O Fangor

[draigbach]

helo,
I'm going to Bangor for an intensive Welsh cwrs...I've only spent about two days in Wales eVeR!! I know, it's tragic!! so...just wondering if anyone could tell me a bit about Bangor. I'll be there from Sept until December...
I am having trouble at the moment finding housing; if anyone happens to know someone who wants to rent a room to a very quiet, mouselike, presentable, non-smoking postgraduate student, please do let me know!

I am counting the days. August seems endless.

hwyl,
B.

[Singing Bard]

draigbach,
I was looking for accomodations in wales for you online and found snowdonia manor who's neighboring cottage sounds much more affordable, rural, etc. I don't know what exactly your'e looking for, but its available from September. Check out more if you're interested, at snowdoniamanor.co.uk
Otherwise, stayinwales.co.uk has alot to offer. Hope this helps.
Singing Bard

[draigbach]

diolch yn fawr iawn, thank you very much indeed, singing bard. that is so kind of you...I will check out both links . the Snowdownia cottage...oh how heavenly that sounds!!! I am unfortunately having to be within walking distance (or bus I suppose) of U. of Bangor, as I won't be hiring a car...it makes things a bit difficult.
I have come up with some leads whilst at the Gymanfa Ganu in Florida...more of that on the other thread. everyone should come next year, it will be in Cincinnatti...it was adderchog! (excellent!! --if I knew the word for amazing, out of this world, I'd say that instead...)

hwyl,
draigbach

[Cadwgan]

Hey Draigbach, I hope you enjoy Bangor. My father was from there and I used to get shipped there in the summers as a kid. I'm going to the Uni next September.
BTW, while in Gwynedd, you should visit Morfa Dyffryn, a really great bech between Harlech and Barmouth. Last time I was there, we didn't even need swimsuits!



Just curious, what route are you using to get to Bangor?

[draigbach]

diolch, cadwgan, I am quite looking forward to it.
I'm going to be flying into Manchester, and then just have to figure out a train or something from there.

you are going to U. of Wales at Bangor in Sept.??! that's when I'll be there! mewn mis...well, less than a month now.
I'll be there for three months, and then I hope to find a way to stay permanently (or until they kick me out)

still haven't found housing, but I've decided to stay in a B&B until I can find something. I just heard that students had so much trouble finding housing at Bangor, that some of them were sleeping on buses?! I do hope this is an exaggerated pub-conversation, and not the literal truth.

[Cadwgan]

Draigbach- Bangor University promises campus housing for all first year students, and then we have to fend for ourselves. I've never heard student housing to be much of a headache, but I'll ask around with the people I've been in contact with there.

Actually, I'm comming in Sept. 2006. I was accepted at Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest and should have started four days ago, but the consul general in Houston took her merry time on my documents. GRRR!!!
I too am hoping to stay in Wales for good, if I could just get a job after I get a degree. I had dual citizenship, but it magically disappeared when I turned 21.

There is a train route from Manchester or Liverpool that goes through Snowdonia National Park on the way to Bangor. I don't know it off hand, but I'll find it and let ya know.

[Ice794]

I have a friend going to Bangor in a couple of weeks. He's studying Marine Biology. Apparently Bangor is the third best in the world for Marine Biology.

Yes, they do provide for all the first year students. Even if you have to fend for yourself after the first year, at least you've been there a year, have gotten to know the area, and you've got a year to sort out next year's accomodation. It's good the way they work it. Imagine having never been to Bangor, then having to find your own accomodation straight off? That's gotta be stressful.

Icé

[draigbach]

well, I'm actually postgrad...I'll be going for an intensive three-month cwrs in Cymraeg, and then possibly going there to attend law school in the future. somehow I think they would expect us postgrads to fend for ourselves.
as to finding accomodations...well I've found myself in strange countries before with only a suitcase, and it's rather exciting, and fun, and challenging. I think it might be a tad more difficult in Wales in the winter than it was in Greece in the summer, but I will manage.

llongyfarchiadau, congratulations, Cadwgan, at your acceptance. you must be quite excited. it's too bad it got postponed. what will you be studying?

I had no idea it was such a good school for marine biology. how fascinating!! that was my brother's major at Stanford...he is now working in psychology and film... go figure...

[draigbach]

There is a train route from Manchester or Liverpool that goes through Snowdonia National Park on the way to Bangor. I don't know it off hand, but I'll find it and let ya know.

I'd love to hear about that train route, if you find it out!! it sounds wonderful...hope it's out of Manchester...

[Ice794]

It's just the normal line that goes along the coast here.

Just jump on the Holyhead train from Manchester Picadilly or Crewe, or even Chester.



Icé

[Cadwgan]

The main route is A5, and the alternative route south through Snowdonia is A55; or at least that's what I have scribbled on the back of an old ticket stub. Ice would know about this much better than me.

I can't imagine any serious housing proble in Gwynedd. I'm sure someone can steer you in the right direction once you get there. I spent a few months in Sweden, and the housing queue was 10 years for a 1-bedroom apartment, and that was just for the natives!

I'll be studying Electronic Engineering. I have an associate's degree in IT from an unknown college, but I don't want to spend the next 45 years in front of a computer. So what exactly will the intensive language program cover? Sound intimidating...

[draigbach]

it's going to be a Welsh "superwlpan" starting from the beginning. I'm stumbling along in lefel dau but they assure me that they move so quickly I won't be bored. heh! bored?! I think not...the way I feel about mutations right now, I can use all the review I can get.

electronic engineering, eh? da iawn ! my father is an environmental engineer...and he's had many, many very interesting jobs for the government: testing night-vision goggles...right now he's the government representative for Boeing, developing a big big plane for the Navy...don't ask me what that has to do with environmental engineering, but... you'll have lots of options with that degree.

[Singing Bard]

draigbach, my father used to work for Boeing back in the late 80's when I was just 7 or 8. Interesting, since you're from Seattle too. Its been a long time sinve I've been there.
How far is Bangor from Snowdonia, can anyone tell me?
A train ride through Wales can't be all bad, but I was thinking it was shorter than that...
Blessings on finding the right place, Becky.
Singing Bard

[Hazel]

<<I had dual citizenship, but it magically disappeared when I turned 21. >>

Cadwgan, I am not for a minute doubting or questioning this. Only want to tell you that we have a citizen here in our city who has dual citizenship with America and Great Britain. He is definitely over 21, writes for our paper, tells us all about London. He explained his dual citizenship to me, the benefits he can choose from each country. He went to London to go to university for his graduate degree and got the same freebies plus the same costs as any London resident.

Matt spent two years there and just turned in his Master's thesis last week.
So, why is his dual citizenship still good and yours not? There is likely something here that I do not know. I could ask Matt if there is anything to ask.

As I said, I'm not questioning anything other than why Matt's dual citizenship did not disappear and yours did.

Hazel

[draigbach]

draigbach, my father used to work for Boeing back in the late 80's when I was just 7 or 8. Interesting, since you're from Seattle too. Its been a long time sinve I've been there.
How far is Bangor from Snowdonia, can anyone tell me?
A train ride through Wales can't be all bad, but I was thinking it was shorter than that...
Blessings on finding the right place, Becky.
Singing Bard

diolch yn fawr, Singing Bard.
I thought Snowdownia was close to Bangor too? I'll be interested to hear what anyone has to say about it.../draigbach