A grey squirrel hangs out in the tree outside my ground-floor street-facing room. The street is relatively quiet so my slumber and the squirrel’s street-crossings are assured some safety and peace.My room is a little smaller than my room in Victoria but obviously with a few less items to take up space. Fortunately, I only have to share the kitchen and WC facilities with two other flat mates, unlike some residents here who have five or six. Lying on a worn-out navy-blue carpet, my single bed allows my feet to hang off its end without difficulty. The windows face southeast, so the pleasant morning sunshine acts kindly as my alarm.

This first week has shown a little tedium if only while waiting in long lines for enrolment. I’ve been impatient to meet some more postgraduate students from my faculty, but none of the scheduled welcome-week events for postgraduates occur until the end of the week. I have attended some of the international student events, but I don’t really feel like an international student when I sit next to students from Chile, India, or Japan etc. Coming to London was a big enough step without the language barrier that these students face. I am most impressed at their courage.

I’m off to a session on finding work and opening a bank account this afternoon before an international student party this evening. I dined with a friend from Canada (Nick) at an expensive French restaurant two nights ago “` thank you kindly to his firm for covering the cost “` I probably won’t be making myself risotto anytime soon. He was in fine form in a light mauve shirt and beige pants. I have a couple more friendly faces from Canada to look forward to this weekend (Carla and Emily).