I'll update you on details with photos in the future posting. For now, I feel like I'm out of time even though I'm safely in my room.
I met Ryiko, a friend I met at the CUSAP (Canadian University Studying Abroad Program) orientation, at Vancouver int. Airport at 3:30pm. She was there already (apparently with her boyfriend.) I only allowed my dad to escort me to the check in because I knew I would get emotional with my mom. Well, I think I made the right choice.
Ryiko and I tried to get sits together but our CUSAP-designated travel company already assinged our sits. Ryiko asked the person beside her if it'd be possible to switch seats, but he/she refused to do so. I think the person wasn't a part of our group, thus unwilling to sit between loud, excited teengers. So I sat where I was supposed to.
One thing really hit me in the head was that everybody seemd to be acquainted with each other already. I expected them to be a bit timid to talk. But I was wrong. Either a) they already knew each other (which sucks, because there could've been a friend from St. Pat's too,) or b) they're just so outgoing and sociable that they can't restrain themselves.
From UBC, only Ryiko and I are 'true' Asians - meaning, we weren't born here. There's only one guy, Justin, who goes to the same church with me. The way he behaves and talks is totally Canadian so I can't really relate to him. Because Ryiko was scared nad panicking as well, I felt relatively calm if not subdued. Even when we boarded the plane I didn't feel anything. I felt just like I was just going away for a couple of days.
Even when we arrived... it felt just like Vancouver. But wait. I have a very disturbing yet painfully memorable story to tell about Heathrow (or how the hell ever they spell it) Airport.
When I got off the plane and went to where we get stamps on our passports, Ryiko was tied behind. I waited for her because I knew how alone she would feel if I just went away. Soon she moved away to a place where it says 'Health Control.' For a few seconds I thought she was going to the washroom or something. But no... I waited and waited but she didn't come out. I saw other UBC students going away to reclaim their baggages and waited until only I was left behind. I started to panic. What if I lost them? What if Ryiko was already downstairs?
I knew it's cowardish but I was all alone and no one was around to hel me. So I hoped that Ryiko would find her way to wherever other people were.
Fortunately I was able to unload my two 23kg (each) trunks out of the rail thingy. I decided to wait for Ryiko just for few more minutes in case she was finished.
I felt like my stomach was being eaten away by acid. She wasn't coming down and everyone was leaving. WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?? I yelled at myself inside.
When I decided to leave without Ryiko, it was too late. I didn't see any familiar faces. Somehow I remembered something about going to Terminal 3 and I followd the signs on the wall. But it was very strange... I seemed to be going down and down. It seemed like a subway station and turned out to be it was for trains.
I was so close to having a heart attack. Should I take the train? No. I don't think that's what I'm supposed to do. But maybe when I get off the train, there will be everyone else!
MAN.
Had I boarded that train, I would've gotten into so much more trouble.
I opened the handbook they sent us via mail. Terminal 3 was where I was supposed to go IF I wanted to get to the International Study Center on my own - not what I wanted.
So I re-read the whole thing. There would be a guy with a ISC-Herstmonceux sign. He would be wearing a golf shirt. BUT WHERE THE HELL WAS HE?? I'd been looking for him desperately ever since I got off the re-claim section. So I dragged by heavy trolley back to the airport. And since the rail was designed to be convenient for those who were going DOWN, it was so much harder to push it up.
I could see those people who give me kind of perplexed glances. But I was in such a panic I couldn't care less.
So I got back to the airport. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Should I call the Castle and tell them I'm lost? Or should I go talk to the airport people? I supposed that going to the airport info center would be more reasonable so I timidly appraoched and got in the line. (Or, as the British say, I queued up. ... is that the right spelling?) And I saw this woman wearing a black hoody that says "Queens" on the front. I was kind of doubtful but I took a look at the back and it said ISC: Herstmonceux.
Hallelujah! Right there I caught her attention and managed to get back into the groupe. No matter how out of place I felt, it was good to be back with people with the same destination.
I met Ryiko, a friend I met at the CUSAP (Canadian University Studying Abroad Program) orientation, at Vancouver int. Airport at 3:30pm. She was there already (apparently with her boyfriend.) I only allowed my dad to escort me to the check in because I knew I would get emotional with my mom. Well, I think I made the right choice.
Ryiko and I tried to get sits together but our CUSAP-designated travel company already assinged our sits. Ryiko asked the person beside her if it'd be possible to switch seats, but he/she refused to do so. I think the person wasn't a part of our group, thus unwilling to sit between loud, excited teengers. So I sat where I was supposed to.
One thing really hit me in the head was that everybody seemd to be acquainted with each other already. I expected them to be a bit timid to talk. But I was wrong. Either a) they already knew each other (which sucks, because there could've been a friend from St. Pat's too,) or b) they're just so outgoing and sociable that they can't restrain themselves.
From UBC, only Ryiko and I are 'true' Asians - meaning, we weren't born here. There's only one guy, Justin, who goes to the same church with me. The way he behaves and talks is totally Canadian so I can't really relate to him. Because Ryiko was scared nad panicking as well, I felt relatively calm if not subdued. Even when we boarded the plane I didn't feel anything. I felt just like I was just going away for a couple of days.
Even when we arrived... it felt just like Vancouver. But wait. I have a very disturbing yet painfully memorable story to tell about Heathrow (or how the hell ever they spell it) Airport.
When I got off the plane and went to where we get stamps on our passports, Ryiko was tied behind. I waited for her because I knew how alone she would feel if I just went away. Soon she moved away to a place where it says 'Health Control.' For a few seconds I thought she was going to the washroom or something. But no... I waited and waited but she didn't come out. I saw other UBC students going away to reclaim their baggages and waited until only I was left behind. I started to panic. What if I lost them? What if Ryiko was already downstairs?
I knew it's cowardish but I was all alone and no one was around to hel me. So I hoped that Ryiko would find her way to wherever other people were.
Fortunately I was able to unload my two 23kg (each) trunks out of the rail thingy. I decided to wait for Ryiko just for few more minutes in case she was finished.
I felt like my stomach was being eaten away by acid. She wasn't coming down and everyone was leaving. WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?? I yelled at myself inside.
When I decided to leave without Ryiko, it was too late. I didn't see any familiar faces. Somehow I remembered something about going to Terminal 3 and I followd the signs on the wall. But it was very strange... I seemed to be going down and down. It seemed like a subway station and turned out to be it was for trains.
I was so close to having a heart attack. Should I take the train? No. I don't think that's what I'm supposed to do. But maybe when I get off the train, there will be everyone else!
MAN.
Had I boarded that train, I would've gotten into so much more trouble.
I opened the handbook they sent us via mail. Terminal 3 was where I was supposed to go IF I wanted to get to the International Study Center on my own - not what I wanted.
So I re-read the whole thing. There would be a guy with a ISC-Herstmonceux sign. He would be wearing a golf shirt. BUT WHERE THE HELL WAS HE?? I'd been looking for him desperately ever since I got off the re-claim section. So I dragged by heavy trolley back to the airport. And since the rail was designed to be convenient for those who were going DOWN, it was so much harder to push it up.
I could see those people who give me kind of perplexed glances. But I was in such a panic I couldn't care less.
So I got back to the airport. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Should I call the Castle and tell them I'm lost? Or should I go talk to the airport people? I supposed that going to the airport info center would be more reasonable so I timidly appraoched and got in the line. (Or, as the British say, I queued up. ... is that the right spelling?) And I saw this woman wearing a black hoody that says "Queens" on the front. I was kind of doubtful but I took a look at the back and it said ISC: Herstmonceux.
Hallelujah! Right there I caught her attention and managed to get back into the groupe. No matter how out of place I felt, it was good to be back with people with the same destination.
Oh, and another great thing that happened: I tripped when I was getting off the bus, nearly spraining my ankle. Luckily there was no damage except for slight humiliation.
When we just got out of the airport...↓ Ryiko posed for the camera
Now here I am, writing about my first day in the U.K. as a university student.
But I really hate the fact that we're still being directed to go here and there. This whole week is packed with orientation stuff that are supposed to be fun. God. Why can't we just learn on our own, making mistakes? It's just like some kind of freakin' retreat we're doing here.
And, for that matter, why does everyone here look so young and act like teenagers?
Oh, I forget. They are teengares. They're what used to be Gr.12's.
I try to give myself a break by asserting that I am a year older than them.
But what difference does it make? I'm more hopeless than I am.
For now I'm very very very tense and uncomfortable. Like everything else, I hope, with all my heart, it will grow on me. I just want to go to classes and get worked up over essays and hw. (Maybe by then I'll hopefully be comfortable enough to complain about how much work I'm getting.)
Luckily my roommate seems very nice. But Ryiko is in a very panicky mood so she's trying to get us the same room. That's fine by me also. Either way, they're all strangers to me.
Yet I despair over the fact that I still have a hard time getting to know new people, especially in this kind of Caucasian-dominated environment. This is something I haven't experienced, thanks to the St. Pat's diversity...
I can't believe this is a place I'll live at least until December 13.
Like a newly appointed private in the Korean army, I might check off each day, hoping to get back home as soon as possible.
I don't want to feel this way... Why can't I appreciate what a fascinating opportunity I have like everyone else?
I'm so tired. I want to take a shower.
I'll post another piece asap.
