Jolly Good

Jolly Good! A classic British phrase, one that I've heard about 10 times today and it's only 1 in the afternoon. But everything in London really is jolly good (at least for me it is)! I've been here for exactly a week now and just started classes. Yes, much to my dismay, I do have to go to school while I'm here. But with classes only meeting once a week and with no class on Thursday or Friday, I think I'll manage..

Before the dreaded start of classes, I got to experience my first weekend here in London, and I think I made the most of it. I found myself at a few different pubs both Thursday and Friday (attending local pubs is quickly becoming routine here) and then finally made my way to some classic London tourist spots on Saturday. With a late start and some guess and check tactics on the tube, a group of girls and I finally made our way to Portobello Street Market in Notting Hill. Capturing my inner Julia Roberts (and on the look out for my Hugh Grant), we weaved through the busy market full of clothes, antiques, shoes, and food. Much to my mom's surprise I'm sure, I didn't buy a single thing; however, anyone who knows me well knows that I'll be at every market in London before April and will come home with a completely new wardrobe. I'm just easing my way into it. Notting Hill was beautiful, but I still didn't feel like I'd had my "oh my god, I'm in London" moment yet. We made our way to our next stop and there it was... my moment. Yes, I'm being dramatic, but we turned the corner and before my eyes was the beautifully lit London Eye, sitting on the river, with Big Ben just in the distance. Yes, I teared up for a second, but that definitely isn't out of character for myself. It really was incredible though, even if you aren't a "happy tears" kind of person. We took a ride on the Eye and got to see the city at night from way up high. It really was breath taking and it finally hit me how lucky I am to be in such an amazing city.

Sunday I spent the day in Oxford. If I had been here completely on my own, I don't know that I would have thought to spend a day in Oxford (I should probably start reading all those guidebooks I bought), but I'm so happy I tagged along that day. Oxford is absolutely stunning, with giant and ornate buildings and castles and amazing views. I felt like I was in Disney World or something, it didn't even seem real. And people get to live here?? We walked around all day marveling at the architecture, recreating Harry Potter scenes in our heads, and pretending to be super smart (at least that's what I did). By the time we got home, I was absolutely spent, but had just enough energy to start planning my first European trips. Paris and skiing in the Swiss Alps are in the works! You've probably had enough of me by now...

Much love from London!
Bridget

Day 4: Fish and Chips (and The Office)

I can't believe I've been here less than four days, it's been a whirlwind. I got off the plane at Heathrow airport in London on Tuesday morning. Struggling with two overweight suitcases and being dazzled by British accents kept my mind off the fact that I was alone in London, until I arrived at my dorm in the London borough of Islington. I got my key and internet cord (yes, no WiFi...) from a nice lady at the front desk and gave myself the grand tour of my single bedroom and bathroom. With no kids in sight (and no American accents to be heard), I took off on my own to explore my neighborhood a little bit. My neighborhood is beautiful, the closest tube stop being the Angel stop, and is just a few minutes outside the center of the city. Although I haven't seen the sun in four days, the area is lovely, home to a  young working crowd and a more realistic portrayal of what London is like. If I could compare it to New York, it's like living in Soho. Cool right? Yet, as I walked around by myself I couldn't help but wonder just how long I'd be walking around alone...hours, days, for the next four months? It was all hitting me that I had no friends in this huge, foreign city.

But low and behold, by Tuesday night I was going out to pubs and clubs with a bunch of American kids from Marquette and Cornell,  led by our fearless leader James, a British kid who is keen on taking Americans out and getting them "pissed" (really drunk). Since Tuesday night I've been doing my best to meet new people and see new places, while still making time to watch a few episodes of The Office on Netflix (holding on to just a few American comforts). I'll be starting class on Monday at City University (before orientation on Wednesday it had slipped my mind that I actually had to go to school); however, I lucked out and have no class Wednesdays or Fridays, so I should have plenty of time to see what London and the rest of Europe have to offer me. That's all for now, gearing up for my first weekend out in London! I'll leave you all with a nice list of some of the new phrases I've learned since Tuesday...

Tosser - idiot
It's monkeys outside - it's very cold (and it is actually..)
Don't get your knickers in a twist - don't get all worked up (how British does that sound??)
Dodgy - sketchy

More to come. Cheerio!
Bridget

My Abroad Blog

I am officially leaving the country in 4 days, headed to London for the next 4 months. Like hundreds of students studying abroad with access to a computer and the ability to type, I decided to start a blog. Yep, another abroad blog. But, while to you it may be just another abroad blog, to me it's my abroad blog.

This past semester I spent a lot of time listening to some of my best friends gush about their own abroad experiences. I made the decision as a sophomore to not go abroad, for really no reason other than I just didn't think I cared one way or the other. I didn't think going abroad just to go abroad was a good enough reason. However, I spent a lot of time on Skype (probably too much time, right MaryBeth?) over the past few months, catching up with my friends in Galway, London, Buenos Aires, and Guayaquil, and realized I did care. I felt like I was missing out on something big. It didn't occur to me until half way through the semester that it wasn't too late for me to have my own abroad experience. I finally got my butt over to Villanova's study abroad office (3 days before all Spring semester due dates) and made it official. So now, here I am, sitting in my Buffalo, NY bed, starting a blog that I never thought I'd have a reason to write. I don't know yet what my abroad experience holds for me, but it will be my own.

I'm not sure yet if this blog will go public, or if I'll just write for myself. I'm one of those girls who has her entire life (1st grade and on) documented in journal form, but I've never written anything like this that was meant to be read by others. But hey, if you're reading this now that means I went for it! So here it is, another abroad blog. My abroad blog.

Bridget