Hull By Muthoni Kamau

I am a post-graduate student at the University of Hull. I am from Kenya in East Africa, one of God's little and wee kept secrets! I have been in Hull for just over a month now ant it's been quite an experience. I am bound never to forget it. It's one strange town! You can never really generalise and say that people in Hull are really friendly because believe me, I have met some NOT so friendly people. I am still going through a major culture shock especially with the food.

Coming from a country where we basically eat food straight from the 'shambe' to one where the food is frozen, is quite different. When I go to the butchers the meat is all weighed out and already priced; there are no mangoes and the bananas taste totally different - tasteless - and they are too yellow. It is extremely strange going to a grocery store and having two things that are similar, differently priced because one is organic and the other not (I wonder what it is then!) and surprisingly the organic is more expensive. Those of you who will read this and happen to be from Hull or the UK, may think all this is strange, but I suppose I find the whole place more strange!

In Kenya I live on a tea farm and my mother grows all the food we consume on a part of our garden. She also keeps cows and chickens. I don't quite understand why an egg here has an expiry date on it. Before I forget to tell you what really blew my mind, the chips are frozen and the burgers too! Believe me its been hard! It is going to be a task greater than lifting weights but one that I will have to live with for the next year or so. I am just counting. 1½ months down, 10½ to go. I think it is only wise for you to take a trip to anywhere in Africa; East, West, North, South and Central and taste real organic food and fruits, then and only then will you truly understand the true meaning of bliss! Oh! The blacker the banana, the sweeter….

Coffee Shops Reviews - Wired Cyber Café and Network Gaming Centre, Cottingham Road, Hull By Starpaw.

	The world is turning digital, it's true. WAP mobile phones, digital televisions and palmtops, the works. Computers are here to stay and the net is playing an even larger role in our everyday lives. Once the domain of geeks and computer fanatic's, cyber space Read more...

Coffee Shops Reviews - Virtually Perfect Cybercentre Café, 17 Paragon Street Hull

	From the ashes of the defunct Sydney Scarborough building rises Hull's one and only cyber cafe. It's decked out with huge dark blue comfy sofas, massive ultraviolet waveform artwork adorning the walls and Avril Lavinge's Sk8er Boi playing out through the sound system. Liberal amounts Read more...

People - Wanted Dead or Alive
	I've known Diane for most of my life. For most of that time she's been battling to get out of the rat race. She's a straightforward, straight-talking woman. She's bright, funny and has always - ALWAYS been on and around motor cycles. Read more...

Music Reviews - Superscape
	Hull based band Superscape have been around for more years than the individual members care to remember. With a slightly altered line-up, some comings and goings, and short respite, the band now seem raring to go. Read more...

Opinions - The War By Carolyn
	Since the war in Iraq has been reported about, I made a silent agreement with myself that whatever thoughts about the war I have I will not write about or permanently express in any way. I think this is because of some type of anger that I haven't felt Read more...

Opinions - Will graduate plumbers be up to the job? By Jane Foster
	The recent programme Posh Plumbers on BBC1 highlighted the growing number of middle class graduates and professionals turning to plumbing for a living. With a national shortage of 32,000 plumbers, and salaries to match those of a decent job in the capital, the profession is changing. Read more...

Opinions - Come On You Hull! By Laura Baldwin
	So our latest award to sit alongside our much treasured worst city to live in the UK award' is that of the fattest city in the UK. Yep, not content with telling us that we live in the most crap city in the UK but apparently we're also a bunch of big lard arses as well. Charming. It seems that no-one has anything good to say these days about the historic city of Hull. Read more...

Opinions - Haircuts In The Crowd By Mr. Lucifer
	If you are becoming bored of the vain, look at me I'm so cool culture that swamps the nationwide indie/rock scene and if you are sick of standing among people with the same haircuts, the same clothes, and the same transfixed miserable look on their faces, then, you are obviously craving exactly what I am Read more...

Cooking - Chicken Curry by Anne
	We have spent most of the week-end at the WOMAD festival in Reading. We spent loads of money on food which was a bit disappointing and when we got home we thought it might be nice to try to make something like a WOMAD curry. This is a really gorgeous curry Read more...

Sports Events - Cleethorpes 20 June 2003
	Turbulent westerley's made it difficult to board, so Drunkmonkey helps KitegirlUK nail the 360! Checkout KitegirUK's terrific photographs of Cleethorpes 20 June 2003. Read more...

NightClub Reviews - Fuel NightClub By Carolyn
	As Friday night bounced away in its masses I hot footed it along with photographer Dee down to the opening night of Hulls newest café bar/nightclub FUEL. And what a splendicious night we embarked on!. I had the level of fun that only a damn good sun drenched, off-it and 'avin it week away gives you. As the flyer so confidently and rightly said Read more...