Cra Cra Day! 1/20/12

So my first day in London was CRAZY! I arrived at Heathrow airport around 8:30am after leaving JKF at 9:05pm the night before. My program advisor was waiting for me to arrive and we were then to go over to a different terminal to get the rest of the students arriving. All together there was, I believe 7 of us arriving today. The rest had already arrived in London 2 days earlier to make final arrangements for their internships. Once we were all gathered, we had to wait for a bus to take us to Madison House. The bus ride was going to be about an hour through the city of London. It was amazing, seeing the different neighborhoods and places we are going to visit during the program. Rusty was like a regular bus tour guide, he was using the microphone to point out various places, what they were and if there was a planned visit there for class. Once in Madison House I felt like I could pass out and die from exhaustion. But NO! We just had to keep on trucking, only a couple minutes after leaving we had to go to the Florida State University building where out classes are being held. We had a small lunch and then an excruciatingly boring and long (perhaps it felt so because I was running on fumes) orientation meeting and not only that but it was just a short orientation meeting before the long one which is tomorrow. After that we were allowed to use our 2 hours until out next meeting however we pleased.  I was planning on napping, but was advised not to do so before I got here, so instead I attempted to unpack. Attempted being the key word. My bed and surrounding area were in a state of complete disarray. Looking like a bomb it hit. Once 3pm rolled around we were all summoned to the lobby of Madison House and learned how to count off numbers. In groups of four to be able to check if everyone is there and groups of 7 for a mysterious reason. Back out on the roads of London we were told to break into our groups of seven, given directions on where to start, where to meet and sent off to explore London. It was a walking tour of the West End of London, except we were our own tour guides. We had directions written out but were allowed to take about 2 hours to walk through the street, markets and make our way to Trafalgar Square which is in front of National Gallery. All the groups met up there around 6-6:30pm to get back together with our program advisor, Rusty and resident faculty member, Shah. Well they didn't show up, apparently taking different directions themselves. After a lot of confusion and trying to find our way a successful met up was accomplished. Rusty and Shah were waiting for us at the National Theater on the opposite side of the Thames than were initially were on. A quick break at the National Theater for something hot to drink and we were off again, this time to a much needed dinner. I was starving, freezing and felt like my feet could be bleeding! Crossing over the same bridge we came over on gave us absolutely beautiful views of Parliament and Big Ben at night. Into the tube we went getting off at Tottenham Court Road. The restaurant we had dinner at was called Wagamam. It was Japanese inspired food. I hate using chopsticks so eating became quite the adventure and would have been hilarious if I wasn't so hungry. I was so glad to be going home after dinner, I needed to lay down and die. But of course not, I still had to finish the packing I left until I was completely exhausted! Got my unpacking down around 10pm and Sydney and Kellan decided it was high time I had my first legal drink in the London. As exhausted as I was, I have to admit I perked up at the thought of going to a London pub for a drink. Rusty recommended a pub called the Lamb and Flag so we decided that was it. So off we went to find this pub, and got quite lost. We walked around for about an hour, finding all these different pubs and restaurants we want to try later in the 4 months we are here. Finally we found the pub! Oh, its closed? Yup, walking around for an hour, getting excited for this awesome pub and for my first drink and the pub is closed. And well that turned out to be a fruitless trip. Exhausted and now really wanting a drink, we tried a different pub right down the road from Trafalgar Square call The Clarence. And once again it was closed. So to the tube we went, trying to get home. We got home around midnight, completely exhausted and not very happy. Did some blogging, reading and then it was time for bed. Thank God! Oh, wait we have a 8:30 wake up call. Joy.