Losing the Pounds...In More Ways Than One

Some of the people from my hall having dinner in the cafeteria

After just one week of being in Reading, I already feel like I fit right in. Granted, I don't even need to open my mouth and people know that I am American and then when I do, that fact is obviously confirmed by an array of puzzling stares.
But nonetheless, it has taken no time at all to become a real University of Reading student.

Everyone on my hall are some of the nicest people I have ever met.  It was strange to me living on the same hall with boys and girls since OU won't even let boys in your room past 2am, much less live next door to them. But I have actually come to absolutely love it.  It is like a big 5.1 family, and they all welcomed us with open arms since day one.

Insane amount of people on the dance floor at our Student Union

Living in the residence halls again is like going back to freshman year...ten fold! Everyone here literally goes out ever night of the week, class the next day or not.  It is definitely hard to keep up with them but there is just so much to do, I never want to miss out on a fun night!
I love going out in Reading...it is so much fun to just get everyone together and go out on the town or go to the Union and dance the night away.  I don't think I have ever danced as much as I have since the week I have been here.  And if you know me at all, you know I love to dance. :)

Couldn't take it anymore...
Not the best Mexican food I have ever had, but definitely worth it

I do have to admit, as much as I love England...English food is definitely not for me.  And the cafeteria version of English food is just about all I can handle.  I really miss my big flavorful American meals. But on the positive side of that, between not eating excessive amounts of food, walking 30 minutes to and from class at lease twice a day, climbing six flights of stairs every time I want to go up to my room, and walking nearly everywhere in town...I am definitely dropping the l-b's so I really can't complain.

Lots of fabulous shopping in Reading = ByeBye money!

However, I am not too happy about losing the other type of pounds...money!  Thanks to our suffering American economy, I have an exchange rate of about 1.8...1.6 if I get really lucky.  So needless to say, things around here can get quite pricey for a little ol' American. But I just keep reminding my frugal self that this may be the only time I get to come to Europe...so I need to experience it to it's full potential, even if that means coming home with a single dollar and some change in my pocket. It will be worth it.

One of the beautiful residence halls at Uni. Reading

I also got the chance to go to explore the beautiful town of Reading more and attend church with some friends this past weekend.  The church was called Reading Family Church and was surprisingly a lot like many of the churches that I am used to from home and in Norman.  It was a fantastic little reminder of the fact that no matter where my travels take me and no matter how far from home I go, there is always one thing that remains exactly the same and that is my faith.

Out at the Union with friends :)

I am constantly in awe the abundance of blessings that I have in my life, especially right now.  Not only am I studying in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, but I have just recently been asked to be an intern at WGN in Chicago.  I must admit that this internship really wasn't even something that I sought out for.  I was pretty unsure of my plans for the summer. But my wonderful uncle asked for my resume to send to a friend and the next thing you know, I had an email from the weather producer at WGN offering me an intern position this summer.  I feel like all my dreams are coming true and it is one of the most wonderful yet scary things ever.

Loving every moment of England :)

Accepting the internship means leaving England a month early which really is a bummer, but I just could not pass this opportunity up.  And now that I am coming home earlier...I will be home for the birth of my new little baby brother or sister! Surprise!!! I can't wait to welcome another little mini Daab into the world.

Jumping for joy to be studying in one of the most beautiful countries ever.

The world around me seems like it is spinning in overdrive...So many wonderful changes, places to go, and people to meet...and I'm just trying to keep up and soak every minute of it in. And when it all comes down to it...I couldn't be happier.

Here Comes the Sun :)

Stacey and I on the bridge over the river that goes right through the middle of campus!

When they told me how much it rained here...I must admit, I always thought it was a little bit of exaggeration...But it definitely is not.  After three days of of being here, we have finally seen the sun! Just another one of those things that you take for granted without realizing it...until it's gone of course! But I am enjoying it while it lasts because it probably won't for long!

Our little glimpse of the sun! Crossing over the river to get to class!

We have still been busier than ever...but I absolutely love it! The second day we were here, we had a meeting and went to dinner with all of the other study abroad students that came to Reading this semester.  They are from all over...Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, etc! It's so great to meet everyone and learn about all of their homes!

With some of the other study abroad students at a bar in the union!

Through all the prep and vacation planning and everything, you kind of forget that you are here for school...details! The meteorology building here is definitely no National Weather Center, but I am looking forward to getting acquainted with our new school home!  When we showed up for our first meeting with our professor, we found out that we had seven hours of class ahead of us for the day.  Not exactly how I wanted to start out, but it actually wasn't that bad! So far, the classes are very interesting, although much different from OU...it's going to take a bit of getting used to!

The Meteorology building here at Reading!

It's really starting to feel like home here and I am so, so happy. Hopefully once we get all of this school stuff sorted out, we will be able to take all of our weekend trips and such...I really can't wait! Until then, I will be sure to post as many pictures as I can on Facebook and keep writing on here! It's going to get even better from here...I can just feel it :)

My new little room...Sometimes is nice to live to simply :)

The mall...You know, where you buy stuff!

I'M HERE!!!!!!

After what feels like forever of planning, emailing, packing, shopping and traveling...I am finally here in Reading!

The journey over here went so smoothly and nearly perfectly, I really can't even believe it.  When I got to the airport, I was so happy that both of my bags were under the weight limit and I asked to take a picture with them so the ticket counter lady upgraded my seat for free because I was such an "excited traveler".  It was only up to economy plus...but it was great! I had a chair the reclined extra far, plus a leg rest, plus it was the bulkhead seat so I had tons of room in front of me!  They showed some good movies, served surprisingly good food, and I read a bit from a book I have been meaning to start for a while now! I couldn't sleep at all because I was just to excited and anxious to get here!

Getting through border control and all that jazz was a breeze. Only regret: carrying more than my body weight in luggage! I had to walk SO far (including taking a train) to get from my terminal to the central  bus station where I was supposed to meet up with everyone else.  My whole body, especially my arms, are extremely sore today!

Crazy story though...when I finally rolled into the bus station at Heathrow...I saw a girl from my high school, Jessica Thelander, waiting for her bus! She goes to the University of Illinois and I hadn't seen her since we graduated!! What a small world!

But the good news is, I met up with everyone else so quickly so I wasn't alone for very long.  There are two other people from my program at OU that are studying here with me this semester, Nathan and Stacey.  There is also another girl from OU here named Kayley who I just finally got to meet when we got here.  She is an absolute doll and I am SO happy that she is here too!!

Nathan and ALL of our bags!!

After a short bus ride and a taxi cab, we arrived to our dorms here at the University!  They are actually quite nice!! I will take a picture of my room once I get all settled in!  We spent the rest of the day exploring the town and shopping for some essentials for our rooms and such. It is crazy how even though they speak English..it's not at all the same!  They didn't even know what the mall was...it's a "shopping centre" haha! I still have some other things I forgot yesterday...including a new adapter.  I already blew up one of my converters (whoops!)...I guess I will learn sometime!

All of the other students aren't allowed to move back until today (Sunday)...so campus was very empty and kind of creepy yesterday. But that is definitely okay with me because I was so crazy tired and out of it (I had been awake for 28 hours straight...no caffeine!) that I probably wouldn't have been able to meet people or do anything as it was.

But now I am all rested and jet lag free (I think) and ready to start my second day here in Reading!! Bring it on :)

4,000 Miles in Just One Step

3, 954...That's approximately the total number of miles between Chicago, IL and London, UK...And I am going to travel them in just one step.

You see, I am a creature of habit.  I like things in my life to have structure. I like to have a plan for each day.  I like to know the answers to my questions. I guess you could say I like my comfort zone...where things make sense to me. So when I decided that I was going to spend the spring semester of my junior year studying at the Univeristy of Reading in England...that was one giant step out of my comfort zone. 

It's that one step that is sending me almost 4,000 miles away from home into the biggest, most exciting adventure I have ever been on...And I can't wait to see where more steps are going to take me. 

Which is why I decided that I would write a blog of all my experiences while studying abroad. I will admit to not being the best at keeping up with people at times or keeping others informed about what I am doing in my life...so hopefully this will help!

With just about 14 short hours to go until I board my plane for just a hop, skip, and a jump over the pond...I can't even explain the excitement that I am feeling.  Although I am sad to leave all my family and friends at home in Chicago and in Norman, this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I can't wait for it to begin!

It's going to be an adventure...and I hope you're along for the ride. :)

Goodbye America...See you in July!!!