Life in Leeds

Well, it’s been about a week since I arrived in Leeds and it already feels like I’ve been here for longer.

Getting here was a bit hectic, as my original flight was cancelled due to snow. I ended up flying out the following day, but because that flight was delayed, as well, I arrived at Heathrow later than anticipated and ended up missing my connecting flight. Picture this: I literally ran through the airport, with someone who works their guiding me, just to miss my flight. Naturally, the next flight to Leeds from Heathrow wasn’t for another five hours after that, so I began my abroad adventure sitting in the terminal for hours, unable to sleep, for fear someone would rob me. Side note: Heathrow Airport is huge. It’s its own city, equipped with shops, restaurants, trains, etc.
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When I finally arrived in Leeds, almost the entire flight were other study abroad students. Together, we figured out how to get a taxi to the university and discovered how to find our residences. Driving in England is terrifying, by the way. Not only is everything opposite, but everyone is extremely aggressive – the taxi driver, however, told me, this is mostly because the area is mostly student drivers. The area of Leeds where I am is home to multiple universities. Through the drive to campus, the taxi driver filled me in on the area and asked me plenty of questions about America. We bonded throughout the drive, him laughing at my confused face…me laughing to mask the fear of being alone in a new country for five months. You could say, he was the first friend I made.
Upon arriving, I was placed in temporary housing for the the first few days of my experience, which was a beautiful, hotel-like room, but it lacked other people around. I’ve since moved into my permanent residence (on Monday morning), have unpacked, and finally feel like I’m settling in. We have our own rooms, but I share a bathroom – if you can call it that – with one other girl, who is really nice and from Kenya. She told me she would have loved to study law at Penn State, but her country has different laws about where she can go. The bathroom is barely a bathroom because it’s ultimately a toilet and then a shower head. There is nothing to divide the two, and both me and my flatmate have access to the room from our own rooms. We have our own sinks, however, in our rooms. There are about 10 people who live, in total, on my floor and we all share a kitchen and living room. I haven’t met them all yet, but the ones I have seem friendly. There is also a dining hall called the “Refectory,” which I can eat in. Gathering from there, and the various restaurants I’ve eaten at outside of campus, the food here isn’t bad. It’s not great either. It’s different and I can certainly tell I will greatly miss Italian food from home already. The British also seem to eat less meals, breakfast and dinner. Though dinner seems to be earlier. This makes sense though, because the food is really filling. 
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Anyway, we also had orientation for the study abroad program. There are tons of students from all different areas of the world. Oddly enough, most of the people I’ve met are either from Canada or Australia…not America. But everyone is extremely nice. I also went to a meeting for my school of study: communications, where I learned about the system here and met my tutor, or adviser. Basically, learning in Leeds is extremely different from home. Each week, for my three classes, I have a lecture period, and a seminar period, though those two times aren’t necessarily right after another. The lecture is when the professor goes over the material and the seminar is used for discussion. We also don’t have exams, per say. All of my classes boast a lengthy essay as an assignment and then a final exam at the end of the semester. Classes, also, only run for eleven weeks, with a large, month-long Easter break in April. Classes end in early May, but the semester itself doesn’t until June.
Besides that, I’ve spent my time in Leeds meeting people, exploring the city, and going to class. I’ve learned that being American is enough to spark a conversation with literally anyone. I’ve also learned that the British say “literally” literally all of the time. The Union building here is like the HUB at Penn State, but ten thousand times better. Not only does it have clubs, pubs, and dining, but there is a theatre, offices, a cafe, stores, a market, and events occurring every day. The clubs and societies here are really big, and I’m currently looking into joining the English society and the hiking club, among other possibilities. 
Nightlife here is really interesting, too. For one, I can legally drink here, by two years, (yet, still I look young enough that I’ve gotten carded twice already). Everyone seems to go out most nights of the week, and though I’m used to a flourishing drinking culture at home, is a bit intense, even for me. Music, being something I’m really into, is also fascinating. The other night, at a “pre-drink,” as Notorious B.I.G played through the speakers, one of the British boys discussed rappers, like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky, which I find really cool. Music is definitely one of those things that crosses cultural lines always. At the clubs, I’ve noticed they love to play old American pop hits. At one point, the Jonas Brothers played, and everyone seemingly knew all of the words. 
The city, itself, is gorgeous. The buildings are a mix of modern and antique — and they all are beautiful. It’s amazing to think that there are homes around here that are older than all of America. The shopping here is also a dream. There are tons of stores and a great deal of variety. No matter what you are in need of, I think it’s impossible that you wouldn’t find it downtown.
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I also started my classes on Tuesday (I somehow managed to not have classes on Monday). I’m taking an English class called Eighteenth Century Literature, a communications/journalism called Reporting on Politics, and an art class about museum studies, which allows for multiple trips to local museums. So far, I’ve only attended the first two. English taught here is really enlightening and has already changed my perspective. The major authors at home, aren’t necessarily major here. My professor teaches in almost the same way as my professors at Penn State, but the base knowledge you are expected to have is very different. He makes references to famous and well-known authors and poems, but they are all, obviously, British. There are no Hemingway mentions or anything of the like. So, it’s going to take a bit of research on my part, especially to write a well-crafted 1,700 word essay for the class. My reporting class is also very different. I know enough about British monarchy and politics to get by in American conversation, but now, I’m learning the intricacies, from a new perspective, and learning about how the British see American politics.   
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All in all, there are plenty of other things I could probably write, but this is already quite long. Following this, I’m going to try to write more often, as I don’t want to overlook things in trying to encompass one week in one post, like I’m doing now. But, if the first week has taught me anything, the next 4 months and 3 weeks will be extremely interesting!
– Kelsey

Location: University of Leeds

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4 thoughts on “Life in Leeds

  1. JAZMIN D NIXON

    Hi Kelsey,

    I agree with you, the city is absolutely gorgeous! I love walking to campus, because I feel like I discover something new everyday! I hope you are having fun and maybe I will run into you on campus!!

  2. EMILY RUTH HYMAN

    Hi Kelsey,

    Wow! Leeds sounds awesome! One of my housemates was visiting there last weekend, and she said it was fantastic.

    I completely understand what you mean about Heathrow Airport. It’s so huge! I felt like a tiny ant about to be crushed. Thanksfully, everything was labeled so nicely and it was easy to figure out where to go.

    On another note, the food really surprised me as well. It took me a few days to figure out that lunch was not a thing that happened.

    How’s having a sink in your own room? It’s still a bit weird to me, but it’s definitely come in handy!

    Hope you continue to have a great time, and I can’t wait to read more about your study abroad experience 🙂

  3. EMILY RUTH HYMAN

    Hi Kelsey,

    Wow! Leeds sounds awesome! One of my housemates was visiting there last weekend, and she said it was fantastic.

    I completely understand what you mean about Heathrow Airport. It’s so huge! I felt like a tiny ant about to be crushed. Thanksfully, everything was labeled so nicely and it was easy to figure out where to go.

    On another note, the food really surprised me as well. It took me a few days to figure out that lunch was not a thing that happened.

    How’s having a sink in your own room? It’s still a bit weird to me, but it’s definitely come in handy!

    Hope you continue to have a great time, and I can’t wait to read more about your study abroad experience 🙂

  4. EMILY RUTH HYMAN

    Hi Kelsey,

    Wow! Leeds sounds awesome! One of my housemates was visiting there last weekend, and she said it was fantastic.

    I completely understand what you mean about Heathrow Airport. It’s so huge! I felt like a tiny ant about to be crushed. Thanksfully, everything was labeled so nicely and it was easy to figure out where to go.

    On another note, the food really surprised me as well. It took me a few days to figure out that lunch was not a thing that happened.

    How’s having a sink in your own room? It’s still a bit weird to me, but it’s definitely come in handy!

    Hope you continue to have a great time, and I can’t wait to read more about your study abroad experience 🙂

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