Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Beginning of the Term


September 20, 2013

            Today was absolutely awesome, although it did not start off that way. First, I got up early because the horseback riding taster session was meeting at 9:30am at the main gates. Maggie, Sam and I decided that it would be fun to try it out so we signed up. We arrived along with like 60 other people. So we checked in and told them our skill level (mine was beginner in case you did not guess :P), then all we had to do was wait for the minibus to take us to the stables. Sounds simple right? Wrong, the minibus got lost while carrying a group out there, so Sam, Maggie and I stood outside in the cold for 2 and ½ hours. At one point we were so chilly we decided to go to the café to get hot chocolate and we still made it back before the bus got there! Once, we finally made it onto the bus it was about a 20-minute ride to the stables. Then we had to wait for our turn to go on the horses meant for beginners. I have to admit the stables were pretty cool and the horses were gorgeous. They also had several dogs running around. I even played fetch with one of them although I did not catch his(?) name. Around one it was time to mount up and I think that I was not completely ungraceful, so I say it was a success. Maggie and I got to ride in the same arena so were able to take pictures of each other. Maggie posted hers on facebook and I shall put mine at the end of this entry. I rode a slightly lazy horse named Spencer, but he was very sweet and even-tempered. He just did not seem to notice when I nudged him to go faster. We did manage to trot a couple times and I think I got the hang of it or a better grasp of it in the end. It is all about rhythm! I liked this session a lot because while we were riding they instructed us on how to hold the reins and things that people don’t usually say when you go on a trail ride on vacation or something. Once we were done riding I said goodbye to Spencer and thanked him for carrying one so inexperience and clutzy as me. We were waiting for the minibus when we noticed some fancy trailers pulling up with some lovely looking horses. Turns out they were going to use the area and stable with the lovely horses for a new BBC TV show that is coming out and I have to say I squealed like a little girl when I heard which one. It is Outlander, which is also a book and if you have not heard of it shame on you and you need to stop reading my blog and start reading it because it is amazing! Well go on, get to it. :D Now, I am going to assume that you have read the book since you are back reading my blog again and I know now you are excited as I am and you will know who I am talking about next! I tried so hard to see if there was a gorgeous redhead named Jamie with the trailer, but I had to leave before I could have a proper look. Over all it was quite an eventful day!

Sorry, I could not get my pictures to load so I put them on facebook. Please check them out if you are so inclined!

September 22, 2013

            I was able to do what I loved today and boy it was worth every bruise. In case you do not know what sport I love more than any other and that I willingly sacrifice my body to get to the ball no matter what, it is volleyball. Today was the taster session for the volleyball team on campus and it was wonderful! I loved being able to play volleyball with people who had either play before, like me, or who were eager to learn about a sport that I hold dear to my heart. There was a wide range of skill set from beginner to advance, so it was quite a collection. The one complaint that I would make is that I wished it were a little more organized. We only had one court and a lot of people so I think they should have some drills or games prearranged for us but it really was more of a wing it kind of a thing. I really should not complain since playing volleyball no matter the setting is always worth it. I met some pretty nice girls named Emma, who is a libero and Ellen, who is a middle hitter. We worked well together because we had a passer, a setter and a hitter. I exchanged numbers with them and we all decided we would go to the tryouts because it was a lot of fun at the taster session and we felt that we could probably make one of the teams. Any who I came back a little bruised and battered, but smiling which is the important thing right?

September 23, 2013

            Today was a day that I was both dreading and waiting for, it was the beginning of classes. It started off pretty, well! I did not have to get up super early since my first class was at 11! It was my Level 3 Physical Chemistry class and it was really the typical first day of going over the syllabus and expectations and getting to know one another basically. It was honestly a relief that they did not jump right in because it allowed me to get a feel more my professors and see that even across the ocean all a professor wants from you is for you to do your best. One thing that is unique and new to me is how they divide up the lectures. In my P-Chem class they have lectures on Quantum Mechanics, which is taught by one person but then they have lecture on Spectroscopy by another professor. Overall, I think it works but it is most definitely an interesting system. After P-Chem, I went to my Scottish Enlightenment class, unfortunately I was a few minutes late because it was not in the same building as my previous class. And the Scottish Enlightenment started right when my other one ended which is slightly inconvenient but all well. I guess it is no different than having a lecture in the stadium then having another all the way in LAC right? I am pretty excited for the Scottish Enlightenment course because I love interdisciplinary classes since it gives so many perspectives to an area of study. Okay dork alert, I have already looked at the essay topics for our first assignment and I think I might do one about the changing art and portraiture painting of that age and why it did change. I think it will be a blast to write and it will take my mind off the chemistry. Any who, I am exhausted and need to get some sleep for tomorrow, which really means I want to finish this book that Maggie recommended to me, so see ya! 

No comments:

Post a Comment