Learning How to Walk Across the Street

I have now officially been in Glasgow for over 24 hours! I was fortunate enough to have only one layover in Philadelphia and both flights went very smoothly. However, I did run into a bit of a snag coming through customs. Much of the paperwork I had sent to the British Consulate, for my visa, was kept. The immigration officers wanted this paperwork. I had a purple folder filled with very important information, including some documents from the University. I went through the folder trying to find this very important paperwork when the immigration officer demanded to see the entire folder of papers. When opening the folder instead of being greeted by this very important paperwork he produced my dad's biscuit and gravy recipe. The scowl I received leads me to believe he was not impressed. Although, I don't know why, my dad makes the best biscuits and gravy, that recipe is gold! So after rummaging through the folder he stated that I was totally unprepared to enter the UK while slamming an "admitted to the UK" stamp on my passport. I became so uncontrollably happy for two reasons. The first, I was finally in the UK and it was now official. The second, I would never have to see the scary border patrol Scot again.

After being admitted into the country and finding that all of my luggage had safely arrived, it was time to check into my accommodation. I am living in the University's student housing. The Maclay residences is a series of self-service flats that are for post-graduate students. It is also the furthest student housing from  the University. Which is nice currently as it allows me to have more time to walk and explore the city. But, I am sure when a lovely Scottish rainstorm comes on my way to classes I will wish I lived a bit closer.

I made my way to the reception desk and was checked in by a very nice woman who said "brillant", therefore I like her. She also gave me directions to get to my own flat, which conveniently was right next door in building 11.

Now remember that brooding Scot I met at customs. Well, a a particular Scotsman carried two of my massive bags up three flights of stairs to the very top floor, where my room is located, in flat 3.1. In fact, this gesture was so nice I think it should count as two, bringing the brooding Scotsman count back down to zero.

And this hallway full of doors is where I live. All the doors are to my roommates' bedrooms and to the kitchen.

The Kitchen. Please notice my very beautiful and expensive dishwear. Tesco's finest!

Number Four or my room. The rooms are really great for a few reasons. There is lots of storage space! With a wardrobe and a shelved closet. But, the greatest thing about this room is that it has its own bathroom! When it comes to rooms I am generally easy to please. Give me my own bathroom and I'll live in anything, well almost. Fortunately, this is not "anything" it's  very functionable!

The Desk.. The box furthest to the left (with the Scottish Flag aka the Saltire)is the Scottish box and the box in the middle (With the KU mascot aka the "Jayhawk" scarf) is the Kansas box. Scotland and Kansas together in harmony.  

Now this is a test of your comprehension of this blog up until this point. If you would like to send me mail follow the steps in the picture above. All of the information you need has been sprinkled throughout the beginning of this blog post... have fun!

You might be wondering what I have been doing since I moved in. Well, I've been learning how to walk across the street. I have been walking around the city a lot, so much so that I had to trade my cute flats for tennis shoes today due to the pain and agony my toes and heels were experiencing. Now, walking around a big city is fantastic and anyone that has travelled with me understands that it is one of my favorite pastimes. Now this fantastic pastime, something that brings me so much joy, was cut short in Glasgow. Every time I crossed the street death seemed to stare me in the face. It is amazing how ingrained particular actions are, actions such as looking a certain way for traffic. After nearly being run over a time or two, I decided to once again approach street crossing as a child and look both ways. This both ways thing worked out well. I didn't get run over. But, it does take awhile and by the time you look one way and then another you have to check back the other way again just in case. So I've learned a few tricks, look at which ways cars are parked or just look in the direction opposite of the direction you think you should look in. Really, the first one is less confusing and probably better for avoiding death. Or, you could do what I ultimately did, walk around so much and across so many streets that you just get it.

One of the goals I had established for myself during these first few days was to get a phone. And, I finally did. After searching for hours I found a phone store (by the way I found eight after I found the first one, where were they all hiding?!) and purchased a UK phone! I now have a UK phone that does have international calling. It currently has four contacts. One of which is actually myself because there is no way I can memorize this incredibly lenghty number they gave me, 11 digits is quite a few!

One of my contacts!

After wandering around for a bit I found the University. You may think this should have been easy to find as it's a prominent part of the city. But, it was a little tricky! If you don't believe me you can come here and I will turn you loose from my flat and let you try to find it (possible ploy to get you to come visit!). I know that I have only been here a couple of days. I also know that Glasgow and I are still experiencing the honeymoon stage of our relationship, but I really do love so many things about this city. One of them being the University. After finding the University I was able to walk through many of the places I had seen only in pictures. It provided a great sense of truly being in Glasgow as well as a great excitement for the upcoming year.



This is the path I take to get to the University. I stumbled upon it and it ended up being the most accessible from my flat and the prettiest, I can guarantee it.

I have decided to close each blog posting with a lesson in Scotslish.

Jumper= Sweatshirt, not something you were forced to wear for school pictures when you were five.