My trip to first trip to Aberystwyth!

I recently paid my future home of Aberystwyth a visit, and I found it to be a lovely and enchanting place, full of friendly people and hospitable establishments, with plenty of things to do, see, and try. It was as if every moment spent there was one spent in the glorious present, free from the inhibitions and constraints of everyday life around here.

My arrival in the UK was not quite a warm welcome, it seemed like an endless walk from the airplane to passport control, where I was greeted by a border agent who did a fairly thorough job of checking my identity and plans and reasons for being in the country, despite my being a non-visa national, which surprised me a bit.

The subsequent Tube ride seemed like forever, although it did give a panoramic view of West London, its gardens and sheds and shops and streets. London Euston where I had to buy my ticket to Aber was quite a mess, and I spent nearly a half hour trying to get a ticket to my destination. I was shocked to find out that one must pay for using the loo in many public places, 30 bloody pence! (exact change of course)

However the ride from London Euston through to Birmingham New Street was quite an interesting ride past the green English countryside which has occupied so much of my dream scape these past few years. Past Birmingham and through the urbanised West Midlands with their many allotments and Masjids, which made way for Shropshire and its verdant pastures. An eternity later I arrived on the Welsh coast and climpsed for the first time what I hoped would be a wonderful place to live and prosper. How right I was.

The town itself, though counting among its inhabitants only 25 000 people, is positively buzzing with activity, from early in the morning till late into the night. The variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, clubs and other entertainment venues is quite tantalising, and the residents are quite welcoming.

During my sojourn at Aberystwyth I made a great many friends and acquaintances, and hardly encountered any rudeness or aggression whatsoever. The residents of the town, as well as the transplants, truly make one feel at home and among friends.

It wasn't long before the loneliness that a solo traveller faces was broken by a friendly face from Surrey, England, who was staying at the same hostel. That night we went out for a laugh and oh what a laugh it was. The next day was the Aberystwyth University Visiting Day, where I saw the campus and got a better idea of the program I would participate in (Education), as well as a fruitful meeting between myself and the head of the French department.

Later on that day I made other friends and we chilled late into the night. It was indeed a revealing several hours, where I got to see exactly what and how the British youth think about the current political and economic situation, as well as an intimate look at what exactly the youth of that area do for fun. It was quite fun and a very good learning experience.

The next two days spent in Aberystwyth were spent walking and talking and chilling and doing basically whatever I pleased. It was only upon leaving Aber that I realised exactly how much I would miss it, and precisely how much I wanted to return.

Oh halai that one day I will live there and be happy!