Brighton, Bright Town

I arrived in Brighton last Saturday after flying down from Edinburgh and taking the train into Falmer, the tiny village next to the University of Sussex. I had my flat to myself for the weekend, since my flat mates didn't arrive until Monday. East Slope, my residences, is aptly named. It literally seems to fall off of the sloping countryside. The parking lot is near vertical, and my flat is near the top of a seemingly endless amount of steps. I don't know what the joke was, putting the fat chick near the very top, but at least I'm getting a good workout! The flat is the cheapest on campus and is notorious for partying. It's a bit dirty and everything seems run down and stained. A lot of international exchange students weren't allocated housing so I feel lucky with what I got!
I don't start classes until Tuesday. Most UK universities have "freshers week", which can be summed up as a week of partying for all of the incoming first years. They have official university parties as well as numerous house parties (most of which seem to happen in and around East Slope). There are two bars on campus, and the buses to Brighton run very regularly, 24 hours. I didn't do a lot of the freshers events, but I have forced myself out on enough occasions to meet people and check out the town! :)

I LOVE Brighton. It's a very hip town, and everything seems to point to the beach. I've had a chance to explore the Laines, which are little alley ways with unique shops and restaurants. There are always buskers playing live music along the street, and the pier and beach are surprisingly clean. Brighton is experiencing a heat wave, which I can't say I'm pleased about. I thought I left the heat behind in Phoenix! It's supposed to be normal temperatures in the next week or two.

Overrall, I'm settling in well. I only have 8 hours of class a week, but a lot of reading to do in the meantime. Of course, I've already gone to the public library in town and got a library card! My flat mates are all French, from the same school in Paris, which worried me at first. I did not want to be the one who didn't speak French in the flat! But, they are all lovely and committed to improving their English, so I feel very included. I'm taking French this term as well, and they've promised to help me with my French as I help them with their English.

Someone asked what I missed most from home. Besides my family and friends (of course) I only miss two things: unlimited diet coke refills at restaurants (soda is expensive here!) and American style chunky peanut butter!

Enough boring details. Here's what I've been looking at the last week!

My bedroom in East Slope

 East Slope Flats! That's mine just on the left

 View of the campus from just behind East Slope

 Royal Pavilion in Brighton

 Brighton Pier

 One of the rides on the Pier, which basically has an entire amusement park. It's a bit weird to feel the wooden beams of the pier creak a bit as the roller coaster whips past.