First Impressions

It's the end of my third day here on Campus and things are not what I had expected. For one this is a dry campus, so despite being of legal age, I am still forbidden to have any alcohol in my room. Any images of American Pie and Old School have been destroyed in my mind. I have however found a bar just down the road from Campus that is equipped with a TV for every sport. I did ask about English Football, but the barmaid wasn't sure.

On Sunday morning, I approached my halls of residence and was hit by a wall of tie-dyed t-shirts as the Orientation Leaders checked us in. There was plenty of whooping and shouts of Carroll Cobras (My residence is Clarence Carroll) as they made a human tunnel for me to walk through whilst they chanted my name. Luckily my room had single beds rather than bunk beds, but air-conditioning is non existent. It gets very hot, even with the window wide open all day and night.

Tunnel Of Orientation Leaders

After unpacking, the first job was to get some bedding. After asking the army of tie-dye where the best place to go was, I wandered to the Uni shop. For some strange reason, everything is designer. All I wanted was a cheap bed-set, yet what I got was Tommy Hilfiger. As I carried my pillows and duvets back to my dorm, I was again greeting by chants of 'yeah he's got his bedding' and more whoops! These people are easily excited and very animated.

The Orientation Leaders arranged many activities for the Freshmen and International Students to take part in to help make friends. Luckily, being British seems to have given me an advantage with people coming up and asking questions about home. When I try to explain the difference between Freshers Week back home and what they have here, I am met with wide eyes. It seems we have a problem with alcohol back home.

I still am having problems with jet lag. I'm awake at 5am every morning, despite staying up late in an attempt to get in sync with the US clock. With lessons starting tomorrow, I hope I won't be too tired.

My roommate has just moved in today, I haven't had much time with him but it seems so far that we'll get along fine. I've already made some friends who plan to take me to various places around Connecticut and further. So far so good.

I may have forgotten a few things, but will no doubt return to describe them when I can keep my eyes open for longer.

Trains, Planes, And Automobiles

For those that know me, I'm not the best flier in the world. I hate being crammed into a tiny seat surrounded by people who seem to be handpicked by the powers that be to annoy me. This flight however was a different story. Firstly I picked a window seat right at the back. This prevented any possibility of a child kicking my seat for the next 8 hours. It also limited neighbouring elbows to one, rather than two. As I boarded, (last minute of course as the bar was right next to our gate) I noticed the smallest people in the world had claimed the leg room seats. I have never seen anyone over 6 foot in these seats in all my years flying. I was pleasantly surprised however at how much space I had for my own legs. For once they were not pushed up tight against the seat in front. I also, for the first time, had my own touch screen TV with a large choice of films to choose from. It turned out to be the best flight I've ever had. Oh, and we got plenty of free food and drink. As I said, best flight ever.

Things then became a bit touch and go at customs when I was told that I had been given the wrong visa. There was a slight drop in my stomach but the Officer re-assured me that it wasn't my fault. I was told to follow him to a room and wait to be called. This room was not as well looked after as the rest of the airport. It was a horrible, little, grotty room that I had to sit in for 30 minutes whilst they tapped away at their computer. The room was just like something out of the films. Very few of my fellow rejects spoke much English, the seats were torn with foam falling out of the wound, and a tiny square television playing baseball was hidden in the top corner. The first thing I noticed was how laid back the officers were. There was no running around, and certainly no threat of getting their work done quickly. Everything seemed to be at their own pace. As I said, all was fixed after 30 minutes or so. I also saw a cleaner walking around with her cart, yet never actually saw her clean - odd.

I am now sat on a train from Newark Airport to Hartford in Connecticut. Again, the trains here seem far superior to our own, despite their vulgar, bulky build. The seats are large and comfortable, and again, have leg room in abundance. I'm already starting to like it here. From Hartford, me and my fellow travellers, Ricky and Hope, have to get a taxi to our hotel. Hopefully we won't be ripped off once they hear our 'top of the morning' British accents. At our hotel is where we will find our final hurdle, for today at least. Hope didn't get her Visa until the last minute and therefore her arrangements were very last minute. When she tried to book a room, they refused as she wasn't yet 21 years old. I may have to use some British charm to upgrade mine and Ricky's room up to a 3 man room to prevent her sleeping in the gutter for the night. Just to add to it all, Ricky is suffering from Man-Flu, and Hope with the softer, female equivalent. If I catch whatever it is, I will not be happy.

Tomorrow is when we move into our halls of residence and meet our roommates. We got the e-mail address of our 'roomie' 3 weeks ago, and despite contacting him, I have yet to receive a reply. God knows what I will be greeted with tomorrow morning. Hopefully they won't me sweaty, and/or messy. Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

I was pleased to hear that Blackburn Rovers had claimed their second win of the season, whilst Burnley suffered back to back defeats. I may not be in the country, but I will be following it all online.

Preperation For Connecticut

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) gives every student the opportunity to study abroad whilst on their course. What they fail to inform you, is that this is dependent on your ability to fill out forms. I can now fill out forms with the best of them.

I’m Philip North, a student at UCLan for the second time after studying Bespoke Cabinet Making & Furniture Design. I managed to gain employment at Paul Case Furniture in Osbaldeston (www.paulcase.co.uk) for a couple of years and loved every minute. I then decided to swap my chisel for a pen, returning to education to study Creative Writing and Journalism. Although this put Paul in a difficult position, he did support my decision and wished me the best. When I realised I had the opportunity to study abroad, I grabbed it with both hands and began to painful process of jumping through hoops. It seemed that every time I handed in a finished booklet, I was handed another.

From the 25^th August, I will be a student at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in the USA. I will be sharing a room with another student, with the horrible possibility of bunk beds. I have been given the e-mail address of my new roommate and got in touch with him a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I have still to hear back. I'm already imagining the worst. Please just don't be smelly. Meanwhile other students from UCLan taking the same journey have already chummed up with their new roommates. Unlike our own Universities, we are not provided with a kitchen. Instead we must pay $4000 for an all you can eat, three times a day, meal plan. Should I return a little more rotund, I blame everyone but myself. This price tag however, on top of flights, accommodation, insurance, resulted in having to work two jobs and sell everything but the kitchen sink on ebay. I said my goodbyes to my little Peugeot 206 as we both held back the tears. I had even cleaned it for the first time the week before we parted.

Last month I took a trip to London to apply for my American Visa. An eight hour coach trip folding my 6 foot 4 inch frame into the seats was perfect preparation for the flight ahead. Arriving five hours early I sat and watched rush hour at Central Station. Images of Simba caught in the gorge, with the antelope running at him sprang to mind as a fellow tourist was caught up in the crowds. It also took me three full laps of the station before I realised that litter bins don’t exist in London. Life is definitely much more laid back in the hills of Lancashire.

To get entry into the Embassy you aren’t allowed to carry anything electrical, no mobile phone, ipod, kindle, not even a pair of headphones. Security stuck to these rules with dedication as the lady in front of me was sent away after queueing for 45minutes to get this far.  Inside it's like Argos, you have a number and multiple windows with everyone sat in a waiting space. They call your number; you give the person at the window your documents, have your fingerprints taken and sit back down. You then get called to another window, answer some questions then leave. All in all, I think I was inside for an hour. Long enough to fall asleep in my chair as I waited. Luckily someone next to me woke me up when my number was called.

With 13 hours until my return bus home, I jumped on a tour bus and visited Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Houses of Parliament etc. I must say however, the best part was going on the Jack The Ripper tour. You walk around all the key parts of London associated with the murders as the guide explains the variety of theories of who he actually was. The worst part was having to pay through the nose for a pint of cider.

My bags are packed, camera charged, pen full of ink, and convict style passport photo in hand. I have a Union Flag for my bedroom wall, a ticket for my last Blackburn Rovers game until next season, and have begun emptying the fridge in my bedroom of the Strongbow it contains. A job that I hate, but someone has to do it.

I will keep you updated on my goings on over the pond every four weeks in the Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, and more often on here as I experience the American way of life.