Welsh descent here, too, and a Welsh name.
I’ll be attending University of Wales Swansea. It’s actually just a short-term assignment (one semester with the option of extending it to a year), but I’m really looking forward to it.
Wow jealousy has just intensified !!
[major hijack]
That’s my old Uni, in fact one of the first real live Americans I ever met, certainly the first I got to know, was doing the same thing as you, he was from Baton Rouge 
Any info I have on places to go for your social life will be out of date now I’m afraid but make sure you leave the city to explore as often as you can, the UK’s first ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, the Gower Peninsular, is a few miles west - you’ll need to hire a car (or find a friend with one) to explore properly. There are a couple of ruined castles and lovely sandy beaches in huge bays. Take your board if you surf 
If you like hill-walking the Brecon Beacons national park is close by too - not mountains exectly but the views are still pretty stunning.
If you’re there at the right time try to get to a rugby match, at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff if you can.
I hate to admit this but Cardiff has a nicer feel now for shopping etc. and is only 40 minutes away by train. Stay on the same train and you get to Bath, in England true but still worth a look 
One word of warning. Americans are often shocked at the way Brits drink - copious amounts of alcohol - you may want to avoid the city centre on a Friday and Saturday evening. But since the students tend to go to Mumbles (Catherine Zeta Jones’ home village) it’s not a problem.
I hope you have a great time Lisa-go-blind and enjoy the ‘Mumbles Mile’ !
[/major hijack]
I have Welsh ancestors… does that count?
Try to get up north to the “real” Wales during your stay - Swansea / Cardiff are basically England with a few extra daffodils
Once you’ve spent any time in Rhyl or Prestatyn it’ll make the rest of the world look lovely
Harsh e-logic harsh :dubious:
(but fair)
Don’t forget Wrexham!
My other half is from near Wrexham - a small town nestled in the valley, near the picturesque Kronospan Conglomorate PLC MDF / chipboard factory… idyllic stuff!
[hijack]
I’m from Baton Rouge, too. Louisiana State University (my school) has an exchange program with Swansea and about a dozen other schools in the UK, as well as some in Europe and South Africa. Baton Rouge prides itself on being a drinking town so I’m not too afraid of alcohol.
Thanks to e-logic and GorillaMan as well. I’m hoping to get over there this summer so I’ll have a feel for it all over there - I’ve only ever been to Ireland so this’ll all be new to me.
[/hijack]
Hijack? Hijack! You don’t need no steenkin hijack!
But really, you are now gonna’ be kinda’ Welsh, so this counts. By the way I should mention that this thread has been brought to you by "The Council to Get People to Stop Using the Word Niggarly, and Other Words Like it Even Though’ We Know it Doesn’t Mean What You Might Think, or C.G.P.S.UWNWLETW, for short. Thank you for you’\re attention.
And now they only have to beat Ireland to win the Six Nations!
Well I didn’t get a choice 
Half Welsh but grew up in London. Got the friggin’ small genes from my Welsh side and my accent from the English upbringing, bit of a cockup there :mad:
Poor lad (lass ?). I grew up in England too but had the advantage that the Welsh grandparents had moved to be nearby
BTW, anyone fancy watching the match with me and Ponster in Paris this weekend ? See if ‘we’ survive the pressure ? :dubious: