So It Begins

Howdy!

This, my friends, was the first official greeting I received from a London-dweller. Apparently we look that American. Anyway, consider this a blog equivalent to the "hey mom and dad, we made it and we're not dead" message. I've probably gotten six or seven hours of sleep in the past two nights combined, so I don't really have the mental energy to write much or make it all that amusing, much as I would like to. 

I'M IN LONDON! Just making sure that was clear. Our flight left from O'Hare a bit after midnight CST (there was a long delay while they changed a tire and replaced one of the radios) and landed just before 2 PM British time. By the time we made it through baggage claim, customs, and the coach (fancy word for bus) ride to the hotel, it was close to 5:00, so we checked in and headed right back out for a walk around the area.

The area being Tavistock and Russel Squares and surrounding streets. If that sounds familiar to you, it's probably because Tavistock was where that bus blew up a few years ago. It's a pretty part of the city, not particularly upscale, but full of little shops and restaurants, many of which are very reasonably-priced. After we finished our group walk outside the British Museum (according to Dr. Jacobs, the greatest museum in the world, and I believe him, because he as a Midwestern English professor from Alabama knows more about British history and culture than about 90% of Brits... one of these days I'll write a blog post just on him), we split up to get our own dinner, which we'll be doing for our whole stay in London. I ended up at an Indian restaurant with five other girls, where we were greeted with a not-so-cheerful "howdy." Classic.

Our hotel is lovely, very typically European -- not much extra space, but everything you need and nice and neat. Also they have free wireless, a huge godsend, not just for updating this bad boy, but for emailing family and researching for classes (not to mention sightseeing). And the complimentary breakfast is AMAZING. Puts the bagel-and-coffe continental breakfasts in the U.S. to shame. In addition to a fruit, yoghurt, and cereal bar, you can order any quantity/combination of bacon, sausage, baked beans, and scrambled eggs, plus coffee or tea. 

For the next 10 days, we're "just" seeing London. As in no classes whatsoever till we get to Durham at the beginning of July. Some days the profs lead group trips, other days we do our own thing. It seems like a pretty great system. We could all use some prayer that we'll adjust quickly to the 6-hour time difference and will have a safe stay here in the city as we continue to bond as a group. 

I'll probably write again a time or two before we head up north... hopefully with some more interesting stories than this laundry list of random information. Cheers!

Linnea