Day 7

Today was simply blissful for my inner nerd! I didn't have class until noon, so I slept in pretty late. Jen, the canadian girl, came knocking on my door to get breakfast together, where I stole packets of jam and honey for my room.. They will go nicely with my bread and peanut butter since I can't have Jam without fear of the thieves stealing it. My first class was Philosophy and Ethics, I course offered for exchange students, so there were a few Americans and TONS of Asians. Actually, this class has about 15 people in it, which I love! Finally a small class! I found my friend from UMASS was in there and met a stats major from Chicago, and it turns out that we all live in Castle Leazes! I exchanged numbers with the UMASS guy so we could meet up for meals in the dining hall instead of sitting alone. I had a 2 hour break before 3 STRAIGHT HOURS OF MATH! To anyone else, I know this would be pure hell, but for me, I couldn't have had a better afternoon. In Differential Equations (Diff EQ for future references), there are nearly 200 students. It seems like I may be missing some information between my calculus experience and Newcastle Diff EQ, but I think I can catch up and understand. Then, I moved over one lecture theatre to another class of Number Theory, which I learned something I had already learned... hmm.. still think it's too advanced for me Head-Math-Man? Just wait until Cryptography. Right after Number Theory I had Cryptography, where I was told we were starting with the very basic cryptographies and moving to modern ones still in use, such as RSA. Oh, Hey Head-Math-Man-- I've learned RSA encryption.. not once, but TWICE! I think I can handle this class. Anyway, I loved my afternoon. I returned to my room with a million facebook messages from My Girls! During a brief skyping session with Dani, Louise asked me to join the Floor 2 girls for dinner, so I did. And my UMASS friend texted me about eating dinner together, so I invited him to come along. It was a good day between classes and friends. And it's only going to get better---skyping with Matt soon!!!

Day 6

Today was very rough. It started with waking at 4:00AM to 3 guys yelling on my floor.. funny, because my floor is all girls. When I finally got back to sleep it felt like I slept for no more than 5 minutes before my alarm went off at 7:00AM. I made my way over to my first class extra early in case I got lost along the way. Being a 2 hour lecture, it was difficult near the end because of my lack of sleep, but I enjoyed the topic of the Environment and Sustainability overall. Next, I needed to seek advice regarding my visa, so I went to the advice center, who directed me to student services, who advised me to email the "Visa Team," whose advice I did not care for, so instead I have emailed my study abroad advisor at UVM. After running around for my visa, I had an appointment with the Head-Math-Man of Newcastle to sign my schedule and allow me to take Differential Equations, and Number Theory and Cryptography, which he did sign. However, he was very condescending, believing these courses, especially Number Theory and Cryptography were too advanced for me. I tried telling him that I've done a bit of number theory and I learned RSA encryption, but since I am only a second year and this is a third year course, he highly doubts I've done it. He expects I will be back in by next week to change to a lower class... well he can kiss my ass. I will ace this class if it is the last thing I do! So I went to my first Number Theory section of the class, and I understood it just fine and the professor is wonderful. Then I went to another two hour lecture, Celebrity Culture, with one of my UVM friends. I think this may be the class I drop, but it's too soon for me to make the final decision. It is a really cool class, and would be even better if I knew the media and celebrities of the UK, however, the length of the and quantity of writing assignments will be too much for me to handle with my other final essays and exams. I returned to my room after class, then went to dinner with the girls of floor 2 Marley House, meeting two girls I hadn't met yet, one being Canadian, who I relate to a lot. Each day I'm feeling more at ease living here.

Sorry, no pictures today, not only did I forget my camera, but I don't know what would have been picture worthy.

To all my loyal readers, I love and miss you all. <3

Day 5

Well, it has been another lazy day in Marley House. After waking up, eating, and showering, I walked downtown to do some grocery shopping to last me the next week or two, as you can see by the pictures below. I only got food that I could store without a fridge thanks to the food thief. When I came back, I ate lunch and went over to Louise's room. We talked about our lives growing up and she told me a bit about Newcastle, willing to answer any questions I proposed. We got a short visit from Katie, then the other Louise came in. I explained quidditch to the Louises; they loved it. Their favorite part: that Matt and I met through quidditch. "Oh my god! That is so cute! Only you could get away with such a thing being cute because you're American. If a brit said that, it would just be dumb and they would get weird looks. But it's so cute coming from you." Apparently, foreigners do love Americans, which I will never understand, but I will certainly enjoy it.

My favorite part of today: Skyping with Matt, and his parents.

I am so lucky. <3

 Frosties = Frosted Flakes.. but why the name change?

 We all know that I can't handle college without my apple juice!

It's safe to say my peanut butter addiction is borderline ridiculous.

Day 4

Seeing as it is a Saturday before my classes have even begun, not much really happened today. So I will start with last night. I went clubbing with the girls of Marley House floor 2. It was certainly a new experience. When girls dress up in Newcastle to go out they wear very little clothing at all. I tried my best to dress club-worthy while still remaining in enough clothing to feel comfortable, especially since it is a bit chilly outside. We started off getting our stamps and reduced price for the club because of being on the guest list, then we made our way over to one of the local bars to hang out until the club opened. Getting into the bars was pretty fun. The bouncers looked at my I.D. and said "What is this? Are you from the States?" to which I nodded. So they decided to pick on me and the fact that I'm not old enough to get into bars in the U.S. Then we went in, sat down, and listened to some music while some girls bought drinks. When we made it over to the club at 11:00 PM ish, we got to skip the "que" or line because of our stamps. Then, it was just a lot of dancing.. and a fair amount of getting drinks spilt on me, which I was told I'd get used to, though I, of all people, will never get used to such a thing. One of the girls said "I can't wait to tell my friends I know an American." She also expressed her shock that it was my first time clubbing because I "have got the moves down." I guess my dancing is club-worthy then. Later, I was introduced to the girl-code-of-clubs. There are certain looks a girl can give meaning "help me get away from this guy" or "is he cute?" when you feel a guy dancing on you. I had no need to used these codes because I've pretty much figured out how to get away, however, one of the girls needed help getting away from a guy who actually grabbed her and pulled her towards him. No worries though, I saved her from him. I also put myself between her and another guy who would not leave her alone. It feels a bit like a sisterhood, abiding by the code. I did get asked to dance a few times, to which I would shake my head no.  Then they would insist I do or ask why, to which I would shout three time before they could hear me over the music that I am happily taken. There was one guy who continued after this, "Well, he's not here.." So the girls stepped in to help: "she's got a boyfriend, backoff." I am so thankful for the sisterhood. Of course, I was also told by one of the girls "Do not talk. They will know you are American and Newcastle boys will jump all over you." I did as instructed, talking as little as possible. But it didn't matter, when introduced to one of the girl's guys, all I said was "Hi" and he instantly said "You're American!" Lesson learned: not a word will come out of my mouth at the club. Thank you for the American women stereotype as being a "slag" or slut.
Overall, dancing with the girls was fun, yet exhausting. I am still tired. Which is why I spent my day reading magazines, watching Harry Potter, and skyping my friends and family. It was a good thing I went to the store this week and bought plenty of food... oh wait, someone stole some of my pasta out of the fridge in the shared kitchen. I was too scared to eat what remained, so instead I spit in it and mixed it in. Enjoy, thief :)

Sorry for the lack of pictures, however, I pulled another push door today..

Day 3

Oh what a long day it has been... I started off my day heading to a "Module Fair" to get signatures for the classes I would like to take, I got there without even using a map! Once the fair finally started, I looked around and saw that only one of the colleges I needed a stamp from was represented there. I went to the Combined Honours table to ask what I was supposed to do. The answer: Go to each building and get the signatures. Which is fine, except that once I got to each building they again directed me elsewhere. In the end, I got all of my signatures... except the most important one: MATH. The only man who can sign for me to take math classes took today off, so instead my college is signing me up in the classes regardless and I will meet with him on Monday. These are the classes I hope to be taking:

Celebrity Culture

Methods for Solving Differential Equations

Number Theory and Cryptology

Faith, Reason, and the Cosmos

Philosophy and Ethics

Environment and Sustainability

However, this is 80 UK credits, which they only allow you to take 50-70 credits. Also, UVM requires I take at least 60. In the end, I will attend each of the classes and decide which one I like the least and drop it. I had really wanted to continue taking Ancient Greek, however, it conflicted with Differential Equations, which I really should take.

I returned to my room after grabbing lunch to go and I napped for 2 hours. After, a girl from my hall asked if I would like to order pizza with her and the others and told me I could pop over when I was ready. I did, and now we all separated to get ready to go out tonight to Riverside Club... I still have no idea what I should wear.

Just to make you all laugh at me, I have now tried pulling doors that say "push" at least 6 times... If I just need to push it, why does it have a handle?

Some familiar sights... Just like home.

 whaaaat??? TK Maxx not TJ Maxx?

 Burger King

 H + M

 McDonald's

And, of course, Starbucks.

Day 2

After starting Goblet of Fire on my laptop, I passed out before the darkmark was conjured in the sky. I slept nearly 11 hours. I could have kept going, but I needed to shower and get to breakfast before making my way over to the International Students Meeting. At breakfast, I sat with some British girls who were very nice, though their first questions to me were "Are you in a sorority?" and "Do they really use Red cups at parties?" They also made a lot of jokes about cheese, which neither the other american girl nor I understood. The International Student Meeting was mostly quite boring, though I took notes of the useful information. The #1 thing I got from it: It is expensive as hell just to get to London, let alone stay there over night. They provided us with a buffet of finger foods while we were to mingle with the other international students, where I met a Polish girl and found the two girls from UVM again. After eating, the two UVM girls and I found our way to Kings Gate for some official exchange student requirements. Then, we had to part and go to our separate college discussions. I went to my Combined Honours meeting, where I was in a room with all American students other than the canadian and norwegian. I met someone from UMASS and we found out he lives just down the hall from me and also has catered! After the meeting we walked toward City Centre together until he met up with his friend and I found the T-mobile store to get my UK cell for the next few months. I returned to my room to figure out which modules I would like to/could take. I heard a knock on my door, and to my surprise the girls in my hall asked me to go to dinner with them. I obviously accepted. At dinner they invited me to go out with them tomorrow night. Hopefully I catch up on sleep enough to feel up for it.

 Part way down City Centre.. with all of the shopping

 Coming out of City Centre

 Looking back towards the shops

 Kings Gate.. Where I go for Student Services

 Beautiful church near campus

Student Union building

Day 1

After endless hours of flying and layovers, I finally arrived at the Newcastle upon Tyne airport where I was greeted by a student welcoming and shuttling international students to their dorms. As it turns out, the girl who I shared a taxi with back to our dorm, Castle Leazes, is from UVM too! We got separated, so who knows if I'll find her again.
I was escorted to my empty single and decided to unpack EVERYTHING, so I am all set up. Then, I needed to take a 10 minute walk into campus to get my "smartcard" (student I.D.) and five minutes from there to get my passcode for the internet in my dorm room. The lady who helped me with my smartcard answered all of my questions like where is the best place to get towels or groceries or where the ATM is, so I then made that adventure (You all know I got myself a jar of peanut butter!). When I finally returned to my dorm I struggled, but eventually set up my internet, skype-chatted with my mama, and took a nap for a couple hours. I woke up in time for dinner, where I met yet another UVM student. I tried new foods, mainly because none of it was familiar. After dinner I finally took a shower, with my new towels, and I am ready for bed. Just a few more hours, that way I can get on Newcastle time.

 See you later, Detroit!

 Biggest plane I've ever been on!

 Just passed Ireland..

 And flying under Newcastle

 Good morning, Amsterdam!

 My single..

 and closet...

 and "washbasin"

 Feeling more at home..

 plenty of closet space

 My desk

 My bed

And things I love from home <3