One week in.

Ok, didn't have room in my last blog for Dundee, but now that I've been here a week I guess it's time to tell you a bit about it!  So I arrived last Sunday, just in time for Freshers Week.  As I said, Mum and Dad drove me here, so Sunday afternoon was just spent driving to the shops buying all the essentials.  That's one thing that has been weird during Freshers Week - in some ways I feel like a first year again, setting up my new room, and not knowing anyone or where anything is.  But hanging around with 17 and 18 year olds I definitely feel older than them, and all the speeches about moving out of home for the first time and such definitely don't apply!

Another thing I had forgotten could be so hard is meeting new people! Probably didn't help that I was pretty tired after Freiburg, but it felt like slow going at the start! I have now met a whole bunch of cool people though, including my first friends here in Dundee Patrick and Nora, who I met on the way to the official welcoming event.  That was great, cos they are both not first years either, so we were able to all feel out of place together! Also have really nice roommates, which is always a good thing - was surprised to learn that the other exchange student from ANU was in the same flat as me, and what's more, from the Central West as well!  Random, but cool :) Met another girl from Australia too, but so far that's been the only ones.  And also a bunch of cool people from assorted countries who all hang out in a flat just downstairs.  I think most of them are also exchange students. I have to say, I definitely understand even more now why exchange students tend to band together while on exchange - when you're surrounded by first years who are just new to uni, it's nice to hang out with other people who are closer to your age and also new to the area but not to uni.

So yeah, Freshers Week was pretty good - didn't do stuff constantly, but had a few good nights out and think I have maybe started to find my way at least in the area around campus.  Mostly from one very long walk while lost, but hey thats what getting lost is for right?  Notable events include the grub crawl on Wednesday which was run by the Christian Union.  That was quite fun, and a really good meal.  Although awkward in a funny way, as they had more people than expected and the different meals were hosted in people's flats, so we ended up sitting in bedrooms eating.  It was cool to hang out though, meet some new people and get to know other people better.  Also memorable was the almost 3 hours that I spent sitting in a corridor with 7 or so other exchange students, too early in the morning, waiting to matriculate.  That and not reading the paperwork they gave me at matriculation until the next day, and so finding out 5 minutes before it started that I needed to be somewhere to register for German!

Did the Freshers Fayre and Sports Fayre as well of course - a lot like Market Day at ANU, except split into two and on different days.  Also the Freshers Fayre was inside, which combined with crowds made it not only as squishy as Market Day but also a lot stuffier.  That was interesting though.  Had a laugh at the fact that campaigns for and against Scottish independence were at adjacent tables.  There were lots of interesting clubs, but now is the hard part of figuring out what I can actually fit in!  Looking at doing a different kind of sport - trying to decide between trampolining, badminton, archery and shinty.  The last one is some kind of Scottish sport that seems kind of like hockey but is apparently a lot more brutal.  So yeah, kinda on the fence about that one, but they have a give it a go session this weekend, so might go along to that and then see.  Also really want to join a choir, although apparently they have a few so not really sure which one?!  I did find iceskating too, but less sure about that one, cos I think its more social skating than actually learning and I definitely need the learning part!

Man this blog is taking a long time, cos I keep getting distracted :S  Watching Djokovic and Murray in the final of the US Open - thanks to my flatmate Calum for giving me the link!  Pretty good game, although I have a feeling its going to go on for awhile.  Lucky I don't have class til 10 tomorrow!  

Oh yes, so, started classes today.  Starting to feel less like a holiday and more like uni again.  Was definitely feeling from Freiburg right up til today like I was just on holidays.  But more than class, I think having to deal with university offices has changed that.  Went to two different German classes today and finally sorted out which class I should be in which is nice.  Think it'll be harder than ANU, cos the course I'm doing is all about writing and speaking, with hardly any grammar.  Will definitely have to hit up Nora and Patrick for some German speaking practice!  Should be good though :)  And since the German course is so small here in 3rd and 4th year, they are both in the same class just with different assessment, which is nice cos it means that Jenna is in my class!  It's been really great to see her again, and to have come to Dundee knowing I would at least have one friend :P Actually met up with her on my first night here and met some of her friends, which was really nice, and definitely a better alternative to sitting at home alone in my room! 

And since people have commented on it (namely Paul and Emily!), have to make a comment about the food in Dundee so far.  Haven't been out for dinner a whole lot yet - only for burgers and thats about it.  But I bought some Scottish cheddar, which was pretty delicious, and also in a block! Something I weirdly really missed in Germany.  They also have coloured cheddar, which I have bought to try but haven't actually opened yet...  Food here is not quite as cheap as Germany, but still pretty good.  Though I think it definitely has less fresh food, I suppose cos a lot of it wouldn't grow here so it all has to be imported.  Also, if anyone reading this has seen Doctor Who, I have tried a jammie dodger! :) Still haven't done fish fingers and custard, but thats something I could easily do in Australia I guess.  Other good food I've had so far includes; drumsticks, which no are not an ice-cream, but a raspberry-vanilla flavoured lollipop, irn bru (said iron brew) which is a delicious fizzy drink with a flavour I can't exactly describe but is really good, and also Belvitas which are a 'breakfast biscuit' - not really sure what that means, but they taste good so doesn't really matter!  I am yet to have a pub meal, and also go to a chippy.  But I will definitely do that soon!  Also while I'm on the topic of food, the schwarze johannesbeeren (black johannesberry?) jam I brought from Germany is pretty delicious - enough that I'm actually eating jam on toast again, something I haven't done since primary school I think.  Really need to buy some tea actually, and also want to get a teapot.

Anyway, since that paragraph is embarrassingly I think the longest so far, I'm going to move on.  Talked about fresher's week, class, just generally getting settled...  Probably not a whole lot more to say for the moment.  Had a lovely Skype date with Paul and Emily, Samm and Jack the other day - was nice to see some familiar faces again!  Also loving Whatsapp - though I am trying to stop and think about what time it would be in Australia if I send a message!  Still kind of in the process of getting settled, in the stage where I have most things but am still discovering random things I sort of need, and kind of know where places are but still rely on getting directions/using google maps.  Hopefully this time next week I'll be walking around Dundee city like a pro, and will have myself set up with some tea!  Now that I've mentioned it I'm really craving it!  And on that note I'll love you and leave you :)