Arriving and Adjusting

After almost eleven hours of flight time, we were greeted by an IES worker and put on a bus (or coach as the British say). I was exhausted from the lack of sleep on the overnight plane ride but excited to have finally arrived.

The first weekend in London was spent getting to know the area, the traffic, the tube (subway system), and learning how to be on my own in a foreign city. Not just any city either. A city with almost 10 million people in and out on any given day. Our professor specifically told us to get lost. He may have meant "get lost in the city" as in lose yourself in the breathtaking views of London, which I did, but I also got lost on the tube and on the streets.

During my free time on the weekend I went to Camden Market to these old horse stables that are now converted into a gigantic area for vendors to set up. I also took pictures at the Platform 9 and 3/4 in the King's Cross Station. Mainly during my free time, I slept.

The night after my first day of class, a group of girls and I went to explore London at night. We were able to go into the House of Lords and the House of Commons in Parliament to hear the debates going on. The inside of Parliament is absolutely beautiful. There is a throne made of pure gold in the House of Lords. After Parliament we walked through Trafalgar Square and down the mall to Buckingham Palace. We traveled the tube on our own and for the first time I felt like I was finally getting to know the city and my way around. 

There is still so much I want to do but I keep reminding myself that I have the time and that I need to be mindful of my time here. I tend to live in the future instead of the present. I am in London. I am finally experiencing things I had only dreamed about and I plan to make the most of it.