Well, tada! I'm in London, and it took SO LONG to get here!
My flight (at 1:15 pm not 4 pm..) was late flying out, but still a nice 2 hour flight. I got through security and all that smoothly, got myself a coffee and waited. I sat on the aisle seat and the other woman sat on the window seat, with an open seat between us. I slept for about half of it, thankfully. Usually I can't sleep a wink on airplane rides. When we got there, I expected a mass mess of chaos from friends. Thankfully though, it was basic and I only had to walk across the airport to my gate. I had a four hour lay-over, where I ate a really gross sandwich (ugh!) and played a game on my laptop. I figured I should buy myself a snack for the long flight and go to the bathroom, so I left the gate about an hour and 20 minutes before boarding. On my way back, I looked at the flight boards (just to be sure I was right) and O'Hare decided that my gate had changed.
Needless to say, I booked it to the correct gate, which, consequently, was on the other side of the airport. I walked as fast as I could and made it with time to spare. It took only about 20 or so minutes to board and I got a nice aisle seat in the middle next to a girl a little bit older than me. I didn't quite catch her name, but she was from Milwalkee and was going to stay a year in London getting her Masters in Pharmacology. She was really nice and ended up helping me get through immigration and getting my bags before she left with her boyfriend and I was ushered over to the Queen Mary group. Sorry to skip ahead, but my flight wasn't all too much to talk about other than the crazy turbulence. I fell asleep at around 5 am (or 11 pm Texas time) and was woken up by the plane shaking. It was really scary, but I knew it would be okay. I fell asleep again and woke up to breakfast being served. The first thought I had was, 'Oh, good, I'm still alive, then!' What a wonderful way to wake up! Anyways, since we were at the back of the plane, it took FOREVER to get off, but it was alright, as neither of us were in such a big hurry.
I found the Queen Mary representatives and walked over, signed in, and had a seat. I know, I've been sitting for hours, but I just couldn't stand for some reason. I missed the first bus, so I had to wait until about 1 pm (i had arrived at London at 10 am and it took about an hour for immigration, and then about five minutes for my bags, when I showed up at the correct spot,) and then until around 1:30 or 2 pm to actually start the bus ride. Let me tell you, it was a little surreal. I still hadn't processed that I was actually in LONDON. Tell you the truth, I still don't really feel it, even after walking around everywhere! Everyone was really tired, so the bus ride was mostly quiet. It took about an hour or so to actually get to the campus because of traffic, but it was worth it. I promise I'll have pictures up later, right now I'm trying to push this blog out before bed. I'm so exhausted!
Anyhow, we got there and immediately went to go check in. I got my keys (they're actual big keys!) and went up to the top floor, flat 16, room E. It's a really quaint little room, big enough for me, with a sink an mirror in my closet, a desk with chair, a single bed, a side table and lamp, and three shelves. It's nice, nothing too bad. Again, I'll post pictures later. There are four other girls who live in the flat with me, and we all share two toilets, one of which is coupled with the shower, and the other with only a sink and mirror, and a little kitchen with a gorgeous view. It's really lovely, not the best accommodation, but rather homey but cute. After I got my things inside, I settled down and skyped with my parents to check in. Somewhere in between, Jennifer showed up with her brother and sister-in-law. After she had taken care of things (and I had freshened up a bit,) we headed out to get some money! Well, mostly me. I bought my Oyster card and we took the tube (which is VASTLY over-rated. It's much the same as the underground in Maryland or Tokyo,) to SOHO, where Jennifer wanted to look around, and where I could exchange currency. I originally wanted to go to the post office, but they were closed already ): I managed to get some pounds (which, the rate is extremely bad, and most places charge you for it..) and we walked over to buy me a phone. My phone is little and so far back in time that it surpasses even my very first phone. Well, I guess I take that back, my first phone was black and white, and this one is in color.. but you understand what I mean. Here's what it looks like:
That's another thing.. things close to early here! Except for the bars and pubs, of course, which we didn't explore tonight because we had walked clear across the world and we were VERY tired. We were going to go eat Fish and Chips at a little place nearby, but it was full of weird gross men and it kind of smelled.. it was already dark and we had bags with us, so we decided that it was not the night to try Fish and Chips.. So we ended up going to... Pizza Hut.
Yes, yes, I know. I go all the way to London, and end up eating Pizza Hut for dinner. It was really the only thing nearby and open and not filled with creepy people, and it was actually quite good. I don't much care for Pizza Hut in the states, but here it was good, and not too expensive. The only thing is that the service is very lax. Europeans like to sit, and take their time. They're not like us, where we get in, eat, and leave (most of the time, that is..) so it was weird when we had to flag down our waitress to take out order, and flag her down for the check. After that, we walked and walked and WALKED back to campus. I swear, I hadn't walked that much in a LONG time, so my feet hurt, and STILL hurt! We wandered around campus, trying to find the laundry room (and found both, but Jennifer didn't have change on her to do her laundry like she wanted to..). After that, we just wandered around, seeing what was there, and how nice the other dorms were, but I do like it in my own dorm. It's cozy and just right for me. I don't need fancy things as long as I have a bed and a locked door.
After we got back, we met another flat-mate of ours, named Alice. We don't know much about her, but I'm sure we will know more soon. She invited us to the bar nearby, but we were too exhausted to accept. Next time, definitely! I then proceeded to shower, and unpack a little. It was only when my parents skyped me that I found out it was actually 12! I decided that (after looking up what I was going to buy at Argos tomorrow,) I should probably write up my blog. I'm sorry if it's lacking in detail, but I really just wanted to update this about my first day in London! I'll have pictures and more stories up tomorrow (: Goodnight everyone!
<3
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