The goodbyes have already begun. Said farewell to three wonderful ladies that we met here—I adore all of them. I did not even consider the connections and friendships I would make through this experience but the people I have met here are most definitely going to be a part of my life forever. We are already planning a trip back to London very soon!

Our days have been packed and I was able to check many things off of my list: Lincolns Inn (Where Mahatma Gandhi received his training!), Wimbledon, went to the Wellcome Exhibition with my class which has hands down been my favorite gallery so far. The exhibit is designed very differently from anything I have ever been to.. the gallery looked at the various connections between everything starting from medicine to art and comparing the past, present and future. It really is done beautifully. We danced the night away at the Piccadilly Institute, enjoyed scrumptious scones at Tea and Tattle, made the solo journey over to the Titanic exhibit (I HAD too!) finally made it to Brick lane, and have gone on so many more wonderful adventures.

Classes ended as well this past week. I ABSOLUTLEY LOVED MY CLASS! I really enjoy school to begin with, but this class was a different sort of experience. The enthusiasm of our professors (we had three) is really something I am still excited about.

I visited my grandfathers sister tonight up North, and it was absolutely lovely! Seeing a few familiar faces is always nice, and being able to have dinner with them in a city that I now consider my own, was a very strange yet exhilarating feeling.

We still have three whole days here, and even though that number keeps dwindling down, I am staying positive and taking in the city as much as I can.

Love you all. 

So we have this problem..everything we eat, everywhere we go, we find ourselves enjoying it so much that we keep going back! We have eaten at Patisserie Valerie twice already, Andrea and I have been to the small Patisserie near international house a countless number of times, made our way to Camden for the third time Saturday morning, Spatifield we did for the third time as well, and are going back to Bourough market again for round three this upcoming Thursday. We cannot help ourselves!

I visited the London School of Economics the other day after class. My grandfather graduated from there many years ago, so I went in search, hoping to find something to help me better understand his past. The campus was absolutely phenomenal..the library was HUGE (I am a sucker for libraries/coffee shops/bookstores..anywhere with a calm academic environment is definitely a safe haven for me). Spending just a few short hours on the campus really helped me understand why the school ranked so highly, and a little bit about where my grandfather gets his wisdom! 

I have been a bit homesick this past week. To be honest, if my family and friends were in London with me, I really would never leave.

Physio exam on Thursday..better go study!

Cheers,

Maisoon

eggs florentine, earl grey & scones, china town, London Bridge <3

“For having lived in Westminster - how many years now? over twenty, - one feels even in the midst of the traffic, or waking at night, Clarissa was positive, a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a suspense (but that might be her heart, affected, that said, by influenza) before Big Ben strikes. There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; the the hour, irrevocable. The leaden circles dissolved in the air. Such fools we are, she thought, crossing Victoria Street. For Heaven only knows why one lives it so, how one sees it so, making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps (drink their downfall) do the same; can’t be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they love life. In people’s eyes, in the swing, tramp, and trudge; in the bellow and the uproar; the carriages, motor cars, omnibuses, vans, sandwich men shuffling and swinging; brass bands; barrel organs; in the triumph and the jingle and the strange high singing of some aeroplane overhead was what she loved; life; London; this moment of June.”

Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf 1925

I feel so different here. I walk out of International House, greeted by the London Eye peering out from behind the buildings every single morning. I am feeling so comfortable now walking through the city, navigating the tubes without having to look at a map (of course Andrea does most of the navigating), and am picking up the proper etiquette of the locals here. I honestly feel like a part of the community, and I bet others do as well—until I open my mouth!

I cannot believe we have been here for almost two weeks now. We have done so much since my last post so let me fill you in:

I enjoyed the music of one of my favorite pianists, Olafur Arnalds at the Queen Elizabeth Hall which was marvelous. If you had not heard his music, please listen to 3055 this is one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6u5D-5LWSg

We also made our way to Borough market with a few friends from class. Borough was incredible.  I tasted the best parmesan I have ever come across, enjoyed granola, ice cream, jams and chocolates. We also caught a beautiful day, and had a lovely picnic filled with strawberries, cheese, crackers and chocolate on Pimrose Hill. Yesterday Andrea and I sought out to have the best cream tea at Patisserie Valerie- we had a bit of trouble finding the location, but once we made it there, we left completely satisfied.

This morning, Andrea and I had headed out to Brick lane, but somehow ended up at Petticoat lane! Petticoat was a great time—we both left with bags full of clothes, and tummys filled with halloumi cheese, and aubergine.  

We are currently at the County Hall Bakery, only a short walk from where we are staying. I am enjoying a delicious cappuccino while she is sipping on her earl grey tea, working on a paper for her culture of London course. There is a comforting vibe throughout the quaint cafe, and I now understand why our good friend Maggie could not stop raving about this adorable little place.

The days are going by way too fast. Although I am making my way down my list of things to do, four more items get added to every one I am able to cross off.

Well that is it for now, I am missing everyone so so much.

Love you all. 

I have already grown so much, and it has only been five days. I have not only grown to love this city and every coffee shop along its corners, but I am also growing mentally. I have always been, I guess you can call it a busy body…and with having so much time these past few days I am slowly learning how to enjoy myself and my personal time. I remember a friend once told me that when she studied abroad, her life was the easiest it had ever been..all she had to worry about was herself and the city she was in. Already it has been such a lovely experience and I am so thankful that the place I am able to grow, happens to be the most fabulous city in the world. 

We have done a lot since my last post..made our way to Trfagalr Square, enjoyed the people, the incredible sites and some delicious ice cream. Headed to a Beer Garden in the heart of Piccadilly Circus. Got off at the Knightsbridge station to explore Harrods (which was very different from what I had imagined), and last but not least, classes started today! We are located right on Oxford St, one of the busisest spots in London. Unfortunately the photography class I had initally signed up for was dropped (I was the only one who had signed up for that section!) so I am taking a physiology course instead…I feel that this may have been a blessing in disguse because my professor is absolutely fabulous, and this course will count as a pre-requiste for optometry school!

It’s getting late (10.30pm here, I am getting old…) so I am off to bed. Hopefully the clouds will decide to not come out til later in the day so that I can make a jog through the Imperial War Museum park before class tommorrow.

Missing you all. 

We headed to the Camden Lock Market yesterday! The market was HUGE and had every sort of stall possible. I heard at least 15 different languages yesterday and came in contact with more people of diverse backgrounds in those 5 hours than I have throughout my whole life! That place is literally a melting pot, and I had my first encounter with the diversity in London that people have been talking about. 

Andrea and I went nuts over the food stalls there! Any sort of food, you name it.. there was a stall for you…even if you are in the mood for kangaroo burgers!  

I finally had a Pimms lemonade, and had a taste of a belguim waffle! The food here is out of control, and I will most certinatly be making my way back to Camden very soon.

For some reason I can’t seem to shake my jet lag, but I am meeting my class today for the first time, and Brick lane tomorrow!

Missing everyone back at home, hope things are going well. 

Today was wonderful! Woke up way too early, treated myself to a delicious cappuccino at Costa (London’s equivalent to Starbucks..great place to people watch!) Then headed to Guildhall where we met My Dear, Lord Mayor..who was absolutely fabulous! (He was also extremely excited about his new coin set :)) We sat in on a meeting and to be honest I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it very much. It was really neat to see how London has kept its traditional ways. Being in a beautiful room (unfortunately of which we were not allowed to take pictures in) filled with such highly regarded people, I was a bit intimated! The meeting went over a variety of topics starting from financies, to public policies. Here is a link so you can learn more about Guildhall, and the City of London..http://www.guildhall.cityoflondon.gov.uk/

After, Andrea and I ended up at the Museum of London for a bit, extremely sleepy-eyed, and headed back to International House…we are still trying to figure out how to tubes work so we got lost on our way back!

Although we have only been here a little over 24 hours, I am feeling different already. The people here are so proud of their culture and everyone seems so comfortable and confident, it has been very refreshing to see. 

I am still working to fight through my jet lag..but classes start on Monday and I couldn’t be any more thrilled. 

That is all for now, I will do my best to keep this updated daily! 

Miss you all,

Maisoon