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View from the Vernal falls, Yosemite USA

Katie Rampling: the sun rising over the Grand Canyon

The sun rising over the Grand Canyon, USA

Katie Rampling: University of California, Berkley

As I sit down to write this I have been in the United States for a month now and have only just started class. In this one month that I have been here I have learnt so much already, seen the most gorgeous landscapes and meet the most wonderful people.

I have had so much fun that I dont really know where to begin talking about it. I guess to start with might be arriving in the country; everyone said that immigration would be a problem but I had no problem with my immigration official, he must have been having a good day.

Since I have been here I have encountered some language difficulties and these have included that Americans call thongs flip flops, jumpers are called sweaters, potato gems are called something weird and the biggest problem has been that they drive on the opposite side of the road.

You would think that after one month in the country I would be used to this but I still find myself looking the wrong way and then quickly having to look the other way to make sure that I dont get killed by a car.

Some of the wonderful sights that I have seen included the coastal drive up Big Sur, which took us along the most beautiful coastal scenery that was full of vibrant colors.

The best part of that trip was that we got to see sea lions.

I have seen two of the three essential national parks that anyone should see while in the US, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. These are two places that anyone should see at any stage of their life. They are just amazing.

Yosemite allowed us if we wanted to, to climb half dome a very famous rock face that has the best view in the park. I decided against this and walked to Vernal falls which I thought gave me an awesome view.

It is just amazing to look at this scenery and know that we were walking in the home of black bears. A scary but exciting concept.

The Grand Canyon is something I think that everyone should see at one stage in their life time. Words cannot describe how amazing it is. We were fortunate to see it just after the sun had set and see the sun rise over the canyon and then experience a helicopter ride over it.

Not only have I seen all these beautiful natural wonders I have also been to the city of sin, Las Vegas and experienced the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland: where it was like I was a little girl all over again. I have experienced a baseball game and had so many fun adventures that I dont quite know where to start.

It is quite exciting to think that I have seen so many wonderful sights of the country and there is so much more to see. But right now it is concentrating on classes and making sure that I experience everything that UC Berkeley has to offer and shouting GO BEARS in honor of the school spirit!!!

- Katie Rampling