Newfoundland begins

So 9 months after the plan was concocted, I have arrived in St John's, Newfoundland, my home for the next two years. Embarking upon a Master's in Geology on the east coast of Canada. Having never travelled outside of Europe before, nor travelled without a class or team of companions. It's a pretty big deal.

Starting a blog seems like the natural thing to do nowadays. An easy way to tell the friends and family of my trials and tribulations that does not involve annoyingly long Facebook monologues, the 140 characters of Twitter, or the dodgy internet connections of Skype. Plus its good therapy. So here it goes. BTW the photos will never do it justice.

After a 6 hour van journey and a short but emotional goodbye from the parents I rocked up in Heathrow petrified that something would go wrong. I would get lost in the depths of Terminal 3. I would miss my flight (I have previously managed to miss a train despite sitting at the correct platform...) or that I would get over to Canada and my visa would be declined. Thankfully it all went swimmingly. My Air Canada flight was 60% full, I had the row to myself and the aeroplane food was surprisingly yummy. I watched The Avengers (again) and some of The Hunger Games and the 5hours and 40minutes flew by. And then I got my first glimpses of "The Rock." That's when I got really excited.

Leaving Heathrow

Somewhere over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge according to the in-flight map.

First sight of the East Coast of Canada.

The Immigration officers granted me my Study Visa without bother. I think they were relieved after I had all my papers ready and in order whereas the two guys in front of me had no idea what was happening. I was greeted by a lovely guy from the International Student Office who greeted me with a packed lunch! Water, fruit juice, cheese dippers, trail mix, and a weird tuna sandwich pack which I have yet to open... The sky was completely clear and the sun was beaming, most unlike Newfoundland apparently, so thankyou to whoever ordered the weather for me! A brief taxi tour into town towards my hostel I got the lowdown on the city. "It's a little hilly so we can pretend it's San Francisco. If you get lost, just head downhill and you'll end up at the water eventually."

Upon arrival at the hostel I was instructed that while it was nice I should go up Signal Hill and take in the views. So after I dumped my stuff and let everyone know I had arrived that's exactly what I did. I had wanted to visit this place ever since I learnt about it but I didn't expect to do so in the first few hours of my stay! The hill is on the coast and overlooks the harbour, with its strategic position being utilised since the 17th century. Atop the hill is Cabot Tower, built in 1898 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. In 1901 the tower received the first trans-Atlantic wireless trasmission by Marconi from Cornwall. And it hosts a Newfoundland's answer to Dynamic Earth, the Johnson Geo-Centre!

Typical "jelly-bean" housing of Downtown St John's.

St John's Harbour with the view towards Signal Hill & The Narrows.

View South towards Cape Spear, the most easterly point in Canada.

Cabot Tower.

View towards the city. The sun made it hard to get a good photo!

 I returned to my hostel after a wee wander about town to find what else but Coronation St on the TV. Apparently its religion over here too. I never thought a Manc accent would be so welcoming to me. Knackered not from jet lag but from an extraordinary day I retired to my bunkbed.