My first mistake!
I think you will all be very surprised to hear that I got myself a little lost today. I went out on my own because it’s impossible to get into touch with people around here. I think people who live(d) with out phones must be or must have been a lot more specific and very punctual. t took me a long while and a nap to energize me and motivate me to go off on my own. Anyway, I went to the bus stop and although Helen mentioned something about a crosswalk, I went to the bus stop without looking for the crosswalk, because it seemed that it was right there. Helen had told me it was 90p to ride the bus and all I had was a 5 pound note, so I bought something at the mini-mart right near the bus stop to make change. Well stupid me, it ends up being 2 quid so I didn’t have enough change and ended up having to break a 10 rather than a 5! Oh well. I rode the bus (‘twas a double-decker!) for about 30 minutes and start to worry ‘cos it keeps mentioning Chessington, which is not where I was headed. It gets to the last stop and all of the passengers disembark and I stay right in my seat. Then the bus driver steps off too. I asked him if the bus was going to Kingston and he goes, “You’ve taken the bus in the wrong direction!” Who knew busses went in different directions?! He was nice and told me to sit down. He got off for a smoke and I stayed there and he didn’t charge me for getting another ride so that was good. But because of my delay in getting out and then the excess hour I spent on the bus, I got to Kingston later than I had planned. It was a little before 6, so a lot of places I wanted to go to were closed (post office, cute little shop I saw, health food stores). I went and got a chai at Caffe Nero (and a yogurt — BIG mistake) and then I went grocery shopping. I wish I hadn’t because my arm is killing me from carrying so much all over the place! Even though a lot was closed, I circled around the block, following the route I had planned on taking to all the places I had to go. Then I hopped back on the bus — this time headed in the right direction — and got home safely. Phewf.
Oh and better news: Last night, my land lady was talking about how great the new Rose Theatre right in Kingston is. Tonight, as I was walking to the bus stop from the grocery store, I see that A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be playing at the beginning of next month! So exciting! A friend and I are also looking into cheap prices for tickets to musicals in London. She lives right by the Kingston stop for the Underground. YAY!
Tomorrow is orientation so I’ll be finding out my class schedule and everything else then. Then they have a welcome party sort of thing afterward at a bar. These Brits sure love their pubs. I have yet to go out, so we’ll see what that’s like. I’ll let you all know soon.
Miss & love everyone!
3 years ago • Notes