I have survived my first week, it's a miracle. The first couple days were mostly orientation stuff with a bunch of other international students. What's really exciting about that is that I now know people from all over the world! My roommates are from China, France and Germany and all wonderful people. I think that this is going to be a very happy semester. I am still the same, slightly anti-social, but I'm going to try and be a little more social. Here's to hoping.
The ward here is wonderful, although it takes a while to get to church. I have never done so much walking in my life and I'm afraid there will be LOTS more to come. The church is four miles away and we walk. I can't even imagine how many people in Utah would go inactive if they had to do that to get to church. There are a couple other students (three) that live only a half an hour away so I get to walk with them. It's not as bad as I thought it would though and the walks do tend to be quite charming. At least I know a couple of the streets now, wandering around in them so often. The other YSA live above a flower shop which is my new dream. It's an apartment that involves three different floors with a little space on each of them. All together it's basically a normal sized apartment... They have FHE at their house every Monday night (which I can't really go to anymore because I have a class) and then there's institute at the church every Wednesday which was great. Love it. The other members are also extremely nice. One family took me in on Sunday and took me home and fed me then took me to ward choir. The food was amazing and they taught me a little of how to be British. I had a very difficult time learning how to eat that way but I'm sure I'll get it in time. They also had their little grandkids over who were absolutely adorable. I have also never heard such an incredible six-year-old singer! She was singing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I think she should go on broadway!
My apartment is glorious and big, my room is all my own and quite large. I finally put up my Madame Butterfly poster today and I'm feeling very good about it. There are three rooms upstairs and two downstairs. The bathroom is a little strange and that's why I love it! There is one room that is just the toilet and the toilet is flushed by pulling on a chain. It's like out of movie or something. The other room has the sink and the shower. Downstairs also has the kitchen which is very large and has two fridges! It's a miracle. The washing machine is in the kitchen as well and looks like a dishwasher, I love it. We have no dryer but hang things up in the kitchen to dry. We also have a microwave, toaster, stove, oven, anything you could ever want in a kitchen. It's beautiful. Going out the back door there is a little path that goes straight onto University (people here call it "Uni") and I can literally get from my room to class in five minutes. There's a street not very far away with some shopping and then you can take the bus into town where's there's a ton of shopping including a mall.
My classes are all fine. I have a music class which consists of beginning conducting (whoop-dee-doo), two ensembles and lessons. My first lesson is in a week and I am very much looking forward to it. I also have a math/science class which is....fine. I've only been to the math part yet which is quite a bit like calculus but watered down a bit. Hopefully I survive without too much headache over it. Then I have an archaeology class which I love so far. The teacher is amazing and is very passionate about it. It should be great fun.
As to Hull, the city, there's not a whole lot to see. It's kind of like going to visit the city of Provo. There's some shopping and a university and I've heard this great aquarium. They also have a couple of museums in the "Old Town" which I will definitely visit. But it's a nice place. I have never feared for my life or even met any crazy people on the streets. There are quite a lot of pubs and everyone love football (soccer) and everyone is quite nice. Hopefully I'll get to travel around during my stay here.
The first week has been quite charming, I think I'm going to like it here.
Did you try out for that music group yet??
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