While others adventurously seek the outdoors and explore their surroundings when they're in new places, I like to find a nice, cozy, warm, indoor place where I can hole up and read, watch TV, write, rub gunk out of my eyes or sing and dance without having anyone notice me.
Being out in the world makes me uncomfortable, because the other human life forms can see me, and I'm pretty sure they can tell I'm not one of their own. I have a tendency to look stupid due to my shyness and often mishear what people say which leads to me looking even more of a weird idiot.
Days like today, however, remind me of how much I sometimes enjoy being out in the middle of things.
Although it's my day off, I went out to the grocery store (because after my weekend away, the only food I had left was peanut butter, jelly, Cheerios and milk).
After returning to Grayson Heights, I ventured out again to the City Centre to buy my train tickets for upcoming travel. I normally enjoy this a lot because every time I've gone to the train station to buy tickets, I've been helped by the same woman behind the desk, and she is always cheerful and kind and makes me feel at ease (that may also have to do with her telling me that she's a Doctor Who fan).
Today, though, I got one of those worker drones, so angry to be doing their job that they treat you as if you're inconveniencing them by requiring them to...you know...do the job they're being paid for.
It was with this unpleasant woman that I got my card rejected for the second time today (it was also rejected at the Grocery store but I assumed it had meant that their machines didn't read cards that weren't chip & pin, not an actual problem with my card).
Embarrassed, I quickly charged it, not bothering to buy the 2 other tickets I need for my March 2nd trip to London. I then left hastily.
Walking back to the bus stop, I gazed around at the buildings that I passed, the smashed in screen of the National Bank of Scotland ATM, the old, stone buildings, and a smile came to my lips. I was casually walking down a beautiful street in England, by myself, knowing exactly where I was going, surrounded by the hurried voices of British people. I felt adult (although I was aware that 'feeling' adult means you're not really one yet). I thought back to five years ago, and how I never could have imagined that I would ever be in England, walking down a street, by myself. Despite my social awkwardness, I really enjoy being out in the City Centre, taking in all the sights.
It reminds me why I'm happy to be here, and it usually brings an uncontrollable smile to my face.
Another bonus: Leeds' city streets are FULL of hot men. They must put something in the water here because the number of attractive men is just over whelming. I fall in love multiple times daily with numerous men. They're hot, well dressed and have fantastic accents, it is so wonderful, and also makes me realise how deprived I've been at the University of Illinois and the United States in general.
My opinion? Send our children to grow up here so they can grow up to be attractive (it must be something they do here to make the vast majority so fine) and then ship them back to the US once they're 18.
In other news, my Chinese flatmates (yes, I still don't know their names, I'm a horrible person) made me and my other flatmates dinner last night.
I was wary, considering how much our kitchen smells of spices.
They made dumplings and had vinegar dipping sauce and curry with a variety of vegetables. It was so good. Spicy, yes, but also really, really delicious, and, the first home cooked meal I've had in my dorm.
We all sat and ate together, 2 from China, 1 from Ethiopia, 1 from Canada, and me, the US/Cuban representative. We laughed and ate and I was pleasantly surprised by the good time we had.
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