Dear CBU: Letters from England
Entry #6: The Countdown Begins!

Correspondent: Sally Lynch
Senior at CBU
Natural Science Major
English/Psychology Minor
Hometown: Covington, Louisiana
(45 miles north of New Orleans)

It's the final countdown! In less than two weeks, I'll be on a plane heading back home. I'm getting bluer by the day! And not just because I am so sad to go, but also because the temperature around here has dropped- Brrrr! We had snow last week for the first time this winter, but it didn't stick very long. It was festive, though, and put us in the Christmas spirit!

There is not much time to dwell on the future, however, because academics have to come first on the priority list right now! I hope that it isn't too much of a shock to anyone when I tell you that, even in England, finals do exist! Just as CBU is gearing up for the homestretch of the semester, so is Edge Hill. There are plenty of projects to be done, tests to study for, and papers to print! The library and computer labs are filled to capacity around the clock these days!

Things are a little different for us Americans, though. As I mentioned before, the semester here is extended in comparison to ours, so that means that final projects and tests for every class are not due until January, after all of us "yanks," as we are sometimes affectionately called, have left! Alternative assignments are the answer to this problem! For instance, I wrote a 1,000 word analysis on the use of color in film for my "How to Read a Film" course whereas the students will take a test in January.

For those of you who think those extra writing assignments may seem unjust, think of it as a chance to get a test taken care of early without having to pull the all-nighter because you didn't start studying until the evening before; now it seems a lot less stressful, huh? And, if you begin your alternative assignments early, giving yourself plenty of time to work on them, they really aren't so bad! You can even turn them in early and spend your last week relaxing while everyone else is up till the wee hours of the morning! Wow, I should probably take some of my own advice on this issue seeing as I still have a 2000 work research paper due Monday for my "History of the English Language" class, and a film trailer to complete by next Friday!

Traveling, of course, has come to a stop since assignment deadlines started approaching. My last adventure was from November 17th till the 20th in Italy. I think that it was the perfect last trip- no problems, beautiful sights, and great people; just relaxing and cultural!

Some of you might want to travel more or less than I did; it all depends on your stamina and preference, as well as your wallet size! But, I can honestly say that I have been perfectly content to be around campus for the past few weeks. After a while, the chaotic world of planes, trains, and automobiles can become a little overwhelming.

I have been spending as much time as I can with my new friends here at Edge Hill; the idea of leaving them is heart-breaking to me. Of course, I can't wait to come home to all of my friends and family in Louisiana and Memphis, but I wish that I could take some of my American and UK friends with me! I cannot stress enough that traveling is all well and good, but don't forget that studying abroad is not just about seeing sights; a vital part of it is being immersed in a different culture, and letting people from that culture into your life. Edge Hill is no longer simply a picture in a brochure to me, it's another place in this world to call home, and the men and women whom I have met here have made it that home for me.

So, if you plan to travel, then by all means do! But, when you get back on campus, remember to share your time with the people who live around you! Get to know another country by getting to know the people who live there! You might find yourself making some of the best friends that you have ever had. When I look back on my semester here at Edge Hill, I will not be able to remember every fact about the city of Liverpool, or how many steps lead to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Instead, I'll remember the karaoke nights in the Student Union, the laughs my friends and I shared over a pint at O'Connor's Pub, and the late nights we spent just chatting about nothing particular in the common room. The sights make a trip special, but the people make a trip memorable.

Check out some pictures with this entry!

Read Sally's Entries!
Entry #1: Hello to all my fellow Buccaneers back at CBU!
Entry #2: Subtle Differences
Entry #3: The A's, B's, and C's of Studying Abroad
Entry #4: Travel Tips
Entry #5: Q and A Session
Entry #6: The Countdown Begins!
Entry #7: Saying Goodbye
Entry #8: Re-Entry: the Ups and Downs

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