First weekend comes to a close

Saturday I really just sat around all day.  I finished unpacking and skyped with kookie for at least 2 hours.  I also tried to wash my clothes; more on that later.  There was a walking tour scheduled for the group, but I opted out because my bad hip was pretty sore from walking around so much in the previous days in my non existent arch support uggs.  Went to the drug store with Charlie who is feeling a bit sick, and John guilted me in to going out to get food with him.  I had a glass of wine and a salad with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes and things in it.

We all decided to go out for another attempt at having a crazy night in london.  This time a small group of us took the tube to go meet everyone else at a large bar called Oneils, which is a chain of pubs owned by Guiness I think or something?  This place was 3 floors, basic pub on the first floor, same on the second with a little more music and dancing and on the 3rd floor was a live band, preforming all American covers, of course.  On the second floor it seemed to be american 80s night which featured many hits we all know and love/hate (like bon Jovi) alike.  The cover band played old weezer, blink and even travie's billionaire (as if i cant go a day without being reminded of boating season!)  And everyone really KNEW all of the songs!  I ordered my usual rum and diet and had a little surprise.  In bars here, they dont have coke, they have PEPSI, and they dont even HAVE diet.  So you can order bacardi and diet all you want Angelica, you're getting a bacardi and non diet pepsi.  Another word on the drinks though, is that they're kind of cheap, I paid 3 something pounds for my drink.  We've all decided also that the beers are a bit more potent here...There was an 8 pound cover for the place we went, but comparatively thats not sooo bad.

Then, came the coat fiasco.  All of us put our coats in the 'safety pile', where, at orientation they told us not to do.....I thought it would be fine, though I left my YSL lipgloss in one of the pockets.  I went to check on it and it was gone.  There went my mood. I was incredibly mad about it, but after awhile, it magically appeared, at the top of the pile.  Soaked in beer, but nevertheless, mine, with lipgloss intact.

Upon leaving the pub, I saw a guy wearing a pittsburgh pirates hat.  I had to talk to him, obviously.  He explained that he wasnt from pittsburgh (duh) and then we talked about how much the pirates were um....subpar.  He explained that he needed a black and yellow cap, however, (as his friend chimed in with a wiz khalifa esque 'black and yellow...')  A few mins later we bumped into some 'blokes' trying to convince the group to go to an after hours club (there are quite a few of those here, and regular bars are open until 3 anyway)  We got on to talking about where we were from, and one of the guys ended up being from Upper St. Claire (which i made him prove by telling me places and things that only a pittsburgher would know) Its a little weird how small of a world that it is.

Caitlyn and I soon found that the group left with out us; which is great realization when you're wearing michael kors 4 inch stilettos at after 3 in the morning........but nevertheless, we carried on.  We hobbled along past gay bars and sketchy 'cab drivers' until we finally made our way home (consulting bus maps, and even a bus driver along the way...)  No one from our group even CALLED in concern; we're girls!!!
we ended

we've come to a rather surprising realization; some people really love american accents.  Unfortunately they will then equate it to jersey shore; or go on to tell you about their family in Canada, because obviously you know, we might KNOW them or something...

I woke up today in attempt to try to dry my laundry for the 5th time.  The machines here are combination washers and dryers.  They do it all in ONE machine, but as far as I can tell, they dont dry at all; so I hung my jeggings over a radiator to dry.  Im afraid my clothes arent going to like this very much; it makes them very stiff :/

Today we left at 1pm for a panorama bus tour around London.  It was really good- we really got to see everything! Our tourguide was quite animated as well.  She told us that 'us brits are going to flog the hell out of that wedding to get all of the tourists in!'  I've posted all of the photos on facebook, but will replicate a few of them here. Other than passing all of the beautiful historical buildings, seeing things like the Aston Martin showroom was pretty awesome.  Caitlyn and I had been wondering if eating on the street is something that is not custom here.  Our tour guide told us that its 'disgusting and very rude, but people do it anyway, with sauerkraut running down their faces...'  So theres our answer.

After we got back caitlyn and I headed to buy some school supplies since classes start this week! Then I took a nice long napppy and got up and made dinner.  I had a chicken breast with some onions and rice plus balsamic vinegar.  I've found myself soaking everything in it, including chicken fingers at 4 in the morning last night.  I think ill make a proper balsamic reduction, which will prob be a bit better....

My ticket to bologna is booked for Feb 4th!!  The public transpo to the Stansted airport should be interesting, its going to be about a 1.5 hours commute, which I can take from Parliament that friday, or from here.  I'm a little nervous about as using Ryan Air as well.....but super excited to see daniela and dad.  Zia Rosa said she couldnt come, but I think that we will be staying at Zio frankos house; I cant wait to see how old my little cousins have gotten (its been 5 years!)

I'm meeting my actual MP at Parliament tomorrow, I really need to figure out my outfit.  I also need to pick up my student oyster card (for the tube) from Acorn and my Birkbeck ID between work and class.  There is a social for birkbeck students from 5 to 7 tomorrow night that ill have to hit up as well.  I need to get my gym membership sometime this week; probably thurs or saturday. We've all lost a few pounds since we've been here, but this high level of endorphins attributed to being in a new place isnt going to last for ever.  The gym has some classes that I def wanna try.

I feel like this has been a crazy amalgamation of thoughts and things that i've been typing; but I guess it accurately reflects whats going on over here!

pics are taking a little long to upload, and my patience is lowww tonight; but soon!

<3