there's nothing holding me back
Me documenting my settling in. :)
The flight was okay, for the most part, but I had this annoying Italian woman in the row next to mine who just wouldn't shut up! If I had hoped to catch up on my beauty sleep, I was sorely mistaken. Aaanyway, got through the Border and retrieved my suitcase; half-empty 'cause the useless girl in Treviso made me take out almost everything, including my comfy blanket. Took the StanstedExpress to Liverpool Street and 1) the sky wasn't looking good, AT ALL, 2) I was tired, so what did I do? I took a cab to Kingston.
Cab. To Kingston.
You should know that I had never been in one of the famous black cabs, ever, and after watching Sherlock... Well, I can't say I went in lightly (especially once the doors locked on their own!). The cabbie was really nice, and not British as far as I could tell, and he even said that if the price went over £50 he wouldn't charge me more than that (it turned out to be £55, so I disregarded the courtesy). More Sherlock references because we went by the Thames and I got to see almost every shot from the three episodes; first time I actually looked at Battersea. It was pouring by the time we got to the hotel, but it was barely two so I changed and went out.
Fast-forward to yesterday. It was an hectic day and I am glad I got everything done, otherwise today I would have had to repeat the experience. Off the bat, I moved into Clayhill - the lady at the reception gave me a brief tour, instructed me on what not to do and handed me the keys with a "Welcome to Clayhill, love" (she kept calling me that, or darling, is that an accent or something?). I'm posting this via the Halls connection and if anybody asks, my LJ is solely for educational purposes! ;)
My ensuite room is pretty big, compared to where I've stayed over summer in the past, and it's on the ground floor as I expected. I've only got one flatmate atm; Spanish guy, Tomas or Thomas (I can't decide on the spelling and I feel stupid to ask), whose friend visits us all the time - except in the afternoon, when they have their siesta. Honestly, that's soooo cool. So far, my one complaint is the shower (and what do you people have against one single tap instead of one for hot and one for cold? I'm baffled), because I will never be able to shower without getting my hair wet and I've already flooded the whole bathroom twice. Argh!
So, yesterday. Enrolment was around one, so I thought I'd get some of the other stuff done while I waited and then get in line: terrible mistake, don't ever do it. I registered with the Health Centre (and managed to cut myself in my own room within the same day) and got my NUS card, so tell me what to do with it. Met some girls whose names I did not think to ask, shame on me, and spoke with NatWest and HSBC. THEN I got a ticket for enrolment, saying that we'd have to wait around 20mins; no problem, I thought, I'll tour the uni buildings and get to know people. We were still waiting almost two hours later... I met two German girls in line, Gerda and Katrin, and after the neverending enrolment I walked home with Gerda (because, as we found out, she lives just a 5-min walk from Clayhill).
I went out with her and her Austrian friends, Hermann and Verena, last night and boy was I surprised to be kicked out of the pub at midnight! Just so you know, that would never happen where I come from - night venues open around that hour! The not-so-party-girl in me is happy she won't have to find excuses to get home early. :)
Today my big box from allunied arrived, along with a letter from my pen-pal Penelope, and I will finally sleep with a duvet tonight. Last night was so cold I was shivering instead of sleeping. In view of a kitchen full of pots and pans, I went to do the shopping and, as expected, did not find the salt I was looking for. :P I have to ask, how do you cook your pasta? Do you use table-salt to salt the water before you put the pasta in? No thicker salt (sea salt maybe)? I told Mum to bring at least 2kg when she comes visit, so I can manage with that.
No wonder the world doesn't know how to cook though. They don't give you the ingredients!
I bought a hair dryer (among other things)! With the funny British plug! It looks so cute, and I can never take it home because it wouldn't work! How awesome is that! Also, iPlayer!!! I downloaded Merlin and the Proms, and I have until October to watch them! I am loving it!
This post is clearly degenerating, so I'll stop for now and will update you as things go on. I'm having the time of my life, and I love you guys because you took me here. *sniffs*
PS! I have a UK number now! Need I say more? ;)
The flight was okay, for the most part, but I had this annoying Italian woman in the row next to mine who just wouldn't shut up! If I had hoped to catch up on my beauty sleep, I was sorely mistaken. Aaanyway, got through the Border and retrieved my suitcase; half-empty 'cause the useless girl in Treviso made me take out almost everything, including my comfy blanket. Took the StanstedExpress to Liverpool Street and 1) the sky wasn't looking good, AT ALL, 2) I was tired, so what did I do? I took a cab to Kingston.
Cab. To Kingston.
You should know that I had never been in one of the famous black cabs, ever, and after watching Sherlock... Well, I can't say I went in lightly (especially once the doors locked on their own!). The cabbie was really nice, and not British as far as I could tell, and he even said that if the price went over £50 he wouldn't charge me more than that (it turned out to be £55, so I disregarded the courtesy). More Sherlock references because we went by the Thames and I got to see almost every shot from the three episodes; first time I actually looked at Battersea. It was pouring by the time we got to the hotel, but it was barely two so I changed and went out.
Fast-forward to yesterday. It was an hectic day and I am glad I got everything done, otherwise today I would have had to repeat the experience. Off the bat, I moved into Clayhill - the lady at the reception gave me a brief tour, instructed me on what not to do and handed me the keys with a "Welcome to Clayhill, love" (she kept calling me that, or darling, is that an accent or something?). I'm posting this via the Halls connection and if anybody asks, my LJ is solely for educational purposes! ;)
My ensuite room is pretty big, compared to where I've stayed over summer in the past, and it's on the ground floor as I expected. I've only got one flatmate atm; Spanish guy, Tomas or Thomas (I can't decide on the spelling and I feel stupid to ask), whose friend visits us all the time - except in the afternoon, when they have their siesta. Honestly, that's soooo cool. So far, my one complaint is the shower (and what do you people have against one single tap instead of one for hot and one for cold? I'm baffled), because I will never be able to shower without getting my hair wet and I've already flooded the whole bathroom twice. Argh!
So, yesterday. Enrolment was around one, so I thought I'd get some of the other stuff done while I waited and then get in line: terrible mistake, don't ever do it. I registered with the Health Centre (and managed to cut myself in my own room within the same day) and got my NUS card, so tell me what to do with it. Met some girls whose names I did not think to ask, shame on me, and spoke with NatWest and HSBC. THEN I got a ticket for enrolment, saying that we'd have to wait around 20mins; no problem, I thought, I'll tour the uni buildings and get to know people. We were still waiting almost two hours later... I met two German girls in line, Gerda and Katrin, and after the neverending enrolment I walked home with Gerda (because, as we found out, she lives just a 5-min walk from Clayhill).
I went out with her and her Austrian friends, Hermann and Verena, last night and boy was I surprised to be kicked out of the pub at midnight! Just so you know, that would never happen where I come from - night venues open around that hour! The not-so-party-girl in me is happy she won't have to find excuses to get home early. :)
Today my big box from allunied arrived, along with a letter from my pen-pal Penelope, and I will finally sleep with a duvet tonight. Last night was so cold I was shivering instead of sleeping. In view of a kitchen full of pots and pans, I went to do the shopping and, as expected, did not find the salt I was looking for. :P I have to ask, how do you cook your pasta? Do you use table-salt to salt the water before you put the pasta in? No thicker salt (sea salt maybe)? I told Mum to bring at least 2kg when she comes visit, so I can manage with that.
No wonder the world doesn't know how to cook though. They don't give you the ingredients!
I bought a hair dryer (among other things)! With the funny British plug! It looks so cute, and I can never take it home because it wouldn't work! How awesome is that! Also, iPlayer!!! I downloaded Merlin and the Proms, and I have until October to watch them! I am loving it!
This post is clearly degenerating, so I'll stop for now and will update you as things go on. I'm having the time of my life, and I love you guys because you took me here. *sniffs*
PS! I have a UK number now! Need I say more? ;)