The Big Move ...

Well I have finally done it - I have managed to get all of my stuff over the Atlantic and moved into College Grove. Wouldn't you know it, we have 2 little ponies and 2 cows living just at the other end of the court yard - in North London! (not to mention a rather pushy local cat who found his way through my barely open window and into my bed the other night!)

They sure do not make it easy; and after a week or so of hoofing around greater London getting a bank account set up, and a mobile phone etc, I am just beat. I know I should not be complaining, but I really would love to have known how to go about getting the bank account et al before arriving on campus ... oh well.

The rooms are actually quite a bit bigger than they looked on the Freshers podcast (thank god!) and I have settled in nicely. I now have the same envy that all those international students had for me at MHC - oh, to just have to fill up the old honda and fly off to campus!

I keep expecting to feel homesick - but it just has never hit. aside from lingering jet lag, I feel nothing but satisfied. I love it here. The food is better (here here for the land of bland!), the weather is perfect for sweaters and walking, the coffee stronger, the tea FAR supirior - even the diet coke tastes better (it must be that 1.5 calories it has!). They put peanut butter in KitKat bars, awesome public transport - They even have my favorite brand of shampoo that they no longer make in the states ...... why did we ever break up with these people?

I have discovered so much in the last week - the Brits have this amazing place called Argos - a brilliant catalog store where you hand a little slip of paper to the associate with the call numbers of the items you want on it, then they bring it all to you. ah! I have also completely embraced the national drink - Pimms - a perfect combination of liquor,fruit, and mint. I have been taking many long walks and found just the prefect place on Primrose Hill for an afternoon picnic on sunny days, and a wonerful little pub that serves full breakfast and milshakes until 4pm.

I can not get over how many amazing people I have met - a testimte to the good ole' RVC. I seem to have earned myself the nickname of "Super Badass" in the last couple days, but I hardly feel that name is fitting - there are so many brilliant people here with so much experience and wisdom. I was also rather relieved to discover that I am not the "old lady" of the bunch - there are actually quite a few 'proper adults' - as old as 40- so I feel right at home. Everyone has been so warm and friendly, and I just adore the gilrs in my flat.

The Freshers week activities have been entertianing so far, but as a spectator. The long nights of downing a couple dozen pints of beer/liquor shots in an overpacked, sweaty club blaring techno just don't appeal (although it has been interesting to watch all the 17/18 year olds finding their feet in Lodon nightlife). I m quite excited for the activities later this week - there is the tour of London Zoo, the black tie ball, and the comedy club night - boy do they spoil us here.

In the days to come, I hope to check out one of the more famous (or perhpas infamous?) rock clubs - they have loads of great inde bands, and I just can't wait to see what Americans will get in dribs and drabs next spring!

Gross College Moment of the Week:

While ruefully watching my younger compatriots in the Ice Warf club, a vet nurse staggered up to our table and gestured at an empty glass. We said we were through with it if she wanted it, so she grabbed it just in time to lean over our table and throw up into the glass!!! We all just sat there slack-jawed - seriously girl, you have not even been at college 24 hours!