2 weeks

I cannot believe it's only been 2 weeks, I feel like I have been here FOREVER. Everyone said that the first month would seem long and then start to fly after that.

I've got so much work to do, it's like being back at school again. It's quite a bit easier than Manchester but there is just tonnes of it and it's hard to keep up with already! I'm hoping that they're just trying to shock us into it at the beginning of term and then it will ease off a bit. I've also got all of my essay deadlines and exam timetable now, so let the trip planning begin!

I went for lunch with Anne and Johanna today; the woman I met at the family meal night and a girl from Finland. We met up with Anne's friend and her two little kids 2 year old Sophia and 6 month old Hunter. They were too cute and we had a lovely day! Going to plan on meeting up with them again in the next couple of weeks, it's so lovely to meet people outside of the student world who are still interested in where you're from and what you're doing in Knoxville - they're all so patriotic! I've just got back after class and then printing and reading in the library now I'm heading next door for tea, Shannon and Michaela are making us jacket potatoes again (and insisting on saying it repeatedly because they find it so amusing).

Not sure what my plans for the rest of the week/weekend are yet, but there's lots to choose from! Tomorrow we're either going on a theatre tour or out for dinner, then on Saturday we're hopefully going to drive to Nashville for the day with Michaela (Florida!). Sunday is Boomsday and Monday is Labour day - which apparently are both quite big deals here, so sure there'll be plenty going on (and an extra day to get on top of this work).

x

Fun fun fun

Just one of the sites of Knoxville

Friday night was family night at the International house - a chance to meet and have a meal with University of Tennessee alumni and their families. We arrived together so they tried to split the English up ... the other three ended up sitting together anyways, but I got placed with a different family. They were called Dan & Anne and have a little girl, Elizabeth who live in Knoxville and both met at the University. We ended up having a really good laugh and their daughter got to pick a name out of the prize draw and she picked me! Wohoo! So I won a Tennessee t-shirt and a food hamper (thanks Patrick). I was also sat with a girl who lives on the same corridor as me, Johanna from Finland. We had a really nice time and Anne has offered to take us out for lunch this Wednesday and give us a tour of downtown Knoxville which I'm really looking forward to. At the meal they were giving random facts about who was here e.g. representing 30 different countries, studying 50 different subjects, speaking 30 different languages etc. and one of them was that there was an Olympic gold medalist among us ...

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Sang-Hwa 

She won a Gold in Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics!

Amphitheater

After the fun of that evening, we went to watch The Hunger Games at the Amphitheater, I was expecting to go into a lecture theatre - I didn't know that this meant it would be outside! It was SO much fun and I enjoyed the film way more than I expected to.

On Saturday, the English girls went to a vintage fair that was a bus ride away from campus. It was really fun and we got chatting to some of the women who worked there who told us a brief history of Knoxville, then made us Corn dogs - the people here are SO friendly, you can't go to a shop without getting chatting to someone about something, I love it! But then onto the real deal ... we finally got to the MALL. It's biiiig and has some good shops in it, I think it's a bit of an upmarket mall though, lots of House of Fraser/Selfridge's type stores. I bought a new bikini and got a Hollister hoodie (because all my lectures are freezing with the air con) for $20.

I looked way too special stood in the middle of the shop trying to take this picture for you yesterday, haha join the line!

Americans don't queue - they line.

Band & cheer practice

UT campus

I've got loads of reading to do already, but it makes it easier when you can take it around the pool to do and watch the band practice when you need a break! The campus is really nice too so whilst the weather is still good I plan on doing all my reading outside in the sun.
Still got loads going on and still having loads of fun. I can't believe I've not even been here 2 weeks - it feels like forever and I've settled in really well!

T.G.I. Friday

Yesterday was crazy - it started at 8.15am with pancakes before class, then it was my first full day of classes; I have 3 one after the other but they are spread right across campus (which is probably like walking from Headingley to the train station) with only 15 minutes to get there. It's ok while the weather's nice but when it gets colder I'll probably try work the bus system out! But, they all went well, seem really interesting, and I've managed to get most of the books I needed from the library instead of buying 12 I've only had to get 4, winner.
I was shattered by the time I got back, so just planned on going down the street for a free student dinner with Shannon & Michaela - the Americans who live next door. We met loads of people there and they told us it was the late night shopping lock-in at Target (kind of an asda type shop-sells a bit of everything) so we ended up running back to get changed and went there until 1am. Who needs alcohol when you can go shopping and set up a DJ desk in the middle of Target?!!
It's still crazy - every day something happens where I'm like WOW, they are crazy/hilarious/clueless. In my lesson today somebody thought I was Irish when I spoke and someone else got really excited because she'd been in France over Summer... close, but not close enough!

Just chilling out for a bit now, Raven brought loads of stuff from her apartment at home to use here so we now have a sofa, microwave, toaster, TV and Wii - living in luxury and we are now definitely the most popular apartment around here!! I'm going to a Knoxville night at the International house with Lauren, Annabelle and Georgia tonight; we get a free dinner (obviously-I've still not needed to go food shopping!) and meet families from around Knoxville, which should be a nice change. Then there's another free cookout!! With a hipster and hoedown fancy dress, so we're going to pop by and see the sites of that!

The plan is to go to a vintage fair and the mall tomorrow (wohoo!!) I really really really need some comfy shoes. Lucky that these beautys are in fashion here!
http://www.rei.com/gear/feature/search/Google/chaco%20shoes/?s_kwcid=TC|13029|chaco%20shoes||S|e|15532838285&gclid=CL6U2PKJgbICFQKf7QodNFYAtg
Then hopefully have a relaxing day on Sunday and do my homework (lol-feels like I'm in school again)!
CYA. x

Let the classes begin

I have finally managed to sort my classes out, I'm enrolled on two 3rd year courses and one 4th year (bearing in mind I'm only 2nd year), but Tennessee and Manchester have said they're happy with the choices, and they all seem interesting, so hopefully they won't be too hard!

Today was the first day of classes, but I only had to be in for an hour. My busy days are Tuesday and Thursday! The campus is massive so I set off about an hour early to find the class - I found it straight away so sat out in the sun for an hour instead, it's been beautiful weather and getting hotter this week too. Then you go inside and it's FREEZING. I had to take a hoodie with me today until I can get used to the ridiculous amount of air con they have everywhere. The class was fun; we played 'speed mating', went round about 10 different people and had to find out there name, where they were from (that's when I met Cody from MONTANA!) and something interesting about them. Then you had to choose your best mate and tell the class about them. Obvs, I got picked because they all love England (even though none of them had been or knew hardly anything about it). They are also loving the Harry scandal!! 

The lecturer was really lovely and the course seems easier than what we'd be doing at Manchester, so that's a good sign :)

Just about to go next door for dinner and a film with the American girls round there. 

These are just a few pictures that had been put on the International house website since I've been here ...

Lauren, Annabelle & Jade at the I-House

Professional snap of the Hoedown

My tie-dye turned out pretty good.

Downtown, Cookout, Pool party & Frat party

Yesterday was another mad one! I went to Church that had a free BBQ afterwards, it was really nice because it's on campus but it's not just students that go, there are families too which is great to meet people from around Knoxville. We didn't have any plans so decided to walk Downtown, going via the Tennessee shop where they have all things orange, couldn't find a shot glass though ... I'm still working on it! 

Smokey the Tennessee Vols mascot

 After wandering round Downtown we stopped off for an Ice Tea in the main square and then headed back to the Uni for the main freshman cookout. I have never seen so many burgers and hotdogs in my life, there must have been enough for five each.
It was like a Freshers fair so we picked up loads of freebies, including a voucher for a free hair cut at the hairdressers on the strip, wohoo!

Georgia, Jade & Annabelle at UT Hill

The Tennessee Convention Centre, Downtown

In the evening we went to a Pool Party which also had a free BBQ (there's a bit of a theme going on here!) We didn't go in, but it was really fun. They had a 'Greek walk' which is where all the Sororitys and Fraternitys strut up and down and try to recruit new people, it's hilarious how big headed they are, especially the lads! Greek life is massive here and I'm fascinated by it ... so when we got invited to a 'Frat party' we obviously had to go to see what it was like. It didn't disappoint, it was just like in American films and everyone was drinking no problem. Apparently the Police just turn a blind eye to the area that they live in and let it go on - so much for a 4 month detox!

Pool Party

Brits Abroad

There are loads of Chinese and Japanese students in the International house and who went on the retreat, but us Brits (can't use English, there's a few Welsh mixed in there too) got together for a cheeky pic with Smokey the college football mascot! 

They are sport crazy!!!! The guys who play American football are like celebrities on campus, it's hilarious and the stadium is the biggest building on campus by far. Everyone has got tickets for the first game against Georgia on September 8th - I'm really looking forward to it, it's got a lot to live up to! 

Yee-Haw!

Croker Creek Retreat Centre

 Hoedown & Hayride was AMAZING. We drove about an hour and a half away on a yellow school bus!!

Excited about the yellow school bus

We went into the mountains, but not in the Smokeys... they said they didn't think the Internationals would be ready for the Smokey wildlife yet, so think I'll avoid that one completely. We stayed at Coker Creek Village - an activity centre run by a family who were THE most American people I have ever met, the woman running it was called Mary-Lou and wore a tie-dye tshirt and matching baseball cap, says it all.

Gold searching in the creek

Croker Creek

We did group activities which was fun and then at night had a Hoedown which was even better than I imagined, then we piled (literally) onto a hay trailer and got driven round by a tractor, it was hilarious... it dropped us at a bonfire that they'd set up and we had 'Smores' toasted marshmallow inbetween biscuit mmmmm. Today we got a mega Southern breakfast which kept us going all day, literally. 

Hoedowwwwwn

Fried everything

American dining room

The food is all great (apart from the one meal in the picture, blugh) but it's actually making me want to eat healthy food because it stops getting exciting when everything is fried!! Things will be different and much busier this week; I'm already shattered, but I am loving it here, so much more than I expected! 

Just a funny one: I got asked the dreaded question yesterday: "so, do you guys speak a different language in England?" JOKERS.

Busy Busy Busy

I can't believe I've only been here for 2 days, I've done so much and met so many people already!!

Today started with a 20 minute bus ride to Walmart to get some essentials for the apartment and do a food shop. We were in there for over 2 hours - that place is huge! On our way out with about 30 shopping bags between the 3 of us, we bumped into Shannon and Michaela the girls from next door and they offered us a lift back, so we got a Subway and waited until they had finished their shopping for a lift home, lucky! 

After dumping our stuff, we had another borrrrrrring meeting about enrolling, they seem really unorganised at the minute and I'm currently not enrolled on any courses at all! but everyone is in the same position so not worrying at all just yet.

To cheer ourselves up after a boring and unproductive meeting, we took a trip to 'the strip' Cumberland Avenue which is about 10 minutes walk from the International House. It is literally a strip of takeaways, restaurants, bars and shops. We found a 'Goodwills' charity shop which someone had told us about. It was INSANE. You could find anything in there, and everything is under 3 dollars!

After another 'drop your shopping bags and go straight back out' moment, it was time for a night with the International center (centre) who were hosting a Free Bowling and Pizza night. They hired out a full bowling alley and ordered way too many pizzas from Papa Johns! Got talking to a girl from Northern Ireland and a few others from England - there's now a little group of us, 2 from Swansea, 2 from Keele, 2 from Nottingham, us 3 and another girl from Manchester who we didn't know was coming! 

Tomorrow is Hoedown and Hayride day. Heading to the Coker Creek Village until Saturday afternoon which should be fun! To be continued ...

Travels

After Annabelle sleeping through her alarm, by the time she arrived and the bags were checked in, we didn't have much time to spare. This meant it was pretty annoying when my hand luggage had to go through security FOUR times. The security guard finally said, "there's a liquid in there." I was certain there wasn't so he said he'd after empty my bag infront of quite a crowd of people. It turned out it was my present from Sophie that I'd moved from my suitcase to lower the weight. So the security guard had to open the present infront of everyone to reveal a photo frame filled with embarassing photos of me from my travels, along with some factor 50 sun cream to stop a repeat of Medj burns. It was lucky that he found it hilarious (as did everyone else that were around).

After battling through security at Manchester airport we had a 35 minute flight to London Heathrow and even though it was so short, they still managed to serve us bacon and egg sandwiches and our final English cup of tea! In the airport we amused ourselves with a game of 'Spot the Olympian' this guy was an American basket-baller.

'Spot the Olympian' at London Heathrow

Flight 2 had the wind on our side which cut off an hour. We were fed and watered every hour and just before landing in Chicago we were served Chicago Town pizza, as the Americans would say, it was GLORIOUS.

Chicago

My experience of Chicago so far is not so great, we queued for 2 hours to get through immigration, people were missing their flights waiting in the queue and they weren't doing anything about it, it was crazy. When we were finally through we had to go to the next terminal which required a train ride!! This part was pretty fun, but all in all, Chicago was an extremely stressful experience - lets hope it redeems itself on the way back! After a 3 hour wait in the airport drinking Starbucks, we boarded the teeny plane to McGhee-Tyson airport and were approached by a guy asking if we were going to the University in Tennessee after he'd heard us talking. When we landed we shared a taxi to the accommodation with Alberto from Spain; amigo numero uno! 

Lauren and Annabelle

On the mini plane to Knoxville

International House

Our first day was spent mostly in the International centre 'I-House' doing paperwork and getting details on how to register for classes and other important stuff. It's good being able to chat with people from all over the world and meeting the other English students. There are 2 from Keele University and 1 from Swansea.
After a swift turn around, Lauren's room-mates Shannon and Michaela drove us to 'TJ Maxx' to buy some bedding, then took us to a cook out where we got looooooads of freebies including our first Tennessee T-Shirt!

Apartment Door

After a busy day and a great night I came back to the apartment to find that Raven had moved in, as well as Sierra who was already here when I arrived (Chinese girl has not arrived yet). We went to the cafe downstairs and got a milkshake, she seems really lovely and I think we'll get on :)

Biggest shock: Fashion sense ... there is none, everybody wears big t-shirts and gym shorts everywhere for everything!
Funniest thing: being told everytime you speak "your accent is just so cute!"
Greatest mispronunciation: "It's the last stop on the bus route" route=rowt
Highlight so far: Cook out - Southern style nando's for free!