Luzzio

The walks between my dorm and the city itself are sadly the highlights of my day, because being stuck in this little (but comfortable) room drives you mad. It’s actually pleasant to walk a few miles because of the fine weather, but there are some times when the gusts get too much and you wish the warmth of home would magically appear and bake you with it.

I arrived in Manchester last Thursday via what was probably one of the most comfortable journey’s I’d ever taken. Richard Branson’s trains are amazing. It may be a budget line but I slept through the entire two and half hour journey, ignoring the countryside view, blessed to have an entire table compartment to myself (and my luggage).

Reaching the train itself was a nightmare, having to struggle with 4 bags of whatevers through Victoria Station, then taking the underground to Euston, and finally breathing a sigh of relief as I boarded the Virgin train there.

Manchester is… interesting. It’s a mixed bag of both a vibrant city with amazing shopping (Market Street) and culture (Piccadilly Garden has an event every weekend) that seems to welcome you with open arms, and yet cold and shady at the same time, from the dodgy alleys I try to avoid and yet have the urge to cut through as a shortcut whenever I walk, to the chilly sunrise mornings of serene quietness; the loud partying having died merely a few hours ago, only to be reincarnated just before midnight.

Social wise, I’m slow but steady. Mixing with the Brits (and just about anyone) is more difficult than I expected. It’s not so much the conversations that pull me back. I’ve no problem talking to them (despite some having to repeat myself, and asking them to, due to accents), but it’s difficult to muster up the courage to just… approach. In my defense I’m a freshie (sorta) in a new country who hardly knows anyone. And lectures have yet to even begin. Thankfully, I’ve Pearl, Florence and Janet to hang with abit but I’ve got to learn to reach out and mix sometime. The flatmates are not a bad bunch, and again, slowly but surely.

This is the room. I’m usually out of here by 10AM, returning just before 6PM.

Can’t say I’ve really changed much. Still the awkward silent person you all know and love. Obviously, I speak to them with a little bit of an accent, both because I want to try and fit in, and they’d be unable to understand what I’m saying otherwise. I accidentally blurted out a few ‘lahs’ this afternoon. It felt a little embarrassing (though really… I don’t think it should. It’s my goddamned culture.) each time I did. Perhaps what almost every foreign student is familiar with by now is the word ‘cheers’. It’s abit like the British version of Lah. It’s difficult to explain the use. You just have to be have it used on. I forced myself a little to say ‘cheers’ each time the natural expectation occurs, but reverted back to a simple “thanks” after awhile.

What I am a little frustrated with at the moment is that the Legal Advice Center which I volunteered for has its training on Mondays 11-1PM. My Employment Law lectures are on Mondays 12-2PM.

Bollocks.