Day ONE

Hi everyone,

So I arrived last night around 9 pm here, which is 5 pm East Coast time. So, thankfully, because of the large quantities of medications I needed to be on to survive a flight, I was exhausted by the time I actually got here! After happily leaving the airport, I got in a taxi and headed to my hotel for the night. Only THEN did I realize just how complicated it was going to be to move 100 pounds worth of luggage by myself. Way to plan ahead Carina. Haha! I did get to watch a couple things on the plane though, I watched "Letters to Juliette," which was lovely, but very predictable. Also watched the first half of "Babies," that documentary, but got bored when I realized there was no narration throughout the entire thing. So I settled on watching lots of episodes of "House," and "Big Bang Theory." Yay!

Got to my little hotel for the night, where I was staying because I didn't want to make my way into central London at 9 at night after flying for 9 hours. Plus the rental office for my housing wasn't even open at that point, so it all worked out. Then I ate dinner in the "sports bar" because the restaurant was closed. This so called "sports bar" was really just a pub that had a large projector showing people playing billiards on the wall, I guess that's the sport part. FINALLY got some food besides ritz crackers and teddy grahams (don't laugh, that's a majority of what I ate on the flight). And then passed out around 11 pm = 6 pm EST. See? The meds actually HELPED me get over jetlag!

Then this morning, yes morning, it's 8:30pm here, I ate breakfast at the hotel and took a WAY overpriced taxi ride to the closest subway station. My plan was to take the taxi to the closest tube station, and then take that line all the way into the city, since I like 300 feet from a tube stop on that line. So this sketchy driver was trying to convince me to allow him to drive me all the way into London, which I INSISTED would be very very expensive, since it's about a 40 minute drive. Although this nice nice man said he would do it for the low low price of £48, which according to the current exchange rate, is about $75. No thank you. So I got to this subway station and my entire journey, taxi and all, cost less than £20. See? Win. Except for the fact I had to lug all this luggage around and carry two 50lbs bags down the 30 stairs into this subway station. People were so nice to me though, one man helped me carry everything onto the train and another even carried one of my suitcases up the stairs at the other end!

20-25 tube stops later, I FINALLY arrived at my stop. Then got my apartment all sorted out and leased, and was allowed to move in! FINALLY I had my bags in my room, and they were not being supported by my own arms. Keep in mind I also was carrying a backpack that included all of my electronics (2 laptops are not very light...surprising right?)!

I was excited and happy to be here! I mean, I was really in LONDON as a RESIDENT and a working human! And not a tourist only in the country for 3 weeks.

I then realized I had nothing. I had clothes, but they didn't get me far in terms of living supplies. I realized there was no internet, and I would have to call and get an ethernet connection set up if I wanted internet, which seems pretty important. I also did not, at that point, have any bedding, shower supplies, towels, a hair dryer, or a cell phone. SO then I went on a huge adventure all around London trying to set up a bank account and getting everything I needed. My GPS saved me SO many times during this adventure, I did a good thing getting a new one right before I got here. Plus it was the only thing that knew where a drugstore and bank were, considering I had no internet! I got a new phone! I'm so excited about it it's the cutest little thing. I've never had a touchscreen phone, so I feel really fancy to actually have one. And as you can see, I also have internet now! It's one of those wireless USB flash drive things that connects through a cell phone network, very nifty.

Also, side note, I found the best system ever today. In the huge department store where I bought my sheets and towels, when I paid for my purchases, the woman asked me if I would be taking them now. So I said, "Um, what's the alternative?" And they had this FANTASTIC system where you can buy things and then pick them up later! This is so that you don't have to carry bulky things (like bedding) around London while you're continuing your shopping. The duvet I bought came in a cardboard box, and to save me some trouble, the woman had put my bedsheets and towels inside of this box. Unfortunately, this made the box heavier than it was designed for. So when I went to pick up all my things and take them home, the handle on the box broke, and there was no way for me to carry 2 large bags from the drugstore, a bag from the cell phone store, my jacket (it was about 55 degrees here), a pillow, and this broken box. Believe me, I tried many many different ways. Then sad and pathetic, I gave up about 10 feet from the subway station because I simply could not carry everything. It didn't help that my arms were also completely shot from lugging around 100lbs+ worth of luggage for 2 days. So I got a taxi, which was actually really great, had the nicest taxi drive who enlightened me all about the system of how you become a London taxi driver. He said average time it takes a person to pass the course is 2.5 years, because you pretty much have to memorize all of London. Crazy stuff right?

So I am finally all unpacked and set up. I'm hoping to post some pictures at the bottom of the message showing my room!

Not sure what the weekend holds for tomorrow, I've got to get some hangers for the mass of work clothes currently sitting on my chair waiting to be hung up. Also need some food so that my lunch and dinner tomorrow aren't McDonnald's and Pizza Hut (don't hurt me Mom :) )! My friend Genymphas from Drexel is down in London for the weekend from Manchester, so maybe meet up with him and do tourist things. Then Sunday I am off to see some family and make pizza! Hooray!



New phone! So cute and fancy!


Shared kitchen with my 4 roomates

New bedspread (don't laugh Elaine, it's plaid.)

My little sink and vanity area, as well as a wardrobe that is currently only filled with shoes.

Finally, my desk and large pile of clothes waiting to be hung up!



Love to all! xxx