Oh the Places You'll Go - Lauren Steele

Hello everyone! Right now it’s raining and everyone is napping so I decided to blog again. We’ve been so many places since I posted last that I hardly know what to tell you all about first. I guess I’ll start with our adventures this past Friday at the Tower of London. Built in 1078, the Tower was home to England’s royals for hundreds of years. Most of the key points in England’s history occurred in this castle. A tour guide walked us around for about two hours and gave us a brief overview of what went down. Confession time: I was overjoyed almost to the point of tears. I’m a complete history nerd, especially when it comes to medieval times. Knowing that I was walking on the same ground that Queen Elizabeth walked on hundreds of years ago blew my mind. We even got to see the exact spot where Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey were beheaded. Needless to say, visiting the Tower has been my favorite thing we’ve done so far.

After seeing the Tower, we decided to go to Borough market for lunch. I expected it to be similar to Camden, where we went last week, but it wasn’t. Most of the foods at Borough are organic. There were fruits and vegetables galore. I ate the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had in my life, followed by the most delicious hazelnut carrot cake. Needless to say, I’m a huge fan of markets. We’re going to try another one tomorrow and you can bet that I’ll report back on the food there too. It seems like all we do on the weekends is eat, but when in London, right?

Saturday we went to Oxford. Honestly, I think the two hour train ride was my favorite part of the trip. Once we were about thirty minutes outside of London we began to get a sense of what rural England is really like. For a while, all we could see were rolling hills covered in gorgeous green. It was breathtaking. I sat glued to the window for the rest of the train ride, afraid that if I blinked I’d miss something. Oxford in itself was amazing. The university is composed of several smaller colleges, each of which has its own building. Some of the buildings are hundreds of years old. We saw the most beautiful stained glass window depicting the apostles. Oxford is absolutely full of history; I wish we could’ve spent more time there. Honestly though, I’ll probably go back just for the train ride.

Today we went to visit Dunnhumby, a customer science company that assists businesses in building customer loyalty by analyzing data. Most companies try to increase their growth by attracting new customers. However, the analysts at Dunnhumby discovered that businesses can actually better increase their growth by further engaging loyal customers. Without a doubt, their strategy works. By examining data, they can tell where you shop, how often you shop, and what brands you buy. Then they use that data to enhance your shopping experience. For instance, let’s say it’s raining outside, which makes it a perfect day to eat soup. They can see from their data that you like to buy soup at your local grocery for lunch. They can also see that you stop in that grocery around noon. From this data, they can send you a coupon for soup at 11:30, precisely right before you leave for your lunch break. This is a whole new kind of personalization and it’s revolutionizing the way businesses target customers. Dunnhumby is a one-of-a-kind company and, I have to say, I wouldn’t mind working for them someday.

Well folks, that’s about all I have to say for now. I’ll post again later this week! Hugs and kisses to those at home!

CHEERS

Lauren

Outside view of the Tower of London

The best grilled cheese sandwich ever 

Beautiful stained glass window at Oxford

We love tea!

Oxford and School - Rachel Van Deventer

On Saturday I went to Oxford and took a tour of the college and town. I really enjoyed learning about the history and the amazing programs. I will surely be applying for the Rhode's scholarship that gives Americans full rides to Oxford. I am keeping my options open for grad school!

I was able to tour a free art museum and a free science museum, and a free medical museum. The Science museum had a chalk board that had Einstein's writing on it which was pretty cool. The medical museum discussed how penicillin and a vaccine for malaria were created at Oxford. Pretty cool. I ate lunch at a pub "The Eagle and Child". The pub was known for being the meeting spot for the Inklings, including C.S. Lewis. I ate a chicken and mushroom pie that was excellent and much different from American pot pies.

This week I have been struggling through my statistics course. I have a fairly bad cold and have been sniffling for a few days. I am going to try to tough it out! I have a statistics test tomorrow but then I am done for the weekend! I cannot wait to see what adventures I have this weekend.

Weekend Fun -- Piper Davis

We had a very busy weekend! On Friday, we went to the tower of London and the borough market, and Saturday we went to Oxford! The Tower tour was so cold, but it was very interesting. I had no idea it was once a zoo or how tedious the coronation process is for queens. 

We took a train to Oxford and back, and we got 4-for-2 ticket deals! The city was beautiful. My favorite part of the tour was seeing the various quad-style courtyards of the colleges. It reminded me of boarding schools in movies with the dining hall, chapel, and dorms all in the same building that surrounds a square. 

Oxford

Statistics is getting progressively more difficult. Hopefully this week's exam is not as hard as last week's. Regardless, we only have this week and next! This upcoming weekend is Chinese New Year's, so I think a bunch of us are planning on going to Chinatown. Also, we are trying to plan a trip to Brighton on Saturday. More stories to tell soon!

Cheers!

Let's Hit the Ground Running - Anna Gardner

Hello all!

     It is now the beginning of our third week here and I am just now updating you all on the happenings of week one. I hope that gives you some sort of indication of how fast-paced our time here has been so far, and I hate that. I wish it would slow down a bit, because I am loving every minute of this experience and I do not want it to end. Already, we have done so much here. I have been checking off my bucket list items left and right.

     The first weekend after we got here we got to take a bus tour of London on Sunday. On the tour, we got to stop and take pictures of Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Tower Bridge, some of the most famous London landmarks. The next night we went to the theatre to see the critically-acclaimed play War Horse. It was a wonderful production that had a few of us in tears by the end. The following Wednesday, a few of us went ice skating near the Liverpool Street tube station with some other students from FSU. The rink was small but it somehow fit all of us comfortably and we had tons of fun skating. (I can't speak for the other GLSers but it helped to get all of my nervous energy out the day before our first Statistics test.)
     This was the perfect first week and it all felt so unreal. The pictures cannot even translate the magic that is London, but here are a few to aid your imagination.

 Westminster Abbey

 St. Paul's Cathedral

 Tower Bridge

Ice Skating

Sammie: I've seen everything, yet I've seen nothing at all.

Gosh this week was a roller coster of events! Stats was certainly challenging, but I'm coming to realize that I really like the fast pace, and I'm learning a bunch about working in groups. I'm also learning (as if I didn't know before) that there are so many GLSers that are smart cookies! The people I've worked with have worked together cohesively even under stress, and I feel like we are all learning the true meaning of group cooperation.

But now about London. LONDON. London is still amazing.

This week I have seen: Regent's Park, the Tower of London, Camden, the Borough Market, the Shard (coolest building ever), the British Library, the Magna Carta, the Crown Jewels, Platform 9 3/4, and Oxford University (which isn't in London, but is still extraordinary).

However, on Wednesday, Dr. Mee took us all on a lovely day outing to the British Library. On the way there, we stopped in a small building that contained a model of London on a 1:1500 scale.

Guys. London is huge. I've seen NOTHING. You see the red circles? That's where I've been so far. There is much to be done.

The British Library was extraordinary; I certainly want to return to see more. I wish I could give you a picture of the Magna Carta, but the document is so old (almost 800 years) that even camera flashes could damage it. When we saw the Tower of London, we also saw the Crown Jewels...which I was not allowed to photograph, either. *Sigh...* it looks like people just have to come to London to see these things for themselves. ;)

This weekend we all went on a day trip to Oxford, as well. It was gorgeous. It is the third-oldest university in the world, coming into being in the 1300s. Things are built to last here in Europe.

Can you imagine being privileged enough to study there? I learned that Bill Clinton was.

Dr. Mee and his wife, Cherol, also introduced us to a pub called the Eagle and Child near the campus, where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to drink and read their stories to one another. It was pretty humbling to walk where those great men walked. I keep using the word "extraordinary"...but there seems to be no other satisfactory word.

 There is much more to tell, but I'm afraid that I must get ready for bed. Full day of class tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!

Cheers

Knoxville to Bloomsbury: Benjamin Davis

I have had the time to get settled in and become aquatinted with the city, seeing how I have been residing in the Bloomsbury area for around two + weeks. I have had the wonderful opportunity to see some awesome things. Here goes nothing.

British Library:

• All of the original sacred texts from Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jewish, and a few other things I have never heard of. Yes, I got to see many of the first Bibles ever discovered and it was amazing.
• Shakespeares, Beowolf, hobbit. (Original Texts)
• Rough drafts of many of the famous Beetles songs.
• Magna Carta
• Bethoven original compositions. 
• And countless other scientific figures works. 

Needless to say, this has been by far my favorite place I have visited.

A few other places I have been that were interesting.

• Platform 9 and 3/4 at kings cross ( Harry Potter )
• Tour of Llyods of London (Its worth taking the time to look up)
• Saw the original copy of all recorded ship wrecks, which is still being updated today.(Llyods)
• British Museum: Original Rosetta Stone ( Not the program )

I have also planned out my spring break. I will be going all throughout the UK via Brit rail way. I will be visiting Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ill be leaving from England. I will be taking this expedition with a friend of mine and it will just be us two.

Life in London is really strange. I live in a very ritzy part of London (Bloomsbury) where there are lots of extremely old buildings (1000's of years old). I must say growing up in the country and being thrown into this concrete jumble is a shock. I can accept this shock for now and learn lots of things but I could never live in a city like this. All in all though i am having an excellent time and making wonderful memories with some great people.

I want to stay here forever- Katrina Laemmerhirt

I LOVE LONDON SO MUCH. We've been here for about 3 weeks and I've done so much stuff! Exploring the city and meeting new people keeps up busy on the weekdays.. along with stats homework.. and every weekend were exploring a new place. So far we have been to the London Tower, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Lloyds of London, Camden Market, Borough Market, the Tower of London, Harry Potter World, Oxford University, Westminster Abbey, saw War Horse, and went ice skating in the city! And the days we feel like being lazy inside, its always an adventure living in a flat with your best friends.

I have also made sure to be drinking my weight in tea because it is so delicious and eating all the fish and chips I can find. Although I was told the food wasn't the best once I would get here, I beg to differ. The food in Camden and Borough market are to die for. In Camden I got a quesadilla bigger then my face for 5 pounds and a waffle and nutella that tasted like heaven. (Side note: Nutella is like its own food group here, its wonderful). At Borough market they have the strangest and best food I've ever laid my eyes on. So all in all, 95% of my budget has gone to eating all the foods.

Well, cheers for now! I'm sure I'll have a bunch more to talk about by next week!

GG,
Katrina
(apparently the slang for British youth is GG)

Fish and Chips and tea in Oxford

Tower Bridge 

Harry Potter World! <3

The Plague & Tower of London - Jonathan Edwards

Some say the plague was in 1350 but I beg to differ. Almost everyone has been sick within the past week. Sore throats, runny noses, and fevers have broken out in the flats and it has been miserable for most. Boots, the local pharmacy, has seen many GLS students head for the Sudafed and Tylenol. Luckily, I think all will be well in a few days.

Even with the sickness, the group traveled to the Tower of London on Friday. The Tower of London is the oldest remaining functional castle in England. It was first constructed almost 1000 years ago and has expended through time. It starts as a large tower directly in the center followed by a circular wall and again followed by another circular wall. The Tower of London was tightly secured on all sides and was never taken by siege. The tower has served as the royal family's home, the London zoo, and the military arsenal. Today, its purpose is to remain functional and remind visitors of its past.

When visiting the tower you can view the entire collection of crown jewels, which are jaw-dropping spectacles of diamonds and gold, or you can stand where King Henry VIII beheaded many of his wives during the search for a son. The torture chamber is open for viewing where instruments of torture are on display. My personal favorite part about the Tower of London was the beauty of the castle itself. The castle was built in phases and expanded as needed throughout the years, but it somehow looked complete as if built in one piece. The Tower of London was certainly a trip to remember.

                                                          The Tower of London

 Ceremonial glass pillow used to catch the heads of those beheaded here by Henry VIII

                                                Axe and Chopping Block

The London Project: Daniel Cook

Over two weeks are in the books and the semester is already flying by. We visited Lloyd's of London last week and a couple days ago took a tour of the Tower of London. I am not sure which I found more alluring: the crown jewels or the torture chamber.
Unfortunately, it appears as if half of the students here have been usurped by some ambitious cold. I held out as long as I could, but I must have been exposed to some European ailment that not even I could defend against. No need to fear, my body will soon adjust to these newfangled contaminants I am waging war against.
Transitioning to the weather, we were spoiled with little to no rain the first two weeks, but now the clouds have set in and unleashed their fury of water sprinkles. However, this does not bother me to an extreme degree, as I enjoy the light, cool drizzle.

Stay Classy London

The Tower of London and Borough Market - Rachel Van Deventer

Today I went to The Tower of London and to Borough Market. The Tower of London was amazing! It was a fortress for the royals for a long time and also held prisoners. I saw and learned about the ways of torture and devices. I saw the Royal Jewels and they were breath taking! Unfortunately, no photographs are allowed of the jewels but I must say that there was a diamond on a crown that was at least the size of a clementine! The tower of London was extremely interesting and I learned so much!

After the Tower of London, a group of us went to Borough Market. This market sold a lot of produce and special cheeses and meats. There was also cooked food and lots of desserts! I had a lamb sandwich with mint jelly. It sure was different but not bad. I also shared a piece of carrot and roasted hazelnut cake.....AMAZING! I am tired after exploring all day but I can't wait to see more of London later tonight!

This device crushed people to death, gross, but cool!

A Whole New World - Lauren Steele

I'd like to start this post with a shout-out to my parents. They've been begging me to post another entry for a week and I finally have enough time to do it. After all, I would've never made it to London or, generally speaking, this far in life without them. So thanks Mom and Dad, you're the best. 

We've only been in London for two weeks but it feels more like two months. The buildings are gorgeous, the tea is delicious, and the accents are exquisite. I love everything about this city. But I do have a favorite thing: the people. Having lived in Tennessee my whole live, I haven't had the chance to experience much diversity. In London, diversity is everywhere. You can’t escape it. The entire first week I had to stop myself from running after people and asking, “Who are you? Where are you going? What are you doing with your life?” It’s as if the city’s energy comes from its inhabitants. It’s always moving, vibrant, full of energy. I can’t get enough.

So far the markets have been my favorite places to explore. Last Saturday we spent the afternoon in Camden making our way through the stalls. After the day was over, we hadn’t even walked through half of it. Camden is full of tiny unique shops and booths. No matter what you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it somewhere in the market. Without a doubt, my favorite part about Camden was the food. There was Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and so much more. I had the best steak burrito and the sweetest little doughnuts I’ve ever eaten. Another great thing about the markets is that you get to watch them make the food right in front of you.

Now that I’ve made everyone hungry, I’ll stop talking about all the food at Camden. Today we’re going to visit the Tower of London and I’ll write about it in my next post. I hope everyone is doing well at home; I love and miss you all.

CHEERS

~Lauren  

Harry Potter Studios - Liz Cao

This past Sunday was life changing for many of the GLSers. It was the day that our childhood came to life, and we were able to walk where some of the most influential actors have walked and worked. Yes, we went to Warner Bros. Studios: The Making of Harry Potter.

It's just a tube and a train ride away, so we left our flats around 11 and got there a little after noon. During the tour, we saw the original sets and props that were used in the films. One very interesting thing that I learned is that Hogwarts is definitely not as big as I imagined. This whole time, I thought Hogwarts was a huge castle out in the middle of nowhere that the Harry Potter crew had to put together, but really its a smaller castle that fits in a large room and the team films it and uses a green screen to create background. Although the studio tour was really, really cool, it took some of the magic of the movies and books away from me. No worries though, I'm re-watching all the movies to get the magic back. I'll be in the big castle called Hogwarts in my mind, and that's all that counts.

Ron Weasley's bed (it's only 5'4" long!)

Entrance to the studio

Me next to Hogwarts!

Loving London - Rachel Van Deventer

I have been in London for about 10 days and I am LOVING it! All of the architecture is beautiful and there is so much to do! The sights are awesome but the restaurants, pubs, and markets are eclectic and fun! I have enjoyed trying new foods and taking the tube to random locations! A few of us went to a market in Greenwich today. The food stands smelled amazing and I ended up eating some type of a Greek burrito! I am enjoying exploring London so far and cannot wait to see where I go next!

January: The Only Month We Are Allowed to Act Like Tourists - Kenan Smith

I have officially been living in London for ten days.

I act like it will feel more real the more that I say it, but in reality, I still don't think it has set in that we will be here for an entire four months.



Canada

Looking back on the last ten days is so bizarre because it seems like its been so long since I have left. Jet lag really has gotten to me. I departed Nashville at 2:30 PM last Wednesday afternoon and arrived in London at 7:05 AM Thursday morning (1:05 AM Central Time). So the time change and the tight plane seats definitely didn't make for the best sleeping arrangements. (So naturally, I took about a million pictures of the night flight) When we arrived, we were immediately taken to settle into our flats and were kept busy. It didn't set in that I hadn't slept in 36 hours until that night when I FaceTimed my dad and he ended the call with, "Goodnight! I am about to go to lunch!" It threw me for a loop remembering that I had left after eating lunch with my parents the day prior.

After some a lot of walking around the city, I kept thinking, I feel like I'm still in America. From monuments to street construction, it kind of reminded the group of a mix between DC and New York (but of course much older and MUCH prettier). Those similarities stop once you look past the architecture. As soon as someone opens their mouth, you are immediately reminded of the fact that you are halfway around the world completely immersed in another culture. Yes, it's nice that English is spoken, but somehow the shared language can seem completely foreign at the same time.

I doused myself in hand sanitizer right after

I have enjoyed my first few days tremendously and am still trying to get my bearings. I have noticed one thing though. Central London is very touristy, so when you are walking around the main streets and markets, it is packed with people looking at the street performers, getting souvenirs, and trying to artistically capture the perfect picture in one of the red telephone booths. (Don't worry, I got mine yesterday!--also they smell terrible and are filled with ads for prostitutes...uhhh?)  Well a Londoner told me, (all have been so happy and willing to help us) that when you are tired of the crowds on the main streets to take a turn down the first side street you see and chances are there will be a delicious pub with no crowd and tons of charm. After a trip to Covent Market last week we tested it out, and the side street was like another, less chaotic world filled with locals.


Covent Market with Kaitlin

I am excited to become more and more like the locals, even if my Nike tennis shoes will be a dead giveaway to anyone who passes me on the street. Statistics continues tomorrow and I can't wait to keep taking classes with these crazy 25 people that I am lucky to call my friends. I am hoping we will have a currency lesson soon though because these coins are surprisingly hard to get the hang of. (I tried to pay for a cookie today with 2 pence thinking it was a 2 pound coin--I blame the stressful rush of the market...)

More updates and pictures to come, (once I find a cord to hook my camera up to my laptop--it's only natural that I would forget something).


Until then, Cheers!

~Kenan~

The Harry Potter Studio Tour: And Emotional Roller Coaster - Kaitlin Waters

Today was one for the books. After being in London for a little over a week and seeing the major touristy sights, I finally went to the tourist attraction that was number one on my list - the Harry Potter studio. It was magnificent! Breathtaking. Phenomenal. Perfection. Any number of other fancy adjectives. I have been a fan of the series since about age 11 and that's about the age I acted at the studios today. Every prop, every set, every little behind the scenes piece, I was in awe of. It was amazing to see how so many people and how much work went in to making the movies that I cherish so much. Here are a few pictures I took; me, behind the camera, tears streaming down my face.

Aside from Harry Potter, London's been great! Classes are definitely manageable, our location is amazing, and I've had more once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the past 10 days than in the last 10 years! I have seen the major parts of London and those I didn't know existed. I guess that comes along with living here, and I cannot wait to see and do more!

Cheers!

Loving London! -- Piper Davis

Much like a lot of the others, I experienced flight cancellations, delays, and lost luggage. Of course, I eventually made it and am now adjusting to London life quite well! The flats are amazing--the location cannot be beat and everything is so clean and nice (we even have towel rack warmers!). The first week has already flown by with all the mini-adventures and class.

I had been told several times that living in the UK is just like living in another foreign country; pretty much all we have in common is the language. I didn't understand just how true this statement is until this past week. Besides from the obvious ones (left side of the road, queuing, "chips" for fries and "biscuits" for cookies, double-decker buses), there are tons of tiny differences that I am noticing everyday. For instance, the clothing sizes are different, there are no free refills, and dryer sheets don't seem to exist. Contrary to what people believe, peanut butter can be found in any grocery store. Granted, it doesn't taste exactly the same, but it's still peanut butter.

I absolutely love it here, and my flatmates are great! Today, Mariah, Rachel, Zak, and I went to Greenwich market and found a bunch of yummy food vendors. We also came across the Old World Naval Academy. It was absolutely gorgeous, and I really want to go back sometime. Riding the tube (subway) is a lot easier than I expected, so traveling all over the city is very fast and easy.

Well, I've officially been here 10 days. 95 more wonderful days of adventures!!

Old World Naval Academy

Sammie Herold: School, Exploring, and Manchester

Hey, guys! So sorry it's been so long since my last post. All is well! Every day has brought me a new adventure, despite our rigorous Stats class.

I'm in class from 9-11 A.M. and then from 1-3 P.M. Then our professor assigns us homework that can take anywhere from 1.5 to 6 hours. It can get a little frustrating for all of us...here we are in this amazing city, and many of us are confined to the flat do homework and study for much of the week. Our Stats course is very condensed--essentially we are fitting a week's worth of material into one day, every day, Monday through Thursday.

My class and I haven't let that stop us, though! So far, every day has had at least one adventure. My good friend Rachel and I went on a walk and discovered that we are just 15 minutes away from the mighty Thames River, which is host to the London Eye, Parliament, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and much more. Here is perhaps one of my favorite views of the skyline:

There you will see the Gherkin which is the one that looks like the bullet, the "Walkie Talkie" and the "Cheese Grater," whose appearances are self-explanatory, and the original House of Customs, which is the older building at the bottom. This is where every single good that was brought into London used to go through hundreds of years ago. Oh, and you see the black square on the Walkie Talkie? Yeah, that wasn't supposed to be there. They had to put it there because the building's shape caused it to melt cars during the summer by reflecting the sun's heat. London Fun Fact!

My favourite thing about this city is the juxtaposition of the new and the old. 

My first true weekend in London, however, was not in London. I went to Manchester to see my brother, Johnny. Manchester is about 4 and a half hours north of London by bus. 

Manchester is so incredibly charming! It's MUCH easier to navigate, and I got to interact with some pretty awesome people from all over the UK. Perhaps one of the most notable things about Manchester is the "Curry Mile," which is an entire road dedicated to Arabic and Indian cuisine. Johnny and I went out "for a curry," and for 10 quid apiece we had an exotic, delicious meal among people who were drastically different from us. Also, we went to the cinema and saw Wolf of Wall Street. It JUST came out here--much later than in America. It was an excellent film, but I wouldn't recommend seeing it with your parents. Even seeing it with my brother was a bit odd. 

Well, this post turned out to be a tad bit long...I'll try and post more often! For those of you who read this, I really appreciate you guys. Hopefully my exploits are exciting enough--though I'm leaving quite a bit out. ;)

Cheers, everyone! 

Keep Calm, Wayne is in London - Wayne Taylor

  The buildings scream the history of the city, the food showcases the distinct palate of nobility and comfort, the people have a silent respect for themselves and others, and I am trying to discover it all. 

  London has been amazing! I can not believe that only a month ago I was nervous and anxious to arrive in this spectacular city. I recently took a tour around the city with the rest of the class, and I truly recognize the legacy that London holds. From St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tower Bridge,  I am awestruck to think of the influence that London has had upon the world. I will discover more places, but Statistics 207 beckons my attention throughout the week. 

I finally recognize that I am not only visiting London, I am studying in London. I have Stats 207 from 9 am-11am, lunch break, 1pm-3pm every Monday through Thursday. Even though the hours may seem long, the class takes real world situations and applies statistics as a way to discover solution and or trends. This makes the class interesting, but, most importantly, it makes class go by really fast. Outside of class, I am planning my spring break. Rome, Venice, and Barcelona flights are booked, and I am eager to go and to eat all of the delicacies. 

Overall, I am proud of myself  for trusting in my talents, keeping faith, and working hard throughout the prior years. The multiple hours of studying and being involved on campus are paying off before my eyes. This experience is not just a trip; it is a gift in which new opportunities are given. 

Cheers

( p.s. I miss public water fountains and free water at restaurants)

                

Daniel Cook: London Festivities

Well, traveling to London was par for the course. My luggage was delivered to my residence three days after I arrived (aka they lost it). Of course I also got the full traveling experience with delayed flights and missed planes. I successfully retained consciousness for well over thirty hours while not falling into the tempting snares of psychosis. I will call the adventure an overwhelming victory.
So far London has been a fairly easy place to live. Necessities are close by, and our location in the center of London allows us to access many aspects of the city within a few minutes walk. Our first night included a hearty dinner of fish and chips that served as an introduction into British culture. Last night I attended the War Horse play at the New London Theatre. Since any kind of theatre performances are not usually my cup of tea, I was skeptical at the thought of attending a play that would also include musical tastes; however, the play was excellent and I enjoyed the engrossing plot that prevented me from blinking a single time the whole night.

Side Note: This weather is the bomb-diggity! It's so sunny and warm - I don't even have to don a jacket!