Orientation

It's been a long day in good old London. We had a mini orientation to discuss the classes I'll be taking from the actual university and got our computers checked to make sure we can watch the business classes from UF. I almost forgot the primary reason I was here was to study. There's still so much for me to do and see just within the realms of my dorm that I'm anxious to get out there, but of course I have other priorities first. I signed for a class called arts in london. It wasn't a cheap class $211 for the semester to go see plays, operas and museums. I'm sure it's a great group rate considering the amount of culture I'll be getting.

I've been here for about 4 days and it seems like I've been here a lot longer. I've lost track of what day of the week it is and the time flys by so quickly. I'm up from fairly early in the morning. Earlier than I'd get up in Gainesville any day. By 5 p.m. it's dark out and feels like 7 p.m. and you're ready to have dinner and go to bed. Plus because I haven't really got oriented to my surroundings entirely I feel like I should go out and explore more often. However, the city is just like New York all the streets look exactly the same here except one major difference- the same road has like 5 different names. Because London isn't perfectly laid out like a grid the streets aren't straight rows. Some of the streets bend and curve and some just continue straight. However, the Brits feel as though this curve, bend or slant constitutes a new name. For instance the street I live on has 3 names. Right in front of my dorm is Byng Place. Only to buildings have the address with Byng Place. Mine and the one directly across the street. If you travel North on th Byng place for oh I don't know 2 feet you're now traveling North of Torrington. If you travel South on Byng Place for 2 feet you're on Tavistock which further down the road turns into something else. It can be very difficult to find your way around the city.

Wednesday has by far been the most beautiful day in London I've seen. It was the first day that the sun actually decided to shine through the clouds. I was so happy to see some yellow in the sky and I never realized how much the sun can really brighten your day. Sounds corny, but it made me really happy to see it. You see in London it seems like its always going to rain but doesn't. It's like the calm before the storm. The clouds settle in, night comes and the buzz from the city rears loudly but no rain. That's everyday. Because it's so dark you feel like the day never really started and the days seem to all run together as one. So, when I saw the sun it was very exciting. I contemplated putting on my sunglasses, but that would just make the view just as gloomy as it would be on any other day. I opted to just not wear them. It may sound strange to you guys in the states, but I never realized the energy the sun can give you. It lifts you up. So don't take it for granted cause I can definitely see how people can fall into a depression once they get here.