New Beginnings

I hardly have any time to sit down and blog, so I'm posting a sort of diary that I kept when I did not have internet, ie. the past one or two days.

19th September

It feels great being here, despite the cold which landed me with, it seems, a small bout of flu. Woke up before my alarm rang this morning in Cripps Hall. Recalling yesterday, I arrived with my relatives in the afternoon and got the key to my room. Checking in, I found the room adequate, old but reasonably comfortable. HCIBS was new, Raleigh Park is fairly new, but this is like the standard old brick building with windows that are opened by pushing up, not out. Trekking a bit around the grounds later saw loads of grass, interspersed with what appears to be goose poo. It's no rarity to see squirrels scurrying across the road or the grass. Mixed around a bit before and during dinner with a bunch of Americans and Canadians, but found more agreeable companions later on in the Portland ballroom at the karaoke. Sitting with me were a Kenyan (Bora), a Thai (Raghav), 2-4 Chinese (Iris, Yang Chi, Pan Jiang etc.) and another girl whose country of origin I could not remember (Thelma). We didn't sing, but certainly had good fun. Many students from China and India here, really. Supposedly the same for the Malaysian campus, but it is less easy to run into them. Those I ask are usually from China, whether the Ningbo campus or just here for the whole degree. All the others I know from Malaysia are in Derby Hall, tough luck, but I get to meet more people! It feels really cool.

Submitted the form to open my bank account yesterday, thankfully, but discovered an error in my student ID, so will have to trek back to get it amended, hopefully won't take long. Will try to explore Portland a bit further today maybe. I plan to find the travel centre to ask about bus routes.


2nd entry

This morning I met David from Hong Kong and Irene from Brunei. Turns out, they stuck with me for a fair bit of the day, Irene especially, and Yang Chi too. We try to crack jokes all the time. David is an interesting person, seemingly full of experiences to share. Irene is a bit quiet but very friendly, and so is Yang Chi. We four watched Casino Royale together tonight. Free movie screening, so might as well. Finally got some bank business done with and explored some bits of Portland. Had shepherd's pie and some dessert made from apples at dinner today. People are complaining about the food, but I see nothing to grumble about.

Other new acquaintances include May from the Philippines, Jenna from Malaysia and Ling from China. Only Jenna is a medic I think.

I need my sleep, it's 11 pm. Gotta run. Tomorrow has more stuff to do!