Hello prospective readers of my blog! My name is Kate Roberts, I’m originally from York and this coming year (08/09) I will be studying at potentially one of the most exciting (and hot!) universities offered – the University of Miami in Florida. To couple this with the sort of idyllic symmetry one wants in life, I will be studying potentially the most exciting subject in the world… geology and physical geography. The study of not just rocks and fossils, oh no! But of other fascinating phenomena, such as dinosaurs, volcanoes and soil.

OK, fine, my degree sounds hideously boring. My host university will hopefully make up for that! Although I truly LOVE to study dinosaur fossils on a daily basis, I realise that it is not everybody’s cup of tea, so I will be concentrating on other more exciting happenings in this blog. Thus, all of you readers who study more socially appropriate subjects, such as medicine or veterinary, can breathe a smug sigh of relief and continue reading.

Miami, Florida… When I first applied for the exchange, the idea of spending my geology practicals in crystal blue lagoon seas and colourful coral reefs completely clouded my judgement on any other factors and it was only a few days before the deadline that I really thought about why I’d come to my decision. On a family trip to Miami many years ago, we were driving along Key Biscayne (a famous Floridian coral spit offshore from the city) and were surprised to come across the marine and atmospheric science school for the university. It was poised on the most beautiful white beach where a number of small boats were taking students out to study dolphins offshore, and I remember turning around in the back seat of the car and gazing longingly at the students. As the building disappeared into the distance I remember feeling a pang of sadness that I had the misfortune to be born British, where the closest university experience I could ever hope for was a chilly field trip into the North Sea!

Now, even with 6 weeks until I leave, I still can’t quite believe that I will be studying in the building that I gazed at with awe so long ago. Although petrified at the idea of going through another freshers week, and living so far from home, I can’t help but feel thrilled that I am lucky enough to be spending my third year in such an amazing place! Next year is just an unwritten blank page in my life and I am so glad that I get a chance to completely relocate myself for a year; something that I know is harder to do after full time education.

Being a Christian, I am both excited and nervous to find an American church that is vaguely normal, whilst no doubt experiencing what may be some extremely excited American preachers along the way…! Loud, fundamental Christianity is really not my cup of tea, and right now I’ve read that there is some kind of crazy revival going on Florida – something which I’m sure will be mentioned in my future blogs!

More about me: I love to dance and do sport, so all-American university passions such as cheerleading and baseball are looking very attractive! In my first two years I competed with the Edinburgh university trampolining team (which had its ups and downs…!) but I’ve found out that Miami do not have a bounce squad and so I may have to settle for dancing and gymnastics. Miami also has a professional American football team, and apparently social life at the university revolves around their games, so watch this space – I may come back singing all kinds of cheesy football anthems!

Another fact about me - I love ACTING! I loved being part of the Bedlam theatre (drama) and Footlight (musicals) societies whilst in Edinburgh, so one of the first things I’m going to do is sign up for the Miami University winter musical (High School Musical, anyone?)

So, that’s all from me on my first blog. For the time being all thoughts of next year are filled up with visa applications, housing applications, roommates and meal plans. I’ve been choosing my outside courses this week and there are some crazy ones offered. Cheerleading…? Ballet…? Mormon studies…? It looks like I may come back from the US with a little more than an increased knowledge of soil erosion…

From York (but not for much longer),

Kate x