I Have Arrived!

Well, I am officially in London and all I can say is 'Wow'.

I got here at 9am (4am home-time) last Wednesday but today is the first I have had internet so I am obviously way behind on my blogging! There have been a million things happening so I will try and keep focused on just a few for now. I sadly haven't had a chance to take many pictures yet, because I have been too busy trying to find my way around to stop and take photos, but trust me, they will come!

The burrow I am living in, New Cross, is quite a hopping place. It just southeast of the center of the city and although it doesn't have the glitz of Central London, there are a ton of odd shops and local pubs. It is known for its up-and-coming art scene, and has a very diverse mix of people. There is a tube station across the street from my dorm and I am starting to get a hang of the system.

Unfortunately my luggage was lost and didn't arrive until yesterday, so that provided it's own set of hurdles. Luckily I had packed a few things in my carry on, and the girls I have met have been wonderful. They kept me supplied with pajamas and shampoo and anything else I needed.

I have met a girl named Cassandra through the CIEE program (they are a company that works with Central and other schools to get students here) who is really great. We have lots in common and make a good team when we get turned around in the underground!

CIEE is hosting a small group of students here this semester and they have already provided us with great outings into the city. We have eaten at a few restaurants and pubs, and have even been to the theater!

We saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which stars James Earl Jones and the mother from the Cosby Show. We also went to The Comedy Store, which is a comedy club that has been around since the late 70s and on Wednesdays and Sundays they have a Whose Line is it Anyway? improve group come in (including some comedians featured on the show). This is the performance we went to and it was fantastic, we laughed our heads off.

As of today, classes officially started. There was a mix up with the schedule, or "timetable" as it is called here, and I ended up missing my class, but made it to the seminar discussion that followed. There is lots to tell about how differently the University's work here, but I think I will leave that for another time, right now it is just about my bedtime!

Cheers for now! ;)