Craig's Experience in Wales A personal documentation of my journey as an exchange student in Great Britain

As I sit here at my laptop writing this entry, I look out my window and gaze upon a full moon. I have looked out my window every night since being here and have never seen a sight such as this. A beautiful end to a beautiful day. Today, March 1, 2007, started just like any other day for Craig David Byer: hit the alarm forcefully, rub the eyes, check the time, mumble something I don’t even understand, then struggle for about thirty seconds to get my feet to the floor. Then, of course, comes the routine of opening the curtains to absorb whatever sunshine is peering through the clouds. Little did I know this morning that a beautiful surprise was awaiting patiently for me on the other side of those curtains. Boy oh boy. No sir… today would not be just any ordinary day in the land of Wales. My eyes and ears danced (and no, my body did not follow) at the images and sounds colored and sung in front of me: light blue sky, cotton-candy clouds scattered throughout, dry ground, birds chirping, and sun shining like a July day. “I’ve got to get to the beach before class,” I thought to myself. Despite the appearances of the day, I knew that it would still be necessary to wear pants and a light jacket. I have learned more than once that if it is warm in the beginning of the day that it is bound to get cold by day’s end. Unfortunately I have the sniffles and a bit of a head cold to prove such things. So I got dressed and situated for the rest of the day with my class materials and Canon digital in the backpack. “Perfect,” I thought to myself as I inhaled a long, deep breath of Welsh oxygen through my semi-clogged nostrils. The temperature proved to be not very warm and not very chilly—a happy medium. I immediately developed a hunger to take pictures throughout the day. I knew the weather would be the perfect medicine for the lackluster feeling I had throughout my body. Within 20 minutes I had my shoes and socks off and was sitting on the sand of Swansea Bay. Feeling the warmth and comfort of the sun was like receiving a hug from a long awaited friend. Granted, I was only on the beach for a good half hour, but it was just what I had needed to get a good start on the day. I took out my Canon immediately and started taking photos from my sitting position. Due to the comfort of my hiney I didn’t have any need to get up and walk around to take pictures. I didn’t exactly care what I was capturing—just wanted to get pretty shots of the bay and of everyday people doing their normal thing. After a few moments, though, I decided to get up and walk around a little bit. I asked an older man walking along the bay to take my photo with the water in the background. And of course, he noticed my “accent” (it’s hard for me to realize that I even have one) and I told him where I was from and what I was doing in Swansea. It was a pleasant conversation as he informed me that he used to take 5 hour walks from the docks to a place called Caswell. Ironically I had decided just the afternoon before that Caswell would be the next place in which I would venture to for photos and scenery. The white haired/semi-baled, blue-eyed, a little taller than me man said that he was 66 years old and had suffered from a heart attack so he couldn’t walk long distances. He kept mentioning, though, how much he loved walking around here and how beautiful the area around Swansea is. If anything, I took encouragement from our short conversation to keep discovering as many scenic places as possible. After soaking in the surroundings a bit more, I realized it was time to head off to my 1 o’clock lecture on 17th century literature. While walking back to campus I couldn’t help but stop and take photos of everything that stuck out to me. Whether markings on the pavement or blooming flowers in front of the campus sign, I just wanted to capture as much as I could. The sun gave off such vibrancy and life that it made everything appear so perfect. I seem to be developing this fetish of taking close-up photos of any flower within sight. Maybe that’s my sensitive/soft side showing itself, but I prefer to think that flowers weren’t just made for females. Men enjoy flowers, too. I won’t bore you with details on my lecture other than telling you that it was enjoyable. After the class I went off to roam around and find places to take photos. I had to idea of going to Singleton Park, which is a large park right next to campus (I actually had soccer training there yesterday). On my way to Singleton, though, I saw a sign covered by some trees: Ornamental Gardens. Apparently my legs responded quicker than my brain because before I knew it I was walking through the gates. The garden was pretty big with a lot of walkways and benches, trees, flowers and roaming pigeons and squirrels. I have been on campus a lot since I first got here a month ago, but I had no idea this place even existed. I felt like a little kid who just walked into the woods behind his house for the first time: even though it wasn’t very big, it seemed like each path led to another place. Each pathway had more flowers to take pictures of and more squirrels to dodge. You’ll notice in my galleries entitled “BEAUTIFUL DAY” and “BEAUTIFUL DAY II” that I took quite a few photos of this place. I also took a lot of random photos of just everyday things like dogs and people. It seems I have a fetish with that as well. So, enjoy them all! All along the way through my walk I thanked God for creating such beautiful things. When one finds themselves in such surroundings, it becomes difficult to not give God all the praise. It blows my mind to think that the Creator who made such a beautiful world also designed you and I. After about an hour or so in the garden, I walked over to the Chapel in Fulton House for a meeting with a group that I’m getting involved with in the CU. It’s called EEG, or Evangelism Encouragement Group, and we’re reading “Out of the Saltshaker and into the world”: Evangelism as a way of life. We just read a chapter per week out of the novel and talk about it, give encouragement, and so forth. I found myself starved by the time I got to the meeting so I was quite elated when I was informed there was sandwiches in the back. But they don’t have turkey and cheese here. It’s ham and tomato with cheese, cucumber and mayo and cheese, and this like egg spread or something. Me, being in love with variety, was in heaven to be able to experience a cucumber and mayo and cheese sandwich for the first time After that first bite I think my taste buds must have hopped off my tongue and did a little jig on the table. Delicious. As I type this I just received a call from our soccer captain Dannie. He asked me if I wanted to go to Cardiff (capitol of Wales, 45 minutes away) to play on their Saturday team that is part of the competitive South-Wales church league. Unfortunately I had to decline due to the day trip I am going on to Bath, England on Saturday. But I told him that I’ll be in town the next two Saturdays, and luckily he informed me that they’d most likely be calling me to play. Ahhh yes!! What could make this 5 foot 7, 165 pound 20-year-old guy any happier? Cuts, bruises and grass stains never sounded so appealing. So back to what happened earlier today. So yeah, the group went really well as I got to know a couple more people and share with them some experiences I have had in the past with mission trips I’ve been on. The book we’re reading is really good and I am looking forward to gaining more knowledge from it. I’ll bring it home to Ohio with me if anyone is interested in borrowing it at some time. I’ll be at apartment 1904 in the University Commons with my good buddy Joe Hooker (yet something else I am incredibly looking forward to upon my return to the States). After the EEG group I had another class from 4-5—European Fiction and Drama. It’s a lot of reading in that class: I’ve just completed my second novel of 300 pages, Fathers and Sons. The first was Madame Bovary. The teacher is so knowledgeable and presents the information in such a way that it’s hard not to pay attention. I think his accent helps as well. By the end of class I found myself ready to head back to the flat. On the bus on the way to the village, I looked out the window and noticed the sky looked incredibly “brilliant” as the sun was about to set. I have plenty of photos in these two galleries, so you will need to peruse to the second gallery to see the sunset views. When I got off the bus I realized that I haven’t taken a lot of photos of everyday, regular things for you all to see. So I took the liberty of taking shots of some signs, houses, round a bouts, some shops, neighborhood streets and so on and so forth. I forget sometimes that I see these things everyday and you haven’t seen them at all! Now in my mind that’s not fair because to me this experience is as much as mine to have as it is for me to share (hence the entries of detail). I couldn’t help but think how strange people driving by must have thought I was. “Who in the universe would want to have a picture of a ‘yield for elderly people’ sign?” they must have muttered to themselves. “Well,” I would say to them, “you don’t live in Kettering, Ohio. All the old people we’d yield for are safe in retirement homes or nursing homes … not walking across busy streets.” Yet another aspect of this culture that I find humorous, though: interesting signs (the ones is Welsh are great to look at). Once I got back to the flat I relaxed and heated up some food. I also got a call from my English friend Will (who I wrote an entry about entitled “A simple smile”) who said that he signed up for the Bath trip on Saturday. So that will be enjoyable to hang out with him! Him and I also met up yesterday in town after my practice and got drinks, hung out, and just talked. He’s a great guy—so happy and full of life and incredibly easy to talk to. And now here I am … it’s getting later and I find myself in need of a few tissues. Let me tell you, Welsh germs are not nearly as pleasant of a souvenir as those bruises from playing soccer! Please take a gander at my gallery and see what exactly it was that I saw today. Despite the runny nose, it really was an awesome day that I hope to experience again very soon. Hope you all were able to experience this day with me through this entry and the photos I took! Have a blessed weekend and take advantage of the opportunities God provides. God Bless. Philippians 1:3, Craig