So. The move is complete: the flight is over (it included theme-appropriate viewing and listening: Bend it like Beckham and McFly), all the (space bag wrinkled) clothes are unpacked, and I finally slept consecutive hours for the first time since Friday morning. It seems like the past few days have all blended together in a frantic blur of accents, plane food, & dry shampoo.
And being herded: the past couple of days my study abroad group has been shuffled around the city in one huge American mass and though it's rather embarrassing & I feel like I'm walking around with a giant Bald Eagle sticker on my shirt, I can't help but be grateful because it turns out I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
London isn't like other cities: there is no grid system. It's like some deity decided to play pick up sticks with the streets, and just let them stay wherever they fell. Although we had a neighborhood tour yesterday afternoon, I was about a quarter conscious and immediately forgot everything I learned as soon as we turned a new street corner. My flatmates and I set out last night for some necessary groceries & dinner, and ended up wandering around in a stupor (and out of a pub, stressed out) until we came across the safety of a Pret and a Tesco where we all could relax and laugh a little. I keep reminding myself it's all a learning curve, but it's a little challenging when it seems like every time I think I remember where one coffee shop is, it disappears. Our best discovery, however, happened on a tiny street corner, where my flatmates and I discovered we share a love for One Direction & London Fashion Week (which happens to be happening allllll near my neighborhood right now. Cara & Alexa: where are you?!). It all came out very quickly, and very excitedly.
Today the entire API group headed out for a little orientation fun: we got to have a proper Sunday roast (which included an entire half of a chicken & the most delicious raspberry sorbet I've ever come across) and head in to London proper for a long and winding tourist-stravaganza. I saw nearly all the things one expects to see in London in one rapid go: Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square (blue rooster and all!), 10 Downing Street, Big Ben & Parliament, Buckingham Palace, & Piccadilly Circus were all covered (you can see pictures of all of that here!). However, the jury is still out on whether or not I would be able to get back without some kind of leader winding me through the streets/across walkways.
All in all the past couple days have been a whirlwind of activities and emotions: London is intimidating and confusing, but it's nice to be in the same boat as a whole bunch of other people. I think I'll stick around a while.
And being herded: the past couple of days my study abroad group has been shuffled around the city in one huge American mass and though it's rather embarrassing & I feel like I'm walking around with a giant Bald Eagle sticker on my shirt, I can't help but be grateful because it turns out I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.
London isn't like other cities: there is no grid system. It's like some deity decided to play pick up sticks with the streets, and just let them stay wherever they fell. Although we had a neighborhood tour yesterday afternoon, I was about a quarter conscious and immediately forgot everything I learned as soon as we turned a new street corner. My flatmates and I set out last night for some necessary groceries & dinner, and ended up wandering around in a stupor (and out of a pub, stressed out) until we came across the safety of a Pret and a Tesco where we all could relax and laugh a little. I keep reminding myself it's all a learning curve, but it's a little challenging when it seems like every time I think I remember where one coffee shop is, it disappears. Our best discovery, however, happened on a tiny street corner, where my flatmates and I discovered we share a love for One Direction & London Fashion Week (which happens to be happening allllll near my neighborhood right now. Cara & Alexa: where are you?!). It all came out very quickly, and very excitedly.
Today the entire API group headed out for a little orientation fun: we got to have a proper Sunday roast (which included an entire half of a chicken & the most delicious raspberry sorbet I've ever come across) and head in to London proper for a long and winding tourist-stravaganza. I saw nearly all the things one expects to see in London in one rapid go: Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square (blue rooster and all!), 10 Downing Street, Big Ben & Parliament, Buckingham Palace, & Piccadilly Circus were all covered (you can see pictures of all of that here!). However, the jury is still out on whether or not I would be able to get back without some kind of leader winding me through the streets/across walkways.
All in all the past couple days have been a whirlwind of activities and emotions: London is intimidating and confusing, but it's nice to be in the same boat as a whole bunch of other people. I think I'll stick around a while.