My first week in London....

Week 1: 6/6-6/10
...has been a wonderful blur of exciting adventures, breath-taking moments, and cherished moments!
I arrived here last Sunday and was completely overwhelmed by the city. The flight was the smoothest I could have asked for since I was deathly afraid to even be in the airport when I got to Chicago. I only got a few hours of sleep on the flight, so my rule was not to sleep unless it was night time here in London. It was 830am here and 230am back home. So I was up for over 24 hours. We arrived at MTH around 1130 and weren't unable to unpack right way, so we went down to a market. The first British food I had was a onion, cheese, pesto, and potato pie. It was natural and delicious. We then got to move in where I live with three other lovely ladies: Lindsey, Ashley, and Heidi. (I've never been in close living quarters with another Heidi before in my life...we are working on how to between the two of us) We unpacked and then had orientation at 3. I nodded off about 4 times when sitting there. I was a little embarrassed. After that my roommates and I picked up some groceries, and decided to explore to find a place for dinner. We (the roommates along with Elizabeth and Margret) ended up in the Soho area and went to Nando's (a spicy chicken place). After that we split. The whole day I didn't feel like I was in London. Driving in from the airport you don't see any of the main sights, so for me it didn't feel real yet. Yes, there was alot of buildings, double decker buses, and people talking with an accent...but didn't feel like I was out of Chicago. My roommates went back to the room and Elizabeth (who has been here before), Margret and I went to "make it real". We walked to Trafalgar's Square and we arrived I gasped because my idea of London..hit me in the face. The hundreds of people of all different nationalities were around the square and enjoying the evening. My heart was pounding in excitement. My dream since I was 10 was FINALLY here! Elizabeth then took me to another look out place at the top of the square and there was BIG BEN! I may have gotten alittle misty because I was SO HAPPY...and I had definately made it. I had to get back to our room by 9 for a skype date, but we made the most of that hour. After going gaga for Big Ben (sorry Carrie) we walked down to Buckingham Palace. The entire street was closed off for some reason but we did get some good pictures and got some rain. Ah the first London rain....

Day 2 we had our first class. First we walked over to our internship agency. From there we went to our college to get orientation on the internship and had our first in class session. Cool thing about our class: our professor is histarical. He studied history, so extra interesting for me, and he is the Larry Ball of London no joke. All the UWSP people know what I'm talking about. So we have class on Mondays in room from 11-1230 and then we get a break for lunch and meet up at wherever we are discovering out of the classroom that week from 2-4ish. Alot of the places we are going to visit in/out of class are places I wanted to go anyway so that will help me conquer this big list of "to-do" that is infront of me.This week we met up at St. Paul's Cathedral and continued our walking lecture. We walked by alot of churches and the Guildhall. We ended up at the Museum of London and were lectured through the Roman exhibit. We were done by 4 and we all traveled back to MTH. Margret, Hailey and I went to Oxford street to check out the shopping and pick up a mobile. Walking down there I realized that Baker Street changes to ORCHARD STREET :)

This is a picture of ritzy Orchard Court. When we returned, we went ISH bar to relax, and it was a nice time.

On day 3, Linsey, Heidi and myself went to Morrisons in Camden. It is a farther walk but MUCH cheaper groceries. At least the walk is pretty, its through Regents Park. However on our way there it was pouring, and I was not prepared. I did have an umbrella, but my flats were filling with water and I was having to dump them our every 10 minutes or so. Not because of the puddles, but my jeans were dripping into them. The umbrella that Grandma Violet is letting use has been getting ALOT of compliments. What can I say, my grandma has good taste. Our walk there was really pretty, after Regents Park there was a lovely river walk to Camden. When we got back we ate some food and then wandered down to Oxford Street to attempt shopping again. Primark is known for its cheapness of clothes but I honestly cannot do it! It is absolutely and utterly crazy. Everyone shops there and its shopping on a new level. It feels like Black Friday everyday. People wait for hours in line to get into dressing rooms, so most people TRY THINGS ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORE! It is so nuts there that I wasn't in there more than a half hour. There were so many people every where doing all different types of things that I could not enjoy my shopping experience, I was on edge the whole time. I always felt like I was always in someone elses way. One of the workers said their "slow" time was Monday mornings when they first open. We shall see. Another shop that Erica and I discovered was Accessories. Cute stuff that I might so splurge in at the end of the trip. I'm trying to be a money savvy as I can, and I think I am doing really well...granted its only week one. We got back to ISH around 6 and then Hailey, Jake and I went to a great little Indian resturant, Shikara (made me think of Shakira) and had a great dish called Lamb Rogen Josh. YUM! After a quick pint at the bar, I returned to the room to plan out my trip to Hertford to see the Enlgish relatives the next day.

Day 4 I attempted successfully a trip to Hertford by myself. I switched from underground to overground train with some help (I wasn't sure what overground train to get on) from a nice older man. The whole trip was about an hour one way which I didn't mind. The farther I got, the more farm fields and blue skies I saw. That is what I'm used to. Not to say that I dont like the city, but it is nice to get away back to the country side that I'm used to. So anyways, I got there around 1030am and was picked up by Maribel. It was so nice to finally meet this person that I've been writing back and forth with for a while before arriving there. She took me on a ride through Hertford. It was a nice town, not too big and not too small. We arrived at her and Graham's cottage and it was like something out of a movie! I fell in love with it. They did alot of great work with it and made it wonderful. It was what anyone would positively stereotype as a typical English country cottage. Not only does it look the same from the outside as it did since it was built, but the gardens are LOVELY! I fell in love with them. It was layered garden with a fountain in the middle and tall hedges surrounding it. Very picturesque...thus why there are so many pictures of it on facebook. Maribel started lunch and Vanessa and her sister-in-law Wendy (who is married to my father's long lost twin) came so we could all visit. The last time I saw Vanessa, I was about 10 years old. It was soooooooo lovely to see her again and get to know the rest of the family. Oh family ties. My great great grandfather (and theirs) were cousins....that is how we are related. Very distance but it is SO nice to have connections that I know I can count on and visit while I'm here. Maribel made a wonderful homemade lansagna and salad with strawberries and cream for desert. YUM YUM :) At lunch we had a good conversation. Graham came home from work to join us and one of the first questions he asked me was "are all men in America like Homer Simpson?" I hesitated and was taken aback from the question. It made me laugh actually. I think it is possible that this is how British stereotype all Americans, which is unfortunate. I'm not going to say that any country is better than another, but all countries have the good and bad people that represent them. After lunch the ladies of the group took me out for proper tea at a beautiful old farm/stable that has been converted (on the inside) to conference areas, rooms, and resturant. I had coffee and a scone with cream and jam. Delicious! After our coffee, Maribel and I went to go pick up the girls from school. I got educated about the English schooling system....so different from ours. The girls are darling Isabelle is 7 and Clarabelle is 5. We played a few games of Guess Who. Little Clarabelle wanted to play chess and when I informed her that I didnt know how she said she would teach me. Very bright for a 5 year old. I got back to London around 6, so I nice full day in the country. Had a chill night and planned out my Thursday (lots of exploring on my own).

Day 5 was my busiest day. For class we have to write a journal answering some specific questions regaurding our exploring of certain exhibits at museums. This week it was Museum of London and British Museum. I decided to make a day of it since my roommates were either working or off doing other things. I arrived to the British Museum at 1030 and didn't leave until almost 245. On my to the museum I got asked for directions! That was a highlight of my day...it made me feel like I must be looking like a natural. The museum was a great thing to explore by myself. I went to the exhibits that we needed to for class, had my packed lunch, and circled all the other exhibits that I wanted to visit. It was lovely. I love being surrounded by old historical objects. After that, since I stayed longer than anticipated, I took the tube to St. Pauls to go back to the Museum of London to finish the second half of my homework. By 330 I was exhausted and ready to go home. Then St. Paul's caught my eye. Do I save the tube fee and just go explore it by myself....answer is YES! So I had limited time there so I made sure I got to the top first then explore the wonderful ceiling (the two things I wanted to see the most). So I achieved that on my own! Woo hoo! I felt very independent. Then I had a skype date with mom at 6pm my time and surprised the boy with a phone call. After that Heidi, Ashley and I went to Pizza Express for dinner followed by ISH kareoke. Fun night, but all my runnings and exploring hit me around midnight. As we were walking home last night there was a fox on our road! Apparently they are causing quite a bit of trouble lately (two babies were malled at a park last week by a fox). Talk about habitat encroachment and nature fighting back.

Day 6 I had a very relaxed day. I slept until 10 and then spent the day organizing my things more. I got my pictures up finally and made a list of things I need but didn't bring. Around 330 I got to raid the Wisconsin room and made my list shorter. I picked up silverware, lotion, shower gel, baby powder (for my soaked shoes), toothpaste, two mugs, a bag and three pairs of flats. Good day indeed. The group of interns went to dinner with our group leader, who leaves tomorrow morning back for the states, at a pub caled The Globe. I ate ALOT. Had garlic mushroom toast (delicious!!!), chicken tikka masala (and indian type of dish), and chocolate ice cream for desert! It was nice to catch up with the other interns, who have been working this week. After ward we watched the Uraguay v. France game. It is alot more fun to watch futbol here than in the states. Tomorrow should be interesting...England v. US. Going to enjoy it! To end the day Elizabeth, Lindsey, Jake and I went for a walk in Regents Park as the sun was setting. It was SO beautiful, like something out of a fairytale. Queen Anne's Gardens are filled with multiple types of roses. I would have taken more pictures but I forgot my card. Lack of room on the internal hard drive.