My wellies love the rain.

I didn't make it to London because I missed my bus. Awesome. It's alright though. It was too last minute. Not ready for rash traveling quite yet. I am however, headed to Bath this weekend. You know how in period piece movies there is always that old, lavish woman who suggests that when you're stressed you just need a fortnight in Bath? Well that's where I'm headed, but not for a fortnight. Just one night. Here's some info on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath,_Somerset . I'll take lots of pictures.

The next weekend I'm headed to Manchester for Halloween. Apparently there are some "haunted" areas of the city so I'm going on a "ghost tour." I'm very excited. Here is some info on that city as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester

I've been exploring Cardiff more and more. I took a walk around the Cathays (pronounced Cat-HAYS) cemetery. It's so huge and so beautiful. There is an old boarded up church at the very back of the cemetery. I took lots of pictures. I'll be sure to post them soon. It's amazing to see very old headstones--some so old you can't even tell who they are--and above ground stone coffins.

There is also this amazing park--they call it a park. It's more like a conservation area--called Roath Park very close to my house. It encompasses a lake, simply known as "The Lake." There are swans everywhere and a small lighthouse at the edge of the lake. The park also has extensive flower gardens, sports courts and a creek running through it with stone/brick retaining walls. Lots of pictures of the park to come as well.

I went sailing for the first time last Wednesday in the Cardiff Bay. As a member of the sailing club, I learned what letting the "jib fly" and "tightening the cleat" means. I've also been taking fencing lessons. I am practicing my economy of motion while learning the simple, circle and semi-circle parries with a foil sword. I'm not that good yet, but I'm getting better. I'm also in the advanced novice group for debate and was invited to my first debate in London two Saturdays ago--hence, the missed bus. Obviously, I didn't make it. After that, I'm also part of the Model UN. This year our society will be traveling around the world to Model UN summits, competing for awards. Taiwan and Boston (Harvard) are just two of the many places the Model UN is headed. Hopefully, I'll make both. School is going great. I love my classes and am finding the adjustment easier with every lecture.

Ok, I think that's it. My flatmates are still wonderful. My bed is really firm and difficult to sleep in but, hey, at least I have a bed. It rains a lot. I forgot how much I love the rain. My wellies love the rain as well. They told me.

My 1st Two Weeks.

Thus far I have witnessed a pedestrian being hit by a car, been attacked by a boy who drew on my face, had a 3-legged race across the city, aided in successfully convincing an audience comprised of 200+ drug partaking students that, (apart from my personal beliefs,) legalizing drugs would not be in the UK's best interest--just to say I could, learned to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, had my ass grabbed by a passing Welshman, watched as a maniac thief was arrested by Cardiff's Finest in a pizza parlor--consumed fantastic pizza in the process--and been accused of having more than a harmless crush on my flatmate, all while keeping my room spotlessly prestine.

Wales is good for me.

Cardiff Castle and the Great British Cheese Festival

Today I went to the Great British Cheese Festival--in the middle of a castle courtyard. Pretty sure there hasn't been a better combination since peanut butter met raspberry jam. Wales produces the best "Extra Mature Cheddar" I have ever had the pleasure of tasting and purchasing. On my two mile trek back home, I stopped to enjoy a supurbly dressed and excessively talented street performing group in a massive outdoor mall; a mall that has real French arcades--no, not the video game kind. This place is beautiful.

This is a burrito.

Last week the girls took me to a "Mexican" restaurant. Although everything was tasty and quite edible--definitely not traditional Mexican. I can comfortably say that I have a relatively good take on real Mexican food as half my co-workers and the majority of the population of Los Angeles all hail south-of-the-border. In other words, I've had the real stuff.

I figured you would all get a kick out of this.

I ordered a beef burrito.

Yes, that is a triangle.

The newest addition to my life...

First and foremost, my new address:

Amee Walden
25 Llanishen St.
Gabalfa, Cardiff, Wales
United Kingdom
CF14 3

310.594.3531--you will have pretty good access to me at this number. It will be free to all those who can call California for free.

My new roommates: Jo, Hannah, Hazel, Jess and Becky. They're all med students, aside from Hannah, who just changed her studies to biochemistry. Jess is the eldest at 21 and the rest of the girls are all 20. They are pretty wonderful. Not only are they all very helpful and accommodating, they are all extremely fun and distinct in their personalities.

The house is great; definitely very English. There is a quaint English garden setting in the backyard. My room is on the top floor of the 3 story townhouse--with a blue front door! The best part is the window in my bedroom; roof access. After numerous attempts I still haven't conjured up the courage to hang out on the roof but I will get there soon enough. Don't worry, Mom, I will be careful. If not though, I'll just break a leg or an arm. It's not that far down.

The streets of Cardiff are so beautiful. Luckily during World War II, Cardiff was one of the few cities that was missed by the bombings so most of the buildings are extremely old and well preserved. Many of the city central streets are brick or cobble stone. For the first time in my life I experienced the cliche "I got my heel stuck in the cracks of the road and couldn't get it out." I enjoyed it.

I'm still trying to figure out my classes but so far all my options look extremely interesting and exciting. Classes like "Kant's Ethics and Politics" or "Contemporary Liberalism and Distributive Justice." I'm getting more and more excited as the first day of classes draw nearer: September 28th. This week is filled with joining societies i.e. clubs of which I will be joining the Model UN, the Debate and Fencing societies. I also would like to learn as much Welsh as I can so I might volunteer in an aspect where I can possibly read or learn the language.

I'm only a 7 hour drive or a 50 minute flight from Ireland, and since we all know how much I love that culture I will probably be spending a lot of time over there, starting with a seminar on November 2nd with Noam Chomsky in Dublin. The ticket is only 25 euros for a student, so that is very exciting. I'll keep you posted on how the seminar goes.

The American culture is all over the place over here but it's always just a little off. It's pretty hilarious. Things like the New York burger with it's only distinguishing addition being a lot of sour cream, which of course is just very white mayonnaise. The burger, of course is made from Irish beef and tastes oddly of venison. Or the Chicago Bulls street grill with burgers and traditional fish and chips, "straight out of Chicago." I'll post a picture of that one.

Past that, nothing much. I'm trying to get a bike. Somehow it's much more difficult than I thought it would be. It is much colder here than in L.A. but who didn't expect that?

When I figure out how to post pictures to this blog I will. Just keep checking back. ]

I love you all and hope to hear from you often.