So, it's all good now. I got the internet problem fixed yesterday but I had to wait the day it takes to connect and so, after watching Neighbors (an Australian soap opera that is horrible and yet, so addictive) with my flat's 'Neighbors Society' (which really just means that half the flat congregates in Aaron's room at half five everyday to watch the show. And I forgot what I was saying...oh, the internet! So, yes, I came back from Neighbors to find my internet working! After a few 'Hallelujahs!' and checking Myspace, I came on to blog. This won't be a real blog, though, I'm just going to copy and paste what I wrote my first week here.
WARNING: It will be long, because it's two days of crazyness. Only read on further if you're actually interested in my life...haha.
OCT. 3
England is insane... and I LOVE it. My Ma and her friend Jane (who came with and is our designated driver - though none of us is familiar with driving in the U.K. or on the left side of the road) don't seem to understand any of the road signs, which I don't understand because they're blunt. Other then the roundabouts, which I actually like, and the road signs, which seem to make sense only to me, the only thing that throws me off about driving in Britain is the whole driving on the left side of the road and the steering wheel being on the right side of the car. We actually had a discussion about this at the rental dealership, and none of us can figure out how, in a world ruled by right-handed people, there are countries with steerings wheels on the right side of the car so that everybody has to use their left hand to shift.
Good news is, I know Colchester very well after only 72 hours here (well, technically it's less than that but I'm not technical person anyway). I know where the superstores are, where the movie theater is, where Curves is, where the best shopping is, where my bank is, and, most importantly, where every single pub is. Haha, that's not a hard one actually because there's a pub every other store and at least 6 on campus alone. Also, in town, when excluding the shopping areas where almost all the stores are clothing-type shops and restaurants, the streets look like this: [pub][grocer][pub][asian food][pub][fish'n'chips][pub][grocer][pub][indian food][pub]
Oh! That reminds me - I experienced irony today in a pub. On campus they gave us these special bracelets that indicate we're students or whatever and those bracelets get you discounts, including in the pubs of course. Well, one of the discounts that caught my Ma's and Jane's eye was a two for one special for Mud Vodka's (or Muddy Vodka's or something like that), so, and here's the irony, I had to buy them the alcohol. I actually laughed out loud at that one. On a similar note, my Ma kept trying to buy me pints. I know most teenagers would love to have this problem but, honestly, I don't want to get drunk right away. Besides, at least one of us has to remain sober so we know where the hell we are and where we're going. That and I have too much to do right now to go and get drunk. And I'm sick from all the roundabouts, which aside from being helpful, turns your stomach into liquid... it's like being on one of those kiddy rides that go in circles at the same speed for what seems like an hour so that your stomach almost permanately moves in next to your pancreas and on top of your right kidney (a place a stomach does not belong).
I'm actually writing this in my dorm room right now. It's very nice - a corner space - and is about as big as my room in Miami, except, it's a single. They're all singles and it's fabulous. OH! And there are boys on the floor too (if you go to a school that's completely co-ed in everything, then this won't make any sense)!!! HOT English boys and one Irishman whom I'm totally in love with. I'm so glad I got my hair done before I came. And I'm glad that English girls are more... urgh, how to say this without sounding mean... well, it can't be done. English girls seem a lot more plain than American girls. Though there are some gorgeous Keira Knightly types, most are just so... normal-looking and plain and it really makes me feel better, especially after living in Miami where most girls look like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez or Lindsay Lohan or in DeKalb where, like, half the girls in my high school were models (this is no joke either). I get to feel pretty here and I love it. And in Miami, the boys are on one floor and the girls are on another and we have some strict rules... and some of the RAs are total Nazis when it comes to keeping the rules. Though I know a few who managed to get around it by memorizing our RA's schedule... though I'm far too lazy to do that. So, whatever. It's better here!
I love everything here, really. The language (I love how articulate everybody is), the way they do things, just... everything. I don't ever want to leave. I especially love Essex - it's fabulous! If you're thinking about universities in England, seriously consider Uni.Essex cause it rocks. Now, the only thing I have to figure out is the kitchen situation... hm, I'll do that later. Right now I'm heading out to meet more people. Adios!
END
Right, that was super-long so I think I'll wait to post the rest till tomorrow.
girls
