Guess whose back?

Hello Friends and Family!

 

I am back on my world travels again! This week began my three-month spell as a student of King’s College London, in – you guessed it – London, England!

 

The trip could not have started off better if I had planned it! I arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Saturday morning with Kesley and we met up (magically) with Katherine in Victoria Station! Katherine and I proceeded to move me into my residence hall, grab food, take a nap and head up to Wembely Stadium! We had planned to see Coldplay in concert and I could not have imagined a better concert than what we saw! White Lies, Girls Aloud (a new spice girls from what I can tell) and JAY-Z (!!!) opened for Coldplay. Each band was wonderful in its own way. I think I would pay to see only Jay-Z perform again, as he was fantastic. Right as Coldplay was meant to go on stage it started raining. Since Katherine and I had splurged on floor tickets, we were right in the hotspot for the downpour that ensued. BUT it didn’t matter at all and we danced and sang along to the songs just as hard (if not harder). The rain truly made the concert magical, and it wouldn’t have been London without it! It was an EPIC show.

 

Sunday Katherine, Kesley and I spent wandering all of central London. I do not exaggerate when I say all. We started in South London, walked along the Thames, across the Millenium Bridge, into and around St. Pauls, down to Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the Strand (our campus!), and Covent Garden. My feet were (and still are) very sore! Monday I had registration, which went smoothly. I also had my first adventure in Sainsbury’s – the local grocery store. Tuesday I had orientation as an exchange student and Kesley, and two other girls and myself took a double-decker-open-top-bus tour where I ran into a friend from Carolina! What a small world!

 

Wednesday I met up with old friends for coffee and discovered some great bookshops! I have been trying to get my bearings the past few days and will continue to do so until (and after) my classes start next week! So far, interactions with the university have been tedious because there is a lot of confusion on what happens when and with whom. I decided, however, that this is just part of the “English experience” and I am going to adjust and pretend like it doesn’t bother me that I don’t know my course schedule.

 

I hope you are all doing well. I love hearing from you so please email me whenever you would like to!

 

With peace and in love,

Lauren