The third day here there was an information fair which I wound up going to but at a very late time. We also had to attend an advising session where we learned about the academic support available on campus, more about the credits we’re required to take, and of the old scheduling process that we may not be use to. Afterwards, all the UT students met up at the Digby Main Gate to go to a dinner that UT was paying for. We had the choice of a place called Nando’s (an American style chicken restaurant) or Pizza Express, as neither restaurant could accommodate the entire group. Nikita, Simonne, Kyle, Matt, Jill, Amanda, Kierra, Hannah, Jessie, Hanifah, Jennifer, Anthony, Michael R., Gary, and I all chose Pizza Express. We also go to order more than one drink as they charge individually for each glass but since UT was paying for it we didn’t need to worry about it. We also spent more money than the other group; £ 375 ($475). Gary then took us on the Tube to go see his friend’s band, New Riot, play at The Water Rat near Central London. They were really good, Nikita and I bought their album for £ 5. Gary ended up going to meet up with his friends and told us how to get back, which we figured out thankfully because it was the first time without anyone to guide us. Then we all hung out at Jill’s for a while and almost everyone called their parents. I talked to my mom and let her know I was alive. When I got back to my flat I ended up staying up until 4 am getting pictures off my camera and because I didn’t feel tired.
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Today was a pretty scheduled day from a campus tour, to a welcome talk, and a library tour. The latter tour being the only helpful thing and after all of that, around 3 o’clock we went to Asda (an affiliate store of Wal-Mart). I bought a lot of food which made it really difficult to carry on the bus and then all the way back up to my flat and up three flights of stairs. Later that day we learned about the Queen Mary’s Hospital Bus Stop which put us (me and everyone else who live on Froebel College) right near our buildings. I tried to finish unpacking until around 5:30; Nikita, Simonne, Hannah, Jessie, Katy, Matt, and a few others headed down to the Digby Dinner so we would make it before its hit its 200 max capacity. We left before the Student Union Quiz though because what they served to us as dinner was akin to the appetizers at a restaurant in the US. We decided to go into Putney in the search of a pizza place to eat at. At 7:30 when we finally found one it was closed despite the fact that its sign said it closed at 8 ‘o’clock. Everyone headed back to my flat at New Court. Nikita, Simonne, Matt and Hannah left shortly after; Kyle Kierra, Jill, Aldo, and another Int’l student named Mario arrived and before the former left I had introduced Mom and Dad to everyone. After talking to my parents for more than an hour and a half talked to and watched YouTube vids with Kyle and everyone who was left.
Today was hectic, getting on the coach with everyone including all of our suitcases and carry-ons. Someone’s parents, though I do not know whose, ended up having to take some of the suitcases in their car and follow the coach to the airport. Checking our suitcases and boarding passes was also rough because the 32 students and two chaperons simultaneously did this. We took up almost all the lines at the US Airways Desk with one exception because other people need to get through as well. Thankfully both my suitcases were under the weight restrictions (46.6 lbs and 50.2 lbs, respectively). The first flight was from Tampa International Airport to Philadelphia International Airport and only a 2 hour flight. I sat next to PK and Mike, although we did not talk to each other much. I was really grateful that my ears did not pop during the flight which is normally painful for me and part of the reason I hate flying.
Once we landed, Jill, Kyle, and I headed to our gate and the food court area since we did not want to wait for everyone else. We stopped at a Chic-Fil-A that was on our way to our gate and by the time we were eating everyone else finally caught up to us. Once we finished we headed to the gate and met Nikita and Simonne who were already there since they were not hungry and decided to just have snacks. The weirdest thing is that the airport personnel called everyone boarding the flight up to get their boarding passes stamped and passports checked. Nikita and I switched seats with Jill and someone else so we sat next to each other on the plane ride. We talked for a while and then listened to my iPod until the battery died, sort of; it kept saying it was dead and then a few min later I would look and it would still have battery left somehow. The other absolutely brilliant thing about the plane was that each seat had a touchscreen monitor/TV thing.
We were also served dinner for which Nikita and I both chose the chicken which came with barbecue sauce,potatoes and green beans. Nikita fell asleep shortly afterwards and I ended up watching Shrek 4 since I couldn’t fall asleep and it was free to watch. We finally arrive at the massive London-Heathrow International Airport through which we had to make a very long trek to immigration, which as it turned out we did not have to pay for student visas because we not going to be here in the UK longer than 3 months. Once we got through security we headed to the baggage reclaim center. Took me forever to find my luggage even with the tags and Olivia’s multicolored tie-dye ones were impossible to miss. everyone then dragged their luggage through the customs and duty tax gate and headed out to wait for our liaison, Gary Coates. He got us on the coach bus sent for us and we headed for Roehampton University.
Yet another hassle with getting all of out luggage out and dragging it uphill to the International Students Welcome Hall where we were given our welcome wallet, housing information, key and a kitchen set that I had to go back for. then more struggling with our suitcases over rough areas of asphalt and uphill only to get to our(Mike’s, Kyle’s and I’s) building (NEW COURT!!!!) upon entering we realized that although out housing information packets said Second Floor we were on the Third Floor because the first floor is called ground floor and the second floor is first floor etc. We all then agreed to help with each other’s suitcases to the top floor since we were all tired out from climbing uphill. While we were all getting settled in we met Lexi, Becca, and Annalee the Flat Reps (RA’s) for each of the floors. I was halfway done unpacking before we met up with the rest of the group and Gary to go to Putney to pick up essential food items for tomorrow morning since we’ll be going to Asda (A Wal-Mart Affiliate) tomorrow.
While we were in Putney we (Gary, Anthony, Jill, Mike, Michael R, Kierra, Aldo, Kyle and Matt) headed to the a pub called the Whistle and Flute. Dre, the Australian bartender, was kind enough to let me try Peroni and Honeydew beers (no charge) before I bought a rum and coke to be nice along with a very large burger with steak fries as my dinner. Nikita and Simonne eventually joined us but ordered pasta that turned out to be way to spice for either of them.. Nikita, Simonne, and I eventually headed out early from the pub to go shopping at M&S (Marks & Spencers) and Boots for our breakfast tomorrow. We met with everyone back at the bus stop caught the 265 and headed back to the uni. Afterwards everyone just headed straight to their flats and headed to bed since we were all dead tire from travelling.
As most of my friends and family know I was invited on a wondrous opportunity to spend my first semester of uni abroad in London. The University of Tampa Freshman Abroad Program first year of launch and 32 other students and I were invited, interviewed, and accepted to go over to London, England, UK to attend for 3 months the first semester of our undergraduate years. It was definitely one of the most exciting and exhilarating things that I have ever done and as expected I would not trade the experience for anything. More updates of my daily life shall be put up as more information and experiences come my way.
