Hi Everyone!!!!

London is everything I was told it was and more.  I love this city.  Each day is different and everywhere I look there is something new to discover.  I am amazed at the amount of places to go and things to see and hope I will be able to get everywhere.

The plane ride was long because of the snowstorm in Chicago.  We were waiting for about 4 hours on the runway and finally took off at about 3:30 in the morning.  Nonetheless, I was not tired when I finally reached Heathrow airport at 4 PM London time.  The 13 of us from Canisius, as well as the professor who is accompanying us for the week, were met by someone from the Metropolitan University of London. A bus took us all to our apartments. The ride into the city was bittersweet.  Looking at the city streets, cars driving on the opposite side of the street, really tiny cars, red phone booths, and hearing the British accent were signs that I was really starting this great adventure.  Of course, at the same time they also reminded me of what I was leaving behind back at home.

Our apartment is right in the central part of London and therefore it’s easy to get almost anywhere.  We are a couple Tube (subway) stops away from Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, Big Ben, The Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Oxford Street where you can check out the latest fashion in Europe.  Surprisingly, it hasn’t been hard for any of us to adapt.  We all get along really well and look out for one another when it comes to getting to the nearest Tube station or trying not to get run over; every time I go to cross the street I look the wrong way. 

This first week we did a quick tour of the major attractions and our Canisius Seminar which has to do with the British Judicial System. We went to Buckingham Palace and all the other major attractions near Green Park, and we also spent a lot of time in Leicester Square where there are a lot of shops, cafes, and Pubs. We went on the Jack the Ripper Tour Tuesday night, walking by all the buildings where the murders occurred.  It was very creepy but I learned a lot.  We are starting to plan trips and want to go to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll keep you updated but for now, to the tube to go home and change for the theatre (Mouse Trap). 

Cheerio for now,
Kelly