Cheers Everyone!

Salutations!

Well, I'm finally here! The flights went well, and I was able to get through customs without any problems. Our program director, Edith, met us outside the customs area and took us to pick up out luggage. She was kind enough to let us rest for an hour in her hotel room, which was connected to the airport. After that we went to the bus station where we met about 40 other international students that would also be studying at York St. John. There are a lot of students from the east coast (New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts) and a large number are from China. There are students from Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Japan, Greece, Spain, France, Sri Lanka, and many more countries that I can't think of at the moment...

I was a little scared when I first got off the bus at the University. Everything is brick or concrete and it was sort of cloudy which made everything darker... But in the daylight the campus is quite pretty. I'm starting to appreciate the older feel of some of the buildings and there is quite a bit of grass if you go looking for it. My first night was a little overwhelming. I brought my suitcases to my room in an apartment which is part of student housing. I quickly discovered that I had two female and two male apartment mates. Coed housing is apparently the "norm" over here, but I had requested an all female apartment. Everyone in my flat has been very friendly and understanding about the situation, but I'm still hoping to get moved over the next few days. I'll keep you updated about that.

The first couple days were hard because I was jet lagged and nothing about York was familiar to me at all. But there have been a couple events put on by the university that have been really fun! A group called "Global Friends" is student lead and has really reached out to all of the international students. They put on an event last night where there was food and conversation aplenty! I am getting to know students from Canada, Norway, Germany, Greece, China, England, as well as my fellow Americans ;) I got the chance to have dinner with about five international students, and we had some really good conversations about politics, world history, and God (who has been my biggest help and support through everything).

Today I went to two short presentations where I was given general information about what history "modules" (or courses) are like at YSJ (York St. John). That information will be very helpful when I go to my first class on Tuesday the 29th. This afternoon Rachel, Maggie, and I went on a tour that YSJ was putting on of the medieval wall in York. This wall was built because York was used as a fort when Scotland and England were fighting over these lands. (There is still a law here that if you spot a Scot inside the wall after midnight on a Sunday you can shoot him with a crossbow :) Pretty exciting stuff!

After the tour we explored Old York, inside the wall, a little more thoroughly. York really is a beautiful place! There are countless book shops, pubs, restaurants, tea rooms, and other stores to explore. The York Minster remains the tallest building in York. Its majestic presence never ceases to impress. After walking to the "rail" (train) station to learn a bit more about fare and discounts we can receive as students, we found a quaint little tea room called "Bullivant." I had English tea with milk and a scone! It was simply delightful! We shopped around a bit more at "Poundland" (yes, everything in the store is only a pound!) and Morrisons, which is a very nice grocery store in the city center. Altogether, a really wonderful day!

I miss everyone from home and would love to hear from you! Pop me an email or facebook message if you have the time! Otherwise I would appreciate prayer for my living situation, that I would continue to become more comfortable in my environment at YSJ, and that Rachel, Maggie, and I would have safe travel whenever we venture outside of York. Thank you again for reading!

Cheers everyone!