Tourist in my own Town

On Sunday, I had to go pick up my train tickets for my big St. Patty's day trip coming up. So, I needed to take a bus to the city center, but when I got to my bus stop I remembered that the bus only comes once every hour on Sunday (and of course I had just missed the bus by like 5 minutes). Luckily, it was a gorgeous day, and I had my camera, so I decided to walk to the city center (with my camera) and just catch the bus at another stop. However, I was having so much fun I decided to walk all the way to the train station, and with a few minor detours to the park and the beach, and running into random friends, a 20 minute trip turned into a 3 hour adventure. Anyway, check out some of my favorite pictures, and watch the video, if you have 3 minutes of your life to waste.

Everytime I see an adult on a bicycle, I remind myself that there is hope for mankind.

When I first arrived in Swansea, riding the bus was exhilarating for me. The bus I ride almost everyday is called BOB (Bright Orange Bus...and no, it's not a joke, it's really called that). It is a totally different experience than what I'm used to. Everyone rides the bus. I have found that less students seem to have cars with them at school, and that some don't even have their license (like my 19 year old flat-mate Jemma). So, riding the bus seemed like a sure way to immerse myself in to the Swansea-culture, a way to have quick tours of the city and to actually not have to worry about paying for gas. On top of that, taking the bus is more environmentally friendly (...which is totally in this season).

However, after being here for 2 months, I've come to the realization that the public transportation system isn't really as exciting as I thought it was. Sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes to get to the City Center, but if I had my deeply missed Shaggin' Wagon, it would take me merely 5 minutes (and I could have Santogold playing in the background). Other times the bus can be running late, or too full of people so you can't get on, and it has caused me to be late to class.

So with the need to just be able to get out of the claustrophic bus system and be free, I decided it was time to invest in a bicycle. However, the average bicycle cost 150-200 pounds, and being the starving student I am, I can't afford that (especially after taking weekend trips to places like Amsterdam).

Fortunately, I was introduced to a hidden gem in Swansea called Re-Cycle. It's a quaint little bike shop hidden in a random alley-way just outside the city center of Swansea.

How it works is simple: The company takes in donations of used, old, or unwanted bikes. Then, they are refurbished and repaired for asylum seekers, refugees, and low waged people (a.k.a student from another country...me). According to one of the guys working, "The British throw away over 1.2 million bicycles each year!" Which was inspiration for this new organization to start up. It's a project of the Black Environment Network and supported by the Countryside Council for Wales. The guys that work on the bikes are paid very little and after talking to a couple of them I learned that they mainly just do it for a hobby (which is partly why the shop is only open Mondays and Tuesdays).

So last week I went in on Tuesday, and browsed through the bikes, and found one that was perfect for me. It is a road bike, has military bags attached to the back, and has a bell! The guy working told me, "good choice," and that he'd call me up next week when it was completely repaired. Sure enough, a week goes by, and I went to go pick my new bike yesterday. I was planning on riding him to the Tesco (Wales version of Wal-mart) to buy a bike lock, but was pleasantly surprised to find that there was already a bike lock installed to the back of the seats, with two slightly rusted keys attached. Although it's a little rusty, it's perfect for the for the short time I will be using it.

Dance like a Monkey

After 4 pints of beer, 4 strikes, and barely beating my Welsh mates in bowling, we made our way to a club...Monkey Bar.
Monkey is now my new favorite night life hot spot in Swansea. It is an organic, vegetarian cafe-bar by day, with chunky tables, big sofas, modern art, and cool tunes. Then, after dark, this funky venue transforms into the best alternative club I have ever experienced in my life. Weekend DJs play drum and bass, hip hop, reggae, salsa, and world music. Check out their webpage, it's really groovy.

The guys that I went out with just had a pay-day and were on a spending spree, buying our group drinks and shots. One shot that I will never forget was Sambuca, Tequila, and Tabasco Sauce. (You think that's bad, you should have smelt my burp).
After intense dancing and drinking, we made our way to a Fish & Chips shop, and I got what seemed to be the most amazing chicken sandwich and chips (fries) I had ever had in my life.

Finally, we got home around 4:00. And after listening to some Santogold in Craig's room, I passed out.

It Warms the Cockles of My Heart

Last night was my dear friend Nathan's 29th birthday. We made our way to a pub called The Commercial which is about a 10 minute walk away from the village. Here's a video I made to commerorate the night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe9tjjW3dv4
For his birthday I gave him a Sudoku book because we always have Sudoku competitions when we are traveling together (and I told him now that he has a book he can practice because I'm 3 for 3 woop! woop!)

Katie gave Nate a bottle of pickled Cockles as a joke because Nate wrote this song about cockles.
Check the song out, haha. (keep in mind this isn't the recorded version haha)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fLhbfLSSEc
Apparently Cockles, which are small, edible, saltwater clams, are a really big legacy in Swansea. And being a resident of Swansea for the time being (and because of Nate's inspiring song), I decided to try one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T8cmtoCiu8
After eating it, I decided to do a little research on these intruiging little creatures and found out a lot of interesting facts.

-Cockles are a popular all around in cooking, but in the United Kingdom, especially places close to the sea (Swansea), they are sold as a snack. They are seasoned with white pepper and vinegar (just like everything else in this country haha)
-A traditional Welsh breakfast contains cockles fried with bacon and served with laverbread (which is bread made with seaweed in it). yummy!
-There's also an old British phrase, 'it warms the cockles of my heart.' So romantic!

Beware! Sheep poop may look like Milk Duds, but it don't taste like it.

Whoever says the weather in Great Britain is suppossed to be depressing and rainy can kiss off. While being in Swansea, also known as "an ugly, lovely town," by famous Welsh writer Dylan Thomas, I have experienced some of the most beautiful weather. I will admit it rains more than back home, but there have been a fair share of beautiful, sunny days. And besides, the rain allows you to enjoy the sun that much more when it is out.

This past weekend I decided I should be a tourist in my own town, fanny pack and all. And much to my luck, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was actually warmer here than it was back in Richmond or Wilmington. So what better to do on a warm day than go out to the Gower Penisula.

The Gower Penisula is apart of the city of Swansea and is on the south coast of Wales, on the north side of the Bristol Channel. This is actually the first area in the U.K. that has been named "An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Traveling to the Gower is pretty simple. If you already have a bus pass (which after buying one for 220 pounds, I do) it costs only four pounds to have a round-trip bus ride out to the Gower. It's about a 20-40 minute bus ride depending on the circumstances (what time of day and how many old people are on the bus- for whatever reason, the bus to the Gower is all full of the ederly, guess they live out there?). The trip to the Gower is very scenic. Rolling hills of sheep and green grass. And sheep poop actually looked like Milk Duds. Yum! (you can see the picture to the right- except for some reason on the computer they look more like raisinets. hmm... just a little food for thought)

The road to Gower is extremely narrow, and if a car is coming towards you, either the car has to pull to the side of the road, or the bus does because it is basically only big enough to be a one-way road.

I went with a group of friends, all exchange students as well. We stopped for a quick Lunch at this place called Sam's Surf Shop. I got an amazing sandwhich there, and will definitely have to go back soon. It's a quaint little shop, with coffee and desserts as well. A good place to go for reading, as it looks over the beach on Rhosilli bayAnd the two dudes working in there legit looked straight out of Laguna Beach or the O.C. or something.

Check out the youtube videos I posted and look at the pictures! It is a remarkable place!
And this is a video of a dog that looks like my old dog Sunshine.

Island of Reality in an Ocean of Diarrhea

That's a video I made to encapsulate what an ordinary day is like for me in Swansea (Peanut-butter and banana sandwiches).

island of reality in an ocean of diarrhea from Jeph Hinshawty on Vimeo.
The song in the video is "Details in the Fabric" by Jason Mraz Featuring James Morrison.

When I walk up the stairs of the Hendrefoilan House, you can see the beach and Mumbles off in the distance.Mumbles is a village with adjacent headland stretching into Swansea Bay. It is part of the city of Swansea. And a random fact that I found humorous is that mumbles is derived from the French word mamelles, which means breasts. At the tip of Mumbles are two humps that resembles breasts. How 'bout dem apples?

And kudos to the Danny Deveraux for giving me inspiration with his self-proclaimed "cute video" called "Southampton Day." Check it out as well.

You can also check out his blog, God Save the Danny, it's entertaining. Or you can click the picture to the left which is taken from his blog.

Fanny Around? Check!

Before I left for Wales I told everybody that I would start a blog to update everyone on my new

and exciting life in Swansea! However, I haven't had "time" to sit down and spill my guts and glory. And to be quite honest, I almost lost all desire to start a blog site, but after talking to my friend Danny Deza (Deza What?) and being inspired by his "daily dose of Deza magic," I had a change of heart.

Check it out, The Deza Detour, or you can click the picture to the right, which is the header to his blog.