Mah Room!

Hi guys,

So I feel like I haven't adequately shown you my room or Leeds yet.  Leeds will have to wait (it's cold outside!) but here's a look at my room.

(View from door)

(Tried to bring decorations that took up the least amount of space)

(Not too bad for an £8 comforter) 

(Pumpkin and Muffin to keep me company)

(Not a lot of color in the room so I try)

(NM calendar and favorite pictures)

(It is impossible to get a good picture of the bathroom)

(The shower is just chillin' in the corner)

(Not even a raised edge, just a small dip in the shower floor)
Also,  it looks gross in this picture but it's not bad.

(A final shot to say cheers)

Headingley Campus aka Elizabeth Bennet's Neighborhood

Jan 27^th, 12:37pm, Opal One, Leeds

Today was great!  Petteri, Alex, Harley and I went to Headingley campus to look around.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Old buildings, grass, spacious lawns.. gah so pretty. 

Here's some eye candy:

After, we went back to get ready for the international party hosted by Leeds Met.  It was at the Student Union, which has a bar, and a live band.  Nice to meet the other internationals.  The first live band was kind of a flop, but then they switched to dance music?  We played pool for a bit and it’s different there!  It’s the little things that seem so foreign.  Next up was an Australian club… for Australia Day.  So wild!  There were hundreds of people inside and a bouncy house jump thing.  Right in the middle of the club.  Clearly they’re not worried about lawsuits here.  We danced and danced and laughed at the Australian’s antics.  Wiiiild.  

Leed’s City Centre is so cool.  It’s basically the downtown and because there are four universities in the area, it is crawling with students at night.  There’s a different club/pub on every corner and so much to do.  I can’t wait to explore it all.  Tomorrow we’re going to the largest indoor market in England- should be a good time! 

                                                                                                   

Coming Up with Titles is Difficult

Jan 26, 1:50 pm, Leeds

Well.. I just woke up.  I slept for 13 hours.  Guess I should have set an alarm because I am not used to the time change yet.  (Also, the two Americans I’ve talked to today did the same thing.)

Yesterday we did some orientations/exploring.  My hall (dorm) is about 15 minutes from the city campus and 40 minutes from the Headingly campus.  Luckily I only have classes in the city one.  My map-reading skills were put to shame when the reception desk guy told me to look for the entirely wrong street.  Meh!  I redeemed myself later, but Leeds is confusing!  When we finally got to the building (The Rose Bowl), we were whisked off to meetings.  Orientation was so helpful!  We got a ton of information and were told about this tour group that caters to uni students (college students).  I signed up for an Edinburgh trip in two weeks (whoo!).  It’s super cheap, for England, and I’m really excited.   After orientation we were starving because we never had time to eat.  We walked around looking for places to go and ended up at this delicious sandwich shop.  I had a falafel, Havarti, and chili jam sandwich, yum!  After lunch, me and a girl from NAU, Stasia, ran some school errands.  Then I went to the grocery store.  You know how New Mexico has a salsa/chili aisle?  Well in England they have a jam aisle.  Also, they do not refrigerate their eggs.  I stocked up on cheap necessities and navigated the bus system home.  Side note: while checking that I spelled “chili” correctly, I discovered that there is a place in NM called Chili.  Who knew?  Well, besides Dad. 

This is the hospital, if it gives any indication of how pretty Leeds is.  

After grocery shopping was some intense napping and then we went out to the pubs to see the Manchester/Liverpool and Barcelona/Madrid games.  So fun!  Coincidentally, I had invited my flatmate, Pettre from Finland, to join us but he was already going with friends and those friends ended up being the same group I was meeting with!  Once we got there, it was packed so we went to a pub down the street, The Library.  Sadly, we needed our passports to buy alcohol, so we didn’t partake in the classic watching of a football match with a beer in hand.  We walked home on a not-busy residential street, which was a nice break from the City Centre (downtown).  Don’t worry, we had at least 7 people in the group so it was safe.  Leeds is so pretty, I can’t get over it.  I really failed at taking pictures yesterday, but I’ll take more today!  

Here’s the street we walked home on.  

Once we got home, I slept for 13 hours.  Now I’m going to start getting ready for the Headingley library tour.  More pictures to come!

Something not about "leaving on a jet plane"

Jan 24, 7:21 PM- Leeds, UK (now 12:11 AM)

Heeeere!  The international flight could have been rough, but Jerry upgraded me to first class (thank you!!) and it was fantastic.  Seriously.  I had the entire row to myself, and a chair that reclined to a bed-like position.  We had our own tvs with whatever we wanted to watch.  Crazy, Stupid, Love was my pick.  The real highlight, though, was the 4 course meal we were served.  Rosemary pork, pumpkin bisque, and warm toasted nuts was just the first course.  Then a delicious salad.  Then a pasta dish that I couldn’t finish because I was so full.  And then an ice cream sundae.  This was all accompanied by a nice glass of delicious wine.  Ah, the life of leisure. I sound like such a small town person who has never left the farm, but it was so different. 

Trying not to be noticed, but look at this presentation!

At the airport, I was met by a welcome group (?) from Leeds Met.  There we grouped up and taxied to Leeds.  In the car was Alex, Vanessa, and our guide, Steph.  England is so green it hurts my eyes.  Leeds is great, I really do like it and I’m excited to look around.  It was extremely foggy today and it has been “misting” all day.  No rain, just mist.  Leeds Met is basically in the middle of the city so it’s pretty busy.  We didn’t do much exploring today, but I plan to tomorrow.  Steph took us on a necessities run (lifesaver) and I started unpacking.  My flatmates are Josh, Alice, a nice guy from Finland whose name I cannot remember, and I believe another one that I haven’t met yet.  Josh is from Manchester, Alice is from Canada (Vancouver?), and the other flatmate is also international.  So, pretty fun! 

Quick list of little things I've noticed/learned:

- There are no outlets in bathrooms because it’s dangerous

- England doesn't want to be in the EU at all

- Drivers actually follow passing laws (but pass on the right here)

- Girls dress up a ton when going out

- Every outlet has a switch to turn it on or off

- EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE (and the exchange rate makes it worse)

And We're Off!

(Jan 23, 5:15 PM- Somewhere between Albuquerque and Atlanta)

Leaving today was interesting.  After a sleepless night of packing, printing, sitting on suitcases to close them, and generally freaking out, we got to the airport relatively calm.  Then the flight was delayed for two hours.  Mom and I went to uptown to shop and had lunch.  It was such a nice way to say goodbye :)   I sat in the always-classy Sunport for awhile after.  Things I witnessed: (1) a couple talking about their nature/soul retreat at the Tamaya.  I’m sorry, if you need to “connect with nature to nurture your soul”, isn’t it best to go camping or something other than paying hundreds of dollars to stay at a luxurious resort?  (2) A man with a tumbleweed as his carry-on.  I wish I could make that up. 

We finally got on the plane and now are en route to Atlanta.  Sadly, because of the delay, I can’t meet Donna, Josh, and Jerry for dinner at the airport.  I’m sorry, guys, and I’ll see you when I fly through in May!  I haven’t slept yet since I’m trying to exhaust myself fully before the flight over the big ol’ pond.  It’s working haha. 

Currently reading: Game of Thrones

Currently listening to: Jesus, Etc.- Wilco