iz been a while!

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literally, li-trally an excellent beginning

I hardly know where to go with this; I feel like I've experienced a lifetime in the past weekend. I feel like I've always been here and home must have been months ago, the memory of being nervous about coming here and packing is just really far away, like as far as America is from England???? Yes. that far.

Anyway, I guess it has only been a weekend, but it's been a full weekend.. All of my flatmates have come back from winter break and moved back into our flat. Friday they weren't all back yet, so I went into Norwich with my two friends from my program and some people from the flat next to mine. Ridiculous fun, excellent cultural lessons learned like varieties of kings (they call it "ring of fire"). Saturday and today the people in my flat have been moving back in. They all seem to be a group of friends, but they've been so incredible and welcoming and helpful... and so much fun. And, you can climb out our kitchen windows, I fit right through, great discovery made this Saturday evening. I also taught them about stomping beer cans, the great American pastime. 

To be real, though, I'm definitely starting to feel comfortable here. Every now and then I realize I'm here by myself, that I don't have my best friends from kindergarten and my family all an hour away and I don't have a friend from home on my swim team or in my classes, or my roommates or my apartmentmates or even anyone I've ever known before. It's weird in an awesome way, or maybe awesome in a weird way. I'm surprised to realize that while I sorely miss all those specific people, I'm really, really genuinely happy here. I've been laughing with my flatmates, like laughing in a tears in my eyes choke on my food real way, so I think that's a good sign. 

I have my first class tomorrow, but not until 2 pm. Also I only have one class monday, one class tuesday, and one class thursday. Just realizing that after having this much free time I may never be able to return to the way things were.. I think I'll sleep on it for now though. 

ps. life lesson, in canada they call a bathrobe a "house coat." thought that was great news. x

first impressions

Hello all,
I've decided to have a blog about being abroad, mostly so everyone can read about me when they feel like it and can just close out this box if they don't. Usually I can't say blogging without laughing or making fun of it, but I'm going to put on my serious hat and try to be normal. So, for those interested, I'm studying at University of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk, U.K. I'm in the school of Literature and Creative Writing. I'm here, as stated, for the next five months of my life, and I'll hopefully be traveling to a number of other places during my stay, and writing about it.

The beginning has been something like this.  I forgot that they were going to drive on the left here, and was horrified in the taxi ride despite the very kind driver. Somehow when British people say "darling" it's endearing and not creepy - like any cab driver I've ever had in Worcester.

When we made it to the university, it was overcast and drizzling, but rainy grey skies look so good on England. The actual campus is a maze of walkways and concrete buildings, but everything surrounding it is green and beautiful. I have a view of the lake from my flat. My flatmates seem like wonderful people - yes, flatmates. YES. On that note, as to be expected.. especially by anyone from Arlington... I'm infatuated with British slang and oh, the accent. Still I'm getting confused with all the accents; I've been talking to Australians, a Polish girl with a French accent, other Americans, a Canadian (she seriously says 'sorry' just like Degrassi) so I'm overly sensitive to how my own voice sounds. Also, I've noticed sometimes I accidentally talk in my head in a British accent, which is not a good look for me and I might be going insane.

Since I'm just meeting people here, and because I have the tendency to be shy... I'm really missing being obnoxious, loud, and weird. Sarcasm sounds louder and ruder when my voice sounds so different and pointedly American. I'm not worried though, I can already tell there are a few people I'll be myself around in time.

Now I have more vitally important orientation things to attend.. but it's been real, bye bloggers, see you later x