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Mandy's Adventures
Well, folks, Mandy has landed! After four airports, three flights, and what seemed like an eternity I have finally reached my final destination: Brunel University. Overall, it wasn't really that bad of a trip. I got to meet a bunch of helpful people, see a Matthew Perry look-alike while waiting in a giant herd of people at Heathrow's Arrivals Hall, and even got a stamp in my passport from Canada. The Meet and Greet service was very helpful and my driver from the airport even helped me carry my luggage to the check-in location for my residence hall. While I was waiting to get my keys, I met another American student from North Carolina who happens to be one of my flat mates. Her dad had come with her, so the three of us worked together to get all our luggage up to our flat. We ended up being on the top (seventh) floor of our building--thank goodness for elevators! Our flat (that's the British word for apartment, by the way) consists of a long hallway with rooms on both sides. There are a total of ten of us who will share the kitchen/dining area, and everyone has their own bedroom and bath. When I came back from picking up my arrival packet and strolling around campus, I met another of my flat mates. She is from Bangkok and gave me some helpful tips since she arrived on Friday. I think all of us in this flat are grad students, and it seems like it's going to be pretty quiet. The campus is nice (except for the bit of construction) and very walkable. The building I'm living in is only a couple years old which is great. After just completing the long, tiring process of packing, I almost didn't want to unpack today! But, everything is out and slowly finding its place. Never in my life have I had so many empty shelves and drawers! And while part of me wishes I had been able to bring more, a bigger part of me--the part that lugged all of my luggage around today--is glad that I only have the bare minimum! So I am here finally--even though none of it seems real. Perhaps once the jetlag passes and Orientation and Registration begin I will be able to believe it.
A little anecdote that I know will be appreciated by many of my former coworkers: On my way back from getting a few groceries this afternoon, I passed the Student Union and suddenly heard a big cheer. The giant blow-up Corona bottle they were trying to set up was starting to fill with air. Later I realized that the top of the bottle, complete with lime, was visible above the tree tops from the window in my room. Look closely at the photo and maybe you will be able to see it too!
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