Finally in Manchester

Hey everyone!

So I realize a lot of people of been waiting on me to blog about my experiences in Manchester so far. Sorry it has been so long, I have been busy exploring the city and we started classes this week. But, I am going to start at the beginning and tell you everything! (Mostly because I want to remember every little detail years from now) Here it goes:

I left Nashville on Thursday and flew to NYC. Then I flew from NYC to Manchester. Everything went smoothly except my flight was delayed in NYC for a little over an hour. Apparently there were really strong tailwinds and we would arrive in Manchester way before we were supposed to, which in turn would make the British air authority very angry. On the plane I sat by a very nice couple from Wales. It was pretty difficult to sleep, but pretty much every time I woke they were bringing us more food. I landed in Manchester at the original time, even though my flight had been delayed. I then made my way through customs. It was pretty easy. I met two girls there who were going to study abroad in Keele. My friend Loren is studying there right now.

I took a black cab from the airport to my accommodation. The cab driver was really nice and told me I had to go see a proper football match. He also asked me how it felt "to be driving on the right side of the road, because the rest of the word has it wrong." In case you are wondering it isn't that strange, but it does take some getting used to, esp when you are walking. If you don't look left you will get ran over. I made my way to my accommodation and checked in. Then a guy from reception escorted me to my flat. I had to carry my luggage up 3 flights of stairs because there isn't an elevator. My room is a strange green color...which appears to be a theme because the curtains, carpet, and doors are all green. It is really different to live in accommodation in England compared with the UT because they allow alcohol in the residence halls here and even have a student bar in Owens Park, which is the collection of residence halls that I live in.

My room was covered in sticky notes from my flat mates, which was really nice. They were all taking exams, so I really didn't get to hang out with them at first. They are all really nice, but it definitely strange to be living with first years again. I couldn't get my internet to work on the first day, which was really difficult because I didn't have a phone or any friends. The first day here was probably the loneliest I have ever been. But, I never regretted my decision to come. I was actually really excited to get out and experience new things and make new friends. So, I headed to the nearest grocery store to buy towels and bedding because I literally had nothing! The bedding completely confused me because they don't have comforters here like we have in the states. Instead they have duvets. I had no clue what to do with a duvet, so I literally stood there staring at them for like 30 minutes. Also because they don't have flat sheets only fitted sheets. Any way, I bought my duvet and carried all of my things back to my room in the pouring rain! (it really rains here a lot)

The next day I decided to go on an area and campus tour, even though it was raining. Here I met Sarah, another exchange student (and the only American in the group). Ironically she was from TN to, but she goes to school in Southern California. The buildings on campus are so beautiful here. Also fun fact, the first atom was split in a room on our campus. After the campus tour, Sarah and I went to the store so she could buy bedding and I could buy groceries. Later that night we went out for the first time with my flatmates. We went to a club called Factory. Which was pretty fun! The stamped our hand with the facebook like symbol which was pretty funny! Also the bouncers at the club have no idea where to look on a TN license for my birth date, so it takes them forever.

My first couple of days in Manchester have been great! I am going to break the rest of the past two weeks up into more blogs because so much has happened that I want to share with you!

-Cheers (they literally say this after every conversation, it pretty much means thanks and goodbye)

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson