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The first week of my "holiday" aka Spring Break was spent with Sophie and her family in Exmouth/Exeter. They live along the river that goes into the sea and it's beautiful! It's what I picture my summer home to look like in five years when I live here. :) Anyways, Soph and I walked around Exmouth as she showed me all around. We even took her puppy called Milo with us - (ironic much, mom)? I met her mom, dad and nephew. They are so sweet! Then that evening we went to the pub called The Swan for a drink and happened to run into her brother. For dinner we went to this really quaint old English style pub. It had a really short ceiling, horse medals all around, and a water pump in the bathroom! We ate with her grandparents and aunt and uncle. It was so nice of them, they made me feel right like their family. On our way to these places, they showed me where they used to live - down a long, hilly driveway with stables and pastures at the end. They also showed me some historical sites and was telling me all about the area that they live in. In Exeter, they showed me the cathedral, where Soph went to school, and where her dad teaches. We walked around the shopping center and her dad showed us this cellar that was found when building up the city. There was a skeleton and little underground steps even! We had coffee and a sandwich in a cute little cafe, then we had a late lunch before I got on the train to come back to Cheltenham at the top of a hill that over looked the city.
Soph's parents are the nicest people ever! We sat at her house during the day just talking about all the differences in life over a glass of wine and Twizzlers. We compared education, lifestyles, food, manners, and different vocabulary words. We definitely got in some good laughs. :) Her dad then told me his story about an American; it goes like this: When he was studying at uni, there was a guy from California studying abroad whom he lived with. They became great friends and ended up traveling a bit together as well. Over the summer, they basically switched lives and his friend stayed in England with his parents, and he went to California. They both loved exploring their new places, and when her dad was in California, he convinced his friends parents to surprise him for Christmas and come to England. His friend ended up falling in love with an English girl and they now live in California. Once a year (if possible), the families reunite either in California or Exemouth. Her dad is fond of America and loves talking about his experiences. I found it really interesting to talk to somebody with a similar situation.
Basically, I would love to stay in England much longer or come back and stay longer than five months. After finally experiencing something more than just Cheltenham and Uni, I've realized that I'm actually in a whole 'nother world. I'm finally seeing how it is to actually live here, and the family life is amazing. Like I was telling one of my friends, when people in the states travel, it's to another state; but when people over here travel, it's to another country. Not only that, but most people can speak or understand at least one other language than English. They have more knowledge about the world in general and current news, whereas in the States, you only really hear about what's happening with the US or major world news.
Like I told Harv, "I'll be back to Monon May 26th; I have to finish my degree at MC. But that doesn't mean I'm settling there forever. Who knows where I'll end up in three or five years?"
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