The Temporary Dorm Room

So, from Tuesday until Saturday, we have International Student Orientation. All the local students do not arrive until Sunday, so we have time to settle in and adjust. However, for these days, we are temporarily located all together, in a dorm that is different than the one I will have for the fall semester. It's been... interesting

The room itself isn't bad. It's a single with a hall bathroom, with a desk, fridge, sink, wardrobe, and some shelving in the room. It's a bit cramped because I can't really unpack (since I'm moving again Saturday). All was well until I tried to use some of my American electronics. The adapter I brought with me to plug into English electrical sockets didn't seem to work, which wasn't too big of a deal. I went to the student store, and bought a new one relatively cheaply. Last night, I plugged it into the wall, and then plugged my laptop's power cord into it. The outlet had to be turned on with a switch, so I flipped it. I promptly lost my lights and all the power in my room. I have no idea why. The fuse switch was in the room, and I flipped it back and forth multiple times, with no success. As of leaving my room for breakfast this morning, I still do not have power. I talked to one of the orientation aides, who said she would tell the building's porter about it, so hopefully they'll get my power working again. I don't know what to do about the adapter.

Then, using some of my laptop's remaining battery life, I lit up the room enough so that I could try to call home with the room phone, only to find out it had no dial tone. I tried dialing anyways, and nope, it's no good.

Finally, I've been trying for multiple days to get my computer hooked up to the network, and along with everyone else in the building, it doesn't work. We connect, we get an IP, it tries to redirect you to a Nottingham page, and then gives you a 'no page found.'

I'll be happy to move to my permanent room and get this all sorted out. I've been taking pictures around the school and from my excursion yesterday into town, but I can't really do anything with them until I have my laptop working.

Don't get me wrong -- the school is pretty amazing. The dorm situation, at the moment, is just a bit frustrating. I'm sure it will work out in the end.