Farewell KSC

KSC and everyone i've met, you will be missed... and hopefully we'll meet again. This has been an experience of a life time.

Thank you everyone who has helped make this so amazing.

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The Farewell Reception

I can't believe the goodbyes have started already. It didn't seem so long ago that the international office gathered us in the flag room for breakfast and we all went round and introduced ourselves.

Once again the International Office gathered us all into their office for a Farewell Reception. It was really sweet and if they had done it on the Friday i would have cried! They presented us all with KSC mugs and pernament markers, so that people could sign your mug. It was an awesome idea which went down really well. When i get home i want to find some sort of spray or something to make sure all the signatures stay on, because i want to keep mine forever.

We then exchanged our gifts for our Secret Santa. I received a Spud Gun... and the spud to go with it! It was awesome! The poor international office were left with bits of potato on the floor afterwards!

Look at us lot, we're awesome.

After the farewell reception it was time to say some goodbyes. First up was Jonathan. It was a sad goodbye as he'd become a pretty good friend over the past four months. It was the first goodbye which was probably why it was so hard. Because after Jonathan, Priscilla left us, it was also hard saying goodbye to her, if not harder because unlike Jonathan and pretty much the rest of us, she won't be coming back to England. She does Texas proud and we love her and we'll miss her. I just said goodbye to Rich too (James' room mate, i went round to his room to watch Lost). It's all very sad.

The rest of the goodbyes i don't think happen till Friday. It's going to be hard. We've all become really good friends over these past four months. It's amazing how everyone got on so well, we were really lucky to have each other (cheesy but true). However, i don't think it'll be too difficult to leave, because everyone who has made this experience what it is are leaving too.

On a completely other note, Wes, took me, Helen and Emma up the hill and took us to a part which looked right over Keene it was an amazing view, shame i don't have a picture! Anyway, Wes spent the morning with us, after the hill climbing, he took us to the dam, and then ater that off to Brewbakers for Hot Cocoa. He is such a nice man, and i really loved spending that morning with Wes, Helen and Emma.

The Final Week

So here starts the final week in KSC. This time next week i won't be here, and that is the strangest feeling. This week is a week full of exams, papers and journals. Luckily i don't have so much to do. I have to clean up an essay for Mark (Early American Lit) Do my final take home exam (4 pages double spaced) for Orelup (US in Crisis), and then finally i have my British cinema exam on Thursday... i also have a paper and a journal in for Film Theory and a paper and a journal due in for British cinema but i have already finished these, woo.


This week of course isn't just the mark of a lot of papers and exams. For us internationals and national students it's a week of sad sad goodbyes. We've spent 4 months together, seeing each other round campus, having breakfast, tea and fun times together, to say goodbye to these people is by far the saddest thing i'll have to do. The goodbyes sort of started today as Sam gathered us in her room and presented us with a cake....
It was really lovely and i was genuinly really moved. However much she has frustrated and frightened me and everyone else that was truely a wonderful and sweet thing to do.



Tomorrow (Monday) the International office is gathering us all in their office for a 'farewell reception' where we will also exchange our secret santa presents. It's gonna be a sad day tomorrow. It's also the last day for one of my good friends, it's going to be difficult. And then it's Priscillas last day on Tuesday. It's just mad. Everyone is leaving. It's not going to be easy.



I'm sure i'll blog tomorrow with pictures from the farewell reception.

A Reflective Post

This really should be something i should type at the end. But this blog is just full of 'events' rather than my true feelings. I can't hold this back. I don't want to go home. Mum, Dad, Emma i love you all so very much. But this experience has been the best thing that has every happened to me. This really has been the time of my life. I'd like to thank Grandad and Annette for their complete support and encouragement for making me do it. There were times when i didn't think i could do it, but your never ending encouragement made me go on. I did this for me, to escape the quiet, shy, elusive girl i was, to build confidence in myself. Whilst i'm not a fully reformed person, i've deffinately changed. I feel like a different person over here. I have my friends all around me. That's another thing, the people i've shared this experience with have made it what it is, Helen, Emma, Sarah, Amy, Richard, Priscilla, Max, Jonathan, Chrysann etc this simply wouldn't have been what it is without them.
I'm feeling depressed to go home. I'm looking forwrad to Christmas and telling everyone about what i got up over here, but i'll be honest, i don't want to go back. I don't want to go back to a University which makes me feel stupid, i don't want to go back to a place where my friends aren't a second away (!!).
Really, like Emma (sister) said, this is just the beginning. My life begins now. I've experienced this, i've become a new person, and now i can go out into that crazy world and try to get by.
This lifestyle will be missed.
This has been the best experience ever ever. Thank you to my family for your support and love. Thanks to Grandad and Annette for your encouragement (and the plane tickets!!). And most of all thank you to all of my friends over here, and everyone at the international office. It isn't the country, it isn't place, it's YOU guys which have this experience what it is.

IFC - The Final Event

Ok, yes, yes. I'm the last one to post, yet again. I'm not quite as fast as the other two. But i have more important things to talk about, like the cricket. Looks like we're heading for a draw for the second test... it's better than losing but i'd much rather have a win. I've written a whole bulletin on my myspace about my thoughts on the cricket so far, but i know only one person would be interested in that. Still i will post a picture of KP, because he is amazing!

Anyway this weekend has been pretty fun. It all kicked off on Saturday evening, when we went round for dinner at a friend of Priscillas. We spent the evening with Jama and her husband Mark where they treated us with chicken and rice. Mum, Dad, you'd be proud... i ate Pumpkin pie, i hated every mouth full. I was told several times i didn't have to eat it, but i'd still have felt rude if i didn't. At least i tried, and damn it, i'm proud of myself! We were later treated to S'mores... this is cooked marshmellow, and melted chocolate, in between two biscuits.... delicious!

After the meal we went bowling in celebration for Sarahs birthday. I had a really good time. I was throughly amused by Emmas bowling techniques, a little scamper to the line, and the ball elogantly bowled down the alley (or sometimes into the gutter). When the ball didn't quite go her way she'd wave her arms franticlly in the direction she'd want the ball to go. It was amuzing. Though i shouldn't take the piss, i wasn't much better. My score wasn't amazing, but i do blame the fact that i had to partake in the stupid challenges which always happened on my go! Yeah, yeah i had first bowl background (knocked down 4 pins) and then bowl lying down (went straight to the gutter!). It was a fun night all round, i really enjoyed myself.

On the Sunday, the International Friends Club (IFC) took us on our final trip out. It was a trip to Manchester, a bit of shopping followed by watching Ice Hockey match. It was yet another fun day. I really enjoyed the Ice Hockey, people keep making it out as if i only like cricket, but this faster sports i can tolerate too. Of course i'm amused by the fighting, and the naughty people being put into a box. It was fun, there were fireworks, and crazy things going on during the intervals, music and all that lark, it was fun. (Though i have to point out that if you like that watch Twenty20 cricket, music is played constandly through that!). I really loved it. I loved being with my friends and generally having a wonderful time.

For now... back to homework.