One of my favourite social programme events hosted by Roehampton was our weekend trip to Wales. The social programme is trips provided by the University to help students explore the United Kingdom and learn more about its history while getting to participate in some events in central London.
The Social Programme included: Greenwhich Cruise Wicked Stonehenge and Roman Bathhouses Wales 2 day trip Jack the Ripper tour Cambridge My weekend tour was packed with various events and tours that taught us about the history of Wales the Land of the Red Dragon. Our first day we went to Caerlon, The Welsh capital Cardiff and Caerphilly Castle. Caerlon was a quick pit stop where they showed us an old gladiator stadium and old housing units. On our stop to Cardiff, we got lucky and there was a Wales rugby match going on. The streets were filled with Welsh supporters partying the day away and celebrating the match. We ate lunch at some local restaurants got some red dragons painted on our faces to show support and tried some delicious Welsh cakes. Caerphilly castle was an amazing site in itself. The castle was well maintained and had a majority of the towers still standing and a giant moat to keep invaders away. Day 2 we visited the Big Pit Mining Museum an underground tour and Tintern Abbey an old church ruin. The most memorable of the tours was our excursion to an underground mine museum. We gathered in groups of 12-15 and were guided into a pitch black mine with only headlamps to light the caverns. There wasn't very much room to stand so we walked through the mine hunched over with some parts of the mine being very small. The mine was wet, cold, dark and creepy. Our tour guide went on to explain that death in the mine was very common with deaths including being trampled over by horses or death by an explosion from the various gases that would be sparked as they chipped away at the rocks. The fact I found the most disturbing was that children were allowed to work in these mines at the young age of six. Children would work in pitch black for 8 hours a day with only a candle as there source of light if they were able to afford to buy one. After years of human rights violations, slave labour wages and an ungodly amount of deaths the mines were closed down. Interestingly enough the men who were doing the tours said they missed working in the darkness and would go back to working there again immediately if given the chance because they miss working with their best friends and the community. Tintern Abbey was a beautiful old church ruin. It is one of the best preserved medieval buildings in Wales with a rich religious history. Many monks used to live within the Abbey. It was preserved well and still had a majority of the building still standing and in good condition. I can't put an emphasis on how fast time has been going by these past couple weeks. I have been spending more time in the library cramming to get final projects finished. My typical school week is compromised of the following:
Monday Class from 10am-3:30 pm, Library from 5-7pm, Football training 8:30-11pm Tuesday class 10am-3:30 pm, Library 7-12am Wednesday Football match 12:30-4pm, Library 9-12am Although this doesn't seem like a packed schedule I have been spending more time in the library than in my own flat. I am looking forward to finishing up projects and spending my remaining time in Europe backpacking to different countries. When class ends I will be visiting St. Anton, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. I am excited to graduate in Spring 2019 to see what the world has to offer and to take hold of my future with my new degree and perspective on the world. |
AuthorMy name is Micahl Nicolas Ong. I am addicted to traveling the world, meeting new people and getting lost with a snack in hand! I am studying abroad in London England and will be traveling the world for the next 4+ months. Archives
December 2018
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