One day before starting my Global Experiences program in London and checking in to this place called Nido (apparently it’s a student apartment). I’m stoked to live in a student apartment just because the dorm in SIM is expensive and full of Asian international students, and coming from Singapore I’d love to experience more of a different culture. Also it does not make sense for me to live in SIM just because the journey to school takes 1 hour 30 minutes train ride.
The trip to Manchester and Liverpool was awesome! Afifah and I, we had so much fun visiting football stadiums and just being there. It wasn’t my first time so I knew where to go and how to get to the places we want go. Going back to Old Trafford (Manchester United stadium) was like going back home. The walk from the tram station to the stadium was about 10 minutes walk and what still amazed me back in 2008 and now is that the area of that place is really quiet when there is no match going on. The take out shops closes early as business are not really good on a non-match day. Old Trafford is of course the biggest stadium of all the football clubs with the capacity of almost 79,000. We get to see the pitch, the dressing rooms and of course shop at the mega store. I’ve been through all these back in 2008, but since it was Afifah’s first time there, I had to accompany her but,it doesn’t really matter — a fan will always be a fan! Going there the second time was almost as though it was the first for me; heart racing and excitement will always be there!
We spent a night at a Manchester hostel called Hatters and it was a great experience. Since my mom owns a travel agency, I have the luxury to stay at some cool hotels but this trip, we had to budget ourselves, and therefore, we had to spend wisely. We met some cool people from Columbia (with minimal English, so all they could say were ‘Hi!’ and ‘Bye’). Then we met this Australian (our roommate) who spent six months in Scotland for exchange and, like us, went to Manchester just to visit Old Trafford.
The next day we went to Liverpool to visit Liverpool Football Club stadium, Anfield. In my opinion, by far the coziest stadium I’ve ever been. Although the capacity of the stadium only fits around 46,000, Anfield felt like a true fan’s home. We then walked around Liverpool centre and witnessed a fight there; scary, but it was a funny sight to be honest. One thing we both love about Liverpool was the Scousers’ (what Liverpool people are called) accent. It’s so different and really nice to hear. People, who don’t know, think Steven Gerrard! Still don’t know? YOUTUBE!
Emirates Stadium belongs to Arsenal, the North London Football Team. I think it’s the prettiest stadium ever both inside out. Many interesting facts about this stadium.For one, the home dressing room was designed by the manager, Arsene Wenger as he spent some time in Japan learning about Feng Shui. Of course, trophy-wise would not be as much as the great UNITED but still, the history of the club was there.
Tomorrow, we will check out from here to go to Nido King’s Cross. I really can’t wait to meet new people and of course my home for the coming two months. Hopefully, it’s going to be awesome!
- Syaza
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