Ambience

They finally turned on the radiators throughout the dorm, and boy do those old things work well.  Today was probably the warmest day we've had since I arrived; I had to open my windows to keep from baking.  One interesting thing about my radiator is that, as the water runs through the pipes to reach them, it makes a nice trickling-water sound.  It's like having a fancy water feature in my dorm room, minus the tropical fish. 

My little reading area and big window.  See those books piled on top?  That's only half of what I have to have read by next Tuesday.  I already spend a lot of time here...

And out of my big window I have a lovely view of the parking lot, where the garbage trucks pull in every morning at 6:00 to empty all the dumpsters.  This morning they emptied the big "Glass Bottles" one, and in my haze of half-asleepness, I thought for sure my windows had just shattered.   

I now have more batteries for my camera, so hopefully I can pick up where I left off in my photo-taking.  Eventually I'll create an album on Facebook for all of them. 

This is my dorm - Aberdare Hall - from the front.  It's a very stately sort of building and by far the prettiest of all the residence halls.  It's a women-only dorm - no boys allowed.  Some people make fun of this fact, but I love Aberdare because it is big and old and quiet (for the most part) - perfect for those times when you need to study in peace.

Today was a very quiet day - mostly reading.  This afternoon I walked around campus with my friend Joanne while she took pictures for her friends and family, and this evening has been spent with my new friend Melle just hanging out in my room talking and playing around with hair and makeup like a couple of girls.

Tomorrow is my busy day: lot's of classes, also a party in the evening for the Postgraduate Archaeology and Conservation students.  I still need to squeeze in a bit more reading tonight, so adieu for now.

Cold and wet.

I'm beginning to realize how appropriate it was that this blog is entitled "On a rainy day," because in my time in Cardiff so far, it has rained every day.  My new big, red umbrella has already more than paid for itself and has earned a permanent place in my purse/book bag/hand.

No hot water in the whole of Aberdare Hall this morning, so cold showers for all!  The bad part about this scenario is the fact that they haven't yet turned on the heating in the building except for the radiators in the main hallways.  It is currently 57 degrees outside and the windows aren't exactly double-paned. 

Today I plan to walk down to the city center with my friend Joanne (whom I met via Facebook several months ago) and do a bit exploring around the stores and shops, as well as visit the National Museum of Wales which is literally just down the street.  I will also stop in to check on how my bank account application is coming along; hopefully it will be all approved and ready to go.  Hopefully.

Those of you who check in on my blog regularly will probably be privileged with pictures sooner than those who wait for me to post them to Facebook.  Here are a few for starters:

This is the way the entire building is heated - giant iron radiators.  Not too strange or even inefficient, but definitely a bit antique. 

A view of my bedroom window from the outside.  A view from the inside will be included later, once I organize my room enough to take pictures of it. 

Tea - my favorite in the whole wide world, and now a nightly ritual.  I can drink all the tea I want here and people don't think it's strange.  They even provide it in by-the-barrel quantities for breakfast every morning.  They understand.