My Arrival!

So I left the States on Monday.  I have to say it was hard to say goodbye to everyone and everything I have ever known, but I think it will be great here!  My flight was supposed to fly out of O'hare at 5:30pm (chicago time) and we finally took off around 8pm (chicago time).  I did get a window seat! (winner!)  but it was right over the wing so the view was somewhat limited.  And the fact that was already pitch black when we took off didn't leave much to look at.  I slept through most of the flight.  I fell asleep right after the awful airplane dinner and woke up a bit before breakfast.  I have never had my back, neck and butt hurt so bad before in my life..even today they still hurt!  I arrived in Manchester, England around 8am (UK time).  I think even though I slept the majority of the flight I only got about 5 hours of sleep, and not good sleep. 

Customs went fairly smoothly.  I had no trouble getting my visa.  But then came the time to gather up the rest of my luggage.  I am inherently challenged and getting luggage off the conveyer belt, the large crowd standing around didn't help either.  It was quite hard to keep an eye on my carry-ons and find and grab my checked bags.  I got it though.  I made it through customs without having my baggage searched, so that was nice.  I called my parents at the nearest payphone to let them know the plane made it (it was about 5:30am MI time).  

Next I had to try to find the train station, it was, of course, way on the other end of the airport.  And I was not bright enough to get one of the trolleys (the carts for luggage)  so I pushed the 150ish pounds of luggage I brought with me all the way across the airport.  Man was that a work out.  I got a train ticket and went down to the platform.  I got on the wrong train the first time.  I got on and looked at the little map posted and thought 'oh crap'.  Luckily there was another large station stop before the train head south (I needed to go north).  So when I got to the Manchester Pickadilly station I heaved all my luggage back off the train and went looking for another map.  30 minutes later the right train arrived (the platform was of course, all the way at the other end of the station, just my luck).  I heaved everything back on to the train and stood.  There were no open seats and I refused to sit anywhere that I couldn't see my luggage.  After a few stops seats cleared and I took one within 6 feet of my luggage.  

The grass really is greener here.  About 20 minutes outside the city there was endless green grass and sheep grazing everywhere.  It was really beautiful.  I unfortunately didn't take any pictures ( i don't think they would've turned out anyway).  After I arrived in Lancaster I caught a taxi to the university and found the porter's lodge of my college to get my keys and set off to find my room.  A fellow US student lived on my floor so we set off together.  We got a little lost but made it only to find that we were up three flights of stairs and there was no lift (elevator).  We began heaving our luggage up the stairs.  I think it took almost 20 minutes to get it all up there.  I found my room  and open to the door to find a rather gross shade of pinkish peach painted brick walls and a desk, shelf, bed, 2 chairs, closet and sink with mirror.  Somewhat depressing.  I set my things down, collected my keys and set back out to get my bedding pack and to call my parents.  After I called them I returned to my room, made my bed and took a 3 hour nap.  I set an alarm so I wouldn't miss the welcome dinner (free food! and I was starving).  I ran into the fellow WMU student, Alicia, I know here on the way to dinner.  The food was ok, it was soo much better than airplane food.  After dinner Alicia and a Canadian student we met came back to see my room and then we set off to Alicia's to see her's (her's is wayy nicer).  After chatting a bit I came back to my room to unpack and shower and call it a night.  I was a bit too jet-lagged for the pub yet.  I have everything unpacked and pretty organized.  There was plenty of room for all my things.  I just need some thumb-tacks and poster putty to put up some of the pictures I brought.  

So that was my first day here in the UK.  I am really looking forward to what these next few months will have to bring!!