Travel report: The UK - Nottingham - Studying in the University of Nottingham (24.01.16 - 17.06.16)

Chapter 5

Weeks 5 and 6:

- When will I start the essays? Never?

- Additional homework from Moscow has arrived... =(
- We`ve got a little cold...=((

- Nottingham University Russian-speaking Society party

- Oscars` night

- Food in catered halls

Yep, on Friday night (!) we went to a URSS (!!) home party (!!!) and then went to a club (!!!!). So, we did exactly everything that we were told NOT to do. And we`re alive! The party was actually good, a lot of something to drink (but I didn`t - have to look after my liitle girl), many people to talk to, just the music was bad. The owner of the place said it was even comparatively calm and decent (nobody`s dead or injured,the house is not ruined - yep, it was). We arrived early in the morning, then slept all Satuday, nearly missed the dinner.
Funny fact: the occasion of the party was Defender of the Fatherland Day celebration, but all of the participants were hardly even defenders-to-be:) Ok, that`s not funny, that`s the usual case.

The Oscars` night was celebrated in the group of four of us - me, the Blonde, a former-Russian guy and an (omg... so much attractive, so tall, help me... ok, I`m ok) Estonian guy. I wasn`t really ready to spend the whole evening listening to discussions over comic books and Marvel movies (so I barely spoke at all), but could I really resist the coallition of three? (now I think, I don`t like fantasy as well... too many characters, you know?) So, I was just sitting and following the nominations. 

And later happened something like that:

(ok, just kidding: nobody actually burnt a teddy bear...)

Then for some reason they decided to watch Goblin-translated Lord of the Rings... =\

I mean, why not to watch: a) a movie with Leo starring, b) one of the Oscars` nomenees, c) any another one bloody movie???

Ok. Not my house, not my rules.

We arrived in the morning, missing breakfast and first classes at 11 am (but I caught up mine the next day - just attended the same with the other group). And then we were sleeping through the whole week.

Actually, I do feel guilty for not letting the owner of the room sleep properly and alone those nights. And for guy who had to spend money for drinks. And for being socially-awkward. Can`t help it. Sorry.

Also went to Mooch on Wednesday (week 6) (UoN, Portland Building, -1 floor). Didn`t impress at all. The music is poor. Just a proper place to meet friends after classes. Drinks: 4, 5, 7 £.

But: met a Welsh guy there, who decided to learn Russian after he volunteered to look after children still effected by Chernobyl disaster. Just... wow.

* * *

Catered halls. Food.

Pros

Generally, the food is fine. They provide a wide variety of dishes (as you can combine your own), changing every day. Every week they have a kind of International cuisine day - a foreign country`s traditional meal is ordered. Also they always have a choise for vegetarians - special soya-made sausages, for example. 

You can have 2 items of fruit each time, there`re vegetables available to combine your own salad (not every day, unfortunatelly), also yougurts; coffee machine and juice machine provide unlimited amount of drinks. To make a toast you simply (wait in a queue, then) put a loaf on the railing of the automatic toaster and wait untill it falls out from under the railing (the speed is adjustable). 

+ sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise
+ marmalades and honey, Nutella and Philadelphia, sugar\salt, cereals and crisps (for breakfast only)

Cons

1) I stopped liking local soups. They are just 80% VERY spicey! If not the amout of pepper, I could have them each time, but for now that`s enough! I have just one stomach for the rest of my life.

2) The juices are terrible. They are always too watery, all of them. I mean, why would anyone add water to apple juice? There is no juice anyway!

3) Marmite. Just don`t taste it. Just don`t. DO NOT. Understand?

Rules: 
- always have your ID when having a breakfast\dinner (we had to run back to the hall for one)
- it`s not allowed to return to the serving room for more (unless you`re a vegetarian who was accidentally given meat and want to change it =P)
(but you can come up to the table with drinks\snacks for more)
- don`t arrive a minute before the breakfast\dinner ends (but can arrive a few minutes before it starts)

But don`t hesitate to ask for more if they`ve run out of something: spoons, cups, items of food etc.

Travel report: The UK - Nottingham - Studying in the University of Nottingham (24.01.16 - 17.06.16)

Chapter 4

Week 4:
- classes now are almost a routine
- have to think over the essays already. Instead:
- PUB CRAWL!!!

Yeah, that`s the second time I`m in a bar in my entire life and suddenly I find myself taking part in a crawl:)) That was on Thursday, February 18; and I had to prepare for a seminar and 2 hours of Chinese on Friday. But we can`t afford missing parties here, you know.

It all started from the e-mail: "Tomorrow (Wednesday 17 February) I have a meeting with the Russian Language second year students who are going to Russia as part of their Year Abroad next year. If you are free, if would be fantastic for the students to meet you and maybe ask for information and advice about living in Russia, and also get to know you all better."

We made it to the end of the meeting only, but met very nice young people, few of whom spoke Russian so well! So, a Polish girl, Agnieszka, invited us to play bowling with the students. We just could`t refuse!

So, having found the company in Lloyd`s, soon we moved to a bowling club nearby and beat the other 4\5 Russian team with our 2\5 Russian one:) (2 games per person - £3, dark Guiness there cost £3,40; cider - £3,20)

After the game only two of us left for what came next (having no idea about what exactly). The first pub I didn`t try to remember, as it wasn`t really significant. The second and the third I liked the most (ok, perhaps I liked our company for the third one much more than the bar itself;))

Only later I found out that the pub crawl event was copletely separate from our bowling meeting and was organized by Nottingham University Russian-speaking Society (sure, what else can they organize?) (ok, they do organize Russian lessons) We were supposed to meet people from Slovak/Czeck, Bulgarian Societies then, but didn`t happen to (they were told to be too drunk to communicate anyway..)

Pit & Pendulum (Victoria Street)

 Named after "The Pit and the Pendulum", a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe (I guess), the eerie pub represents gothic itself. The place with spooky design and hard rock music was just a discovery. We didn`t pay for drinks there - no idea about the prices, but they should provide the information here: http://www.eerie-pubs.co.uk/pit-pendulum
Challenge: try to find a restroom there without any help;))

 

House of Coco Tang (45 Bridlesmith Gate)

Seems to me the bar wants to keep an air of secrecy. The entrance stairs are leading you to the basement, the website is a simple black page with a phone number only... A guy, who used to work there, claimed that they make really good coctails.

It didn`t start from being Chinese. When they start to play calm music, that means that you should leave. That`s everything I know about it. We didn`t buy any drinks there as well. But we stayed there until the quite music started.

We found ourselves in beds only at 3-4 am (safe) (in our own beds) even though the story how we got there involves visiting the place of the guy I mentioned earlier...
Indigo buses run all night, so it`s possible to get home after going out late. But the timetable should be considered, as we had to wait for about 50 minutes for the next.
Exactly, we waited for the bus in the (already-drunk-so-much-he-had-to-keep-himself-from-falling) guy`s room, otherwise we would have been frozen to death in the street. Greatful to him for the offer very much!

Here the crazy story happily ends.

That was my first time, what did you expected?:))
Actually, as for me, the company moved from pub to pub too fast. Neither me, nor my friend managed to finish a drink in the period of time before they wanted to leave. It`s like you have to drink only, not talk. I don`t blame them - the places are surely not new for many of them.

You should have seen the "blue screen of death" look on a Belarus guy`s face when I mentioned, that that was my second time in a bar:))

***

Thinking about what to add to the notes about the 4th week, I suddenly remembered the thing that can be lifesaving to take into account when going to come here to study.

"What I regret to have left at home" list!

1. A warm hat (and other warm clothes)

You`ll come to an early spring. As far as I got it, the temperature at the period varies from "winter" to "summer" (there was -1 the lowest and +19 the highest so far). But that`s not the problem. The real problem is the wind.

No, THE-BLOWING-AWAY-EVERYTHING-AROUND-INCLUDING-YOUR-BRAINS-OUT-OF-YOUR-HEAD-UNBEARABLY-WILD WIIIIIND...WHEEEEWWWWEEEE!!!

So, a hat and a wind-proof jacket are obligatory to have. So are sweaters, warm boots, scarves etc. An umbrella can be bought here - it's of no use anyway when it`s windy.

No, WINDEEEEEE

As for me, I just don`t like hats. But I have other warm clothes.

2. Stationary of different kind and study materials

As you now know, that some subjects that you study in MCPU, such as foreign languages, are available for exchange students here, you`d better take your notes on them - that would be just helpful.
As for the stationary, you may buy it here, but that would be much more expensive. The necessary set of what you usually use, excluding pens, won`t give much weight to your luggage, but will save a few pounds. If you have a couple of kilograms left, add copybooks, pins for a pin board in your room, markers, a stapler, a corrector etc.

3. Decoration of different kind

You`re coming here for half a year (just think about it - half a year of your prescious life!) What you`ll get is a little plain and absolutely impersonal room to live in. Walking around the campus and secretly glancing through the curtains of the windows, I envy those who have colourful lights, photoes, pictures, posters of their favorite movies or TV shows in their rooms. I have little of those at home, but now I`m tempted to buy ones very much.
Again, only if you have a kg to spare.

UPD I bought an official Sherlock calendar for mine, yaww! For £3 only:)

4. A little set of dinnerware

Mostly there`re only a spoon and a cup (or what you have for tea) needed. Personally, I have a thermos bottle for tea, but had to save a plastic spoon after a dinner in Portland.

5. All of the little hygiene and cosmetic stuff you use and probably plan to leave at home as "I can always buy it there"

You can, but they will be way more expensive. (Not including shampoo, shower gel and other liquids like that - leave them or take a 1 night portion)

Think not only about your body and face, but your clothes and shoes also. Do they need special care? Those are just such things you remember only when you`re already here without them.

Take a fan if you use one. (There is no here) But don`t take an iron (there are).

Did you take towels?

6. A formal dress and shoes (and a handbag:)) UPD

At the end of each semester (this time - 15 of March) they have a formal dinner with strict fromal dress code. So, if you have a long\short formal dress (for boys - ... well, what you wear for such occasions?), take it.

7. Snacks for Day 1

You won`t get anything prepaid until you get your university card (in best occasion, it`s on the 2nd day after arrival). Until then even a little cookie in a tea corner of a building will cost you about 1 pound.

8. Sport clothes and shoes

UoN provides a lot of fascilities for sport lovers of any kind of sport. Girls said, the gym and swimming pool together are available for about 80 pounds per semester only! My advice is to take sneekers, a proper t-shirt and pants in any case, even if you don`t do any sport at home.
Who knows what you will want to be into here?:)

9. Extension cord UPD
Inevitable to charge all your devices from one adapter. Sometimes is inevitable just to charge anything one together with a fridge and table lamp working (as some rooms don`t have enough sockets).

10. Sewing set UPD
That`s just my huge mistake not to take it. I didn`t consider wearing the same clothes for a long time.

What I took and found useful:
- a tablet PC (no, just a notebook is not enough. Take it, if you have one)
- a portable loud speaker 
- a power adapter (but they can easily be found on campus, I just had one already)
- home clothes (comfortable socks, sleepers, shirt, pants)
- a backpack (ok, two backpacks) (Generally, any bag that fits A4 kind of books and materials is needed. Think, that`s actually an obvious point...)
- a little bag (for documets, money and some food to fit in - for walking and sightseeing) (I have the second bagpack for that)

Travel report: The UK - Nottingham - Studying in the University of Nottingham (24.01.16 - 17.06.16)

Chapter 3

The land of eternal spring #England

Arrrhh... Tough week. Well,

- Seems to me, the timetable is finally set! Hallelujah!
- damn, the Mandarin tutor is planning to move a seminar to Friday, damn... UPD it`s moved, damn!

- Been to a movie theatre (Deadpool)

- Been at a Chinese Brush Painting Masterclass by Jiang Hongsheng

- It`s cold:(

So, the modules chosen are:
- Mandarin 2B (10 credits)
- French 1B (10)
- Italian 1B (10)
- The Bible in Music, Art and Literature (10)
- Film and Television in Social and Cultural Context (10 as 1 semester only)
- Italian Art in the Age of Caravaggio (10)
+ CELE Academic Writing: Grammar, Vocabulary and Academic Discussion (only 3 possible, no credits)
=60

The masterclass. We were supposed to attend one 2 weeks ago together with other Art History students. It turned out we were at the right place then:) I don`t know why we didn`t manage to discover that - kind of a simple misunderstanding. Caravaggio... Chinese art... whatever.

Anyway, that was great! That was Chinese Brush Painting Masterclass by a Chinese artist Jiang Hongsheng, and, actually, it cost UoN students 5£, but the History of Art students could attend one for free. The subject of paintings were peonies - fluffy, spectacular, pink flowers, like ones that my granny is used to grow in her garden. The artist explained step by step the secret of their creation with one attempt for each stroke only - the point I missed the first (4 years of art school bad habbits). The amount of water in the brush, the position of the brush and the hand, the way you mix the colours on the pallete - such things become meaningful when you can`t take white colour again to fix an overdose of red. Mostly I was astonished not with the technique but how psychologically revealing the paintings were - the students used colours different from pink, tried to express themselves, each added something personal. Mine looks uncertain, subtle, unfinished (or a bit ruined?), fearful to reveal all of its colour... Something to think about.

Jiang claimed to have been looking for the secret for 20 years (since childhood, I suppose?)

Been to the local UoN Chinese New Year celebration also. Been? No, actually, we made it to the fireworks only. But it was spectacular!!! Just wow! I mean, we really didn`t expect such fireworks, just like the ones we have for the New Year or for the Victory Day in Moscow. Here is just a little town of Nottingham, not even the center of the town, not even the regular 31st of December`s New Year - and they make such a show! My honour.

Well, now to the MOVIES!!!

Planning to go to see Deadpool, I found three movie theatres nearby:
Cineworld, 
Showcase 
Savoy.
Showcase seemed to be the closest, and Cineworld is near Victoria station - convinient if you happened to be in the centre. But the thing is that Cineworld and Showcase are parts of movie theatre chains, whereas Savoy is independent. So, the prices in Cineworld and Showcase were 7,75£ and 7,5£, but in Savoy it`s 4,30£ (Deadpool, 2D, student). Chosen.
(The funny thing is that price doesn`t change acc. to time and day of the week - e.g. same for Sat 7pm and Mon 11am. Why?)

The booking is available on the website, it adds 0.4£ to the price, payment - by credit cards, but no choise of seats - you simply come earlier, enter the auditorium and take vacant seats. Profit from booking then? You don`t queue for the tickets (having a ticket, you don`t have to queue for entering the building\auditorium). The screen and sound are alright - no worries here. I also liked it when they put David Bowie just for a background when everybody was taking seats.

How to get there

Best (as it`s free) to take a Hopper bus (the one that goes to Jubilee) and take off at the first stop outside the campus main territory. The theatre is not far from there up the Derby Road. But to get this way you should chose an earlier screening, as the Hopper runs till 7 pm only. (Or get back by another bus for 1£)

What about the movie? Don`t ask me: I don`t like superhero movies, I don`t like Ryan Reynolds, I didn`t understand half of the jokes (apart from those about sex and Marvel referings). I tried not to fall asleep, even though it was funny.
Oh, I enjoyed watching Morena Baccarin! As always. That`s for sure:)

Problems:

- The timetable gave me hard times. The reason for that  was one of the tutor`s illness. For 2 weeks I couldn`t find Chinese tutor. Nobody else could give me the desired signature. Found her only on the last possible day in Jubilee. Sadly missed two classes of French to solve the problem of the missing signature and submit the module list on time. Success.

Also, when there`s a new tutor, the school reception has no record of him\her. Niether her office number, nor an e-mail - nothing. That`s not good. 

- The weather. It`s about 5`C in the daytime. If it gets lower, I`ll be freezing to the bones. Brrr... I wanna the rain and the warmth back. Where`re those 19`C of the day when we arrived?

UPD
SNOW!!!

- Where the hell is the ironing room?

I`ve heard a lot about awful student accomodations in Russia and thought, that as long as you have heating, hot water, clean room and 24\7 free entrance into the building, there is nothing to complain about at all. Besides, add a perfect location and a good food. So, what else are the students here unhappy about?
A girl from Kazakhstan claimed, that after the first year she got sick of the food here, so she moved out to the self-cattering hall. She needs to pay for the bus now, but is so happy about cooking the food herself. Overheard another lovely British girl we met here saying she goes to the church on Sundays partially to see and talk to grown-ups - tired of being surrounded only by people in their twenties or younger.

Never really understood why student halls are called a school of life sometimes. As long as you are a struggler and work to pay for studying and living there, you don`t really have time to cooperate with other dwellers there. If not, young people live by different rules, far from the ones of grown-ups. Do people study to live together in a society and cope with each other? Isn`t the family enough? They are not going to live in communal flat after, aren`t they? The only thing it gives to me is that perhaps I`ll be absolutely alright to live in a hostel when travel and save money.

When speaking by Skype, my relatives often say "now it`s the first time you cope with your problems yourself" or "see, you have to cope with the problems yourself now" (now, as I`m away from home for such a long time). I even have no answer to that. What problems are they talking about? Which of them didn`t I have earlier? Did not I have to visit universities, claim for information and the documents in 2010 myself as my Mom was lying in the bed unable to get up from sickness? And it was dreadfully hot and smoggy, and scarry, as I was just out from school without any idea what to do...? WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT? All of those above are just little inconveniences. Real troubles are always further.

Photoes: Nottingham City Centre, Nottingham Castle, shops

Travel report: The UK - Nottingham - Studying in the University of Nottingham (24.01.16 - 17.06.16)

Part Two

Disclaimer: I`m not confident about my English
writing. That is actually why I keep the blog
mostly in English - to practise my writing.

I`m going to write a Russian version of each post a bit later.

So, the second week has come to an end. What do we have so far?

- Now I`m 1 year older than I was last week
- Still haven`t signed up all of the modules in the yellow modules list (but thnx god the last drop-in session is on the 9th of February)

- Still have no idea where the ironing room is (but found the trash cans and the laundry room. The laundry system seems to be a rocket science...).

I celebrated my birthday in a pub not very far from the university - "Star Inn" (yep, I keep finding blackstars everywhere - first in Topshop, now here...ok). Those far-from-the-centre pubs seem to be like cafes in Moscow - calm and homy, with just a few people in there, with quizes and live music organized on particular days of the week. The two local Nottingham guys, whose contacts were given to us by a girl from last year`s student exchange session, refered to it as one of their favorite places (among from the nearest, I guess). Having a really huge glass of cider (must get used to a "pint" amount of drinks), I thought that the drink I used to love was probably closer to an apple soda than a real cider (I liked having "Magners" in Moscow, "Strongbow" and "Somersby" in Bulgaria). If you are a drink expert or just a lover, please let me know what a real cider should be.
However, the pint of cider completely deprived me of the memory of what brand I was having:)) (smth est. in 18th century)

Why cider? I`m not a fan of beer.

The guys are very-very-very nice, many thanks for spending their free time and showing us the town and their favorite places!

As for the nearest supermarket, as far as I know now, they are at the end of Broadgate street (straight from UoN West Entrance and Beeston Lane to High Road). There is Tesco 24\7 (omg, they have 24\7 supermarkets here!)

Sightseeing

Just cross the road from the University campus there is a great deer park and a 16th century residence Wollaton (Hall & Park). Admission either to the park or to the castle is free. Inside there is an old Nottingham National History museum (similar to Darwin`s museum in Moscow, but not that big). The museum features just some of the over 750,000 items in the city's collection. The exhibits are divided into several main galleries, or themes, including Insects, Minerals, and Birds.
The rose garden near the hall is said to be open on Sundays from 2.00 - 4.00pm between April and September.
Now the Hall is also famous for being a setting for Wayne Manor in the 2012 Batman film, Dark Knight Rises.

The Hall is open:

16 February to 1 November 2015, open daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry 4.30pm).
2 November 2015 to 14 February 2016, Friday to Tuesday: 11am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).
15 February to 30 October 2016, open daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry 4.30pm).

More info:  http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/discover/wollaton-hall-and-park-p354961

Near the Hall there is a little Nottingham's Industrial Museum. Admission for students - 1£ (but the museum is held by volunteers only). The display is mainly items of local importance in textile, coal mining and light metal plus other transport (just 2 cars), means of communication and steam engines, nevertheless quite an interesting place to visit while there.

More info: http://www.nottinghamindustrialmuseum.co.uk/

In Nottingham we managed to visit only the City of Caves so far. Dating back to the Dark Ages, the caves were used for various purposes at all times: from tanneries to pubs and shelters. As there is little information placed near the expositions, an audio guide here would be helpful (English only). Admission price for students: £5.95 

More info: http://www.cityofcaves.com/

Having spent only 2 weeks here, we`ve already been 2 times to Wollaton Park and 3 times to the city centre.

Now about the problems.

№1. As for the language modules, I`m quite uncertain about what level of foreign languages I should take. And they don`t do any language level tests. Just a kind of an interview when you sign up for the course, but not always. For example, Chinese 2b was canceled for the whole week, so on the second week I still haven`t attended a 2b class to see whether I can handle it.

Think I`ll leave 1b of French and going to struggle through 1b of Italian (as we did very little of Italian in MCPU during the last semester).

№2. Prices on textbooks. My Italian textbook costed me... a local train ticket from London to Nottingham or... a night in a Nottingham hostel. 23£, gosh! They don`t have it in the libruary, they don`t have New Practical Chinese Reader 2 either! They do have French, but short loan only! That`s... very frustrating. They say, you can find old ones somewhere, but I don`t know where to look for them...

Perhaps I`ll manage to sell my Italian after the term to somebody...

UPD 
I found out that, actually, I CAN sell my Italian! Today (05/02/2016) I bought second-hand Chinese Reading 2 for 17,5£ both for a textbook and a workbook in Blackwell`s (Portland Bld.)(the full price is 27£). And they say, that if my book will be accepted at an appointment, I can sell it to them!
Here is some info about it: http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/stores/blackwell-bookshop-chaucer/services/second-hand-books/

№3. I`m still getting lost on the territory:))

To be truth, I was preparing myself for the worst. I was ready for a bitterly cold and a bitterly small room with an only shower and an only toilet room always occupied, for a constant feeling of hunger because of a poor pre-paid lunch and for other things like that (nothing personal, dear Britain, it`s just what I do). In fact, as far as I hear from the girls from our little Russian gang, I`m experiencing less inconviniences among all of them. Two of them had problems with heating (solved? I don`t know yet), one - with the shower (one of the two doesn`t work, block E, 2nd floor), some have separate taps for hot and cold water in their rooms and... that`s all! Well, the toilet is a little bit untidy...:)

I`m now coming to an actual understanding of what a wonderful opportunity it is to study here. I mean, I can`t really complain, as far as the Russian system of higher education partially is still funded from the government, and I use it. But what a life that would be, if I could attend Film&TV module, having a major in Lingustics in my home university?

П.С.
Рутрекер отсюда и правда не работает, ни на гостевом, ни на eduroam. Связано это, конечно, не с блокировкой сайта, а, скорее с блокировкой подобного рода обмена фалами со стороны местного провайдера (если такое возможно). При тестировании скорости торрент пишет "Ошибка соединения: Истекло время ожидания. (10060)", результаты: "Порт не открыт (загрузка возможна)". Попытки "открыть порт" (ну, то есть, гуглить проблему и пробовать все подряд) результатов пока не дают. И скорее всего не дадут. Поэтому, думаю, ограничусь онлайн просмотрами - времени все равно на это не много.

Travel report: The UK - Nottingham - Studying in the University of Nottingham (24.01.16 - 17.06.16)

We were asked to keep diaries if possible to let other 

upcoming Russian students know how it is like in here.

So, I resume my blog.

The updates won`t be regular (as usual) - just when there`s 

something to say or to show.

Hope it would be useful.

It`s our third day here already, but only the first day I finally managed to make first notes. You will have two weeks to explore the campus, they said. You will, but not more, so hurry up. From the very beggining you should have ears, eyes and maps ready to start to navigate easily here and resolve all organization issues during the first week (as some of the classes\modules has already begun and just a few start the next week)! 

It`s absolutely no problem to ask anybody about everything, everybody`s kind and quite helpful (with some exceptions). Some false directions can be given by mistake, the leaflets are almost useless - no specific information about almost anything. For example, we didn`t know about the existance of a dining hall in our... hall (Sherwood Hall) till the end of the second day, so we almost missed the pre-paid lunch. The leaflet about the meals had absolutely no info on the time and place where it is served.

How we got here: booked transfer tickets Moscow (Sheremetyevo) - Helsinki - London (Heatrow) (5+ hour flight, 13 000 rub approx.) Then coach by National Express from terminal 2 (we took a wild run to get there on time!) - funfare tickets with a discount from the University (don`t mind the line "tickets are not available to travel to\from airport" in "help" to the tickets - nonsence) - 3,5 hours ride. We got very thoughtful drivers, who kindly asked where we need to get to (gosh, we didn`t know ourselves for sure!) - so, they got us to Sherwood hall directly.

Customs problems: long queues mostly, approx. 1 hour. We were asked why we didn`t have return tickets. We said, that we were not aware of assessment schedule, so afraid to loose them if booked in advance. 

A short "to do" list when arrived:

- go to the accomodation firstly (keys, laundry card, directions, welcome pack)

- go to receive another welcome pack (info about where is in the booklets in the room`s welcome pack)

- register online (if not registered at home). REMEMBER THE PASSWORD - it`s the access to all of the online fascilities: the campus WiFi, the student portal, Moodle... well, everything. (I failed here:))

- register in person (again, booklets)

- go to get your University Card (having scraped through the novels, we learnt that they are in your "school" (CLAS, for example, in Trent building)). The card is your ID here, access to the meals in the hall, to the library, to the 1 pound bus ride (for specific routs). 

- attend the meetings in the given schedule ("Welcome information")

- try to choose modules by the end of the first week by speaking to people in the schools

Ok, here we are by now.

As for meeting other students, it`s the same as everywhere so far. Accidental striking up an acquaintance, pointless exchage of Facebook accounts (hate Facebook so much!), trying to remember the names... People are quite nice, of a huge variety of nationalities. There are so many beautiful people out here, really want to make friends, but I`m so bad at it, gosh! Well, we`ll see.

We get up at 8 am, go for the breakfast and then we are busy till it gets dark (5 pm). No way to do anything after except of eating again - so exhausted we are. We`ve been invited to clubs today - refused to go. 

No noise time - 10:30 pm (doesn`t include leaving the room, taking a shower - that`s quite quiet:)

Meals: breakfasts and dinners are prepaid (simply go to the dining hall with the University Card) + we have 5.30 pounds to get anything tasty from any cafe\bar\food court at the territory of the University. Yep, even at Starbucks:) (psss, the one at the library is the cheapest;))

Mon-Fr

Breakfast - 7:45-9:30, 

Tea & toastes availiable until 10:00

Dinner - 17:30 - 19:00

Sat-Sun

Brunch - 11:00-12:30

Dinner 17:30-18:30

Sherwood Hall photoes

Room facilities: double-sized bed, table lamp, book shelf, note board, table, fridge, wardrobe, sink, mirror. Showers & toilets are in the corridor, quite neat and cleaned regularly. Cattle, toaster, microwave oven & filtered water are availiable on the 1st and 2nd floor (2nd and 3d actually - that`s Britain).

The territory is huge, sort of a park with a pound, flower-beds, green loans, old trees and bushes nicely cut. We`re still getting lost sometimes, have to do a lot of walking. But that`s ok. The weather... well, it`s Brtitish. Sometimes it`s warm and sunny, but mostly it`s drizzling and gloomy, and wild is the wind... sorry. It`s comparatively warm, beautiful and it`s Britain - what else do you need when from Russia?

P.S. Just realized, that a leaflet with PHOTOES OF THE BUILDINGS and THEIR NAMES would be VERY USEFUL, for the god`s sake! Yes, you can connect to wifi and google it (but I had hard time trying to do that, as it kept disconnecting). Come on, you printed so many happy students on the covers, IS IT REALLY THAT HARD to really make them a bit happier?

New York City tips for travelers and tourists

It is just some notes, not a guide book:)

1. If you haven`t been in cities with so many skyscrapers and straight streets before, be ready - it`s a shock! (No, nothing of Moscow or London is anything like that)

2. Don`t ask for Cola if you want some Coca Cola - they`ll frown in lack of understanding. Ask for Coke.

3. Check your metro trip twice. The metro is European style (single tube), and some stations don`t have an underground switching-line passageway, so if mistaken you`ll have to go outside and ask to let you in without double payment. It`s easy to take the wrong entrance outside - it took us a week to learn to exit near our school. They are like magic portals, really:))

4. Ferry to Staten Island is FREE. There`s nothing to see on Staten Island, but a) you`ll see what a ferry is, b) you`ll see Statue of Liberty a bit closer.

5. Statue of Liberty is so small! Did you also think that it looks huge from Manhattan? Wrong! It is huge only if you`re standing just beside it on the small island it stands on, but you`ll have to take a trip there. It`s more expensive to go to the head of it surely, and you`d better book the excursion long before your trip.

6. No, a day is not enough to walk through the Central Park. Also enjoy free clean cool water there - no need to buy bottled one.

7. Check for free or low pay admission in NYC museums. Sometimes they are not stated on the official page. For example, admission to the National History Museum is recommended - "suggested donation" (15-25$), but actually you can donate only 1 or 2$ - actually the amount is up to you!

8. There is free WiFi in the middle of Times Square on the red stairs. And 50% off tickets to Broadway musicals under the stairs (beware the long queue).

9. It`s bitterly cold due to condition system in transport and buildings in summer - it`s highly advisable to have a jamper, a cardigan or a shawl with you.

10. Cheap umbrellas live till the first shower & wind - don`t waste your money. Enjoy the rain!

11. McDonalds. The service is different: you make an order, pay, take a receipt with your number, then wait for your order until your number is on panel, take it. (Russia: make an order, pay, wait right there in the queue without a number, receive).  The only fast-food chain I know, where the restrooms are for customers, but there`s no system to trace it.
In Burger King, Starbucks and many others restrooms are for customers only! You won`t get access to restrooms without a receipt (there`s a code for the lock in it)!

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1. Если вы никогда не были в подобных городах с громадными небоскребами и прямыми улицами, готовьтесь к шоку! (Нет, ни в одном месте в таких городах, как Лондон, ни тем более Москва вы не испытаете подобного)

2. Если вы хотите Кока Колу, не спрашивайте Колу - сделают непонимающее лицо с тонкой ноткой удивления. Просите "Коук" (Coke). (Да, логика.)

3.  Как следует проверьте свой маршрут в метро, запомните названия конечных станций на направлениях, на которые собираетесь пересаживаться. Метро там не как у нас, с одной трубой и двумя платформами по бокам, а на некоторых станциях нет подземного пути пересадки, придется выходить на улицу и объяснять охраннику\билетеру, что вы ошиблись направлением, и билет не работает (не прошли 15-30 мин (не помню) с первого прохода).
Наверху в свою очередь (в некоторых местах) легко запутаться во входах и выходах из метро. За отведенную нам неделю мы еле научились выходить рядом с курсами, а не на соседней улице.

4. Пассажирский паром до Стейтен Айленд бесплатный. На Стейтен Айленд вроде толком нечего смотреть, но а) вы покатаетесь на таком пароме, б) поближе увидите Статую Свободы.

5. Кстати, о статуе. Она вообще не такая, какой мы ее представляем. Она гораздо меньше! Даже с самой близкой точки на Манхэттене! Чтобы она показалась действительно большой, нужно подъехать к островку, на котором она стоит. Подняться на ее голову выйдет еще дороже, и записываться нужно заранее, иначе не попадете.

6. Нет, дня вам не хватит, чтобы обойти Центральный Парк. И не ходите по велосипедным и выделенным беговым дорожкам. Зато можете пополнить запас воды из фонтанчиков.

7. В некоторые музеи можно попасть бесплатно или почти бесплатно, причем это не всегда указывается на сайтах музеев. Например, те 15-25$, которые просят в музее Естественной истории - "рекомендованные". По факту вы можете на кассе попросить билет за 1$, и вам дадут! (как вспомню, как это называется, скажу - это деньги, которые идут на поддержку музея). Вот один из многих сайтов о подобных акциях в музеях: http://jaa.su/kak-sekonomit-na-dostoprimechatelnostyah-v-nyu-yorke/ (А в МОМА я сошла за ребенка 14 лет - им бесплатно (мне было 20))

8. Посреди Таймс Сквер в районе красной лестницы есть бесплатный WiFi. А под лестницей можно купить билеты на бродвейские мюзиклы, проходящие в этот день, с большой скидкой.

9. Снова общая информация для больших американских городов. Летом в транспорте и помещениях жутко холодно из-за кондиционеров - носите с собой какую-нибудь кофту или платок, чтобы не простудиться.

10. Дешевые зонтики, которые продаются на каждом углу, живут до первого ливня с порывистым ветром. Если очень надо, купите по факту (небольшой дождь, надо оставаться сухим), чтобы потом быть готовым выбросить со спокойным сердцем.

11. Макдональдс. Система обслуживания немного другая: после оплаты вы получите номер, когда его назовут (или высветится на табло), вы получите заказ. Не толпитесь в очереди у кассы после оплаты.

В сетях быстрого питания и кофейнях туалет только для клиентов! Если в Макдаке еще не особо следят (и то не во всех), то в Бургер Кинг или Старбаксе вы просто не попадете в туалет без кода к замку на двери туалета, который либо напечатан на чеке, либо можно узнать на кассе. (Да, жмоты еще те.)

12. Специально для русских. Цены в США в супермаркетах "неполные" - в них нет нашего НДС. Поэтому сумма на кассе окажется чуть выше от той, к которой вы приготовились. Не пугайтесь и не скандальте! Лучше сходите потом в музей за бесплатно:) (см. п. 7)



With

,

Alina.

Travel report: US - Miami

Place: Miami, Miami Beach (they are 2 different cities)
Time:  August 2013
Hotel: Double Tree - Hilton ***** (Bloody yeah!!!)
Company: a group of Russian teachers and students and me

Practising English, flirting with strangers, being scared while riding buses and metro, relaxing in jacuzzi and swimming pool - that`s what Miami was:) All that for 2 great weeks!


The thing is we didn`t expect the appartments at all! I mean, we expected sharing a small room with strangers somewhere near the ocean and things like that. Nobody told us we`re given this! Five stars appartments in Hilton!!! With a jacuzzi inside the room!!! With a swimming pool and a jacuzzi one floor below!!! For students! Yeah!!!

Alligators like eating cans:)

I was seriously amazed by these automatic cash desks!

View from the upper floors: the closer one is our pool, the farther is of the neighbouring one.

These ones belong to our neighbours, I guess:) 

View from our appartment: the magnificient Miami storm sky!

Here we used to take our bus to Miami Beach every morning to be in time for classes.

Miami Beach

Yeah, I love Miami sky!

Lincoln Road Gallery Walk

Art Deco. Remember this. The style is called Art Deco.

Jerry`s Famous Deli - a nice place to have a dinner in. Cheap and tasty! Warning: big portions!

Ocean Drive in the evening

Other localities

At the front of the bus you (hardly) can see transportable holders for 2 bikes!

And here under the seats are special fastening for wheelchairs. The seats can be removed and a chair can be promptly fasten. By the way, this is the bus driver who does it. 

First time at Shake Shack waiting for my first for so many years burger! The buzzing device was a surprize! "I scream. You scream. We All Scream For... Frozen Custard!" 

EC Miami School

Amazing EC staff! Special thanks to Mark and Allie!

 Fake cameras in the coridor will keep you safe:))

Welcome sign 

That was a bad idea to walk in Miami in the evening, we were really scared of the absence of... somebody in the streets and quickly decided to come back...

Trip to Dadeland Shopping center for my Lenovo tablet:) People, where are you??) (Saturday, 12 am)

The Camera tree. 

Miami Beach