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Published: August 28th 2008
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Coral
In the car wow, that was an ordeal to fill out exactly where I am now residing in the world. Before I get ahead of myself I am going to start from the very beginning. I hope the jet lag doesn't catch up with me before I finish this.
So, I left my house around noon on Wednesday, which feels like much longer ago than just yesterday. Actually it was more like noon thirty because Coral was late. Or as we would say in England "half-noon."
The @ and the " are on really awkward places on the keyboard. And I can now use this symbol £. Ha, and this one €, I don't even know what ¬ is. Anyways... It was pleasant enough car ride, I was definitely trying hard to be peppy, or even just maintain a high energy level. People were asking me if I was excited or nervous, but I really wasn't either. I was just kinda numb. Still doesn't seem very real. Saying goodbye to Casey, Michael, Coral, and especially my mom was very difficult. I'm very different from the other kinds here in the fact that I have such very strong ties still at home. There are
Michael
there as well people here talking about not going back for Christmas! I could never do that! I'm the only one that has covered what little room we have with pictures of friends and family.
So I went through the security check point, trying not to cry. I kept getting in everyones way trying to turn around and wave to the gang in the windows, but I was really happy to see them. On the tram to the terminal I just wore my sunglasses so I wouldn't have to suppress it anymore. Now from all this talk of crying don't get the idea that I regret this decision in the slightest bit. It is the biggest thing I have ever done and I am doing it by myself so at times, it is a bit overwhelming.
In the terminal, at gate 84 I sat for quite a while, but it didn't seem like that long. Probably because I spent most of the time debating whether I would have time to lug all my stuff to the bathroom with me. This old couple had also sat next to me and I didn't want them to think that I was moving away just
Me
.... sunglasses 'cause I sat down. So I decided to tell them I was going to the toilet, and I realized how stupid that sounded. What do they care what I am doing? So I sat on the other side when I came back. I started listening to my iPod (sunglasses still on, mind you, it also worked to the advantage that I could stare at people without them completely knowing) but every depressing song came on after another. So finally I just turned on sexy back and before you know it, I didn't need the sunglasses anymore. Now, I was excited. I was bringing sexy back to the UK, it hasn't been there since the Beckhams left. Not to mention there was some entertainment. A potted palm tree in the center of the walkway became an oasis for all breeds of young children. It started with a small boy, no older than 3, running around the pot with his toy train. In less than ten minutes, over twenty kids were running around the palm tree. This was quite funny to watch whilst listening to the fratellis.
On the plane I had a window seat, but of course it was right
Meredith
at the airport by the wing. I sat next to two little boys that also didn't know each other. The one in the aisle seat was from Wales, and he was quite the chatter box. Every time he wanted to tell me something, we would address me as "woman on the end." When he found out that I didn't have a Nintendo DS he gave me his little electronic game that he got in his British airways goody-bag. Then he decided he wanted that back and asked me if he could trade it for a pen. His little 4 year old brother was sitting in front of me and kept turning around to introduce himself to me. "Hi, my name is Jacob" "Hello Jacob, my name is Sarah" "oh, thank you for meeting me" This introduction was repeated throughout the flight at intervals of every 4 minutes. They were absolutely adorable, but they didn't sleep, so neither did I.
My flight landed after what seemed like 8 days rather than 8 hours. I am not looking to making that trip again. I wanted to scream from sitting in one place so long. They skipped me for breakfast on the flight too, at
Dan
after we had been waiting 2 hours the time I didn't think it was a big deal, but boy did I regret it later, when I was starving. I found my bags just fine, went through customs and did everything smoothly. I even ran into a few people from FSU at the baggage claim. We waited around for another 2 hours or so for more people to arrive before we all got on the bus. I made a horrible first impression on the British people though. While we were waiting I went (that is alot of W's) in a shop to get some orange juice and I took out one of those credit card swiper things with my purse and it went shattering to the ground. I apologized, picked up the pieces and walked away. I was really embarrassed but I walked away laughing. It was about an hour and a half drive from the airport to the study centre, and I tried so hard to stay awake, but I think I dozed for about half an hour. But I did get to see great masses of chick-fil-a cows. All sitting down, which means it was about to rain.
When we got here, the first thing
Joe
the cool thing is to sit on your suitcases I noticed was how cold it was! I was shivering. It was about 60F, at noon, in August!!! But I warmed up after the climb to my room. I am on the 5th floor, the top floor, but it is really about 7 flights of narrow, winding, creeky stairs to get there. No elevator! 50 lb Suitcases! Thank God for boy flatmates.
Who ever said that these were multi-million dollar flats... lied. Not that I was really expecting anything better. The only thing that bugs me is that we have small dressers, but they are stacked on top of each other to create more space. This however, leaves very little surface space to put things on. I also discovered that my hanging folders I bought, don't fit in my metal rack. But after some bending and maneuvering, it fits if I turn it upside down. There is always a way my friends! There are 5 of us in this particular flat. 3 girls and 2 boys. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms things. It isn't bad, but I feel like I'm in a movie. Like Rent, or just anyone about a people that live in a city and struggle to make
Dana
My room mate ends meet. But my flatmates are really nice, and we are going to go get lost some time later tonight. Even though I already did that by myself after I had finished unpacking. I wanted some fresh air, for I went all the way down stairs and went for a walk. I thought I just went around the block but I ended up somewhere completely different. But I just back tracked and found my way again.
There is something really scary, yet completely liberating about living on your own. I don't have to follow anyone's schedule. I don't have to be somewhere just cause the calendar says so, I do as I please. I wanted to go for a walk so I went. I wanted to come down to the computer lab so I did, I'm going to go out tonight and buy some essentials, like paper towels and hand soap, because I want to! And I don't have to make sure that conflicts with anyone else's plans first.
I'm soo cold right now!!! But I just got a free sandwich so I'm feeling good. I'm so good at being frugal.
Sorry there are not that many
home
the front door, classrooms pictures, I didn't want to look to much like a tourist. I'm a resident now.
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coral elizabeth
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I am so incredibly proud of you!! Reading this i'm wishing i was there with you :) miss you so much already!!