The Joys of a Solitary Traveller

I have always loved travelling. People who know me well also know how passionate I am about it. Be it the cultural treasure troves of India or the charming cities of Italy, I am up for it all! I’ve mostly travelled with my family and, after joining college, with friends. However, UK has been a different experience. Here I’ve had to travel alone most of the time. So far I’ve gone to Liverpool, Cambridge and London by myself and to Scotland with an organised tour. Initially I was a bit apprehensive about travelling alone. Being the chatter box that I am, I couldn’t fathom keeping quiet for such long intervals of time.  Plus there was the thing about taking pictures, who’ll take my pics? :D

But after travelling solo, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not all that bad. When you’re in a group you have to always make sure that everyone is comfortable and have to compromise to make everyone happy. Travelling alone eliminates that. You can move at your own pace without thinking about what anyone else feels. So I spent a lot of time casually strolling through the Kensington Garden which I know wouldn’t have been possible had I been traveling with my nature-averse brothers. Plus, when travelling with others so much time is spent clicking each other’s pics that you forget to live the moment you are in. Then what you remember is just the photo that you took, your memory sifted through a camera lens. This time I spent more time just looking at the places than constantly clicking pictures. I took a few good shots of the place and then enjoyed the moment and the place. After all, what picture can describe what I felt the moment I entered Rose garden? With the scintillating combination of different scents coming at me from all corners, and beautiful flowers in full bloom beckoning me to take a closer look, with bees buzzing in and out of red roses and quick squirrels playing hide and seek…. 

Which picture can do justice to the peace I felt then? What I remember of it now is fresh in my heart, where it’ll remain. If I was travelling with someone I would have missed the small things which I witnessed during this trip.

The journey without travel mates also gave me a lot of time to reflect. I was away from the internet, no friends, no distractions which gave me the mental time and space to actually sit and think.  And I can’t explain how precious that time is, when you can dig out your deepest thoughts and run it over with your heart.  When you can look at your past and dream about your future without any care about the present. I think about faith, about my relationships with those around me, about my studies…even the silliest of things!

When travelling alone I observe those around me. Sometimes while sitting by the window at a café I can look out for hours at end just breathing in the life around me. Yesterday I had such a wonderful time eating at a Thai restaurant, savouring the spices in the meal and taking in the scenes outside. Mothers pushing strollers through the pavement, occasionally peering into the pram, checking on their babies. Teenage girls returning from school, texting while walking, avoiding lampposts with heads down. Businessmen in crisp suits, with suitcases in hand, rushing home from work. Kids on scooters, racing each other, oblivious to their parents’ warning.  How could I’ve seen this if I was busy talking to someone over my meal?

It was as though life knew I was a bit lonely, so she gifted me a few snapshots of herself and love around me, just to keep me company. 

For Mobility Students (Part 1)

Dear aspiring mobility student,

This post is dedicated to you. About 6 months back I was one of you guys.Mobility was driving me crazy! There was so much to do! Passport photos to be taken, Forms to be filled and approved and sent to a hundred different places (I’m exaggerating), clothes to be bought….It was a wonder that I didn’t go crazy! What made matters worse were that there very few people I could go to to ask for help. Looking back I know that a little help would have made things much much easier. So in this post I shall try my best to outline the things you need to do before applying for mobility, during the application procedure, before leaving for the UK, and once you arrive here. I'll be glad if this post helps you even in the teeniest way :)

Some things to consider before choosing your exchange campus

The mobility period is 6 months/ 1 year depending on your course and your intake (September or January intake). If you are a January intake then you can avail the mobility option only for 6 months and that will be during your second semester of the second year. So Jan intakes have to choose between the UK campus and Ningbo Campus. However, if  you have the option of going for your entire second year, then you have the option of spending the whole time in either one of the campuses or splitting it and spending one semester in each campus.

For September intakes, planning to go for an entire year, it might be tough to decide which campus to go to when. The best thing to do is to look at the climatic conditions of the particular place during the particular time. If you come to the UK in the first sem, you might be spending more months in winter. Winters can get very nasty here and if by now you’re used to the tropical sun, you might want to rethink. I came in February and it was receding winter, yet it was cold and it snowed! You get the picture right? However, by mid-march Nottingham was getting warmer and as spring came closer the whole ‘greyness’ was lifted. Now when I look out of my window I can see and feel the bright sunshine.

What you should be prepared for, throughout the year, is the showers. It doesn’t rain hard but it drizzles quite a lot here and when that happens it’s not so pleasant.

I would recommend coming to the UK in the second sem as you get to experience spring AND you get month break for Easter (the whole month of April)! How awesome is that! You can use this break to either travel within the UK or maybe even visit other European countries. OR you could stay back and finish your assignments and study for your exams which will commence in May. ( You better choose the first option)

So, choose your campus and the timing wisely…or you could end up stuck in your room the entire time cursing yourself for not listening to me. :D

Application

During this phase be ready to live inside the International Office. Nah I’m kidding! Maybe, just a few trips every other day. You need to get the mobility application form from the International office. Fill it up…if I remember correctly you have to attach your transcript with the application. (You need to score above 55% in the first year to be eligible for this) Along with the application you have to give a 1000 RM fee too. This fee is refundable and you’ll get it back once you return from the exchange.  So the application+ fee receipt+ transcript has to be handed in.

In a few weeks you’ll know if your application was successful( most probably it will be) and then you’ll receive an offer letter from the UK campus. Keep this safe! You’ll have to respond to the acceptance letter to confirm that you’re going. Once that’s done comes the most important and perhaps the most hectic part of the process: Visa Application.

Now I know that Malaysians can get an on arrival visa if they’re coming for less than 6 month, but for Indians it definitely isn’t the case. Do check if your country has some other visa regulation. For the visa application your friend is VFS Global. (http://www.vfs-uk-my.com/) This is a commercial company which works in partnership with the UK Border Agency and it’ll be handling your application. Not however that they’re just the middle agents in the visa processing. To apply for the visa you first need to fill an online form. It’s an extensive form that includes the most ridiculous questions ‘Have you been involved with a terrorist organization before?’ Wonder what they’ll say if I answer with ‘No. But I plan to start one once there.’ Like duh! Anyway, be prepared to spend maybe hours on this form. Some of the details required- passport details (obviously), previous education, father’s income, sponsor details etc. You don’t have to fill the form at one go. You can keep saving it and then return to it later. Once the online form is filled you have to print it out and attach a passport size photo with it. Take two copies of this application. (Note: During the entire process, whatever form/application/receipt is there ALWAYS keep a copy of it for your personal reference.) Now along with this form you need to attach your passport, bank statement for the past six months (to ensure you have sufficient funds to survive once here), your original transcript with the university seal, your birth certificate, some document indicating your father’s (or sponsor’s) income (this could be a tax receipt too), and some accommodation details, You might also need a health check-up report. If I remember correctly it’s optional. Oh you also need to give a bank draft for the visa processing fee (I don’t remember the amount, it should be there on the website)

Once all your documents are in place, schedule an appointment with the VFS office. You do this online and you can select the day and time slot. You go there with your documents and submit it at the reception and then you’ll be called inside. Don’t worry they won’t grill you! Just a few a questions about which university you’re in, which course and how long you’re gonna be there. Once that’s done they’ll take a picture of you and your finger prints. So you better not indulge in any criminal activities there! :P

Once this application has been submitted you can breathe in. The worst of it is behind you now.

In a week or two you’ll get to know if your application has been approved and whether or not you’ll get the visa. You have the option of getting your passport delivered to the campus instead of going all the way to KL to collect it. The visa will be printed in your passport. Mine is a six month student visitor visa with multiple entry.

The whole ticketing bit is upto you as you can choose to fly from Malaysia or your home country. I flew from Malaysia with Emirates. I travelled with a friend so the 14 hour flight, with a changeover at Dubai, didn’t seem like such a drag.

Also, the university arranges free airport pickup from London Heathrow on particular dates (which will be mentioned the university website). I would recommend you arrive on one of the specified dates as, for first timers with a lot of luggage, travelling from London to Nottingham alone is not going to be fun. Remember to book your spot for the pick up!

Accommodation

This was the second thing that gave me a lot of trouble in the entire process. Needless to say, this has to be sorted out much before you travel. It took weeks for Farah and me to settle on something. We started out looking for private houses but eventually ended up in a private student housing colony- Broadgate Park. (http://www.uppbroadgatepark.com/)Both of us are quite happy with the decision!

The first thing you need to find out before looking for houses is which campus your school/dept. is going to be. If you are in the FASS most of your classes are going to be in the University Park campus. So you can narrow down your search to the area around the campus. Business students- your classes are going to be at the Jubilee campus so your search should around that area.

The first option you have is to stay in one of the University halls. This page has all the options for the catered and non-catered halls on campus- http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation/accommodationoptions/accommodationoptions.aspx

Living on campus has its pros and cons. The biggest advantage is that the classes aren’t that far (By UNMC standards it’s still far as the campus is so huge…the walk from Kapas hall to your class won’t seem so long once you come here!). It’s also quite safe. Food is provided- the quality I’m not sure about. You also get a 5 pound allowance every day for lunch. Now THAT, I envy.

You’ll also get to meet a lot of other students (Duh!) and maybe even make great friends there!

The biggest disadvantage of staying on campus would be its distance from the rest of the world. Kidding…but it is quite far from the supermarkets. So your first few trip to tesco to buy essentials is going to be tough. The walk back with heavy bags…better be prepared!

Trips to the city centre shouldn’t be a problem as you have bus stops near by.

Another disadvantage is that during the one month Easter break you will have to move out with your luggage. Yes, they kick you out. You can come back only after the break’s over. I know, ruthless people!

Now if you’re more adventurous (or don’t have deep pockets :D) you can go for off campus accommodation. The best website to go to for this is – http://www.unipol.org.uk/national/

Here you’ll find the details of all privately owned houses according to the area or the price range you’re looking for (it ranges from 40-100 pounds per week). You can check out the house profile, facilities and stuff here. If you’re interested in a particular house drop an email to the owner (which will be provided on the profile). Make sure you ask them the right questions. If you are looking for a same gender house/apartment mates, specify it. If you are planning to move along with a friend then mention that too. Also, be clear on the rental and deposit details so you won’t have any nasty surprises waiting for you once here.

I settled on Broadgate Park because it’s just a 10 minute walk from the University Park campus and felt much safer than living in a house outside. There’s security, once a week cleaning (of the common corridor, kitchen and bathroom), a laundrette and we have our own convenience store too. It’s like living in a small campus. There’s also a bus stop right outside the gates; travelling definitely not a hassle.

If you’re coming for 6 months I would definitely recommend BGP to you as there’s not much hassle moving in here. Taking a house for 6 months seems kind of pointless to me.

But it’s a self-catered hall, so if you are a disaster in the kitchen, you might want to reconsider it. Or you could always live on chocolates and biscuits (Like someone I know…What? No! Not me!)

Business students can try out Raleigh Park as it’s near Jubilee campus. It’s more or less similar to BGP. You can check it out here- http://www.derwentstudents.com/student-accommodation/Nottingham/Raleigh_Park/

Any accommodation you decide, you’ll have to transfer the deposit before even reaching here. Some of the accommodation requires that you pay the first month’s rent along with the deposit. In my case I had to pay the entire semester’s rent.  (which was about 2400 pounds for a single room with shared bathroom and kitchen)

So this post was all about visa and accommodation. In the next post we’ll talk about things to purchase before coming here, things to do after coming here and monthly expenditure.

Hope this was helpful!

Seasons in Transition

 When I came here everything seemed so cold and dreary. The trees were barren and looked like grieving old people with gnarled fingers pointing to the sky, which in turn looked at them with steely indifference. There were hardly any flowers seen. And people walked fast, their faces down afraid of the chilly wind. They walked, huddled,shrinking inside their coats and squeezing out the last bit of warmth from it. The world seemed to consist of just black, brown and grey. Then it snowed and for sometime everything was covered in white. And it looked pure and pristine. Then it turned to slush and gave me nightmares.


But now Winter is almost out of Nottingham and Spring is already making it's way in. I can feel the joy in the air, in people's smiles, in blooming cherry blossoms and the sunny daffodils. I can see the colours painting themselves across the lawn, the gardens and the rest of the city. Those gnarled fingers are sprouting tiny green leaves,the tomato bush outside my hall is flowering. People are out in bright skirts and shorts and tops. A 10 minute walk to the uni makes me so happy that I feel like walking back just to experience the sights and sounds again!


Today is such a bright, warm day. From my window I can see everything-trees,buildings, people- encompassed by the sun's warm glow. Stepping out I can smell fresh grass and mud. Someone's mowing the lawn. Walking down the Broadgate hill I can see the cherry blossoms on both sides competing for attention. The tiny pink flowers have just started blooming, they remind me of tiny babies opening their little eyes. They already give the place a whole new feel!









Walking out of broadgate park and towards uni I see daffodils. Bright, sunny, makes-you-smile, daffodils. Everywhere! They are lifting their sunny little heads from any place they can find.

And the grass, it seems a brighter shade of green now. From far it looks like this huge velvet spread out. In contrast the sky is a brilliant blue today, without a single cloud scarring it.







I have to detach myself from the sight of the green and blue treats and get back on track to class. Walking further, I am greeted by weeping willows who don't seem so morose now as they are getting their leaves back. They do look like they are sulking, almost like a teenager denied a party, but as long as they aren't  leafless, I'm fine.

 

I'm getting late for class, so I walk faster and, for the first time, the wind on my face feels good. Behind me I hear two girls discussing where this wind might be coming from. One of them says it's easy to know where it's coming from- if it's warm it's from France, if it's cold it's from Norway. And I smile at yet another conversation about the weather.


It's tough to force myself into the class looking at everyone else just enjoying themselves out there. While messing up my French conjugation, I find myself longing for the sun's warmth on my face and the feel of comfortingly  prickly grass against my skin.


Soon it's time to leave. I step outside and just breathe in. Deeply. The air is sweet as it fills my lungs. I see some students already out in the lawn, and more claiming the spots before they are taken. Some are reading books, some are sitting in circle, talking and laughing, and others just lying on the grass and looking at the sky.

I stay for some time and then make my way back. Now I notice some things I didn't notice while coming to class: The sounds. Since I'm already getting used to the sights of spring my brain gives me a chance to pick out the sounds. I hear birds. Many of them. Chirping, twittering, singing...it's not organised but yet there's some rhythm in their calls. And once you pay attention you can hear how different they are, and yet how their voices together just form melody.


Before I know it I'm back in my room and all I can think of is if the creation can overwhelm my senses like this with their beauty, what about the creator?

Things to Think Through...

The past few weeks in the UK have given me a lot to think about. Living here in a different culture, going to a mostly western classroom...I really have been forced to step outside my comfort zone! Another reason I have been thinking so much is because I have A LOT to read these days. I am doing two literature classes and one Cultural Politics module so naturally, there's a ton to read. But for the first time, I don't mind the reading. I LOVE the library here. It's so huge and has so many books! I know, Duh. But it is amazing. I live reading about cultural politics as every week we have seminars on our reading where we discuss our individual reading. And since I like anything that involves talking, I'm lovin' it! We have interesting discussions on identity, cultures, youth, sexuality... and a good thing about being in an international classroom is that you get to hear multiple perspectives. (Our class has a smattering of Australians, French, Chinese and British people.)

Something I realized over the past few weeks is that keeping an open mind is not about just listening to what other people have to say, it's about taking what they said and thinking about it and comparing it to what you believe in. It's difficult at first to look at what you have grown up believing in and practising with a critical eye. But I think it's something we have to routinely engage in. Re evaluation is necessary if we want to avoid intellectual stagnation. 

Cultural Politics involves looking into a lot of Western Critical theories and at first, I must admit, I was a little worried about it clashing with what I believe in (in terms of faith). However, what has happened is that studying a lot of them has only reinforced my faith and even cleared some doubts I had about it! I know you maybe a lil' sceptical about it, but it really did something to the way I think. So many concepts of faith that I was grappling with, were put into perspective! Especially while studying Feminism! Though I do not agree with some of their arguments, I do get the essence of it and understand where they are coming from. And as a muslim woman from India, who chooses to add an extra piece of clothing to her wardrobe, I feel have something more to offer to the ongoing discussion. I really understood the wisdom behind dressing modestly when I read about the objectification of women in the past (even now). The hypersexualization of woman's body to sell things to the male audience, it disgusts me. Why do shaving cream adverts require a half naked woman to prance around the man? Why does a sleek sports car need a bikini clad woman to lie on top of it, in order to sell it? 

They are all catering to the male gaze, the camera is looking at the female body from a male eye. That's why in movies we have the extra focus on the woman's curves and the man's eyes eroticising them. I can't even count the number of times I have seen the camera lingering on the woman's cleavage.

It's at this juncture I fully appreciate my hijab. It shields me from this objectification. I am not instigating that the entire male population is out there fantasising over the female body, but what guarantee do I have that when I walk out, wearing whatever I want none of them would do it? I am in no way justifying the whole notion that 'she asked for it'. She never did. No woman in her right mind ever does. But what Islam has given me is an option guard myself against the gaze. 


 

And the woman is not the only one responsible for avoiding the 'gaze'. The Quran, in the verse before the one which asks women to cover, says "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and to protect their private parts from illegal sexual acts, etc.) That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All Aware of what they do.” (24:30)

Hence, the primary obligation is on the MAN to avoid looking at the woman in an inappropriate manner.So it’s not as though the burden lies on the woman’s shoulders alone the man is also accountable for the gaze.  As a ‘believing man’ HAS to lower it. And only then comes the verse about the believing women covering themselves. And I understand why we have to be particular about the way we dress because no matter how civilized, modern and progressed the society is there will be people out there who will still objectify women with their gaze. 

Now, coming to the problem at hand. What has happened is that the majority of the muslim community places more emphasis on the part about the woman covering herself than the man lowering his gaze. Which is why most people end up believing that Islam asks too much of women. In muslim majority areas, a woman not wearing hijab faces more criticism than a man who does not control his gaze. This maybe because by its nature the hijab is a very physical act, the gaze, on the other hand, is more capable of escaping the public eye. Again, can we hold religion accountable for something which man is accountable for. So the focus should be on reformation of cultural notions which cause people to twist religion rather than the religion itself. In order to get the essence of the any religion we have to look at it in isolation of the cultural baggage it has come to accumulate. So to understand Islam we don’t look at Afghans, Pakistanis, Malaysians or Arabs. We look at the scripture. We then hold up what it says against the wider social context and see how and where religion and the present day practises deviate.  So we look at Honour Killings-  Culture. Female Genital Mutilation- Culture. Female infanticide- Culture. Racism-  Human idiocy. More often than  not, it's these deviations which the media have been pushing as ‘Religious backwardness’.

Islam asks people to think, to reason, to ponder. It tells us not to blindly follow everything our fore fathers did. So even those of us who are born muslims, we have to ask questions. We need to know the difference between what our book says and what our people practise We need to question whether what we have grown up believing in is cultural or religious. We have to open our critical eye.

Marx said religion is the opium of the people. I think not. I think religion in general and Islam in particular was very counter cultural when it came to the mankind. 

It opposed most of what culture dictated. Example? In pre-islamic arabia, female infanticide was a common practise. But Islam strongly condemned this and questioned the idiocy of the practise.  

“And when the girl [who was ] buried alive is asked. For what sin she was killed.” (Quran, 81: 8-9)

During those times there were also clashes between tribes and there existed this feeling of Arab superiority over the others. What does Islam say about this? “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is knowing and Acquainted.” (Quran, 49:13)

What did the Prophet say about racism? “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a nonArab over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”

The rich are obligated to look after the poor. Neighbours have to look after each other. The society has to take care of its orphans and widows. The husband has to treat his wife kindly. The environment has rights over the people. We have to fight for the oppressed. Justice inspite of class or familial superiority...

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous. (Quran, 2:177)

Replacing the million little things in this world which enslave us by One Master.
This is what religion is about. 

And if this is still opium for you then yes, I am an addict. 

Turning 20...

Hey All!

I turned 20 today!
This is my second birthday outside India and all this extra time has given me a lot to think about.

You can read about it here- http://penguinpeeks.blogspot.com/2012/03/on-turning-20.html

(I didn't want to copy-paste the entire thing here) (I tried) (Din't work)

Cheers!
Nazreen

Looking past the differences...

I don't remember when exactly it was that I started noticing differences among people. As children we rarely think about such things. You can put 4 yr olds from 50 different nations in a play ground and within 5 minutes you'll have them sharing swing sets or eating mud together. The only differentiation at that age would be 'she has a doll, I don't'. Or 'she has a lollipop and I don't.' At that age one NEVER thinks 'she looks different' or 'he speaks differently'. 

image courtesy- firstelevenmagazine.co.uk

Then as we grow up our family, society, culture, environment forces us to notice the differences and makes us form our worlds around these differences. The society tells me that I am not supposed to play with the girl in rags. Or it tells me that I cannot identify with those who don't look like me. I hate to admit it, but I bought into it. I thought I'd find it difficult to interact with those who aren't like me. I made the world into 'those like me' and the 'others'. And then I homogenised all the others. I might sound racist but I really used to say 'All Chinese people look the same'. And I am ashamed I would say something like that even in jest. When I came to Malaysia I had a tough time for the first few days keeping track of faces. When I came to the UK I thought 'wow all white people look the same!'. Then when I'd spent a few days I started seeing differences within them. The girl with the beautiful auburn hair does NOT look the same as the girl with a beautiful smile. The person sitting next to me in class is not the same as the girl across my hall. It is then that I realized what I'd been doing which had made me group them in the first place. When I travelled across the sea and out of my comfort zone (in India) I carried with me a preconceived notion that they can never be like me and I can never be like them. What I'd done was draw this imaginary Venn diagram with mutually exclusive circles. All this was subconscious for me. I always thought that I was fairly open minded when it came down to accepting difference. But I've realized I am not as human as I like to think I am. However, the past one year has made me erase that imaginary Venn diagram and what I have now is two circles which have a huge overlap. 


We humans are always scared of what we aren't familiar with. Anything we don't know is viewed as unpleasant. So Easterners wrinkle their noses at the mention of 'Western Culture' and the Westerners throw around the word Exotic( A euphemism for backward) while talking the east. We become so busy discriminating on the basis of how our skin tones differ or how are eyes are shaped that we fail to see that if we remove the skin from each of our bodies no one can identify a Chinese from an Arab or an American from an African. We fail to see that inside we are all the same. We all have one heart (Except a few), we all have blood running through our veins and we all have this magnificent brain that we refuse to use. 

We say we aren't racist. But the fact is that we just manifest it in different ways. We might be highly educated but we still have this mental block which does not let us accept differences. Don't trust me? Next time you go to a hospital and you see a list of doctors who belong to some place you don't and there is one doctor who belongs to your country (but isn't as accomplished as the others) whom would you choose? I was in this situation and I chose the Indian doctor. It was only when my friend pointed it out to me that I realized how I had discriminated on the basis of nationality rather than qualification. 

What's different is not bad. Give it some time and you might even come to appreciate it. So the next time let's not say 'Oh they all are the same' or 'They all look the same'. Let's sit and talk with them, share a meal with them and get to know them. Engage with them and then you'll realize that you aren't that different from the person sitting across you. That you share the same values with him. That you have the same fears as her. That their dreams are ours too. And once everyone realizes this we can truly call ourselves civilized. 

"O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (God consciousness). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." (Qur'an, Al Hujarat)

Weekend in Widnes

Dear Reader (If you exist)


I am sorry for not keeping up with the blog and leaving you with just rants about the various education systems I have suffered under. In my defence..ok, I don't have any excuse. Forgive me, Sir/Mam, and I shall present you with an account of an amazing weekend.
Last weekend I went to Widnes to visit my aunt and her family. Widnes is a tiny place about 45 minutes from Liverpool. I hadn't met this aunt or her family before this trip so I was a bit apprehensive about the visit. I took the National Express Coach from Nottingham on Friday and boy, was that the worst mistake of my life! I had a class till 2.30 and the bus was at 5.00 pm from the Broadmarsh Bus station. That gave me 2.5 hours to get back pack and reach the station AND get the ticket. You might think it's a lot of time but trust me, it's not. So after a tiring run I reach the station and buy the ticket 5 MINUTES before the bus left. The sense of achievement... You know what I am talking about!
However, this elation wasn't there to stay. I find out that there's a changeover at Leeds. I hate changeovers. I am always scared that I'll just sleep through it. Thanks to god, even though I dozed off, I managed to get down at Leeds. There I get into the second bus which was supposed to take us to Liverpool. As soon as we get in the driver announces that he will take us only upto Manchester and from there we have to take another bus. The night wasn't turning out to be that much fun...
We reach Manchester and find out that the 3rd bus isn't there. So 16 of us stranded at the bus station, tired and sleepy, waiting for transport. Finally they arranged taxis for us till Liverpool. I informed aunt Kausar about this and she suggested that they'll pick me up midway. That worked out well for us as we saved unnecessary travel to liverpool.
That night I just crashed into bed after dinner. And had one of the best sleeps I had here!


Next day was a getting to know the family day. My aunt lives with her husband and two kids. Two adorable kids! Especially the younger one, I just fell in love with him!  We had a nice time talking about our family back in India (Only good things!) as I hogged on delicious home made food (Note to reader: I do cook in my hostel but since half of the items are processed and the other half is cheese I can't exactly call it that)


After the breakfast my cousin and I went to book my return ticket for the next day. This time I wasn't gonna make the mistake of taking the coach. So I booked a rail ticket. The station was just 5 minutes from where they lived which gave us time to walk around a bit after we booked the ticket. Manaal (My cousin) took me to a small park just across the road from the station. We had a nice walk around a pond with bobbing ducks and beautiful swans. It was a sunny day and I was soaking it in as much as I could. Would I sound crazy if I say I miss the Malaysian sun? Well, I do! Anyway, back to Widnes. It was sunny but soon wind played a spoilt sport and decided to lash against our faces as we walked. If it was a little stronger it would have rearranged my features. 

Back at their place my Aunt was a cooking up a wonderful lunch for me. Biriyani!! This time I really gorged in. And now I know why some people like to unbuckle their trousers after the meal....


Seriously, I felt sooo good eating all that food. Home sick too because I really missed my mom's cooking (And missed her a bit too). 


Evening we went to Trafford Centre in Manchester. It was literally 'The east meets west' there. All around I saw aunties in salwar kameez (The traditional outfit for women in Northern India and Pakistan), many women in abayas, headscarves..some niqabis too! And scattered here and there were a few white people.

 The best part of the Mall is the food court. And...wait for it....it's HALAL! We went to Nando's for dinner and found a line snaking it's way out restaurant and stretching way back. So we had to wait there for about half an hour. Luckily, my uncle let my aunt and me look around while my cousin and him waited in the queue. 


So we strolled and entered a few shops here and there and I basked in the sound of pure, raw urdu/hindi coming at me from different directions (Usually mothers screaming at their kids) Half an hour up we went back to a humongous plates of chicken just waiting for me to take a bite off it. Nando's never disappoints me. I'll be a loyal Peri-Peri fan forever. Btw, Nandos' can be a real test of your courage and resilience. Depending on the sauce you choose. You are noble if you can take in the hot peri peri, normal if you take the medium peri-peri and downright coward if you go with Lemon 'n Herb. However, the greatest is the one who can down the Extra hot peri-peri and not die. 


Enough of Nando's (for now). We retuned home fully content (and a bit gassy but I'll spare you the details)


The next day was a lazy day and I spent the morning just drooling on little Zaki. He is the cutest thing ever! I want a kid like him! I am serious. Where else would you find a 1 yr old cleaning up after himself? If he spills food on the floor he goes into the store room and comes back with the broom and tries to clean it up. (Watching a one yr old handle a broom as big as him is something you have to see)

My aunt meanwhile whipped up a scrumptious English Breakfast for me scrambled eggs, mushrooms and all. 

After lunch I had to pack my bags. It was time time to leave :(



The Widnes railway station can only be described as...quaint? Doesn't it look like something out of a story book? I was surprised when my aunt told me that it also has an old station master with a snow-white moustache! ( I think this station has served as inspiration for many a writers..) Oh there is a plaque near the ticket counter which says that Paul Simons wrote his 'Homeward Bound' here. ( What's amusing is that 
he said "if you'd ever seen Widnes, then you'd know why I was keen to get back to London as quickly as possible" and they still have a plaque commemorating this insult :D)


The train ride was just 2.5 hrs and from what I saw, between spells of sleep, a scenic one. Oh and Manchester railway station looks like the Chennai Central! 

Once back I took a bus to Victoria Centre and from there till Beeston. But what stupid me didn't realize was that if I had walked a bit further from the station I could have just taken the bus from the Broadmarsh Bus station (And saved 1 pound)


So that was my amazing weekend. I really didn't feel like coming back to my dingy room but like they say, all good things must come to an end. It does not necessarily end here because I've got to know some amazing people here. Really, family, wherever you go, is still family. 


So o student who plans to come here- grill your parents and find out if you have relatives here. And go visit them! You might just meet some awesome people like I did... :)


Cheers mes amies!
Nazreen


p.s- The Discover Islam Week is going on right now in the campus. More on that in the next post!
p.p.s- Wikepedia just told me that Widnes means Wide Nose. Funny,no?
p.p.p.s- Post scripts are fun!