PHILIPPINES HOLIDAY RECAP

Last December I went back home to the Philippines with my family. I was only there for a couple of weeks as my christmas break was not as long and I had January exams ): I always love being home and being with the rest of my family but revising at the same time was no fun at all. 

The plane ride wasn't to bad at all, we took a direst flight from London Heathrow to Manilla which took only 16 hours and a bit. Sounds long but it went quicker than I thought it would. The coolest thing was the airline gave out iPads where you watched your movies, listen to music and play games. The weather is so NICE there also I just love the sun and heat, but i did stay in-front of the air conditioner  a lot! 

I went to a lot of cool places like Sky Ranch in Tagaytay and also Puenta Fuego where we usually go to chill out and have a couple of beach days and ride jet skis. I also celebrated christmas there and that was even more exciting because I haven't spent christmas there in a long time. Also I could give my cousin Shandy her beloved Fujifilm instax camera, believe me her face was priceless. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to go round Philippines as time just flies when your on holiday, but it's definitely a place to explore  if you're into hot weather, stunning sights and general fun. 

I forgot to add the fries in McDonalds are HUGE ! Why can't they have these jumbo sizes in the UK, my love for McDonalds fries in REAL! Also they have Apple pie a la mode, me and boyfriend always loved the idea of an apple pie with ice-cream but McDonalds in the Philippines already thought of that idea. Just making me write about it gets me so hungry!! 

Maui x 

Jumbo fries

Apple a la modé

Punta Fuego 

Sky ranch 

FLATMATES: My university experience

1. 
   

   Thank god I got given the best flatmates, because I was literally stuck for them for the next few months. Literally, everyone seemed to get along with each other straight of the bat. I remember hearing stories of my friends flatmates that just didn't get along, personally I'm just not an argumentative or confrontational person so i pleaded/hoped/begged me and my flatmates got on. 

   
   

   The first time I remember meeting my flatmates was when i was just trying to set up my room and I heard a knock on my door. First I thought who's this, can't be my parents they just left. Low and behold 4 guys stood outside my room and all  I heard was "Hi I'm Conor, James, Dom and I'm Aaron". In my mind I was just like DO NOT F*** THIS UP and finally introduced myself. They asked me if i wanted to join everyone else in the living space as everyone had arrived and that was when i met the other girls from my flat Freddie and Naomi. 
   
   As with every university student we didn't waste time and cracked open a tinny. Everyone just chatted and basically got to know each other. I didn't feel left out or isolated and I think it was due to the other inviting me out and joining them. One tip I would give when moving into halls for the first time is really get to socialise and talk to your flatmates cause they literally end up becoming your family. Some of my flatmates actually found each other on Facebook or the uni app and started a WhatsApp group so they could get talking just before moving in. 
   
   After that really we chatted for what felt like AGES. I just remember James saying I think we need to get ready before the first freshers event started. To be honest, at this point I felt totally comfortable with everyone just as if I had known them for ages. I remember that first night we even went downstairs to the flat below us and made more friends. I definitely became more social and started being more "out there" and just pushing myself out my comfort zone. Doing this I found that I seemed more approachable and just overall friendly. I wouldn't change anything as I've met some really cool, funny and interesting people at university. 
   
   Our flat was supposed to consist of a total of 8 people but currently we only had 7. My last flat mate Jamuna came a couple of days after we all moved in. We all thought in the beginning that this felt a bit weird as we had made a connection with each other and now this randomer is coming to our little group. But she was the nicest girl, she was just funny and really chill with everyone so we didn't really mind. 
   
   For freshers we literally stuck together along with some of the others from the flat below, but freshers I think will be another blog. As uni went on our friendship got stronger (#sloppybuttrue) and we all got closer, I mean we all had our own groups of friends we hung out with during lectures but we always came home to hang out with each other afterwards, we even all cooked at the same time so we can have "family dinner times". We would even just hang out with each other in our rooms and just chill, me and my flatmate Naomi liked to chill and paint our nails or snack and just get our assignments done. 
   
   Another tip I would give is buy some cheap door stops or bring your own, they are usually cheap and found in your local supermarket like Tescos or Asda. Me and some of my flatmates were shopping in Asda during freshers and found a pack of 2 door stops for £1 so we just bought them for the whole flat. Our doors shut automatically so this stopped them and allowed everyone to just walk in and out of each others room and just socialise. Even when we were doing essays or assignments we would just leave each other doors open so we could just talk to each other. 
   
   Living with strangers does seem like a gruelling idea I mean what if you get polar opposite people? I mean i'm not saying you won't have arguments I mean everyone does for example, not hoovering the hallway or not washing dishes or not cleaning the kitchen, but everyone will sort out these little tiffs and it's better for it to be out in the open and be sorted out unlike bitching behind everyones back and causing a bigger fuss. 
   
   The people I have met through university are just the best especially my flatmates. I totally recommend living in halls, I mean I'm not saying your not going to bump into some weirdos along the way but I reassure you everyone is in the same boat and just wants to get along and be friends, just give them a chance. Also it gives you a chance to find people to live with in the 2nd year, Im living with 5 other people from my flat now currently next year in an actual house so I'm so excited for that!
   
   Im so grateful for the most awesome flatmates I had this year as my 1st year experience could not of got any better! I can't wait for 2nd year to come rolling along and make more memories (#excusethesappyness).

MOVING IN: My university experience

27th September, 2014.

Anxiousness. The only word I think that could sum up my feelings right before moving into university. Don't get me wrong, I felt relieved to be moving on the next step in my life and yada yada yada but leaving everything for a strange environment was just not my thing. Do you know what I mean?

Being the last to move out to uni compared to my friends felt like a lifetime away. Everyone was having fun, meeting new people and having their freshers experience while I was stuck at home doing absolutely NOTHING. At the same time though I was getting more anxious as my friends told me their experiences especially those that seemed to have flatmates from hell. But the day came round and I was leaving the nest (temporarily)!

8am in a stuffed to the brim car on the way to uni, all my emotions just started eating away at me . What if my flatmates hate me? What if they think I'm weird? Did I take to much stuff? What if I become a LONER !?

I literally bought my whole house with me (as my mum said), but I didn't think so. I mean what if I needed a top to wear one night I cant be travelling all the way home for just that one top. Or how about a pair of shoes that would go with my outfit perfectly but i've left them at home ?! I just think its better to be prepared than sorry. 

Arriving at  uni around 9ish am I went to go collect my key and bam it finally hit me. IM A UNI STUDENT. Boy moving in is one of the hardest things ever to do especially if you have so much things. My uni gave out these little green carts that we could stuff our things into so that it made it a bit easier to move things, they also had freshers angels helping so it wasn't too tiring. One advice I would give is have as many people help out as much as possible mum, dad, sister, brother why not even call your gran? 

I hadn't found anyone online before moving in so I literally knew no one. Another tip before moving in is to go on Facebook and find groups that your other potential housemates could have made or check your uni Facebook if anyone has posted anything and just get chatting to them. This would help if you feel really anxious and worried about the people you are going to potentially live with.

But anyways the room I moved in was not bad at all. I just remembered that I would be here more the next few months on my OWN. No mum and no dad. Now that did scare me a little bit, I mean I wanted to be free and stuff but c'mon everything is just easier at home. 

Before my parents left they made sure I had a good old shop just to make sure I would end up starving to death. That's another tip make sure to stock up before your parents leave, you never know when you'll get the munchies. 

After that my parents dropped me off to my flat one last time. This is when the tsunami waves hit me, and boy it hit me hard. In all honesty I balled when I said goodbye to them, it was like I was leaving them forever (sounds so sappy doesn't it ?). If you just happen to stumble upon this post and have the same feeling when moving to university, just remember your parents are always there and only a phone call away, and remember they probably miss you more. But it's only temporary and your uni experience is going to fly by and your going to wonder how it happened so quickly. 

Anyways after that, I knew I had to fix up cause it was time to meet my new flat mates . . .