The flat is quiet, even though I hear voices echoing from the halls and late night flights cruising overhead.
I am in London at last.
Today began with a rush out the door of my aunt and uncle's house to the airport. There, I hugged my parents for longer than necessary, except it really wasn't, given that I won't see them until Christmas.
The flight itself was, well, infinite. I watched a couple of movies, but I wasn't able to sleep. I sat there in the darkness, waiting in anticipation, waiting for the plane to just land already.
Gosh darn it, plane.
Today, having to go a full day without sleep, never seemed to end. Not that I really wanted it to. Oh wait. Yes I did. I wanted to sleep.
To an outsider, the teams of students shuffling up and down the streets to check in, go shopping for groceries, and go on tours probably looked like a G-rated episode of the Walking Dead.
Right now, as I'm typing, most of my eleven flatmates (you read correctly) are out to dinner. A few of us stayed to chill and head to bed early for orientation tomorrow. I'm actually munching on a Caesar salad and sipping some pineapple juice at the moment.
But how is London, you ask?
Here's the answer: I am already in love with the little I have already seen.
And here;s why:
1. The houses we saw on the way to our flat from Heathrow Airport are just the cutest. Winding narrow streets lined with small houses with miniature backyards and quaint chimney tops. It's perfect.
2. Sainsbury's is the equivalent of Walmart here. They seriously have everything ever. It may be a 15 minute walk from my flat, but I got an excellent deal on juice. I ain't even mad.
3. I live in a quad room. This is going to be killer for me as a mega introvert. But somehow I'll manage.
4. The lady who picked us up from the airport, Sarah, was so bright and cheery this morning that it was hard not to grin, no matter how tired we were.
5. I have the hugest booklet for my internship this fall. I'm not sure I'm capable of this.
6. MY TEXTBOOK ONLY COST EIGHT DOLLARS WHAT IS LIFE
7. I paid for that textbook with Scottish money, and the staff worker had to go check with her supervisor to see if they could take it. I didn't know what I did, but a few seconds later, a Scottish woman dashed into the room and wrapped me in a bear hug, almost knocking me to the ground. She was so happy that I had paid with Scottish money, because it was uncommon around FIE.
8. I've never been tackle hugged by a Scot before. I'd do it again, but maybe when I'm more well rested.
9. Shopping bags can be pretty heavy. Space out your trips well.
10. The Yemen embassy is down the street. Diplomats are our neighbors. We have a castle a few minutes away. What am I even doing here.
And a bonus one for you:
Traffic rules are more like guidelines. They like their high speed road adventures over here.
Last but not least, as I'm sure you are expecting with me being a photographer and all, here are some of my first glimpses of this amazing city.
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