Today I went to Liverpool! Had to visit the university I have applied to, and I wanted to see the city too. I didn’t want to be there on my first day of university at like 8:00am in the morning with no clue of where I was going and the stress of lectures to get to.
So.
The train ride to Liverpool was probably my worst train experience ever. And I’ve had some pretty shitty experiences. But this one. This train was a train FULL of chavs. Not just a small group of drunk women getting tipsy on champagne and doing a pub quiz as loudly as they can, not two guys getting drunk and constantly sneaking to the bathrooms to go smoke. Nope. The coach I was on was basically overrun with this huge group of Chavs being as obnoxious as they possibly could. The girls with their bleached blond hair and the boys with their giant crystal earrings, not just putting their feet on the seats but climbing on them, drinking (not just beer, oh no, we’re talking fucking vodka shots at 11:00am), talking loudly, shouting across to each other, singing (fucking singing). It was awful. I have never felt more uncomfortable and vulnerable on a train. I hoped they would get off at one of the earlier stops but no, they were there right until Liverpool Lime street. fml. This is over an hour I had to put up with this. I couldn’t help but think of Japanese trains and how quiet they are. One guy on the Shinkansen even left his seat (heading towards the bit in-between carriages) to go answer his phone. Also I realised just how lovely and spacious the bullet train is. British trains are far more cramped. It sucks.
I was tired and annoyed. I did not arrive at Liverpool in a good mood. What followed then was two hours of wandering around getting hopelessly lost in the quest to find the university. I without really intending to found the museums, The University of Liverpool, St Luke’s Church, Chinatown, and Liverpool Cathedral as well as got a good look at surrounding areas. I guess looking back it was nice to have a look around, but at the time it was exhausting and my feet hurt and I was tired, so tired and annoyed and I felt so helpless because I didn’t have a map and there weren’t any signs. I thought about Japan and how lost I got there, and how much I really wanted to be at a Japanese Café enjoying air con and polite service, eating the best Carbonara I’ve ever had and drinking a Cream soda float…
I eventually went to a Tesco Express to buy juice and asked for directions. It was a little embarrassing as the guy at the counter didn’t know so he called out to another person, who also didn’t know, and then another person who thankfully did know. Thankfully the shop was quiet too because the whole process was embarrassing. The guy who knew went outside with me and pointed out where I had to go and I honestly could have hugged him. I was so grateful just to know where I was going. Got to the university and realised I didn’t know where to go within the university. Phoned my dad and complained to him before gatherine courage and asking a security guy. Security guy was nice in helping me meet who I needed to meet and thus I did then get shown around the uni. It was pretty good as it was an individual tour, just me. Meant I had the courage to ask all I wanted to and… made me feel special :P
After that my mood picked up a lot. I sort of knew where I was going a bit better and despite being quite tired out I decided to go the Albert docks. Because I was in Liverpool so of course I was going to the docks! There are actually signs to follow to get to the docks so I had no problem getting there. I wanted a pub lunch but the pub I found was too full, so I ended up at this over priced cafe. The service wasn’t the best and the food was average. Lame. I’d expected more for what I paid. (And I still wanted a cream soda float. Why don’t they sell cream soda in this country? All that is available is this horrible clear stuff. Cream soda is supposed to be BRIGHT GREEN. ;___;) I did get to eat looking out across the water just as I hoped. I could also people watch to pass time. :D After eating looked around the dock. Found this sweet shop and it’s a testament to how much I’ve grown that I could resist buying the whole store, and instead bought just two cute little chocolate mice for myself and a box of tacky tourist fudge for the parents (If you’ve ever been a tourist in Britain I’m sure you know what I’m talking about when I talk about tourist fudge. I hope). I headed straight back to the station, though I did get diverted into one shop where I managed to spend absolutely nothing on some really gorgeous clothes, some of which I’ve been looking for (such as a cotton cardigan and a plain white t-shirt!). There are some really nice shops in Liverpool. If I had the money it would have been great to look around and see what else I could get.
Got back to the station and went home, basically. The train back was thankfully chav free, and thus quiet, and also less crowded so I didn’t have to have my bag on my lap or be confined to my place only. I could have my window seat and aisle seat all to myself, just how I like.
I feel really tired now. These past few days have been hectic and stressful. You know, they still haven’t process my application on UCAS? And I’m going to have to wait until Monday as they are closed tomorrow too. It’ frustrating. I think I’m guaranteed a place but I need the confirmation! And I need to sort out student finance which I can only do once my place is secured. I start on the 13th September which isn’t far now. Although as I was walking away from the university today, I realised I am kind of excited. Scared and nervous, but a part of me is a little excited. I’m actually going to be a university student. It’s weird but kind of cool at the same time.