Plaid CJ: The Training Wheels Come Off

First night in my dorm room! So far I am settling in nicely, though it has been interesting trying to figure out how to use UK appliances, like the show and the radiator. The shower was confusing because it has 1 knob for temperature and 1 knob to turn on, though the turning on knob doesn't look like it twists. The radiator keeps my room nice and warm, BUT it makes scary noises so I don't like to turn it on, and now its not turning on at all, I think it knows I'm afraid. Today I went out with my big vet to explore the city some more and do a little shopping, as I have hardly anything useful, like plates and food. We started out at Lloyds TSB where I made an appointment to open a bank account as soon as I get the forms I need form school. At Lloyds we met up with Ashley (my big vets) friend Steve, his wee vet Steven, and Stevens dad Steven. So many Stevens. While Steven (wee) got his bank account situated Ashley and I went to smug (a coffee place) for coffee and breakfast. Once everything was squared away at the bank we walked around campus and gave Steven the grand tour, and me a refresher to ensure that I actually know where I'm going. We saw some new areas, and a place where we might have professionals (finals), which if the tests weren't stressful enough, the venue certainly is! After all of the exploring we went to The Grosvenor, on Ashton Ln. a really cool restaurant that used to be a cinema the has fantastic food and really good drinks! We chatted for a while over food and got to know each other better and what to expect in the year to come. After lunch we took the underground back to Buchanan St because Steven (wee) needed to get the world traveler plug adapter set for his Mac from the Mac store. While the Stevens were doing that Ashley and I went to phone4u where I got a phone! Well its just a grab and go phone, but now I am able to text people in the UK, as all of my texting attempts to my big vet were unsuccessful. Because I can't get a proper phone until I have a bank account I may just hang on to this phone until the iPhone 5 comes out, but we shall see. After that I went to the most amazing outdoor store to get a backpack cover for when it rains so all of my stuff doesn't get ruined. They had so much cool camping stuff it made me want to go backpacking, so I may have to look into rounding up a couple of vet students to see who's game! After we bopped around Buchanan for a while, listening to the music of the street performers and window shopping a bit, we took the underground back to Byres St where Steven (wee) and his dad went back to his dorms while Ashley, Steve (big) and I wandered around to finish up some errands. I got some school supplies, which was almost as fun as it used to be when I was in elementary school, and walked to the bus stop to go to Ashleys flat. I went into Morrisons (a grocery store) with them so they could do some shopping before we went back to Ashleys flat, and at the market I met 2 more vet students a year above me, one from Canada and the other from Michigan. After that we hung around Ashleys flat for a bit, watching British TV and Ashley made dinner while I did grocery shopping online because they will deliver everything to you! So i took that opportunity to get things like plates and hangers so I wouldn't have to schlep all of that stuff all over the city and back to my dorm. Once we were done with dinner and the sun was setting I figured that I should get home before it got too dark to know where I was! So I said goodbye and made my way to the bus stop. I counted my lucky stars to see the bus waiting for me at the stop! But once I got there I found that it was because there was no driver? So there was a bus full of people, 2 workers, and no driver. Now I know what Ashley means when she says you can't rely on the bus system here. So I had no choice but to wait for the next bus, which eventually came, but not before I saw a girl dressed in complete Alice (from wonderland) dress come out of a car with her 2 normally dress friends? I have no idea what they were doing or where they were going, but I wasn't the only one at the bus stop staring. Once I got on the bus I found my way back to my dorm without getting lost, success! It was pretty late so I went on here to start writing this blog, but not before I saw on Facebook that a few QM vet students were hanging out in the common room where there is wifi! So I packed up my computer and met 3 more of my classmates downstairs. All of them are east coast kids, I have yet to meet a CA person though there are a lot of us, and we had an enjoyable time talking about our time here so far and what is to come.
Notable encounters today: saw my first bagpipes! and there were many "hens night" aka bachelorette parties that passed us by and were at the Grosvenor as well. Also I learned about NEDs (Non-Educated Delinquent) aka kids between the ages of 10 and 16 who will apparently come at you with a knife. But apparently all you need to do is punch them in the face? So I'll let you know how that goes!