Cold showers and crowds

Oh my goodness! We're about to tar and feather a 3rd floor girl for leaving the hot water running all night on Sunday. Because of that mistake, we've all had cold showers for the past two days. Today's was like ice! Ugh.

Aside from the painful showers, my past several days have been great (suprise, suprise). On Sunday I went with Maike, Elise, and Andrew to Camden Market, which is a giant outdoor market held every weekend not too far from campus. There were more shops than I had imagined, and even more people. Some of the stores were pretty typical, others were really outrageous. For example, one store was actually a rave in front, and goth-style clothing in the back. There was also a shop called @pussycat that had stuffed kitties all over the walls and floor. By stuffed kitties, I do not mean they were in the teddy bear tradition - we're talking taxidermy, my friends. Ewww.

As we were walking back to the school, we came upon an old church with a sign in front advertising afternoon tea. Each of us had tea and homemade shortbread in the church yard as our first official tea in London. It was served by two little old British ladies who explained it's a fundraiser they've been doing on Sunday afternoons for the last 15 years! Unfortunately, because cold weather is due here shortly, they will probably only serve tea for the next two weeks.

Yesterday was by far my coolest day in London so far. I went with a group of 10 friends to the Notting Hill Carnivale, the largest festival in all of Europe. A million and a half people attended! There was such tremendous energy in the crowds. The festival featured a day-long parade that was just amazing - very reminiscent of a Mardi Gras. There was also a ton of loud music, great food, and some street performers.

Our group ended up breaking off into two smaller groups, which was fortunate, for we ended up in a "giganti-crowd," as Maike would say. Along the parade route at one point, it was so crowded that at times, we didn't even have to walk. We were propelled forward by the people pushing behind us. My friend Robi was holding onto my purse strap from behind to keep track of me ( short girl in a huge crowd...), but let go. Then, I felt someone grab ahold of my belt in the same fashion. Assuming it was Robi, I turned around to discover a blushing British man who'd apparently thought me to be someone else!

Also, while we were in the crowd a British man turned to ask Robi and I for directions to the nearest tube station. When we responded with a "heck if I know," he said, "Oh, you're Americans. Sorry. Well, how are you enjoying the carnivale?" We told him we were having a good time, and he said, "Of course you are. You Americans love everything!"

All in all, it was a fantastic afternoon, and I have great pictures. We did walk continually for six hours, though, and my feet are still upset about that today.
I hope all is well at home!

Sleep deprived, but still smiling

Because of my travels, I went something like 36 hours on just 3 hours of sleep, and let me tell you that's tough. I've had such a fantastic time so far, though, that I wouldn't really have had it any other way. These first couple of days at the college have been mainly administrative orientation - except for the party in the school pub.

The treatment of alcohol is very different here. First, there's a school pub. We are encouraged to visit it often. Second, there are school-sponsored drinking activities. Apparently there will be three beer pong tournaments over the course of the semester! I suppose that is the British way...

My room is very spacious, considering there are three people in the room. Maike and I met our roommate yesterday. Her name is Kamani and she's from Queens. She is very friendly and we've already talked with her quite a bit. At first I was skeptical because she warned us about her "New York attitude," but so far, so good. We are also fortunate enough to be one of only three or four rooms with a balcony attached. Today Maike and I ventured out onto it for the first time, and there is a very cute view of the city in the distance.

Regent's College is in Regent's Park, a park owned by the queen that is just beautiful. There are amazing, enormous rose gardens just inside the gates. I have much more exploring of the park to do. We have not yet gone outside the inner circle, where the school is located.

Andrew Moore, a friend from Drury, is on the trip too, and he happens to be British. He has lived in the states since he was five, but has a lot of family here, and has been raised in the British tradition. Last night his dad, who happened to be in town, took six of us out to a pub and to a FANTASTIC dinner in an Indian restaurant. We ate sort of family-style, ordering seven appetizers and six main dishes so we could sample a bit of everything. My favorites were the prawn dish and the onion bahjee.

As for the upcoming weekend, I am so excited. Tonight we're going on a Jack the Ripper tour. Tomorrow I'm going to an outdoor market, then to Cafe du Paris in the evening. Cafe du Paris is a very posh club that is very expensive (we get a huge discount for going with the school) and that always has celebrities. Sunday we're going to the largest carnival in the world, which is being held in Notting Hill. Next weekend, plans are in the works for a trip to the beach along the southern coast of France. Maike and I already have quite a sizeable group interested in going along with us.

I suppose that'll do for now. I'm off to the "refectory" to see about getting some dinner before our tour...

For real, this time

Well, I said that London was right around the corner in my last post, but that was almost a month ago. Now I can say my flight is in less than a week! No, I have not started packing yet.

I was torn between the idea of keeping a blog or sending out mass emails, but have finally decided this is the best way to keep everyone informed about my goings on. If you check this every once in awhile, you'll be able to see what I'm doing as I globetrot. Next time you read a post from me, it'll be from somewhere in Europe. Exciting, huh?!