Sunday, January 19, 2014

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~

No comments:

Post a Comment