June 18, 2013 @ 9:45 PM
Wales was magical in so many ways. The experience was phenomenal, people are great. And because I wouldn't know how to start otherwise, list of happy things that are a result of the week and a half or so:
1. The openness of the Welsh community-- wide open gates, low stone walls that are ornamental and definitely not for security
2. The grass. So many wide open fields of it everywhere. Also, the yellow and pink fields that you spot from a distance.
3. Quaint tiny houses with really huge roofs
4. Paper banks (Nai: "why are you taking photos of a paper bank!!" Vanna: "it's a really cool SS phenomenon don't you think!!!!!")
5. Where on earth do you still find telephone booths? (now equipped with free wifi, whoohoo)
6. Nai: "this could totally be Singapore if the trees were taller" (literally the first thing the two of us noticed when we drove out of Heathrow airport)
7. Strangely beautiful small brick churches with cemeteries attached to them-- not a believer but I believe this is the true worship of God, utterly unassuming yet the
spirit in some ways seems more
there than even Notre Dame last year
8. Creeks running in towns in Wales
9. England: the land of wide open grasslands. Wales: the land of hills and valleys
10. The crossover and sudden influx of Welsh, how
open the border was
11. WELSH. And how it's somehow unlike
any other language I've ever seen anywhere
12. The beach after Bristol bridge at low tide
13. The sky
14. Veterinary hospital logos: sheep and horses rather than cats and dogs
15. SHIPPING SHEEP (just because)
16. The never-ending countryside
17. How you never see reforestation and rows of painfully neat trees because the forests are just utterly natural
18. Cows barely five meters from the road (and the whole busload of us squealing at them)
19. Lonely tree in a grassy field
20.Narrow strip of grass walkway with the sea on either side
21. Buildings in the wilderness with laptops, internet, prezi, and BATS
22. Watching the Atlantic lap gently/not so gently at rocks
23. The never ending water that just ends up blending in with the sky
24. Absolutely lovely dorm (the kids too!!) that willingly drag themselves up at 5am for morning walks together, the noisy boisterous nights and the quiet ones too, how we naturally give each other space when we need it and company when we need that, too. (Vanna: "WAH THAT GUY DAMN HOT SIA!!"). Also, running up and down like Nai and Vanna's personal servants the whole morning completely willingly, the general care and concern and warm effusive atmosphere, and how even the half of the dorm that I barely/never knew before the trip ended up becoming my most solid support base by the middle of our stay and to the end of the trip
25. Going with Nai Steph and Vanna-- how easy and natural it is for us to fall into a long-established rhythm, a very different experience from history trip last year and extremely comforting
26. Beautiful horses at Warhorse musical, how it's about a horse but so so much more than just the horse, how war is heart-wrenchingly painful and unnecessary for everyone, how people come together over the most unexpected things in the worse of times
27. Being part of the Potter fandom. Always.
28. Rabbit sandwiches that are surprisingly good (butter, lettuce, cucumbers) (WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME)
29. Gadwall always being first in line for all meals, always having a buddy to get seconds with me (': (and julia, FOURTHS)
30. The soft grass and the rocky shores, and how clean and pristine all the beaches are
I think for me the Wales countryside was infinitely more beautiful than London despite all it's modernity, because it was so beautiful and natural and everything just seemed more
real there. Many of us wanted more time in London, or at the famous attractions in London, and I feel like the only person not impressed by the London Eye and the Big Ben after Wales (it's just a smaller version of the flyer!! hello!!) but the countryside was the best part doubtlessly.
Also, the people:
1. The dorm with our crazy mix of sanity and insanity, from julia to shuying. So much to say to each and every one of them, and they are such lovely people. Love our cup noodle/milo sessions, how we can walk along the woods in the morning and talk about the beauty of the fog and the lake and SUDDENLY START CAMWHORING (hey we are really successful), the concern for each other, julia stepping on my luggage, GADWALL SOON jokes, giving milo and bak kwa to instructors, communal food stores and communal evian bottles that we just take from freely, how messy our dorm is, watching tangled late into the night-- so much more. no words.
2. our tutors for being amazingly passionate and knowledgeable and patient people (how do you jump around on rocks! just how!!)
3. teachers, for being really funny and approachable. Ms Tok for her never-ending fretting over us, Mr Chia and Mr Koh with their soccer/table tennis, Mrs Pang with her wrapped-upness and just-- generally being great
4. Shannon, Yu Lin, Shin Ping for being the bestest juniors ever and being so supportive when I fall down (oops)
5. Nai Steph Vanna what else can I say really
6. Yvette, my lovely room mate
WANT TO GO BACK D:
