Welp...the semester is winding down. Next week I'll be back in Florida enjoying my Christmas vacay in 80 degree weather, shorts, and palm trees decorated with beautiful Christmas lights. Oh so traditional. I'm kind of happy about going back to Florida though...which is weird. But this England weather is getting me down. I haven't properly seen the sun in days! *sigh* I tire of being cold for no reason (AKA without any snow to play in). I'm not excited for that long plane ride but I am ready to go back to Florida for a bit. But watch after like a week in Florida I'll already be tired of all the things I say I miss (except for having access to a car again). That's just me though, always wanting to be somewhere other than where I am...
I'm so thankful and glad that I'm staying in England for a year and will return in January. I'd feel pretty crummy if I was only here for a semester, mostly because it's been pretty lackluster for me. I had high hopes for England but I haven't really done much in hindsight. That will hopefully change next semester. I'm starting to do more though, last week I actually had a life! I went to a cookout, hung out with some girls I met at the cookout the next day, and went with some other friends to see the new Twilight movie the following night. This friday, I'm going out (to a club!) with the girls I met at the cookout so hopefully that'll be fun. I haven't been out to a club at all since I've been here which is surprising because that's pretty much all these kids do here. I've never been one for clubs but I went to a lot last year (mostly because I was the only one of my friends that had a car).
All in all, I'm ready to see my mom, the rest of my family, my friends, and my cats. And of course my Christmas presents. Next year, I promise I'll make the most of my last six months in England. I have to...this is what I've wanted for so long.
I'll talk to you again, sole reader, when I'm back in Florida.
Until then, this temporary Brit is off to i̶l̶l̶e̶g̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶b̶o̶o̶k̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶n̶e̶ bed!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
London!
So I made it to London last Saturday!! See! I told you! When I say I'll do something, I'll do it. And I'm so happy I did! I have a flatmate that's from Manchester and had NEVER been to London. So of course I had to take her with me! (and the irony of an American having to show a native Brit around her own capital was not lost on us, believe me :D)
So basically, the place was as I remembered it. We did all the usual sight seeing, tourist-y things. Saw Buckingham Palace, rode the tube, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, plus a ton of other stuff. Originally we were gonna take the train to London. We found a good deal on some round trip tickets for £45 each. But why pay all that money for a 2 hour train ride when you can take the coach of half that?! Taking the coach is reaaaaally cheap and it's only an hour extra longer than the train. But I'll probably take the train from now on simply because I plan on getting a £28 railcard, which you can find online, that gives me about a 33% discount on my train tickets. Just make sure you plan on taking the train quite often so you can get your money's worth. I don't know if I'll be returning to London before I leave for Christmas next month but I KNOW when I come back, I'll be there all the time! But back to talking about the trip!
So like I was saying, we did pretty much everything in the day that we were there. My flatmate got to experience some real city life, the good (shopping, musicians on the streets, stores that open later than 5pm!) and the...not so good (like the guy that thought it was a good idea to start peeing right next to her in the tube station while she was waiting for me to come out of the bathroom (he didn't wanna pay the 50p to go into the toilets))
When you go the London on a day trip, the BEST investment you can make is the day pass for the tube, it's only £7 during the weekend and you'll definitely get your money's worth.
During one of our many rides on the tube, we rode the central line and I couldn't help but notice on the tube map, on the opposite end of where we needed to be, stops like West Ruislip and Uxbridge. My old stops...
I wanted to go home so bad, you guys! And no, not 'home' to Florida or America. I wanted to go to the home I knew for over four years as a kid. The home I grew up in. The home that's probably not the same as it was when I left. But still my home nonetheless.
Overall, it was a great trip! I was sad to leave my London, but I know I'll return soon.
And with that, this temporary Brit is off to f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ watch The Dark Knight Rises on my computer...
So basically, the place was as I remembered it. We did all the usual sight seeing, tourist-y things. Saw Buckingham Palace, rode the tube, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, plus a ton of other stuff. Originally we were gonna take the train to London. We found a good deal on some round trip tickets for £45 each. But why pay all that money for a 2 hour train ride when you can take the coach of half that?! Taking the coach is reaaaaally cheap and it's only an hour extra longer than the train. But I'll probably take the train from now on simply because I plan on getting a £28 railcard, which you can find online, that gives me about a 33% discount on my train tickets. Just make sure you plan on taking the train quite often so you can get your money's worth. I don't know if I'll be returning to London before I leave for Christmas next month but I KNOW when I come back, I'll be there all the time! But back to talking about the trip!
So like I was saying, we did pretty much everything in the day that we were there. My flatmate got to experience some real city life, the good (shopping, musicians on the streets, stores that open later than 5pm!) and the...not so good (like the guy that thought it was a good idea to start peeing right next to her in the tube station while she was waiting for me to come out of the bathroom (he didn't wanna pay the 50p to go into the toilets))
When you go the London on a day trip, the BEST investment you can make is the day pass for the tube, it's only £7 during the weekend and you'll definitely get your money's worth.
During one of our many rides on the tube, we rode the central line and I couldn't help but notice on the tube map, on the opposite end of where we needed to be, stops like West Ruislip and Uxbridge. My old stops...
I wanted to go home so bad, you guys! And no, not 'home' to Florida or America. I wanted to go to the home I knew for over four years as a kid. The home I grew up in. The home that's probably not the same as it was when I left. But still my home nonetheless.
Overall, it was a great trip! I was sad to leave my London, but I know I'll return soon.
And with that, this temporary Brit is off to f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ watch The Dark Knight Rises on my computer...
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Gimme All the Numbers!
I have a phone!!!
It's definitely nothing fancy but as long as I can text and call then I'm cool. For anyone living outside of the US for a bit, make sure you get an International Calling Card! I got charged the equivalent of about $8 for a 4 minute call and realized this was NOT gonna work. So I got a £5 calling card as soon as possible. I only get charged 1p (pense) per minute so this will last me a while. Also now that I have a cell phone I'm definitely making more of an effort to get friends. I'm going to more school events, joining more clubs, and just doing little things like smiling at people I come across while walking on campus. I came to England because this was the last place I remember living where I was completely and utterly happy and content with life. Part of that may have been because I was young and when you're young, you pretty much don't have a care in the world, but I think it was more than that. I really am quite happy, I don't have to worry about money and such, so I'm trying to make the best of my happiness and just enjoy myself.
I'm also doing better in Spanish. I've been watching the entire series of The Walking Dead with Spanish dubs and it's helping me understand and get used to hearing Spanish again. I mean, that show is definitely scary as f*ck but it's just so addicting! The cliff hangers are what keeps me watching, and there's not a ton of talking so even if you aren't really good at Spanish, you can still watch it in Spanish and be able to know what's going on and inevitably pick up a few words here and there. I also watch Spanish dubbed Regular Show, and while it will NEVER be as good as Adventure Time (best kids show out right now, btw) it's definitely more on my Spanish level since it's geared more to kids (which, like Adventure Time, is definitely debatable. But I digress..).
I finally went shopping the other day too! The thing about this city is that it's got tons of places to shop, but they're all centrally located and close together, which means I KNOW everyone else is shopping here too and, although I don't own tons of clothes, one thing I hate is having something someone else has. So I'm definitely trying to look for little known shops around the outskirts of the city.
Since I now have my phone, and am slowly getting more friends, I have some new goals:
It's definitely nothing fancy but as long as I can text and call then I'm cool. For anyone living outside of the US for a bit, make sure you get an International Calling Card! I got charged the equivalent of about $8 for a 4 minute call and realized this was NOT gonna work. So I got a £5 calling card as soon as possible. I only get charged 1p (pense) per minute so this will last me a while. Also now that I have a cell phone I'm definitely making more of an effort to get friends. I'm going to more school events, joining more clubs, and just doing little things like smiling at people I come across while walking on campus. I came to England because this was the last place I remember living where I was completely and utterly happy and content with life. Part of that may have been because I was young and when you're young, you pretty much don't have a care in the world, but I think it was more than that. I really am quite happy, I don't have to worry about money and such, so I'm trying to make the best of my happiness and just enjoy myself.
I'm also doing better in Spanish. I've been watching the entire series of The Walking Dead with Spanish dubs and it's helping me understand and get used to hearing Spanish again. I mean, that show is definitely scary as f*ck but it's just so addicting! The cliff hangers are what keeps me watching, and there's not a ton of talking so even if you aren't really good at Spanish, you can still watch it in Spanish and be able to know what's going on and inevitably pick up a few words here and there. I also watch Spanish dubbed Regular Show, and while it will NEVER be as good as Adventure Time (best kids show out right now, btw) it's definitely more on my Spanish level since it's geared more to kids (which, like Adventure Time, is definitely debatable. But I digress..).
I finally went shopping the other day too! The thing about this city is that it's got tons of places to shop, but they're all centrally located and close together, which means I KNOW everyone else is shopping here too and, although I don't own tons of clothes, one thing I hate is having something someone else has. So I'm definitely trying to look for little known shops around the outskirts of the city.
Since I now have my phone, and am slowly getting more friends, I have some new goals:
- turn these friends/acquaintances into REAL friends that I actually hang out with on a regular
and
- The trip to London in officially under construction!
I'm definitely going to London sometime in November. Yes. This is happening. I will NOT let this semester end without visiting my second home!
and with that, this temporary Brit is off to EAT!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Una Búsqueda de Amigos
So I've finished my first week at Uni (I shall be saying 'uni' or "at uni"...there will be no more uses of articles because I'm supposed to be a Brit now) and it was pretty good. My classes seem alright, but I KNOW that I am going to have problems in my Spanish class. This is mainly because I just think that it is way too advanced for me. The teacher speaks completely in Spanish (and way too fast) and it seems like I am the only one who doesn't understand what the heck is going on. Apparently, though, this level is where I'm supposed to be because in the level before it, the students learn grammar and I've already learned that at my Home Uni. I really want to do well in this class. I need all of my classes to transfer to my Uni in Florida as As so that I can bring my GPA up. So the first thing I did after class today is go into the City and buy a Spanish-English dictionary, although I wanted a Thesaurus too but they didn't have any Spanish ones. I'm gonna struggle though this class but hopefully it will pay off.
My main concern at this moment (apart from not having a phone yet!) is friends, or my lack there of. I know, I know, I sound like a freshman, don't I? But here me out! Coming here, I had total confidence that I would make friends fairly quickly. You see, I move around a lot, and that is, as with most people, always a big concern with me; making friends. I worry and worry and sure enough make a best friend, most of the time, within the first week or so of moving to a new place. Every. Time. I'm introverted in nature but I have no issues making friends.
Take last year, for instance. I was about to be a freshman at a huge university knowing absolutely no one. "What if I don't make any friends?!" I (and most future freshman) thought to myself. "What if everyone cliques up during the Week of Welcome and I have no one!?" But sure enough, I came to college and what happens, one of my roommates and a girl I met the SECOND day of classes end up becoming my very best friends at the school.
This is why I made sure I did not psyche myself out about making friends when I was getting ready to leave for England. Because I KNEW that I would make a best friend *snaps* just like that. I had complete faith in myself.
This is also why I am a bit restless right now. I mean, my first week of classes is over now...I should have made at least ONE life-long friend already! ...right? :D
Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself (or maybe I jinxed myself by actually being confident in myself of making friends so, of course, I actually DON'T make friends this time :/) The fact that I don't have a working phone yet doesn't help either (it's kind of hard to keep contacts with new people when you can only communicate with them on facebook...and you hate facebook) ...but I should get a phone this weekend. So we'll see how my friendship search goes next week.
Until then...this Brit is off to w̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶u̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶i̶n̶e̶ bed.
My main concern at this moment (apart from not having a phone yet!) is friends, or my lack there of. I know, I know, I sound like a freshman, don't I? But here me out! Coming here, I had total confidence that I would make friends fairly quickly. You see, I move around a lot, and that is, as with most people, always a big concern with me; making friends. I worry and worry and sure enough make a best friend, most of the time, within the first week or so of moving to a new place. Every. Time. I'm introverted in nature but I have no issues making friends.
Take last year, for instance. I was about to be a freshman at a huge university knowing absolutely no one. "What if I don't make any friends?!" I (and most future freshman) thought to myself. "What if everyone cliques up during the Week of Welcome and I have no one!?" But sure enough, I came to college and what happens, one of my roommates and a girl I met the SECOND day of classes end up becoming my very best friends at the school.
This is why I made sure I did not psyche myself out about making friends when I was getting ready to leave for England. Because I KNEW that I would make a best friend *snaps* just like that. I had complete faith in myself.
This is also why I am a bit restless right now. I mean, my first week of classes is over now...I should have made at least ONE life-long friend already! ...right? :D
Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself (or maybe I jinxed myself by actually being confident in myself of making friends so, of course, I actually DON'T make friends this time :/) The fact that I don't have a working phone yet doesn't help either (it's kind of hard to keep contacts with new people when you can only communicate with them on facebook...and you hate facebook) ...but I should get a phone this weekend. So we'll see how my friendship search goes next week.
Until then...this Brit is off to w̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶u̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶i̶n̶e̶ bed.
Monday, October 1, 2012
First Day
I officially had my first day of classes. But let me backtrack.
Two weeks ago was the Welcome Week for International Students...which meant a whole lot of new faces, lame activities (like a barn dance...yea, a barn dance), and trying to figure out my way around this campus. And let me tell you, this campus is HUGE. I thought my school back in Florida was big, but this...this is amazing. The only thing I hate about it is the hills! I never appreciated Florida's flatness until now... At least I don't have to join a gym, these hills will give me all the workout I need. Also, I've yet to take pictures of this beautiful campus though because it is so COLD! I didn't grow up in Florida but I've spent the majority of my life living on islands and states with tropical weather. Here I am thinking England wouldn't be THAT cold because it was only September. Obviously I was wrong. It wouldn't be that bad if I had all my winter clothes but 2 suitcases can only hold so many thick sweaters. I also now know that most Florida sweaters are useless here. Yea, I know, I didn't think things through, did I?
Last week was Freshers Week, which is a welcome week for...Freshman, of course. Freshers Week in England is basically when all the Freshman come together to drink, party, and throw up until their hearts (and kidneys) are content (or failing). I had plenty of opportunity to take part in this...event, but I got all that stuff out of my system when I first came to college in Florida last year (except drinking...ugh that stuff is NASTY!). Also, did I mention it was FREAKING COLD!! Until I own a club dress made entirely of the thickest fur available, that covers my body from head to toe (in a sexy way, if that's at all possible), my butt will stay right here inside my warm room.
I have FLATMATES!! ("flatmates"...look at me sounding all British :P) It's the 6 of us girls living in an apartment with two (TWO!) bathrooms. We each have our own room though, which is pretty standard in school housing in England. 3 of us are pretty chill. The other 3...let's just say they thoroughly enjoyed Freshers Week. I have to get used to living with these kinds of people. And by kinds of people, I mean people who like the party all night, trash the apartment, throw up on and around the bathroom, and just be all-around dirty individuals. I feel as though my future posts will revolve around this living situation that is my life for the next year...and if the year will be anything like the first week was, then I'm probably going to make some enemies in this flat. I'll be alright though, I have as much right living here as they do and they will respect that and the things in this flat that we must share. This can apply to anyone in a living situation with messy roommates, Brit or not, stand up for yourself. It is your apartment too.
I've also been trying to acquaint myself with the city and city life. I've never had to take city buses to get places and learning how to read these routes and learn these lines have been costing me. £1-£1.70 per ride adds up...especially when you get lost and certain buses decide for some reason to stop running after 4pm on Saturdays and you're stuck trying to figure out how to get home! *sigh* but I digress...
This city is actually pretty nice, and I'm enjoying finding many unique places to eat and shop. Just the other day I found a little food stand that sold Sicilian rice balls and, as someone whose lived in Sicily for three years, this made me very happy. The owner and I reminisced about Sicilian life, but oddly I couldn't get a discount out of him. But that's okay!
And now that I have caught you up, my sole reader, I can tell you about my first day of classes. I only had two, luckily. The first week is like any other week in college, the teacher tells you their expectations, you *sometimes* talk to new classmates, and blah blah blah, you know the deal. So yea, not very eventful. Unfortunately I haven't befriended that many people. I've met a few, but it's hard to keep contacts when you have no phone! And boy is it killing me to have no phone. My plan though, is to get a rinky-dink phone, get a sim card, and hopefully get on some kind of international plan (I've got friends and family to call!), if not, then I'll just do the pay-as-you-go thing. When I get a phone, that will be a wondrous day indeed.
So I will end this post with the hope of three things:
1. I get a phone...like, quick!
2. I make friends
3. I enjoy the rest of my first week...because next week is when shit gets real :/
And now this temporary Brit is off to bed!
Two weeks ago was the Welcome Week for International Students...which meant a whole lot of new faces, lame activities (like a barn dance...yea, a barn dance), and trying to figure out my way around this campus. And let me tell you, this campus is HUGE. I thought my school back in Florida was big, but this...this is amazing. The only thing I hate about it is the hills! I never appreciated Florida's flatness until now... At least I don't have to join a gym, these hills will give me all the workout I need. Also, I've yet to take pictures of this beautiful campus though because it is so COLD! I didn't grow up in Florida but I've spent the majority of my life living on islands and states with tropical weather. Here I am thinking England wouldn't be THAT cold because it was only September. Obviously I was wrong. It wouldn't be that bad if I had all my winter clothes but 2 suitcases can only hold so many thick sweaters. I also now know that most Florida sweaters are useless here. Yea, I know, I didn't think things through, did I?
Last week was Freshers Week, which is a welcome week for...Freshman, of course. Freshers Week in England is basically when all the Freshman come together to drink, party, and throw up until their hearts (and kidneys) are content (or failing). I had plenty of opportunity to take part in this...event, but I got all that stuff out of my system when I first came to college in Florida last year (except drinking...ugh that stuff is NASTY!). Also, did I mention it was FREAKING COLD!! Until I own a club dress made entirely of the thickest fur available, that covers my body from head to toe (in a sexy way, if that's at all possible), my butt will stay right here inside my warm room.
I have FLATMATES!! ("flatmates"...look at me sounding all British :P) It's the 6 of us girls living in an apartment with two (TWO!) bathrooms. We each have our own room though, which is pretty standard in school housing in England. 3 of us are pretty chill. The other 3...let's just say they thoroughly enjoyed Freshers Week. I have to get used to living with these kinds of people. And by kinds of people, I mean people who like the party all night, trash the apartment, throw up on and around the bathroom, and just be all-around dirty individuals. I feel as though my future posts will revolve around this living situation that is my life for the next year...and if the year will be anything like the first week was, then I'm probably going to make some enemies in this flat. I'll be alright though, I have as much right living here as they do and they will respect that and the things in this flat that we must share. This can apply to anyone in a living situation with messy roommates, Brit or not, stand up for yourself. It is your apartment too.
I've also been trying to acquaint myself with the city and city life. I've never had to take city buses to get places and learning how to read these routes and learn these lines have been costing me. £1-£1.70 per ride adds up...especially when you get lost and certain buses decide for some reason to stop running after 4pm on Saturdays and you're stuck trying to figure out how to get home! *sigh* but I digress...
This city is actually pretty nice, and I'm enjoying finding many unique places to eat and shop. Just the other day I found a little food stand that sold Sicilian rice balls and, as someone whose lived in Sicily for three years, this made me very happy. The owner and I reminisced about Sicilian life, but oddly I couldn't get a discount out of him. But that's okay!
And now that I have caught you up, my sole reader, I can tell you about my first day of classes. I only had two, luckily. The first week is like any other week in college, the teacher tells you their expectations, you *sometimes* talk to new classmates, and blah blah blah, you know the deal. So yea, not very eventful. Unfortunately I haven't befriended that many people. I've met a few, but it's hard to keep contacts when you have no phone! And boy is it killing me to have no phone. My plan though, is to get a rinky-dink phone, get a sim card, and hopefully get on some kind of international plan (I've got friends and family to call!), if not, then I'll just do the pay-as-you-go thing. When I get a phone, that will be a wondrous day indeed.
So I will end this post with the hope of three things:
1. I get a phone...like, quick!
2. I make friends
3. I enjoy the rest of my first week...because next week is when shit gets real :/
And now this temporary Brit is off to bed!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I'm here...
and I almost didn't even make it. My visa came at the LAST minute. It came on a Thursday when I had to leave on Monday. I almost had a nervous breakdown buuuut at least it came. So I have arrived. I'm in England! I'm a BRIT! It really hasn't even hit me yet, most likely because this week is just for the international students so I haven't really been around that many native brits. But it still feels good, I am so happy to be here! I'm getting a little overwhelmed because there's just so much for me to do as far as getting settled in. So much to do...and so little money. But I'll make it work. So here is the official official start of being a Brit for a while...
Monday, September 3, 2012
Visa Woes
So I've been waiting on my Visa application to get approved and mailed back to me. It was fairly simple, for those who want to do study abroad/exchange programs through your university, they pretty much give you everything you need. The people at my school's study abroad department are extremely helpful when I need them but applying for Visas are pretty simple you can do it yourself. They list all the information you need to send them and I had to go to a immigration place near my city in order to give them my fingerprints, which was also simple. I'm bad at explaining things but for those who have to go through this, it's NOT that bad. It may seem like a lot (or maybe I just get overwhelmed easily) but the most nerve-raking thing is waiting for your stuff to get approved and mailed back. I leave on the 17th and I haven't even bought my plane ticket yet! all because I need to wait for these people in NY to hurry up and stamp the passport so I can be on my way, smh...
I'll definitely be blogging more since pretty soon I'll actually be a "brit for a while". So you, yeah you, the one person who's actually reading this thing, you'll finally get to be reading something somewhat interesting pretty soon!! yay!! aren't you excited?!?!
:D
I'll definitely be blogging more since pretty soon I'll actually be a "brit for a while". So you, yeah you, the one person who's actually reading this thing, you'll finally get to be reading something somewhat interesting pretty soon!! yay!! aren't you excited?!?!
:D
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