Life in Brighton, and London!!

Hello, Everyone!
Well, this has definitely been a crazy few days. I am in a constant state of exhaustion, simply because I'm always on the go here! Yesterday was the first day since I got here that I wasn't running around doing things all day long. We've been shopping a lot, trying to get ourselves settled in, and going out at night. On Tuesday night, a group of us went out to a bar and then to a club. We had a really great time, especially at the club, which was playing mostly American dance music that we all knew! The night life here is so amazing! There is always something to fit your mood, whether it's a crazy club, a loud bar, or a quiet pub. I'm definitely enjoying it! I tried my first cider the other night. SO DELICIOUS! I'll definitely be picking that over beer :)

Today, our advisers Mary and Zoe took a group of us to London. We had an absolutely fantastic time! We left campus at 8:50 this morning (ugh.) and got back around 6:30 or so tonight. We saw Westminster Abbey (SO BEAUTIFUL! Nothing like that exists in the States), Buckingham Palace (We were lucky enough to see the changing of the guard! I've posted a video below.), The house of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, The River Thames, the National Art Gallery, Piccadilly Square, and we shopped around Fortnum & Mason Grocery store (The grocery store that the Queen gets her food from. Officially THE MOST EXPENSIVE food I've ever seen.). I was definitely happy to get a lot of the touristy London stuff out of the way, so that next time I go, I can explore a bit more. We learned to ride the Train and the Tube today which was very helpful, so we can now get wherever we want to go in the city! I was very proud of myself for successfully navigating the public transport there.

On Saturday, a group of us are planning to go back to London and explore a bit more and go see Les Miserables, which I have been DYING to see for AGES!!! Then, classes start on Monday... Oh dear... after 7 or 8 weeks without classes, it's back to the grind... until April, when I have the ENTIRE month off!!

I am absolutely loving it here! Everyone (the British people and my fellow travelers) is SO nice, I love the atmosphere around here, and the way everyone lives there lives. I feel very at home here, which is an incredible feeling to have after just a week. I can't believe how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to not just visit here, but to really LIVE here, and experience life as a local. I am so blessed.

Things I'm Loving: Primark (a Kohl's-like store with amazingly low prices), Digestives (Cookies they sell here that are phenomenal), Finally being settled in, making friends, finally having my room at a comfortable temperature, getting to skype my family more often then I thought I could, starting to think in an accent, LONDON (all of it)!!!!!!!!

Things I'm Not Loving So Much: Having to put my foot on the toilet seat to shave my legs, the constant cold, rain that comes at you sideways, bus sickness.

Things I'm Learning: That I look Spanish (according to the guy in the store today who asked me if I was from Spain...), how to navigate London's public transport, new British words!

British to American Dictionary:

A Dirty Stop-Out: Someone who stays out until all hours of the night.
Cheers: Thank you, goodbye, see ya later. A friendly goodbye or passing comment to someone.
Till: Cash Register
Biscuit: Cookie
Chips: French Fries
Crisps: Potato Chips

Things will be pretty crazy around here over the next few days, what with my impending London expedition and classes starting up soon, but I'll try to post again as soon as I can!

Cheers,
Jenn

 My group in front of Buckingham Palace

 When you go to London, EVERYONE has to get a phone booth picture!

 Me in front of Big Ben!

 Westminster Abbey! It was so beautiful!

 Big Ben, the London Eye, and a Double Decker Bus! How much more London can you get in one picture?

The changing of the guard. Every other day, they close down the street for a few minutes and this happens. It's crazy!!! Press the play button to watch the video!