a faraway life

Monday, 8 September 2008

I don't like choices.

Okay, maybe just not too many of them, because being a notoriously indecisive person, that means that I'll just end up confused in the end and waste lots of time trying to make a trivial decision. Today it's about bank accounts and mobile lines. Rachel's dad drove us around and we arranged appointments with two banks, both tomorrow. However, I know nothing about bank accounts. Well, I guess you don't really need a great amount of prior knowledge to set up a basic account but how do you choose which bank to go with? As I said, I don't like choices sometimes.

Anyway, after we've asked around about mobile phone contracts, Rachel's parents wanted to view an apartment on sale. Apparently, they're thinking of buying a place nearer the university for her, which she'll probably rent out to a few other flatmates. Property prices here have been on the downtrend recently, so they're relatively low now. I guess it is quite worth it to get an apartment, especially if she's going to stay on after her studies. We had nothing else urgent to do anyway, so my mum and I decided to tag along and take a look at a typical Scottish home. Except it's not very typical.

It was beautiful! I knew every single one of us fell in love with it at first sight. The flight of stairs leading to the apartments wasn't really impressionable; it was all dull and gloomy but we kept our hopes up and when the lovely old man let us through the door, wow. What a difference. It isn't big; in fact, it's rather small. However, the furnishings were stunning and the condition of the house was unbelievable. Everything was spick and span and somehow I was certain that it wasn't only because the owner was preparing it for viewings. It has 3 cosy bedrooms, a galley kitchen, a bathroom and a sitting room. It has all the makings of a perfect apartment for students: 15 minutes away from the university, 3 supermarkets within a 10-minute-walk radius, soundproof rooms, quiet surroundings despite being on the main road and pleasant neighbours. I'll be really excited for Rachel if they buy it. :)

Later in the evening, while my mum and I were leaving Murano for the subway station, we met a girl from Hong Kong. She's an exchange student and was alone, for her friend was staying in another accommodation. Since today was Eunice's first day and she was unfamiliar with the place, we invited her to walk with us, just so we could show her the way to the university and supermarkets. Eunice told us about how her Internet didn't seem to be working even after she tried all day, so she couldn't leave a message on her friend's wall. Yup, I'm referring to Facebook. It definitely reaches far and wide. Anyway, since she didn't have a local number yet, that kinda means her only form of communication with the outside world has been cut off. How could I let that happen when I have a perfectly-functioning Internet connection in my room? After using my laptop, I went over to her room to see if I could help. Of course not. Don't you know I'm quite the IT idiot? Haha.

So that's basically how my day was. Throughout the course of today, I've noticed the presence of more international students in Glasgow, who're probably exchange students, since their orientation begins tomorrow. With them, Rachel and her family and the other Singaporeans I know are coming soon, I feel less alone. Independent life in Glasgow is beginning to look more possible.

PS: Thanks dearies, for making your presence known in that lovely board to the left! It's much appreciated! :)