A Whole New World

It was a night filled with tears and weeping as 23 TESL students boarded the direct flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Heathrow in London. I have never been so far away from home all alone for so long... and for the first time in YEARS... I gave my mom and dad a hug each... and I think I held on for a looooooong time... because I know I won't be touching them for the next who-knows-how long...

Waiting patiently (but in reality, rather anxiously and nervously to board the plane... with my good friend Cik Husna...

The trip was looooooong... and tiring. I cannot sit for 12 hours just like that. Not to mention all the movie selections that day was bad... Thank God I had my good pal Puvana seated next to me. We talked about all sorts of stuff... movies, TV shows, music, gossips, GLEE!!!

Before we landed, we were given immigration forms to fill in. Since it was soooooooo uncomfortable on the plane, we thought we might just as well fill it in once we had landed. 

So we landed in London...

The first person to greet us was this woman from the Malaysian Student Department, which is under the Malaysian  Hight Commission. Maybe she was having a bad day, or she is naturally cold-heated, but she was insensitive enough to scold us for not filling in the forms on the plane. Thank God she was NOT the officer to greet us... she was supposed to greet the MARA students who were traveling on the same plane as us...

God have mercy on those poor MARA kids...

The REAL officers who greeted us were all men... and they were naturally relaxed and super duper sweet! Not being sexist... but we guys are always laid back... and MOST DEFINITELY more sensitive towards the feelings of a group of nervous and anxious teenagers who have just left their homes and families to travel hundreds of thousands of miles to a foreign land to start a new life here...

The really nice officers from the Malaysian Student Department... along with some (mafia) seniors... ahaha...

God have mercy on those poor MARA kids...

After taking our luggage, and checking in with the customs, we met at the lobby of Heathrow and were introduced to the officers from the Malaysian Students Department who are in charge of our welfare. I remember immediately getting a text message from Maxis, promoting a local service called Orange. Kak Ain, my favourite senior had told me once that she uses Orange. 

Then we met Michelle Charlick, an officer from University College Plymouth of St Mark and St John, the university where we were going to pursue our studies at! She was super nice. Once on the bus, she gave us our house and room keys, along with free bus tickets to be used in Plymouth! 

First meal on English soil... a piece of ASDA bread...

We hardly saw London. God! We hardly saw Heathrow! And the journey to Plymouth took almost five long hours! We passed by beautiful lush green fields, meadows and farms. They all looked as if they belonged in a postcard! We then stopped at an R&R. I dined with three of my good friends from the Kota Bharu college... so I had a cheese sandwich since that was the only Halal sandwich. We each had a cup of (completely tasteless) hot chocolate to go with it. 

You can tell by the face that the food was a complete turn-off...

When we finally reached our campus, we were directed to our respective homes. My house mate Zizi was a senior and he welcomed Safwan, Afif, Faiz and me. How sweet of him... and he was not feeling well that day.. still he was so nice to welcome us...

First time at Marjon's Student Village... 'thanks' Shanky for capturing my top-model-pose...

The very beautiful, very peaceful, very homely MARJON student village...

Faiz got the biggest room in the house... my room was moderately large... but it was comfortable and nice... I cannot live in a small room.. the thought that others had a much larger room than me would kill me slowly...

My bed... but this is with the new duvet set I bought while shopping with Farah...

Unpacking just as hard as packing mind you...

Wireless didnt work until a few days later... sob sob...

The view from my room... just a pathway leading to two other ones... symbolizing the constant two though choices that life offers me

Mimi, Nad, Hana, Ayen, Aisha and I decided to hang around the Student Village for a while... the houses were like typical English cottages... the entire village seemed like a little English hamlet... it was beautiful... and peaceful...

First embarrassment on English soil... worth documenting it? Mimi had no time to debate that obviously....

There was a little barbecue to welcome the freshers. There were also some fun ice-breaking activities... my favourite was especially the parachute game... it was real fun!  

Eating....

Parachute game....

That evening, a few seniors took us to ASDA... As we waited for the bus, someone really pissed me off but I'm trying really hard to forgive and forget... so I'm gonna pretend that never happend... although ironically it's gonna be documented here for the rest of my life! And well.... it was my first day in England... I didnt wanna go temperamental about this and spoil my day!

With Syima... waiting at the bus stop... Eunice and Faiz at the background....

At ASDA, the things there were darn cheap!!! Thank God! I thought I would have a difficult time surviving in this place due to the high living cost... but thank God for ASDA... Poor Aisha had not exchanged her Ringgits into Pounds yet... so I borrowed her some cash. After all... what are friends for right??

Just enjoying the view from the Student Village....

I was really shocked when I saw that the girls had bought soooooooooo.... many stuff! All I bought was bread, jam, biscuits and some other light snacks! Ahahahaha.... When we arrived at home, there was dinner prepared by Zizi...how sweet!!! 

Thus ended my first day on foreign soil... it was simple and sweet. But I'm sure you guys can guess what I dreamed about that night, right? Yes you got it!

Home Sweet Home..........