Scavenging

Today was our photo scavenger hunt, where we got into teams and went around the area completing tasks like "Take a picture of the sign for Thistle Grove street" and "Take a picture with a dog and its owner" and "Take a picture of a postal box" in which 2 of the group had to be in every picture. It was really touristy, but it was really fun, we got to know our neighborhood better, and had to interact with some real Britains, so it was pretty fun.


Then we had a meeting with Jacob and Christine again, going over the scavenger hunt (we didn't win because we incorrectly identified the Albert memorial - blasphemy). And we talked about traveling in general, about specific places and such. Then Alex and I took the Tube to Trafalgar Square where we got some pictures, not great because it was nighttime, and stopped at a pub and had a pint. That's one of my new favorite phrases "Why don't we stop at the pub and have a pint?" I'm going to say it when I'm back at Lawrence, and then fall over out of shock. Or something.


(Another British escalator)

Also, I forgot to show this: Royal Albert Hall, it was on the scavenger hunt. It's an amazingly looking place, and I decided that I will go see Feist when she plays here in May, just based on how awesome it looked (sorry Molly ;))

Walking

So last night I needed to stay awake so that I didn't succumb to jet lag, and end up waking up today at 3 am. So I walked around a while, just through a couple of neighborhoods. Then I got on the Tube and just wanted to go to random stops to get used to it. I started going to Earl's Court because "hey, Radiohead played there once" but then I was on the wrong train so I never went there. But then I was a stop away from Westminster, so I got off there, and realized that was the home of:



And, I'm sorry, this is the best picture I could get of myself with Big Ben, I swear I tried more:


But anyways, that was fun, got to see a major London touristy hotspot within like 6 hours of getting here. And sort of on accident. But then I came back and promptly fell asleep at 8:30 for...13 hours. It sort of made up for the night before where I got very little sleep on the plane.

Then today we had our orientation meeting with Christine and Jacob, the two people who run this place. Then Prof. Fosdal came and took us on a walking tour of the area around the Centre, showed us where WWII bombs hit and forced 1960's architecture to take residence around the area, unfortunately. Then he told everyone they should start smoking, and that he'd convert at least three of us before the day was over.

Then we went to a pub, had some good British ales and some good food - fish & chips or bangers & mash. I had the Bangers. I Had the Bangers....song name. Anyways, then a few of us walked back to the Science museum and walked around that for a while:


And now I'm back and tired again. Being exciting and exotic is tiring, I tell you. Tomorrow is the "photo scavenger hunt" then I have my first class on Monday.

The view from my window

Post #1

Well I made it, there's not much to write about at this point but I have to start it somewhere. Got through the check-ins alright at O'Hare, quicker than expected so I had about 3.5 hours to sit around at the gate. A lot of planes were getting delayed and canceled so it wasn't looking good but ours was right on time. But then we had to sit on the runway for an hour and 45 minutes while crew people sprayed the plane with giant hoses of water and a mysterious green liquid, in what they said was "de-icing", but who knows.

(I suspect it may have been Pepsi Ice Cucumber...which apparently...exists.)

The plane ride was alright, I haven't been on one in a while so this is probably old news, but you can track the plane on its path, they have a map on the screen so you can see exactly what you are passing over at that time, as well as the plane's speed and altitude and such. So you could see right where you were when you crashed, so when you radioed for help you'd be able to tell the people where exactly you were. So that was nice.

Then I got here, got off the plane, got through Immigration and got onto the train, which was remarkably clean. Then I took a taxi, which was a great ride, if great means being painfully aware of the fact that it is indeed normal to drive on the left side of the road. Then I got here, and got my room. I just got back from grocery shopping with Alex, my roommate, and I bought fancy eggs. That's what happens when you go to London, you buy fancy eggs.