Study Abroad in under 1000 words.

Term One:
Arrival off the plane, have had little too eat since landing. Tired, jet lagged, and arriving a day late. Into my room to unpack, and then meet housemates. A floor full of jocks, two girls like my friends at home, an American, a stoner, and my floor of Creative Writers. All third years, and not going out until alter. I want to meet new people, and quickly. There’s a Casino themed night on for my residence – no, “residence” is now called college – and the bus to town leaves at 9. I get changed and ask housemates for clothing advice. Attempt some hellos as I get on the bus and fail, but outside the club I meet some friendly faces. All first years, but all excited. Discussing the White T-Shirt party I missed the night before. I meet Shimol and Katherine Tate – theatre types, to become incredible friends. They probably don’t even know how good. A week of orientation – sitting around being told things I no longer remember. Going out too many nights in a row and loving it. The first week is full of hanging out with my American housemate, Josh, and a guy from Carlton/Calgary, Lee, who was quite a lifesaver and adventure partner all through the month. Auditions for plays, trying out different societies, all of first term filled with Black Comedy. Winning over housemates with Canadian Thanksgiving and baking galore. 16 pounds of chocolate for Emma’s birthday. Walking to town – never knew that the line “Would Popeye have eaten Spinach? If so, that just wouldn’t be fair to Jesus” would affect me so. Touring the UK, meeting family and new friends. Woman in Black scaring me to the point of leg-clawing. Bonfire Night in Edinburgh, after McMaster swinging friends, exploring underground and having Haggis with Canadians. Tigger. He was crazy, but perceptive enough. He called it. Stress over exams, essays, final performances, meeting Joe’s family after only 3 weeks. Flying home with goodbyes to Josh, and an early flight to London.

Home for Christmas. Snowstorms. Travel. Mafia. Family. Everything expected and more.

Term Two:
Return for a proper English pub New Years. Back to uni to write essays, then back to go to Dublin with Joe. A new quick start with auditions, Vagina Monologues, gym memberships and a JCR International Representative position. Back to the world of balancing a play, student politics, and an increasingly tense house – I’m lucky enough not to be too involved. Learning guitar slowly – very slowly. Valentine’s Day a day early, then my Ali-Valentine for the next week. In Manchester every Saturday for a month. Airports, protests and Steve’s birthday. Free plays, getting closer with Lucianne thanks to R.ST332, and meetings galore. Eating better since cooking for both myself and Joe, and working well together making new concoctions. Lots of Devising, many nights out, and what I think was a failed One World Week. Discovering Psych studies. Going to the cinema, discovering the Lake District, and then taking off for Europe!

Eurotrip.
Limerick with Jackie – and Andrea!, Paris with Nicole – and Devin!, Hungary with Nha and Tamas, Amsterdam with Devin – and Alanna!, Southern England with Mom!!! Met Aunt June, Hazel and Shirley, and Andrea came to Bath!!! Return to Manchester, then up to Lancaster. 3 essays in as many days. Term begins.

Term Three:
The end is near, and it’s nerve-wracking. Especially with exams. More free theatre. More meetings. BBC Headroom, Grub Club, Jackie visits. Lake District. Hours of devising for a final performance. Moving up dates for departure to allow for work. Go Ape. Blackpool. Fewer nights out and a bit more sleep. Waiting for Tim Hortons. Don’t want to leave but missing home. Planning for work, while finishing modules. Planning goodbye parties and hellos. Trying to try every new thing before it’s too late.
The end is near.

Grassing someone up. Tossing. Uni. Module. Course. Flatmates. Maths. Football. Knackered. Cheers. Rubbish. Bin. Mobile. Pants? Jumpers. Shirts. I shall. Ta. T-ra. T-ra-La. Love. Aye. You alright? Slag. Going to mine/yours. Bangers and Mash. Gherkins. Courgettes. Bap. Barm. Buttie. Sarnie. Bell end. Sorted. Half five. Fringe. Apple Mac. Getting off with. Pull. Snog.
New Skins. Dr Who. Mock the Week. QI. Top Gear. Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Jeremy Kyle.
OreGAno, AluMINIum, ToMAtoes, MargarINE, SAra, SCARb(o)rough, Edin“bra”(burgh). Mir-ror. LOOOOOk. Uz, Buz.
Diggles Milkshakes. Greggs. Dialects changing so quickly. Scouse and Yorkshire intonations and fluctuations. The lack of the letter “R”, or adding it in where it is not required. Pawn/porn. Shu-up!
Full English breakfast. Double decker. Yorkie. Picnic. Lion bar. Star bar. Jaffa cakes. Daim. Drifter. Galaxy. Minstrels. Revels. Milky bar. Milky Way.
Walkers. Tango.
Why doesn’t Boots sell Boots? What did I think Tramp was in Lady and the Tramp before I realised tramp meant homeless person? How do I ask for salad, and just get lettuce with other things in it, rather than a sandwich with dressings? I'm still confused about salads, and where relish, sauce, salad and such all fit in. What is dinner/supper/tea and when do I eat or drink them? Did the explorers just get lost and want to name things in relatively the same locations as when they were in England?