Nice Day at Trafalgar Square

One of the cool things about living near central London is that interesting places are within walking distance.  Since it was a nice day outside (a rarity in London I’ve learned quickly), my roommates and I went for a walk along the River Thames and then went to Trafalgar Square.  One caveat about walking though: things are farther than they appear on your map (or even Google Maps)!  My feet are burning after a lot of walking the past few days.   Oh and it turns out my roommates are great guys – they are both first-years (not called freshman in the UK) – one is from Sri Lanka and the other from Pakistan.  Looking forward to a great semester with them!  

Getting Everything Together! (Almost)

For a couple of days, I had no phone and no Internet – needless to say, I felt cut off from the outside world.   I have those things taken care of now and I also got my Student ID card, an Oyster Card (used for public transportation), and a certificate of registration (needed to open a bank account).  I also stocked up on some necessities (shampoo, batteries, soap, laundry detergent, etc.).  It’s hard to stay on top of everything, but so far, so good!

I'm on a Boat (Party)

LSE threw a boat party for the 300 General Course (Exchange) students.  It was a good way to meet people and see some of coolest things in London (Big Ben, House of Parliament, London Eye, etc) while cruising on the Thames at night…. although it did seem a tad long.

First Look at the LSE Campus

LSE campus is definitely different from what I’m accustomed to as a “college campus.”  I would describe the LSE campus as a dense cluster of buildings in an urban atmosphere.  Because all the buildings look similar, it is definitely confusing getting around on campus (at least initially).

Home Away from Home

After a long day of travelling/waiting at the airport, it’s good to settle in where I will be calling home for the next nine months – Passfield Hall.  It’s situated in fairly quiet area in London (Bloomsbury), meals are provided, and the residents seem pretty friendly.  I found out after I arrived that I have a triple room - this was a nice surprise because shared rooms (what I put as my preference in the housing application) are less common in the UK.  My roommates haven't arrived yet - LSE doesn't let us know who are roommates are ahead of time so I have no clue how this will be.  Well, I'm liking it so far anyway!

The Day of Departure

Although I’m excited about my opportunity in London, I found it really difficult to say goodbye to my family.  It was especially hard saying goodbye at the security checkpoint at the airport knowing I wouldn’t be able to see them for almost nine months.  I’m sure I’ll be looking back at this photo of my home and family while I’m in London.