Day 1

Location: Campbell House, UCL in London, UK

[my music: London Bridge (oh snap!) ~ Fergie]

So after American Airlines flight 104 with nonstop service from JFK airport in New York to Heathrow airport in London was delayed about an hour, the 8 girls and Professor Mark Johnston ((who said he felt like the coach of a girls gymnastics team)) got on to the plane to begin a 5 ½ hour flight. The plane ride itself was fun, Brittany and I were excited to watch Rumor Has It, but it turned out to be Take the Lead, which we were still willing to watch. It was a cute movie, not too much substance… predictable to say the least. Before and after the movie we joked about all of the partying we were going to do and what not. It was fun. Natalie and Stefanie sat together across the isle from the Professor, Nicole, Alex, Brittany and myself, and we were across the isle then from Amanda and Betsy.
After our arrival and piling into 2 vans, we began our journey to central London. This is where we realized that the signs, drivers and just the roadways themselves are crazy over here! I seriously do not want to hear people ever complain about New York drivers ever again! I am not afraid to cross the street in the city, but here I am legit scared out of my mind that some granny or psychotic old man is going to blow me over with their ridiculously ugly “smart-car!” Amanda joked about getting run over and how the last words that she’ll mutter as she lay dying on a foreign roadway will be “fuck you” both to the driver of the car and to the girl that constantly yelled or gave severe attitude when Amanda was about the cross the street. It was funny.
There are a few obvious divisions in this group already, but whatevs. I’m enjoying my time here right now so I really don’t care!
For dinner it was just me, Betsy, Amanda and Brittany. We went to Pizza Express where the girls spent 5 pounds or 10 dollars on a freaking personal pizza! I had a 10 dollar dish of mushroom ravioli… it was delicious! Afterwards we walked for a bit then Brittany and I scoured the town looking for a pay phone to accept American calling cards. We failed miserably! Then we looked for internet cafés so that way we can email friends and family since we can’t call them! That didn’t work either… but it’s all good cuz we found a few cool statues, a few Indian restaurants (too bad neither of us like Indian food), and got around really well without a map! We had fun.
Back at the room I chilled for a bit then passed the hell out. it’s pretty nice sleeping for 11 hours… too bad my bed is uber-soft and I woke up with the worst back aches ever! DAMN YOU BRITISH BEDS!!

hugs & kisses from London!