Arrived

Wow, it is nuts here. it's only been a day and a half and I already feel like I've been here a week.

On the trip over I sat next to an old couple from Manchester. Their son went to the University of Leeds and so they were full of great advice and we talked a lot. Upon landing the two other girls from U of I and I picked up our luggage (well some of it - to be explained later) and met up with 2 of Liz's (she's one of the girls with me) friends. They both went to U of I their freshman year but both dropped out. One of them is from Israel and actually enrolled in the army there. He is on leave until February and it was crazy to talk to him about being on the front lines there, not showering or even changing socks for weeks at a time, not getting more than an hour of sleep an night, and seeing combat. SOOO weird, especially since he is only 20 like me. The other guy is from Manchester and him and the guy from Israel are traveling while he is on leave from the army.

Thank God that they came with. We would have been so lost without them. We took a train from Manchester to Leeds, which was only about an hour, but it was a pain with all of our luggage. Once we got their the two guys helped us call a taxi, get moved into our accomadation and all settled. My room is extremely small, cramped and downtrodden. The whole building was supposed to be closed down this Frebruary but they extended it until this summer. On the plus side it is the perfect location and also is motivation for me to get out and not just hang out there.

One of the guys had a friend that goes to Leeds, so we met her at a pub (I had my first legal beer) and then she showed us around a bit. The two guys left yesterday and then today the girls and I just wondered around town a little. It's a crazy city. Unlike Champaign this is not a college town. The University of Leeds, along with the other 3 Leeds colleges is a part of the City. There are buses everywhere. Out of all of them I can take, 1, 28, 56, 95, 96, 97 or 128. With all those you'd think I'd have a good chance to find a stop that works, but I haven't. It's been more fun to walk everywhere anyways.

That's about it for now. Until about a half hour ago none of my other roommates had moved in so it's been kinda lonely, but a guy named Adam just got here. He is also from Champaign which we didn't even plan for but that should be great. I'm going to take him around here in a little bit once he gets settled.

so far I have learned a few things...
1. check the name tag on your bags because believe it or not other people in Europe apparently shop at costco (I got it back though)
2. Say cheers whenever you can, it is fun. Sometimes I even throw in a Cheerio!
3. Wearing a peacoat and scarf, while it makes me feel girly, is also extremely comfortable and warm.

Until next time.