Getting Orientated
The past week has been a whirlwind of lectures, speeches, and group exercises. I've been warned about the dangers of drinking, drugs, and jaywalking. I've gone through two college orientations: one in Saratoga Springs, and one in London. Though both orientations definitely helped me feel more at ease about living in London, I've come to the conclusion that only I can orient myself in this vibrantly interesting city.
One of the first times I used to tube was during the Notting Hill Carnival; the second biggest Carnival in the world. It was even more crowded that I could have ever imagined, people teeming out of the tube's doors, bodies pressed, air humid with humanity. I had a lot of fun seeing the crowds, and now I feel like I know how to use the tube. If I can use and navigate the tube on one of the busiest days of the year, I can navigate it on any normal day. The public transportation in London is very straightforward, and, now that I've used It for a week, I don't know why I was so afraid of using it. It's very affordable, and it's very fun.
I think the hardest thing for me right now is shopping for necessities. I don't really cook, hopefully that's going to change soon, so I'm not sure about what I should be buying. So far I've bought some microwavable soups and a lot of fruit from Sainsbury's, but at some point I'm going to need to plan out meals and create a budget. I haven't spent as much money as I thought I would, but I definitely need to start planning how much I can allow myself to spend each week.
Classes are just starting, so now I need how to figure out balancing school work and living in the city. I have a very nice schedule that gives me a lot of free time. When I start getting real homework, I will need to start thinking about how much time I spend exploring my new home and how much time I give to work. Of course schoolwork comes first, but it is really hard when London is just an elevator ride away from my dorm room.
A week in, and London is truly starting to feel like home. I know my way around my neighborhood, I know where the cheap places to eat are, I know not to talk in the tube. I'm beginning to feel more comfortable crossing the street, looking left is getting a lot easier. I'm still getting used to the language and accents, I've gotten the wrong orders at cafes multiple times, but I am absolutely in love with my new life here. Last week I could barely fathom that I would be living in London, and now I can't imagine leaving.
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| This is St Pancras and it's a beautiful train station. |
One of the first times I used to tube was during the Notting Hill Carnival; the second biggest Carnival in the world. It was even more crowded that I could have ever imagined, people teeming out of the tube's doors, bodies pressed, air humid with humanity. I had a lot of fun seeing the crowds, and now I feel like I know how to use the tube. If I can use and navigate the tube on one of the busiest days of the year, I can navigate it on any normal day. The public transportation in London is very straightforward, and, now that I've used It for a week, I don't know why I was so afraid of using it. It's very affordable, and it's very fun.
I think the hardest thing for me right now is shopping for necessities. I don't really cook, hopefully that's going to change soon, so I'm not sure about what I should be buying. So far I've bought some microwavable soups and a lot of fruit from Sainsbury's, but at some point I'm going to need to plan out meals and create a budget. I haven't spent as much money as I thought I would, but I definitely need to start planning how much I can allow myself to spend each week.
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| This is the pretty Georgian building where I take classes. |
A week in, and London is truly starting to feel like home. I know my way around my neighborhood, I know where the cheap places to eat are, I know not to talk in the tube. I'm beginning to feel more comfortable crossing the street, looking left is getting a lot easier. I'm still getting used to the language and accents, I've gotten the wrong orders at cafes multiple times, but I am absolutely in love with my new life here. Last week I could barely fathom that I would be living in London, and now I can't imagine leaving.
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