Brian

Jan 10, 2008
Summary and overall Impressions
Llantwit Major

Llantwit Major, the third stay of the trip, has been an eye-opening and unique experience. As a person who grew up in a small town, I have been able to relate to Llantwit Major the best. It is a place that is like a small oasis in the beautiful countryside. With a population of roughly 11,000, the town is very welcoming and caring. With a group of 18 people (17 students and 1 professor), it is obvious that we would not all be able to stay in the same bed and breakfast. So other members of the community opened up their homes for some of us to stay. I, being one of the overflow sleepers, was welcomed into the home of the mayor of Llantwit Major.

This trip has forced me to truly understand what it means for the United States to be a young country. To put this experience into perspective, before I came on this trip, I thought my house back home was old (this year is its 90th birthday). However, the original part of the mayor’s house here was built in 1630. Today, we went to a church service where the original part of the church (which no longer exists) was built in 497 AD.

Going back to the hospitality of the local population, it is obvious that they are generous people. For breakfast on the first morning at the mayor’s house, the “mayoress,” as she referred to herself, prepared large breakfasts for the four of us who were staying in “The Cottage,” as it is labeled. The breakfast entailed cold cereal, scrambled eggs, “bacon” (which turned out to be two large pieces of ham), a medium-sized tomato cut in half, a three-inch mushroom, wheat and white toast, and milk, orange juice and water to drink. The meals made in restaurants are also large, delicious, and filling.

I hope that the rest of the trip provides the same hospitality and wonderful experiences.