Sunday: Singing and a New Language

I woke up late today again. It was 9 when I dragged my tush from my blankets and I was not a happy camper (yes, this is becoming a trend). Edi made a phone call last night – at 1AM – to his brother. How do I know it was at 1? Because he was shouting in Portuguese and it woke me up. So, I drag my keister from bed, put on a shirt because I wasn’t willing to inflict that unpleasant sight upon others who are not family, and knocked on his door. I asked him, politely, to be more soft spoken in his conversations. He apologized, promised to lower the volume, and closed his door. I went back to bed and was awoken ten minutes later when the volume picked up again. The call lasted until about half past 2 and I was not at all thrilled with my flat mate. When I was coherent in the morning I checked in with Sam that he was still up for a trip into the city centre to look for some clothes at Primark (the UK Walmart). We left around noon and got back at half three (3:30). We hit Primark – where I bought another campy shirt (it reads “Je suis la party” – I had to get the horridly awful French shirt… it’s really comfy though, and only cost 3 pounds!). then we hit some shoe stores, a few other clothes stores and a host of tech stores. On the way back, we stopped in Morrison’s to see if there was anything Sam needed. We bought enough food to last at least half a week, so this was good news. Sam, much like Ernest and Edi, complained about the speed at which I walk (way too fast, even though I did start off walking much slower than I normally do). He then channeled Edi in complaining of the distance he had to walk. Only Ernest and Z seem pretty fine with the walk to the city, and only Z can keep up with me when I go ¾ of my normal speed. Ernest made some awesome food – it involved fried plantain (always awesome!) and a black eyed bean dish. LOVED it, even when it was reheated because I couldn’t stay to eat it when it was first served. The reason I missed the meal was because I was at this Polish/Scottish singing circle. It’s a project spearheaded by the Elphinstone Institute (the institute I’m a part of) and involves a bunch of Polish immigrants to Aberdeen and learning some Scottish ballads. In return, they teach the Scots Polish songs. We (the first year MLitters) were strongly encouraged to participate, and Natalie and I did. We sang a few songs and had a blast. It involved the song Jeannie Jenkins (which you can find here: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/43654/2;jsessionid=5956BDDD17EE81B94F227ECE29D22C90 click on the ‘Play’ button to hear it). I also ended up singing in Polish… thankfully I wasn’t required to know what the words meant, but I can sort of read Polish phonetically now. At the end of the group, Grace, the Scottish lady who leads the group, told a story, which was a version of Cinderella before Disney got their hands on it and prettied it up – no magic Fairy Godmother, no mice, no pumpkins, but some gruesomeness nonetheless. It was a grand time, and I foresee myself returning for that group.

Saturday: A Very Quiet Day

I slept in a little, waking up at 9 AM. I then went shopping with Sam and Ernest; to get ingredients for the traditional dish from Ghana that Ernest was planning on making Sunday. Sam tagged along to learn part of the city, to get needed supplies and for company, I think. When we got back to res, Edi was cleaning the kitchen, as is his job. When I asked him what he was planning on cooking (as he wanted to cook on Saturday and not on Sunday as I’d originally proposed) he said he wasn’t going to. I took a page from his book and threw a fit. I told him it was unfair to insist on a day to cook and then change your mind on the 11th hour (it was past 3 by this point). I said that if the rest of us could stick to a schedule, he could too. While Ernest was willing to switch (though his food needed more prep time than he’d get at that point) I said no. When Ernest agreed to give Saturday to Edi, he was expected to be ready. As for his argument of not having what he needed, I pointed out, not unkindly, that we’d been at the supermarket the day before. HE could have, I reasoned, gotten the foodstuffs he needed then. In the end, Edi cooked. The food was good, but salty. Which, really, isn’t a surprise. I saw him add the salt and it was enough to meet the sodium intake for all four of us for five days.

Friday: A New Specimen of Study

While Z left us for the weekend – he went to Manchester to pick up his diploma from last year, a new flatmate arrived. His name’s Sam(uel), he’s 16 and he’s from Ghana. His Masters will be in Oil and Energy (the same program as Edi). He’s very nice, but more taciturn than the rest of us. I think he’ll fit in well though. Since Edi has avoided shopping for food so far, I nailed him down Thursday night and got him to agree to go today. We agreed that since he had a group meeting at 10, he’d call me at noon and let me know if he was free to meet then or if we’d go after. I was going to be on campus anyways, doing my own work in the library, so meeting on campus was ideal. Well, noon rolled around and I heard nothing from Edi (this didn’t surprise me, but I at least held up my end of the agreement). One passed and nothing, same for two o’clock and three o’clock. At four, I’d finished all my work for a few weeks, and decided to head back to res. Edi called me (finally) at quarter to five and wanted to meet. I said I could meet him in 10 minutes and he told me where he’d be. I wasn’t dressed to go out (having changed into loungewear for my bedroom) but I did a quick-change routine and was at the designated meet point on time. Edi wasn’t there. I waited 5 minutes and when he still hadn’t showed up, I called him. He said he’d be there in another 5 minutes, as he hadn’t left wherever he was on campus yet. Well, 15 minutes after THAT call, he finally called me back and said “I’m here and I can’t see you.” Well, I told him he was full of bullshit because I was there and he wasn’t. He replied that he could now see me, and I found him too, he was still a block away. Once we’d met, we walked to Morrison’s and proceeded to by a few things. Edi wanted nothing while we were there – but I got some juices for us and some other basics. Edi complained about how he didn’t like them, how we didn’t need them, how expensive everything was, etc. The bill cost less than 13 quid and he ended up eating half of what I’d picked and he said he didn’t like. I really didn’t want to go with Edi, but Z’d asked me to, and I did as I said I would. Never again, though. That’s all someone else’s job to babysit the moron. I cooked supper again tonight, and I made something with meat in it so that everyone could get meat – I made mine separate because I didn’t fancy any meat, but the one who always cries about not having enough meat in his meals left without eating (or telling us he wasn’t eating supper with us. He therefore wanted his portion put aside for later). The meal was a success, everyone liked it (even Edi liked it, though he claimed there wasn’t enough salt – I’ve seen how much salt he adds to each meal, so I didn’t take it seriously). That evening, I’d arranged to meet with Carleigh and Natalie to go to the Blue Lamp pub for some sort of musical performance (I’m still not sure what it was, I think it was an open mic night). I was, as usual, running late, so I cut through Seaton Park to meet with them. That was a mistake. While the parks back home are pretty well lit, this park had no lights at all. I almost fell down a flight of stairs because I couldn’t see properly. The whole park was black as pitch, and even the full moon shining in the cleared areas was still of very little use. I can compare it to playing hide and seek in a cemetery at night. You know people are there, but you don’t know where, and the surroundings look both familiar and sinister at the same time. You are always tense, expecting one of the shadows to jump out at you. Either way, I got through the park (never going again at night). When I got to Carleigh’s dorm, some miscommunication caused it so that we never met up with her, but Natalie and I walked to the pub (where she is quite well known and openly adored by the veterans) The evening of music was an experience… some very good music, some very experimental music, and some music that was, quite frankly, terrifying. The first performance was a guy Natalie met and introduced to me as Kenny. He is a Scot with a love for Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and that genre. He sang each of his songs with a twang, but the level of it was really forced and somewhat uncomfortable. He was followed by a little lady who sang (and played guitar) really well but was too soft to hear over the din of the pub. There were other good acts – a guy named Paul who played Spanish style guitar, Innes who played jazz on guitar, a lady named Anne (stage named Annie Lou) who – while sick as a dog – switched her song at the last minute to perform with a charming man named Mark (maybe Mike – it was all a blur, I could be getting his name wrong) on the piccolo. They were quite enjoyable. Natalie ended up joining Innes to play three Blues songs – her on her fiddle/violin and he on his guitar. I think they were my fave performance of the night. Some of the less stellar acts were a Scottish a Capella group who sang old 50s standards and an interpretation of “Mbube/Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)”. Natalie and I were in agreement; it was uncomfortable and didn’t make any sense. However, the Scots LOVED it. We (Nat and I) think that their understanding of North American culture is severely skewed and they need to, someday, be shown the real thing. Another less thrilling act was a Frenchman named Batiste, who sang the most ridiculous songs I’d ever heard. He wrote them himself, and were named “I want to take off my pants”, “Don’t Call Me Redhead”, and a third equally odd number. He peppered his numbers with snatches of French that didn’t make sense, but he was pretty well received. A third odd act was a heavy metal, screaming metal, rockabilly fusion artist who played amazing guitar but would randomly scream parts of the lyrics. The most memorable line of his, for me, is when he sang “I want to be your woooOOOMAAAAAAAAAAN!” (caps to indicate where he started screaming instead of singing). An odd day, but it’s over, and Natalie will now be my go-to person for all things entertaining and interesting. She and I seemed (to me at least) to click well and we agree on a wide range of issues. Expect to hear more about her here in the future.

Thursday: On Books, New and Used

Had my second day of class today; and the first lecture of my second course. It was just as frantic as the first, but I was better able to keep up, so I’m glad. The classes themselves don’t seem like they will be too bad, not really any of my interests will be covered until the middle of November, but I’ll learn something. I’ve already got work due for both classes next week. I meet with Tom (the American transplant) Tuesday before class to make sure I did the assignments properly, as the form is completely different from in Mtl. After class, Natalie and I went to BookEnds, the school run used bookstore. The lectures have both referred to about a baker’s dozen books we should have, and I wanted to see if BE carried any of them; it’d save me some time trying to track them down. They didn’t, but I did find a book of mythology I’d wanted for 50p (pence). Considering it costs about 3 dollars back home, the conversion still left it favorable and I felt justified in my purchase. After that, Natalie mentioned a used bookstore near her apartment and we went there to check as well. While they also didn’t have the ones I needed for class, there were some I’ve had on my shopping list for years and I got them. I bought 5 books, with the most expensive being 5 quid. I got home that evening with 6 new books that cost me 16.5 pounds. It was a good day!

Wednesday: Money May Not Grow on Trees, But it Should!

Nothing really happened today; I went grocery shopping with Z again (Edi mysteriously disappearing when we were leaving, being unable again to join us). So, that night, Edi complained we’d not bought what he wanted – though he never told us what he’d wanted. I’ve told Z point blank that I no longer want to deal with Edi; that he had to do it or I’d kill him. At supper, which I prepared, Edi had another of his fits about the food not containing any meat. He did take pictures of the food to send to his mom to show her he was eating healthy (he went and bought junk food after that, along with a meat dish at the local resto on res). The up side for me that night was Edi talking about dropping out of the program and going back to Brazil. This wasn’t the first time he’d brought it up, and as he hasn’t paid any tuition or rent, I’m hopeful this may come to pass. Why he wants to drop out before school really even starts is beyond me, but still… Money Dad and Mom wired me arrived today (there was a whole debacle about that yesterday, but you should ask my dad for the details, it’s both entertaining and annoying from our perspectives). With the money, I bought the food (the others paid for their shares, but it’s nice to know it’s not always Z who has to shell out the money and wait for the roomies to repay him, you know? It always makes me feel like a leech when someone needs to pay for me and I have to wait to pay them back). I also paid Wibke back for the Ballad Bus money she lent me.

Tuesday: The Wind in the Willows

So, I’d mentioned yesterday (Monday) that there was less than ideal weather when HMQ showed up. Well, the weather got even worse last night. Howling winds continued all night, and it was a crap-tastic night in general. However, I was lucky. A couple clicks over, there was an even more surprising event happening. As some people sent me worried messages, I’m fine. For those who have no earthly idea what I’m speaking of, you can watch the BBC news coverage of it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19719008 So, while I didn’t have that to wake up to, I had a crappy wakeup nonetheless, I got up at 5:30 (don’t know why, but I did) and went to turn on the hall light, as it was black as pitch at that hour, and I didn’t want to trip over anything. Well, that didn’t happen. I tripped, and face-planted. It was spectacular. Now, in case you’re wondering just what led me to perform a nosedive on the floor, there was a wire running across the hall from the plug right beside my door going under Edi’s door. The wire was just high enough to hit my leg just above the ankle bone. Edi’d left a wire running the length of the hall so that anyone could trip if they didn’t know to look out for it. I didn’t know, so I bit it. Let me tell you, I was LIVID. I contemplated getting a knife or something to cut the cord, but decided not to; saving the knife for Edi’s throat. So, I’m pissed and sore, and it’s the butt crack of dawn. I stew on it until Edi finally gets up at 8:30 and lay into him. However, as I’m giving Edi shit, I’m in the kitchen going about prepping breakfast. Only, there’s no power in half the kitchen – the fridge and ovens are no longer working…. And then Edi goes, “yeah, that’s why I plugged my thing in the hall, I’d had it in my room but the plug caught on fire and then I lost power in my room”. So…. Edi overloaded the fuse, and instead of looking in to it, left it and set up a trip wire and left the food in the fridge to spoil. I was again going for my knives. When I asked him if he had or was going to report it to the Porters station, he said no, because he didn’t have time before class (he was already late at this point). He said he’d do it after his classes (when he’d get back at 5) and that would be fine, conveniently forgetting that we couldn’t cook or open the fridge before we got power for fear of spoiling food, etc. I pointblank told him that if I did it, I’d make sure I filed a complaint about him at the same time and he would have to restock the lost food. We opted for the second choice where I filed the reports. Incidentally, the power reconnected around 5 anyways, before the Sparky [the electrician] arrived to check. Class that day was anticlimactic by comparison; it was a lot of manic writing as I tried to keep up with the lecturer’s presentation. I don’t know how well I succeeded, but at least I wasn’t the only one having trouble keeping up. That evening, there was a lecture hosted by the department that they wanted us to attend (it was free), so I went. I cut through Seaton Park at 7, and while kinda dim to see, it wasn’t bad. I couldn’t really see why we were warned not to use it at night… but I opted to take the longer route home, there are actual streetlights on the other, longer route. The lecture was dull as dishwater. The guest speaker read his presentation, and there was no dynamic interest in the material on his part. As such, I had a hard time staying focused on a presentation on 18th Century Laird’s Summer Homes when he would only show us the outside and talk about how it was balanced or what… there was no real detail given to any property, and it was a shame, as there could have been a really interesting presentation there. I did get my hair cut today though, and it’s now less than 1/8 of an inch long; very practical, let me say… though it’s a little chilly on the back of my neck.

Monday: Of Celebrities and Weather

So, I know I mentioned I saw some pseudo-celebs a week ago (the Olympians), I got to see another big name today: Her Madge, Liz. Yes, Queen Elizabeth II was at University of Aberdeen today. The occasion? The official opening of the new library built on campus. A few of my flatmates (Ernest and Zax) wanted to go see her, and as I never really thought of it one way or another, I was game (I figure, how often will I be near royalty? not all that often, really). So, Ernest and I left the flat around 3:45 this afternoon and walked through Seaton Park (which is a shortcut of sorts from Res to Campus - and a scenic one at that) to get there in time. The rain was horrid, but we made it to the library 5 minutes before the convoy passed. I was about 10-15 feet from her, and I got to see her in her matching dress and hat, both in this blue-green colour (it was too blue to be sea-foam, but that's about as colour savvy as I get). Other than the sighting of Her Highness, I didn't do much so far today; it was pouring off and on, and the wind has been HOWLING all day... sometimes it sounded like a screaming person. Kinda cool, but pretty distracting. So, this evening, the plan is to meet Natalie (of photo fame) and we're going to the Blue Lamp/Lantern/Light/something for some traditional musical jam (I believe I mentioned this in my Saturday post). I may post back tonight regarding the jam session, or I may do it tomorrow. EDIT: The jam never happened, Natalie, who was my contact for it, had to cancel last minute because of band practice, so yeah, I stayed in - which is just as well, since the weather is even worse than it had been before.

Sunday: More Shopping, and Problems with Roomies

So, we all got together last night after supper and planned out who would be taking which tasks. I have three: cooking, dishes, and the garbage/recycling runs. The cooking and dishes ones are fine, as I wash dishes when Zax cooks, and Zax washes dishes when I cook. As for the R/G runs, it’s only whenever we have a pile or the garbage bin is full… or I feel like it, really. So not too complicated really, and it’s a lot better than vacuuming or washing floors. Ernest was more than happy to take the job of cleaning the shower room and water closets, which left vacuuming the hall and washing the kitchen to Edi. Both were happy that their jobs were basically only a couple hours each weekend and it’s made life easy enough to adjust to for all of us. Z and I also inherited the weekly grocery run, as we are the ones who know what is needed, but the other two agreed that they’d go along with us because they would know what they each wanted added to the list (also, it’s easier to tote the food between 4 than it is 2). We’d agreed to go Sunday afternoon so we could all sleep in – Ernest because he also wanted to make an additional stop for cleaning supplies, and Edi wanted to finally go to the supermarket because we never bought what he wanted (not that he’s ever given us a list, he just bitches when we don’t magically know what he’s wanted). Either way, we 4 were off to hit a few places – one for cleaning supplies, one because I heard about an Asian supermarket where we could buy chopsticks and tofu (and some other miscellaneous ingredients that Zax wants for his dishes). The only problem came when Edi disappeared before we left so, once again, he avoided some of the work. No matter, we three musketeers were off on a journey to resupply ourselves (we go through more food than I thought we would, but it’s not too bad, really). The thing that really bothers me about Edi is his inconsistency. He says stuff, but then when you ask him about it, he changes the story. Or he lies. An example would be when we went out to smoke on Saturday night. Now, only Z smokes from our flat, but I usually go and keep him company. Edi joined us and kept spinning lies. Now, I don’t mind spinning tales for the purpose of jokes, but he didn’t do it that way; he lied outright, and whenever Z or I would call him on it – because they were obviously lies – he’d refuse to admit they were jokes and spin even more outrageous things. For instance, he tried to convince us that the bag he was carrying contained a large amount of weed that he’d bought for 80 quid. Now, I may not know much about the subject – I know enough considering that I’m from Montreal – but I’m not stupid enough to believe that something the size of a Toblerone would – ever – be available for purchase at 80 pounds. Also, I could see through the bag that it was a Toblerone bar. But nope, he was adamant that it was weed. The whole story isn’t just that I’m upset he lied, it’s more that the fact that he’s willing to lie for that that I’m worried about how much I can trust him as a flat mate. He’s immature, he wants me to wake him up – like I’m his mother, he uses me to play translator all the time, and he’s irresponsibly undependable. He’s, effectively, not the kind of person you want to share a flat with.

Saturday: Of School Outings

Even though classes don’t start until the 25th for me, the institute arranged for an outing event called the “Ballad Bus”. It’s main role is to go around and sing various ballads regarding the areas on the south Deeside of Aberdeenshire (the Dee is one of the two rivers that demarcate the borders of Aberdeenshire). The songs were interspersed with information of the songs, the locations that surround them, and music – we were accompanied by famed fiddler Paul Anderson, his wife, and a few other fiddlers, a flutist, and a tin whistler. We met at the uni at 9:45, and went to places like the Learney Arms in Torphins, The Peel Bog o Lumphanan (where MacBeth was beheaded – we saw the rock it happened on and were in spitting distance from MacBeth’s Well – where they washed his decapitated head before presenting it to Malcolm), Tarland, Migvie (where can be found Migvie Kirk – one of those old, pre-Christian churches, the only with with a Pict gravestone). We went back to Tarland and had lunch at the Commercial Hotel, and then left Tarland to head to Glen Tanar Kirk (where we saw another old graveyard but no actual Kirk remained, maybe a wall of one); after that, we stopped in Finzean and had more tea. Then off to Aberdeen uni again and it was 6PM. It was a pleasant day, though I didn’t really enjoy it as much as those who are musically inclined did. It was impossible to follow along with the songs, as there were no lyric sheets, and most of us didn’t know the songs at all. The two that were interesting were Jeannie Jenkins and the Ballad of the ship the Diamond (or something along those lines).

Here are some photos taken from the tour (Courtesy of my classmate, Natalie Brown):

Lumphanan (where Macbeth was defeated by Malcolm III in 1057)

The Peel Bog o Lumphanan

"Queen's View" of a section of Aberdeenshire

Migvie Kirk with a Pictish stone

Stained glass window at the Magvie Kirk

Lunch at the Commercial Hotel, Tarland (Yes, that's my fat head in there)

Tarland fiddler Paul Anderson speaks about the "Tarland Minstrel" Peter Milne

Glenn Tanar Kirk


Some of the people I met on the bus were really nice and we made plans to meet up again on Monday at a pub for a jam session (don’t worry, I’m going to enjoy them playing while I sit back and watch).

I am deeply indebted to Wibke (pronounced “Vibka”) who loaned me the money to go on the bus while I wait for my bank account here to be opened and able to hold funds.

Friday: Of A Changing Microcosm

Our fourth member joined the 'cosm today. Ernest is a 34 year old from Ghana via Belgium (he moved to Belgium and has a family there – 2 kids and a wife). He’s a super-nice guy, and he fits in really well with us. He’s mellow and even tempered, which is a great foil for Edi’s drama and my general bitchiness. His room is E, so he’s literally sharing a wall with me.

Z and I walked down to do the groceries again today. We were alone – Edi having mysteriously disappeared, again – when he knew we wanted to go for food. Ernest was too busy getting settled in and so Zax and I didn’t mind it at all, but still, it was a bit inconvenient for us to have to do Edi’s share when he said he’d be there.

I also had the misfortune to lock myself out of my room today. I’d only meant to close my door over while I went to the kitchen – we’re all in the habit of leaving our doors open when we’re in, unless we need privacy for sleep, school work, phones, whatever. Anyways, I was off to the Porters’ to have them open my door. It was embarrassing, but it’s all done, and I didn’t have to pay this time (once classes start on Monday, it’ll cost me).

Nothing else really happened today, as the shopping took Z and I more than three hours. Oh! I don’t think I’ve mentioned it yet, but I’ve signed up for volunteer tutoring in the city – I’d be mentoring high school students who have to take on the roles of adults at home, so this is a place that allows them to act their ages and be teens once a week. I don’t know that I have the job yet, but I’ve signed up and am awaiting news. We’ll see one way or the other soon enough.

Thursday: On Banking In Scotland

So, I mentioned before that I’ve had issues with opening a bank account here in Aberdeen. Originally, I couldn’t do it because the uni wouldn’t give me a piece of paper. Then, when I got the paper (as an email I needed to print myself at cost) I was told it’d be accepted at the banks and I’d have no issue opening the account. Right.

Well, I went to the Bank of Scotland yesterday with the letters I needed, along with my passport, student ID, and my letter of unconditional acceptance to UofA. I had everything I needed and figured it’d be like opening an account in Montreal: meet with someone from the bank, go through the documentation, provide pieces of ID, proof of residence, etc. It’d take me a little bit, but the account would take a day – at most – to be set up and operational. I even brought the last 20 quid (pounds) I had so I’d have something to put into the account, so it wouldn’t be completely barren.

The woman I met with took the pages I’d printed up and ripped them in half, telling me they were not acceptable as they weren’t the originals. She was really rude, and added that the uni knew they only accepted the originals and, basically, insinuated I was darkening the bank’s doorstep and should scurry back to some sort of rat hole. Let me tell you, I cursed that woman out in 8 languages. I told her that the uni had provided those papers and that I found it the height of boorishness to destroy other people’s property – indicating that I felt she’d been raised horridly and implying that she should never be allowed out to deal with people as she did a discredit to the institution who was generous enough to employ her unprofessional self.

So, long story short, I returned to the res and resolved to hit the Hub today (the Hub is the info centre of the uni – it has counseling, student services, etc, you go there for all papers you need). I spoke to a lovely girl there and she said that I had the right end of the stick and reprinted the papers for me (at no cost this time!). She also gave me the name of the woman who’d negotiated with the banks so they’d accept the papers. I was told to go back to the bank and should I be given any problems to have them call the woman from the Hub.

Re-motivated, I want to a different branch of bank of Scotland – this one on campus grounds this time, and met with a very nice man who told me the paperwork was acceptable, but that, unfortunately, there were no slots until Monday to meet with someone to open an account.

Since I have so little money left, I decided I’d go to a different branch and see if they could fit me in. I went back to the other branch – mainly because I was hoping I’d see the other woman to rub it in her nose – but, alas, she was not there. I met with two other people and filled out the paperwork. They accepted the documents this time and I was accepted for an account.

There are a couple of snags though. First, it takes 7-10 working days to open the account. I can go in in two weeks and use my debit card and add money to the account. Second, once the account is active, it’ll take another 3-5 days before the money wired from Canada is actually seen in the account. That means that for the next three weeks, I have to live on about 10 pounds a week, and I owe a classmate a little cash since there is an activity this weekend that I can’t afford on my own.

I think, next time I travel, I’m going to bring more of the native currency with me, and more Canadian money to convert while here too… being poor sucks.

Wednesday: Revisiting the Microcosm

So, Edi arrived safe and sound. As I said, he’s a nice guy, but I didn’t realize just what his personality was like that first day. Now I know a little better.

He’d started off by walking around the flat, checking everything out – you know, getting the lay of the land. When he saw Z’s room, he grunted. When he saw mine, he stopped and entered. Apparently, I’m really tidy. Now, I know those of you who know me well – and my abyss – are laughing to the point of crying. I am not a tidy person, nor am I all that organized when it comes to cleanliness.

Anyways, Edi remarked that his room would never be as clean as mine, and I said that was fine. Then he expanded by saying, not only is he messy, but he’s kinda lazy. Well, we’re a bunch of 20-something men; I don’t really expect any of us to be household gods. I kinda shrugged it off and went about doing my thing.

The next day, Tuesday, I was up and about to run some messages before having to get down to the uni for my 12:30 meeting – as elaborated last post: “Tuesday: Of the MLitt Programme”. Anyways, that evening, there was an event at the res bar, and we all figured we’d go down and check it out – maybe meet new people.

Well, we decided to leave the dorm around 7:45. We’d order some food, eat a bit and head to the party at 8ish. When Z and I were ready to leave, Edi waved us off, saying he needed another 5 minutes and he’d meet us at the food. Well….. he showed up 25 minutes later, and then it was only to tell us he was headed somewhere else first and would be back in 10 minutes.

30 minutes after that he was back. Z and I had already finished eating, and wanted to go. But no, Edi wanted food. He wanted to know why we hadn’t waited for him. When I told him we had waited 30 minutes for him before we ate, he just looked confused. When I then pointed out he was an hour late, he acted like it was no big deal. Z and I bitched him out. It was not pretty. We finally got to the party around 9:45. The party was forgettable and boring as all heck. We left 10 minutes later. Had Z and I known, it’d have saved us about an hour of boredom.

Today (Wednesday) Edi and I agreed to go down to the city centre. Edi needed plates, pillows, etc, and didn’t know where to find everything. He said he wanted to leave here at 9ish, but when I knocked on his door at 10, he was still sleeping. He was all sorry, but then he wasted another 45 minutes showering and getting ready. Now, it meant nothing to me, but he had to be back at uni for a 1:00 meeting… I told him that we’d have to go on Thursday because we’d never get down to the city, accomplish his list of tasks, and have enough time to get back for his meeting. He threw a little of a tizzy and we were off; him saying he’d pay for a taxi on the way back.

Well, we got down to the city, and our first stop was at Marks and Spencer so he could convert his money. The kicker to this? He made me do the translation. He wanted me to listen to the Scots teller and then translate it to Spanish so he could “make sure he understood” what the teller was saying. Fine, whatever. But then he did the same thing at every store we hit. He didn’t end up getting a cab for us, and I had to make the walk back up. At the uni, before he went to his meeting, he handed over all his purchases and wanted me to carry them up the hill the rest of the way for him. He also wanted me to go do the groceries alone (which he was supposed to help me with). He claimed he’d not have time to do it, as his meetings would last for a while. I agreed since I was hungry and we needed food anyways. He gave me two items for the list, and some money, just to make sure I had enough. Well, up the hill I went, to drop off his shit and work on getting the things I’d wanted to do in the city when I’d thought we would have enough time.

So, after going back to res, I went down to the uni to start work on some assignments, and then off to the city I was, armed with the paperwork to open my bank account and get on getting money.

The banking didn’t work out, so I need to take care of that on Thursday. I did stop at the grocers and bought some food – not tons since I didn’t have a lot of money, and because I didn’t know what everyone wanted. When I got back to the res (wherein my legs died from walking so damn far) I put away the food and started on supper.

Z was grateful and ate what I made (picking out a few things he didn’t like, so I’ll just not add them next time). Edi had a fit because he didn’t like what I’d made – he didn’t even try eating it, just saw what it was and fired off. Then he complained that I didn’t get his favorite cereal. I’d not known what he liked. All he told me to buy was sugar and banana milk – which I did.

I have a feeling that Edi will be somewhat of a pain when it comes to the domestic sphere. Z and I will be fine, but Edi is going to drive me to drink.

Tuesday: Of the MLitt Programme

I had a meeting on Tuesday regarding my Induction into the MLitt programme. We started off by an informal luncheon. It was quite nice; we were allowed to mingle with new students, staff, faculty, and alumni. The food was nice and the company and conversations were flowing.

Then, at 2, we started the official meeting of Advisors and students. It was a small meeting. There is a member of the MLitt who hadn’t arrived in Aberdeen yet, so aside from her, there were only 8 of us at the table. 8. And that included 2 of the professors. Yes, there are only 7 of us in the programme this year. 5 of us are starting, and 2 are beginning their second year at the part time. It’s a little intimidating to know that there are so few; to me, that means that we will all get to know each other fairly well and therefore, there is an added level of nerves about not wanting to look like an idiot in front of them all. We’ll see how it ends up turning out, I’m sure.

Either way, I’ve now got my ID card, and can (finally) open my bank account tomorrow. Yay! Money!

Monday: On Introducing New Specimens to the Microcosm

Roomie #2 arrived this evening. He's from Angola by way of Brazil.

I think Auntie Gem would call him a long tall drink of chocolate decadence (or if not her, someone from her circle - whom I obviously can't recall - would have used this terminology).

He's 27, goes by the name Edi (pronounced Eddy) - it's really Edilson (Edíl-son), and he's doing his Masters in oil and something... it's smart sounding and complicated (made my head hurt trying to figure it out).

So, he seems very nice (and it entertains me that both kinda seem to look to me like I know more than they do - which I clearly don't) and he's all for the splitting of costs on food, etc.

There is a little bit of a communication concern for all of us. I speak English (duh), as do they (though they will both be the first to tell you they have poor English - WHICH I DISAGREE WITH!!!!!). However, Z only speaks Mandarin and English, Edi only speaks Portuguese and English, and I speak my mishmash of languages. Whenever one of them says something to the other, they look to me to translate.... like my repeating the English word in my Mtl accent is easier to understand. I spend a lot of time pantomiming. It's entertaining, and people watch us and smirk... not the best moment for us all... but it's life, right? Also, while E doesn't speak Spanish, he understands it, so I spend a chunk of time repeating what I say in English again in Spanish, just in case something gets lost from the English explanation... at least I have practice with languages, no?

He's taken room C, which is right across the corridor from me, on the same side as Zax and beside the kitchen.

Z and I had been saying we wanted more roomies to split costs with, and it looks like we're getting our wish. It's kinda funny to see Z pout though, and listen to E complain about being cold (and it's not all that cold yet!).

Ciao~!

Sunday: On Roommates

Well, okay, so technically, it's only one roommate, so far, but still...

Roomie #1 arrived last night at about 10:45 PM. Seemed nice enough, but we didn't really chat much.

This morning we both got up, (me from sleeping, him from killing time) and I finally learned his name. It's Zax (pronounced Zecks) and he's from southern China. Really nice guy, he's here for his MBA. I know, smart cookie, like, scary smart.

As the one who was here longer, I showed him the little of the res layout that I knew, and then we undertook the trek to Aberdeen (I'm way up in Old Aberdeen - the trek to Aberdeen from here is longer than the trek from my B&B to the uni). In town we were in time to catch a parade - we *think* it was Olympians on a victory tour (they had the proper track uniforms and were carrying torches). We spent a few hours hanging out and he's a really cool guy. A little quiet, but very open to friendship. Apparently, he did his last year of his BA in Manchester England as his school in China has some partnership thing going on. Either way, I totally see us getting along.

We've got a deal: I'll teach him some French (and work on the English if it needs tweaking) and he's teaching me Mandarin. Nothing terribly complex yet, but it's fun. I've got another language of curses to add to my repertoire. We both bought some more essentials for the kitchen: crockery, some cooking knives, etc.

I have a really good feeling about him; I think he'll be a friend I can - and will - keep after I leave U of A.

Other than that, I didn't do much - too tired from the 3 hours of walking in the morning (the return trip was worse, it was uphill). We may have to consider taxis for when we do our groceries, as the grocer is about 4 clicks from the dorms. And when pricing the differences between the local store and the ones in town, the inflation is even more ridiculous than I'd anticipated.- I'd expected 1.75 to 2 times the price, not 5 times! The lesson then: don't shop at the local place unless desperate... or something is on sale.

....My poor wallet......

Saturday: Of Dorms and Roomies

So, I've been here a full day (more or less), and here are some more observations:

I feel old. OLD. Yes, I know I'm not 30, not even close, and that 30 isn't old at all. HOWEVER, having come back from an information session where the average age is 18, I feel, well, old. There are so many kids here who are in their first year of uni EVER, and here I am, this old hand at starting uni (albeit in a completely different environs).

Still no signs of roomies. I figure they'll either show up tomorrow or at some point during the week. Or, if they're really smart, after freshers week (next weekend). I sincerely hope that I'm not the only one in this 6 person suite, if only because that leaves a lot of housekeeping on my shoulders, and I'd feel like a leper.

There is quite a lot of work that needs to be done on the dorm. Both toilets need to be refastened to the floor. In testing everything (because if I don't notify the porters of any problems within the first week of occupancy, they assume everything is the fault of the occupants and bill us for the repairs) I realized that should I (or anyone else) attempt to sit on either... receptacle... that the pot could literally tip over.

Next, when checking the shower room, the door handle is not attached properly. That's right, the door handle came off on me, trapping me in there. It was annoying, because I had to fiddle around with it to open the bloody door. I had visions of a new roomie coming in and me having to call out for assistance.... not the most mature ways of meeting the newbie, is it?

So, aside from those detractors, the layout is very nice. I like the overall ambiance of the residence village. This evening, while returning from an information session that required us all to sit on the gymnasium floor (hello, primary school flashbacks), I smelled a wood burning oven somewhere nearby. The air is so fresh here, and with the smell and all, it reminded me of the air back at the family cottage. I could have easily been walking around Lac-aux-Sables (I don't even know if that should be pluralized or not, sorry.)

Also! I went to the kitchen to grab some milk (see ma, I can still eat/drink healthy without you to double check!) when I noticed a bunny! Outside, just in front of the building! Too cute! (For all those sniggering at me, sod off).

The bunny was much more pleasant than the BIG gull who almost attacked some freshies for food earlier in the day.

And that is all I can think of for now, so: Ja, mata ne.

Saturday: New to the Dorms?

So, I have successfully moved in to my dorm room.

I left the B&B at 5 minutes to 10, and grabbed a taxi to the dorms; pretty simple drive, cost very little, for which I was/am glad. Got my key, and had a student guide me to the room in question. It's a 45 second walk from the bus that will run me from here to the uni campus, should I ever feel too lazy to walk the 10 or so blocks.

My room is small; a little bigger than a solitary cell in prison would be. There is a desk, a chair, a single bed, and a cheapy 'armoire' (It's really a bunch of 1x8 planks screwed together and into the wall; I could dismantle it in 3 minutes if I had the right screwdriver. There is no back to it, so that makes it even less structurally sound. Oh well, I can deal with it until February). The walls are this horrid off-white that hasn't been painted in years; there are all manner of things attached to the walls, and I quite happily remain ignorant to what they are. The amount of natural light I get in my room is insane. I am, apparently, facing the rising sun, but even now, at 3:15 PM, am still getting blasted by the sunlight.

The suite itself isn't too bad either. There is a corridor from the front door to the end of the place. The first three doors on either side of the hall are the bedroom cells. Mine is the last one on the right side of the hall. After the last bedroom on the left is the kitchen. In it there is a sink, a fridge (which I had to connect, as it was left open and off), a mini table, some plastic chairs (like you see in schools), two mini overs with two burners each, a mini microwave, a kettle, and some decent shelving.

At the end of my side (the right one), there is a mini bathroom (yay, I only share with the other mates in the suite, not the whole floor!). In said bathroom is three sinks, and a curtained shower stall. The stall is completely disgusting. Utterly. The mildew in it has slowly taken over about half the wall, and a quarter of the floor (of which is only about 3 feet square). I predict there will be no long, relaxing showers in this dorm.

As an attentive reader may have noticed, I did not mention any toilet in the bathroom; that's because there isn't. There are two little closets with nothing but toilets in them (I guess those are what water closets really are, huh?)

Once here, I slowly began exploring the suite, and my room, and discovered that my bedroom itself has a light fixture but no light bulb. So, off to the porters station to collect one of those, and after, to set up my wireless internet connection to enjoy chatting with you all through here!

I cannot tell you anything about my suite mates yet, because, quite simply, I don't seem to have any. Yet. I am the only one who has moved in and this is a little disconcerting. I was expecting (hoping) to have some people to talk to, if only in passing. Thus far, nada. I do have a meet and greet info session this evening at 6, which I plan to attend, so mayhaps I'll meet people there. I did bump into this young guy waiting in line for the keys to our rooms earlier, and he was adorable. It's his first time in a dorm/suite/whatever, and his first time away from home. He was so nervous it was kinda endearing. If I'd have thought of it, I'd have tried to get his digits so I'd have someone to hang out and explore with. Oh well, maybe I'll bump into him at the meeting.

I did some shopping at the little depanneur type shop just in front of my building (also right by the bus stop - I foresee it being quite useful in the future when we need ingredients, etc). I got bedding (pillow and case, duvet and cover, and a fitted sheet), I also got cutlery, a cutting board, a baking sheet, some basic food items and a mug - all for about 45 pounds. This I consider a sweet deal. If you disagree, please don't tell me that; I've been unable to find stores selling sets of the stuff for cheaper anywhere nearby.

That is all I can think of for now, but I may have more to post later today/tonight, once I've been to the meeting, and/or my roommates arrive.

...The silence is kinda freaking me out.....

Friday: Of Foodgasms

So, I know I said I'd not post barring anything exciting, but I just had THE BEST Biryani of MY LIFE.
I decided to treat myself (and avoid raiding the other two restos I've hit up twice each already) and went to this little hole-in-the-wall (well, alright, most store not on Union are holes-in-the-wall) Indian place.

First, I should mention that I'd not been planning on having Indian; I'd been looking for a different fish and chip shop, to see if there was anything else I wanted to try - everything but the butties at the other place are made with animal oil (beef, I think) so I couldn't eat them. But, having trolled Union from King (the end of Union on the north end), I meandered a good 15 blocks without seeing anything. Just when I was about to give up and go to the fish shop again, I decided (quite on a lark) to go to the Indian place beside it. I was drooling before I walked in the front door, it smelled that good. So, I ordered take-away (Samosas and Biryani - both veggie) that was more than I'd spent in any two other days (I usually spend under 5 pounds on food per day, whereas here it was 10 just for the one meal). But, OMG, the food was INSANE. The Saffron, the onions, mmmmmm. Foodgasm. Utter, food induced bliss. The only thing that bothered me was the lack of utensils (I know, I'm spoiled in Mtl where every resto sends take away home with plastic cutlery). The upside, the Biryani came in 2 containers: one the rice mix, the second the topping sauce.... they did throw in some salad though... but I'd have loved some naan... I'll have to think about ordering some next time I eat from there, I really will...

Other than that, nothing has happened today... vegged, repacked, read. An ordinary, boring day in the life of moi. At least I didn't burn anything down.... Yet...

Thursday: The Day of Observations

Since Thursday was a wet, rainy day, and I had nothing left I needed to do before I move into my dorm on Saturday, I decided it was the perfect day to stay in bed. (Also, the fact I was freezing was another motivator, I admit.)

However, since there was nothing really to do, I had plenty of time to think. Here are some things I've noticed:

The drivers here are better behaved than the ones back home. I mean, I kinda expected that to begin with, but at least it was confirmed here.

The pedestrians are worse here; they cross wherever and whenever they wish, and the drivers allow it. It boggled my mind. Also, Aberdeen is more pedestrian friendly; the sidewalks are larger, and there are crosswalks everywhere - if a block is particularly long on one side, they still add crosswalks in the middle of the block so people can cross over whenever they wish.

There are banks everywhere. I noticed on Union Street (their Main street) that there are at least two bank branches per block. I've seen three Bank of Scotlands alone between Crown and King streets (which is about a 6-7 block stretch)

The B&B I'm at is placed equidistantly between two Waterstone Bookstores (Like Coles used to be in Montreal - like a book boutique instead of the massive monster Chapters-Indigo is is). I've also got about 3 other bookstores nearby as well (one is a bargain bookstore - I saw I book I wanted back in Mtl on sale for 1 pound! 1! I will have the book... but not until after I move tomorrow)

I''ve found very few pubs... I have seen a lot of bars, but not pubs... I admit to being a little disappointed not to have found more... maybe I'm just in the wrong part of Aberdeen for them. I've also only stumbled across three Fish and Chip shops so far... I'll keep looking.

There is a "French" restaurant named "Prêt a Manger" that has no idea what French food is... I'm kinda tempted to walk in and try to order a baguette or something in French, just to see what happens.

Their understanding of American food is also skewed. They have a resto named Filling Station which looks like a modern Texan Saloon (not those really cool looking older ones) what serves a couple kinda of deep dish "American" pizzas - they're only American because they've got American cities in their names.

I've only seen 1 McDonald's, 1 Starbucks, 1 Burger King, and 2 Esso stations in the section of the city I've seen (and those Essos are the only petrol stations I've so far encountered). It seems as the city isn't too "Americanized" when it comes to chain restaurants at least.

The no extra tax thing is also pretty sweet. When you go to a store, the price listed has the tax included. So if it lists as 3.65, it's literally going to be that on your bill... much better than trying to calculate the additional add ons when shopping, let me tell you!

There is far less green than I thought there would be. Most people have very little in terms of lawns. The amount of green in my parent's backyard alone would be obscene here. The mind boggles, it really does. It's also so surprising to me because I saw a LOT of green flying over Aberdeen last Sunday. True, it was near the airport, but there were houses and not all of it was farmland... so I have to wonder: what happened to it all?

And that will conclude this round of mindless babbling. I don't know what I'll be doing today - I overslept, so I don't know what I want to rush around for. There probably won't be another update until after I move (so it should still be before most people are up tomorrow morning), unless I do something awesome today I feel the need to share.

Feel free to leave comments if you wish.

Wednesday: Meeting the Head of the Programme

So, while I got an email with a package yesterday, the secretary (a totally lovely woman named Alison) wanted to know where to send the hardcopy of the package (apparently, all students get both hard and soft copies of important department materials).

As my lodgings don't accept things like that, I toddled off to the uni to pick them up in person (and I managed to shave off 10 minutes of my journey; clearing the distance in 30 minutes). I found the department and met Alison (who is really nice via email and even nicer in person; she reminds me of Katherine from work). With her were two PhD students (who got their MLitts a while ago), one of whom is another Canadian (BC counts, right?) They gave me tea, and we chatted a little. If my classmates are anything like these two, the studying aspect will be a lot of fun.

They did inform me that there isn't really a position like TAs in Aberdeen, though I should consider becoming a tutor with an after school program. It's something to consider, anyways. Then, the head of the department/programme director, Professor Ian Russell, left his office in order to introduce himself to me. To me - as if it shouldn't have totally been the opposite. Very nice man, very classy, I'm terribly nervous about disappointing him, as it looks like he's teaching both my seminars this semester...meep.

I was also informed that the majority of the readings will not be in textbooks, but in books/journals that must be read in the library.... unless I can find copies online. So, all those years of avoiding the school library are now at and end....

Other than that, I didn't do too much today, vegged a little, though I did have a conversation with the proprietors... it was pleasant. Unexpected, but pleasant.

I had a Turkish wrap for supper; I have no idea what was in it, but it was amazing... like, Nirvana amazing... I totally blissed out on the garlicky goodness... and I think he put deep fried falafels in there...  dunno, but man... mmmmmmm.

And on that nummy note, I'm off to bed... I'll probably hit up the library tomorrow and try to get some of the reading done ahead of time... at least it'll be a constructive use of my time, and it won't involve me moping or brooding, or whatnot.

Tuesday: Wherein Nothing Really Happened

It was bound to happen sooner or later; and I'm just glad it was sooner.

I crashed early - and really hard - Monday evening. We're talking 8PM here. So, it's not much of a surprise that I woke up at midnight. With nothing really to do in Aberdeen at that hour, I spent hours online and vegging/reading. I spent some time chatting with friends on Facebook, and then finally conked out at 6-something in the morning. Aside from being awoken when Hubby-proprietor walked in to my room thinking it was empty (and then discovering it wasn't) I slept until noon-ish. However, up shot is that my days seem to be working in time with the local time now, so I think I'm off Mtl time...

In the afternoon, I got an email from the secretary of my department. Within it was my schedule for the semester, class-wise, and it's looking fairly straightforward. I have class two afternoons a week, from 2-5:30, and these classes run until the holidays, with exams in January. each of the classes count for 30 credits, and I have another 2 30 credit classes in the winter, with a 60 credit dissertation in the summer. so, 180 credits in a year. I'm used to taking maybe 42 per year, so 60 per semester seems a little intimidating... however, the grade break down looks fairly easy - a paper (2000 or 3000 words), participation, an oral presentation, and an exam account for the total of each class.

For supper I went to a real fish and chips shop, and had what they called a Chip Buttie. When I inquired just what, exactly, a Buttie was, I was informed it's a buttered bun. So, I took it. The meal consisted of a tray of fries with a buttered bun. Somewhat salty, but very good; and filling. Along with the finst soda I've had since I left Montreal, it was also the cheapest purchase I've made to date...

Aside from that, I did nothing much; just wallowed around in my room and tried to deal with the fact that my reading load for school is going to break me (it's looking like it'll be more reading than even *I* can cope with).

Monday: The First Full Day, and Politics

Awake at 6:30, and blegh about that! I really hope to get used to the change in timezones... they are so not fun...
Out to eat the breakfast served here, and let me tell you... an interesting experience, that. The meal was simple: (dry) toast, cereal, and 2 eggs which managed to defy all logic: they were not only slightly burned, but also partly undercooked and dry, all at the same time... I'll be skipping those in the future, I think.

I met the wife-proprietor, and she was even less interested in the business than her husband was! Never thought I'd see the sort. It was if she completely hated being attached to the guest house - and wanted nothing - and I mean nothing - to do with anyone staying there.

Anyways, when asked where I might procure an adaptor, neither wife nor hubby had a clue; indeed, hubby told me: "I\m sure you have to bring those things with you, we'd not have that here." Clearly, not the best when dealing with information or traveling people. Either way, I figured that made no sense, there are plenty of reasons travelers would need to buy them: the ones they did bring broke, or they forgot to pack them at all being the two that spring most easily to mind. Also, given that there are two universities in the town, there are most likely tons of international students that would need them, and plenty of tourists, wouldn't it behoove the city to have them, and the proprietors of my establishment to know where to find them? Oh, well... just another reason to avoid repeating my stay here.

When asked the easiest way for me to reach U. Aberdeen, my hosts were again unable to be of assistance. The wife *thought* I could take the bus, but couldn't promise. Either way, I was given walking directions to follow, that helped some.

So, at 7:35, off to the uni I went. And let me tell you, it was quite a walk indeed - I think it was something like 5-6 miles. Around 8:30, I arrived at the uni, and thankfully, my first impression of the uni campus is much better than my impression than the place I'm currently staying! The campus is huge! It looks like a proper campus (like something crossed between Concordia's Loyola campus and McGill's campus); but the size and spread is like Concordia's Sir George Williams' campus - it's spread about four city blocks. There are little shops tucked amongst the buildings, cobblestone roads, old *old* buildings, lush green spreads, etc.

Aesthetically, there are many similarities with the city proper: an interesting mix of old and new, and it's all done in similar tones.... there is no mix of the various brick colours like Montreal has... there are no red brink homes, there are few stand alone houses - most are town houses.

On that same topic, there are a few issues that are serious detractors for me. First, the smell. Old Aberdeen (where the uni is) stinks something fierce. It reminds me of when I lived in Higuey, Dominican Republic - where they toss their rubbish into the streets. It smelled of decay, of uncleanliness, and of sickness. Second, the ambiance is depressing. Everything is grey. The buildings are grey (they quarry the grey granite here), grey roads, and grey skies (I know they're known as the Grey City, but I don't think they meant it like that). Even though the clouds were grey, it wasn't that they were rain clouds; it was merely that they are so close to the water that the clouds are so think and heavy. Even though I am perfectly comfortable wearing shorts and a Tee in my room, once I step out of the house it;s like the temperature drops 10-15 degrees.

I know this is all psychological - the temperature doesn't actually drop, but the place feels so cold it's a little distressing. I figure that once I'm used to the place more it won't even register.

On my way back from the uni, I stopped in at a tourist info store and was able to buy the adaptors I need, so that's good news, at the very least.

Also on the return trip, I stopped in at the Bank of Scotland, in order to see what I needed to open an account. They were very friendly and told me that all I need was a little letter from the school that said I was a registered student. Once I had that, it'd take the bank 10 minutes to get me an account with debit card, etc. So, I booked an appointment for the following day and went back to my room for a little rest before undertaking the trek back to the uni for the needed paper.

After lunch, I returned to the uni and went to the InfoHub to get the paper (they're the place responsible for all student paperwork, ID cards, etc.). When there, I was informed that they don't give said paper to unregistered students... and I replied saying.... "Uh, I am registered, I paid tuition and a down-payment on my rent, etc weeks ago". Apparently I'm not a registered student until I've met with someone and been given my class schedule... which will only happen once they've finished doing so with the Undergrads... so I won't be able to get the letter until the 24th, at the earliest. So, I am stuck here with all the money I converted back in Canada inaccessible to me until then, at the earliest. When I asked him what I was supposed to do to pay my next installment of rent (due this weekend), he told me to wire it (which, as we know, comes with service charges). Grrr. This is why I hate politics.

So, the afternoon had me wandering around the town exploring more stores, including a few bookstores (JK Rowling's new book only costs 10 pounds here!) and came back to crash around 8PM local time. Tomorrow has to be less aggravating than today, no?

Sunday: Of the Trip Over and Arrivings

So, As most of you know, my flights left Montreal on Saturday and arrived in Aberdeen Sunday, with a brief -1 hour - layover in Frankfurt, Germany (from 6:00 until 7:00 AM Frankfurt time). Unfortunately, things didn't quite turn out as planned.

The first flight was fine - uneventful even (though slow as heck). We left Montreal around 6:00 PM (instead of the 5:00 we had listed on our tickets). I rode in the aisle of the center part of the plane, no windows for me. I shared the middle seats with a perfectly charming French couple from the Saguenay region. They were an older couple on their way to Croatia on an 18 day vacation. Other than having a slightly turbulent flight, the flight over was decent.

Once in Frankfurt, however, the stress was on: we disembarked at 6:50 AM, and I needed to get through the terminal and to the proper gate for my next flight by 7:05 for boarding... can you say stress? The only real obstacle was - aside from getting to the right place before my connecting flight left me in Frankfurt - the scan station. Somehow, I must have flirted with the right airport personnel because they bumped me through to the front of the line, yay me! I barely - barely - made it to my gate, and then I was snet down a few flights of stairs to a bus, where they bussed us to the actual plane.

The second flight was also uneventful. I arrived on time in Aberdeen, about 8:35 AM, UK time. I got through customs without incident and caught a cab from the airport to my B&B. The owner/proprietor met me and showed me to my room - which is nice; floral themed and coloured in beige and reds, but nice nonetheless. He seems an okay sort, though he constantly looks both frazzled and lost.

When I went to call the parents, as promised, I ran into an unexpected snag: where to find a phone. The B&B didn't offer one, and the proprietor wasn't sure where to find one either. So, off I went to try and find one.

I succeeded about half a kilometer away from the guest house and called the parents (I still feel guilty about calling them at what amounted to 3-something in the morning). The call was both a good thing and a bad. The good was to reassure them that I was safe; the bad was the reminder of how alone I am/was. I know tons of people move away from their families/whatever all the time, but I guess I'm just not built for it. I loathe the feelings of isolation and otherness I experienced. I truly loathe it. I think it's easier when you're moving somewhere and you have stuff to do, or have someone you're meeting there, etc. The just being in a strange place all alone, it not comforting. I think, had this been merely a vacation, I'd have dealt better, but I can't be certain. All I can compare it to was my time in the Dominican Republic, and that wasn't as hard for me because not only did I have others with whom I interacted daily, I also knew I'd be back to familiar places in short order. (It's not even like I can strike up a conversation with anyone in the place I'm staying... I've only seen one other person staying here, and he wolfed down his breakfast and was out the door before 7:30 this morning). The proprietor isn't mush better, while frazzled, he couldn't seem less interested in speaking with anyone staying on his premises. (Aren't B&B operators supposed to be outgoing and friendly?).

Returning to my lodgings, I grabbed a nap (okay, so at 5 hours, I can't really call it a nap...) and then ventured out again to find some things I needed: a phone, food, and one of those adaptor converter things (I forgot the one I had at home). I managed the former 2, but was unable to find the last - which sucked, as my battery life on my laptop wouldn't be enough to last the week without the recharge. Resolved, I decided to ask the proprietor in the morning about locations - I figured he'd know some of spots, as there most likely are lots of tourists who lose theirs, don't think to pack them, or simply forget about the incompatibility between UK plugs and those from elsewhere.

Once 'home' again, I plugged in my cell to charge it, and called the parents once more to provide them with my number; I'm sure you can get it off them, should you desire my digits here in the UK. Once again, the feelings of isolation after speaking with them was heavy. I really hope I get over this feeling of loneliness soon, it's depressing.

Aside from that, there was nothing much else to do, so I went puttered around in my room until midnight and caught some more sleep.

Thus was my exciting first day on this journey..... only 385 days left before I can go back to Canada or move on to somewhere else... but either way, tomorrow will be better, I hope.