Being a tourist and starting work

Okay, So I haven't been very good about writing, but it's been a very busy few days! Over the weekend we did a bunch of really touristy things, and I got to know the people in my program much better. Friday we went on the London Eye, which was really cool, it had been rainy for most of the week but right before we got in it cleared up and had a really nice view! After that we walked around Westminster for a bit and then went home when it started to rain (a pretty much daily occurrence). Saturday, we did a walking tour of The City, which is a square mile where all of London used to exist- now it's all financial buildings. It's kind of interesting because during the week it is crazy crowded, but nobody actually lives there so on the weekends it is dead. The walking tour we went on was about Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, very little is known about Shakespeare in London, but what we found was interested. As for Charles Dickens I've never actually read any of his work, so I didn't know what the tour guide was talking about for most of it. Still, it was nice to get to know the area, and although it was cold the sun was actually out so that was nice.

Sunday we went on a bus tour which was really cool, they drove us all over London and the tour guide gave us a bunch of information about everything. Before then I hadn't really left my little area, so it was good to more- although I still haven't been all that far. At night we went to Piccadilly Circus and checked out some of the pubs there, that was really fun because there were tons of people around, it's sort of London's Times Square.

Monday I started my real life here- I had two three hour classes. The first one was Environmental Business Management, which seems like it should be very interesting, but three hours is a very long time for a lecture. My class is only 8 students (all American) so they will definitely know if we don't pay attention. After that I had a one hour break and then on to my next class, Art and Architecture in London. This class is actually really really cool, we met in the classroom and were told that we will never be there again until the final- the entire course takes place out in London. After a short introduction we went to the Banquetting Hall at White House Palace- all the remains of the Pallace. My professor lectured on the street about classical architecture- taking notes standing up is a new challenge, reading them will be even harder! I've never studied architecture before, but he went slowly enough that I was able to understand, and learn some really cool things! That building has been there since 1621, it was built for King James I. We got to go inside too, where there was an amazingly huge room with paintings on the ceiling. Next week we're going to the National Gallery, which should also be really interesting!

Monday night my school held a reception for everyone in the program to meet other students and professors, and they served wine! It was a pretty new experience seeing professors refill the wineglasses of students, but it was nice to speak to them in a much more casual environment.

Tuesday I had my first day of my internship, I liked it a lot! I'm working in a school for kids with special needs, and it seems like it will be really challenging work. I'll be moving around, helping out in different classrooms. Tuesday I was in the room with the most challenging students, it was hard being the new staff member, but I know that I'll get used to it soon and the kids will get used to me too. My coworkers are all really nice, I am introduced around to everyone as "the american" or "the new Michelle" (michelle is the intern who was there last semester) I'm going back tomorrow and am excited, but I know that I'll be needing a nap by the time I come home!

Today I only had one class, the 20th Century British Novel. Again we went on a field trip, we went to see the Gauguin Exhibit at the Tate Modern. It was a really cool exhibit, his work is all really interesting, and it was awesome that our program pays for things like that.

Thats it for now, I promise I will actually work on posting some pictures soon, maybe even of my flat! This weekend we're going to Cambridge, so I'll bring my camera with me then

Miss everyone!
The American

First Days in London

Soo, the first few days in London have been pretty hectic, but I love it already! The first day we get here was a little rough, our flats were not immediately ready so we ended up wandering around London on very little sleep. During that time though I was able to set up my cellphone which was good, I have a UK number now! The rest of the day was spent doing very little orientation stuff and a lot of getting things together, we went grocery shopping and tried to set up bank accounts and the like. After dinnertime a group of Clark people and I tired to find our first real London Pub, but that didn't really work out so well. We wandered around for a bit trying to find a fun looking place, but as it was 8pm not many people were out. We ended up finding a pub with some people in it so we went in- soon to learn that the people inside were all from Jersey and fit the stereotypes completely, and the bartender was Canadian. So not really a london experience, but the people were fun to talk to!

Yesterday, I had my interview at my internship. This was an adventure of its own, as me and another girl had to take the Tube together to get there. One thing we learned is that the tube is EXPENSIVE! especially if you don't buy tickets correctly, as we of course did not. Once we got through however it was pretty well organized and the trip is not very difficult, its going to take me 30-40 minutes to get to work. I'm working at a special needs school, specifically with kids with Autism. I'm really excited about it, I met my supervisor yesterday and she seems really nice! The school is really big, they have a swimming pool and everything! I think that will be one of my responsibilities; helping the kids with their swim lessons- or teaching swim lessons? i'm not really sure.

Last night I finally got to meet a lot of the people in my program, our orientation strangely did not include introductions! But we all hung out together which was fun, about half of the people here are from Clark, and then there's also students from Stonehill and Sienna.

Oh, and my flat! it's set up kind of strangely- we are on the 4th floor, but the main staircase only goes to the 3rd floor. To get into our flat we have to go in the door of somebody else's, and then up another staircase. But don't worry, the flat below us in also in our program so they're not creepy. We also don't have our own door at the top, so we're pretty much in a 2 level flat where each level has its own bathroom, common room and kitchen. I'm living in a triple which is nice- it's pretty big so there is enough space for all of us. We also have big common room attached to our kitchen. The flat is big in general but not very nice, it works for us though!

Alright, I think thats it for now, the rest of the week I'm doing more orientation-type things, tomorrow we're going on the London Eye, hopefully it will be less rainy than it is today!

Miss you all!
Mackenzie

Wow, it's here already!

I can't believe how fast this came, all of the sudden I am leaving for London tomorrow! I'm sort of on my way to being packed, Justin's room has been taken over by clothes and suitcases. I'm sure that I will get it all together soon though, and 8pm tomorrow I'm on my way! I can't wait to get to London and discover the amazing city, I've been there once but remember it only vaguely. On Tuesday I move into my flat and begin orientation, I can't wait to meet everybody!

I'm going to try and update my friends and family as much as possible over the next few months, So keep looking out for updates!


Mackenzie