tube troubles

Yesterday afternoon two of my roommates and I took the tube to a different part of town to go on a tour. We went through stations we'd never been through before, and the whole train was very packed. The three of us were getting off onto the platform, when suddenly the doors closed: the two of them out of the train and me still on it. I stood there so confused knocking on the doors. They fell down laughing. How hopeless.

i get college credit for this?

This semester I am taking five classes, one of which is a 500 level interpretation of British film course.  Since I don't know anything about film, I thought it would be interesting and that we would talk about different ways of making films or marketing them, and perhaps watch a few clips. 

Turns out we watch a lot of clips. Say, an entire movie each class. The class is three hours long, so by the time the film is done playing, we have a short while to discuss a few aspects of it and then class is over. How easy is that? And it gets better. As part of our class, we take field trips to various cinemas throughout central London to see recent British films, on the school's tab. My professor even told us to keep the receipts for any popcorn or concessions we bought, and she will try and get us reimbursed. 

Yesterday we went to Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square to see Dorian Gray. The film itself was not enjoyable for me because it was pretty dark, a little graphic, and too scary for my liking. I guess I just prefer rom-com's. The cinema was amazing though. I think just it's sheer size was what made it so great- the building itself was enormous with huge glass windows, and the movie's screen was probably four times the size of a typical U.S. theatre screen. I wish I knew how many people the theatre we were in sits, because it was so big it looked like an opera house. With mounted sculptures on the wall and a huge stage in front of the film's screen, this place could easily be used for plays. Our next cinema excursion is in a couple weeks, but this theatre and this class are both things I highly recommend.

happy birthday mum

Today is mom's (mum's) 50th birthday! Not being able to celebrate with her is a bit sad. I think that's the hardest part about being in London- not being able to see your family and friends whenever you want. But so far, the distance has been bearable because I think of everyone back at home so often. Every day I see something that makes me think of home, or something I know mom would love to see. This keeps her, and the rest of the fam, in my thoughts and makes the distance seem a little less far. So have fun celebrating mom, and know I think of you all the time. XX

a note on this blog

Aside from the brief "About this Blog" section, I haven't really explained my purpose with this blog, so here goes:

I am blessed to have a large, close-knit family, but studying abroad makes it difficult to keep in touch with everyone. I started this blog to let my family and friends know what I'm up to here in London. In doing this, I hope it can be of interest or use to people curious about London or other students planning to study abroad. Also, as a journalism student, blogging makes sure I continue to write while I am here. Going along with this is my involvement with the school paper. Because most of my readers don't go to Syracuse, I want to explain a little what I mean when I post something and say it was for The Daily Orange.

The DO is Syracuse's student-run newspaper, and I think it's safe to say that nearly everyone on campus picks it up. Each week I am writing a 500 word travel column for the opinion section. These articles will be printed in the paper edition and posted on the DO's website, but I will also post them here. They'll be different from my other posts because they are longer and geared toward a student audience, so they talk more about college life. 

my first bar review

This is an article written for The Daily Orange's Thursday, September 17th edition. It is therefore directed at a student audience, so Mom and Dad- don't judge.

If you're going abroad to London, don't schedule class early Wednesday morning unless you like taking tests with a hangover. Tuesday nights at Sports Café are a religion. This two-story bar/club in Piccadilly Circus (similar to NYC's Times Square) is an American staple. Students studying abroad with all different universities, from SU to UNH to Notre Dame, gather here. In class on Tuesday, no one asks where you're going out for the night because after one week in London, everyone already knows.

Sports Café has four bars, a dance stage with disco lights, and more than half a dozen pool tables. Picture Maggie’s, but bigger, nicer, cheaper, and with fewer sorority girls wearing leggings. It’s open until 3 a.m., unlike many pubs in London, which can close as early as midnight. Getting there is easy because it’s less than a five-minute walk from the tube station. Admission is free, drinks are cheap, the music is our own, and the place is busting at the seams with people just like you.

At Sports Cafe, you're more likely to hear a southern accent than a British one. You can wear whatever you want without worrying you look like a sloppy American. With the blaring Top 40 hits, dim lighting, and crowded dance floor, it's like being back at your favorite fraternity party... except not in a dirty basement. There are even beer pong tables conveniently set up a few steps from the bar. After spending every second in a foreign country, it’s refreshing to be at a place that feels so much like home. Other locations include Birmingham, Glasgow, and Leeds, but it hasn’t made it out of the UK yet, so don’t expect to find one in another part of Europe. 

Sports Café is a haven for the poor, penniless student. Some clubs charge $5 for a single shot, but here you can get five shots for $6.50. There’s no cover charge with a student ID, a pint is only $1.50, and a pitcher (a little over four large glasses) is $6. With a cheap bottle of wine to pre-game with (most run around $3-$4), you can have a blackout evening for less than 10 bucks.

 The first Tuesday we were here, I didn’t go to Sports Café because I felt too tired. I sincerely hope I’m not that much of a wimp again. I woke up this morning with my contacts still in and, after taking a lap around the apartment, three questions: how did we get home, why is someone sleeping on the couch, and did I make ravioli? I rushed off to class, too late to fill in the blanks of last night. Taking notes at 9 a.m. in my three-hour lecture on Islam, only one question ran nonstop through my mind. Is it Tuesday yet?

a good morning

Thursday morning I woke up naturally to bright, morning sunshine streaming across my white, fluffy comforter and the pale wooden floors. There have been many days in my life, and I'm sure they'll be many more, when I wake up and know exactly what I'll be doing that day.  The monotonous rhythm of a planned schedule can make your whole day seem like a chore. Knowing you'll be walking to the same places, going to the same classes, talking with the same people, and sitting in the same places, makes  all those things uninteresting.

But waking up in London, especially on a sunny day without the buzz of an alarm, feels like waking up to possibilities. On Thursday I woke up knowing I'd go to class for a few hours, but having no clue what else I would do, where else I would go, who I might meet. Maybe that's something that comes with moving to any city, but it's enjoyable all the same.

down time guilt

Wednesday evening was the first time that all five roommates were home together with no intentions of going out. It was a decently long day for all of us with classes and working out, so retiring to the Dream Flat was homey and welcoming. Peter and Jess got groceries and Colleen baked a cake. We all just watched TV and hung out. Later, we made a fort by flipping over the leather couches and pushing the seats together. A blogworthy night? Maybe not. 

A big pang of guilt comes along with not raging every night, with not touring and discovering every second. But being a student in London still means being a student: going to class, working out, doing homework, making dinner. I'm having trouble coming to terms with that because I didn't realize before that on occasion, I'm going to sit home, watch TV, and go to bed early.  Four months is just too long not to have some relaxation.