Happy new year and enjoy the super bowl!

Today the Chinatown of London celebrated its new year, even though it was this past Monday. It was fun. A bunch of us went to Chinatown, got a huge table full of (believe it or not) authentic Chinese food, and then watched the dragon- you know, the multi-person costume dragon, go from door to door of each restaurant and eat vegetables from its door signaling luck for the new year.  

As to how everything else is here, its pretty good.  I have finally gotten to the point where I can walk to school by myself and not get lost, at least to my UMD classes.  I joined a gym and love it although I only went three times this week. I took this spin and core class which killed me completely- i say completely because normally after I work out only I know I'm dead but even my teacher came up to me after class and said 'don't worry the first class is the hardest.' so much for being in shape haha

I have come to be known as 'the girl who lost her luggage but is taking it really well' by all UMD students.  Don't get me wrong, I did lose my luggage. And I like to think I'm taking it well. But when a random girl comes up to you who, by the way, already knows your name because you've been introduced before and yet PREFERS to call you the above title, I mean... come on people. My name's from the bible. Use it!

My classes are going well and seem pretty interesting.  Especially anthropology.  We have to choose an area of British life to become immersed in and I'm very excited to say that I have a few prospects although I'll hold off telling you until I choose. (Keep up the suspense) I start my London Met class this week which hopefully will be Politics in the Middle East. We'll see if they'll allow me to switch to that section.

My internship interview is a week from Monday and I really hope that I'll get it. It seems like an amazing opportunity to work in NGOs. 

I haven't gotten to do many touristy things yet although I did go for a walk in Regents Park which is right by my apartment.  It is gorgeous! I can't wait for it to be spring and for me to be able to run there all the time.  

I've met a bunch of people in the program and some girls I know and I are going to Amsterdam next weekend.  We're also trying to plan spring break but who knows how that'll work out haha Planning ahead does not seem to be my forte. 

Miss you all but, I've got to go do some work before the super bowl tonight.  Hope life in the U.S. is great! 

I'm here and alive

so this is so i'm not writing the same thing in 30,000 emails (even though i love you and would love to have the time to do that). i'm in london and the first few days have been pretty eventful. first of all, there was a little trouble with the airlines- from my original flight being cancelled to my baggage still being lost. but i'm in london and other than being pretty obnoxious, that doesn't really matter to me. my flat is gorgeous (and spacious without any of my stuff haha). our living room is so nice and we have a kitchen etc. I have 5 flatmates and share my room with one of them.  Everyone seems pretty nice and we've been exploring little by little together.  I even found a bikram yoga studio nearby! I received what will probably be my internship (I have to interview but hopefully it will work out).  I would be working at this place called with the Fred Hollows organization, an NGO that works towards preventing blindess in developing countries and also removes cataracts for people there, etc. It seems pretty neat but I won't be interviewing until mid-February.  I received my classes today too so I'll be taking anthropology, history of london, and a class at a local university (however i'm still looking to switch that class). We took a tour yesterday of London and it's pretty amazing, there's so much to do and the city's really nice.  I'm more homesick than I thought I'd be for all of you but I guess that's the thing about study abroad, you've just got to jump and do it. Everyone seems nice, i've only known them a few days but we've gone out together and they're sweet. My flat and two other flats have been hanging out which is fun and i'm sure when classes start we'll meet even more people. i like living in a city but i miss the convenience of college park where everything is 10 minutes away. anyways, overall i'm having a good time! hope everything's good where you guys are, will write soon and would love to hear from you!