Week One... check

Now that my first week and first weekend of being in the UK has passed, I am mostly over the surreal feeling that came upon my arrival.

The last week my life consisted of sleeping, attending meet and greet orientations, trying all the different beers (again legally) and then sleeping some more. It was all pretty relaxing and fun. I have met loads of people. Like I said before my residence hall is mostly all International students so I've met a lot of people from Italy, Australia, South America, Germany, Switzerland, and Americans from all over.

This weekend I thought I would try out the Europe club seen. First of all people here drink... a lot. Just waiting in line to get in you can tell that most everyone else has already had a few too many before even getting in. Slurring, stumbling, and overall belligerence was included. Fashion here is weird, no explanation needed. One of the clubs we went to was "Halo", which used to be known as Trinity Church. That is the attached photo. Needless to say Snoop Dogg music mixed with a bell tower and stain glass windows was a little creepy.

So after a fun weekend I decided it was time for me to move in. I hung up and folded my clothes and officially moved in. It was the first and most likely last time I will clean my 7x10 room. It may have taken me a week, but at least I proved I am not as bad as the people on the TV show "Hoarders" (dad). I also have begun to do other "adult" things like grocery shop and keep a budget. It is harder than you'd think. The first two times I walked into the grocery store I had no idea where to even start and ended up leaving with 2 frozen pizzas. I have also begun to plan some of my trips. For now I only have Spain and Italy semi-planned. With tickets to Ireland for St. Patty's Day.

Classes started this week. I just got back from the best lecture of my life. I know I've told most of you about my "Traditional Alcoholic Beverages" class, but for those of you who I haven't... It is awesome. 10% of my grade is a trip to a brewery. 30% of my grade is a group project where we design and brew our own beer from scratch. After that we have a beer festival to try all of the different groups beers. I don't have it all easy with classes in Geotechnics and Fluid Dynamics, but it should be a good change of pace from what I'm used to at Champaign. And while they may have funny British accents that make me giggle in class, at least they all speak english here (unlike U of I sometimes).

Well I got to go run to another class. Tuesday has 4 of my 8 hours of class a week. I know, it's a rough life here.

I'm either going to Nottingham or Liverpool this weekend, so I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks.

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.

Night Before

Well it is 12:53 am the night before I will be taking off for England. I will be flying out of Chicago at 5:30pm and arrive at 7:05am local time time in Manchester. I don't really have too much to talk about yet, but hopefully there will be better material to come. If I have internet up and running I'll be sure to post something monday afternoon so everyone can know I am arrived and situated. Thanks for everyones prayers for safe travels. I know my mom has been praying for 3 weeks straight now, but I think she's more worried that I'll lose something like my passport. While those may be justified fears, I have reassured her and everyone else that I am going to get better with things like that (cross your fingers), ha.

That's it for now. My next post will be from across the pond, yeayeaaaaa.