Why Do I Love Wales? (2nd Eds.)
Hi there, it's anaii!
I've really missed my life in Wales since returning to Japan after living there for over a year.
I shared the reason why I fell in love with Wales about three years ago, but I feel like it's time to reflect them again. This second edition includes some new discoveries and perspectives about Wales. I hope you enjoy the updates and find it fun to compare them to the first edition!
1. Lovely People
During my stay in Wales, I experienced incredible warmth and kindness.
In my experience, many people living in Wales are warm and friendly, and that kindness was not just from Welsh locals. From locals walking their dogs to bus drivers and coffee shop staff, many smiled at me and even struck up a conversation. Of course, not everyone was like this, but the majority were.
Moreover, my friends, classmates, lecturers and university staff were incredibly supportive, always ready to encourage and uplift me.
And what did these amazing people give me?
COMFORT, ENERGY, and JOY.
I can't wait to share more about them. Stay tuned for the next post🧸
2. Beautiful Nature
I was deeply impressed by the calm atmosphere and vast landscapes. In Swansea, where I used to live, I often found myself walking to the beach or nearby parks. The area was teeming with wildlife － squirrels, birds, swans and more. Seagulls weren't my favourite (too much food theft!), and geese once chased me and a friend😂
Here are of the things my friends and I enjoyed doing in nature, beyond just walking.
Reading a book
Going on a picnic
Bonfires
Playing with paper airplanes (because it was usually windy around us)
Stargazing and the Northern Lights-seeking
Whenever I felt overwhelmed by studying, I would go to the beach
－ it was always so therapeutic. Spending time on the beach during long summer evenings was a new experience for me, with the daylight lingering until 9 or 10 at night.
A few freezing midnights in 2024, my flatmates and I set out to see the Northern Lights, which were quite active in the UK that year. Although we couldn't spot the Northern Lights, it gave us a chance to come across the stunning starry sky.
I've also visited other popular beaches and even hiked up a mountain. My favourite spot in Wales, Rhossili Bay, offered fresh air, breathtaking views and soothing sound of waves － and, of course, strong winds.
While I've explored quite a bit of Wales, there are still places I hope to visit, like Eryri and Pembrokeshire coast.
3. Welsh Cakes
Some of you who've read my previous posts might already know that I'm a big fan of Welsh cakes.
Welsh cakes are a traditional pastry from Wales, lightly spiced and studded with sultanas. However, there's more variety to explore － flavours like jam-filled, chocolate chip and lemon curd. While you can find them in the supermarkets in Wales (though not as often in England), the best Welsh cakes are freshly baked and sold at local markets.
Market-baked Welsh cakes have a warm, homey flavour that makes them truly special❤️
Oh, and I can't forget to mention another tasty thing ー Welsh water (straight from the tap or purified)! It tastes fresh, soft and pure!
4. Always Welsh and English together
As a novice linguist, I find the bilingual environment in Wales truly fascinating. Road signs are displayed in both Welsh and English, and even emails and Instagram posts from my university are written in both languages (which makes for some long messages!).
I was amazed to see how much value is placed on preserving and promoting the Welsh language. At my university, research on Welsh and bilingualism is a key focus. Many parents, even those originally from England, encourage their children to learn or speak Welsh. Being bilingual in Welsh and English is also a big advantage in the job market.
As a beginner in Welsh, I can't quite pronounce some of the sounds yet, but learning it is so intriguing. Welsh grammar and phonetics are very different from languages I've studied before. It always makes me happy when I manage to understand the meaning of a Welsh word I come across.
Thank you for reading! I hope it inspires you to visit Wales someday or brings back fond memories of your time there. See you in the next post! Hwyl:)