First week in Ithaca

Right, time for an update.

Firstly some general info...

Phone calls to/from my mobile are very expensive so I won't be accepting any incoming calls. Feel free to text me (as far as I know it won't cost you anything... but don't hold me to that) but again, texts back to the UK are expensive so don't expect an answer!

Please keep in touch by email (stephen_8983@hotmail.com) or if you want to talk to me you can download Skype (www.skype.com), my username is stephen.burr83 and you can just email me to sort out a time to talk :).

If anyone wants to send post my address until 10th August is

Zeta Psi Fraternity

534 Thurston Avenue

Ithaca

New York, 14850

United States

Now that that's done I can tell you all about the last week. We (myself and Fi, who is also from Bristol and was in London doing the same course as me this year) left the RVC at 5:45am on Saturday morning and got to Heathrow via the tube and train. Everything went smoothly at the airport and we left on time at 9:30. The flight was nearly 7 hours but thanks to the onboard entertainment and periods with amazing views out of the window it went pretty quickly. Immigration took forever and that, combined with the slowest, least organised bus journey I have ever been on (including a tour of all 9(!!) terminals of JFK airport) meant that it took about 3 and a half hours to get from JFK into downtown New York. We could see a few landmarks from the bus (Empire state building for example) but definitely need to go back for a proper look around. The delays at the airport meant that we missed the coach we were supposed to get and ended up getting into Ithaca at about 9:15pm local time (2:15am UK time).

So far, this week has mainly been admin/orientation stuff mixed with plenty of socialising. All the people on the course seem really nice and we've been having a great time so far. Cornell is a really pretty university, lots of green spaces and old buildings. We are staying in the zeta psi fraternity house, which is really grand and old. We have ll the mod cons, internet, massive TV, cable, DVD player, table tennis, pool table, table football, so we've been having a lot of fun! Next week we are going to Washington DC for a few days of seminars and then hopefully staying for the weekend to see the sights.

I hope you are all well, I'll keep you updated as often as I can and feel free to email me any time, I'll email back asap!

Stephen xx

One of the gorges running through the university campus

BBQ outside our house!