From the Beginning

The past few days have been pretty hectic. I know that Kandi and I haven’t been able to update much recently. The lack of updating is primarily due to the lack of Internet connection we have in this building. I think the network is super weak and we’re on the third floor. We’ve no connection in our room… and when we get it, the connection is just ridiculous. Things are going to have to change somehow. I’m not sure what it is we’re going to do to change it, but I’ve got to be able to have a connection in my room. It sucks because I’m unable to use my Magic Jack to call back home, and I need to stay in touch with my family and my boy.

To start from the beginning, though, the airport/plane ride was an interesting experience. Once at the airport, I had a bit of time with my family and my boyfriend before we had to leave for security. I had to rip myself away from my boyfriend, which was to be expected. I cried and he gave me his favorite (and my favorite on him) shirt, which was his Marvel shirt. I packed it away and went to spend about 10 minutes with my family. I bawled my eyes out when I hugged them goodbye and Kandi and I headed towards security. We had no problem there, so everything was good. We had a 40 minute wait before we boarded the plane to Fort Worth, Texas (where we hopped on the connecting flight). That flight was slightly cramped and not so fun. We had a doughnut in the airport ( we were starving!!) and boarded the plane to London, somewhat in shock that it was happening and already tired of flying. The flight to London scared the shit out of me. Right when we were beginning to take off the lights all shut off and it was like the power on the plane shut down. Kandi laughed at the face I made when this happen…. but I was ready to get off that flight right then and there! We eventually got up in the air and we tried to settle into our seats. There wasn’t much room at all. The service was horrible. We got breakfast and lunch pretty late. I don’t recommend American Airlines.

Once we landed in Heathrow, we were buzzing with excitement ( despite the state of exhaustion). We had to walk forever in the airport to get our luggage… and that right there was an adventure. Both of us had a hard time trying to get it around the airport… but we had the help of this sweet old lady who volunteers and helps students arriving to get to their destination. We took the Heathrow Express into Central London, ending up in Paddington Station. Once at the station, we had another trek to the taxi area, where we finally were able to sit as the maniac of a driver took us to Regent’s. One point of warning: Fear the driving of Londoners. It’s ridiculous. We got registered with the college and found that we had to lug our suitcases up 4 flights of stairs. We weren’t happy campers. They got our ids screwed up and we found that we had no connection. It was all horrible. Eventually we went for a walk around the campus and tried to de-stress, awaiting 9:00 so that we could finally get to sleep ( as Dr. Buck instructed). We walked along the street for a while, not having a clue where we were and what we were doing, but everything was just beautiful. We finally got back in and went to bed… simply… exhausted.

 

On Friday we got up and had to attend orientation. We got through that process and went out with Laura ( another FSC student) to Primark to go shopping for extra bedding. We found what we needed and picked up our Oyster card so that we could get on the tube without a problem. When we got back to campus, we were right in time to go on the Jack the Ripper tour that the school set up. I was thrilled. We all headed to Baker Street Station and took the tube ( my first time!) to Tower Hill, where we met the tour guides. The tour was a blast. We saw the sites of the murders and heard the gory tales.. walked a bizillion miles and actually saw a beautiful building that was unchanged since 1880. I was shaking with excitement. Once the tour was over (after he scared the pants off of us all), Kandi, Laura, and I all went in search for some food. We saw a Nandos and (because Tara always talks about it) we went there for dinner. The food was pretty awesome and not too expensive. Afterwards, we were looking for a pub and got lost for about 2 hours  in Whitechapel (or at least that’s what it felt like) and encounter a bus fight that held up traffic before we finally found the Underground. We went back to Baker Street and went to the pub above the station for a drink. Kandi and I both got a double Jack and Coke… which was delicious. We briefly chatted with a few boys from the Royal Academy of Music and went along our way back to school. I was exhausted that night, but I couldn’t get my Internet connection to work (surprise surprise), so it was difficult for me to fall asleep.

The next day, Kandi and I woke around 11 ( after we ignored the 9 am alarm) and dressed. We picked up breakfast, where we were joined by Laura, and we took the tube to Westminster and walked through the station. While we went toward the exit for Westminster Pier, we encountered a man playing an accordion (rather well, too!). So we had the perfect background music while we walked out to see the Thames River, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. It was all so overwhealming. That was the point that we felt like we were really in London. We took pictures and freaked out for a few minutes before finally heading to the Abbey. We caught the Evensong service and went into the building. I was instantly taken. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling that filled me. True, I may not be of faith, but the structure is just too magnificent not to enjoy. I started to cry at several points, my eyes filled with tears as we looked around the arched ceilings and over the stained glass windows. The service was beautiful. The choir was just phenomenal and it really got to my gut, making me tear up, yet again. I loved every minute of it. Afterwards, we all walked around Westminster for a while longer before heading back to Baker Street. We were forced to order Take Out, as they close the cafe for Saturday night. The evening went well and I was easy to sleep compared to the night before.

Today wasn’t as eventful, but still good. We went to Primark and Boots to get supplies… and now we’ve just been chilling. I think I need to do some letter writing soon. I think we’ll end up getting a drink later, just one or two before classes start… then it’s all studying for me after that.

Well. I think this is long enough.

I’m including the link to a Photobucket account where I’ll keep all of my pictures to spare a spamming of them.

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/rr135/KJEubanks/