Started going to classes today. I have a Television Cultures class and we are studying The Honeymooners and Dragnet right now. Here is the blog I wrote on the second day I got here. This was right before I had to pay £25 to get my hard drive into working order (erasing all of my programs and a few files in the process).It’s the first time in two years or so that I actually have my very own room and I couldn’t be happier. This morning I went to the study abroad orientation presentation and got started getting my modules (classes) verified. The campus is large and at one point I got lost. So far I have seen two Subway restaurants.
Some of the things I have noticed since I got here…
- - Red Bull is almost half the price.
- -The English love to recycle.
- - DVDs are really cheap unless they are really new (£3 for Alvin and the Chipmunks)
- - Most phones are ‘pay as you go’ and not on a plan.
- - METRIC SYSTEM!
- - Lots of coins. There are £1 coins and £2 coins. £5 is the smallest note you are going to get in change.
- - Double decker buses.
My suite mates are really nice. Haven’t really met any English people yet.
Watching American Movie right now. It is a really great movie. It’s one of those pieces of art that motivates you into making your own stuff and at the same time leaves you with a deep sense of realism.
Legs are tired. Need to do less walking tomorrow.
Speak easy,
Neil
I took a nap this evening at about 7 and for the first time in a week I actually feel refreshed. The last few nights leading up to my flight out of Logan I was feeling that background kind of stress that keeps you from sleeping the entire night without a hitch. There was a poster sale today in the center of campus and I bought a few that I liked. They were 3 for £5! That’s cheap anywhere.
Got all my classes signed and verified but I can’t really sign up for anything until I get the internet working on my computer. They’re not making it easy, let me tell you.
Some things I’ve noticed about England…
-There are Cash Machines everywhere. And they call them Cash Machines instead of ATMs.
-The term “fortnight” (two weeks) is used quite liberally.
-They don’t have a very good assortment of peanut butter.
- Naked ladies in GQ.
The professor who signed off on my philosophy classes was very strange. Every time he had to think about anything he closed his eyes for ten about ten seconds. He also talked in a very slow, but not in a stupid way. It was more like he was choosing every word very carefully. Between these two quirks my meeting with him took about 20 minutes and I was late to meeting my friends. Oh well. Sometimes life slows down and sometimes it speeds up. Right now I’ll take all the slow life I can get.
Speak easy,
Neil
Just moved into my room here at Broadgate Park in Nottingham, England. The room I am staying in is a single in a suite that I share with 4 or 5 other people. I talked to one of the girls across the hall upon arrival and found out that the suite is filled with Americans and maybe one guy from Finland. Tried going to sleep but realized that I wasn’t tired; my sinuses were just really irritated. This could be my body’s reaction to the pressure changes that I went through while flying but I can’t be too sure. Fiddled with the knobs on the heater and figured out how to turn it on. This is great because at the moment I have no real bedding. Earlier when I was taking a nap I improvised by using a towel, a thin blanket I decided to pack last minute, and a few hoodies.
This morning I woke up at 5 am in Boston. I was staying with my friend Ross who goes to Emerson. The T station opens at 5:30 so I got there as soon as I could. Probably could have slept another hour because the subway cars were few and far between. It wasn’t until 6:45 that I arrived at the international terminal at Logan. Lucky for me there weren’t any lines for anything (except for Starbucks!) so I was able to go through security and baggage check with ease.
The plane ride itself was kind of relaxing. Vegetable lasagna and the movie Paper Heart (which was alright). I had a whole aisle to myself since there weren’t a lot of people on the flight. It was the first time I ever used those complimentary face masks that they give you. Boy, would it be terrible if you were allergic to the fabric that is made from.
I was picked up by a guy named Kevin that owns his owns the “Posh-Car: Chauffeured Executive Travel Service”. He seemed a little stiff at first and we didn’t get to much small talk. I asked him what kind of music he listened to and he said that he mostly listened to traffic reports. After a while he ended up talking about the stuff he was interested in. On his vacation time he goes to Kenya with his buddies to go sport fishing. He said the best time to go is December and January. I couldn’t imagine reeling in a 200 pound marlin. Kevin said it’s quite a rush.
Apparently there is a lot of money in chauffeuring weddings (if you own a suite and a Mitsubishi E Class). For two hours worth of work he can make $300 to $400.
I’ve got to try to get to sleep sometime soon. It’s 1:43 am in England, 8:43 pm in New England. I want my 5 hours back!
Speak easy,
Neil
I'm going to miss my cat over the next few months. Goodbye's are always hard. She hates getting her picture taken.
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