The Room, Orientation and The Flatmates

The room is nice enough. It has space, it's clean, the bed is comfortable. There's no dresser, just a standing wardrobe, so I have to figure out how to organize my clothes in there. The view's not so great--I'm facing another residence hall and I can see their windows and they can see mine, but that's what curtains are for.

The bathroom...it's ensuite, which is nice, so I don't have to worry about people judging my bathroom habits. There's no garbage can, only the one by my desk, and I kind of need one of those for the bathroom. There's a little ledge behind the toilet to put things on, but no outlet, which means my toothbrush is plugged in at my desk. Lame.

The shower is that corner, which is blocked off by a curtain, and the little drain in the floor. I'll need some sort of caddy to stick on the wall because there's nothing that can hold my stuff. I've taken a shower in it and it's got one of those really annoying showerheads that shoots out water in a circle that spreads out so you can stand in the middle and not get watered on. You know those things? I hate them. Also no water pressure to speak of, but whatever.

Orientation was on Friday morning, bright and early at 11AM. That was in a big lecture hall that was absolutely packed. Lots of sitting and listening to people talk at us about things. The most interesting presentation by far was from the chaplaincy, which is one woman who is very funny and has an inflatable remote-control Dalek.

When we broke for lunch, the sun was gone and it was pouring and horribly windy. I bought a sandwich from the campus shop and picked up some soap, a mug, a few essentials for my room. The second half of orientation involved talking about our classes, for which we officially enroll on Monday.

The rest of the day, and most of Saturday, was just going around...shopping for things I need in my room and stuff to eat...I still haven't yet figured out a long-term plan for feeding myself that doesn't rely on microwaved stuff.

Speaking of food, the kitchen. I ventured forth today to make dinner--I'd had plans for today, but accidentally slept way late, so didn't leave my room until dinnertime--and encountered the people I live with. Most of them had only just arrived today, as classes start tomorrow; they brought us in early to get us used to London, but most of campus has been closed the whole time. The people are:

• Becky, blonde and British and very sweet
• Raj, Indian and British and also very sweet
• Chris, British and funny
• Ali, who is Iranian-American and I have a very hard time understanding a lot of what he says
• Zamon, who is from L.A. and very cool
• Ollie, who I have not met
• Gale, who I have not met

They're all very cool. Chris has stated his intentions to bring us all out drinking on January 31, which is apparently a day people go out drinking here. Eventually they will realize that I am not cool. Or maybe they've realized that already. We'll see how long the facade lasts.

They're all watching Sherlock right now, because the second episode of the third season is airing tonight. I was invited to join but I declined, because I haven't seen the first episode and also we talked for like 2 hours and I needed to retreat. Becky let me borrow her nail polish so I at least won't have bare nails on the first day of class. Which is tomorrow.

I need a topcoat...I'm currently in this dilemma of "I need thing." "But Grace try to be careful with your money do you really need thing." "I am going to be here for 5 months I am allowed to buy whatever will make this place feel comfortable." "But you will be leaving after that and you can't take everything with you." There are no easy answers.

This is a British squirrel I saw on the walking tour.

This was the tour guide. I've forgotten his name but he was cuter in person.

This is a British pigeon.