Cheers From London
So, surprise surprise, I’ve been slacking big time on the blogging. Have no fear, Katelyn is back. The last 9 days have been full of crazy adventures, to say the least. I feel like I have been here for 12 years, not a mere week and a half.
Mom and I arrived Wednesday morning- luggage in tow and ready to go (sweet rhyming Katelyn). With rain pouring down and wind going crazy, we decided to head to my school for my enrollment appointment. Half way there we realized just how jetlagged we both were. We stopped for some coffee (two LARGE cups for me- which later kicked in to my pleasant surprise) and were on our way to UCL. Wow….the campus is AMAZING. Plopped right in the middle of London- it is a really old campus with beautiful architecture. Actually, it has been used in many movies- Gladiator (my fav!) Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Atonement and Inception- to name a few.
After enrolling with the school, I received my email address and ID card (it is very official) and mom and I decided we were too tired to do much more….well, besides go to a pub of course. We hopped on the tub and headed back to our neck of the woods. We found a quaint little pub nearby and got a full on English dinner. The pints/cider hit us more than usual and we swaggered our way back to our flat….and stopped for a mars bar on the way. (Right mom?)
The next few days were full of your basic moving scenarios. The best was finding my flat- totally a God thing. I came knowing I had student accommodation but, after doing the dorm thing in undergrad, I was hoping for a more private home. I went through a group called Flatland and ended up with a list of a few available options. Mind you, everything is pretty much booked so it was pretty slim pickins…. Mom and I hustled over to our last option of the day and it was heaven…in London.
My street
My little studio is located just 2 blocks from Hyde Park and about 4 from the Queensway tube. The best part is my street is straight out of a movie…it is super quiet, a pub or two just outside my door and a few food markets. If you head a couple streets over it is basically Times Square. TONS of restaurants, bars and stores. It is the perfect location.
The Crib.
My flat itself is actually pretty big. I got a great deal because the central heating is broken so I have a roll-a-way heater. What? Awesome. I can definitely deal with that. I am in the basement but have a cute little patio right outside which I share with one other girl from Australia. I have a tiny little kitchen (lacking a stove but over a pint the other night…my landlord said he had a tiny one he would give me, if I promised to bake him cookies. Score.)
First dinner in my flat.
The night before mom left I took her to my favorite place in Notting Hill- a pub with an outside garden. We played Monopoly all night and had some great Mediterranean grub. I might add- I kicked some major butt….
Wednesday morning I went with mom to the train station and sadly said goodbye. Best part is, I know she is coming back- it was WAY fun to have her…and I know when she comes back the fun will increase because I’ll have learned my way around.
Two Words Mom: Jack? Ma?!
As far as classes go, things here are MUCH MUCH different. I have four compulsory modules and three out of about 15 I can choose from. Basically this semester I am required to take Research Methods, International Organization and Public Policy Economics/Analysis. I get to pick one for this semester- I chose International Peace and Security. Next semester I picked Terrorism and Conflict Resolution/Post War Redevelopment. Needleless to say, I’m much more excited about next term. This term I have classes M-F (except Wednesdays). We have lectures for an hour then are split into tiny seminar groups throughout the week for each class. I’m thrilled about my Friday seminar from 4-5. Woof. Pretty sure I will become good buddies with everyone in my seminar who will also suffer through…dreaming about the pint after, right?
The beginning of a long, long year of reading.
I’ve been meeting people from ALL OVER the world. England, America, China, Japan, Amsterdam, Ireland, India etc etc etc. It will be great to have conversations with all of them in our seminars- ohhhh worldwide perspective.
Tonight we had a cocktail hour with all our professors. I might mention, they are all REALLY young. It is a pretty young program but the largest in the UK. The new director just transferred here form America- but he is the only American on staff. Regardless, they are all young, fun and quite entertaining. Perfect.
Besides that I have been filling my time with relaxing, a little reading and some major exploring. Tonight I went to China Town with a few friends and explored the area. It was super amusing … and bright…. Not to mention there were hanging cooked ducks everywhere.
With that, I’m off to clean my presh little apartment, have a glass of wine and enjoy the sounds of the city. I’m so lucky…
PS- if you have Skype, please let me know. If you are planning any trips to Europe…you better make a stop in good ‘ol London.
Much love from London,
Katelyn
