"Do I have to pay for that comment?"
29 September 2007
Christine, Jessica, Rachel, and I have turned into Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda. It’s been more or less declared that we’ll go to the pub on a Friday and catch up with each other about each other’s weekly happenings…happenings, which as we speak, are getting more and more interesting. Last night, Jessica and I showed up at the Leeds Student newspaper room for some “directions” which they meant as “come back on Monday for when we actually do work.” So that was a waste of our half hour on our day off. How DARE they. At last, we made it to the Eldon, the local pub close to St. Marks [Christine’s hall] and shacked up in there for a couple hours. 2 of us had half a pint of cider and 2 of us had whole pints of cider, but all acted extremely silly nonetheless. It was a motley mixture of cider, Janet Jackson’s Escapade, and cheesy chips. Our diets these days is as follows: cheese on bread, cheese on chips, cheese on garlic bread. Also known as Heaven. Current weight: let’s not discuss that…all I have to say is, at least my pants still fit.
I think we want to make the Eldon a weekly thing because a) they serve cheesy chips, b) they serve cider for dead cheap, and c) Pubtender and Beanie Baby are buff [the word buff, here, refers to one who is cute, good looking, attractive etc…love those Britishisms]. Cute Pubtender came and bussed our table after we obliterated our cheesy chips so we said,
"oh, it was soooo good!"
"what? me or the chips?"
"both."
"...do I have to pay for that comment?"
ahhh definitely not.
After a good long giggle at the Eldon, we trekked back to my flat to watch some good old chick flicks [uhhh cue Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants] and have an impromptu slumber party complete with Maltesers, Fruity Pastilles, and Cadbury. ☺
15:39
"how dare you accuse me of drugs."
23 September 2007
so Fresher’s Week is just about over. And all the Freshers now have a nice, substantial alchy debt to their dear old parents for at least 100 quid. The idea is that they all go out to the clubs every day of the week before classes start. Most times it involves ridiculous costumes in cold weather and club promo minions harassing you with their flyers and stickers who have a desperate look in their eyes as if to say, “PLEASE take this paper from me. And make sure to recycle it”. Me, being the 3rd year who feels like a chaperone at these things, clubbed once last Sunday, at a place called Tiger Tiger: where all good peoples’ cell phones go to get pickpocketed. A big group of EAPers and girls from Christine’s block made our way down to the club, danced our hearts out to some good house music, and left short one Blue Beauty cell phone and 10 pounds each from entrance//drinks [the money, not the weight].
adventures seem to be happening all around! Wednesday night, Christine's hall had a social that I had the pleasure of infiltrating for the 2 free drink vouchers. Maria gave me their flatmate's room number [L 2.25] and her name [Natalia]. Thinking that wasn't going to fly very well, considering I don't look much like a Natalia to be honest, they were like, "oh, say you're Vanessa then". So I get up to the door, preparing myself to turn around from failure, Subwarden Wally asked,
"what's your flat?"
"L 2.25."
"what's your name?"
"Vanessa."
"Where are you from?"
"......Singapore"
good thing I actually remembered Vanessa's deets I met her the other day; my dignity was spared this once.
Friday night, Christine, Jessica, Garrett, Sage, Jessica's new friend Frankie, and I met up for sushi at Nooshi Sushi, sadly not living up to our expectations or cravings for some good sushi. After, Christine and I headed to a house party with Louise which was a lot of good fun. As usual, it started out pretty awkward, but then it got to be loads of good times and good laughs. Basically, one of the highlights of the night was this one guy who, we swear, looked exactly like Mr. Bean who was holding a wine bottle, and seriously on drugs or something, stood up in the middle of the room and said to no one in particular, "HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF DRUGS."
excellent times, excellent times. :)
00:06
"they really like their roundabouts here." 15 Sept 2007
22 September 2007
we all finally arrive in Leeds around 11am on Saturday, luckily greeted by the awesome International Centre’s Meet and Greet service who took care of our luggage and well-being. After dropping off most people, I finally get to go to St. Ann’s and am extremely relieved to find that the flat actually does exist. I learned later that Louise was also relieved to find that I am an actual person since I arrived later than what I had told her, she beginning to think that I wasn’t real. So, relief all around!
I think that day I was running on just orange juice, some trail mix, and water. Once I sort of settled into my flat, Louise’s parents were nice enough to take us out to dinner in the city centre to this noodle bar called Wagamama. it was Waga-awesome. I finally got to sleep in my bed albeit without any sheets or real pillows [I improvised with my down blanket and my sweatshirt] until our sweeet Ikea run the next day. it was an amazing feeling to just breathe easy in the place I was going to be staying in for a long period of time. and I couldn't have asked for a better set up. everything's coming together!
PHOTO: That would be the British coastline circa 6am on the bus. Don't tell me that's not worth the 11 quid coach ride we took at 5am.
20:17
"well I wood like to stay ooovah." - Edinburgh Part Deux Sept 14 2007
On our second and last full day of orientation, we again hoarded for internet at the Study Centre. We were booked for entrance into Edinburgh Castle at the hilltop in the afternoon and cruised around the compound, caught a glimpse of the Honours [the historic crown, sword, and sceptre] and some awesome reconstructed prison cells from all those wars. At one point, we were snapping a bunch of photos around the cannons and barricades of the sick views [it was an amazingly clear and sunny day] and Christine and I overheard a mother as her son if he’d like to sleep at the castle, to which the 5 year-old boy answered “well I woold like to stay ooovah…” Little Scottish boys are awesome.
That night, we got to go on a ghost tour through some of Edinburgh and hear some awesome ghost stories from the city’s past. Basically, we were feeling pretty, pretty uneasy when our guide told us that we’d be going down into the Edinburgh Vaults, supposedly the most haunted place in Britain. Whaaat? Not exactly what we signed up for. The guide explained to us some of the occurrences past people have experienced down in the vaults since they record anything that anyone reports, and I have to say, I felt a cold rush of air against my legs at one point, but I’m thinking that it was just some fresher air coming through the musty vaults. Hm. We shall never know.
Having to get up at 4am on Saturday, I made sure to get to bed and rest up. So I finished up my packing and went to sleep at 1:30am. So basically, I took a nap. Vanessa, Aram, Jessica, Christine, and I managed to navigate our hellish bus-train-train itinerary from Edinburgh to Newcastle to York to Leeds with ALL of our crap. Luckily, on the trains, people who were waiting to either get on or get off while we assembly-lined our luggage, helped us. Whether it was because a) they were impatient and needed on or off, b) felt sorry for us, or c) genuinely wanted to help our group of international students, we don’t know. But a big shout-out to those Brits who did! Cheers!
19:42
Edinburgh Part Un 13 Sept 2007
Today was the first full day of orientation. After milking our free Premier Inn breakfast, we met with Peter and Hilary at the University of Edinburgh to go over a bazillion logistics about academics, student life, etc. they were cute: we each got a water bottle and a choice of Scottish cookies, one of which wore a rather comical face [see photo]. After, a few of us managed to find our way to the UC Study Centre for [yes!] internet and then managed to [yes!] find food.
Later, we trekked down to the Palace end of the Royal Mile to the new Scottish Parliament to meet for our walk up to Arthur’s Seat. Let me say, this was no walk. It was a hike; had we dressed up in green and brown cloaks and moppy wigs you’d think we were in Lord of the Rings. The upward battle started immediately, not leaving much hope for the rest of the “walk”. The view from the top, however, made up for all the shortcomings of the “walk” up there. Edinburgh is a quintessential medieval town, complete with a hilltop castle, some crown jewels, and cobblestone streets that randomly change names and/or direction and/or end completely for no reason.
After grabbing [personally] an ordinary but complimentary dinner at Buffet King, the resident Chinese eatery, we all gathered our laptops and plonked down at Bar Alba, this awesome-looking café bar with GET THIS free wi-fi! So about 5 of us walk in first, laptops at hand, and set up shop at a table without ordering a thing. Some of the locals seemed to be staring, who knows whyyyyy. Christine and I finally reached a guilt point where we both bought non-alcoholic drinks, still a little shy about our newfound freedom. Later, the rest of the Crew joined and then we just looked like we rented out Bar Alba for a let’s-all-facebook-each-other-at-the-same-time party.
17:18
quick update!
20 September 2007
Oi!
so basically, I'm posting this so everyone knows that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth and that I don't have internet for another couple days so updating this is quite difficult.
once I do get my internet though, I'll post some older entries [IE from Edinburgh and the beginnings of Leeds] and then be back in the present, dig? :)
Cheers!
00:43
this is what a monster post looks like
13 September 2007
sooo. it's been a few days since I've been here and it's been a bit of madness the whole time. at the start, Jessica and I got the special treatment. a couple of security guards got the unpleasant task of searching and scanning all of our carry-on crap, which of course contained all of our metal objects and "questionable" liquids in unmarked containers. luckily, my guard was laidback and made lighthearted side comments about terrorists, bombs, and threats. just following Protocol.
flights were decently decent. we were surprised at Delta's coach service and their agile beverage carts. 5 points for Delta!
arrival in Edinburgh commenced with a niiiiice shared taxi ride with our study abroad comrades we met on the plane ride. between the 4 of us, I think our luggage weighed as much as a zippy Smart Car.
our Budget Backpackers hostel was awesome! we had a really easy time storing our crap luggage and checking in etc. surprisingly, that day we decided to go on the hostel's free walking tour guided by our friendly hostel front desk man, Marty, who's supposedly 19. he grew up in Scotland and had just returned from New Zealand so he was cute, blond, and had a sweeeet accent.
after our 5 hour nap, we finalllyyyy got to meet up with Achim! after a bazillion attempt to call him via the hostel's phone, I resorted to calling all the way home to Jessica, who had been g-chatting with him to tell him where to meet me. Jessica M, Achim, and I went to Glenhas Cafe, a local place with awesome paninis. after an extremely well-rested night in Backpackers, the 3 of us went to a local cafe called Black Medicine who had Illy coffee (yes!) and (YES!) bagels and cream cheese. the cafe's decor was similar to like, a Tahoe lodge with natural wood furniture and river rock walls. I'd definitely be in that place on a cold winter's day [which this country has PLENTY OF].
orientation officially started on Wednesday afternoon...meeting everyone from all the other UCs felt soooo good, as did moving into an actual hotel where we could kind of hang loose and "settle in". I love not having to really worry about where I'm going or what time or whatever, since Orientation is pretty much all set up for us. so far, it's been freaking awesome! other than the CSF Bay Area Trip, I'd never been on a student trip, and it feels great to finally connect with the right connections.
soooo, this post is probably too long for most people's attention spans, plus I don't think many people read this. :)
peace+love
19:54
"3 days? easy peasy."
06 September 2007
all lies!
recap:
number of suitcases: now 3
number of coats: 4
number of shoes packed: uhhh big fat 0
number of Pounds purchased with $1: 50p
crunch time is upon us. the trick is to stay focused and ignore any emotional attachments I may have to a sweater, coat, or pair of shoes. this is not the time for weaklings! my last weekend at home is right in front of me, and the southern california weather is gloating with its + or - 5 degress F from 80 temperature as I round up all of my ridiculous amounts of nonsense.
19:46
TP-EVOLUTION ‚ô•