Dear IES/London Family

This is a tribute to my wonderful IES family. That's what you guys are to me. You are truly my family, and this is for you.

When I decided to come to London, I knew I would love it. I didn't, however, know that I would meet people like you. (Here come the tears.... :/) I didn't know spending one semester with you would change me forever. Every single one of you has changed me for the better. I will carry that with me always. (Anyone else hearing "For Good" from Wicked beginning to play in your head?)

From crazy nights out at O'Neils to classes, there have been instances that have touched my heart. Everyday I thank God for people like you. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know each and every one of you. Not only did I get the chance to live in London for 4 months, I was lucky enough to do that with you guys. Every single person on this planet should forever be jealous of me for that. I literally have the best life, and it is in large part to you IES family.

Virginia- you have been the best roommate I could have ever asked for. Our late night talks about anything and everything always made my night. I can't wait to visit you all the time, and for you to come to the states! Also, send my love to Alfonzo!

Alex-you are SO fun. I have loved every minute we have spent together! Dancing in the snow, being goofy, etc. I wouldn't trade those moments for the world. I plan on visiting you too, and we MUST stay in touch!

Miles-you are probably one of the craziest people I have ever gotten the chance to meet, but you are so funny! I loved all your stories, and having you in class.

Roy-I'm sad we didn't get to hang out at Ke$ha! haha! But we have had a lot of fun this semester. You are a crazy kid, but I love you! You better stay in touch! I see a trip to Texas in your future for sure ;) I'm going to miss you!

Matt Anderson-we didn't really talk much... haha but you were a lot of fun and seemed to really enjoy your whole semester. I wish you the best of luck in the future, and that you have just as much fun next semester as you did this one!

Dan-you are probably the nicest person ever. You were always fun to talk to, and I enjoyed our class together! You are really musically talented and I hope you get to pursue that one day. Good luck with journalism and everything you do!

Garrett-you are SO lucky you got out of British Politics! haha! You kept Ann on her toes in architecture, and were always really funny. I hope you had a great semester here, and that you do here next semester!

Matt Slayter-I'm SO glad we were neighbors and that I got to know you! I loved all our nights out and just crazy talks. We also own at beer pong as a team. With you being at TCU we really need to keep in touch and you will have to come visit me at TU! I'm really going to miss you!

(Douche Bag) Steve Klink-you may be a douche bag, but I love you for it. We had so much fun this semester. Nights out just won't be the same without you. Also, while I hate to admit it... you are the KING of beer pong. Cherish that compliment forever, I will never compliment you again ;) haha! You must come visit Texas. (Lots of girls! haha) KEEP IN TOUCH!

Alyssa-I love you! I loved all of our conversations, especially the one that lasted until 4am that one random night! You must keep in touch. We have had so much fun this semester! I love your dancing, your hot chocolate, you cooking skills...everything! haha! I will for sure come visit you, but you have to come visit me too! I'm going to really miss you!

Kristy-I really hope you had a great semester here in London! Watching you light up with the reindeer in Scotland like made my life! I really wish you the best of luck in the future!

Kelly-you are a great person! You light up a room with your laugh. You were so fun this semester. I hope you had as great of a time as I did! Good luck with everything! :)

Nicole-you are fabulous. I love your obsession with Taylor Swift. It may only be rivaled by Drew ;) haha! You were so fun! I wish we would have gotten to hang out more! Good luck with everything all that you do! I hope you had as much fun this semester as I did :)

Emily Clarkson-you are so nice. We never really got to talk much, but you seemed to have so much fun this semester. I hope you enjoyed your internship for the most part! Have a great next semester!

Ben-you know SO much about theatre. You are really going to go far, and I'm sure I'm going to be watchin tv and see you and say "Hey! I studied abroad with him!" I hope you had an amazing semester!

Alli-you have really been around all of Europe! I hope I will be as well travelled as you one day! Even though you studied abroad a lot, I hope you loved London! Good luck with graduation next semester!

Stacy-YO! haha! 1) I absolutely ADORE London Calling. You are so good at video editing, and you will go so far in it! 2) I really hope we stay in touch. We have had so much fun this semester. You are so great in every way, and I count myself really lucky to have met you! I'm going to miss you!

Kori-girl, I LOVE YOU. I cannot wait for you to come visit me. I loved all our talks, and every other thing we did together. You have really become a great friend. You are one of the nicest and fun people I have ever met. I'm going to miss you so much. Keep in touch. Oh and be in my life FOREVER! :D

Michael-you are also a great person. I loved chatting with you in class and on trips. I wish we could have done that more. You have such an interesting take on everything, and I loved getting to know you. I hope you have a great semester back in the states! You are awesome!

Izzy-you are someone I wish I could have spent more time with. You have a contagious happiness, and I love being around you. You are so fun and spunky! haha! I hope we can keep in touch when we leave London. You are such a great person, and will go so far! I will really miss you!

Drew-I better be invited to you and Miss Swifts wedding. That is a demand. Not a request. You are also one of the most genuinely nice people I have ever met. It has been great getting to know you. I'll miss you, and I hope we can keep in touch! Have a great spring semester :)

Steve-I really don't know what I'm going to do when I can't talk politics with you. Oh yes I do, I will simply text you and make you discuss it with me. Get prepared. You are a great human being. I am so blessed to have gotten the chance to be friends with you. I love you, in spite of your love for Claire. You have no choice but to stay in touch with me. It would be "God awful" if you didn't. I would come to Indiana just to monkey paw you in the face. Sooooo be in my life! kthanks. Love you and I'm really going to miss you!

Jamie-why didn't we become friends sooner? No excuses. We WILL hang out at Trinity. Oh and at home since we live so close! You are amazing through and through. You have a passion that I find enthralling. I love you. No doubt.

Charlotte-so glad I met you. You are fabulous in every meaning of the word. You must keep in touch. I need more of you in my life especially when we return to the US! We had a lot of fun this semester. London wouldn't have been half as amazing without you! I'm going to REALLY miss you! Love you!

Laura-I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! You are crazy, and one of the most fun people I have ever met. Do NOT be a stranger once we get back to the states! You have to keep talking to me! Oh and you have to visit me too! :D Stay awesome. You are a one of a kind, and I'm going to miss you so much it will hurt!

Brandy-I loved our classes together! You are so fun, and I hope you had a great semester here! I wish we could have hung out more. You are a great person, and will go far :) Have an amazing time back in the states!

Sara-this semester has been a blast! You are so nice! I wish we could have talked more as well. I hope you had a great time in London, and that you have an amazing time back in the US! It has been so fun!

Jennifer-I loved hearing your stories about internship. It's great that you connected with those people that you worked with! You are really going to go far! I hope you had a great semester here even though you tragically got sick! It has been so fun!

Velma-I hope the home stay was awesome! That was such a unique experience I'm sure! This semester has been crazy! I hope you had a great time! Congrats on finishing your major! Good luck with everything!

Taylor-you are truly brilliant. You will go so far with whatever you choose to do. I hope you had a great semester! It's been fun. Good luck with everything you do!

Megan-your smile is contagious for sure. You always seem to have so much fun. It's too bad we didn't get to talk much, but I hope your time here was amazing! Have a great next semester!!!

Jacque-it makes my life you live so close to me. Plaza date is going into my calendar. It will be epic. Food, shopping, lights! <3 You make my life. So much fun. So charismatic. So YOU and that is what I love. I'm really going to miss you, but not really because you must be in my life! I love you!

Jenny-you are crazy fun. You are just you, and you always have a good time. I hope you have as great of a semester as you did here in the spring! Good luck with everything! If you are ever in TX hit me up!

Josh-I don't even know what to say. (God...I'm so lame for sitting here and crying in my dorm just trying to think of the words!) You may be my favorite human being ever. I love you. You are such an amazing individual. So strong in yourself and your convictions. I'm going to miss you more than the desert misses the rain. I need you in my life always. You have made one of the biggest impacts anyone has ever made on me. I am a better person, because I met you. Thank you for giving me the chance to be your friend. I hope I have made your time here in London half as amazing as you have made mine. Text me everyday, visit me often, and always stay you <3

Anne-I'm you're biggest fan! I was so glad I drew you for secret sisters! I hope you liked your photo book as much as I liked making it! You MUST stay in touch! We have had so much fun this semester. I'm going to miss you singing The Beatles every time I walk to a club! haha! I love you, and I'm really going to miss you. PLEASE stay in touch always!

Alec-I'm glad you finally got to see Cockfosters! haha! And that it was magical! We had a ton of fun this semester! London wouldn't have been the same without you! I hope you had at least half as much of a good time as I did! Good luck next semester and with everything else!

Micah-WE'RE DONE WITH ERICH FOREVER! hahaha! It's been a great semester. It wouldn't have been the same without you! Buying Christmas Crackers was probably the best decision you ever made. No joke haha! Keep in touch. Have a great semester back at Rochester!

Becky-Oh Becks.... I love you SO much. You have become one of my best friends. Thanks for putting up with my craziness. I'm really looking forward to my monthly music enlightenment CDs! I really don't know what I'm going to do without you in my life on a daily basis. I see lots of visiting each other in our futures! (Ugh tearing up AGAIN! Fail...) If you visit me...I'll make you mac n cheese and oreo balls! I promise! I'm going to miss you so much. SO MUCH. I can't even describe it enough to give the amount justice. I love you!

Jenna-"It's just an expression!" How I love your quotes. Drunk and sober. You make my life everyday. Our kitchen adventures, stuffing out faces, UK Media, everything. I am so lucky to have you in my life. You are more amazing than you will ever know. (I've just accepted I'm going to cry consistently until I'm done writing this blog entry...). I'm going to be in Illinois SO much this summer. No joke. I will also text you everyday. I'm so glad we were neighbors. We've had such a phenomenal time in London. I'm really going to miss you :'(

Melinda-Mindi.... (I really hate crying SO much, but I can't help it now..) You have become like my other half. I literally don't think I will function without you. Skype dates EVERY day. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. (So many tears....) I can't explain how much you mean to me. I know we will be friends forever. Who thought one semester could bind people together so tightly? I'm the luckiest person in the world to have a friend like you. I'm glad I could be your cultural experience too! haha! I can't wait for all the fun stuff we will inevitably do in the future! I'm going to miss you more than I think I can handle. I love you. SO MUCH. Fact.

Emily-(Now i'm bawling...This is going to give me a crying headache...Damn). Ok, I may have composed myself enough to write this. Friends forever. That is the only way I can give us justice. From day one, we clicked. You are so gorgeous inside and out. I have the most fun I've ever had when I'm with you. What am I going to do with out you? Thank you for a semester full of laughs, drinks, dancing, and an amazing friendship. I love you. For everything that you are. I wouldn't change a thing. We will have so much fun in the states. That is a fact. I'm going to miss you everyday, and you can be assured that I will then text you every time I miss you.

Welp, there it is. I love you guys. Thank you so much for the perfect semester. I never want it to end, but we'll always have London. We'll always have each other. I hope I have given you all at least a tiny idea of how much I have enjoyed and appreciated everything. Stay amazing. Keep in touch.

XOXOXO

You wanted a famous Rachel Rant? Well you got one.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822

THIS is what a mob of London student rioters did to the place I work several times a week when I am not at Parliament. THIS is where HUNDREDS of GOOD people work ALL week. My boss, who is an amazing man, was BARRICADED in 30 Millbank for HOURS watching helplessly with everyone else as these violent CRIMINALS destroyed their place of work. Several people were injured thankfully none seriously.

AND FOR WHAT?! They sit in their classrooms and their dorms, and eat off their meal plan that is largely provided BY WHO?! They want to riot, injure, and destroy because they don't want to pay 9000 pounds for amazing educations?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

I'm sorry, but WHERE THE HELL DO THEY GET OFF?! "Well it's the governments JOB to pay for my education." "But the government has ALWAYS paid all but 3000 pounds for my education!"

Wanna know what else the government USED to do? A lot of fucking stuff that everyone is GLAD they don't do anymore.

THE WORLD IS IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS! I'm sorry, but when the luxuries people have always enjoyed drive the economy into a god forsaken hole, WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?! No one wants to make students have debt. NO ONE. And ESPECIALLY not the Conservative Party.

Want some advice student bitchers? DEAL. You can't afford an education now? Do better in school and get a scholarship. Can't get a scholarship? GET A JOB AND SAVE YOUR MONEY. Earn your way. You are NOT entitled to an amazing education just because you think you ought to be. Sorry guys, BUT YOU AREN'T THAT SPECIAL.

The government can only do SO much. The government DOES what it can the BEST it can. What other options are being suggested? WHAT?!

I worked my ASS off at two jobs this summer. I HATED one of them. HATED it. But I did what I could to help pay my way to the education I wanted. Do MY parents make an obscene amount of money? HELL NO. Do you think me and my family could afford a $44,000 a year education without working for it? NO. I bust my ASS every summer. I work EVERY semester while taking 18 hours of HARD classes, and do I complain? NO. I know that I have the satisfaction in knowing I have EARNED every single piece I get. EVERY SINGLE PIECE.

IT IS INSANE to suggest a government in such poor condition could afford to pay every student's way through college. IT CAN'T HAPPEN. This crisis shouldn't be a huge surprise. Obviously if more money goes out than comes in, cuts MUST be made. It's simple economics that even I understand.

And the argument that it's not the students' fault the government is in a hole? IT DOESN'T MATTER! EVERY single person in the WORLD is dealing with the SAME thing. EVERYONE. What makes English students so much more special that they can have their cake and eat it too while no one else can? Answer? THEY AREN'T!

 Learn to EARN. The students' cause is LOST by STUPIDITY. They think the Coalition is going to be sympathetic to the cause now? FUCK NO. YOU ALL BELONG IN PRISON NOT IN A SCHOOL! YOU'RE LUCKY THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING IT USED TO DO OTHERWISE YOU WOULD ALL HAVE BEEN SHOT!!!! Dead. On the street. With your cause.

That is all.....for now.

My 3 year old Tantrum

So... I will be frank. I am used to getting my way. Always. In the end, Rachel gets her way. That's just the way it is. This is not because I'm overly spoiled, but because I am strong willed and literally the most hard headed person you may ever meet. When my heart gets set on something, I get it. Always. BUT, when things are completely out of my hands I'm screwed. I HATE it when I cannot control the outcome of something that affects me especially when it's something that I desire.

If you say it's difficult, I say fine but it's not impossible. You say it can't be done, I say watch me. You may call this a 3 year old tantrum, but damn it I want what I want. If I want to study abroad in Paris next semester, then I will do what it takes for it to happen. I don't CARE if it is difficult. I don't care if there are a lot of obstacles. THAT is what I want to do, and so THAT is what will happen. Study abroad counselor: It's just really difficult. There's a lot I would need to do and it's just too late. Me: I DON'T CARE. LET'S DO THIS THING!

I need people to work with me. I realize it is difficult. I realize there are obstacles, but I am willing to get my hands dirty so PLEASE do the same. kthanksbye.

Oh how I wish I was productive...

Today, the most productive thing I did was shower. And that happened 10mins ago. I was literally in my pajamas all day lol you would have thought that I would have been productive since it's the first saturday in a long time I have had free...but that didn't happen. Fail. Midterms are next week, and my mind just won't have any of it. So the last past week...well school was good. My exams shouldn't be too bad which is a plus. Also my internship is going great for the most part. Working in the press office kind of sucks. I hate twitter now since I just have to stare at it for eight hours but I get to be a part of a different aspect of politics that I've never been involved in. It's always good to be well rounded.

I went for drinks with the British guy. It went really well! He is really nice, talkative, funny, attractive, interesting, etc. We are going to hang out again for sure. It's all rather exciting really. Wasn't expecting anything like this to happen while I was here, but hey why not? It will keep me busy for a week or two perhaps ;) Ha ha! It's just really refreshing to talk to a guy who doesn't act like they are 12 years old!

In other news, I went to Stratford friday. It was an interesting trip. I pretty much learned that no one knows much about Shakespeare's life and they all just make assumptions about it. Odd. The town is kind of like a big tourist trap/theme park. But we got to see the English countryside which was nice. We also had good weather for the trip. So there were redeeming qualities about the whole experience.

Nothing else really to report. C'est la vie!
Cheers :)

The Last Few Weeks

So I guess I kind of fail at doing this often.... I have been so busy! School is starting to pick up. I had to write a paper for the terrible instructor from hell so we will see what grade I get on that. I think he will fail everyone in our class at this rate. Since I last wrote I have been to several places like Dublin, Oxford, Dover, and Belgium for example. Ireland was great. Spent the nights drunk and the days wandering. Oxford was excellent as well. I will most definitely being going there to husband shop later in my life. Dover was relaxing. I went on an overnight there alone and I saw the castle, the white cliffs and the sea. It was nice to just sit on the beach for a few hours and read/write. Then this weekend we went to Belgium. We took a ferry from Dover to Calais, France and then on to Belgium via coach. It was a long trip because workers in France were striking so we were stuck on the damn boat for like 4 hours getting us all sick. Ew. But the rest of the trip was awesome. We saw a lot of WWI battlefields, memorials, etc and ate a ton of chocolate and waffles. It was pretty epic. I had a lot of fun. My internship is also going great. I met David Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger! WIN! I also have been going out to the clubs and having a blast. I may or may not be talking to a London boy now. HAHAHA! It should entertain me for a week or so perhaps. Anyway, that's my life right now. I miss you guys so much and hope life is going splendidly!
Cheers from London!

I'm sick :(

Being sick while abroad SUCKS. I am in London, but am miserable due to illness. It's way worse than being sick while home because there is nothing to do there anyway. But here there is a ton to do, and today was a wasted day. Sad.

But this last week/weekend was far from wasted! Classes went well. I'm actually staying on top of my reading which is a nice change (mostly due to being sick today haha nature's way of telling me to do hw? probably.) Thursday I was sick too so I stayed in bed most of the day, but I went out that night. Me and a big group of my friends went to an Irish pub in Chinatown called O'Neill's. It was excellent. We got there before you had to pay cover so WIN and it was three stories. The top story had a really awesome dance floor. The band they had playing for most of the night was really good as well. It's so funny, because clubs here play american music. I love it! haha! There were a lot of really drunk people there. Kind of annoying, but overall a lot of fun. I also had my first night bus experience that night. It's a totally different crowd haha!

Friday was pretty chill. We went grocery shopping, and that was about it. That night we baked a chocolate cake though. I BAKED! I got to wear my apron and everything. It turned out really good, and I was very proud! haha! We had a lot of fun.

Saturday we went to Portobello Market and Notting Hill. It was really cute. I met a french guy and spoke some french to him. I didn't sound like an idiot either! I was proud of myself! haha! We also went shopping at Top Shop and Primark. That was an ordeal. Public transportation was ridiculously crowded because there were several lines shut down, so the tube and buses were PACKED. AND I had to pay 100 pounds for a monthly transport card. I was not very happy. The buses were also very late. It was really frustrating. Also, when we tried to go to Primark the first time, they were kicking people out so we thought it was closed. But then we walked by it later and it was open. Turns out their generator blew up or something so most of the lights were out and the escalators were broken but they still re-opened! lol! So I got a ring, dress socks, pillows, red bowed leather gloves, and black lacy leather gloves all for about 20 pounds. It was quite productive all and all. And then at Top Shop I got a red bowed matching hat to go with my red gloves. I didn't do anything that night, but when everyone got back in we sat out in the hall and talked until really late. It was FREEZING in my dorm, but we finally figured out how to turn on the heat thank goodness.

Today has been boring. I've been sick so all I have done is reading. But tomorrow is my first day at my internship! I'm really excited! I hope my cold goes away though. Less than a week until I go to Ireland! YAY!
With Love From London,
Rachel

My NEW JOB!

SO, I GOT MY NEW JOB!!! YAY! I will be working for the Conservative Party in Parliament!!! I switch back and forth between the campaign headquarters and Parliament. Also, I get to switch between all the branches. I will work in the press office, with international relations, business relations, and so much more! AND I get to attend their party convention which is like our party conventions! I get a security clearance pass too! How awesome is all this?! I am beyond thrilled! I will get so much hand-on experience it is ridiculous.

In other news, obviously my interview went well! haha! I've also gotten to do some more exploring. I visited the National Gallery and looked at some Van Gough's, DaVinci's, and Monet's. You know, a typical day haha! I also walked around Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Oh and Trafalgar square! Then, last night we went to the Absolute Vodka Ice Bar! It was AWESOME! We got parkas and everything. Plus my drink, called a Sea Cow, GLOWED IN THE DARK!!! How cool is that?! I won a free drink, because I held my hand on the bar made of solid ice the longest. I am pretty much a beast. Or I will do anything for a free drink. One of the two! Haha! Afterwards, we went to TigerTiger again! It was really fun. But very hot and sweaty!

This last weekend was pretty chill other than all that. We went on a market tour sunday morning. It was wonderful. I got a white chocolate and strawberry crepe that was to die for! Probably the best thing I have eaten this whole semester. The markets were really cool too. I bought a bunch of scarves that were just a pound each! Oh and Saturday we went to Camden, and saw the markets there. It was way interesting. Very hipster. That night we went to Chinatown and ate some chinese food. It was pretty good, but I miss the chinese place in town! haha!

Welp that's about it here in London! I miss everyone so much! Much love!
Rach

English Tid Bits

I have been doing so much stuff! This weekend was so busy! We hit up a traditional english pub. It was fun to just sit around and chat while ordering drinks. Sex On the Beach is always so satisfying haha! We also went down to the Thames Festival and watched fireworks over the water. It was amazing.

 Monday was a touristy day. Me and my friend Melinda wandered the pure touristy parts of London. We took pictures at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross Station, took pictures at Piccadilly Circus (their version of Times Square), walked Covent Garden Market, had tea at Charles Dickens Coffee Shop (where the server LOVED americans and said he thought our accents were beautiful haha), and we shopped at Harrod's and Top Shop. We bought amazing cupcakes at Harrod's. Mine was oreo cookies and cream. YUM! We also mastered the public transportation system. It was a great day.

Then that night, we went to a pub for happy hour. I tried their British drink Pimm's which is good. I also had fuzzy navels and green apple smirnoff vodka with lemonade. DELISH! Haha! After that, we headed to Club TigerTiger. We got to cut the entire line because one of our student assistants worked there, and we were VIP so we got to go into the VIP section. It was a ton of fun. It was two stories, and it played American music including Spice Girls haha!

Today was the first day of classes. I only have two on tuesdays, but I go from 10-4. Kind of a long day when you add in the commute. I have to leave by 9am to get to the center. I already got assigned a ton of reading. Apparently british schools have less graded work and more reading. Odd. Anyway, that's what I have been up to! I got to really missing home today. Love you all!

Goodnight from London!

American Stereotype I Fit

So, I have figured out a common American stereotype that I most definitely fit to the T. I drive EVERYWHERE. If it's raining, I drive to upper campus and it's only a ten minute walk. I love my car, and I love convenience. In London however, like most of Europe, no one really drives. Instead everyone walks and uses public transportation. Well, the public transportation system is phenomenal here. It really is, but let me tell you. MY FEET HURT SO BAD! I am not used to walking 20 miles a day. Even if I take the tube, it's a 10-15 minute walk there, and then another 10 minute walk to my campus. WTF?! So long story short, my feet perpetually hurt really bad. Haha! I will apparently get used to it.

Well, that was my one complaint. Now for fun stuff! Last night me and the group went to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and saw The Merry Wives of Windsor. It was really funny. BUT we were on the floor and had to stand for three hours after walking for one. A little uncomfortable. Haha! All of us thought we were going to die. Glad to know I'm not the only lazy American who isn't used to all this walking!

Today we had a bus tour of all London. It was great. I saw EVERYTHING! I forget all the stuff I need to visit and really see while I am here. The London Bridge was pretty anti-climactic, but all the other stuff was great. I even saw the bank they use as Gringots in Harry Potter! I'm putting pictures on facebook of all this stuff so you NEED to go check them out!

Anyway, tonight me and the girls are going out to a good ol' London pub called The Pitcher and the Piano. It should be really great, and I will have more stories soon because of it I'm sure!

Until next time!
Much love from London!

First Few Days in London!

London is SO amazing! I can't even begin to describe how much I love it here. I have done so much already! I have successfully navigated the underground (Tube) and the bus systems to and from the place where I have class and the grocery store. So plus! I have also gotten rained on in true London fashion. Lesson learned: carry an umbrella at ALL times! The weather has ben really nice though for the most part. I picked all my classes today, and so I only have class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Plus a late night french class Monday night and my internship. It's pretty awesome :D

Let's see.... well I bought a bottle of wine just because I could. OH and I bought a drink with dinner called a Screaming Orgasm. It was awful, but whatever! haha! My dorm is on the 10th floor so I have an amazing view of Chelsea. And my IES center is close to King's Cross and Piccadily Circus! Yay! They are great locations. 

Umm... well I got yelled at today for being too American haha! It happens. I've also almost gotten taken out by a bicycle and a car, because you have to look the opposite way before you cross the street than you do in the States. That's something I really need to work on. Uhh... the food has been good. The grocery store is really different though. That's been the biggest culture shock thus far. 

I have a roommate from Madrid, Spain and she is great. I feel really fortunate for getting to live with her. The classes i'm taking are: The History of London, The Architecture of London, Intermediate French, an Internship Seminar, UK Media and Politics, and The Government and Politics of the UK. I'm very happy with that. 

Well, I think that just about covers the last couple days! My flight went well and I'm making friends! It couldn't get any better than this!

Goodnight from London, with love!