6/15 - Funny the way it is

What I did:

I woke up and packed up and got ready to leave Stockport. I checked out at about 11, and figured I would have some time before I needed to get to the train station. But since I had all my bags, I just went straight there. I wound up getting a train much earlier than I thought I would. So, that meant I got to the town I needed to switch to a bus much earlier too. I knew the bus I needed came around every 2 hours, and I was expecting to wait until 2 to get a bus. When I got to the stop, I was just in time to see the earlier one I could take come up and leave. But, it was a nice place to wait so I waited a couple hours at the bus stop.

I made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before I left the hotel with some of the stuff I bought yesterday and some packages of jam that I swiped from the breakfast spread at the hotel. So, I ate those and they were really good. Maybe it was just what I wanted to eat, or maybe I was proud of my resourcefulness, but I definitely enjoyed them. Other than that I sat for a long time and listened to peoples’ conversations at the stop. I decided to take this route because it would take me through the Peak District and I could see all the county side, which I have heard is very beautiful. I have kind of given up on the old adage, “Time is of the essence,” and have just enjoyed this country. Plus, I had no deadline to get there.

My bus finally came, and I got on. The driver was nice and I could tell I wouldn’t have any trouble getting there, even though I didn’t really know where to get off. It was a pretty empty bus, but at one of the next few stops a man got on. He was pretty old and lively and talked to the driver some as he got on and the only other passenger a little (who was sitting across the aisle from me). Sure enough, he asked me a question. But between his accent and mumbling and general old person inability to be understood (not that I don’t think I have similar problems in talking) plus the roar of the bus I could not make out what he was saying at all. I asked him to repeat himself five times and he did and I finally made a guess at what he was asking and showed him the book I was reading. After that, he started talking about a church in his town and a lot of stuff. I really didn’t understand any of it. I think most of it was history of the surrounding towns or significant things that happened there. Every now and then he would point out the window and I would follow or would say a phrase I could pick out and I would repeat it, but the girl next to me must have known what was happening. I tried to listen, and to look like I was listening, but it just wasn’t happening. At one point I think he either said “A stitch in time saves nine” or “where’s the beef?” Either way, I figured he was giving me some solid advice and I was as careful as I could be to heed his wisdom.

Anyway, he finally got off, and I finally got off. I walked just a little bit to Cliff College and easily made it to reception (although it was on a little hill, so I was out of breath when I got there). I met the lady I had been corresponding with about my stay and then got shown to my room. Everyone I met in the short time I have been here (those two people) have been very nice. I am in a room in the guest area, and the only one on the floor right now. There will probably be people coming and going while I am here, but for now it is just me.

I got unpacked, which was the first time I really took most of my stuff out of my bag. I tend to just live right out of the bag, but I figured it would be nicer to unload here. I was really tired and laid down. I dozed off some, but got up at 5:30 to go get dinner. I looked in the cafeteria area and no one else was there, and it looked like they were still kind of setting up, so I walked back and spent some time in my room. I decided to go back a 6:30. When I went back this time, I think the door was locked, but a kid came out and unlocked it just as I got there. All the food had been put up and the dishes were being washed and the few people there were getting a last coffee. I guess I have a pretty small window for meals. Haha. But I picked up a flyer that has some times on it for meals. Maybe I’ll make it next time.

I went back to my room and ate some of the food I had bought yesterday or had saved from the past week. It was nice and I just relaxed the rest of the day. Another busy one tomorrow, but at least my shoulders will finally get some much need rest.

What I learned:

My debit card won’t work with some card readers (like the one at the rail station I went to today) because it doesn’t have some sort of chip. I don’t know what that means, but the guy who told me did.

Language barriers exist outside of foreign language differences.

Veronica, the receptionist here, is very helpful and willing to set up some meetings for me and be a communicator between me and the faculty here, which has already been amazing.

The Peak District is really beautiful. It is hilly and rural. But that also means that the college is on a big hill, and that hill goes all the way up to my room and beyond.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog completely surpassed all my expectations. And further deepened my respect and love of Joss Whedon.

I just realized that here in England was where Methodism started to split from the Anglican Church, but it is also where it is now coming back together with it in different covenants and initiatives like Fresh Expressions. Interesting.

Apparently, shark fins are a high grossing delicacy in some countries, leading commercial fisherman to highly value shark fins and do anything they can to get them. But, other people have found a much more humane way to profit off the sharks – tourism. You’ve got to love when the only way people will drift toward the humane option is when it is driven by a higher dollar amount.