England... Day Two

Hello all! I know I said I'd be blogging every week but there's just so much to tell you all! Ok, so lets just get right down to it. First, my dorm. I'm starting to get used to it, I put some pictures up on my posting board thing so at least I can see familiar faces. I unpacked all my stuff but I don't really have a dresser. I've got a closet with 4 shelves and enough space to hang maybe 30 things… but I only have 8 hangers. Haha, oh well. It works the way I did it.

My bed, however, is a different story. First, the said that for international students for 20 GBP (Great Britain Pounds… I don't know how to do the symbol on my computer), anyway, for 20 GBP (~$38) they'd give you a bedding pack. So I'm imagining a pillow, sheets, a comforter, y'know? Well I got all those things but it's a pillow like the ones on airplanes… but bigger. I don't have a fitted sheet to cover my mattress, which is really just foam, and the comforter is made outta the same crap as the pillow! So I was all hurt about it at first, but I slept in it all last night like a rock! So I think its going to be just fine.

On a different note, I can't figure out how to work the darn heater. I think I'm going to talk to the people about it tomorrow… maybe I'm just doing it wrong. Oh, and this morning my shower decided it only wanted to get hot for about 10 seconds. So I took the coldest shower I've ever taken in my life this morning. It was a new experience.

BUT, now I'm gonna get all philosophical for you, ok? I decided that the shower is a metaphor. I'm standing there in the freezing cold thinking, "y'know, I could just NOT take a shower… but I really need one". So instead of wussing out and not taking a shower, I braved it with the reasoning that I really did need a shower, and that cold water isn't bad, its just not idea or what I'm used to. So, I figured that's how it is here in the UK. Sure, the cold water of not knowing anybody and being away from home and leaving everything that is familiar and "normal" isn't pleasant, but its not bad. Its not a bad thing that for a teensy tiny split second it crossed my mind to come home and then I realized….Its just water! And eventually the water is going to be warm again and I won't even remember that I didn't want to take a shower that day. So.. I had a moment in the shower. Haha, not that you care, of course.

Anyway, we went to Norwich today. Heather and I walked around and found all kinds of stuff. We walked through department stores and found a little bakery where we ate. I'm also trying to get used to the way they talk. You'd think it wouldn't be that hard but I've already had a few instances where i've been sharply reminded I'm not in America. This lady asked me if I "was queing?" which means, "are you in line?" and another ask me, "are you parked in our car park?" which with an accent just sounds like "ark in ark ark?" It was kinda amusing....

We also took a guided open top bus tour which was kinda amusing and very interesting. Apparently there are more old church buildings in Norwich than London, York, and some other city combined… or at least there used to be (that's over fifty)! AND they've got like a bazillion pubs. The tour guide said that at one point (when all the pubs were still standing) there was a pub for every day of the week IN A GIVEN YEAR (365!!) and a church for every Sunday! I thought that was amusing.

Anyway, orientation is tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get to meet some new people. Oh, and there's a meeting for this drama society on campus on Wednesday, so I'm hoping to go to that and try to get involved. Its so nice not to have to work around a job! Well, so far, I haven't met a lot of British people because the home university students move in on Saturday. Heather and I did, however, meet a girl from Australia. We went to the pub, and she thought it was funny that we were so excited to be able to drink legally.

Ok, well I think that's it. I'm sure more will follow! Miss you all!