First hand experience of living abroad.

Ok, before I start forgetting the details, better start posting some here.

So.... Here I am, finally in Bristol, UK for the next 2 years! (*fingers crossed that everything will go smoothly accordingly and manage to graduate as planned*) I'm glad that I made it through all the interviews especially the university that I was hoping for despite all the gan cheongness I have to go through every single time.

To start it off, my university accepted me sooo late, and everything was just in a rush for the last 2-3 weeks before I fly. Due to late acceptance, I've only manage to book my accommodation through the university way past the due deadline. I was suppose to choose 6 options out of 10 probably? but in the end only the one (I was expecting) offered me, and since I was left with no other choices, I took it. After a week or two, the accommodation replied me that the building is still not ready and will be delayed till December, and they cancelled on me last minute eventho I have already paid 250GBP. C'mon la, building not ready dont accept bookings can? Wasting everyone's time searching for another room and it wasn't easy because till then all the other rooms within my budget were snapped out, and I was sweating my heads out by then worrying abt me sleeping on streets.

While I was panicking, the university manage to offer me another room but I wasnt too keen with that so I went ahead and search for other private halls and manage to find a Twodio room. And when the day I was abt to pay my booking fee, I received an email from the accommodation manager that I have to pay my whole year rental at one go because I dont have a UK based guarantor, wtf? Well, as a Malaysian it is highly impossible at that point la with the Ringgit depreciating everyday. Plus, why other accommodation can take installments and this one cannot, why so double standard one?!

At the end I just chose the one that the U offered me otherwise I srsly have to sleep on streets for the first few days d. And because of this stupid issue that I have to pay for the express lane for my late visa application just to manage to fly 2days before my orientation.

 Sweating my palms off on the same day in the afternoon before my flight. Brought my CPU over and realized it took more than half the space off my lugguage, fml. In the end manage to squeeze everything in another small cabin lugguage and I totally forgotten to check the weight, and it exceeded during the check in haih. Thank god the person let me off and just reminded me to check the next time.

After a long 13 hour flight, finally touched down struggling to get my luggage and find my way through terminal 4 to terminal 3. Ooh, and I was lucky enough to actually met a fellow Malaysian otw thr, not so lonely after all, hahaha.

 First purchase in the UK!

After dilly dallying the afternoon of 2 hours bus ride from London to Bristol, and another hour in the uni, finally reached my hall and settle everything down. Somehow manage to know a fellow Malaysian (who is now one of the few friends I have now), and off we went to Primark to get our bedding for the night. 

Super cute whatsapp bedding omg. hahaha!

The accommodation wasn't as bad as what I imagined tho. Haha only the people here you live with will make a huge huge impact. Well it looks pretty clean and decent to live in, and really appreciated the management to provide all these small little details, along with a welcome pack that comes with a free simcard and sainsbury card inside the room. 

 The only downside was just the view from my room. Spot the contrast of the opposite unit.

Well, it all only lasted not for too long till hsemates starts arriving and omg they are all under 20. Imagine living with a bunch of teens under the same roof, I swear I'm having such a hard time living here. I think it's their culture here to party and drink for the whole of fresher's week, booming music starting from the after noon with plenty of booze and random people start flocking in the flat. And I really don't knw where they get their energy to continue partying after all this.

Shit how to survive through all this shit?! Fingers crossed and praying hard they all this will die down when they start their classes and suffer with assignments otherwise fml. Not that Im anything against them or what, but thank god postgrads are more alike, or probably because all of us in some point had started working and all we wanted was just some peaceful moment or smtg slow to just relax and enjoy some quality alone time.

To be honest, there's a reason why I chose to study here eventho it's not accredited by the PAM. Well because, screw PAM la they're gonna change their policy in 2017 anyways, might as well just study somewhr tht is vibrant enough but also kind of not so hectic, just the perfect place for me to find some inner peace and properly think what I want in life and how to really manage myself independently mentally and physically. I also didnt wanna pay so much to study abroad and meet the same people over again, it's always good to know new people in new environments.

Signs of aging no. 1:
The young ones will think of where to party and drink on a Friday night where else we the old ones on the other hand is thinking what to cook and eat for dinner. SPOT THE CONTRAST, lol. Orrrr, I'm probably just so sick of the food here, just because they mainly live off with sandwiches/breads and pasta and I'm a very Asian person who craves for rice everyday.

See this everyday in town. Imagining the working society here is living at such a fast pace just grabing a sandwich and go and call it a meal. Full meh? We Malaysians on the other hand are having first world problems of thinking what to eat everyday for lunch lol.

Almost feeding on scones and sandwiches for the first few days and feeling so sick of it already just because I'm trying to rush off before the expiry date. Mainly because when I was in Europe that is all I eat lol just because Asian food is hard to find and its exp, and who eats Asian food when travelling to Western countries anyways? Thanks mom for saying: "Just because you dont eat doesnt mean we dont eat", and look what happen now, I have to finish all up after you leave. -___-.  

Finally couldn't take it and dine in a Japanese restaurant nearby. Portion super huge and surprisingly delicious! I'm probably saving my money through dine out meals just because I'm not a big eater and their portion are just SO HUGE. 

Before I came here, I vowed to myself that I have to learn how to cook when studying in the UK and also its just impossible to eat out everyday la, haha. When at home, I don't even bother lifting a single finger helping my mom to cook, but over here, I'm proud to pat myself on the back for a person like me who doesn't even cook can manage to pull of good dinner almost every night. Of course some dishes are bought or easy cooking la, ahaha cuz usually when we finish cooking only we realized we actually took up 1 hour to cook everyday. #inexperienced. 

I'm actually documenting my cooking everyday, hahahhaha. Seriously I don't kow how the people here live off with sandwiches for lunch or pasta for every meal. And idk how can they digest cold food right straight from the fridge? Wa sorry cultural shock, I didn't know they don't know how a rice cooker looks like or how it works. O_O

Signs of aging no.2 
Start appreciating and enjoying some alone time. For a person like me who usually don't bother reading much, is starting to pick up some reading to improve my English. Actually.... I also vowed to myself that I have to improve my English and grammar when I'm here. Always so envy of those people who are so good in writing and speaking with confidence.

Strolling through the streets and was about to buy some books the other day but so reluctant to buy because of the price. Sorry abit kiamsiap to pay 8GBP for a book haha, but why pay so much when I happen to stumble upon a bookshop that sells 2 for 5GBP? Totally in need of some tea and a quiet peaceful Saturday afternoon to spend on some reading.

Passed by the Bristol Cathedral the other day and I was telling my friend that we should just buy a cloth and sit under a tree, facing the good view of the cathedral's front elevation and it would be PERFECT for a Saturday afternoon, enjoying the book.

Signs of aging no.3 
Feeling super aunty for signing up for discount cards and scouting around supermarkets for the best bargains and best buys. haha or probably living in the UK with the currency conversion its abit too exp la. I pretty much like the ideas of the supermarket here with cheap and good deals, well at least cheaper than Msia without converting la of course, lol.


Also here's some cultural shock and ranting moments of living together with humans under 20 under the same roof:

***Ok, before I start here's a disclaimer that I hope I don't offend anyone. I've nothing against the people here and their living habits, just abit of cultural shock and some of the intolerable living habits and hygienic level. And am probably just mad of them using stuff so conveniently without asking permissions.

Cultural shock no.1 
I'm actually quite grateful and lucky to have the opportunity to travel out of the country and overseas and for them who probably have never been out of the country, I'm guessing they didn't know there are cultural differences among other nationalities as well as time and currency? First off, I think they are pretty ignorant individuals who doesn't care or bother asking permissions about using other people's belongings? I'm not sure whether is this normal or its a practice here but for sure I'm really not pleased with the whole situation.

Their parents pretty much can afford and buy their utensils, cooking cutlery and food as well as ingredients, so why bother using my stuffs? Why use my ingredients, my pots and bowls without asking me? And with their currency, they can pretty much buy alot of things with their money and us as an international students on the other hand are struggling due to the conversion rate. But, in order to live happily for the rest of the year or (thankgod) only during term time, I'm gonna close an eye and get over with them using my pots and pans, although I would get mad most of the times, but just accept and double wash it before putting back in my cabinet to avoid unnecessary arguments la. *trying to be the bigger person here*

Cultural shock no.2
OK, don't bother about using my pots and pans, but leaving it aside after cooking and not washing them up after a few days? Eeew, gross please! Whose gonna wash them up after you cook? Sorry you're not living off in your parent's house during term time so please. And another thing I'm not really sure its just them or there's a personal preferences in this. As far to my understanding, we usually wash with sponges with washing liquid.

But for them they soak in hot water with washing liquid while brushing the leftovers and drying them at the drainer after that? Erm, I rmb taking my bowl once and there were still oily and some pesto sauce arnd. Omg, seriously I can't stand it. I even tried to give my opinion with other washing alternatives but was rejected no thanks to stubbornness. Oh, so you think you damn smart la now?
-___-

Cultural differences no.3 
Haha this is not a cultural shock but more like a difference because I have a hard time figuring out their timing. They are so used to saying half past 11 or quarter to 3, and it never fails to make me think what time is it because Malaysians will never ever use that term although we learn that in English class, hahaha. For the Chinese we usually literally say the number out and as for the English speakings we usually say like 11.30 or 12.15pm. Heard from my coursemates from other countries that initially had hard time with that too, so good to know I'm not the only one, hahaha.

Shocking moment no.4

What's up with Frozen and Minions everywhere man? They are soooo mainstream till every products are printed on with them faces. Even shampoo and potato chips? Omg don't even get me started on paper towels that has their prints on. Although I'm a fan of their Mcd collectibles (paiseh have to line up and snatch with kids), but thank god I'm not a crazy fan otherwise, we will all know where my money has gone to, lol.

Overall, apart from having minor issues with the brats, I quite like the people and pace in this city. The people here are super friendly and helpful, they will go out of their way just to guide you for something and will constantly ask if you're alright? I'm also super lucky and blessed to have met a few fellow Malaysians and Asians here so not so lonely la, at least got someone in common to talk to.

I will probably post about some local or touristy thing some other time. Or would also probably come up with a what if section if my imaginations are running wild on some days, haha. Till then.

x