My Host University and The Journey Here
Troye Sivan’s lyrics "I’m tired of this place, I hope people change” seems to keep repaying in my head since last night. Not quite sure why but I’m just feeling very on edge about everything.
I did in fact manage to talk to a few people while registering my baggage for the couch and along the bus drive, both exchange students, international freshers and the welcoming team.
It went okay and people were friendly but I could feel the tension and awkwardness in the air and even as I woke up this morning, I felt the tightness settle into my muscles.
The bus had dropped us at the university to collect out keys and the campus seemed massive. I also got confirmed that it is actually placed on a huge hill and it has absolutely massive grounds. After we had picked up our keys, a mini-van drove the ones of us who were to stay in the city rather than on campus to our accommodation. Everything was fine even though me and two other girls staying at the same place, both of whom I had talked to and seemed sweet, were dropped last.
That’s sort of where it went downhill. A girl from wearing the same shirts as the people that had greeted us in the airport kindly instructed me how to get to the right complex but then that was it. The two other girls were on different floors and I suddenly felt very alone. I hadn’t been clever enough to ask anything because I was so baffled and thankful to finally have arrived. Also, my electronic devices automatically connected to the internet because apparently they use the same Wifi as my university back home. I was very happy about this as I had been without Internet all day.
I knew there was a chilled and relaxed party going on on campus for another hour but seeing as I had just gotten to my accommodation and didn’t yet know the bus routes, I wasn’t feeling up for exploring the city now when the sun had set and I felt worn-out.
I know my accommodation is supposed to have RAs, residential tutors, but I saw no one to welcome me or make me feel at home. I had kept half the bacon chicken sandwich I bought earlier and wolfed that down. I then went to use the bathroom to find that there was no toilet paper, and although I knew I needed to buy toilet paper in the future I would have wished that just a single role had been put there for my arrival. The room didn’t have a bin either, despite having one in the photos.
I know this sounds like a big complaint but I actually like my room. I like the desk right by the window and the old, creaky but comfortable desk chair. My bed squeaks a bit but otherwise it’s nice. The duvet is nice and I've even got two pillows. There are plenty of plug sockets, although I am currently only using the new adaptor I brought in the airport because the old I borrowed makes small sparks when something is plugged into it.
It’s nice though and the one time I ventured out to “explore” even though I was feeling very drained, I bumped into a sweet girl from a university in Paris and she lives just down the hall. We talked for a bit and it was nice to have someone in exactly the same position as myself. Furthermore, it turned out we are in the same kitchen group with probably seven others all living on our hall.
I went back to my room, not wanting to explore anymore and cuddled up in my bed with Milalik, my husky teddy dog, and watched YouTube until the nerves settled a bit and I was able to go to sleep.
As I’m writing this, it is the next morning and I’m about to go out and explore, hopefully running into the welcome team or RAs outside as today also is a big day for arrivals. Furthermore, I need to buy some toilet paper and some food. I also need to figure out how the busses work because today there’s an information session and campus tour. Wish me luck.
I did in fact manage to talk to a few people while registering my baggage for the couch and along the bus drive, both exchange students, international freshers and the welcoming team.
It went okay and people were friendly but I could feel the tension and awkwardness in the air and even as I woke up this morning, I felt the tightness settle into my muscles.
The bus had dropped us at the university to collect out keys and the campus seemed massive. I also got confirmed that it is actually placed on a huge hill and it has absolutely massive grounds. After we had picked up our keys, a mini-van drove the ones of us who were to stay in the city rather than on campus to our accommodation. Everything was fine even though me and two other girls staying at the same place, both of whom I had talked to and seemed sweet, were dropped last.
That’s sort of where it went downhill. A girl from wearing the same shirts as the people that had greeted us in the airport kindly instructed me how to get to the right complex but then that was it. The two other girls were on different floors and I suddenly felt very alone. I hadn’t been clever enough to ask anything because I was so baffled and thankful to finally have arrived. Also, my electronic devices automatically connected to the internet because apparently they use the same Wifi as my university back home. I was very happy about this as I had been without Internet all day.
I knew there was a chilled and relaxed party going on on campus for another hour but seeing as I had just gotten to my accommodation and didn’t yet know the bus routes, I wasn’t feeling up for exploring the city now when the sun had set and I felt worn-out.
I know my accommodation is supposed to have RAs, residential tutors, but I saw no one to welcome me or make me feel at home. I had kept half the bacon chicken sandwich I bought earlier and wolfed that down. I then went to use the bathroom to find that there was no toilet paper, and although I knew I needed to buy toilet paper in the future I would have wished that just a single role had been put there for my arrival. The room didn’t have a bin either, despite having one in the photos.
I know this sounds like a big complaint but I actually like my room. I like the desk right by the window and the old, creaky but comfortable desk chair. My bed squeaks a bit but otherwise it’s nice. The duvet is nice and I've even got two pillows. There are plenty of plug sockets, although I am currently only using the new adaptor I brought in the airport because the old I borrowed makes small sparks when something is plugged into it.
It’s nice though and the one time I ventured out to “explore” even though I was feeling very drained, I bumped into a sweet girl from a university in Paris and she lives just down the hall. We talked for a bit and it was nice to have someone in exactly the same position as myself. Furthermore, it turned out we are in the same kitchen group with probably seven others all living on our hall.
I went back to my room, not wanting to explore anymore and cuddled up in my bed with Milalik, my husky teddy dog, and watched YouTube until the nerves settled a bit and I was able to go to sleep.
As I’m writing this, it is the next morning and I’m about to go out and explore, hopefully running into the welcome team or RAs outside as today also is a big day for arrivals. Furthermore, I need to buy some toilet paper and some food. I also need to figure out how the busses work because today there’s an information session and campus tour. Wish me luck.
Comments
Post a Comment