One week in

So this week as been something interesting. First off, it doesn't feel like it has only been a week since I've moved in. If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn a month has gone by. It is crazy. I think once classes start tomorrow, my perception of time is going to become normal- or maybe next week will feel like a year. Who knows!

I have settled quite nicely into my flat. I've gone grocery shopping, walked around a bunch, gotten lost, found a few short cuts, made dinner, bought a pair of headphones to sleep in, and found out how to get to campus. I also have met all my new flatmates.

Marleigh is the other American in my flat. She is from California and the two of us have been hanging out quite a bit. We even made dinner together, which was pretty neat. I'm glad that I was able to find a friend in the people I live with (always a plus) and hopefully things remain friendly. If nothing else, both of us actually clean up the kitchen when we are done using it.

Sophie and Rivkah are two Freshers (how the Brits refer to freshmen) from England and they also seem nice, though we have not hung out as much. Silvia, our last flatmate, is also a fresher- but she is from Singapore. (Our flat is quite international :) ) So far I think I have lucked out. One of the other girls I have hung out with is living in a flat with 3 girls and 3 guys, and apparently it is already a very messy affair because the guys all drink way too much and none of the girls are particularly neat. I'm crossing my fingers that my first impressions hold on the gals of flat 9, though it is kinda clear that some of them have no idea on how to live on their own. I think they will work out the kinks in a few weeks though.

One of the reasons I didn't really post this week is because there has been so much stuff to do. The orientation week here is nothing like how it was at Brandeis. Instead of putting the Freshers into groups and shuffling them around campus and having one set event a night, they just give everyone a huge booklet of all things and events they have and pretty much say "have fun". One of the strangest things to get used to is the fact that more than a few of the events include drinking because, oh wait, it is legal to drink here when you are 18. Another fun fact is that in order to buy cutlery (Including plastic knives) you need to be 21. I learned this when my friend was carded at the check-out line with some butter knives. (I managed to squeak by without getting ided.) I think that is a bit hilarious.

I took advantage of a lot of the events offered. I went to a movie-themed party (Yes, those freshmen parties are still awkward even if there is alcohol being served) to people watch, I went on a tour of the castle as well as a "Gallows to Graveyard" tour of the city streets. A group of us went to see a hypnotist as well as a few movies. We went out to a few pubs, and I even drank some beer. Yesterday I went to St. Andrews for the day, which was a lot of fun. We saw some ruins, of the Castle and the Cathedral, and walked around. We even went to the Golf Museum! Or rather, the gift shop of the Golf museum. While the city was nice, visiting St. Andrews made me happy that I had chosen Edinburgh as my university destination.

Okay. I am going to head out now, but before I do- here are some pictures

The rest will go up on facebook at some point soon.

Oh! And also. Pants in Britain means underwear. Keep that in mind if you come over here and you like someone's outfit- or telling your roommates about your pajamas. I promise, hilarity will ensue if  you don't.