Well here we are...

A few words about London.  First impressions: the city is complicated, efficient, and like a calico quilt of architecture.  I’m living in flat 13 of Kamen House.  Its claim to fame is an odd white overlay that covers the top three floors of the building.  Though it’s not by any means an historical building, I would guess that just about everyone familiar with the area would know what you were talking about.

I have five roommates, none of which I knew before and all of which seem like really decent guys.  We just recently made some big purchases for the flat: hand soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and you guessed it, paper towels.  One of the guys made a list of the items we still need to purchase.  Among them is the notorious “lighter”.  Courtesy of the lighter, or lack thereof, we have been unable to use our stove for the first two days.  Our breakfasts have been egg-less, our lunches grilled cheese-less, and our dinners pasta-less.  Unfortunate for a group of people trying to live on a budget, but we discovered some new places to eat in the meantime.

Pubs: I’ve been to two so far.  The Betsy Trotwood, located RIGHT by the flat.  And the City Pride, located two minutes from it.  Verdict?  The City Pride has friendly staff, two nice bar areas, fun themed nights (we’ve already been to karaoke and trivia night), and an overall good clean atmosphere.  It’s like being with a friendly local who’s excited to show you around.  The Betsy Trotwood?  Not so much.  After entering, I stayed for approximately 90 seconds, then left abruptly on account of the general atmosphere.  It’s small, beautiful, adorable, but unfriendly to at least this particular foreigner.  That doesn’t mean I won’t try to make a second effort; I may just want to go with a larger crowd, or maybe with a professor (if that should happen).

Orientation activities have been a strange mix of adrenaline-burning excitement, slouch-inducing boredom and jaw-clenching anxiety.  And these changes occur not every hour or so, but almost seconds apart.  Take the moment we discussed Rome for example: listen to the rectors talk about the free or greatly reduced prices for Easter events for Notre Dame students; then, listen to the nightmare that is Ryanair(lines) (supposedly), then zone out when they discuss any issue that doesn’t concern us (I would tell you, but frankly I wasn’t listening).

Now, I’m not very good at this blog-writing stuff, so forgive me if I trail off and start talking about things that overwhelm you with apathy.  I’ve never intended any of it.  Promise.

I’ve managed to obtain most of my required books, which is a blessing.  The others are pretty easy to find (excuse me, do you have any Shakespeare?), so that’s one problem solved.  I think…

The real problem right now is internet.  In a perfect world, I would have posted a blog entry yesterday, but, as they say “alas I have no internets in my flat”.  Well, I do…but not accessible to this computer.  I pre-registered for the housing company’s internet installation program, but I guess all of that work was for nothing.  I think I am one of the few students still stuck in the 1980s over here.  Not that it’s a bad thing, mind you.

British food, you ask?  The jury’s still out on this one.  I’ve eaten only about 4 truly british meals (i.e. meals not cooked by me or supplied by the program), some have been good, others have just been expensive.  Our librarian made a joke today.  The gist of it went something like this: “London is a rather expensive city—well actually it’s not so expensive any more, we’ve moved down two spots…from number one.”

Now, I have no idea which two supplanted it, but it really doesn’t give me any more financial consolation.  Oh well.  So it goes.

Thursday night I was jet lagged.  It got so bad that I had a slight crisis.  You see, my body thought it was 10pm, but London told me (and so did its weather) that it was a dark 4am in the morning.  Now, I’m no Cartesian dualist, but the events of two days ago certainly started swaying my sentiments closer to the I think therefore I am camp.

Today is Saturday January 15.  It is 1:32am as I write this (though, courtesy of no internets, it will be posted tomorrow at some time) and now it is time for bed.  Good Night London.  Good Evening America.