Dispatching the Post

How to Do Mail for London

Our mail doesn't come directly to Manson Place, but is handled at the EUSA administraion building. It's great since our classes are there, so we can check for mail before or after. If a package comes, and we do all love to receive packages, we get email notification from the EUSA staff. I've already received a couple! THANKS Mom and Dad.

International shipping does require some extra paperwork, and Mom and Dad have found out the hard way that the United States Postal Service is both the cheapest and the fastest. That's not to say that shipping is cheap. Regular shipping from the Villanova area takes about six to ten days.

The post offices in England are privately owned. I guess they are operated a little like UPS stores in the States, just not quite as fancy. Unfortunately, the husband and wife who run the South Kensignton Post Office weren't too helpful when I was there last.

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Trains, Buses and Cabs, Oh My!

The tube, while absolutely excellent, gets very crowded during rush hours. A tip to the wise - most people don't make the effort to walk to the ends of the station platform, therefore the cars at the front and rear of any train are the least crowded. Do yourself a favor!

There are seats designated for the elderly and handicapped, but none for passengers with baggage. Because people are coming in from airports at all hours, people with suitcases can have an especially difficult time. I have been surprised that many riders offer to help. Some will even give up their seats for those less capable of standing. Show a little class!

The tube does shut down at 12:30 am. When we're out late, a play at the West End (my preference) or a pub, club or bar, alternate transportation must be found. The Oyster Card works on buses, but stops are sometimes hard to find and service is less frequent than the tube. If you're in a large group so that searching for the most convenient stop is a little less of a task and a lot more fun, buses are a good option.

Otherwise, cabs are not too difficult to find, especially near hotels and popular night spots. Cash is required and they're not cheap. Cabs in London are large however, so the tab can be split among three, four, maybe more. Don't spend all of your cash at the bar. Pitch in your share!

The Fourth Week

Thursday (Day 25): Prep for Paris

It was the slowest class ever!!!!!!!! And the longest afteroon - packing and waiting, waiting and packing. Sleep never came, as visions of the Arch and the Tower drifted in and out our consciousness.

Wednesday (Day 24): Mamma Mia!

Tonight was the night I’d been looking for since we first arrived here in London: theater night! Of course I’m planning on seeing many more shows while I’m here, but I’m never one to turn down a free West End or Broadway show!

Although I had already seen Mamma Mia in New York, it had been so much fun that I couldn’t wait to see it again here in London. With the summer release of the movie version of this production, everyone in the program was pretty excited to see it as well, and we set out as a big group to ride the tube to the Prince of Wales Theatre.

We all took our seats and as the overture started, I got that familiar adrenaline rush that accompanies the start of any show I see. My excitement only grew as I sang along to my favorite songs (in my head of course) and saw how much everyone around me liked it too. By the encores, everyone from GCP was up dancing and having a blast, reminding me of the NYC trip Notre Dame took a couple of years ago (I danced this one for you Mrs. Sajeski!!!!!).

We were sad to see it end and decided instead of going home, to go across the street to O’Neil’s Pub, which features live music at night. Since there was a big Duke basketball game on that night, and Ajay wanted to get back to watch it, we only stuck around for a couple songs, but we were impressed by the band, especially their cover of Blink 182’s All the Small Things. After belting it out along with them and dancing, we hopped back on the tube and called it a night.

Tuesday (Day 23): Hitting the Local Gym

With all of the free time I was anticipating after class on Tuesday, I decided to go with Krista to the gym she and some of my other friends joined as a guest. Sure, walking everywhere here has given me even more exercise than I would probably get at home, but I was looking forward to using an elliptical machine again and feel like I was getting a “real” cardio workout. We spent about an hour and a half at the gym, and walked home feeling a refreshing mix of energy and exhaustion.

Nothing “blog-worthy” happened for the rest of the evening,, and I went to bed knowing that I had done something good for myself!

Monday (Day 22): Oxen 'R Us?

With little of note happening to begin our fourth week in London, we decided to create fun for ourselves.

Tuche pointed out that Chinese New Year was fast approaching, but actually happening on the day of our return from Paris. This unfortunate conflict will result in our missing the parade of dragons at Trafalgar Square.

So that it wouldn't be a total loss, we decided to head to China Town to grab some dinner, take in the decorations, and celebrate the upcoming Year of the Ox - just a little early.

It was clear by walking along the streets of restaurants and reading the menus that Chinese food in London isn't quite the same as the version served in the United States. Nothing like General Tso’s Chicken here! Even so, we finally selected a spot with a semi-familiar menu and got a table.

After my friends got over my choice - the squid and noodle dish, we played Snaps until our food arrived. It was a delicious feast! Having devoured our meals, we made our way back to the flat for some rest and relaxation.

Tools of the Trade

The transportation system in London is terrific. Do not put off mastering it, because it opens up soooooo many possibilities. At orientation, we received our Oyster Cards and learned about the London Pass. These are pre-paid passes for the underground tube and bus system and a variety of historic places, critical to any visitor to the area. EUSA and Villanova provided us with these, but you will want to explore the available options for anyone planning to visit while you are in London. They are real money savers!

We're in week three here, and while I have pretty much mastered reading the large maps available in every tube station, I still need a little help with changing lines and getting off at just the right stop. An internet site called London Town has turned out to be very useful. If it lists the site or business you need, it almost always includes the "nearest" tube stop and other tips.

We've learned the hard way that a lot of construction takes place in the city on the weekends. Already our favorite tube stops have been closed and whole tube lines have been shut down. Since there is lots of duplication in the system, you can almost always get where you need to go with just a little extra thought. We will not be deterred!

Beyond London, the national train system is excellent, so is Gatwick airport. Though I have yet to use it, several classmates have. It's a little farther away than Heathrow, but a train called the Gatwick Express makes getting to our neighborhood pretty easy.

A word to the wise - The tube is not very handicapped accessible. There are LOTS of steps, and only some tube stops have ramps and elevators. Some have escalators, but many are steep and really long. More words of wisdom - travel light and wear comfortable shoes.

A Few Notes on Classes

The Academic Routine

We've started to settle into a routine as far as classes are concerned. Our classroom, which is in the EUSA administration building is a little small, but reasonably comfortable. It's a short walk, so even bad weather is pretty easy to handle. Homework has been lighter than I expected - some reading and review of notes, but nothing burdensome.

By far, I'm liking British Life and Culture the best. Dr. Weight is very knowledgeable and discussion comes easy in class. We are to keep a weekly journal in preparation for a lengthy paper. Actually, my interest in British literature and writing this blog will both be very helpful with the task. Others are already planning to write their whole journal at the end - an interesting approach?

Business Dynamics started out nicely, but because Dr. Tudway is a financial specialist, the course has taken a decided turn in this direction. He's not real keen on the textbook we brought over from the States, so he is providing class notes and readings that are essential for discussion each week.

Macro Economics so far, is all lecture. I'm liking it more than Micro, this past fall. The courses are similar to the extent that graphing is essential to understanding economic concepts. The text that we are expected to read is not available from the EUSA library, so we are all a little concerned about test prep. Nigel Knight, the professor, is sooooooooooooo British.

Britons at Work has met less frequently, since it will continue through the semester, and will help put the internship in context as we actually experience the British work setting.

Other than positive reinforcement during class discussion, there won't be much feedback on how we're doing until finals. Two professors are asking to see a proposal or an outline for our papers, and there will be two presentations. Soooo, the in-class experience is about the same as VU. The big change is fewer opportunities to earn grades, to make up for a poor first impression or a misunderstanding on the assignment.

The Third Week

Day 20 (Saturday) Electonic Meltdown Avoided

Actually, since before departure for London, I had been experiecing some strange problems with popups and freezes on my laptop. The beginning of the week brought about the complete failure of my Villanova Dell, also known as Lappy - yes, I name my laptops. While hanging with the guys in flat 13, the screen went blank and things started blinking. Not a good sign at all.

Thank goodness for UNIT and Villanova’s TechZone. They answered my e-mail plea for help almost instantly (considering the time delay) and deduced that the problem was my battery and A/C adapter. I sent them my address and help was on the way! They told me that everything I would need to fix my “baby” should arrive in London in 2-3 days. Problem #1 was solved.

Little did I know that problem #2 was just beyond the horizon. Before my battery and adapter could arrive, my beloved ipod, Metatron - yes, I also name my ipods - broke down. After a hard reset of the device also failed, I looked up the nearest Apple Store, not so conveniently located we determined, on Regent Street. I made an appointment with the Apple Genius Bar, hoping that they could resurrect the now lifeless, pink treasure chest of musicality.


In pursit of the actual location, we accidentally found another Muji. For those of you new to this blog, Muji is a store similar to Ikea that is frequented one of my favorite people, Alan Rickman. Unlike the one I found on my second day here in London, this store was open and I took the opportunity to take a look inside. I knew that I would buy something there, even if it was just a way to get the bag, but I had no idea I would find so many cool things in the store. After a good twenty minutes of browsing, I left with a Vanilla Spice candle and the promise of returning to check out the store more later.

Later that night, Andrew and Tuche accompanied me on our return trip to the Apple Store for moral support should my ipod be beyond saving. Unfortunately, that was the news we received. Thankfully, the Apple rep ignored the fact that my warranty had just lapsed. He replaced Metatron with a new pink model and even threw in a 90 day warranty. Needless to say I was thrilled. Tuche has loaned me his music library, and when I get back to the States, I'll be able to recover most all of my favorite tunes. Welcome my new ipod, Jamie, into the world! Thank you tech support! Thank you Regent Street Apple! Thank you Andrew and Tuche.

Day 19 (Friday) The Magnificence of St. Paul's

After a wonderful morning sleeping in, and no classes, a group of us headed out to tour Saint Paul’s Cathedral, one of the sights that I had been looking forward to the most. We had already been given time to look at the magnificent exterior during our walking tour of London two weeks ago, so I couldn’t wait to explore the interior of the space.

The moment we walked into the church, I was amazed by its beauty, especially the mosaics that decorated the ceilings. While my fellow group mates made a mad dash for the stairs that led to the upper levels of the dome, I took my time at ground level, savoring the unique styles of the paintings and sculptures around the main altar. After walking around the church for about half an hour, putting my art history knowledge to good use and feeling as though my neck were about to fall off from the constant gaze skyward, I embarked on the steep climb to the whispering gallery of the dome.

The trek up the spiral staircase was somewhere around 375 steps and incredibly disorienting, but the view from the top was absolutely worthwhile. Not only could I get a closer look at the large statues that seemed rather miniscule from the ground, but I was able to view the church from a whole new perspective. I’d never had an opportunity like that, and I found it incredibly peaceful. I’ve always learned that churches of this time period were built with such impressive domes as to force a person’s eyes towards heaven and be reminded of God’s glory, but actually being there was something entirely new.

Although there were people up there around me, the quietness and solitude of just being that high up in the building really heightened my senses and enriched the experience. I could have stayed in that church forever, exploring every nook and cranny it had to offer, but we had plans to go dancing that night, and I had to get ready.

After having a blast getting ready with Krista while belting one of our favorite Katy Perry songs, Waking Up in Vegas, the group headed out to Imperial College to take advantage of their dance hall. It was just like the high school dances I had loved back at Notre Dame, but this time with strobe lights and bouts of European techno. Of course pop classics such as Britney Spears and The Spice Girls were played, which only boosted our already skyrocketing energy levels. After dancing non-stop for what must have been at least three hours, we made our way back to the flats, completely exhausted but having possibly the most fun we’ve had as a group since arriving in London. What a great way to start the weekend! To say more wouldn't be right.

Day 18: (Thursday) Sharing a Feast

Well, tonight night was our big collaborative dinner for the guys in flat 13. Between Amanda’s chicken parmesan, my mac and cheese, a fruit course from Jen, Dennis’ garlic bread, and Abby’s Oreo truffles, we had a huge feast for twelve, which we all devoured in what seemed to be a matter of mere seconds. After playing several hours worth of catch phrase we got to sleep late, feeling quite overfed, but tomorrow would take of this soon enough.


Unbeknownst to us we had planned a "fun filled" but strenuous day of exercise, so to speak, to take of the extra calories we had consumed.

Day 16: (Tuesday) Obama In Wax and at the Whitehouse

Today is Inauguration Day back in the old U-S of A, and even England is making a huge deal out of it. To celebrate the day and its newest wax figure, President Obama, Madame Tussaud’s was offering free admission to all Americans. Needless to say, it seemed as though every American in London was there! Fortunately I didn’t have to wait too long in line with Krista and Tuche, and before we knew it we were face to face with stars like Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp, two of my personal favorites. We were struck by how realistic the wax figures were, and were occasionally even creeped out by them.

As we got more comfortable with the figures we took more and more pictures, making our way through rooms of movie stars (Sean Connery to Alfred Hitchcock), sports legends (Tiger Woods to Lance Armstrong), the royal family, historical figures (Charles Dickens to Pope John Paul II), musicians (Christina Aguilera to Jimi Hendrix), and contemporary world leaders (Bush to Kennedy).

After reaching the “oval office” with the new Obama figure, we opted to snap some pictures ourselves instead of waiting in the incredibly long line to actually get in a picture with him. The line to take pictures "with" the Royal Family was surprisingly short, and many in our group took advantage.

We continued through the exhibit and became slightly anxious when we found ourselves going down a very dungeon-esque staircase with the sounds of heart beats coming from behind the walls. We ended up in a very dark chamber with wax models representing various methods of torture and execution. Very spooky. When we were all thoroughly freaked out, we were told that we had to make a choice between the scary or normal way to enter the next part of the tour.

Being teenagers with under developed frontal lobes, we chose the scarier option of the two. As we waiting to be shown through, and actor who was clearly from the realm of the undead set some ground rules for our “journey”. First, it was going to be completely dark except for some strobe lights. Creepy setting? Check. Second, the people in the exhibit were real actors and we were not to touch them. In return we were told they would not touch us, no matter how close to us they got. Absolutely petrifying and vague promise of a terrifying experience? Check.

With those parting words and a final menacing cackle, we were pushed into darkness, where Krista immediately took hold of my hand. I certainly am fortunate to have built up a better tolerance for horror since my childhood when I was scared of almost anything even related to Halloween! As we walked through the darkened corridors, undead actors came out from nowhere and got right next to our faces growling at and talking to us. Krista made the unfortunate mistake of saying “hi” to the first actor that appeared, who proceeded to follow her for the next minute. Good thing I was standing behind her! Soon enough an actor came up to me, clearly noticing that I wasn’t freaking out.

After asking me the now famous question “why so serious?”, he growled and went on to terrorize his next victim. As we neared the exit, I noticed what appeared to be a wax figure standing nearby the door, although I had the sneaking suspicion the “figure” was about to come to life at any moment. Sure enough, he lunged forward snarling at us as we exited into the next part of the “hall of horrors”, which featured a life size guillotine.

We went through the final room, demonstrating how the wax figures were created before heading out of the museum and back to our flat to watch the Obama inauguration. We were thrilled to share in this momentous occasion in American history even from our new London home. All in all, it was a great inauguration day. Congratulations President Obama.

The Second Week

Day 13 (Saturday): Let’s celebrate at a Castle!

Another week has passed in London, and we’ve finally gotten into the routine of our classes. I’m enjoying them very much, and really like the two new teachers we met this week. It’s still hard to remember that we only have classes until the end of February. It feels like we have so much longer to complete our assignments. I’m sure I’ll be constantly reminding myself to work ahead so I don’t get bogged down with all my papers at the end of the term!

To celebrate our hard week of work, a group of us decided to do some sight-seeing at Windsor Castle, the castle the Queen truly calls home. We boarded a green line bus to make the hour long trip to the castle, and were astounded at what we saw when we got off. It was enormous, and everything you would expect of a traditional castle. Being an AP Art History student, I was immediately impressed by the architecture and stone work, especially of the chapel on the grounds dedicated to Saint George.

As with all my trips to Europe, I continue to be amazed by the appreciation for history that countries like England have. It's something that the United States just can't match. In England, kids get to go on field trips to castles and ancient cathedrals, while Americans go on repeated trips to the Franklin Institute or the Constitution Center. Of course, America does have a rich history and national identity. Even so, the sense of aesthetic preservation of history here is overwhelming.

Being at Windsor Castle was an amazing experience. We couldn’t have asked for better weather considering that it had been pouring down rain the night before, and we were able to take some really nice group shots!

When we returned to Manson Place, Krista and I got down to work cleaning the flat, doing our laundry, and finishing up some of our school work. A very productive and enjoyable day indeed!

Day 12 (Friday): Shopping of the Most Epic Proportions

Seeing as today is the only Friday we will ever have classes while we’re here, the group decided on having some “local” fun. Just two tube stops away from our flat is the most incredible mall in the world: Harrods. Considering its prices however, it seems much more like a museum than a mall!

The girls had a fabulous time looking at all the designer clothes, gowns, shoes, and even wedding dresses, while the guys found such steals as a pool table for only a 10,000 pounds. If that was the sale price, I’d hate to see what it had originally cost!

After getting in a good workout walking all over the mall, Krista and I decided it was time to get something to eat. The Harrods “food court” was practically a whole town of restaurants indoors, offering selections from sushi and fresh grilled fish, to various deli’s and gourmet pizzas.

Immediately, we were attracted to the gelato bar in the center of the room. The number of selections was dizzying, but we finally decided on the Baileys creation, a huge dessert made from vanilla and hazelnut gelato, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a generous drizzle of Baileys liquor. To say that it was delicious would be a severe understatement. If Harrods gelato is the only thing there that I can afford, so be it. When Krista and I finally felt as if we could walk again, we went to the upstairs ‘pet kingdom’ to look at the adorable puppies before heading back home for the night.

Day 11 (Thursday): Comfort Food

After finally getting our nonworking refrigerator replaced, Krista and I were eager to cook dinner for the group. But what to make? We settled on something “universal”, a favorite that could please all tastes: my mom’s mac and cheese. However, before we risked exposing our entire friendship circle to what could be a disastrous experiment, we decided to take the recipe for a “test-run” with a couple of our guy friends from the flat.

We made a quick trip to Waitrose, our favorite supermarket, to pick up more cheese than I would otherwise know what to do with, bake at home garlic bread, and a chocolate mousse cake for dessert. For a test-run, we certainly did go all out! Two pots of boiling pasta, eight cups of cheese, and a third of a quart of milk later, our mac and cheese was in the oven. It smelled delicious as it baked and attracted the attention of our friends across the hall. Naturally we invited them to dinner too. An hour later, our dish was bubbling and browned to perfection.

The guys came back from doing their laundry and we were ready to serve! It tasted just as good as it looked! Fortunately, everyone was impressed with our skill, and Krista and I were thrilled at our success. We’ve already scheduled our dinner night for next week, and are looking forward to another taste of home!

Day 8 (Monday): A Morning Trip to Paddington

This morning before class, Krista and I decided to make our first of what I’m sure will be many trips to Paddington, home of (as you all know) my favorite actor Alan Rickman. We weren’t anticipating much, we still have to “re-find” his favorite café, but we figured it would still be fun to scope out the area and grab some lunch before our afternoon class. As Krista and I walked down the street, we realized that the number of restaurants was slowly thinning out the farther we got from the tube station.

Just as we were about to turn around, Krista mentioned the “gorgeous” houses that were on the street we were approaching. As I began to agree with her, a street sign caught my eye: Westbourne Terrace. We were standing at the corner of Alan Rickman’s street. After what can only be described as a mini-heart attack or seizure, we took some pictures before heading back to the station for lunch. Basking in the glow of my Rickmania, we travelled back to Kensington for class and a night of Harry Potter. What a perfect day!

Day 7 (Sunday): A Surprise to Begin the Week

This morning we found our local church here in Kensington and attended Mass. A surprisingly large group of us went. Imagine our surprise when we realized that the 11 AM Mass at St. Philip Neri Church is entirely sung and in Latin! I couldn’t have been happier. There’s something fascinating about going to Mass as it traditionally was in the past.

I couldn’t understand all of it, but I didn’t need to. That’s one of the great things about the Catholic Mass; no matter what language it’s being said in, you always know what’s going on. The choir was incredible. Their tones and harmonies were beautifully haunting. Combined with the awe inspiring architecture and design of the church itself, the Mass was one of the most peaceful I had ever attended, and was a perfect break after our hectic week of touring and settling down in London!

After Mass, we headed back to our flats for a relaxing afternoon of reading and movie watching! Our first full week in London .... all gone!

Choices to Be Made

Not that I have a lot of experience or anything, but ..... it seems to me that pubs in Europe are different places than bars in the United States. Still in other ways, these places are very much the same, and I am sure we'll see plenty of bars here too.

Be that as it may, the drinking age in England is indeed 18, so even our host agency plans social events at the local pub for us "global citizens," and if you think there are lots to choose from on the Main Line ..... well just imagine.

The beer is dark, served at almost room temperature, and it's not cheap. Some of us have been out every night since we arrived. Others, less frequently. How you spend your evenings and on what you plan to spend your money are things to think about.... And that's just for starters.

There are lots of choices that anyone planning to study abroad has to make. While it helps that Villanova GCPers have already been in class with each other for a semester, we only have impressions of each other. Assumptions are easily made, and "going along, just to get along" is an easy decision - but maybe not the right decision for everyone.

The First Week

Day 6: A More Official Tour of London

After another late morning of sleep, we got ready for our official tour of London with a licensed guide. Since I hadn’t done any real sight-seeing as of yet, I was especially excited for this trip, even though we knew we wouldn’t really have time to stay anywhere for long. From our flat we hopped on the tube and traveled to Westminster. Our first stop, of course, was the Abbey, which houses the tombs of figures such as Charles Dickens and Darwin.

Right “next door” we got a glimpse of Big Ben and the Parliament building. Some day in the not too distant future, I hope to make it there some Wednesday at noon, when the Prime Minister has question time.

It will be absolutely fascinating to see the way their government works, especially after taking Comparative Government last year at good old NDA! We continued to walk past the old Scotland Yard building and the London Eye before reaching Trafalgar Square where Napoleon’s forces were defeated. When we have more time, I'll be sure to get more pictures!

As we walked towards the bus stop to ride through Fleet Street, we passed lots of great theaters! I discovered that Criminal Minds star Mandy Patinkin is doing a London concert series, found the England’s National Opera House (which is featuring La Boheme) and saw the theaters for Avenue Q, Oliver, and Hamlet, currently starring David Tennant!

After another “theater dork” moment, we boarded our first red double-decker bus (top level of course) to ride down Fleet Street, home of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber. On this street are the places of the original barber and pie shops (now occupied by a Starbucks and McDonalds) as well as the building that was used as Gringots Wizard Bank in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Again, a huuuuuggeeeeee dork moment for me. Unfortunately I couldn’t get any good pictures from the bus, but I have the feeling I’ll be back there several times! We got off the bus minutes later at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, which is absolutely gorgeous. Images of Mary Poppins immediately popped into my mind as we approached the steps to take pictures. We'll put this stop high on our agenda for a return visit.

After walking around the perimeter of the church and about halfway across the Millennium Bridge, we heading back to South Kensington for the rest of the day. Dinner out was at Nando’s, our local “don’t get lost” landmark. A showing of the DVD Made of Honor on Krista’s laptop rounded off another great day. (Our flats do come equipped with televisions, but about all we can get is the BBC!)

Day 4 (Thursday): Pub Night and a Show

Today was a wonderful day. I slept in until noon, so it already is feeling like home here! Andrew and I went exploring in Piccadilly, and decided to check out the half price ticket booths for the West End shows. The theater dork in me definitely loves this city! Since we went day of, good seats were kind of limited, but we got great seats to see Chicago for only 24 pounds! Needless to say, I was incredibly excited. Andrew got to see a whole different side of me!

We walked around the city for another two hours, to find the theater we were going to go to later that night, and I am in love with it, it’s like a mini New York, but with British people! Soon it was time to head back to the flat and get ready for pub night with EUSA and the rest of the group. Tonight we went to the Prince Regent Pub, which could easily be the nicest one in our neighborhood.

After staying an hour for food and drinks, Andrew and I left to get ready for the theater. My sense of direction turned out to be excellent (if I do say so myself). I got us to the Cambridge Theater quickly and took our seats for the show: my first West End production. The two and a half hours flew by. The show was amazing, and as with many shows in New York, I was astounded by the level of talent here. Sure, it wasn’t one of my favorite shows in the world, but it was impressive nonetheless. I can’t wait to see some of my all time favorite shows while I’m here, like Phantom and Les Miz! Definitely a productive and enjoyable day across the pond!

Day 3 (Wednesday): First Class

This morning we woke up to get ready for class at 9:00. Not too bad considering I had all 8:30 classes last semester, and this time around it only takes me about five minutes to walk to the EUSA building. This morning we had Business Dynamics II for four hours with Professor Richard Tudway. Although we were all kind of nervous about having the same class in the same room with the same teacher for four hours, it went by surprisingly fast.

I absolutely adore being taught by British people, and I’m sure they could make even the most boring subjects seem like the most fascinating things in the world to talk about. From what I’ve heard so far, it seems like our class schedule and work is going to be pretty intense, but it will be nice to get into a routine here. Hopefully, I’ll be able to start walking in Hyde Park, which is gorgeous. I need to try to get up early while I’m here. I don’t want to miss a minute of this experience. The night was rather uneventful; I stayed in, talked to my parents, and played some scrabble before going to bed. It’s going to be a good semester!

Day 2 (Tuesday): Orientation and Scavenger Hunt

This morning we woke up and headed over to the EUSA office for our first full day orientation. After learning more about London, our neighborhood in South Kensington, and the do’s and don’ts of interning, we were given a scavenger hunt list that was designed to take us all over London. Before heading out for our day of adventuring, my team: Krista, Andrew, Jen, and I, headed back to the flat to figure out the clues and plan our route. Since we were told that we wouldn’t be able to find everything on the list in the four hours we were given, we chose to find the destinations with the highest point values.

The hunt was made up of different clues pointing us to some of the lesser known attractions of London, like the statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Garden. My favorite part of the day, by far, was our walk around Piccadilly Circus, the Times Square of London.

We saw tons of theaters, doing productions of all my favorite shows, and plenty of stores and sights to visit later. The final clue led us back to South Kensington to a pub for dinner, where we calculated our results.

In the end, my team pictured below lost by one point, but the knowledge we gained was invaluable. Not only did we get some great exercise, we got lots of practice using the Tube, and found some good landmarks that will help us get around the city. After spending some time with my fellow GCPers at the pub and in the flat, I skyped with my parents before ending my second day in London.