Small Differences

{Plays I'll know inside out by the end of this term}

I have now walked into more than one school supply store asking for loose-leaf paper and received a look that would lead someone to believe I have three heads. The English do not use loose-leaf paper apparently. Nor do they have three ring binders but two ring binders.  After being completely frustrated with this difference in our cultures I finally got some notebooks and was able to take notes in class.  As well, after a week of searching I finally found a bookstore on Kensington High Street, called Waterstones, where I bought all of the books I needed. Waterstones resembles a Barnes & Noble and I am very happy to have found a bookstore with that ambience in London.  Now that I have my books and paper I finally feel somewhat organized and can tackle the large pile of reading I have to do for my classes.  But between actually going to class and seeing Buckingham Palace tomorrow and going to the Thames festival I may not be getting much sleep this coming week.  Oh well, I’ll just have to go to Paul Pâtisserie for some more delicious French coffee and pastries.  Have a good weekend everyone!

{I don't care that it cost £4, Adele is gorgeous on this cover}

{Coffee from the delicious french pâtisserie}

Merriam-Webster recognizes and defines loose-leaf so I think the English should follow suit. How have they not realized the beauty in being able to add and remove papers from a set of notes? It’s complete rubbish. 

The West End

Last night was my first experience of British theatre, I saw The 39 Steps. . I’m proud to say that it was the fifth birthday of the show in the West End. It is one of only 15 straight plays to achieve that, and rightfully so, it was absolutely brilliant. If you ever get the chance you should see it. 

Serendipity

On Tuesday I had a four-hour class in the morning that felt nothing like four hours, my teacher is slightly eccentric and very engaging. I really enjoyed it, and I believe everyone else did too.  It is the only class I have with all of, and only, the other Drexel students.  Afterwards I went to the Imperial War Museum; I would highly recommend it.  It is so nice that all the museums are free in London, you simply need to walk in the door and let the museum enrich your mind.  After that, my flatmate and I were walking to get some food and happened to see the paparazzi and red carpet for the GQ Men of the Year 2011 gala. So of course we ran down and saw John Legend and Tommy Hilfiger walking in.  Then we waited and saw some British superstars as well as U2, Hugh Laurie, the gorgeous Bradley Cooper, and my favorite, Emma Watson. Then we finally made it to a pub for some food. It was the most serendipitous and fun day. (If you have never seen the movie Serendipity or heard of the famous frozen hot chocolate from the restaurant in New York I’d suggest looking into both).  I know the pictures are not fabulous, but at least I have some!

{Imperial War Museum entrance}

{Old war plane at the Imperial War Museum}

{Self-explanatory and completely necessary. How ironic that I went here and then saw Emma Watson hours later?}

{Hugh Laurie entering GQ Men of the Year 2011}

{Hugh Laurie}

{Bradley Cooper giving the girls in front of me autographs}

{Emma Watson- LOVE her}

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

I’ve been in London for five days and can’t believe it’s been that long already.  I have been doing so much and am still super jet-lagged that parts of it are a blur.  Nothing has been disappointing yet.  My flat is much nicer than I had expected it to be, and all the students in my program have been great so far.  This past weekend has been spent getting lost and acquainted with the city.  Form going out to clubs and pubs to touring the city and discovering some of the treasures of London. Below are some pictures from this jam-packed weekend. Classes started today (yes, I know it’s Labor Day in The States) and I am very excited for my theatre class, we have five mandatory theatre performances.  As if they would actually have to force me to go. I also happened to be very lucky and got to meet up with a good friend of mine from The States who was studying here this past summer.  We had afternoon tea together.  My first English tea and it was absolutely scrumptious and the perfect end to the day. I have a feeling I’m falling in love with this fabulous city.

 {Queen Victoria dubbed this a royal borough because she was born here, the only royal borough in London}

{Our flat in South Kensington-the most posh place you could live in London}

{Some of the other students in the program getting ready to go out}

{King's}

{Delicious food for sale and sampling at the Borough Market}

{Goat ice cream, slightly healthier and tasty}

{View of London from the London Bridge}

{The tube}

{Prince Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens}

{A woman tying flowers to the fence in honor of Princess Diana's death}

{The Millennium Bridge - the one that was destroyed in the sixth Harry Potter}

{Afternoon tea at the Mayfair restaurant}

{Delectable treats}

P.S. It has only rained twice so far, and otherwise the weather has been literally beautiful!

Welcome.

As I embark on my third year of college, I’m doing so at a completely new university, in a completely new city, on a completely new continent, on the first of the month. Being the first of many things I thought it the perfect opportunity to start this blog to document my adventures abroad and all the things I love whilst traveling. As I wander through London and make my way to other parts of Europe, walking the cobblestone streets that are bursting with history and culture, with it will come a fresh start full of fabulous new experiences. I hope you enjoy following my British adventures as much as I do!

Cheers!

Emma