Getting acclimated

12 January, 2011

So this is my eigth day here and I've officially been in London for just over a week. This morning I had class-- "The Chapel in Italy." I was a bit worried about this class, since my first art history class on Monday was pretty disappointing. The subject seems interesting but the teacher has no idea what she's doing (she seems really smart but very young and not very capable of teaching a class).

The Chapel in Italy professor though, Alison Wright, is older and definitely a much better teacher. This class seems like it's much more what I'm used to at Wash U. So after class today, I met up with Mollie for lunch at Itsu (sushi-- very good!) and after lunch went to talk to the Anthropology and Archeology departments about taking a class in their departments. The university system is so much more confusing here, and you actually have to sign up with each department individually, because most people only take classes within their own department. They had some classes available though, so I think I may switch!

After talking with the departments, I headed over to the UCL union and signed up for a gym membership! Then I explored the union a bit, and went to the volunteering office to learn about volunteer opportunities to get involved with. I also spoke with the Rights and Advice Center, which is this amazing resource at the union where you can walk in and speak to an advisor to ask questions or advice on literally any topic imaginable.

After that, went to the gym for about an hour. Really a very nice gym. There was a spin class going on, and since all the classes are included with membership I definitely want to try a spin class and a yoga class sometime. After working out, walked home and met up with Amber for dinner. We went to a place called Giraffe in Brunswick Center and it was sooo cute. I will definitely be going back there. Also stopped into the grocery store, then headed back to call it a night when all of the sudden..

My neighbor, Andre, from Romania, was playing futbol in the hallway and said he was really bored and wanted to go for a walk and invited me to go with him. We walked to Trafalgar Square, and I learned that General Trafalgar defeated the Spanish navy through his intelligence, because the Spanish navy was much more powerful at the time, and so the giant stature of General Trafalgar is a symbol of the intelligence of the British people for the Brits. I also learned some things about Romanian culture from Andre. We walked ALL over London, probably for at least an hour. I saw Big Ben! And also plenty of drunk people roaming the streets. Felt strangely outside myself and inside myself at the same time, kind of in disbelief at how drastically different my life has become and how I feel disconnected from my sense of who I am but also more in tune with it at the same time.. I don't know, it's weird and probably doesn't make much sense. I'll have to think about that some more.

Now back in my room, just got off the phone with Avanti from Wash U-- so great to hear from people back home!