the other catch up post (bristol)

Of course I get here and Zoella from YouTube goes and moves to Brighton. I was having a fangirl moment.


It's been twelve days since arriving here. Wish I could say class registration was a breeze, but I should have known better than to have expectations. BUT I have it a lot better than a whole ton of other people who are still dealing with wait lists and strange schedules with none of the classes they planned to take. We all had to register in person instead of online. Finding all the buildings was an adventure in itself. Really, it's still an adventure finding the classes. I leave my flat 40 minutes beforehand out of fear and am usually the first one to sit down. Like a square. People probably think I'm this huge square or nob as they say. I'm living in a flat with three other flatmates. They're all really nice. I had to change flats because of the five people living there, I was the only one without a penis and for whatever reason that weirded me out. Seeing as how I lived with only boys at school, I really didn't think it'd bother me until it was two days later, and I still felt weird. Plus, their bathroom was nasty - the type of nasty that comes from living in a space where most or all inhabitants have given up. So yeah, I moved. I don't even think they know I moved out. Awkward.

This cat followed me around for a while during registration, so I bent down to pet her and she jumped up into my lap and cuddled me. I wanted to take her home. Animals love me here. It's amazing.

I have to walk through here everyday to get home. They're called Christmas Steps? It's a really cute alley during the day and a bit sketchy looking during the night.

I still need to buy an umbrella because this is all I was wearing during an unexpected downpour.

My classes are interesting and all make me feel hopelessly inadequate. After spending the better part of the last two years taking upper division psych courses, I still haven't written any real essays for any of said psychology courses let alone any essays ever in the history of my academic career in APA format. All my essays this semester are in APA format. Hopefully this is not some foreshadowing as to what the rest of my life is going to be like. People take discussion here seriously. As in, they actually have things to say and do not stare lifelessly at the discussion leader with their mouths hanging open. It is simultaneously very refreshing and very intimidating. I like hearing what people have to say, but I don't like speaking in class. I always end up sounding dumber than I mean to. Also, it is just now occurring to me that Cambridge was really really upscale. For whatever reason, I imagined all universities operating like that one and was relieved to find out that other universities are less bougie and more typical to American universities appearance-wise. Everyone still dresses better though, so I always feel surrounded by an ocean of very well-dressed people.

hot cocoa to make me feel better.

So the rundown of the less mundane happenings I've had thus far:

Last weekend, after having plans fall through on Friday night, Shawn, Christine, Mattie, Maria, and I headed to The Apple, this floating boat pub thing that serves a cider called "The Bristolian" which you're only allowed to buy half pints of at a time because it's strong. It sounded promising, so we went there and met up with Katrina, her housemate (Stan?), and Maxine. Then our token German friend, Manuel, showed up. I still think it's funny there's a German guy named Manuel. Is that bad? It's probably bad if I have to ask if it's bad. Oh well. We ended up going to a smaller bar somewhere on St. Augustine's Parade and there was a live band and dancing. Someone said konichiwa to Maxine and I, being the only Asian girls. How original. But really, if you're going to say something offensive, creativity is appreciated.

I didn't take pictures, but I promise stuff is coming up.