It’s been an eventful few days here in Sussex and it’s quite lovely (as they would say here). The trip to Newark airport proved to be hilarious as my dad drove around the airport 3 times passing the terminal! British Airways was a great airline, providing everything FREE – movies, music, food, drinks, blankets, etc. The flight attendant laughed a bit seeing my awestruck face as I proceeded to pick a British movie to watch. It was a bit hectic trying to get to campus from Heathrow Airport and getting settled in, but after asking quite a few locals, I figured it out!
The first couple days were full of international meetings and events. Of course we had a famous fish and chips dinner! I have seen maybe 2 squirrels on my campus since coming here – quite a difference from Penn State’s 12,353 squirrel population! Instead the animal on this campus is sea gulls! I wouldn’t usually get excited about that except that it makes me realize how close to the beach I now live. 
I’ve made a great group of friends here. We’ve taken trips to Brighton for shopping, dinner, and exploring. One of my favorite parts was taking a trip to the Brighton Pier. It’s amazing – similar to a boardwalk in the US, except that it goes out into the water rather than running parallel. As we were there, two little boys decided to put chips (French fries) on their heads and the seagulls flocked! It was hilarious. The group had lunch at Harry Ramsden’s – a famous fish and chips restaurant, and while it cost a bit more, it was well worth the money.
Another really amazing aspect of being here is the lookout spot just over the hill from my flat. It’s a scenic overlook of the entire campus and if you look to the other side, there is a manor. It was probably a residence in the past but now it has been turned into a restaurant. On the same lands lies a little church and pond, along with some hiking trails and areas of large green fields. It is quite the sight, and definitely a place I will be visiting frequently!
Just some side notes (a sort of what I have learned thus far):
The bedding pack was
not worth buying
You need to know your
address for A LOT of
things here so it is
definitely something to
memorize
Understand the outlets
and the difference between converters and adapters
Shopping off campus is much cheaper than on campus and they even deliver
groceries to your dorm if you order them online
You have to specifically ask for the bill at restaurants, it is NOT implied! (sometimes you
may be sitting there for a half hour waiting
Everyone is really friendly and social
The international events are really fun and a great way to make new friends
Well that’s all for now from Sussex. Cheers!
Bri
Location: Europe
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England looks awesome! I would love to visit and eat some delicious fish and chips. I hope you develop a brilliant British accent!
Brianna,
My name is Heidi and I am an intern in the Education Abroad Office. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and I just have to say your living situation sounds amazing. The view of the campus and then a manor on the other sounds like a dream. It also really seems like you’re already taking full advantage of your time in Sussex. Speaking from a former study abroad student, you’re little side notes about what you have learned so far I can definitely agree with. I can especially relate to making sure you have your address memorized. After first arriving in Greece, neither my friend or I knew our address. It was a nightmare trying to tell the cab driver where to take us in addition to being new to the Greek language. It ultimately came down to blurting out random landmarks that we thought might be close. Anyway, long story short, we made it after much anxiety. I hope you enjoy your time there and keep the blogs coming 🙂