Hello from London! Its approximately 4:30 over here, while most of my family and friends at home are just approaching lunch time. Its been an interesting and packed first few days here in London! And there wasn't much time to share it until now!
Monday - Tuesday:
My first part of my adventure began at the Louisville Airport for my first flight to Atlanta around 2:00pm. It was an easy 1 hour flight, but a lot of turbulence to start off my trip. I also sat next to a gentlemen that was from Nigeria and spoke no English. He was very confused most of the flight it seemed like, but then again I don't really know since he didn't speak English.
I landed in Atlanta to find that I had to get onto train (yes, a train in the airport) inorder to get to the terminal of my second flight. Luckily I had a 2 hour layover and had plenty of time to sit, relax, and get some food before the big flight.
The plane that was taking me to London was the biggest thing I had ever seen. You entered the plane in the middle of it, rather than the very front. There were 7 chairs in a row broken into 3 columns. I was lucky enough to have a window seat to enjoy the view... which ended up being mostly nothing but black since my flight was overnight. Even though the ride was about 8 hours, it was still decent. Each person had their own little screen that was built into the back of the chair in front of you. I was able to watch any movie or tv show I wanted or I could track the plane's flight path. We were also provided with a decent dinner and then most of the passengers fell asleep... expect me of course. In the morning we were served a little breakfast and some orange juice. It was a beautiful sight coming into London (at 6:30 in the morning that is) when it was still pitch black and there were lights glowing from below.
plane to London
After we landed I had the lovely opportunity of going through the customs and having my passport checked and asked numerous questions on why I was entering the country (quite intimidating actually). After that I was finally allowed to collect my bag, which thankfully also made its way to London and wasn't lost. I then had to journey around the Heathrow Airport (which is the second biggest airport in the world, right behind the Atlanta Airport). I had to hop on ANOTHER TRAIN and venture around this airport just to find the meeting spot for the group. By this point it was going on 8:00am London time (3 am Louisville time), and it took 4 employees, 3 Britians, and 30 minutes for me to reach my spot. Shortly after I arrived, the other students from my school (Kevin, Abigial, and Emily) arrived and we eventually meet loads of other students that would be attending the school as well. We all chated and waited till the coach bus picked us up at noon.
Once we got to our new school we went over a few things then got to go to our new homes/dorms for the next few months. I am in a homestay program so I am living about 10 minutes walking distance from campus with a local family. I am enjoying the stay, it is giving me the true British lifestyle. Kevin is also in the program and is in a residence that is about 5 minutes from my place and it is on my way to campus as well. We all got settled in the new living arrangements and then met up as a group and ate dinner in their cafeteria (called a refectory here). Its a bit different than the way universities at home distribute their food. It works as a point system, where you get 7 points per dinner and each food item is worth a specific point. It is something we are all trying to get use to, especially since they are not American size portions). After we ate our peer mentor for the program took us around the town and showed us a few places.
Wednesday:
We spent almost the entire day in orientations, with a few breaks. The orientations mostly consisted of how things work at school here and how they are different then back home. At this point though, the jet leg had hit most of us and we were all very tired and worn out from being up for so long from being up so long between Monday and Tuesday. However that did not stop a group of us girls from walking downtown during one of our breaks and getting some essentials. We also stopped into a local Starbucks (it was a surprise to us too!), but unfortunately it tasted nothing like the ones at home. We continued on with orientations for the rest of the day. Later during the night, we all meet up in the dorms and hung out and got to meet some of the British students that also attended the university. We all sat around and made fun of each others accents and had a good time. We then went out to a local hang-out that was hosting an themed event and got to dance around and laugh and have a good time. All the study abroad-ers pretty much stuck together because it was little intimidating, and we all agreed thats when the culture shock kicked in.
downtown twickenham
Today!
Today has mostly been free time. We got a tour of the campus, which is very confusing for such a small campus. But it amazing the history of it. It use to be the home of Horace Walpole, the first English Gothic Writer. The campus is also home to the Gold Medalist of the Long distance running, Mo Farah (I think that is his name) and he frequently trains at the facility. Along with that Pope Benedict has visited the campus and held special meetings in the facility and McJagger celebrated his birthday here once! Other than touring the campus, a large group of us went exploring along the Thames River and some more in the Downtown Twickenham.
chapel on the campus
Heres to the new adventures heading my way!
xoxo
plane to London
After we landed I had the lovely opportunity of going through the customs and having my passport checked and asked numerous questions on why I was entering the country (quite intimidating actually). After that I was finally allowed to collect my bag, which thankfully also made its way to London and wasn't lost. I then had to journey around the Heathrow Airport (which is the second biggest airport in the world, right behind the Atlanta Airport). I had to hop on ANOTHER TRAIN and venture around this airport just to find the meeting spot for the group. By this point it was going on 8:00am London time (3 am Louisville time), and it took 4 employees, 3 Britians, and 30 minutes for me to reach my spot. Shortly after I arrived, the other students from my school (Kevin, Abigial, and Emily) arrived and we eventually meet loads of other students that would be attending the school as well. We all chated and waited till the coach bus picked us up at noon.
Once we got to our new school we went over a few things then got to go to our new homes/dorms for the next few months. I am in a homestay program so I am living about 10 minutes walking distance from campus with a local family. I am enjoying the stay, it is giving me the true British lifestyle. Kevin is also in the program and is in a residence that is about 5 minutes from my place and it is on my way to campus as well. We all got settled in the new living arrangements and then met up as a group and ate dinner in their cafeteria (called a refectory here). Its a bit different than the way universities at home distribute their food. It works as a point system, where you get 7 points per dinner and each food item is worth a specific point. It is something we are all trying to get use to, especially since they are not American size portions). After we ate our peer mentor for the program took us around the town and showed us a few places.
Wednesday:
We spent almost the entire day in orientations, with a few breaks. The orientations mostly consisted of how things work at school here and how they are different then back home. At this point though, the jet leg had hit most of us and we were all very tired and worn out from being up for so long from being up so long between Monday and Tuesday. However that did not stop a group of us girls from walking downtown during one of our breaks and getting some essentials. We also stopped into a local Starbucks (it was a surprise to us too!), but unfortunately it tasted nothing like the ones at home. We continued on with orientations for the rest of the day. Later during the night, we all meet up in the dorms and hung out and got to meet some of the British students that also attended the university. We all sat around and made fun of each others accents and had a good time. We then went out to a local hang-out that was hosting an themed event and got to dance around and laugh and have a good time. All the study abroad-ers pretty much stuck together because it was little intimidating, and we all agreed thats when the culture shock kicked in.
downtown twickenham
Today!
Today has mostly been free time. We got a tour of the campus, which is very confusing for such a small campus. But it amazing the history of it. It use to be the home of Horace Walpole, the first English Gothic Writer. The campus is also home to the Gold Medalist of the Long distance running, Mo Farah (I think that is his name) and he frequently trains at the facility. Along with that Pope Benedict has visited the campus and held special meetings in the facility and McJagger celebrated his birthday here once! Other than touring the campus, a large group of us went exploring along the Thames River and some more in the Downtown Twickenham.
Heres to the new adventures heading my way!
xoxo
by the time I finished writing this, it was 5:30. Just an FYI.
ReplyDelete