Inside Student Blogs

Before I start, thank you to everyone who commented on my last post—I’m thrilled that you’re all reading.  If it weren’t for the hectic week I’ve had, I would have commented back, but now it’s Monday/Tuesday again and I haven’t had time.  Oh, and John Ockey—I’m honoured and will try to live up to your praise; thank you for setting the bar so high!

This is rather later than I had hoped to post, but such is the case with procrastination.  I’m taking a well-earned break from packing my rubbish away and letting everyone know that I can fit everything into one small(-ish) suitcase and slightly smaller backpack.  It’s all going to fit.  I packed for a ten-day trip to Wales this spring, and crammed everything into a duffel bag barely large enough to hold a baby.  Or a small dog.  It was quite impressive, apparently, and I’ve determined to make a name for myself: Michael Martínez, The Man Who Packed It All.  (Or at least Most of It.)

On 1 September I got straight onto the internet after visiting with William Blair (an old high school teacher pictured previously), and ordered the much-coveted Student Oyster Card.

The Oyster Card is a transit pass for the London bus, tube, rail, everything services that run through the city.  I clicked links for three hours before figuring out what was going on, but  the Student card gives the most discounts on Travelcards, which are like bus/rail passes—order by day, week, month, three months…  Anyway, the Student cards didn’t go on sale until 1 September, hence the wait.  With any luck, it will arrive safely at my residence hall, but since I didn’t receive notice of my room address as promised in the handy-dandy Get Set! Guide, I made something up that sounds reasonable.  The postman will figure it out.

Also, I have a roommate!  I don’t know his name or anything about him, except that he is American, a student, and not enrolled in IES.  According to the roommate questionnaire I filled out in March, we appear to be compatible with each other.  After looking over the absurd list of music genres I listed as ‘favourite’ (mellow electronic, Irish folk, British rock, indie rock, whatever the cat dragged in, French-Celtic rap), he’s probably on drugs if he matches my tastes even remotely.   I hope he’s not on drugs.

Dear Roommate Sir, if you are reading this, I hope you’re not on drugs.  I’m not on drugs; I just listen to music a stoner would listen to.  XOXO, Michael.

My flight leaves at 16:55, San Francisco time, so I’m going to bed.  I promise more interesting photos next time, especially since I will actually be in London!  Thrills!

Feel free to ask me any questions on any subject—study abroad-related or otherwise.  I will (hopefully, sorry) answer everything to the best of my ability.

Tune in next week for these exciting adventures: What Airport Security Confiscated, Live from after Orientation, Hunters and Gatherers, and much, much more!

Be Sociable, Share!

•