Getting off the train in Newcastle can be a whole mission impossible when your sense of direction is as non-existent as mine (and she wants to have a travel blog, huh). Looking around, I couldn’t find a way out! But, when in doubt, follow other people! (That’s how I managed to find my way to high school on the first day of school) and there was this elder lady that seemed to know where she was going, so I decided to follow her. Taking one lift and then another, I was even more confused than before but, we got to the exit. Though, I must say the lift ride was very awkward. And now, being able to get around the train station and knowing it’s not really that difficult, I feel even more stupid. But oh well, what’s done is done.
As I got out of the train station, I looked around and I thought “This is it, my new home” and looked for my new address on Google maps. And so with one extremely heavy suitcase and another as heavy backpack, I set off. On the way, I spotted a Tesco. Great, just what I needed! I was supposed to go to a two-week-long quarantine, so I could use some food. But of course, gonna buy just a few necessities. And just like that, I added another bag with just the necessities like oil, rice, pasta, bread and all the heaviest things imaginable to my baggage. You can imagine how annoyed I was when I realised my accommodation is at the top of a hill. (.-.)
Then, I called the accommodation to let them know I was coming to get the key. First of all, what is that accent and how am I supposed to understand it, especially over phone?! Secondly… I was told to wait over an hour in freezing cold. And to make things worse, I walked up the hill to my accommodation just to find out that the reception was on the other side of the area and, had I gone to the reception first, I wouldn’t have had to walk it all the way up. As you can tell, it wasn’t my luckiest day.
But in the end, the people, despite not being able to understand them, were lovely and they even drove me to my building. That’s when I met my flatmates. They’d warned me in advance that one of them was leaving the following day, so they’d be throwing a party. Not the most considerate thing to do but whatever. They were 3 party boys and 2 chill girls. But as I was self-isolating, I didn’t want to spend too much time with them just in case. Moreover, I was exhausted. And I had my suitcases (one big one I’d sent in advance) to unpack. Then I noticed another package on my desk. My university gave me food! You can’t imagine how touched I was after such a day. Food! So I made myself a hot bowl of instant ramen, took a shower and went to bed at about 11pm. Being awake since 6, I couldn’t wait to go to sleep. But before that, I wanted to read the instructions for my self-isolation as the responsible young adult I am. There was this bit I wasn’t sure about – what to do in case you hear the fire alarm. I clearly remember thinking about this. How do I know if it is a fire alarm? But soon, I fell asleep (despite the awful noise from the party).
It was at 3am that I woke up to… *drum roll* fire alarm!! I found out that you somehow know even without hearing it before. Good thing I read the instructions, right? RIGHT?? I was tired, stressed out and now scared, worrying about what to do. I grabbed my phone and a face mask (being responsible here) and rushed out of the house with at least 30 other people I’d never met. We had to wait outside for the security to go check the flat. Have I mentioned that it was freezing, and I had just my pyjamas and a face mask (responsible, but impractical)? I was not thriving. We waited for 15 minutes that felt like an eternity and I was never more excided to go back to sleep in my nice new warm room.
But forget that. At 5am, someone was banging at my door, shouting I had to wake up and evacuate immediately because there was a chance of carbon monoxide in our flat. At that point, I didn’t even care if I was to die. But being me, I obediently took my stuff – this time including my winter coat (learning quickly) and we waited for an hour in a different building. I got back to sleep at 6. I had a seminar at 10. And then another 3, as that day was the busiest day of the week, indeed. I attended all of them. Even I don’t know how I was able to do that.
And, if you’re wondering what caused the alarms go off? Well, my dear, my lovely flatmates and their mates were partying a bit too hard, sweating and steaming in a closed kitchen.
And yes, I do have trauma and can’t hear a new alarm sound without going into panic mode. All’s well that ends well. ♥
