University, friends and the Red Hot Chili Peppers ♥

 Hello!

 Today is Friday, and I have just had my first week at the University of Manchester! There have been ups and downs, but overall it has been an amazing experience ♥

 I had started a blog entry a couple of days before leaving home, and I never got the chance to finish it. Here is what I wrote:

♫♪

 "Hello!

 It is not at all long now until I start university. I am moving in some time today or this weekend, and my Fresher's Fortnight (most Unis get a Freshers' Week, we get a Freshers' Fortnight because we're hardcore) begins on Monday.

♪♫

 I am rather scared, to say the least. I don't drink, and I'm not a fan of spending nights trawling from one pub or club to the next, which seems to be the image of Freshers' Week that a lot of my friends and various online bloggers are painting.

 I am, however, excited about meeting some new people and hopefully making some new friends. It will also be nice to spend time in a city I love, and to discover every nook and cranny of it; as a friend of mine told me I will probably have got to know every inch of Manchester by the end of my first year.

 I am also excited at the thought of starting my course - getting my timetable, meeting my tutors and finding out exactly which aspects of French and Spanish language and culture I will be studying. I love France and French, I love Spain and Spanish and I find it fascinating learning about French- and Spanish- speaking countries all over the globe.

♫♪

 So, I have mixed feelings about Uni, mainly positive. Once Freshers' Fortnight is out of the way I will feel a lot better!

 In other news, I have been to Manchester twice in two days for non-uni-related things - on Wednesday, to watch two episodes of Mastermind, the British TV quiz show, being filmed at Salford Quays, and on Thursday to go to Cornerhouse to look at some of the applications sent in for the exhibition we are planning. Both were enjoyable trips. I'll be back at Cornerhouse some time next week to go through the rest of the applications."

♪♫

 Looking back at it now, I can't believe I was so nervous about starting Uni - downright scared in fact. It turned out that there are many people in my hall of residence who aren't really interested in drinking alcohol and partying and clubbing into the early hours; there are those who, like me, would rather just relax in Halls and have a good time with their friends.

 I've found a group of friends that is ever growing; we sit together at meals - our Hall is catered - and have good times together. I am very grateful to them all for making my first week of Uni so lovely, so if you are reading this, THANK YOU! ♥ You are amazing!

 That's not to say I have anything against clubbing; it just isn't really my cup of tea. I have some great friends who like going out; basically you meet such a huge range of people at Uni. I have friends from different places - people from my corridor in Halls, my regular dining table crew, friends from my course. They are all wonderful ♥ I am so happy with the way university life has turned out.

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 My Hall is amazing and has organised all sorts of stuff; we have had a comedy night (with Iain from Iain and Hacker! Though I didn't like some of his jokes that evening), a pub quiz (my team didn't win, but we didn't do too badly), and a karaoke night! I didn't get up and sing - maybe next time!

 Saturday looks like it will be really exciting, with bowling and Lazer Quest, a BBQ and an open mic night! I can't wait!

♪♫

 So... that is my news. Tonight I think I am going home - I don't live too far away - to see my family and my beloved cat, and then I will be coming back to Manchester tomorrow in time for Lazer Quest - I adore Lazer Quest! And I can become very competitive!

 Sooo.... I'm having a great time, and really enjoying university life. I love Manchester! ♥

♫♪

 I will leave you with The Zephyr Song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The guy running the karaoke sung it really well - I actually think I prefer his version to the official song! It was the first time I'd heard it, and it's been stuck in my head since. Here is the YouTube video - be warned, it is VERY psychedelic!

 I've just found out that a zephyr is a wind - I understand the lyrics a lot more now!

 My favourite bit is when he says,

"In the water where I centre my emotion,

All the world can pass me by."

 I really like this song and I'm glad I discovered it!

♪♫

 Thanks for reading! Also I want to give a shout-out to the blogs of my friends Louise and Jess. They are each doing a different gap year project, and both of their blogs make a great read. Click on their names to see their blogs.

 Thanks again for reading my blog, and thank you to everyone who's supported me in the transition to university. 

 Much love ♥

 Liz x

Song: The Zephyr Song - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 2002