The Beginning at Belfast

I have been here a week and I love it! The weather I can do without, since it has rained everyday and I’ve been told this is the usual forecast for most of the time I will be here. (I promise I will never complain about Wilkes-Barre weather again if that is the case!) The majority of the weekend consisted of International Student Orientation so along with the usual topics and talks of orientation at a new school, I’ve had the chance to socialize with students from several different countries. The school itself is much larger than King’s, about ten times bigger! Classes started yesterday and though there is less time spent in the classroom than I am used to, there appears to be a lot of independent work, mostly reading, done outside of the lectures so that is why 3 courses is considered a normal workload. The living set up is co-ed and all the people on my floor are from the Republic of Ireland and are first year students, but very friendly. Once difference that I did not expect was how popular American television shows and music are here; one of the boys on my floor is obsessed with the Sopranos. I am also slightly surprised that, although my peers and lecturers speak “English” it is hard at times to understand them if they have a thicker accent. But I have enjoyed picking up on the local lingo, which is always fun. Finding a good cup of coffee is proving to be a challenge as most places have strong coffee and offer milk, whereas I am used to half-and-half or creamer. I know this may seem like a small change, but it’s the daily details that I am noticing more and more. I hope to try more of the local food as well, so perhaps I will just have to switch to drinking tea while I am here. I am excited to get into a routine of classes and schoolwork and explore the city outside of the school a little more as I continue to get adjusted.