DTDB, Trophies and a Museum!

I am on Easter Break now and not a minute too late.

Anyways, Friday was the last day of courses. The bars and pubs on campus needed to get rid of all their perishables (read: alcohol) before the break. Hence, Drink the Bar Dry. This time around, it was wedding-themed. Apparently, ten years ago, the happy couple met at DTBD and now they are getting married. Even though I wasn't feeling at my best (I've been battling a nasty cold for the past week), I decided to show up and make a very small contribution.

(Clockwise from left): Jen, Emmett, Ben and Kirsten W.
Not pictured: me and my nonalcoholic blackcurrant squash

Ben was a new addition to our little group. He's from Wimbledon and was leaving to go snowboarding in the French Alps later that day. He likes hanging out with Americans, apparently he doesn't feel like the odd one out for being wealthy (Well, I for one do not have two houses, nor do I jet off to the Alps on a lark. Not sure you're among equals, Ben). He also isn't really sure if he hates or loves our accents. One of my flatmates, Hugh, came over to visit our table. He and Ben had the funniest conversation ever (they hadn't met previously). Hugh ended up calling Ben a "Posh Wanker!"

Fun Fact #19: That makes my top three of "Most British Sentences I've heard".
Fun Fact #20: The others are "It's just a bunch of lads looking for a shag" and "I got crisps all over my jumper".

We decided to regroup later that night when the nightclub opens (yes, there is a nightclub inside the Student Union building). I took the opportunity to make French Toast! My flatmates Adeline and Rachel enjoyed a proper American-style breakfast of french toast with maple syrup and streaky bacon.

Yummy!

Adeline, Rachel and I returned to the Student Union. We met up with Emmett and Kirsten W. as well, and then we kinda lost each-other. There were tons of people there. My flatmates and I decided to call it a night after the umpteenth bland techno tune came on. We got some late dinner at a place called Uni Kitchen then we returned to Talybont. All this before midnight!

This worked out very nicely for me. On Thursday, I saw an announcement on the Welsh Rugby Union's Facebook page about three members of the Six Nations squad paying a visit to the WRU store on Saturday from 11 - 1. Alex Cuthbert, Ryan Jones and Jonathan Davies were slated to appear. I just knew I had to check that out! I had asked Kirsten W. about it earlier, but she wasn't feeling up to it. Not discouraged, I caught a taxi to the shop. I didn't want to waste a lot of time. The taxi driver was a really nice guy. He was actually from Cardiff and we talked about Welsh things like the language, places to visit and more. 

I don't really remember what time I arrived at the WRU shop, but there was already a queue inside. Soon, people started arriving in droves. The queue stretched out the door and down the block a ways! I got to hear Welsh children being adorable and asking questions like why there's a mannequin dressed in  golf clothes if this is a rugby store.

Fun Fact #21: Someone referenced the Autons from Doctor Who in relation to the mannequins. My nerdish heart was pleased.

While I waited for 11 am, I got my photo taken with the real, actual Six Nations trophy.

It's very heavy 

I was acting as time-keeper for this little Welsh kid named Alex. He was very excited to be there. Once it reached 11 though, no-one showed up! Five minutes later, Alex Cuthbert himself strolled through the front door and was ushered into the back room. Good to know that I'm not the only person who runs late!

The queue 

More queue

My knees started shaking and I lost my voice. Believe it or not, this normally chatty girl was star-struck! I asked a shop employee to take my picture with the lads.

Alex Cuthbert and me!

Jonathan Davies, me and Ryan Jones. Apologies for the blur.

I wanted to say something to them, I really did. I wanted to tell Cuthbert that his two tries against England were incredible to watch... but I was essentially rendered mute. I tried saying something to Davies, but it was utter rubbish. Besides, he seemed too busy signing things to notice some shy little American. I'm told they're all really great guys though.

I strolled out into downtown Cardiff with an ear-to-ear grin. I can't believe I just did that! No friends to back me up and steel my nerve. I got myself a cup of hot chocolate and casually took a couple pictures.

This street used to have flags from all Six Nations. Not anymore!

Near the National Museum

I also got a picture of the Biosciences Library. The whole Main building is essentially what I pictured an old Uni building to look like.

Lovely

Most of my flatmates had moved out for the Easter Break. I got to meet some of their parents, which was fun. It was sad to say goodbye.

Palm Sunday! I sang in the choir, per usual. However, the congregation started off in a side room. We got the palms blessed and then processed into the church proper while singing Hosanna. It was such a cool experience. One of my fellow choirmembers, Margaret, made my palm into a cross!

After a quick lunch, I met up with Lauren and we went to the National Museum and Galleries of Cardiff. It was a good day-trip. Close-by, free entry. While we waited in the queue for the restrooms, the security staff were investigating the possibility of the basement being haunted. Apparently, someone saw a lady with long dark hair and a long black dress walk through a door. One of the staff thought they were having her on, but one of the serious-looking guards joined the search. The staff-lady said that this guy never jokes, so it must be something...

Well, Lauren and I poked around some of the natural history exhibits.

This clock has been going since October 1993, measuring the drift of the North American and Eurasian plates. The final 3 is one millionth of a millimeter.

A wall of bugs. Some of them creeped me out!

Animals!

Squirrel! I miss the ones at SMC. 

A Whale inside Wales...

We drifted towards the modern art exhibit. We saw this really funny and disorienting representation of the stairs we just climbed, so he decided to take some optical-illusion pictures.

Best one of the lot.

Turns out, the stairs pictures were an art exhibit. The security guard came up to talk to us. He said that pictures aren't allowed, but he thought our pictures were so clever that he let it slide. I couldn't make that up if I tried!

We strolled through some of the other art areas, my camera safely tucked away throughout. Unfortunately, our exploration was cut short. The museum was closing down for the night. We packed up and headed back home.

Coming soon: my adventures in Bath, England.

Cheers!

Red Nose Day/Rugby

This weekend was very exciting!

Let me just get this out of the way... YEAH WALES! WE DID IT! SIX NATIONS CHAMPS TWO YEARS RUNNING!!! ENGLAND CAN TAKE THEIR BROKEN CHARIOT BACK HOME! CYMRU AM BYTH!

Anyways, this Friday I went out for a proper shopping trip with Laura and Kirsten B. I wanted to get some British-style outfits. I sometimes feel like I stick out.

I got this at Primark, a reasonably-priced clothing shop. Pictures in the changing room mirror ahoy!

Dress and jacket 

Just the dress

I also tried out some other clothes (metallic leggings, mint-coloured button-ups, flowing rhinestoned tops and short-shorts, yikes!). I settled on the dress, jacket and a big, chunky statement necklace (the British like their costume jewelry).

Later, we went into the mall. I tried bubble tea! It was a little strange. I got black tea with pomegranate flavouring and plain tapioca bubbles. The bubbles added some interest, next time I'll branch out and try ones that actually have a taste!

I'm not sure how well-known this is outside of the UK, but March 15th is Red Nose Day. It's a biennial charity event where people are encouraged to put on a red nose and raise money, simply put. The comedy helps cheer you up from the sad footage of children in need. Here is an appeal featuring David Tennant aka the Tenth Doctor (Warning: Malaria-stricken children. Don't say I didn't prepare you).

Now that you have some background, this next part should make some more sense. There was a security guard sitting in a tub of Heinz beans. The other people inside the ring were collecting donations. For a fiver, you could pour beans on the security guard.

Just another Cardiff Day. 

Laura (in blue) dumps beans on the security guard.

After that bit of excitement, we made our way to the Cardiff Library.

In the distance, you can see the Millenium Stadium!

View from the fifth floor (6th floor for those in the States)

We just poked around, glanced at the books and admired the really cool-looking chairs.

St. Mary's Street, I believe? Anyways, they had all the Six Nations flags on display.

We looked around for a rugby jersey for me to wear, which we eventually found. They're really, really pricy. Maybe some other time then? Kirsten got a teddy wearing a daffodil. It was super cute. We returned to campus, and I hit the Social Science Library. Here's a picture I took outside of it

Psychology Building, aka "The Tower". Apparently, part of an episode of  Torchwood was filmed at the very top!

Saturday was rugby day! I met up with Meredith, Sherron, Laura L, Kirsten W., Emmett and Sasha (an Aussie). Everyone was decked out in red. I was wearing my new pleather jacket and my Wales/Cymru scarf. We wanted to catch the match in town. We met up with Chase (a guy from Mississippi) and Abzy (another Aussie) in Glam (nightclub). The ambiance was very interesting; watching at a nightclub wouldn't have been my first choice. We ended up standing in the very Welsh section. I belted out the anthem when the time came (still don't know all the words, but that didn't end up mattering). It was such a cool moment. I was also able to see the Welsh girls go crazy when Leigh Halfpenny was taking kicks (I might have joined in... maybe). By half-time, our feet were in pain due to all the standing. Laura, Sasha and I walked back to the Taf in the Student Union building, but the line there was insanely long. We eventually made our way to the Blackweir Tavern. Now that was what I'd been craving! Cozy, boisterous, and most of all, places to sit! When Wales won, the atmosphere was electric. What a beautiful match.

I snapped a picture once everything had died down.

We got dinner and I also got a half-pint of Brains to celebrate (I am still not a beer girl, but it was tasty). I expected a nice evening in, but my flatmates cowed me into going out dancing. Hey, it was an excuse to try out the new dress! That was very fun. Most of us ended up walking home because the taxis were passing by everyone, I guess to get to the City Centre. What an exhausting night!

Sunday was recovery day, probably a nation-wide event. The flat got Chinese food, and it passed my Chinese-food-snob test (going to China kinda does that to you). Something they do here is serve prawn crackers with take-out. Also, you have to order rice separately and they don't toss in free soy sauce, fortune cookies or green tea. However, the duckrolls and spicy chicken were both fantastic. I had a very lively conversation with my flatmates, covering UK/US schooling, neurotransmitters, gingers, lacrosse and more. 

This marks my last week of lectures before the Easter Break! I have been coordinating travels with various people, so keep your eyes peeled! Ventures and Adventures might be going international.

Cheers!

St. Fagan's National History Museum

Wednesday, the Welsh Culture and Folklore lecture went to St. Fagan's as a field trip. The whole concept behind St. Fagan's is super cool. They take historical buildings from around Wales that would've been taken down and they move and restore them within the confines of the museum. It's like a living history sort of deal.

Sheep: integral part of the Welsh experience

It's lambing season! 

Why are they so cute?

We visited a medieval-era church first called St. Teilo's (he's a local saint).

I'm more accustomed to Gothic churches, so this seemed a little more... rustic.

This really helped to drive home the point that in the Middle Ages, churches were ornately decorated. Naturally, these paintings are not originals, they would've been whitewashed during the Reformation. I knew the painting thing as an intellectual concept (I enjoyed playing paint detective in the 19 churches we visited in Burgundy). Seeing it up close really drove it home for me. In one of the images, Mary Magdalene is depicted. She is different than how she was in France (French Magdalenes have their hair uncovered, those hussies!). After that, we were turned loose and told to meet at the buses at 4:15. Blessing (a new girl I met), Kirsten B and I adventured around.

Tutor-era merchant's house

In each house, there was a guide. They all seemed rather bored and eager to chat with us. We ended up talking with one guide for a really really long time. It seemed like every guide had someone that they knew in British Columbia (where Kirsten B is from). I wonder what the draw was... Our new friend, the guide, was telling us about Welsh history and how the original Celts were driven northward and westward by the various invading peoples. It all culminated with this priceless quote, "An Irishman is a Welshman who could swim!".

I also learned some interesting family history stuff. Nain and Taid, what I called my great grandparents (Mom's mom's parents), are the North Welsh words for grandmother and grandfather, respectively. That certainly puts my previous reflections on the Llanberis countryside in another light...

Fun Fact #18: The South Welsh words are Mam-gu and Tad-cu.

Holly Bush! Just growing out in the woods.

A Celtic Village, based on archaeology in the region. It was closed for renovations though.

Schoolhouse. 

We wrapped up our trip (and escaped from the sloppy snowfall) by having a cream tea. 

Clotted cream, strawberry jam, still-warm scone and tea. Delicious!

Cheers!