A dash of London and a serving of Leeds

[FN-GM]

About the water here... Sometimes when I turn on the hot water tap, it's cloudy Any reason why?

Believe it or not its usually caused by air in the water. If you leave it to stand for a while tiny (sometimes not visible) bubbles will go to the surface and it will go away. Leeds water may taste a little different as it has more calcium in it. After a time you might find a white substance developing on the element of you kettle, its called limescale and is caused by the minerals and calcium in the water. Its not as bad as other areas though. Its perfectly safe to drink. If you Google Hard Water you will find more.

PS: If you have any question PM me, i am fairly local to you so might be able to help

[mr_botak]

Welcome to the UK - if you think it's cold now wait for December. To echo the advice from j.lin - make lots, and lots of friends. Oh and probably don't flash the £50 notes around - they are not really in common use - I've never actually seen one in eighteen years!

[isaac]

Hey Isaac thanks for sharing this TR
In a week time I'll be leaving for the UK for university as well. I was hoping that you can explain more about this dedicated lane for student at LHR immigration, such as do they asked for certain documents (e.g. ucas official letter, accomodation offer etc), questions etc.

Also when did you get your UK SIM? Did you get it at LHR as soon as you arrived?

they asked me for my cas and how I was going up to leeds, how i was planning to pay for my tuition fees.
my UK sim card was passed to me by a friend who has just returned from UK. It's a prepaid card (though the UK people have no idea what prepaid is, ask them for "pay as you go")

[isaac]

Hi Isaac.

Welcome to the UK and welcome to Leeds (The closest city to my home town). Leeds is a fantastic city and I guarantee that you will enjoy your time there! What are you studying... Medicine I assume?

It is such a shame that BD ended their LHR-LBA route however there are still a few options to get to LBA with one stop (KL and AF mainly ). Personally I always fly into MAN (millions of options available to MAN as well as SQ) and catch the train directly from the airport to Leeds station (If you book in advance with a student rail card this can cost about £4). Even if you fly to London I would advise you to catch the underground to Kings Cross and then catch a train to Leeds (2hrs).. Catching the bus is such a long affair and is physically draining.

In answer to your question about the M1.. The speed limit is 70mph for all vehicles which is the top speed limit in the UK and is applied to all motorways and dual carriage ways.

Also, don't waste your money buying Asda smart price water here lol.. The tap water everywhere in the UK is drinking water and IMO tastes better than smart price bottled water

If you have any questions about Leeds/Yorkshire or about Medicine (I am a 4th year Medicine student at Newcastle) then feel free to ask me

Good luck!

Thanks for the kind offer! Yes, I am studying Medicine. Who knows you might be my boss in future

About the water here... Sometimes when I turn on the hot water tap, it's cloudy Any reason why?

I also bought a kettle... Leeds water tastes... mineral-ish...

[isaac]

Did you consider SQ328 to Manchester. I would have gone on this route, then take a train into Manchester for a connecting train to leeds from Manchester Victoria station.



They will pack your bags if you ask. Couldnt agree more about the people. Thats what its like though in Leeds. Other areas of the country are allot better. The prices of things down south are more expensive!

The wind has been really strong up north for the last few days. The bike shed at work got blown away.
Thanks for sharing your TR

I did but I wanted to experience London even if it was just for a few hours. I'm weird that way

Thanks for the TR!

Thanks for the TR Haven't been to the UK for over 40 years now, so it's changed quite a lot I see!

Welcome to the UK I hope you have as great a time studying in the Midlands as I did.

You're welcome

All the best in your studies in Leeds! Dentistry or Medicine?

Medicine

There is 1 survival tip I have for you. Make friends, make lots of friends

Thanks for the advice!

[AeroVoyager]

Hey Isaac thanks for sharing this TR
In a week time I'll be leaving for the UK for university as well. I was hoping that you can explain more about this dedicated lane for student at LHR immigration, such as do they asked for certain documents (e.g. ucas official letter, accomodation offer etc), questions etc.

Also when did you get your UK SIM? Did you get it at LHR as soon as you arrived?

[pogonation]

Welcome to the UK I hope you have as great a time studying in the Midlands as I did.

How dare you say Leeds is in the Midlands lol

[pogonation]

Hi Isaac.

Welcome to the UK and welcome to Leeds (The closest city to my home town). Leeds is a fantastic city and I guarantee that you will enjoy your time there! What are you studying... Medicine I assume?

It is such a shame that BD ended their LHR-LBA route however there are still a few options to get to LBA with one stop (KL and AF mainly ). Personally I always fly into MAN (millions of options available to MAN as well as SQ) and catch the train directly from the airport to Leeds station (If you book in advance with a student rail card this can cost about £4). Even if you fly to London I would advise you to catch the underground to Kings Cross and then catch a train to Leeds (2hrs).. Catching the bus is such a long affair and is physically draining.

In answer to your question about the M1.. The speed limit is 70mph for all vehicles which is the top speed limit in the UK and is applied to all motorways and dual carriage ways.

Also, don't waste your money buying Asda smart price water here lol.. The tap water everywhere in the UK is drinking water and IMO tastes better than smart price bottled water

If you have any questions about Leeds/Yorkshire or about Medicine (I am a 4th year Medicine student at Newcastle) then feel free to ask me

Good luck!

[j.lin]

There is 1 survival tip I have for you. Make friends, make lots of friends

[Nick C]

All the best in your studies in Leeds! Dentistry or Medicine?

[coffeeblack]

Welcome to the UK I hope you have as great a time studying in the Midlands as I did.

[SQflyergirl]

Thanks for the TR Haven't been to the UK for over 40 years now, so it's changed quite a lot I see!

[jhm]

Thanks for the TR!

The food and drink selection was terrible. Alcohol is payable at $15 for 2 bottles of Tiger, food was limited to a measly fried rice, some paos and cold samosas.

Wait until you see the cold snacks (and nothing else) in some European lounges!

We basically went the length of the M1 motorway. Anyone knows what the speed limit is?

For cars at least, 70mph.

We are actually connected to the Leeds General Infirmary which is very convenient.

Try not to get involved in too many fights!

[FN-GM]

Did you consider SQ328 to Manchester. I would have gone on this route, then take a train into Manchester for a connecting train to leeds from Manchester Victoria station.

EDIT: it looks like you can get a direct train from the airport to leeds. - http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/m.../Content/Train

Leeds is a small city of around 800,000 people. I have to admit I was in for abit of culture shock over here. There's quite abit of implicit racism, ignorant people who ask which part of China Singapore is in, people commenting that I speak good English for a Chinese person. Besides that, there are the little little things that take adjusting to. e.g, not all washrooms are foc. you pay 30p per entry to a toilet. Which I have already developed a habit of looking for any foc toilets and relieving myself even if I'm not too urgent whenever I come across them (in uni, mcdonalds, Marks and Spencer etc), Groceries have to be packed by yourself in supermarkets, having alot of coins is the norm here, the cold weather. Banks are inefficient, 50 pound notes are thoroughly checked whenever one uses them. I also notice that there are alot of young mothers here. I suspect it has to do with the fact that the government fully subsidises O&G services and gives subsidies to mothers. The people here also drink alot, smoke alot and many have tattoos. Unusual for someone from prim and proper Singapore. Or maybe I'm just ignorant as well.

They will pack your bags if you ask. Couldnt agree more about the people. Thats what its like though in Leeds. Other areas of the country are allot better. The prices of things down south are more expensive!

The wind has been really strong up north for the last few days. The bike shed at work got blown away.
Thanks for sharing your TR

[isaac]

More Leeds








two punnets of strawberries for 1.50GBP. I later realized I got chopped as they were selling for three punnets for 1 pound today.










Beer is a way of life here




the building where I will be spending my first two years of University.




We are actually connected to the Leeds General Infirmary which is very convenient.