Hello you who's reading this!
Nice day, isn't it? Sunny and all! Hey I am not going bonkers! It's just that now I know why the stereotype about British people's obsession with the weather exists. It's because of the weather! When people told me that England is grey and cold, I never actually pictured it to be grey, I just thought it's a really cold place. But yeah, it's GREY. Like actually grey. 2 days here and I was craving for the Malaysian sun. The third day, however, I woke up to a sunny day. And does this place look brilliant in the sunshine or what!
So, it's been a week since I came here and it has been one hectic week at that! I have been on my toes with settling my registration, bank account and other stuff that will make my stay here smooth. The first two days were mostly orientation and induction programmes with around 300 other international students. We were given a little heads up about the British culture and were told that they appreciate polite manners. Gosh! Who would've thought that! Oh come on! Just kidding...I just found it amusing that they had to mention in an orientation programme that we have to say thank you and please and form orderly lines while queueing. On the second day I had my first class-'Cultural Politics'. There are about 20 students and the class seems interesting, let's see how it goes...
On Tuesday we had a re-freshers' fair on campus. So we had all the clubs and societies set up their booths for registration. The variety of clubs we have here is amazing. And some of them are outright crazy. Like the quidditch society! I am serious. They have a quidditch society here and they even have practise sessions for it! (Will attend one session just to take pictures of students sitting on broomsticks :D) Apart from that we have the art soc, debating soc, travel soc, book club so on and so forth. I joined the travel society, Islamic society and the creative writing society. I had the first session with the creative writing soc the day before yesterday. It was a really fun session and I met some really nice people. Just as goofy as I am! :D
I hope I make some good friends there...
Apart from the Uni campus I have also been venturing out into the city. Of course the first few trips were towards Tesco to buy survival food.
It was on my second trip I noticed a gift from Allah- A HALAL SHOP!!
I was beyond excited. I actually squealed and jumped much to the embarrassment of my friends. But in my defence, not even in my dreams did I think I'll find a Halal shop 5 minutes from my accommodation. 2 days back I went into see what all they offered and came back laden with frozen aloo paratha, Pakistani Mango pickle, Ready to make Rajma and channa masala. Can this get any better? Oh yes it can! They have halal frankfurters! Alhamdulillah! (I have been living on these and bread since I bought them)
Oh and right opposite the halal grocers is an Indian restaurant...Beeston Tandoori! Oye hoye! Main toh Mar jaawa!
Okay. I'll calm down with the food talk now.
On Wednesday I went to the city centre to buy some more warm clothes ( You can't have enough of them here) And for some crazy reason I decided to wear my high heeled boots on that day ( I am usually no heels person for obvious reasons but I love this pair of boots I have)
So the whole time there, while walking from one shop to another, my feet and back were cursing me. The trip however was a good one.
I got a nice feel of the city. We took the bus from here and have to say travel here is such a killer! One pound for a ticket and two pounds for 6 pairs of socks. Where's the sense in that? Seriously, clothes here are so cheap. Some of them even cheaper than in India. So I went a bit crazy in the city centre and bought loads of socks and shirts and leg warmers. We winded up the trip with tea at Lee Rosy's.
Come on, we have to have some tea after all the hard work!( Any Briton reading this will definitely hate me for all the stereotypes. Come on mate! You ruled us for over 200 years, I am allowed to have a little fun at your expense :P) Lee Rosy's is a cozy little place. It's somewhere you instantly feel at home. I loved the whole ambience and the casual décor with mismatched wooden chairs around low tables. And it has a shelf covering an entire wall with different kinds of tea!
They even have spicy chai! I ordered almond cream latte which turned out to be a bad decision as it smelt and tasted of wood. The strawberry cheesecake, however, was a good choice.
I have to make another trip to city centre soon. Guess why...because it's snowing!! Yes, it is! It started today evening and it's still snowing. I have seen snow as a child but I have never seen snowfall...it's magical. My flatmates and I went out for five minutes and I took the fresh snow in my hands! It was so beautiful the experience! Right now, from my window, I have a really pretty view. Some people have already made a snowman! It's like I am in a dream! A good dream, Alhamdulillah :)
It's been an overwhelming week with so much to take in. It's like first year all over again. But, I like it. Now in my cozy room in my pyjamas, looking at the snowfall, hearing people laugh outside as they have a snow fight, something feels right.
PS-You know the famous technique to get a Brit talking by initiating a conversation about the weather...it's true. I tried it! :D
Nice day, isn't it? Sunny and all! Hey I am not going bonkers! It's just that now I know why the stereotype about British people's obsession with the weather exists. It's because of the weather! When people told me that England is grey and cold, I never actually pictured it to be grey, I just thought it's a really cold place. But yeah, it's GREY. Like actually grey. 2 days here and I was craving for the Malaysian sun. The third day, however, I woke up to a sunny day. And does this place look brilliant in the sunshine or what!
So, it's been a week since I came here and it has been one hectic week at that! I have been on my toes with settling my registration, bank account and other stuff that will make my stay here smooth. The first two days were mostly orientation and induction programmes with around 300 other international students. We were given a little heads up about the British culture and were told that they appreciate polite manners. Gosh! Who would've thought that! Oh come on! Just kidding...I just found it amusing that they had to mention in an orientation programme that we have to say thank you and please and form orderly lines while queueing. On the second day I had my first class-'Cultural Politics'. There are about 20 students and the class seems interesting, let's see how it goes...
On Tuesday we had a re-freshers' fair on campus. So we had all the clubs and societies set up their booths for registration. The variety of clubs we have here is amazing. And some of them are outright crazy. Like the quidditch society! I am serious. They have a quidditch society here and they even have practise sessions for it! (Will attend one session just to take pictures of students sitting on broomsticks :D) Apart from that we have the art soc, debating soc, travel soc, book club so on and so forth. I joined the travel society, Islamic society and the creative writing society. I had the first session with the creative writing soc the day before yesterday. It was a really fun session and I met some really nice people. Just as goofy as I am! :D
I hope I make some good friends there...
Apart from the Uni campus I have also been venturing out into the city. Of course the first few trips were towards Tesco to buy survival food.
It was on my second trip I noticed a gift from Allah- A HALAL SHOP!!
I was beyond excited. I actually squealed and jumped much to the embarrassment of my friends. But in my defence, not even in my dreams did I think I'll find a Halal shop 5 minutes from my accommodation. 2 days back I went into see what all they offered and came back laden with frozen aloo paratha, Pakistani Mango pickle, Ready to make Rajma and channa masala. Can this get any better? Oh yes it can! They have halal frankfurters! Alhamdulillah! (I have been living on these and bread since I bought them)
Oh and right opposite the halal grocers is an Indian restaurant...Beeston Tandoori! Oye hoye! Main toh Mar jaawa!
Okay. I'll calm down with the food talk now.
On Wednesday I went to the city centre to buy some more warm clothes ( You can't have enough of them here) And for some crazy reason I decided to wear my high heeled boots on that day ( I am usually no heels person for obvious reasons but I love this pair of boots I have)
So the whole time there, while walking from one shop to another, my feet and back were cursing me. The trip however was a good one.
I got a nice feel of the city. We took the bus from here and have to say travel here is such a killer! One pound for a ticket and two pounds for 6 pairs of socks. Where's the sense in that? Seriously, clothes here are so cheap. Some of them even cheaper than in India. So I went a bit crazy in the city centre and bought loads of socks and shirts and leg warmers. We winded up the trip with tea at Lee Rosy's.
Come on, we have to have some tea after all the hard work!( Any Briton reading this will definitely hate me for all the stereotypes. Come on mate! You ruled us for over 200 years, I am allowed to have a little fun at your expense :P) Lee Rosy's is a cozy little place. It's somewhere you instantly feel at home. I loved the whole ambience and the casual décor with mismatched wooden chairs around low tables. And it has a shelf covering an entire wall with different kinds of tea!
They even have spicy chai! I ordered almond cream latte which turned out to be a bad decision as it smelt and tasted of wood. The strawberry cheesecake, however, was a good choice.
I have to make another trip to city centre soon. Guess why...because it's snowing!! Yes, it is! It started today evening and it's still snowing. I have seen snow as a child but I have never seen snowfall...it's magical. My flatmates and I went out for five minutes and I took the fresh snow in my hands! It was so beautiful the experience! Right now, from my window, I have a really pretty view. Some people have already made a snowman! It's like I am in a dream! A good dream, Alhamdulillah :)
It's been an overwhelming week with so much to take in. It's like first year all over again. But, I like it. Now in my cozy room in my pyjamas, looking at the snowfall, hearing people laugh outside as they have a snow fight, something feels right.
PS-You know the famous technique to get a Brit talking by initiating a conversation about the weather...it's true. I tried it! :D
Hopefully now you won't complain that no one reads your blog - I just lost myself in a sea of nostalgia, been enchanted (again!) and cried over seeing the amount of snow, ecstatic that you discovered the delights of the grocery (of which, I assure you, there are HUNDREDS of in the UK - wherever there are asians, an achaar shop is not far behind :D) and, in general, glad you're having a fantastic time!
ReplyDeleteIf only the weather technique worked here - you ask people about the weather and it's just ".. it's still sunny, just like the last time you asked. -_-) but back home, it's surprising the array of conversations you can have about the differing shades of 'grey' and wind forces and gale .. for quite consistent cold, grey weather we DO, surprisingly, find many different descriptions of our dear old gale forces and blizzards! Anyway, keep updating and missing you too, my dear mutt-child :)
thumbs up! :)
ReplyDeleteRida! I miss you! And guess what..I had the cheese and onion pasty at Greggs...Was as good as you promised :)
ReplyDelete@Rynna- Thanks! :)