Mundane Day Update: Arrival at the Suss

I'm here at the University of Sussex! It's my second day at the university, and my crap is already sufficiently spread across my room. Like I own the place or something.

It turns out that the University is not located in Brighton, but that's what people like to say because Brighton is the most happening place around. It's actually located in Falmer, which is a couple miles to the east of Brighton. It's about a 20 minute bus ride into town (£3.20), or a 4 minute train ride (£17), and it's situated in a lovely British countryside that I hope to ramble around soon.

The weather hasn't been as bad as everyone feared, so far. At least I haven't had to break out the umbrella. But when I got off the train in Brighton, it was SNOWING! Apparently that's rare here too, because Brighton is a coastal town and the ocean keeps things pretty mild. But it's generally pretty cold and cloudy, but bearable with my sweet silk long-johns (Thanks, Mom!) Also the building I live in (pictured right) is kept at approximately 120˚F all the damn time, so, at least I'm toasty.

They keep me pretty busy here: yesterday I arrived at about 11 A.M., after which I unpacked my bags, bought cooking utensils and sheets, rode to Brighton to do a little grocery-shopping, wrestled with the internet and finally got it working in my room, ate fish and chips for free (on accident... I was supposed to pay but I forgot), then returned to Skype with Dad and talk with the boyfriend on AIM before collapsing into a residual jet-lag-induced coma. Today, it's been a parade of compulsory talks since 9:45 about academia, life at Sussex, how not to get mugged and why you shouldn't overstay the time stamped in your passport. I can safely say that the rigidity of the British academic system has scared the shit out of me (literally, kind of... the food here is giving me the runs!). I'm sure they're just talking it up, though, and I'll be able to handle it.

I have a free dinner thing to go to at 6:00 PM, and then I think a few of us are going to go pub-crawling in Brighton to see what there is to see. Since I got my internet set up yesterday, I am always on when I'm in my room (sn: oddrid) and I'm also always on Skype (sn: oddrid) in case you want to talk-talk, like phone talk. I miss everyone so much (especially the boyfriend... that one's got me pretty weepy already), and I look forward to talking with you soon. Much love!

-Sarah