Life, The Universe, and Whatever Else There Is.

Hello world!

We've been stuck in a hostel with super slow, very iffy wifi, and pretty much no space to be quiet and actually work. Today we'll be headed into the city to look at yet more places to live; and Ariel to orientation. This week is the official start of my tenure as a graduate student.

(Oh goodness...)

I'll figure it all out eventually. I still need to get down to Kingston to talk to the foreign languages department about Italian courses... I think it would be a great opportunity to stretch my Italian skills back out after such disuse. On that note, I've had great practical application in the last few days! There has been an influx of Italian people, who I assume are here because of some bank holiday or something. I've been listening covertly on the Tube and in the hostel as they converse. I find I can get at least the gist of it when they speak slowly enough, or use phrases I remember. I figure that's a start!

Well, it's cold and rainy. Very cold and rather rainy. Even the Brits are admitting that it's a titch nippy now.

(Oh... I can smell this guy (Nigerian? Algerian? One of them, I'm fairly certain) from across the bar. For the love of all that's good PLEASE SHOWER. Or use some kind of deodorant. YOU. SMELL. RANK. I think he's been wearing the same suit for at least the three days I've been in and out of this place. It is, frankly, distressing.)

We've got the greater part of our baggage collection in a storage locker because we've got zero space here. Eventually though, we will have to go back just because we will run out of the necessities long before we find a place. (That's not entirely true, that's just the soul-crushing feeling that this whole hunt for a flat has been causing.)

I think it is patently ridiculous to ask for references in order to rent a flat. I take it back, it makes a decent amount of sense in certain situations and in certain ways. However, three? A previous landlord, a previous or current teacher/professional, and a character reference. THIS ISN'T A JOB, it's a place to live. I'd understand a credit check, and I definitely agree that having a photocopy of my passport page is good, but jeeze.

I know; I understand; I get it. Choose any, choose all. I still think it's really ridiculous.

I've been trying all morning to figure out what, exactly, my school schedule is. It has been remarkably hard to pin it down; then again all of my professors are artists, computers aren't their thing. Aside from writing programs that is! They already said it, and I'm going to quote it.

I'm trying to figure out how I'm supposed to afford books, housing, and food for another two weeks until I get my loans disbursement. The school, as ever, has been completely useless, aside from Peter in FinAid. He got the letter drafted that got me a bank account, so at least the disbursement can go through without having to wait yet another week for a cheque. I think its hilarious, in a sad way, that the whole "starving" thing will come before the "artist" part gets to take off.

That's part of the joy of living abroad, though. Right?

Well, ADVENTURE AWAITS!

Okay, Okay. I've heard that you lot think I've died. Well, I haven't, but I have been busy running hither-and-yon trying to work everything out. Housing is a nightmare and trying to get enrolled... I'll start on that later! Safe to say though, that after listening to the cogs and gears at work in the school bemoan the new system, I don't feel quite so left-in-the-rain. I definitely sent them an email with that as the closing. Peter (the cog) told me he was absolutely sorry to hear that circumstances were such for so many internationals, but that the new system had just been put in place and was causing nightmares all around. Apparently another London school had to tell 2,600 of it's brand-new Internationals that their visas were invalid unless they found a new school in less than one week; I'm alright with having to hoop-jump if it means not being deported for my school's mistakes! All in all I feel I've been fairly mistreated in the entire adventure, but it is getting better. Tomorrow is the Globe Theatre for "The Taming of the Shrew" and then Thursday is... duhn duhn duhn! Ariel! I'll go ahead and use first names this time. Too confusing otherwise, what with both our names starting with "A". I miss you all, but I'll be getting on just fine I think. Happy travels!

Well folks, I've made it to London. Might have gotten a bit turned about (make that a lot turned about) but I made it. I'll add more later, but I just thought you'd like to know. I know I was glad to know...