Jean (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} avelia) wrote,@ 2007-01-28 21:28:00 |
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January 23/24 - First Day in Manchester
[Yes I know this is late but I only got my internet connection today =O]
On the 23rd morning, I was still packing because there are so much things I want to bring but I was only allowed 23kg of stuff in my luggage, so that means the spilt over will have to be stuffed and shoved into my backpack X_X
We got to the Pearson airport at around 2 and it was empty then, which was a good thing as I couldn't fit my carry-on luggage, my fat-ass backpack, into the metal slot my dad and I ended up repacking everything until it fits!! Chilled around until 5ish when I have to board my plane and I guess it's time to say bye to Toronto for 5ish months =,(
*prays that her luggage won't get lost or damaged*
The plane was so cramped! It's three seat per column and so it was more cramped than the seat space on greyhound or via rail. Oh why did I pick the window seat?! I have determined to not to go to the bathroom for the next 9 hours as my ultimate goal because it took me so long just to shove my backpack down in front of me and by then I could barely move, I really couldn't take climbing over two other people to and fro to get to the bathroom X_X
It took forever until everyone has boarded and the plane still dallied around the airport to get something like anti-freeze on its wings. The pilot commented on we will smell something weird because of it and it is no cause for alarm >.>
The food was quite bad and I even had to pay for my chocolate bar X_X
They played sucky movies on the plane (Charmed and the Invincible) and I couldn't fall asleep on the plane at all, it was horrible! I ended up not sleeping for 38 hours straights and hence jet lag wasn't a big problem for me. I passed out later on for a minute or two but nothing fatal happened to me thank goodness.
We had to stop over at Glasgow Scotland because it's like an airbus, some people get off there and more ppl get on from there =_= When I bought my ticket, the agent told me that I didn't have to deplane but turns out that they jacked up the security in England (wtf, I guess the United Kingdom is not that united afterall) and so I have to go through custom again and I wasn't allowed to bring any liquid over 100ml that isn't packed in clear resealable bags...bye bye 3 months worth of contact solutions and perfume =_= By the time we get back on the plane to fly to Manchester, it was 8am GMT or 3am EST already and the good thing is that the sunrise was beautiful.
(you can see the tips of some snowy mountains poking through the clouds if you look closely)
(what Manchester looks like from 3000 ft up
When I finally arrived at Manchester airport, custom didn't take that long and the immigration officer was quite quick too. Getting back my luggage though was quite interesting. It didn't take as long as I've expected for it to come out but the thing is, it's 50lbs on a carousel belt. I couldn't grab it on the first try and had to wait for it to come back my way because other people were in the way and none thought of giving me a hand. F*ckers.
When I got outside, it was another problem waiting for me. What does the taxi in Manchester look like?? Can you point it out for me?
From the arrival guide provided, I know that the black cabs are pre-arranged and the yellow cabs are normal hail-able cabs. (but later my mentor told me that sometimes the 'black cabs' aren't black but painted with different colours and they can be yellow too...bloody brits.)
Then finally, I got on one and it was quite amusing. The driver is completely isolated from the passengers except for a slot for money transactions. The passenger side has four seats (two to two) where two of them has to be flipped down if needed.
The first ### of miles is 2.50 pounds with each ###miles for additional 20p and each additional passenger/luggage is 20p also.
Finally got to my residence office, collect my keys and swipe card while carrying all my sh*t. Thought the worst is behind me but it's only the beginning!! When I found my residence building (yes I got lost finding it because Jeannie is friggen direction-challenged and ended up in a place call the tree court >.>) I found out that this building of mine, where my room is on the 3rd floor, HAS NO ELEVATOR OR ESCALATORS OMGWTFBBQ!! The caretaker lady whom I've bumped into opened the door for me but told me she's not allowed to touch my luggage so I can try and ask people to come down to help...
Left my bigass luggage downstairs, I ran up 4 flights of stairs to try and find my room, but this is a very secure building... not only is the front door card accessed, even the hallways are locked!! Now I was given 3 keys and none of them work. Awesome! Knocked on the door, no one came out of their rooms =_= psh so I ran back down and decided to take on that 50lb of badassness by myself and haul it up 4 flights of hell. Then I tried the door again and that's when i found out that the keys work upsidedown here!!! When I got in the hallway, this girl (Emma) came out and helped me to drag it to my room (yay finally someone nice!) and told me that the key that opened the hall way is also my room key. Upside down for the hall and rightside up for my room.
.....
When I got in my room, it was like first year all over again. My room is so small!! (Although I do have my own bathroom =)) It was oh so bare, the bathroom didn't even have toilet paper!
The most important thing to me then was to hook up my computer but to my horror (no I'm not being dramatic) I have NO INTERNET ACCESS AHHHHHHHH WTF! Good thing that I copied down my mentor's phone number just in case I got lost/kidnapped at the airport but guess what? THE PHONE DOESN'T WORK!! I was about to pass out from lack of sleep and cry out from frustration and that's when I bumped into another flatmate James, when he told me that I need to BUY a phone card from the central office before I can make calls. Wow, Canadian government...I miss you loads. 15 mins and 10pounds gone later, I'm on the phone crying to my Mentor, who was very nice and came to my rescue in her very cute van. She drove me to Asda-Walmart to pick up beddings, shampoo, food, pots and pans, towels etc. so I can actually live!
Before she came I thought I would shower to get rid of my fatigue but I forgot that I didn't even have shampoo to shower with T___________T That's when I became thankful of my Chinese habit to pocket hotel shampoos and soaps, God they were so handy!
It was 8pm already and I haven't ate since 7am when they gave us a carrot muffin on the plane (ew!) I had two hot cross buns that I bought at Asda and decided to call it a day after some minimum unpacking. The rest will just have to wait until tomorrow!
[Yes I know this is late but I only got my internet connection today =O]
On the 23rd morning, I was still packing because there are so much things I want to bring but I was only allowed 23kg of stuff in my luggage, so that means the spilt over will have to be stuffed and shoved into my backpack X_XWe got to the Pearson airport at around 2 and it was empty then, which was a good thing as I couldn't fit my carry-on luggage, my fat-ass backpack, into the metal slot my dad and I ended up repacking everything until it fits!! Chilled around until 5ish when I have to board my plane and I guess it's time to say bye to Toronto for 5ish months =,(
*prays that her luggage won't get lost or damaged*The plane was so cramped! It's three seat per column and so it was more cramped than the seat space on greyhound or via rail. Oh why did I pick the window seat?! I have determined to not to go to the bathroom for the next 9 hours as my ultimate goal because it took me so long just to shove my backpack down in front of me and by then I could barely move, I really couldn't take climbing over two other people to and fro to get to the bathroom X_X
It took forever until everyone has boarded and the plane still dallied around the airport to get something like anti-freeze on its wings. The pilot commented on we will smell something weird because of it and it is no cause for alarm >.>
The food was quite bad and I even had to pay for my chocolate bar X_X
They played sucky movies on the plane (Charmed and the Invincible) and I couldn't fall asleep on the plane at all, it was horrible! I ended up not sleeping for 38 hours straights and hence jet lag wasn't a big problem for me. I passed out later on for a minute or two but nothing fatal happened to me thank goodness.We had to stop over at Glasgow Scotland because it's like an airbus, some people get off there and more ppl get on from there =_= When I bought my ticket, the agent told me that I didn't have to deplane but turns out that they jacked up the security in England (wtf, I guess the United Kingdom is not that united afterall) and so I have to go through custom again and I wasn't allowed to bring any liquid over 100ml that isn't packed in clear resealable bags...bye bye 3 months worth of contact solutions and perfume =_= By the time we get back on the plane to fly to Manchester, it was 8am GMT or 3am EST already and the good thing is that the sunrise was beautiful.
(you can see the tips of some snowy mountains poking through the clouds if you look closely) (what Manchester looks like from 3000 ft up When I finally arrived at Manchester airport, custom didn't take that long and the immigration officer was quite quick too. Getting back my luggage though was quite interesting. It didn't take as long as I've expected for it to come out but the thing is, it's 50lbs on a carousel belt. I couldn't grab it on the first try and had to wait for it to come back my way because other people were in the way and none thought of giving me a hand. F*ckers.When I got outside, it was another problem waiting for me. What does the taxi in Manchester look like?? Can you point it out for me?
From the arrival guide provided, I know that the black cabs are pre-arranged and the yellow cabs are normal hail-able cabs. (but later my mentor told me that sometimes the 'black cabs' aren't black but painted with different colours and they can be yellow too...bloody brits.)Then finally, I got on one and it was quite amusing. The driver is completely isolated from the passengers except for a slot for money transactions. The passenger side has four seats (two to two) where two of them has to be flipped down if needed.
Finally got to my residence office, collect my keys and swipe card while carrying all my sh*t. Thought the worst is behind me but it's only the beginning!! When I found my residence building (yes I got lost finding it because Jeannie is friggen direction-challenged and ended up in a place call the tree court >.>) I found out that this building of mine, where my room is on the 3rd floor, HAS NO ELEVATOR OR ESCALATORS OMGWTFBBQ!! The caretaker lady whom I've bumped into opened the door for me but told me she's not allowed to touch my luggage so I can try and ask people to come down to help...
Left my bigass luggage downstairs, I ran up 4 flights of stairs to try and find my room, but this is a very secure building... not only is the front door card accessed, even the hallways are locked!! Now I was given 3 keys and none of them work. Awesome! Knocked on the door, no one came out of their rooms =_= psh so I ran back down and decided to take on that 50lb of badassness by myself and haul it up 4 flights of hell. Then I tried the door again and that's when i found out that the keys work upsidedown here!!! When I got in the hallway, this girl (Emma) came out and helped me to drag it to my room (yay finally someone nice!) and told me that the key that opened the hall way is also my room key. Upside down for the hall and rightside up for my room.
.....
When I got in my room, it was like first year all over again. My room is so small!! (Although I do have my own bathroom =)) It was oh so bare, the bathroom didn't even have toilet paper!
The most important thing to me then was to hook up my computer but to my horror (no I'm not being dramatic) I have NO INTERNET ACCESS AHHHHHHHH WTF! Good thing that I copied down my mentor's phone number just in case I got lost/kidnapped at the airport but guess what? THE PHONE DOESN'T WORK!! I was about to pass out from lack of sleep and cry out from frustration and that's when I bumped into another flatmate James, when he told me that I need to BUY a phone card from the central office before I can make calls. Wow, Canadian government...I miss you loads. 15 mins and 10pounds gone later, I'm on the phone crying to my Mentor, who was very nice and came to my rescue in her very cute van. She drove me to Asda-Walmart to pick up beddings, shampoo, food, pots and pans, towels etc. so I can actually live!
Before she came I thought I would shower to get rid of my fatigue but I forgot that I didn't even have shampoo to shower with T___________T That's when I became thankful of my Chinese habit to pocket hotel shampoos and soaps, God they were so handy!
It was 8pm already and I haven't ate since 7am when they gave us a carrot muffin on the plane (ew!) I had two hot cross buns that I bought at Asda and decided to call it a day after some minimum unpacking. The rest will just have to wait until tomorrow!
