Ribena and Haggis...

It is now the 3rd week of the semester and I'm beginning to settle in again. I like my classes so far. One of my favorites is 'Architecture in Early Modern Europe 1450 - 1750.' We've learned about why the Renaissance is said to have begun in Florence and what made Florence special. We talked about Brunelleschi and Alberti - two very different architects from different backgrounds who both contributed to the revival of classical architecture in the 1400s . It's really interesting! I'm glad I got to go to Rome and Paris over the holidays as well because the professor has referred to some of the buildings in those cities (i.e. the Pantheon, Colosseum, Notre Dame). My other classes are Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer, Distillation and Absorption, Heat Transfer and Process Integration, and Laboratories 2. I like Heat Transfer and Process Integration because it's about how to make processes more efficient and choosing the right heat exchanger for a specified temperature change.



Two weekends ago, I went on the Ferris wheel in Manchester which was exciting. Haha. My friends and I would always walk by it and want to go, so I'm glad I finally got to ride on it! In the picture above, you can see the Ferris wheel and part of the Manchester Cathedral on the left. I also went to Lyme Park in the Peak District with a few friends. Apparently, Lyme Hall was the background for one of the old BBC Pride & Prejudice films!


We walked around the countryside a little bit and it was nice to get some fresh air and see the deer. I tried haggis this past weekend, which is a traditional Scottish dish with sheep's heart, lungs, and liver in it. It's mixed with oatmeal, onions, and spices. If you make yourself forget what it's made out of, it actually tastes pretty good. It was definitely a new experience! I also went to Maldon with some friends. It is a city along the coastline with estuaries. There are lots of old sailboats there, chirping birds, and little cafes and shops. I like how it's fairly easy to find a town on the coast in England-you're never too far away from the Sea!



All in all, things are going well. I've become a fan of 'Ribena' (a type of 'squash') or concentrated fruit drink. Basically, you buy a big bottle of this concentrated juice and then you only use a little tiny amount each time and fill most of your glass with water. Everyone loves it around here and drinks it frequently. My favorite flavor is blackcurrant but there's loads of different kinds!