File #8: Jet Lag

Hi-ho readers,

I am actually in London and it has not really hit me yet. I flew out of JFK on a group flight with a lot of other students in my program on Saturday night, and after a two hour delay during which we sat on the tarmac, we took off. You never want to hear the pilot say “I’ve never seen this problem before” when talking about a mechanical issue. I think the girl sitting next to me almost lost her lunch. I had my first legal drink on the plane (terrible white wine) and watched The Skeleton Twins. My dad was kind enough to have a car ready to pick me up at Heathrow (which is very nice and also HUGE) so I arrived at my building, Sorbonne House, in South Kensington at 10AM yesterday. This is my room. We look over the courtyard of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, and today I could hear the kids having recess — I constantly feel like I’m in a Jean-Luc Godard movie.

Room with roommate Sara pictured (she goes to University of San Francisco and studies architecture and is lovely and very funny),

*this is our own bathroom (with tiny shower that will require acrobatics to shave my legs),*

*and this is the kitchen that we share with ten other people. The building has a couple of kitchens, which is nice. I made lunch for myself today which is huge because I never cook.*

Yesterday was very tiring, clearly. We went on a walking tour of the neighborhood with our RA, Ariel. I’m excited to get to know South Ken and have my local places. There’s a little bookstore that I wanted to stop in but we had to keep moving. I live across the street from the Natural History Museum (pictured below) and a stone’s throw away from the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall, and Hyde Park. It is, as my dad said, “posh.” I went to Sainsbury’s with a bunch of people to get a bath towel and groceries among other things and my hands were shaking for HOURS after carrying my two giant bags home after a fifteen-minute walk. I need to work out. I immediately passed out at 6 PM and slept on and off until this morning. God bless. It’s a wonder I did because my bed is so uncomfortable.

We had orientation today at the Royal Geographical Society and after I had a quick meeting about my internship interview on Friday at BU London Headquarters. Then we went to a proper pub (The Hereford Arms) where I had fish and chips and a pint. I felt it was only proper. Complete with mushy peas!

We have more orientation for the next two days and then I start class on Thursday. I can’t wait to tell you all about it! No Things I Read and Liked This Week because I have simply been too busy and I think I am interesting enough. Shout out to Alex and Kate because we hung out in New Haven last Tuesday and it was a jolly good time.

That’s all from me this week!
Emily

P.S. word of the week: Saiiiiinsburrrrry’s