The first week

So I'm sorry for not updating everyone sooner, but here we go ....

How does one pack for six months?? I obviously should have started packing more than two days before my flight, but that didn't happen .. so my final days in the states were decently stressful. To be able to make it to JFK on time for my flight we had to leave the house around 2pm, and I finished packing at about 1:45 haha. When I say that I finished packing, I mean my parents finished removing about half of the stuff that I packed so that my bags would be accepted (thanks mom and dad). We went and said bye to the rest of my family, and were off to New York early enough to get some dinner at the Sheraton by the airport once we got down there. So we ate some food, drank a decent amount of wine, and then they dropped me off at the terminal. Sad/excited/scared to death .. I said goodbye and began what I can only assume will be the journey of a lifetime. And wow, has it been the journey of a lifetime so far ...

I am traveling with a program called ISA (http://www.studiesabroad.com/) and they have made everything ridiculously easy for me so far. When I arrived at Heathrow at 11am London time, I had instructions to walk to Terminal 3 where ISA representatives would be waiting for me. They were waiting at the top of the stairs, holding ISA signs and smiling! They walked me over to the waiting area where the rest of the students in the program were sitting, and I got to meet everyone (some of whom were waiting there since 6am .. sorry guys!). I was then given a packet with everything that I'd need, including an international cell phone with two fully charged sim cards, and my Oyster card (for unlimited access to the tube and buses for the first week while I'm here). After waiting for another hour for the remaining students to arrive, we left Heathrow and headed for our residence halls. My flat (Alexander Fleming) is located right in the center of Hoxton Square, which is like the Brooklyn of London. We're surrounded by pubs, and nightclubs, and restaurants. There is the most beautiful graffiti that I've ever seen on most of the walls, and I can't wait to take some photos and post them for you guys. I have five flatmates, four of whom are from the UK (Leon, Richie, Becci and Barbie(Krista)) and one is from the states (Taryn). I couldn't have been luckier with the flatmates that I was assigned, and I can't even begin to explain how much their presence has helped me ease into this whole situation.

The first day there, we got settled into our flats and were shown where we could buy groceries and bedding. After that, all of the Fleming kids went out to dinner at the local Noodle Bar (delicious!). We were all advised to be in bed by no later than 9pm ... but that didn't happen even though we were all exhausted. We went to a local pub and I didn't get to bed until around 5am. I justified this by telling myself that it was only midnight at home. However, I neglected to admit to myself that the following morning, when I had to be at the ISA office at 11:30, it would really be like 6:30am at home. Waking up was a task, but I made it to the office and we had our orientation to the program. We then were taken on a 3 mile walking tour of London! We saw Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Circus, Kings Cross, St. James Park, Green Park, Liechester Square, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, House of Parliament, London Eye and Trafalgar Square. Then we went to dinner with the Kings College kids (where my friend Chelsea goes) down by Tower Bridge. Once I figure out how to post photos in here I'll do so, but until then go check out my Facebook for the picture of the view that we had from our dinner table. So beautiful! After dinner we went to a few pubs and was in bed by about 5am .... oops. At 9am the next morning we had a four hour orientation at Westminster and we learned about how our classes are going to work and anything else we'd need to know about attending a Uni in London. Classes start on Monday  (the 17th) so I'm really looking forward to that! After orientation, my friend Natalie and I went on an adventure to find Hogwarts via Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station (again, refer to Facebook for photos). While trying to find it, we walked down this very long platform only to reach a dead end. We turned around and were walking back, and from the train that was about to depart yelled the conductor, "Excuse me miss, but are you trying to find Platform 9 3/4?" It was a mixture between his accent, the train, being in Kings Cross station, and about to find the platform, that we came to the conclusion that he was magical. He directed us where we needed to go and we found it! Amazing! After that I took a 3 hour nap and then we went out to the pubs again. On Tuesday I had my department meeting with my advisor to finalize my class timetable (schedule). I'm taking International Marketing, Sexualities, Public History: London, History, and Museums, and Marketing Research. After my meeting, my friend Cori and I went and found ABBEY ROAD!! Again, refer to pictures on Facebook. To walk across and see the crosswalk, and Abbey Road Studios, was an amazing experience. Cori and I continued to explore that whole area, had a great lunch, took some photos, met two amazing Australian girls, and then ventured home. When we got home we met up with our friend Jordan and headed for Leicester Square to see Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams at the premiere for Morning Glory. I have a video of that, and will post it when I get a chance. Then we went to Chinatown and had some dinner, came home, hung out for a bit, and went to bed. Yesterday, ISA took us to the British Museum with the Kings College kids and that was pretty amazing. I've never seen history like that before, it blew my mind! After that a few of us had a fantastic lunch at Munchkins (a small pub by the museum) and then I headed to go see Joe (one of the 3D artists that I worked with this past summer at my internship) at his studio. It was surreal to see him in London and now that I have seen him it has officially hit me that I'm here. Going to see him was the first time that I ventured somewhere new on the tube by myself, and I still can't believe how easy their underground system is. I'm going to try to find a documentary on how the system was constructed because it is beyond quick, clean, and easy. After I saw Joe, I came home and all of us (about 20+ of us) went to this pub down the street called Trafik, and then to another pub called Roadtrip.  It was quite a long night, and I'm glad to say that I finally got more than 5 hours of sleep since I've been here. Today I have been relaxing and later on all of the ISA kids are going on a Boat tour on the Thames. I can't wait for that!

I'll try to keep up with this blog as often as possible. Pictures are posted daily on my Facebook. My Skype name is oascott7 and anytime that you see me on there, I'm available to video chat (as long as I'm not on another call). I'm excited to keep you updated on my adventures! Love you all <3