There is something about travelling alone.

Everything comes down to you. You are responsible for yourself, where you have to be and when.

At first, I felt sad that I had noone to share moments with – to laugh at the guy talking in his sleep in the seat behind me or marvel at how a shower can cost $60. But sitting in the Hong Kong airport, after the first 9-hour leg of my journey to Oxford, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. A gladness that I was by myself.

The reason for this is maybe a little selfish. I had a strange feeling of possession over my journey – a journey that only I experienced. No one else would know how I felt in that moment, or what I saw. It was completely mine and something I was doing for myself. I could be sad without having to explain it, or happy, or excited. I was completely free – from expectations, from responsibilities, and from myself.

The second leg began, a 13 hour flight to London. Most of it was spent sleeping – and not too uncomfortably on the new big AirBus. I got through the long line of customs, found my bag immediately waiting for me all on its lonesome and headed to the bus to take me to Oxford. It was way earlier than I expected, but the bus driver let me on the bus anyway.

I probably should have waited in the terminal. I forgot the sun doesn’t rise until 8.30 – so I arrived in Oxford when it was pitch black, with absolutely no idea where to go and no way of contacting anyone. A while was spent wandering around until the sun finally started to peep its head. I started to make out objects as trees, buildings. And finally, there was what I wanted to see. ‘Clive Booth Student Village’. I had never been more glad to see a sign in my life. I was taken to my flat – the only one in there at the moment – and settled in.

Never been so glad to see a sign

First views of Oxford

A friend of mine and her friend happened to be visiting Oxford on the day I arrived. It was nice to see a familiar face and to have someone to explore my new home with. After taking a tour of the Bodleian Library and having a late lunch at a classic English pub, they helped me shop for my bed sheets and other essentials. I honestly have no idea how I would have carried everything to my place without them.

Once I saw them off, the tiredness hit. I felt like I had anvils on my eyelids and passed out at 8pm. Pretty good effort since I had been up since 1am. Let the adventure begin!