Week 1

So I've now been in Texas for over a week. I can't decide whether it seems longer or shorter than that but it definitely doesn't seem like a week! It's been a very mixed rollercoaster of emotions but I'm here and I think that things are starting to slot into place.

I haven't met a great deal of people yet as we had orientation week last week and most of the international students stuck in their native groups (ie. us 5 brits stuck together haha). One of the guys that works at the international student center, Nathan, is really friendly and helpful and I've connected with another music student from Sweden called Josefin. I'm hoping that as classes and rehearsals begin this week, I should meet more and more people!

We went to the North Texas State Rodeo and Fair on Saturday which was a bizarre experience. There were tiny little children riding sheep and the whole arena would laugh at them when they fell off! Then there were the real cowboys and bull riders!!! Such a strange culture to be in, put it that way!

It is pretty much impossible to get around Denton or Texas for that matter without a car. Therefore, Joe and I have been on a hunt, walking miles some days, to no avail. I worked out that it would probably be cheaper to hire a car at the weekend and use the shuttle bus for lectures during the week, rather than buy a beaten up old car that will die on us! Russell came to stay for orientation week and it was lovely to see him again. We've spent most nights drinking budweiser (legally and illegally!) in our pool and jacuzzi and I aim to get to the gym tonight! Everyone came round last night for a pool party and left this morning feeling somewhat fragile I think!

The lectures and lecturers seem to know far more than they do at Leeds and I already feel pretty inspired by a lot of people here. I'm finding it really hard to cope with the level of performance, especially in the jazz dept, but hopefully I will get there by next semester. I guess I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment and it's taking me longer to settle in than I had previously thought. It was really sad to see Russ go today too as he has kind of made it feel like home this past week. There was a mix up in his flights so he ended up going while I was still out at classes so I didn't really get to say goodbye properly.

I'm determined to crack down this week and sort everything out. It's just extremely difficult as no-one seems to know what they are doing, especially in the wind studies and clarinet office. I think I will just end up emailing people as I end up walking around the MASSIVE department looking for any sign to indicate where I'm supposed to be and what I am doing.

I'm really excited about hopefully settling in fairly quickly as I reckon I will feel a lot better about everything. I keep getting into this give-up kind of attitude that I need to shake myself out of! I'm sure things will pick up quickly, and hopefully my parents will contact me sooon! :0s

See y'all later! (p.s. the accent is already mildly irritating!)

xXx