I arrived in London around noon and then traveled about 3 hours north to get to Leicester. It was surreal to be back in the Stansted airport--whoa!
I arrived, a nice bus driver brought me to the center of the city so that I could take the bus to my hotel. Then I got to my hotel, met a nice older British woman who had a lot to say about the government and her pension. We ate burgers together for supper. I never got her name...
The next day was the day to tour the university. Of course, it rained the day I had to walk around Leicester and I didn't have boots (which I still need to buy...). But, I was warm with my newly bought blue sweater =)
Anyway, I got on a bus and headed for the center of town. I asked the bus driver where to go/which bus to take in order to get to the campus.
-He asked which university of Leicester.
-What? There's only one.
-But, which one do you have to go to?
-University of Leicester.
-Then you go down that way.
WELL, he pointed me in the completely opposite direction. Luckily a nice couple on the bus overheard this conversation and told me he was wrong and to follow them. I did and I am very thankful for them! I got off with them and waited for the new bus. They took the same bus as me and asked that bus driver to announce when I was to get off. Then they bid me farewell and got off at the train station. They were so nice!!
I arrived at the university and was a bit lost. I was on the campus, in the archaeology area, thinking museums studies can't be far. I asked a nice older gentleman smoking a pipe and wearing a sweater vest. So British! I asked him where to go and a small adventure began.
This man, a physics teacher, and a well-known character on campus (I now know why) told me to follow him. He was fantastic. We went into his building and he told me how they moved Museum Studies and his was sure it was near Education. Okay. (By the way, the whole time we're walking he has a slight limp and I was just picturing him telling war stories!) So we get to his office and about 3 people help us locate the Museum Studies building. The printed maps are out of date. The professor complains about them not having their act together and he asks if they sent me a map--well no but that's because I haven't received my packet--I just reply "No." That upsets him. Then we find out on the internet and we set off again in the drizzle in the right direction.
He then explains he had surgery on his leg and that's why he's limping (kills my imagination). I tell him about how the bus driver tried to point me in the opposite direction. He informs me that people in Leicester like to think of the other university, De Montfort, as the university of Leicester, which is just absurd in his opinion, and I have to agree. He takes me to the road and points where I'm supposed to go. I thank him very much and I head off to find the building. As usual I took a turn too soon, but no worries I found it!
I met with Dan and Katy who I have been speaking with for over a year about the course. They were very nice and shared tea with me as they explained the basics. Katy showed me the library, where I got a daily pass and started reading some of the material. I ate a broccoli soup there, which was perfect fit for the dreary weather. I browsed the book store and was successful in finding a sweatshirt. My first university sweatshirt. It looks nice with my comfy Webster pants.
I then leave, but before I leave campus, I stop in to say bye to Dan and Katy and let them know I enjoyed the reading material. They suggested I visit a small museum on my way back. Bob joked about how in the animal exhibit they brought in a giraffe, but the animal was too tall for the room. So they just cut off the head and placed it in the back of all the other African animals, hoping no one would notice. Hahahaha I had to check this out. It was a nice little museum (free =D) and I only got to see part of it. I missed the space part that was upstairs.
I returned to the hotel, grabbed my belongings, said goodbye to the worker and then walked out just as it was pouring. Perfect. I waited about 15-20 mins for the bus. Not fun. But I made it back to the center of the city and waited many hours (2 were in this kebab/pizza/fried chicken place right next to a club. The drunk people visited it after dancing. There was a cute guy working there and when I finally ordered chips, to be polite, he handed me a spoon to help me eat it and did he have the CUTEST smile ever) until my National Express came. I returned to London about 3 or 4 am and then I waited for my plane at 7am. Quite a long day, I must admit.
My room in the hotel
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