I've been in England for the past few months on exchange. It's been an eye-opening experience that I will need months after returning home to ponder upon, but for now I have some essays to finish up and a collection film images to share. I can't say that I've been doing a great job updating and organizing my photos (been good at recording though), but hopefully these film images are a good starting point.
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The first few photos are from one of my first excursions in Leeds, from a walk to Kirkstall Abbey with leah (a friend from Australia, one of the sweetest people ever) and Cailey (a friend from my home university, who I travelled with during my Easter break). A mere 30 minute walk from my residence, the scenery towards Kirstall changed drastically as we neared the castle ruins. My student neighbourhood of Headingley, filled with low-key bars and charity shops, gradually transformed into the quiet narrow streets of Kirkstall, where the elevated streets provided glimpses of the residential town. Strangely, I remember the sunny yet windy day quite clearly; I can recall exactly how I felt walking that day, with the sun on my face and cold hands in my pockets.
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| Leah and Cailey in front of a beautiful church on the way to the Abbey. |
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| Hilly streets of Kirkstall. |
Even though I haven't been in Leeds for that long (three months), I'm already sad about leaving some great people and memories behind as exams near. I'll miss the character-filled streets and buildings too.
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| Neon sign at Leeds General Infirmary. |
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| Fog outside my residence. |
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| A favourite from the roll. |
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The hike in Ilkley Moor was one of the most painful and rewarding things I've done. Taking the train to the town of Saltaire, my group (an organization I found on Facebook) hiked nearly six hours to the town of Ilkley, essentially walking from one town to the other. Not knowing that the hike would've been quite intermediate, I didn't have appropriate footwear and ended with a swollen right foot (and very soggy socks). The views, however, were sights that I still haven't forgotten. Seeing Ilkley lit up from above, in the rain, is in my top three exchange moments, not to mention the fire-red moss deep in the moors.
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| Knaresborough. |
I've been fortunate to make some great friends here. This is Fiona and Ariam (+ Steph and I in the photo after).
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| An airy and relaxed afternoon at Wapentake, where we laughed and took photos instead of doing homework. |
My neighbourhood feels like the countryside. Walking its streets is like walking in the dreamy film photographs I've saved from the Internet as a teen.
All photos are straight out of the camera. A few more sets comin'.
-Tracy