First day of classes.

Today I had two classes: Gothic Literature, and Global Orientations.  Before those, though, I got up much earlier than needed because our cleaning person (yes, we have a cleaning person) was coming.  I didn't know exactly what time, just that I had to get up to strip my bed.  So, I got up, got ready, and left the dorm nearly 4 hours before my class would start.  So what did I do with the time?  I wandered.  I found an adorable cafe called the Camera Cafe which is, as it sounds, part camera shop, part cafe.  Unfortunately it was not yet open when I passed so I looked it up to see if it was really as cool as it looked and indeed, the internet says it is!  So I'll have to go back and check it out another day.  So then I found a Starbucks and as uninteresting as it is, sometimes a vanilla chai latte hits the spot. So I then took my drink, sat by the window, looked up, and realized I was right across from the British Museum. I love London :).  Then I got some lunch, and went to class.  I really liked it.  He took us through an overview of the history and inspiration for early gothic architecture, which in turn spurred the development of gothic literature.  Pretty cool stuff.  Then the 2nd class was actually lead by the same teacher, but is just a basic London/British history and cultural studies-type class that is mandatory for all  the NYU London students (of which, I found out, there are nearly 400).  Then some friends and I decided to go out for fish and chips!  And it was delicious, but enough grease to cary me over until the moms come to visit in a month if not for longer.

Picture of the day:

Classic.

Word of the day: 

"Daft you up" = Beat you up (but "daft" alone means like foolish or crazy, as more commonly known)

The last day before classes...

Sunday the 26th, the last day of "freedom."  Classes start tomorrow so from then on I'll actually have work to think about.  But today was still vacation, so we enjoyed it in spite of the rain.  I woke up to join a group of NYUers to go explore Camden Market in the lovely London rain.  It was cold, rainy, and windy, but also a great time.  There were tons of little vendors selling food, jewelry, bags, and other chotskies (sp?).  I bought a new wallet and a bag for school (sorry mom, it was cheap...).  When we decided we were hungry we found a giant section of food vendors selling a myriad of delicious foods from all over the world.  I sampled everything from a mysterious Russian dumpling thing to paella.  I ended up deciding on delicious Turkish falafel.  Yum!  When we decided to leave the market we realized we had to find our way home by ourselves (we got there in a big group led by staff and then were left to explore and forage for our selves).  And guess what!  We found the right bus nice and quick (with a little help from the phone GPS...).  When I got home I rested, finished the 3rd season of Sherlock, and got ready for class tomorrow.  Then I went out to a yummy Italian place for dinner after figuring out the fish and chip place we were going to go to was closed, because most places aren't open Sundays for dinner, if at all.  Then just now I signed up for some "cultural" events and trips organized by NYU.  In the scramble to sign up for things faster than my classmates I think I got in to trips to Dover, Bath, and Brighton, a rugby game, and a river cruise party.  So lots of exciting things to look forward to!

Picture of the day:

Camden Lock Market

Word of the day: Not sure I learned any new words today actually... :(  Hopefully more tomorrow after 4.5 hours with a British professor... or "lecturer" as they call them here.

More Welcome Week

The 25th of January, as they say here

Today was a great day because last night I actually slept through the night!  Step one in my adjusting to living here in London :).  After sleeping in until after 11:00, my roommate and I had breakfast and then made ourselves lunch to eat on our afternoon bus tour.  Then we went on the tour!  We drove through the two cities in London (City of London and City of Westminster), by a myriad of monuments and museums, and over the Tower Bridge (you know, the pretty one on which the olympic rings hung).  We got to get out a couple of times as well which was nice: once around Parliament and Westminster Abbey, once at the Thames by the Tower Bridge, and once by Buckingham Palace.  At Buckingham Palace we saw the changing of the guards, which may have been the exciting spectacle most people go to watch, but instead it was a slow, quiet switch of shifts of just a few guards because... the Queen is out of town!  Apparently she gets like 8 weeks vacation in the winter.  Vacation from what?  Not sure :).  Then my friends and I went to the little shopping area near by, did some errands, and then returned to our "flats" (thats what they call them here) to have a quiet evening and watched movies.  We decided to stay in tonight in order to save money and more easily wake up semi-early tomorrow to go on a tour of Camden Market... so be looking forward to that tomorrow!

Picture of the day:

Me and the Roomie Outside Buckingham

(She's quite tall)

Word of the day:

A "sachet" is like a pouch. Not sure if this is a British word or just new to me... BUT, here, the "instant porridge" (which I bought because they do not have instant oatmeal but it's really about the same) comes in sachets with little lines on them that are meant to measure out the perfect amount of milk to put in the porridge.  Such a smart, practical idea!  Yay Brits.

Getting Acclimated

Day 3!

Today was a long day!  After not sleeping well at all, I pushed myself to stay awake and busy all day to hopefully sleep better tonight.  In the early afternoon my friend Kaya and I went to another free lunch with Ashley, Julia, and our new friend Tobi at the student center (ULU) which was a huge variety of small sandwiches, just like I'd imagine at high tea... though unfortunately there was no tea.  After lunch we bought our text books and went on a long walk to find school supplies and explore the area around "campus."  Then we headed back to ULU for a variety of info sessions, including one about a host program, where students stay with a host family outside of London for a weekend.  It seems like a very cool program and I'm definitely thinking of applying!
In the evening, NYU organized a bowling night, which was basically a cash bar and free food at a bowling alley.  Most people didn't actually bowl... but it was still fun!  Then we decided to try a new pub near campus and stayed there until last call.  That may sound like a late-ish night out... but last call here is at 11pm.  So now I am home updating friends and family of my day and watching Sherlock...  Feels different watching it here!


Picture of the day:

A pretty, cool-looking building seen on our walk

Words/Phrases of the Day:
"Friendlies" = Scrimmages
"Chief Bridesmaid" = Maid of Honor (this one's actually from Sherlock, but it counts right?)

The first day and a half

Days 1 and 2 in London!

Day 1: Yesterday I flew to London, took the tube to Russell Square, and walked to my Dorm.  I unpacked my things, took a nap (regrettably), then got groceries, went to a floor meeting, and went to bed.  Not the most exciting day.

Picture of the day:

View from Room

Word of the Day: "Bits" = Pulp

Day 2: Today I got a new SIM card!  And then I had lunch at whats called the ULU (University of London Student Union - Basically the Kimmel here).  It was good and FREE.  And then I sat through an awful 3 hour long orientation.... but I made some new friends!  Then Kaya and I went out to dinner with our new friends before reuniting with some old ones!  We then went to a pub with Ashley and Julia and had a great time catching up over some British drink called a snake bite... which is half cider half beer... delish!  Now I am Skyping with Rob and trying to stay up at least past 10 so that I'm not up again at 5am.... *sigh* Jetlag.

Photo of the Day:

 The Obligatory Phone Booth Pic

Words and Phrases of the Day:

"Parcel" = Package

"Wee Green Man" = Walk sign (similar to the "white man" we have in the US)

"It's like teaching grandma to suck eggs" = Still unsure what this one means....