Bleadof’s world of tinkering

Jeez, this has been really exciting… I’ve been around London and seen all kinds of stuff. But now more detailed…

The arrival to London Stansted

The flight was awful. There was this Finnish woman beside me who didn’t talk but three words for me the whole time. Then again she had her friend beside her also, so that might’ve been the case… Anyway it was dreadfully dull flight.

When the flight arrived to London Stansted and we got out everything went smoothly. I got my luggage in no time and got out of the arrival area. Then I thought there’s going to be the London Metropolitan University’s team some where in the airport. I didn’t find them, I even went to the Info and they called for London Metropolitan University, but nobody came. Well, I thought I was a goner, because I had no experience moving about in London or how the hell I was going to find the Tufnell Park Halls of Residence. It went quite well actually now that I think about it. I asked for advice from the coach ticket sales and the woman there told me that I have to leave in Golders Green station, take the tube to Camden and there to Tufnell Park. Well, I did all this although at some time in the coach I thought I’m never going to find to Tufnell Park on my own. I proofed myself wrong \o/

Tufnell Park Halls of Residence

After I got to Tufnell Park I found the Halls of Residence quite easilly by asking advice from the tube station. The woman there was quite helpful and said I’m not first person to ask to Halls of Residence. She even gave me a map. The Residence was two blocks from the tube station so I managed to carry all my stuff (27.9 kg) with me. In the residence there was quick service and one of the wardens showed me how to find the services in the residence and so forth. After some unpacking I filled the form where I had to state the condition of my room and sign it. The room was quite fine and it had more than I thought it would have.

Next two days

Of course the same day I arrived I had to go to the Residence bar, drink some beer and get to know to people. All the Brits were quite amazed about me getting to UK for my exchange and with one Scottish guy we sang the Monty Python’s Finland song. I also met one Erasmus student from Spain, Barcelona. With Alberto I’ve shared some of my kitchen ware and general stuff to save some money. On Sunday we did our enrollment and went to the shops to get all the basic stuff you need, like kitchen ware and pillow and such. Didn’t find all of it but it was nice to go around Camden which is a little central near Tufnell Park. I actually found a cool t-shirt there by this guy who gathers designs from few designers and it costed only £10. Their website can be found from here. It’s really cool and I really recommend checking it out.

On monday I really had fun. In the morning we went shopping again with Alberto and long story short: I got my mobile connection, went to the residence, burnt my hand on a hot plate some stupid asshole had left on unguarded, went to hospital, waited for service about 1 hour 30 minutes, got looked, waited 45 minutes to get bandaged and to get out. I was told to get to the Chelsea and Westminister hospital next morning to the Burns Section at 8-10am. Went there and they took my bandages off and told me to get lotion for the hand. Apparently it’s going to heal quite nicely. Now I’m on the same trip in West Kensington in this Costa Internet Cafe.

Transportation

Subway is really nice but really expensive at the same time. I’m thinking of getting the Oyster card because with it would be a lot cheaper to get about with tube and the busses. Gladly yoy can use your day ticket over and over again in busses because they really don’t check the date properly.

Internet access

Apparently this year it’s possible to get an ADSL internet access to your room and I’m going to get it as soon as possible, so I don’t have to be in cafes or in University to use internet. Propably I’ll be writing more often as well. Bye now o/ Stay tuned (this english keyboard is odd)