Let's Get Lost!

So today, the plan was to get up and go to brunch at 12. Then get ready, do a bit of shopping in the city center, and head out to Salford Quays to see Media City, which is where the BBC broadcasts from. There are a lot of things to see there, and it also houses the Imperial War Museum.

The problem: my friend Francine (who is a native of Manchester and who studies geography) does not have a good sense of direction and got us lost. We were all so busy looking at the approaching BBC tower, and we missed our bus stop. I think we got off just a lot too late. So then we walked, and caught another bus. And rode it for a couple minutes. Then got off again. I think we took 3 busses total. Finally, Katia asked one of the bus drivers where to find Salford Quays, and he pointed us in the right direction. We had been going the wrong way this whole time.

So we finally made it, and got some good pictures. But by the time we got there, it was starting to get dark and everything was shutting down. We didn't go in any of the buildings, but I got some really nice pictures:

That's Gerald, one of my new friends. He's Welsh, and plays rugby.
He also studies Geography and the University of Manchester, and he
lives in Hulme Hall with me. 

And this is the BBC center (Obviously)

It was really windy here, and cold because it's next to the water. 

But it was really pretty. 

We didn't stay very long, and we went home. I want to go back and visit the Imperial War Museum. Francine mentioned maybe going back tomorrow. I might go with her, because we know which stop to get off at now, and it won't take nearly as long. Hopefully. :)

It's Snowing! It's Snowing!

So yesterday it was raining and storming, but today it has switched to snow! Beautiful, huge, bright snow flakes are falling so thick that visibility was down this morning and I saw a guy almost get hit by a bus. He's ok though. No one said the snow would stick, but it is. Here at the hall anyway. On campus, it has turned into a disgusting slush and it's rather slick. I almost busted my bum a couple times. Also, my shoes have been soaked through again. But my rain boots should arrive today :D

Here are some lovely pictures of the snow :)

See how big the flakes are!?!

School Days

My first few days of class were complete failures. On Tuesday (I don't have class on Mondays), I was ten minutes late to my first class, because I got horribly lost. I found the right building, but I couldn't find the correct lecture. The professor was American though, and she said she was lost at first as well. Then today, Wednesday, I got up two hours before my class, because I wanted to dress nicely and look decent for once. So I did, I looked really cute and my hair was up in a really cute bun, and I went and got a nice big breakfast. Then I walk out of my hall to go to class, and it's dreadful outside. It was cold and rain/hailing. The wind was ridiculous. I was wearing my grey pull-on boots, and they were soaked through in minutes. I was squish-squish-squishing with every step. I ordered rain boots the minute I got home. They should be here tomorrow.

I did meet some nice girls in my lecture today though. One was British, and one was from Philadelphia. I'm glad I met them, because my lecture today was very confusing. It was Medieval History, but the man just jumped right in without giving us any background information. I was so lost, but so were the other two, so I think I'll be alright.

Tomorrow is my busiest day. I have two biology courses (Evolution, then Cell Bio), and a 'Bodies in History' course. We'll see how that goes.

You can see that my schedule isn't too bad though. I get done at noon on Fridays, and I'm free on Mondays, so I'll have plenty of time on the weekends to explore or go on trips. I'm not sure that it could have worked out any better really. 

UK and USA: A Comparison

So today I thought I would go through and list the things I have noticed that are different here in the UK. Watch out for part two, because I'm sure I'll discover more.

1. Nightlife. The drinking age over here is 18, and the students take full advantage of that fact. Binge drinking is not uncommon here, and sometimes people will go out every single night of the weekend. Clubs are a big thing in Manchester, and there are plenty of them to choose from. Sankeys, Fifth, the Factory, take your pick. Drinking is also completely allowed in accommodation halls, so many students will go out and buy alcohol, and then just get drunk in the common rooms. In fact, the Hall where I stay even has it's own in-house bar. It's very different from the United States, and it still makes me nervous, like someone is going to call the police on me.
2. Shopping. In the UK, the tax is already included in the marked price. So you always know exactly how much you'll be paying for any given thing. If the price tag says £5, you pay £5. Not £5 plus 7% sales tax. I think the U.S. should do it like that as well. I like it much better. No surprises. They also have this store called Primark, and I think it's my new favorite. 
3. Toilets. This one is a bit odd. Here in the UK, the toilets themselves are the same, but they don't hold as much water. Toilets in the United States have the bowl half full with water. But in the UK, the toilets have a couple inches of water and that's it. The first time I used one I thought it was broken. Also, don't ever ask where the bathroom is when out in public. They'll laugh. They call public restrooms toilets, as in "Where can I find the toilet, please?" 
4. Money. Everyone knows that they don't use the U.S. Dollar here in the UK. They use the Pound Sterling, which has that fancy "L" symbol to go with it; if you wanted to write fifty pounds, it would look like this: £50. There are pence and pounds, and just like in the U.S., 100 pence makes a pound. Whats weird is that each banknote looks completely different. A £20 note and a £10 note are different colors and different sizes, whereas the bills that we have are all pretty much uniform. Every coin and banknote also depicts the same person: Queen Elizabeth II (the current Queen). They don't have a different person for each coin and note like we do. 

Exploring

Today I went out with Francine, Katia, Gerald, and Adam. We went to the Northern Quarter to have a gander and see what we could find. We found a couple of cute shops and had a look around. Then we went to Arndale, which is a massive indoor/outdoor shopping mall. It's so big and confusing, I would have been lost without the others. We spent a while in there, I bought a poster to fix the white walls of my room, and then we decided to visit the Manchester Cathedral.

An adorable pub we came across as we left Arndale

It's a bit blurry, but this is the sign for the Cathedral.

 The Cathedral itself is actually spectacular. Being the nerd that I am, it totally reminds me of Hogwarts and Harry Potter.

Going into the Cathedral; There was so much detail work above the doors. 

This is Francine. She's a lovely girl, and was the first friend I made here.
She was studying the stained glass windows when I took this picture. 

 We didn't spend very much time here, so I'll want to go back and do a proper tour before I leave. I want to learn about the history of the place, as well as see the rest of it. When I do go back, I'm going to light a candle for LeeAnn.

My Eulogy to LeeAnn

I thought that I should post this short piece I wrote for LeeAnn's funeral. Because I wasn't able to attend, LeeAnn's family allowed my writing to be read during the ceremony so I could be involved in the process. I want it to be available to anyone else who couldn't attend the service, and to those who did attend, but maybe wanted to read it again anyway:

I met LeeAnn in second grade, and we became fast friends. We were in every class together in elementary school. When LeeAnn moved to St. Louis for her second lung transplant when we were ten, I went to visit her in the Ronald McDonald House. Some of my most cherished memories take place at LeeAnn’s house during one of our many sleepovers. We used to stay up all night hyped up on Mountain Dew, and playing Mario Cart. Sometimes Shannon, LeeAnn and I would laugh so hard our stomachs would hurt. We had an equally amazing time in high school; She and I cheered alongside each other, goofed off in our art classes, and graduated together. When she started getting sick our senior year and had to start homeschooling, I was over often to share the latest gossip.

Then I moved to college and she went back to St. Louis. Like before, I visited her several times, both before and after the transplant.  We had a great time every visit, and I’m very thankful that I was able to have that time with her.  I feel at peace knowing that I was able to help ease her pain. I wish I could be here for her now, today, but I know that LeeAnn wouldn’t want me to miss this opportunity for adventure. I also know that a part of her is here with me in England now. A part of her is with all of us, with every person whose heart LeeAnn managed to touch. We all know that she’s in a better place now. She feels no pain; it is those left behind who must bear that burden. LeeAnn is now free, no longer bound by machines and medical tubes. I know that LeeAnn is reunited with her Grandma and is enjoying finally getting to know her little sister Sabrina.

A Night on the Town (or City)

Yesterday night my new friends took me out to a club called Sankeys.

We got together to get dinner at 6, which is becoming the usual, and then we went to the store to buy alcohol for "pre-drinks." The drinking age is 18 over here and it's all completely legal, but while we were in the store in front of the alcohol, I felt like I wasn't supposed to be there. I felt as if everyone was watching me and I was really nervous. Francine and Holly were laughing at me and it was quite funny.

Then when they were checking out, Francine mentioned how she was carded one time when she was buying a pair of scissors. Scissors! That was absolutely shocking to me but for a country that doesn't even allow pepper spray, I guess it's pretty normal.

Anyway, we went back home and got ready, then met up in the "common room" (haha it's just like Harry Potter!) and had some drinks before we went out. At one point we were all sitting there talking, and one of the girls is staring at me. I asked her if i did something wrong, and she said, "Oh no, you're accent is just so amazing!" I had a good laugh over that, but they all say I have a "very strong accent." Also, apparently, they don't get drunk; They get "pissed." And I knew that before I came, a friend of a friend had told me, but when I was with them and someone called Francine pissed I was really concerned. Until I remembered.

The actual club itself wasn't that great. There were so many people that I could barely move. It was still fun to dance and be out with everyone. I met some really fun people. But we left the scene pretty early because of how busy it was.

Then we went to McDonald's for a midnight snack. I asked for ranch sauce with my chicken nuggets, but apparently they don't have that here. It must be an American thing. But I was kind of put out by it. I just wanted some ranch!!

Learning My Way Around

Yesterday I had my second day of orientation, where they gave us a packet of useful academic information. But that isn't the part I worry about. I'm more worried about day to day life and adapting from the United States, such as how to get around the city and the different rules and regulations. There was no information on that. I'll have to ask Francine and Katia.

So after the almost-waste-of-time that was orientation, I went out with the same group as the day before for lunch at a Brazilian place. It was really good, but it was a really long walk from campus. We also went shopping in an absolutely gigantic outdoor mall called Arndale. I didn't get much, just some body wash and such. But it wasn't really the shopping that was interesting.

The architecture in this city is amazing. Absolutely amazing. There are huge churches that you can tell are ancient, and old buildings that have been converted into apartments.

 I took a few photos, but I'm afraid they aren't very good. I was on a bus (my first ever ride on a Double-Decker!!), and they drive really fast, especially for the amount of traffic that they have. It was hard to get the pictures because we were going so fast.

 They also drive on the opposite side of the street. Everyone already knows that, but it's different when you're actually here. When I look to cross the street, I always look wrongly because I'm used to driving on the right side of the road.

 And like I said, they drive really fast and weave in and out of traffic like crazy. Yet pedestrians don't always wait for the walk signals; sometimes they just jump right out there and go. Its really scary and will take some getting used to.

The First Day Out in the City

I woke up late for my orientation this morning. I mean, I had plenty of time to get ready and be there, but I missed breakfast, so I was starving. I walked half a mile to get to the city campus, and it was a very nice walk. Everyone is bundled up here, saying it's really cold and the weather isn't usually like this, but it's 35ºF so I'm comfortable.There are all sorts of little shops and stores right around me, so it'll be a decent area for shopping.

The orientation itself was very long, and filled with common sense information such as how to stay safe and such. So I felt like it was almost a waste of time. But not completely, because I met interesting people. I met a girl from Washington D.C. named Gessica-with-a-G, and a boy from Berlin named Johannes. There were two girls from Australia; One is called Izzy, and I can't remember the other one. There were a couple more people from the States, and we all went out to lunch. Eight of us total. We ended up walking to the city center and eating at a Chinese place not quite in Chinatown. I had dumpling soup with tomato and basil, and it was really good (and only £5).

Then we split up, half of us going back to the campus, and half went further into the city. I found a pound shop, and just like the dollar store, everything is £1. Except where our dollar stores have very cheaply made products and brands, this shop still had decent brands. I bought my shampoo and conditioner there (Garnier Fructis!), as well as some hand soap and some sticky tac for my room.

Then I came back to my room, snapped these lovely pictures of my hall, and took a nap before dinner.

 At dinner, it was really awkward at first because I sat all alone and looked all antisocial probably. But then these two lovely girls slid down the table and started talking with me. Francine and Katia were their names (Francine is from here, and Katia is Italian). Then they introduced me to their other friends, and now we're going out together on Friday night after they have all finished with their exams. They are super nice and they said they would show me around the city.

My New Home

The room I was given is about 7x10 and has an ugly blue carpet and white walls. But its enough. I didn't bring very much with me. My suitcase fits under my bed, and my clothes don't even fill the closet (I have to remember to buy more clothes...). The bedding pack that Susan and Ray kindly reserved for me is actually quite adorable (and purple!!).

I also have a sink (or a basin, as they call it here) tucked away in the corner of my room, with cabinet space underneath it. But I'll need to buy some hand soap.

The closet is a decent size as well, like I mentioned before. 

I do need to buy some hangers though. I wish I would have been thinking of that earlier when I went shopping. The one hanger I have was from the coat I just bought today, which is very adorable. (And very warm and water-resistant.) 

Now I just have to finish finding places for everything, and then maybe I'll watch a movie. I don't have anything to do until 10:00 tomorrow morning. :) 

Exhausted and in England

My second flight was very uncomfortable compared to the first. I didn't sleep at all on my 8 hour flight. Not one wink. I did, however, watch three and a half movies. The plane has a small touch screen in the back of each seat, so I had my own personal screen the whole way. So I watched The Maze Runner, which was very good but very confusing, and then moved on to Captain America and the Winter Soldier, Mary Poppins, and finished up the flight with 20 minutes of Lucy. By the time the plane was over land again, I was dead tired and could feel a splitting migraine coming on. But the view was amazing. 

The sun was just coming up as we were flying over Ireland (I was tracking the flight on the little T.V.). We were above the clouds still, and the sky was a rainbow of pink to purple to blue. The clouds were so thick-looking, that I felt as if I just walk off the plane right on top of them. Then they would suddenly drop away to reveal all of the city lights beneath me. It was like a spiderweb of light, and I loved it. Then we started our decent into Manchester, and the previous lights were nothing. Manchester is HUGE. Absolutely huge. The city filled the whole plane window. I'm not sure how I'll survive in this place. Coming from Leeton, here is going to be a huge challenge. 

And then I finally got off the plane. I had to go through passport security, whack took about 15 minutes, but seemed like a lifetime. I was falling asleep in the line, and woozy from the migraine. The man asked me all sorts of questions that I was too tired to understand properly. I probably sounded like a total idiot to him. Every time he asked a question, I answered with an unintelligent  "Huh?" But then I finally got through, got my luggage, and found Susan and Ray. They whisked my home, I phoned my mother, and then Maureen come over to visit as well. We talked for quite a while, and then I headed up for a nap. I slept for four hours, but it didn't help much. I'm sure I'll be almost back to normal by tomorrow though. Susan and Ray are taking me shopping tomorrow; I need to buy a coat and a sim card for a phone that Maureen is lending me. Then I go to my dorm.

My First Flight

One flight down, one to go. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be. The landing was a little rough, but my dad told me to expect that (I still wasn't, though). I sat next to a really nice lady who was on her way to North Carolina for training with her new job. Her flight was  cancelled because the company had another person to train and they thought it would be more cost efficient to fly them out together. And then the lady found out that this other person was her ex-boyfriend. So there's that. 

And now I'm waiting in Atlanta for my next flight. Have any of you ever been to Atlanta? Because it's huge. It's got a train inside the airport. And a museum. And a mall. It took me ten whole minutes to walk from the gate I got in from to the gate I'm at now. I have 40 minutes till boarding, and 8 more hours on a plane. Then HELLO ENGLAND!!

1 Hour to Departure

I'm in the airport. I've said my goodbyes, shed my tears, made it unscathed through security, and am sitting here waiting to board my first flight. Ever. My hands are shaking and it's making it hard to type. I feel like I'm going to throw up the eight dollar roast beef sandwich I just ate, and everyone is chewing spearmint gum and the smell is sticking in my nostrils. But I'm here. It's too late to turn back now. I've got a new guardian angel watching out for me so I know I'll be just fine.

Ten minutes to boarding. My stomach is flip flopping. I feel so jittery; I probably shouldn't have drank that Mountain Dew. The security checkpoint thingy keeps beeping and it's getting on my nerves. I can see my plane out the window. I'm overwhelmed with all the noises. The beeping, the crying, the smacking of gum. I'm practicing my deep breathing exercises so I don't fall into a panic attack. I soooo don't need that right now.

Hold me close, LeeAnn, I'll need you

15 Hours to Departure

Tomorrow I'm getting up at 6:45 to get ready. Then I have to go say my goodbyes to LeeAnn before I go. Julie, LeeAnn's mom, is allowing us to go to the funeral home early since I won't be able to attend the funeral. I just didn't feel right leaving without a goodbye; she was my best friend. I know she'll be with me, but I still need to say goodbye. I've also written a short paragraph to be read at the ceremony, so at least I'll be involved in this way.

Then my plane leaves out of Kansas City at 2. I've only just finished packing. I have two checked suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack. I may have over packed a little, but I will be gone for a whole semester. It seems like a lot, but I don't really think I did too bad. I just hope I'll be able to carry it all by myself. It may be a struggle. I'm also really worried about flying alone. I wish I would have gotten together with one of the other students going and booked a flight with them. But hindsight is 20/20, and at least I'll have family waiting for me in Manchester. I just have to get through the flight first.

LeeAnn Marie Binder

On Sunday morning I received some heartbreaking news that my best friend had passed away.

Her name was LeeAnn, and she had just had her 20th birthday on January 6. She suffered from a lung condition called Bronchiolitis Obliterants, and was in recovery from her 3rd lung transplant in August. The Steelers were her NFL team, and she had a huge crush on Troy Polamalu. Her favorite color was purple. LeeAnn liked listening to Disturbed and Papa Roach. LeeAnn has four siblings; Sabrina, the youngest, battled with the same medical condition as LeeAnn and passed away only weeks after birth. (Her and LeeAnn have a lot of catching up to do!) Shannon, the youngest surviving sibling, is pictured below between me and LeeAnn. Vincent is the second oldest sibling, and the only boy. Stephanie is the oldest.

 LeeAnn and I had known each other since I moved to town in second grade. We acted like dorks together at the middle school dances. She did cheerleading with me in high school. She won homecoming princess and prom queen. We graduated together.

I was so devastated upon hearing of her passing that I wanted to cancel my trip and stay home. Her funeral is on Saturday, and if I left I wouldn't be able to attend. But then I realized that LeeAnn wouldn't want me to miss out on this experience. She was so excited for me the last time I went to visit her in the hospital. We talked and talked about my upcoming trip.

Then it really hit me; LeeAnn is gone. She won't ever get to experience anything else ever again. Now it's up to me. I know that she'll be with me wherever I go, whatever I do. So now I have to live my life for her, too. When I get on that plane and go to England, so will she. When I get married someday, she'll be right there. When I have my first child, she'll be a part of that child too. Because she is a part of me now. I need to honor that, and live my life to the fullest so that she may experience all that she can't on her own. And then someday we'll meet again, and we can talk for eternity about all the adventures we experienced together.

My First Post

Hi! How are you? I hope you're doing better than me. You see, I'm just a bit stressed. My plane leaves in only 7 days now, and I'm nowhere near ready. I've only just found out yesterday where I'll be living while I'm in Manchester, and I'm still very nervous. I've never even been on a plane before. Everyone says I'll be fine, but I've seen way to many movies to fully believe that. I haven't packed anything. I don't know how I'm to fit everything in my suitcases. I have two suitcases for 5 months. Isn't that ridiculous? I have so much to bring. I don't know how I'll do it, but I suppose I'll manage. I don't really have any other choice..

Mom is having a going-away party for me on Saturday; this way I can see all my friends and family one last time before I leave. Hopefully most of you can come. It's going to be really hard to leave everyone behind. Especially my brother, Rodney. You see, he's only six months old. By the time I get back home, it'll be his 1st birthday. I don't want him to forget who I am. I know that we'll Skype and everything, but it won't be the same. I guess I'll figure it out.

The good thing is I have family in Manchester. I've never met them, but they're going to pick me up at the airport and help me get to my dorm that I'll be staying in. I've been emailing them a lot, so I kind of know them. I can't wait to actually meet them.