I just looked at the calendar and realized that January is practically over, which means I have been in London for nearly a month already, which means I only have a few months left! How did that happen?

I haven't been so keen at updating this thing because I always feel like there's so much I should be seeing and doing and I hate staying in my little room for any significant amount of time. So I'm going to give a big recap and probably miss lots of details but hopefully you'll get the gist!

Entering my fourth week in London means I'm pretty settled in and into my routine. I have classes every Tuesday and Friday and every other Thursday, which means lots of free time. But then each class (they meet once a week) is a really intensive two hour block of thinking and talking. We average about a book every two weeks for each class, and I'm taking four classes. So a lot of reading. Thank God I have pretty long tube rides nearly every day, so that forces me to get some of it done. The classes are really great, and I'm so glad I saved my Brit Lit requirements of my major for here. Because I'm not taking typical study abroad classes (walking tours of London, etc.) I'm in class with all British 2nd- and 3rd- years, so it's intense but I'm definitely getting more out of it. Also, I'm reading all British literature for this semester, and it is really cool to see how a poem from 1650 can explain why something is the way it is in London today. So I really am enjoying class, even if it's hard to force myself to do all the work.

For now, Mondays and Wednesdays are completely free. I meet Cassandra for lunch (since she moved, she comes to campus and has nowhere to go, so I'm nice and keep her company as long as it involves food), and then go off on an adventure. My adventures are usually me just getting lost and trying to make sense of London. Sometimes I'll have a really specific task (groceries, checking out hotels for mom and dad) and spend the whole time figuring out how to get to the place and what it's near and how to get back. I'm hoping I become oriented in the city soon, getting lost all the time is exhausting!

British kids go out any night of the week and there's no telling which nights are going to be big nights. Usually Sundays and Wednesdays turn out to be big, and Fridays they like to go to the cool clubs on Brick Lane and in Shoreditch. All of East London is uber hip, and even though its gritty, its the place to be. It reminds me a lot of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, like five years ago. Only a few people knew how cool it was and could see its potential. The lead singer of an awesome British rock band (Bloc Party) lives one tube stop over from me, and Amy Winehouse lives one tube stop the other way. Anyway, Monday nights and Thursday nights are usually spent all the way across the city in Chelsea/South Kensington, a really ritzy area. I have class there for my study abroad program on Monday nights, and our favorite bar there has live music on Thursdays. There's a big group of Americans from a bunch of different colleges that usually meet up there so we know a lot of people each week. Then Thursday-Saturday we try to make an effort to go to the clubs in central London, especially in the Covent Garden area. That's where most young people go out (the ones who don't yet know the coolness of East London), and those are swanky clubs with expensive covers and even more expensive drinks. Another reason East London is the greatest place in England-- we know where to get 1 pound pints three nights a week. Not bad.

Most college students have off on Wednesday afternoons here, so we sometimes group together and do sightseeing things. As for meals, Queen Mary has really cheap and really good food right on campus, so eating here is always a good idea. But everything closes down by 7, so sometimes its tough. Our favorite off-campus spot, Wetherspoons, has meal deals every night of the week geared towards students. You can get two meals for 7 pounds (so 3.50 each), or beer & a burger for 4 pounds, or (my favorite) curry & a beer for 5 pounds on Thursdays (during Curry Club- haha!). On my adventures in the city I usually stop for tea in the afternoon and read a book or the paper for a long time. London papers (tabloids, really) are the most hilarious thing ever and following Amy Winehouse's life is my new favorite pasttime.

So that's my life as it has unfolded over the past four weeks. After talking to various study abroad-ers and advisors, I've decided it will be better to narrow down my travelling to like three top places and really make them good trips, rather than "city collecting" each weekend and not getting to know those places at all. This is a good strategy because I can see/do/spend more here in London. I would regret city hopping all over Europe and missing out on this incredible city I'm living in.

In other news, fingers are majorly crossed right now that a NY-based internship will come through for this summer. Its a communications program, so I'll be placed at a TV station or something, and put up in dorms, and paid a stipend for living expenses. So I can basically continue my cool urban life on the other side of the pond when I return. Keep your fingers crossed too!!

Okay, I didn't put up any pics or tell any specifics about adventures this time, I'm sorry. In short, we see paparazzi everywhere, have met quite a few pseudo-celebs (c-listers), stalk amy winehouse, go to museums but really just for the food, eat at trendy little cafes and pretend to be rich, and avoid large groups of americans at all costs. my two favorite things about london are cream tea (a scone with clotted cream and jam, accompanied by tea, obvi) and british kids. oh and last week i did the london eye and it was just okay (i know, i'm sorry). this week i get to go see wicked for free (score!) and next weekend i'm going on an overnight trip to york.

i promise i'll have pictures and exciting stories for next time!