In One Weeks Time...

Greetings from London! It has been one entire week and I have done so many things. We arrived in London one week ago and made our way to our apartments. The program director for the Hansard Scholars Programme thought we would be arriving later so we were stuck on the street for about an hour. This gave us the opportunity to talk to a few locals and cab drivers. The program has put us up in one of the richest neighborhoods in London; South Kensington. It is mind boggling. It is so rich that there is actually a law in South Kensington/Chelsea that says you cannot be loud after 11 pm. There are 9 of us in our flat. I have two direct roommates who are from Cornell and Marist College. They are great guys. The others are from states such as Washington, South Dakota, and Alabama. We are also paired with 9 graduate students from countries such as Kosovo, Tanzania, Georgia, Argentina, and Czech Republic. This definitely allows for some interesting conversations about politics and culture.

London has so much to offer in terms of sights, foods, and drinks. The culture revolves heavily upon drinking. For instance, we are studying at the world famous London School of Economics. On campus there are 3 bars, and a nightclub. After class it is not unusual for students to go have a pint and chat about issues. There is a central artery through campus that hosts student tables for issues such as Green Peace, Oxfam, and a myriad of other student advocacy groups. In addition, soccer is extremely popular. Today we went to a local pub and watched Manchester United battle their rival team Liverpool. People get really intoxicated and scream at the television. I really enjoyed this atmosphere. It is mindboggling to think that soccer players here are some of the most popular people in the press and get paid millions of pounds every year.

It was hard getting used to the system of currency they use here. They have 1 pound coins, 2 pound coins, and all the rest of the currency we have. They also have 2p coins which I often confuse with 2 pound coins. It is easier to spend money here because we Americans don't value coins.

We met a local named Marty who bought us drinks at a local pub and talked football with us. The tube is a great subway system compared the to the T in Boston. There are electronic signs that tell you when the next train is coming, there is an all night bus system that values tube passes, and the trains are always quiet. That was probably one of the only culture shock elements I experienced. In Britain, the proper role for a person riding the train is to mind their own business and remain silent. The other culture shock element I have experienced is the FOOD. It is bad. I tried the meat pie... believe me... they were right when they said "don't try the meat pie." Bacon is fatty ham, hot dogs are greasy sausage, and they eat such small portions. I think I've discovered why Americans are so overweight. Even portions at fast food chains such as Burger Kind are smaller. Well that is enough for my first entry. I am getting along well with my roommates and having a fabulous time. Tomorrow we are getting our internship placements. Singing off.