Monday 17 October 2011

Traveler's log, day 10

17 October 2011
I’ve never understood the hype about blogs. 
And yet here I am: 6,000 miles from home and so tired of telling the same story over and over again, starting one of my own. Here goes.
I don’t presume this should ever be read by anyone that doesn’t know me but just in case, my name is Kate Webb, 27 (barely and only in number), from Wichita, Kansas, USA but currently residing in York, England, UK and as of this evening, pursuing my Master’s in Public Administration from the University of York. After receiving my Bachelor’s in Integrated Marketing Communications from Wichita State University in 2007, I worked as an advertising copywriter for two years before joining AmeriCorps (essentially the domestic Peace Corps) as a resource development coordinator for Beaches Habitat for Humanity in Atlantic Beach, Florida. During this time, I also interned for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson’s Jacksonville office for about 8 months. Working for an organization and elected official I believe in plus living cycling distance of the beach did not suck - but I realized I needed further education if I wanted to affect the sort of change I would like to and decided an MPA was my best bet. The problem was that my second year of AmeriCorps service didn’t end until mid-September 2011, too late to begin graduate school in the states. I then remembered my director at the Senator’s office, the lovely Michelle who studied at Durham, saying that graduate programs in the UK started later and were one-year programs instead of two in the states. It all added up and the rest, as they say, is history. 
And now the fun stuff! I live in a townhouse with two very nice British girls (Kate and Alison) on Hope Street (how cute is that?) in the city centre of York, an ancient Roman city in the North of England. Inside the city walls you’ll find a pub or coffee shop every 5 feet which is sort-of, not really centered around the most beautiful piece of architecture I’ve ever seen, the York Minster. Since arriving in England just 10 days ago, living outside of the US for the first time in my life, I have wandered aimlessly the streets of York and spent more hours and pounds at coffee shops than I would care to admit. The workers of Caffe Nero not only know I’m from Kansas but ask if I want my usual and how my preparations for university are coming. Starbucks only ever remembers my drink order, just sayin’.
Let me preface the following with my great love of Florida and the last two years spent there - despite often working 6 or 7 days a week with meetings or events nearly ever night. It’s just that I have been so busy for so long and constantly around people that I almost forgot how much enjoy I being alone - which is only part of why these first days in York have been so wonderful! 
I feel like I could spend years here just losing myself in the city, every few feet discovering some other great piece of history whilst blistering my feet and trying to retain some semblance of direction, which no one else in the city seems so bothered about. Seriously, they’re awful at directions - but I digress... As I am not inherently wealthy enough to do such, I think I’ll stick with my original plan to begin studies at the University TONIGHT!
But before I do, let me recount a few things about these last several days, in no particular order.
I’ve been staying quite occupied in that wonderful way in which I couldn’t tell you exactly how. I know that hours each day are spent as I am currently - sat at a coffee shop, catching up on emails and miscellaneous online errands (if you will). Once I’ve nearly expended my laptop’s battery, I wander the streets aimlessly, stopping into any shop that looks interesting. There's just so much to see - it truly is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Harry Potter GEEK ALERT: If you’ve ever seen the Harry Potter films, it’s worthy to note that they filmed the Diagon Alley scenes here. I can't wait to see it covered in snow! Though I suspect I may be eating my words soon.
And oh the cobblestoned streets! The city centre is all but closed to traffic in the daytime so they're flooded with people from all over the world.  I’m not normally a fan of tourist traps (I was surprised to learn that York is actually the second biggest in England!) but somehow it doesn’t bother me. Though you may hear accents from Peru to Indonesia and everywhere in between, you also find delightful locals who are nearly as eager to hear your accent as you are to hear theirs. Particularly sweet are the little kids shouting for “mum!” My second favorite is when bartenders confusedly ask me to repeat my order. “Wader? Sorry love but what’s wader?” Me: “sorry, WOH-tuh (water), please.”
Speaking of locals, I love that nearly everything but pubs close by 5 or 6 and only a handful of those serve food after then. I also love that you can order half pints for a pound 50 and that you’ll find different beers at each one. My favorite pub so far, in spite of its name, is Spread Eagle, a small pub just up the block from my house. It’s one of those quaint places that always seems so deserted that you wonder how it can even stay open. In light of my house not having wifi until tomorrow, my roommates and I have already spent many a night borrowing Internet and, okay fine, having a pint. The bartender remembers us and the locals are welcome and friendly, Cheers style, and I can think of many worse ways to spend my nights. As the aforementioned Michelle aptly told me a few days before my departure, “Kate: you’re going to go to the pub every night - just get used to it.”
In between my aimless wanderings, I've also had a few events on campus so I've made the 2ish mile trek from my home to the university a handful of times. I bought a used (vintage) bicycle last week which should be ready for pickup today - fingers crossed! - and this should make the trip a bit more enjoyable. My particular program, Public Administration, only has 12 MA students but there are a couple hundred pursuing masters in politics from all over the world, among them Bolivia, Chile, Russia, Belgium, China, South Korea, etc. It’s so interesting hearing people from all over the world discuss so passionately issues I’ve only ever heard a blip of on the BBC. I think it’s going to be an educational and life-changing year!
As I excited as I am for uni, I must now bid my adieu and venture forth to enjoy my last hours of freedom before my first class at 4. Oh and here are a few pictures I’ve snapped a long the way - enjoy!


Guitar Festival at the Red Lion Inn

The Shambles - google it. Good stuff.

Random street with nice view of Minster in the distance.

Seriously?

One of my favorite captures - this place is so beautiful!