This morning, we went to the Sainsbury and Asda at the Arnison Centre again for our groceries, but this time with Anna, a nice Ukrainian girl who stays next block. It was great chatting with her during lunch time at the McDonald’s too; found out that she’s the only one doing PhD in Russian Language in her department!
It’s been a week of getting to know people, meeting acquaintances (what the Germans would term ‘Bekannten’) and making small talks. I’ve been putting myself up to the challenge, getting myself up to the job, and telling myself that I’m no lesser being than the rest of the course mates who’re here to attain the same degree as I am. I’m told that it’s really about mind over matters – but it’s easier said than done.
An acquaintance of mine who’s studying at UCL right now sent me this link recently:
Elite Universities: A Clash of Cultures and Cutlery
A most apt heading for a blog entry. It seems to me the identity of any one elite-wannabe can be exposed immediately through his table manners, and I’m obliged to say that I’m currently trying my best to avoid all table affairs at the university, out of fear that one day, my identity will come clear. One set of cutlery is all that I can manage at the table.
Earlier in the day yesterday, an Iranian lady, Rayhana, was extremely friendly and kindhearted enough to bring us to the suburban area – Arnison Centre – to look at where we could possibly find cheap steals. There were so many big supermarkets there! Sainsbury, Lidl etc plus fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC. Wow! Now we know where to get our weekly groceries from!
I’m dead tired. My feet are planning to go on a strike, if I walk any longer today.
The Keenan House, where I’m staying in, is about a 15 – 20 minutes walk from the city centre. And there in the city centre is where I’ll have to take a transport to the Archaeology department in the main university compound. That’s a lot of walking back and forth, and it’s not good in rainy wet Durham during the autumn season. But I hope that could help me to lose some weight at least, or get myself prepped for one of those Silk Road treks by the end of the course.
