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