January 27-30
On Sunday, the exchange students met up again for brunch at a cute cafe. After walking around for a bit we all decided to go home and rest.
I caught up on sleeping, but also was busy trying to organize my schedule. I got an email about a QI taping (a TV show I'm quite a big fan of). The tickets are free, but the challenge is being able to get there (sometimes you don't get in either). The showing was for the day after my birthday, and I had just one morning class that day, so I crossed my fingers and signed up. Days later I found out I got a ticket and it was a priority ticket (which I think means I won't be turned away if I get there on time).
On Monday I had no classes so I stayed in as well. I ate lots of peanut butter sandwiches and bananas. I also slept and stretched a lot. I finally got my full schedule (including seminar groups) that night. I didn't have class Monday regardless but it was good to have.
On Tuesday I was well prepared for a long and cold day. Heading in to campus I wore my winter parka for the first time (not that I was cold, but I would be later) and brought my mitts in my bag. It was rainy/sleety on my way in. I found my first class easily. This was the lecture for Performance and Now. I learned about all the plays we'd be seeing and the slam poetry event we'd be going to. My Thursday nights shall be booked for the coming weeks. I spoke to the Professor after the class, as I do not have any prior University drama courses. She asked if I'd be comfortable with analyzing plays, not by their scripts but by how they're presented etc. I told her I looked forward to the challenge. Plus, my experience at Canterbury really placed me in the ideal position.
After that I had some time before my next class, so I headed to get some lunch at Eat4Less. I ate alone (not alone eating alone though). Then, I went to the student union building, which reminds me of a building from Halloweentown (I'll take a picture later). There I got a University sweater and some Jelly babies for 21 pounds (student discounts are great). I also looked around because I would be coming back after class for the Maisie Williams presentation and I wanted to know where to go.
My next class was in one of the coolest oldest buildings I've been in. The entrance was old (you can see it on my Instagram) and couldn't have been great at blocking the weather from outside. The entranceway had beautiful moulded ceilings. There was even a fancy elevator.
My lecture room, like what Emily experienced in Finland, was again those rows where you don't have much room and are trapped between people and can only get out once everyone before you is out.
This class was on Writing the Renaissance. A lot of the work we're starting with I have already read and worked on at the University level, so I'm taking it easy. One of the professors is the extremely energetic type who makes you want to go grab a cup of coffee and the other is just normal.
After that lecture I rushed off to the Venue to see Maisie Williams. I arrived to a massive line. My friend Milla called me and I went to stand beside her. Then some people came and said that if you had RSVP'd and were guaranteed a seat to go to the smaller line, so I left my friend. It took a while to be let in. I ended up fourth row from the front, so I had a fantastic view, and swear she looked at me more than once. If you don't know who she is, she is well known for being in Game of Thrones. She's around my age, and just started an app that allows creators to collaborate, without needing prior connections in the business. She also talked about her mental health, as she struggles with anxiety and panic disorder.
After the talk and Q&A, I had just enough time to make it to my last class, which is the seminar for my Performance and Now class. I didn't think I'd make it, so I was really happy. There I got to know a couple of Brits and was put into a study group of four.
The professor checked in on me after and I reassured her that I was comfortable taking her course.
I had a lot of time until my friends and I would meet up to have dinner before the ice hockey game, so I headed to the library, where I explored and found a perfect future study/nap spot. I even did some of my reading.
We ate dinner at a pub on campus. I had ham, eggs, peas, and chips (fries), which I poured some vinegar on. It was very good, homemade, type of food. We met some new exchange students while there, and watched the Newcastle vs. Manchester City football match on the telly. This was one match that a couple of us had tried to get tickets to, but it had been sold out. ManCity is a very good team, they have I believe 16 players who went to the World Cup. Newcastle is not known for being good, they're currently in the bottom of the league, however as we were sitting there, casually watching it, Newcastle ended up tying the score and then getting a lead. The few Geordies in the pub were ecstatic. I had to explain to some of the exchange students why this was quite the amazing (phenomenal even) event.
Then, as if a magnetic force pulled them in, the pub began to fill with a bunch of people. Everyone was coming from the stadium to celebrate.
We looked around for a new location, but ended up going back to campus where we met up with some student union people for the ice hockey game. I found out from them that I actually may be extremely wanted on the hockey team (I can rent equipment) so I may just try and contact someone and get some details. The arena is located in Whitley Bay, 20 minutes out from campus. We were driven by a volunteer student driver, it was his first trip. One of the seats' seatbelt wasn't working and another was completely loose and falling over. Not the safest route to a hockey game, but it was an experience.
The arena was very cold. I think it'd give Goulbourn a run for its money. I could handle it in just my campus sweater and mitts, but some of the exchange students were shivering in whole winter getup (scarf and all). So I let them use my big parka as a blanket and amazed them all at my ability to handle the extreme cold. My toes did get cold, but their really my only issue.
Now the ice hockey game. I'd say it's like C level at best. There are some goodish players, some who struggle skating, and a few who are on the tip of being really good. The goalie's stick was far too short for him and I knew if he just had it a bit longer he wouldn't struggle so much with it.
The Geordie fans didn't care if Newcastle was losing, they cheered all the way through the three 20 minute periods. I was also happy to explain the rules to those around me. After seeing the game I debated even going as a player, as this is a team I'd fit in on.
The puck dropped at midnight, so we didn't get home until 2am. I luckily had some fast walking friends who got me home quickly and my feet were defrosted by the time I was in bed.
I then struggled to wake up for my 9am class the next day. I really couldn't do it. However, I was glad I did. This was my third module, called The Victorians. There were only 5 people in attendance that day (and only a couple were absent). The professor was from Texas, so he was the easiest to understand that day. He's also never heard of the Rideau Canal, but I bet you he's probably going to see it someday.
That class I have a load of reading to do. I've got to read Dickens by Monday (this a 500 page novel, one of Dickens' shortest novels). I also have to get a hold of some copies of the books, so I plan to hit up some used bookstores first.
After class I grabbed myself some orange juice and a sausage breakfast sandwich to eat at home. I was disappointed to find out my orange juice was "Pure Orange Juice from concentrate" and that the sausage sandwich was just 4 giant sausages on a bun.
I then left a sticky note up on the kitchen door, (my American friend told me she used that to let her flatmates know she was there as she too had trouble meeting them). My flatmates are apparently as busy as me as none of them came home until late (I can hear them). I did meet some neighbours from next door who were there to see their friend (who wasn't home). They invited me to a comedy club, but I was really really tired so I said no. I hope to go in the future though. They seemed really nice. It was good I talked to them though, as I overheard one of my flatmates telling the other that they planned to contact me tomorrow, and then said "she's Canadian, so that's something." Don't know how I should take that, but hopefully it's a good sign. The guy in the flat next to mine apparently goes to training for some sports team. My friends have bets it's football, but I'm wondering if he's on the ice hockey team, as I noticed he came in just after I had last night.
Guess we'll find out tomorrow.
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