A Birthday to Remember

When I woke up this morning, on my birthday, I was both excited and very sad. This is the first time I've spent my birthday away from home and my loved ones, yet one can't NOT be excited on one's birthday.

I woke up not expecting a huge celebration, or gifts, or anything really. But when I came downstairs, there were a couple "Happy Birthday" banners on the walls. There was a giant balloon tied to my usual chair at the table. Ray and Susan surprised me with a gift; a Willow Tree figurine that is completely appropriate for the situation.

Forget-Me-Not

Andrew and Charlotte got me this book, which is absolutely pointless (obviously) and amazing. I can't wait to use it. 

Then I was gifted with a beautiful necklace with a Blue John stone, which is mined locally in Derbyshire (which is the only place it's found) and looks something like this:  

The most amazing gift, though, was that I finally got to meet the rest of my family. Not all of them, there were a couple who couldn't make it, but most of them. It was absolutely amazing; a bunch of strangers came to celebrate my birthday, and they welcomed me completely. They were so wonderful,  all of them. I realized how lucky I truly am, to come to a foreign country and have people who want to meet me and get to know me. They didn't ask questions or judge me. They were family, right away. 

Back rows: Charlotte, Andrew, Paul, Susan, Ray, Kaan, Maureen, Irving
Kneeling: Tulin, Kaya, Me, Lindsay

And that was the best feeling ever. 

Easter is Upon Us...

Easter break begins this Friday, the 20th, and ends on April 13th. Yep, three whole weeks to not worry about classes at all. Three weeks to relax, travel, get to know my family... It's going to be great.
I have some wonderful plans, and I'm excited to get to travel and see more of what the U.K. has to offer.

I know my family is going to take me to Wales, so I can see some castles!! I'm going to Snowdonia, a national park in Wales. I can't wait to actually get out there and explore (but first I'll need to buy some decent walking shoes)!

I hope to maybe make it to Scotland at some point as well... but I probably won't.

I've also made plans with my friend Amy, who is in my Medieval history class, to go see a movie and maybe stay with her a couple days. She also lives in Stockport, so she'll be really close. I'm so excited to get to know her better.

Hopefully, Francine and I will spend a couple days in Wales with Gerald and Holly. There is an abandoned mental asylum that we might go poke around in (I wonder if it has ghosts...)

A trip to London is also in order for me and Francine. Fran's grandma lives there, and we may be able to stay with her for a couple days. Francine knows London really well, so it will be nice to experience it with an insider's point of view! Hopefully we'll book our tickets by the end of the week!

I'm feeling very optimistic for the weeks ahead, and can't wait to add to my adventures!