I just found a totally fabulous SUSHI joint. My mercury intake is saved for the next four months!
Just thought you all should know.
Friday, August 31, 2007
The Practicalities of Londontown
Our landlord came by today - yes, he finally showed up - and we reported to him that we still do NOT have hot water. In fact, we don't even have warm water. Its just ice. I wash my hair in the sink because its too much to actually get under the shower head. Basically, I'm losing patience. He's supposed to be back in a few hours with good news. And by good news, he better mean hot water. Jen and I also had an interesting experience with the washer and dryer today - no casualties, the endeavor was a success. We started with our underwear because with all the things we brought, we figured we could always get more of that haha.
Went out last night and ran into some other fellow ICers. They were really cool and we had a great time. Then we all came back to the flat and Brian played songs that we all sang along too until about 3 am. Awesome. Today I would really have liked to go out, but we have to wait around for Earnest. That's the landlord. Mom, I officially know what its like to have to sit around waiting for the plumber/electric man/the pool people/etc. The moment has come: I understand.
The rest of my classes went really well. My politics course should be really interesting but the teacher talks SO fast so I think that I'm going to have to buy a tape recorder. My drama teacher is the sweetest woman in the world. That class is awesome because all we do is see shows. We start on Monday. We're seeing Cabaret in the West End, I'm so excited! Then we're seeing a lot of stuff at the National Theatre as well, but what is nice about the course is that we're also doing a lot of underground stuff. Its called "fringe" theatre here. It will be nice to see some companies doing some fresh stuff. I'm very excited. I think that it will be my favorite class.
I start work on Monday at 9:30 AM. I'm nervous but also excited. I think that it will be good. Maybe a little nerve wrecking for the first bit, but I think I have a way of winning over a crowd :) (To the amazing fabulous art team at ELLE I miss you!!!)
Tonight I think that we are going to go to a club. Watch out. If I don't resurface in two days here, send a search party.
Miss you all!
Went out last night and ran into some other fellow ICers. They were really cool and we had a great time. Then we all came back to the flat and Brian played songs that we all sang along too until about 3 am. Awesome. Today I would really have liked to go out, but we have to wait around for Earnest. That's the landlord. Mom, I officially know what its like to have to sit around waiting for the plumber/electric man/the pool people/etc. The moment has come: I understand.
The rest of my classes went really well. My politics course should be really interesting but the teacher talks SO fast so I think that I'm going to have to buy a tape recorder. My drama teacher is the sweetest woman in the world. That class is awesome because all we do is see shows. We start on Monday. We're seeing Cabaret in the West End, I'm so excited! Then we're seeing a lot of stuff at the National Theatre as well, but what is nice about the course is that we're also doing a lot of underground stuff. Its called "fringe" theatre here. It will be nice to see some companies doing some fresh stuff. I'm very excited. I think that it will be my favorite class.
I start work on Monday at 9:30 AM. I'm nervous but also excited. I think that it will be good. Maybe a little nerve wrecking for the first bit, but I think I have a way of winning over a crowd :) (To the amazing fabulous art team at ELLE I miss you!!!)
Tonight I think that we are going to go to a club. Watch out. If I don't resurface in two days here, send a search party.
Miss you all!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Difference Between New York and London
I spent this past summer in New York, doing all kinds of fun things - museums, Bryant Park movie nights, dinner with friends, etc - but it is now coming to my attention that perhaps I overlooked the absolute best thing about the city: the fact that its on a grid.
The following is to be read in your best Carrie Bradshaw voice:
In New York City, you can get anywhere you want to go, and never get too lost. Its a basic number grid system. Its one of the few instances in which an American metropolis design has been better than a European. For a New York gal like myself, you can understand how I completely forgot about the grid thing (or rather, lack thereof) and just sort of wandered off into the greater London area.
It started out simply. It was a beautiful day, and since I had a reading assignment, I thought that I would go settle down in Hyde Park and enjoy the sunshine. Well I read for all of fifteen minutes before I got bored and decided to take a little stroll. I walked through the rest of the park, walked past the London Center, and figured that if I stayed on Glouster Road I would be fine. I would just have to turn around when I wanted to and head the other way.
As far as I was concerned that's exactly what I was doing. So there I go, listening to Hairspray on my ipod having a grand time, and then I get through the album and realized that I was no longer on Glouster Road. So I turn around, trying to retrace my steps, which of course was fruitless because I was thinking about how awesome it would be to live in Hairspray and date Zac Efron the whole time. I figured I could decipher this glitch on my own. After all I got around New York this summer like a champ.
My ego definitely got ahead of me. When I decided to accept the fact that I was lost, I asked this guy outside a coffee shop how to get to Hyde Park. I mean, I could totally figure this out from Hyde Park. The guy kind of laughed, and asked me if I wanted to walk to Hyde Park. I said yes, it was the way I came. Then he looked back down at his drink, then up at me and said "I think you have to take the tube. Trust me. There's a station down the road." I accepted my defeat. When I got to the tube station I realized that I had walked OUT of my normal subway line, and onto the last bit of another. I nearly walked out of zone 1 completely, and keep in mind that zones in London can be most easily compared to the boroughs of New York City.
What I really don't understand is how I was so far off in my little world that I didn't realize how long I had been walking. I guess that's just what Zac does to me. Long story short, I ended up back at my flat alive and well - I did have to transfer twice, but that's neither here nor there. I have learned my lesson. London is a different beast than the well-gridded borough of Manhattan.
Cut the Carrie Bradshaw voice.
And as a side note, when I got back I checked perezhilton.com (because I always check perezhilton.com) and found out that Zac and the rest of the cast of High School Musical is currently in London and the SoHo hotel. Weird. I'm totally going. Anyhoo, that was my adventure of the day. I miss you all so much but I'm having a great time, and I can't wait to hear from all of you! Keep posting comments! :)
The following is to be read in your best Carrie Bradshaw voice:
In New York City, you can get anywhere you want to go, and never get too lost. Its a basic number grid system. Its one of the few instances in which an American metropolis design has been better than a European. For a New York gal like myself, you can understand how I completely forgot about the grid thing (or rather, lack thereof) and just sort of wandered off into the greater London area.
It started out simply. It was a beautiful day, and since I had a reading assignment, I thought that I would go settle down in Hyde Park and enjoy the sunshine. Well I read for all of fifteen minutes before I got bored and decided to take a little stroll. I walked through the rest of the park, walked past the London Center, and figured that if I stayed on Glouster Road I would be fine. I would just have to turn around when I wanted to and head the other way.
As far as I was concerned that's exactly what I was doing. So there I go, listening to Hairspray on my ipod having a grand time, and then I get through the album and realized that I was no longer on Glouster Road. So I turn around, trying to retrace my steps, which of course was fruitless because I was thinking about how awesome it would be to live in Hairspray and date Zac Efron the whole time. I figured I could decipher this glitch on my own. After all I got around New York this summer like a champ.
My ego definitely got ahead of me. When I decided to accept the fact that I was lost, I asked this guy outside a coffee shop how to get to Hyde Park. I mean, I could totally figure this out from Hyde Park. The guy kind of laughed, and asked me if I wanted to walk to Hyde Park. I said yes, it was the way I came. Then he looked back down at his drink, then up at me and said "I think you have to take the tube. Trust me. There's a station down the road." I accepted my defeat. When I got to the tube station I realized that I had walked OUT of my normal subway line, and onto the last bit of another. I nearly walked out of zone 1 completely, and keep in mind that zones in London can be most easily compared to the boroughs of New York City.
What I really don't understand is how I was so far off in my little world that I didn't realize how long I had been walking. I guess that's just what Zac does to me. Long story short, I ended up back at my flat alive and well - I did have to transfer twice, but that's neither here nor there. I have learned my lesson. London is a different beast than the well-gridded borough of Manhattan.
Cut the Carrie Bradshaw voice.
And as a side note, when I got back I checked perezhilton.com (because I always check perezhilton.com) and found out that Zac and the rest of the cast of High School Musical is currently in London and the SoHo hotel. Weird. I'm totally going. Anyhoo, that was my adventure of the day. I miss you all so much but I'm having a great time, and I can't wait to hear from all of you! Keep posting comments! :)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
One down...
I just had Irish Literature, and it seems like its going to be a very cool class. The professor's name is Lee, and he is really animated and into the material - which I'm sure is going to help when we're up to our ears in James Joyce. We have to read a book a week, which is no different than a class back on the home campus so that should be no problem. We don't have to buy all of the books but I think I will anyway because I really like to mark them up and make them feel like they're mine. There's a good second-hand bookshop near the flat so I should be able to take care of that later today. The class was supposed to get out at 1:15, but Lee let us out early, so now I am free until 1:45. What I really liked about the class is that in addition to the texts, we are going to work on a creative writing assignment that focuses on the elements of Joyce's writing, and also we get to do a big paper on some big historical moment in Irish history. I think that I would like to do the civil rights movement, since I just studied the American civil rights movement last semester. I'm sure there are some theoretical overlaps that I can apply.
I hope that the sociology class has a good professor because I think that class has real potential to be awesome. Not that Irish Literature doesn't, but it would be really cool if we got to go into the city for sociology and take a look around. I'm sure we will. I'm very interested to see what books we will be studying in that class, or if it will be more of a hands on approach. Anyway, its a beautiful day so I think I'm going to go eat lunch in the park. Talk to you all soon.
I hope that the sociology class has a good professor because I think that class has real potential to be awesome. Not that Irish Literature doesn't, but it would be really cool if we got to go into the city for sociology and take a look around. I'm sure we will. I'm very interested to see what books we will be studying in that class, or if it will be more of a hands on approach. Anyway, its a beautiful day so I think I'm going to go eat lunch in the park. Talk to you all soon.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Postcard heaven...
Today was everyone's first day of classes, but I don't start until tomorrow so I decided to spend the day down at the South Bank. It was really pretty there today, and cool from the river. I went to the Tate and saw some surrealist exhibitions which were kind of disturbing, but cool. I bought about 15 new postcards to put up on my wall from there -- there were so many to choose from and I just couldn't say no! They look really good though, plus the point of having a collection is actually collecting so I don't feel too bad.
Tomorrow I have Irish Literature, and then Sociology of London. Its hard to realize that I'm going to be in school tomorrow. Summer felt like it went on forever at the time, but now I don't know where its gone. Elle feels like it was a really long time ago. By the way, Jill, if you are reading this I've been complimented on your bag twice on the tube, so you should definitely go international! Anyway. My roommates are talking about assignments and stuff and I completely can't deal with it. I mean cant we all be in London together and just not do the studying part? That would be a pretty sweet deal :)
Missing you all.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Ask Me What I'm Doing Tonight
This one is for all my after darkers (who, coincidentally, are setting up the first after dark event of the year right now.) So anyway. I was going out to get some food because I realized it was about 9 and I hadn't eaten anything all day -- and I left wearing my After Dark t shirt. For all of you who don't know what After Dark is, its an on campus organization that puts on free events for the IC campus. For this reason it says "Ask Me What I'm Doing Tonight" on the front of my t shirt. Now, at Ithaca everyone knows exactly what these shirts mean. There is no confusion.
However... I kind of forgot I was in London. So there I was, on a very crowded street - seeing as people are still at the carnival - alone, at about 9 30. So I go into this restaurant, order take out, and the guy gives me this kind of funny look. I went outside to walk around for a bit before the food was ready and this guy started going "psh psh psh" but I just walked away. Then it happened again with someone else. Then this totally sketchy guy came up to me and asked me what I was doing tonight, and I realized... they aren't sure what my shirt means, but they do think its advertising something.
The nail in the coffin was when I went back to pick up my food and the waiter made me tell him exactly what I was doing tonight before he gave me the food. He looked disappointed when I said going home. So now this shirt has achieved the "don't wear outside the house" category. Thought all of you setting up for E Komo Mai would appreciate that. :)
Miss you all
However... I kind of forgot I was in London. So there I was, on a very crowded street - seeing as people are still at the carnival - alone, at about 9 30. So I go into this restaurant, order take out, and the guy gives me this kind of funny look. I went outside to walk around for a bit before the food was ready and this guy started going "psh psh psh" but I just walked away. Then it happened again with someone else. Then this totally sketchy guy came up to me and asked me what I was doing tonight, and I realized... they aren't sure what my shirt means, but they do think its advertising something.
The nail in the coffin was when I went back to pick up my food and the waiter made me tell him exactly what I was doing tonight before he gave me the food. He looked disappointed when I said going home. So now this shirt has achieved the "don't wear outside the house" category. Thought all of you setting up for E Komo Mai would appreciate that. :)
Miss you all
The Notting Hill Carnival
There were about twenty different buses with people on them just like this!
The Notting Hill Carnival
Back from the carnival --- that was easily one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life! (Think British version of Mardi Gras) There were all these crazy costumes, dances, and food! After all the walking that we've done over the past few days, I think that my legs are never going to regain feeling! People were pounding back bottles of hard liquor right in front of cops, because remember, that's legal here. Its still a shock though to see the police not reacting to it though, haha.... those crazy Brits.
South Bank and Tower Bridge
On the far left is an open book market (!!!) outside in the South Bank and then Tower Bridge, of course :)
My room!
Jen is up on the window sill because that's where we can get internet! Brian's practicing his guitar in the corner.
Burrow Market
This place is getting quite the following, according to Bill it is now a "must stop" for all the London insiders.
Our First Family Dinner
That's Jen and Andrew cooking our awesome dinner, and the fabulous final product of eggs with salsa, sausages, french toast, hash browns, and orange juice.
"Actually, I had a Guiness for breakfast..."
Ok so we are here and settled. I'm sorry for not updating the past few days, I figured out that I can get free wireless internet here, but for some reason, I'm the only computer that gets it. Its on and off, but it works. I think we are still going to go in on internet though because let's be honest... six American students and no internet? Get real.
Now that everything is up and running I will upload pictures soon. There is an outdoor carnival today right down our street so I'm going to take pictures of that and then just upload a bunch of pictures here. Yesterday the group went on a big walk through central London with Bill. It was really fun, we started at Westminster Abbey and then walked all the way to Tower Hill (where the Tower of London is.) That's the equivalent of seven tube stops. It was awesome though because Bill showed us all of these little local stops. There is a food market that we stopped at called Burrow Market - it was so good! There were a bunch of free samples and crazy people. The South Bank was my favorite part - thats where the Tate is. We didn't go to the Tate we just walked past it but that whole area was just great. I think that we are going to try to go there later for dinner or something. The festival here today though is a really big deal though. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I will be sure to tell you all after I go.
We've been doing a lot of pub crawling here, but its weird because places close so early. We went out the other night at 11:30 and got to a place right before last call. Everything shuts down around 12 or 1, except if you're at a club or something but those cover charges are out of control I can't deal with it. It really doesn't seem worth it. It was really funny the other night though because my roommate Jamie was at the bar, and the bartender asked him if he wanted a Guiness and Jamie told him that he had had a Guiness for breakfast. He was completely serious. The best part that the bartender didn't even look at him twice. He just nodded and gave him a pint of something else. Nice.
We checked out of the hotel officially today, even though we haven't been sleeping there since we moved in. We're still having hot water issues at the flat, but the landlord is coming over today to fix it. That will hopefully be fixed because we've been showering at the hotel and if the hot water doesn't work well.... we're going to have to get to know each other rather quickly. I'm sure it will be fine. Anyway, I need to go now to the carnival but I promise I will be back later tonight, as school starts tomorrow and we won't be going out... I think :)
I miss you guys, and pictures are coming!!
Now that everything is up and running I will upload pictures soon. There is an outdoor carnival today right down our street so I'm going to take pictures of that and then just upload a bunch of pictures here. Yesterday the group went on a big walk through central London with Bill. It was really fun, we started at Westminster Abbey and then walked all the way to Tower Hill (where the Tower of London is.) That's the equivalent of seven tube stops. It was awesome though because Bill showed us all of these little local stops. There is a food market that we stopped at called Burrow Market - it was so good! There were a bunch of free samples and crazy people. The South Bank was my favorite part - thats where the Tate is. We didn't go to the Tate we just walked past it but that whole area was just great. I think that we are going to try to go there later for dinner or something. The festival here today though is a really big deal though. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I will be sure to tell you all after I go.
We've been doing a lot of pub crawling here, but its weird because places close so early. We went out the other night at 11:30 and got to a place right before last call. Everything shuts down around 12 or 1, except if you're at a club or something but those cover charges are out of control I can't deal with it. It really doesn't seem worth it. It was really funny the other night though because my roommate Jamie was at the bar, and the bartender asked him if he wanted a Guiness and Jamie told him that he had had a Guiness for breakfast. He was completely serious. The best part that the bartender didn't even look at him twice. He just nodded and gave him a pint of something else. Nice.
We checked out of the hotel officially today, even though we haven't been sleeping there since we moved in. We're still having hot water issues at the flat, but the landlord is coming over today to fix it. That will hopefully be fixed because we've been showering at the hotel and if the hot water doesn't work well.... we're going to have to get to know each other rather quickly. I'm sure it will be fine. Anyway, I need to go now to the carnival but I promise I will be back later tonight, as school starts tomorrow and we won't be going out... I think :)
I miss you guys, and pictures are coming!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Almost settled in...
Today my roommates and I met with our landlord to dot the i's and cross the t's with the flat. We went by to see how it was after they cleaned and it is awesome. Our actual section is in the Bayswater area of Westminster. Jen and I have a cute little bedroom, and it has yet to be determined which boys will get the other bedroom and which will be sleeping on the beds in the lounge. We have two TVs, a big fully equipped kitchen, even a hallway rug. We are getting more information about the Internet situation, but hopefully that will be set up soon. We are going to move in for the most part tomorrow, but Jen and I are going to do some last minute cleaning of the place tonight, and I am going to try to move in a bit this evening.
As a group, I would say we have one of the best flats. A ton of other groups already have serious drama, but the six of us are pretty low key together and have agreed on everything so far. The guys have been really helpful and thoughtful, more so than I thought they would be. They've taken a real interest in mundane details usually left to us girls, such as should we get one plunger or two? What kind of soap/cleaning products/etc. Do we have enough towels.
We walked around the area more today, and we are fully equipped with anything we might need. We have a Boots (CVS times 10), a Sainsbury (grocery store), lots of restaurants, its very cosmopolitan, but also very safe. I've only been here three days and it has gone so quickly, I don't even know how to deal with it. I can't believe that I have a flat, I know a neighborhood, I feel adequate getting around on the tube, I feel comfortable doing things by myself. The only thing that sucks is how expensive everything is. I mean no matter how expensive you think London is, its worse. Really. However, the barista at the Starbucks downstairs in the hotel lobby has taken a liking to me, and I now receive my tall lattes for free. If you look hard enough, there is justice in the world :)
Miss you all.
As a group, I would say we have one of the best flats. A ton of other groups already have serious drama, but the six of us are pretty low key together and have agreed on everything so far. The guys have been really helpful and thoughtful, more so than I thought they would be. They've taken a real interest in mundane details usually left to us girls, such as should we get one plunger or two? What kind of soap/cleaning products/etc. Do we have enough towels.
We walked around the area more today, and we are fully equipped with anything we might need. We have a Boots (CVS times 10), a Sainsbury (grocery store), lots of restaurants, its very cosmopolitan, but also very safe. I've only been here three days and it has gone so quickly, I don't even know how to deal with it. I can't believe that I have a flat, I know a neighborhood, I feel adequate getting around on the tube, I feel comfortable doing things by myself. The only thing that sucks is how expensive everything is. I mean no matter how expensive you think London is, its worse. Really. However, the barista at the Starbucks downstairs in the hotel lobby has taken a liking to me, and I now receive my tall lattes for free. If you look hard enough, there is justice in the world :)
Miss you all.
I have a home!
Hello everybody!
I apologize for not updating yesterday, it was crazy! I am now a real estate renter in London! Very exciting stuff. We found the flat yesterday and by chance were taken in before another group of IC students, who wanted the same one, so we knew that we had to act fast. Its a two bedroom with a big lounge so the sleeping situation should be very comfortable. We have two bathrooms and a big kitchen, equipped with a washer and dryer. We are in the city of Westminster which is really nice because we are a few streets over from the night life area, but our street is really quiet and safe. The tube is right around the corner from us, as is the grocery store, dry cleaner, shops, restaurants, all that good stuff.
Our landlord's name is Nick, and he's really nice. I guess this flat is always given to IC students, he said a group lived there last Spring. We sat down to confirm everything in this pub, it was so crazy. I think that we are going to move in Friday because there is a big festival in Notting Hill (which we are two seconds from) that apparently all of London comes out for and there is just now way we will be able to move in and all of that. I can't believe how well this has all worked out. The only thing that is left to work out is the internet situation, but Jamie (one of my roommates) found this wireless service that bills monthly, not annually, so I think that we are going to do that. All six of us have declared that internet one of the most important things!
Last night I went to another orientation which was short and sweet. After that my roommates and I went out to a pub to watch the England v. Germany football game, but all of the English were mad because England lost. They were nasty. Andrew, another one of my roommates, was trying to pull a chair up to our table and he accidentally bumped an English guy who muttered loud enough to hear "German want-to-be." I mean, that doesn't even make sense. Whatever. The pub closed soon after the game was over and we all headed back to the hotel, where we stayed up talking until about 1:45. I slept until 10 this morning, so I think that I am on London time for sure!
Today we are meeting with Nick at 1 to sign a few last things, and then I think I am going to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum, because (a) its right near the London Center and is supposed to be very cool and (b) its free and I'm tired of spending money. I miss you all!
I apologize for not updating yesterday, it was crazy! I am now a real estate renter in London! Very exciting stuff. We found the flat yesterday and by chance were taken in before another group of IC students, who wanted the same one, so we knew that we had to act fast. Its a two bedroom with a big lounge so the sleeping situation should be very comfortable. We have two bathrooms and a big kitchen, equipped with a washer and dryer. We are in the city of Westminster which is really nice because we are a few streets over from the night life area, but our street is really quiet and safe. The tube is right around the corner from us, as is the grocery store, dry cleaner, shops, restaurants, all that good stuff.
Our landlord's name is Nick, and he's really nice. I guess this flat is always given to IC students, he said a group lived there last Spring. We sat down to confirm everything in this pub, it was so crazy. I think that we are going to move in Friday because there is a big festival in Notting Hill (which we are two seconds from) that apparently all of London comes out for and there is just now way we will be able to move in and all of that. I can't believe how well this has all worked out. The only thing that is left to work out is the internet situation, but Jamie (one of my roommates) found this wireless service that bills monthly, not annually, so I think that we are going to do that. All six of us have declared that internet one of the most important things!
Last night I went to another orientation which was short and sweet. After that my roommates and I went out to a pub to watch the England v. Germany football game, but all of the English were mad because England lost. They were nasty. Andrew, another one of my roommates, was trying to pull a chair up to our table and he accidentally bumped an English guy who muttered loud enough to hear "German want-to-be." I mean, that doesn't even make sense. Whatever. The pub closed soon after the game was over and we all headed back to the hotel, where we stayed up talking until about 1:45. I slept until 10 this morning, so I think that I am on London time for sure!
Today we are meeting with Nick at 1 to sign a few last things, and then I think I am going to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum, because (a) its right near the London Center and is supposed to be very cool and (b) its free and I'm tired of spending money. I miss you all!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Flat Hunt Begins....
Today was the first day of the massive flat hunt. Ithaca doesn't provide the students with housing here, part of the "orientation" process is to have us group ourselves together in a way that we hope is going to work out, and then go to suggested flats. It sounds a lot more overwhelming then it really is because once you figure out who you want to be with, there's a sense of camaraderie in the whole shebang. I'm going to be living with Jen, Mike, Brian, Andrew, and Jamie - a good cross section of humanities and sciences and parkies. Jen and I have decided that no matter what flat we end up getting we girls get a bedroom without dispute. The boys can duke it out for who has to sleep in the lounge if need be :)
We saw a really nice place today that was a good price, but it was almost too nice. It would have been perfect for a couple starting a family in a really safe, quiet neighborhood but for six college students it wasn't really going to work out. I don't think we would have worked out for the landlord either, even though she seemed really bent on having us sign a lease. Tomorrow we are seeing three more places, and hopefully we will find the right one.
We walked through Hyde Park today when we were going to the first flat, and it was really nice because there were lots of dogs without leashes but they weren't going crazy or anything. They were just hanging out. British dogs are clearly better behaved than American ones. When we finished with the flat we hiked back and had dinner at a little Italian place. It was pretty good, and now I am ready to pass out. I am in a serious time-warp.
Also, for those of you who I did provide a phone number, to call me you must first dial 01144, and then the number. I also think that you can text, and just put the same numbers before the actual phone number. International communication is not as easy as I expected it to be at all! You all should have seen us sitting on the floor of the London Center fiddling with our phones. Oh boy.
Tonight when my flatmates and I were walking home from dinner we were in a really nice residential area, and we realized that we were the only people making noise. Everyone else was completely silent. Crazy. I guess Americans really are loud. Ok time to pass out. Keep leaving comments! :)
We saw a really nice place today that was a good price, but it was almost too nice. It would have been perfect for a couple starting a family in a really safe, quiet neighborhood but for six college students it wasn't really going to work out. I don't think we would have worked out for the landlord either, even though she seemed really bent on having us sign a lease. Tomorrow we are seeing three more places, and hopefully we will find the right one.
We walked through Hyde Park today when we were going to the first flat, and it was really nice because there were lots of dogs without leashes but they weren't going crazy or anything. They were just hanging out. British dogs are clearly better behaved than American ones. When we finished with the flat we hiked back and had dinner at a little Italian place. It was pretty good, and now I am ready to pass out. I am in a serious time-warp.
Also, for those of you who I did provide a phone number, to call me you must first dial 01144, and then the number. I also think that you can text, and just put the same numbers before the actual phone number. International communication is not as easy as I expected it to be at all! You all should have seen us sitting on the floor of the London Center fiddling with our phones. Oh boy.
Tonight when my flatmates and I were walking home from dinner we were in a really nice residential area, and we realized that we were the only people making noise. Everyone else was completely silent. Crazy. I guess Americans really are loud. Ok time to pass out. Keep leaving comments! :)
I'm here!
I have arrived! The plane ride was good, but I don't think that the flight attendant liked me very much. Oh well. Its 8:52 AM London time, which means its 3:52 AM for all of you in New York and 12:52 AM for the rest of you in California. Crazy. So I'm at the Holiday Inn at the Kensington Forum, in a twin room, listening to British radio. The DJs are laughing really hard, but I have no idea what they think is so funny. They're comparing nationalities and then laughing. I don't get it. If nothing else, I really want to try to understand British comedy during this trip because with all due respect, it is just beyond me. I want to leave a cultured human being!
I just realized that all of the tool bars on this website are now in German... so I hope this comes out in English! You all let me know, because that would be awkward. I can't believe I'm here. Flying in I saw the rows upon rows of thatched roofs, and I got really excited because a) I realized that I was really here and b) I felt like I was in a Harry Potter movie. I started humming the theme music in my head and I started to feel ridiculous and awesome at the exact same time. I have to admit that of the two, the latter is still more exciting! (Especially for you Miss Alix I will go to the platform 9/3 sign at Kings Cross station because I know that you would expect nothing less!)
On that note, I really have to thank all of my friends that helped me out this summer, and nudged/forced me to get on this plane, whether I wanted to or not. I already miss you all but I know now (as you all repeated to me about a million times) that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Your consistent laughter and encouragement has made all of the difference.
I can't wait to hear from all of you!
Love, love.
I just realized that all of the tool bars on this website are now in German... so I hope this comes out in English! You all let me know, because that would be awkward. I can't believe I'm here. Flying in I saw the rows upon rows of thatched roofs, and I got really excited because a) I realized that I was really here and b) I felt like I was in a Harry Potter movie. I started humming the theme music in my head and I started to feel ridiculous and awesome at the exact same time. I have to admit that of the two, the latter is still more exciting! (Especially for you Miss Alix I will go to the platform 9/3 sign at Kings Cross station because I know that you would expect nothing less!)
On that note, I really have to thank all of my friends that helped me out this summer, and nudged/forced me to get on this plane, whether I wanted to or not. I already miss you all but I know now (as you all repeated to me about a million times) that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Your consistent laughter and encouragement has made all of the difference.
I can't wait to hear from all of you!
Love, love.
Monday, August 20, 2007
People watching strikes again
So I'm sitting at the gate and this woman walks by in this crazy metallic floral thing - I say thing because she was wearing two different garments, but whatever this concoction was it wasn't a suit, skirt, or just slacks and a blouse. She also had this huge hat on -- I mean, a full on Wimbledon -- with big sunglasses. Trailing behind her were two airport security people who were personally pulling all of her Louis Vuitton (sp??) luggage. She carried a Christie's shopping bag. I love JFK. I should have taken a picture, but I didn't want to be THAT girl. Well. Not yet, anyway.
Miss you all.
Miss you all.
Hello hello!
Hello everyone!
I am minutes away from leaving my house and jetting off to England! I wanted to make sure that I could keep in touch with everybody, without sending those annoying weekly e-mails :) I hope you all keep in frequent touch, and I will be sure to update this blog as much as possible. I'm going to miss you all very much, and can't wait to tell you all about my adventures (and perhaps misadventures) throughout Europe. Feel free to leave comments, because it will be super fun to read them ;) I will set up a skype account soon, and when I do I'll update the information below.
Contact info:
Mailing Address:
Rachel Muney
c/o Ithaca College London Center
35 Harrington Gardens
London SW7 4JU
England
E-mail: Rachel.Muney@gmail.com
AIM: MUNEYhot
I am minutes away from leaving my house and jetting off to England! I wanted to make sure that I could keep in touch with everybody, without sending those annoying weekly e-mails :) I hope you all keep in frequent touch, and I will be sure to update this blog as much as possible. I'm going to miss you all very much, and can't wait to tell you all about my adventures (and perhaps misadventures) throughout Europe. Feel free to leave comments, because it will be super fun to read them ;) I will set up a skype account soon, and when I do I'll update the information below.
Contact info:
Mailing Address:
Rachel Muney
c/o Ithaca College London Center
35 Harrington Gardens
London SW7 4JU
England
E-mail: Rachel.Muney@gmail.com
AIM: MUNEYhot
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