28/01/2016

Orientation/Playing Tourist

My thoughts after getting settled into my room (3:30ish P.M.): "I'll just have a rest for an hour, and then I'll go out and explore"

I woke up at midnight. Jet lag is beautiful

Orientation is going to be a three day thing. It's the first day, and I already met a ton of Americans, two people from Australia, and four guys from India. I think we're trying to get as many international students on a Facebook group chat as we can.

But my parents are probably wondering,

Did I make an effort to meet my flat mates?

or

Did I meet anyone who is from the area?

Which is fine. I didn't expect to do everything on the first day. However, I did get more done on the first day than I thought I would.

I learned that the learning environment is going to be different. People in the U.K. are more stringent on in-text citations and there is going to be more research outside of class. One thing that is allowed, is the use of Wikipedia as a source, we just need to be careful. In most of the classes I've taken in the States, we weren't allowed to use Wikipedia at all.

Terms:

Take poorly = feeling or being sick, taking a sick day
Evidence (v.) = To display or know something
Stage = Year in school
Marks = Grades
Chips = Fries
Crisps = Chips
Trousers = Pants
Pants = Underwear
Sweets = Candy

The concept of "Alright".

People in Britain (who already know each other) may say "Alright?" when walking past each other. They're not really asking if they are alright, they just say it to acknowledge their presence.

Playing Tourist

I wanted to see the channel. I'm sure the people could tell that I wasn't from the area. Probably because I very excitedly took a picture of this:

I mean come on. It has a carrot on it. 

I also took pictures of San Sebastian Square because I thought it looked important.

Turns out, yes it was important.

The agenda for tomorrow is to spend more free time at the channel (with people of course).

These were only a few things I saw.

26/01/2016

Flying 

First thing's first. I have an irrational fear of flying and nothing puts the definition of terrified into perspective than flying alone for the first time internationally. 

I wasn't always afraid of flying, but that was before a flight from St. Louis ,that included really bad turbulence that almost knocked over a male flight attendant, me screaming, and the sister laughing. Since then, I haven't mixed well with flying.

Listening to Louis C.K. didn't help either (warning, language). 

Though, who ever had the idea of putting a tracker on the in-flight screens is a genius.

Alas, I do not have a wing picture because I was too busy clinging to the arm of my chair while we were landing into London (don't judge me, it was a bumpy landing).