There and Back Again: Merrie is (obviously) unappreciative of what I contribute.

If I don't do this now, than I (read: we) will never remember what happened these past few days...

D-Day+2

After another much-too-short night, the whole API group went out to the Royal Armouries (with a 'u'). It was very much similar to the "Arms and Armor" exhibit in the Met. There was a full suit of elephant armor as well as numerous English relics. PLUS guns! old guns, new guns, hunting guns, muskets, pistols, revolvers, machine guns, submachine guns, gatling guns, shot guns, rifles, carbines, grenade launchers, and so much more. I could spend days there, Merrie was ready to leave. The rest of the day was comprised of Merrie meeting her tutor in the school of Design, which was encouraging, while I wandered around campus using their WiFi. We found our respective buildings and classrooms as well. That night we had an introductory meeting in the Refectory (where "The Who: Live in Leeds" was recorded... sadly I really don't care though). It was a goooood meeting. We met other international students and culturally commiserated together. I also met my "buddy" from the Leeds Buddy Program. He was groovy.

I don't want shock, offend, or sicken anyone......

BUT for historical integrity, I must retell the following story, all of which is Merrie's fault.

Mah-gross

After returning from the pleasent introductory meeting, Merrie persuades our group to go to a seemingly harmless "restaurant" known as Mahmoods. It's an Indian (or Asian if you're British) style McDonalds. Needless to say, it was the worst food I've ever had to date. I had gyro made out of whole beef patties and mayo/ranch/sourcreamish sauce while Merrie muscled down half of a burger until she realized it had a thousand island/mayo/cheese mixture on it. wow. mmm mmmmmmm. I guess it was a cultural experience, but I'm sure it will never happen again.

D-Day+3

The School of Music

The next day I had my school of music meeting. It went well. I got classes worked out, met people, saw department, etc.. We also had another compulsory orientation meeting in a conference auditorium past where medieval explorers assumed the edge of the Earth was. Then we walked back! Later that evening was a "Study Abroad Social Evening" in one of the bars in the student union. The actual event was fun, but the traumatizing bus ride there and taxi ride home were not. At least we now know to not put your coins where the receipt comes out.