly wonderful! It has a good transport system, but to be honest a lot of the main tourist spots we wanted to visit are very central and near to each other that you can take your very own walking tour! Every time we stopped and gathered around our map within seconds somebody came over to us to see if they could help us with directions, the people were so friendly!

To end, I'll quickly list the variety of things we got up to!

-Millennium Park with all it's wonderful sculptures including The Bean!
-Sears Tower, we visited the 103rd floor of this building to see the landscape of Chicago at night time.
-Boat ride on Lake Michigan where we toured the city skyline and learned about it's history.
-Giordano's deep dish Chicago style pizza! YUM.
-Michigan Avenue in all it's shopping glory! (The magnificent mile is a stretch of supremely expensive shops, so you know... I just observed the architecture!)
-We went to a Cubs baseball game to experience a favourite American past time! It was fun to cheer and clap, and try and grasp the rules!
-Wandered around the city taking pictures of practically everything!
-To conclude our trip we visited The Buckingham fountain which displays an hourly show with lights and music and crazy jet propulsions, at it's climax the jet propulsions reach 150ft! Immense!

So all in all, it was amazing, and I already would like to go back and explore some more!

Cheryl

P.s. Shout out to the lovely Miss Gemma Chrimes as it was her birthday 2 days ago and I missed it! So... Happy birthday beautiful! This is for you...

DTP

Hello all!

This blog is to recount a personal achievement!

As an International Student this University requires you to submit immunization records to make sure you're healthy and whatnot, but they also sometimes request TB screening tests... Of course these involve needles. 

(insert heart palpitations here)

I've been putting off going to the Health Centre ever since I arrived, but today I finally plucked up the courage (after receiving many prompting emails!) and I went. It was nerve racking to say the least. 

I arrived and had to fill out a ton of forms, and then having done so, I had to do the dreaded thing: sit and wait in a surgery. I don't know what it is, or where this fear came from but I loathe any kind of medical institute, especially the ones that want to administer sharp pointed objects into my arm!

As I sat and waited the inevitable happened, my mind began to race through the scenes over and over again about what was about to happen; I literally had to force myself to think of trivial things to attempt to take my mind off of it.

Then her voice sung through the surgery silence... "Miss Culliford-Whyte."

I jumped out of my seat nearly knocking the adjacent one over, I greeted the nurse and began talking at her at about 120mph, explaining how I'd filled all the forms out, I have my immunization records, I don't think I have TB and if it was okay to leave now? 

She of course registered my nervousness and was so lovely and gentle. She reviewed all of my documents and agreed that I wasn't a high risk TB carrier (or however she termed it!) Great, I thought, I can go now then. 

Then she proceeded with the frightful three letter word... "But..."

There it was. I shuddered.

"You are way over due your boosters, it was meant to be administered in 2008, they only last 10 years. It's not bad, there's nothing wrong with you, but you'll still need to have it."

"Now? Like today? As in, you're going to do it right now?" I responded.

"Well, yes?" She replied, "Don't worry I'll be quick and gentle."

I never believe it when they say that, but she was actually true to her word.

Now, if you know me, or perhaps you may have gathered from this post, I generally don't respond well to needles, in fact I've been known to pass out a number of times, well, practically every time it happens! And this time I was by myself, in a completely different country, in a surgery I've never been to before, with a nurse I don't know and most importantly with no one's hand to crush. 

So, all in all it went well. She gave me some apple juice since my face drained of any possible pale colour it had in the first place and she told me to sit down for a few minutes before leaving. Of course I was reluctant to stay any longer than necessary in a room of such objects, so I politely excused myself and jokingly said good-bye with a wish to not have to see her again. I bounced too enthusiastically out of that room only to then have to quickly scoot to the bathroom so I could sit on the floor for a further 15 minutes to try to stop feeling woozy.

Okay, so it wasn't a completely smooth experience. But, I think it's still one to be proud of. I had my first injection all by myself, and for once I didn't pass out either! Result.

I'm hoping to adventure around the local town some more this weekend, and next weekend I'll be heading to Chicago, so watch out for some more stories! (Hopefully some pictures too!)

From Cheryl your Belonephobic.

Six Flags

Hello!

This weekend was Labor weekend, so we had Monday off (long weekends FTW!)

So, what do you do when you have a long weekend? You take a spontaneous road-trip to a theme park, oh yes!

Me and this lovely group of friends from church here headed up north towards Chicago (I saw the city skyline for the first time, it's wonderful!) to go and explore the 6 flags theme park.

It was SO much fun!

To ease me into the experience of American roller-coasters, my friends thought that the 'Raging Bull' would be a good place to start...

Now I like roller-coasters, but this was a beast! It was actually terrifying, although by the end of the day we'd been on it about 3 or 4 times, it's such a thrill!

We went on all sorts, the Batman was fun because you were kind of underneath the track if that makes sense; Superman was great too since they tilted you like you were flying, it was similar to Air at Thorpe Park if you've been there!

There was a backwards wooden one, called Viper, which I certainly didn't like, it was rickety and bumpy and well, just generally scary even though it was far from the biggest ride there!

My favourite one was perhaps Xflight, because it was really smooth and interesting because you were on either side of the track, so it felt more like you were flying!

I also tried an American treat called Dippin' dots. They're really cool and weird, it's basically ice-cream that's been frozen somehow into like little round BB gun pellet things, they spoon a mound into a plastic cup and you scoop them up; they taste just like ice-cream but have a different beginning consistency!

I'll include some links to YouTube of the crazy roller-coasters I experienced if you fancy a view!

Cheryl

P.s some of the voice-overs/screams in these YouTube videos are hilarious... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MlXkF85e7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwGyYCy-yw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM8DxuEoCrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPpne1qsK94

What can you do, y'know?

Hello,

I'm writing this blog-post as a challenge for myself; I'm hoping that by documenting a more personal lesson online, you my lovely friends at home (if you don't mind!) can help me keep learning it when I return by reminding me of this very post.

I've noticed recently how since my chaotic arrival into the US (which while blogging about I managed to find amusement in the stressful situation!) I've actually started to worry less. Yes... you heard right!

Note the picture below.

I've found myself repeating these words to people when they are telling me about all the things they've got to do, and when I myself begin to recount the mental list of things I've yet to do or get to grips with. My Mum says this a lot to me when I splurge out my worries to her, but since living here I've begun to start taking things actually as they come. Shock horror I know! 

There are some things you've just got to do, like filling out forms and waiting in queues. There are some things that you just have to accept, like paying a lot of money for books and fees. 

But you know what... It'll all work out. 

It's definitely been a long time coming to start living this prepared, but chilled attitude out. I'm enjoying learning how to not stress and get worked up when things don't go smoothly, (which believe me as an International Student, there is always something to be done that you don't think is going very well!) but to instead just take things in your stride, because it will all work out eventually.

It's just the beginning of learning this stuff for me and if you're super good at this kind of thing, this post probably won't make much sense, but if you're used to worrying or fretting, like I certainly am, you can change that! I'm hoping to keep learning this and I hope it sticks with me when I come home; if not then it was definitely just the chilled out vibe I absorbed from laid back American flip-flop wearing students here. 

But honestly, I'm excited to learn more of these good life lessons! Our study abroad co-ordinator told us that we'd learn more about ourselves on this trip than anything else, I think I resigned that to an inspirational cheesy phrase send off; I thought I'd be learning about culture, travelling and people, but... he was right, in turns out you do learn all of those things, but you learn about yourself too.

Cheryl 

Culture Differences.

Hello!

So this post is about a few cultural differences that I've noticed so far, (plus anything else I remember as I type!)

1) People say 'right' a lot here. Like how we say 'yeah' in a conversation to show we understand and we're listening or that we agree with something; here 'right' is used to mean that. It doesn't sound that strange, but when one of my professor's is talking in a lecture, explaining something or another, and every other word is 'right' you definitely notice it!

2) 'Sure' is also another 'yes' substitute; however it is also often used when someone has just provided you with a service of some kind, i.e. in a shop or office, when you'd say thank you and leave, they'd just say 'sure.' Again it's a small difference, but when you're used to someone saying 'You're welcome' or something more formal and substantial, 'sure' can sound a bit nonchalant.

3) Swear words. I haven't quite figured out the different degrees of severity yet, but today my professor actually said BS; which of course I was shocked by!

4) I forgot to mention my Drive Thru' ATM experience. Yes, that was odd one. We pulled up to something that looked like a petrol station, filled out some forms and put them in a tube thing with our card, the tube whizzed up the system entered their office they sorted it all out and sent the money and the card back. It was crazy.

5) Sororities and Fraternities actually are a big deal like in the films. UIUC (the university I'm at here!) actually has THE largest fraternity and sorority community in the US!! Honestly, I see numerous people everyday walking around with specific Greek letters on their clothes, symbolising which group they are a member of.
   I was on the bus yesterday around campus and it went through the 'Greek Village' where the majority of the HUGE houses are that hosts 20+ students in a particular group. Practically everyday at university there have been chalk scribbles on the floor advertising each 'frat' group, because there is a short period of time in the beginning of this semester called 'rushing,' which is where new members are being recruited.
    I don't completely understand the process yet or what being in a group of that kind actually consists of; but I've heard that they do have the parties like on the films! One of my professor's actually advised us international students that if we were to go to a 'frat' party to ask around first, she said: 'You'll learn which ones not to go to fairly quickly' meaning that the activities you see on the films probably do actually happen in certain ones!

6) Eating out is a big part of the culture here, it's just so cheap to do so. It's a hard one to navigate, I haven't eaten out too many times since living here at the apartment, but I can understand why it is so popular. Food ingredients, 'groceries' or whatever aren't actually that much cheaper here than in the UK I keep forgetting about tax getting added on at the end, so things don't work out to be much cheaper. Whereas eating out in a restaurant is definitely a lot cheaper. It's hard to navigate because you want to eat healthily, so would prefer to cook yourself since you know what you're putting into a meal, but that ends up costing you more! It's a strange thing, but I'm definitely learning which ingredients are necessary and which are superfluous; whilst still getting an 'American dining experience' every now and then!

7) Tipping. I forget a lot! But what I have noticed (when I do remember!) that people are kind when they know you don't get it, or aren't used to it, and even if you give them less than what's expected because you're confused about coins, they appreciate your effort in trying!

8) MACS. I don't even know how to turn a mac computer on. I went into a computer work room intending to do some research online, but since I couldn't figure out how to turn the thing on, (and it was a silent study room!) I just sat and read my book instead.

9) People give directions in compass language. They say things like 'Oh! The Krannert Centre? That's just South of here.' I'm sorry.. South?! How the heck do I know which way I'm facing? Being someone whose geography is appalling and tends to get lost frequently, these kinds of directions don't help much! Maybe when I return home I'll actually be able to read a map and not walk in the wrong direction.

10) It's an imperial system here. The unit converter on Google has never received so many hits. Every time I cook something or even go on the treadmill, I have to convert things over; it's confusing!

So there we go, 10 differences/experience so far that I can remember! I'm sure there will be many more to come!

Cheryl

School

Hello!

So this Sunday I went to...
QUAD DAY.

It's basically a mahoosive freshers fair with all the societies booth's trying to recruit you for things. Of course in my usual intrigued fashion I signed up for only about... a billion things! I'm now paying the price trying to decide which ones to actually do! I signed up for practically everything from clay-pigeon shooting (I hear your screams, but I've actually done it before and not killed anybody believe it or not!) to a life drawing class with everything in between! I feel like I should do one recreational one, one academic'ish one and a volunteering one; but there are just so many options for each of those categories.

*Note America probably isn't an easy place for indecisive people!

Anyway, I'm nearly at the end of my first week of 'school' it's strange to say that, I keep saying uni and people don't get what I mean!

It's gone well. It's gone really well actually.

It feels weird at times thinking I have actually started back at university and it's August?!

 Of course as usual what comes with a new term includes hand aches from forgetting how to write and squinting from trying to concentrate when tired; but amongst all those usual habits of mine, lectures (if I can even call them that!) have gone wonderfully well.

I'm taking four courses here, (courses means modules!) two language ones and two literature ones, they're all very interesting and different, I like the diversity!

So far technically I have only been to lectures, the reason I'm tentative to call them that, is that they are actually quite small! Nothing in comparison to my Biology lectures last year at Liverpool with over 300 people in one room! For once, America is actually smaller than England in something! Go team GB.

One of my language classes is actually in what feels like a classroom with those American style chairs with the fold down desk things. My first day I didn't realise the desk bit folded up and down, so I proceeded to try and squeeze into it through the gap. I've now lost count the amount of times I've embarrassed myself, but hey! It's quite an interesting dynamic in that 'lecture' because you can move the chairs round and people tend to ask the lecturer more questions, in fact, in general there is definitely more active participation rather than just listening to a lecture like at home. You actually get marked on your participation! It is challenging, but once you get over people turning around to see who the Brit is, it's okay!

The other courses do have more of a lecture'y feel to them though, one great positive is that the chairs are like Odeon cinema chairs, so comfy and with another side table thing! (No popcorn though!)

Already I've had a load of readings and a 'response paper' to do.

The American system is a lot different.

It's more frequent with assessments in lots of different forms eventually I will have completed: response papers, projects, take-home exams, mid-terms, discussions and so on! There are so many different styles, once you've got to grips with what each means and what's expected of you from each, it really works well; it gives you a range of different approaches so it's not heavily weighted on one exam or one style. It'll definitely take some getting used to and a lot of diary planning will be needed, but I'm hoping these regular 'homeworks' as they call it, will get me into a good routine for when I come home! (Hoping being the operative word there!)

I figured out the library today, the undergraduate library is UNDERGROUND (although there are windows still?!) and there is a tunnel connecting the main library with the undergraduate one, can this university get any cooler I hear you say, I don't know, quite possibly! Sometimes I feel like I'm at Hogwarts and I love it.

That's all for now about education'y things. I've got to submit my paper. (#soamerican)

Cheryl

P.s New lesson learnt today, coupons are a big deal here, you can get some amazing deals!

ISSS at UIUC (International Student and Scholar Services at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) #mouthful

My first few days of 'school' have been a part of 'orientation week,' this is basically a week of seminars packed with information, all of which is good and very helpful, but has been slightly overwhelming! One thing I've already learned: this university likes acronyms; rightly so, a lot of the faculties have long names, but it can get a tad confusing when people just keep spouting letters at you!

To be honest, things have actually gone very smoothly, which I'm so very grateful for. I registered (they actually had my paperwork to hand!) and I got my identity card all within 1 hour; it felt amazing to get going so quickly and efficiently!

The last few days I have wrestled with my campus map though, no matter which way I look at it, I usually end up walking in the wrong direction! (Yet to try Mr Tribbiani's technique of  'going into the map!') My lack of direction hasn't been so helpful on a campus that is much like London, in that you think you can actually walk from A-B in 10 minutes, when actually, it's about 30! (if not more!) They actually have a bus system that goes around campus it is that big. However, I managed to scout out my buildings, which to my favour are right next door to each other in the main quad, and look how beautiful the English building is!

IT HAS PILLARS!

I'm going to end this post with just a few pictures of campus and its landmarks, it truly is beautiful. I'll write some more when I've started classes or when I've gone on any excursions!

Oh also, I tried an american sub from Potbelly Sadnwhich shop*, it was delicious!

 This is the student union! I can't wait to sit and read in here!

 This is the main quad, my buildings surround not even one whole side of this grassy student hangout!














                                                                               This is Foellinger Auditorium at the far end of the quad.

This is perhaps a favourite of mine, it's a statue to represent the university's motto of 'Learning and Labor'.

The inscription reads:

"To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings, and Her children arise up and call her Blessed. -Proverbs 31:28"

I thought this was a beautiful message to all generations that pass through the University. Sadly, it's being refurbished/cleaned at the minute, but when it goes back, (soon hopefully!) I'll get a few snaps of it myself. 


Cheryl












*http://www.potbelly.com/Company/OurStory.aspx (It's such a cute place!)

The first few days in St Louis.

On my first day in St Louis we went to Laumeier Sculpture Park, something I'd not heard of before! Outdoor sculptures is a great idea, not only were they out in the luscious greens of the trees and plants, some even incorporated interactive elements, where you could explore the relationship between man made and natural beauty.

Next we headed to a place called The Magic House, which truly lives up to it's name. I was staying with a family with three young children, and this was a place that can only be described as magic. It had every play scenario you could imagine, from pretending to be the president in an oval room replica, to an actual play construction site! It was incredible, and every ounce of me wished I was 7 again so I could charge around and get stuck in. (Of course I did get stuck in to some degree...who can resist being the President for the day?)

To end that day of adventure we went to a restaurant called Texas Roadhouse which was incredible! An 11oz steak with two sides for the equivalent of £7?! I know, crazy. It was amazing quality too! The only downside was that I was introduced to cinnamon butter, it sounds gross, but honestly oh my, it's so good.

Next, give me a Z, no a Zed.
Then an O.
 Then another O.

What do you get?

ZOO.

As you can tell I was rather excited about going to the zoo, I haven't been to one in years so this was a joyous occasion. And like most other American things, it was HUGE; we didn't even get around half of it! First stop was the elephants because there was a baby in town; Priya the baby Asian elephant was stumbling around and that called for a visit.

She was super cute, as was her protective Mum!

We saw a range of animals, from cheeky penguins to a grizzly bear! One of my favourites had to be (after Priya of course!) the Amur Leopard, they are extremely endangered and to see two... just wonderful!

To end this post I'll include some of the wonderful American treats I've tried so far...

• S'mores= YES. It's basically a sandwhich made with Graham crackers and filled with toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate. Graham crackers taste sweet like rich tea biscuits, but have a digestive biscuit consistency; and they are long and rectangular.
• Root beer float= Yum. Smells a bit like Deep Heat spray (!) but don't let that put you off, they taste creamy!
• Caramel&Cheese popcorn= Sounds insanely weird; I was apprehensive, but the cheese ones are actually nice!
• Pretzel buns= first tried on the plane, they're really good with melted cheese.

More to come soon! 

Cheryl 

The flight.

Hello!

So I've been the US now for the grand total of... 5 days, but lots has happened already! I decided to keep a little blog to help me remember the things that happen along the way, but also to keep any of you lovely people who may be interested in my adventures up to date, however epic or plain-sailing they come to be.

'Let's start at the beginning, a very good place to start.'

The flight was a smooth 8 hour cruise consisting of meeting two very interesting people, (whom I hope have wonderful travels!) beginning the taste tests of American food (A pretzel bun?! Good work USA) and of course watching James Bond.

The first leg of the journey although tiring and knee hurting (silly long legs!) was enjoyable. It was the second leg where the real adventure began. After being accepted into the country, which I couldn't have been more surprised about, since the level of my nervousness almost definitely made me akin to the worst petty criminal imaginable; I discovered my connecting flight had been cancelled because of thunderstorms.

I was put on standby for a flight that already had 12 people waiting for it, and my confirmed flight was the following day. Faced with the prospect of perhaps having to sleep overnight at Newark airport, I decided to get chatty with fellow travellers who had also been delayed because of the weather.

I made friends with a lovely ol'chap who was travelling to Montreal by asking to borrow a pen, we discussed all sorts ranging from books to accents (of course!) It was this gentleman that helped me greatly, not only did he buy me my first souvenir, a pen that says 'New York' nonetheless, he also took me to the customer service and somehow got them to put me on an earlier standby that had only 2 other people on it! Yes, a total legend one may say.

Thanks to his kind help and generosity I finally arrived at St Louis on the tiniest plane I've ever been on with probably around 30 seats, only 4 hours later than I should have. Thankfully my luggage arrived too and I met the wonderful family that I was to be staying with for the next few days.

Off we went to Chick-fil-a in an attempt to keep me awake until their night-time.
p.s these guys do the best chicken burgers in town.

This concludes my first few hours in the United States.

More adventures to catch up on!

Cheryl