Hey Guys,
So it's Wednesday and I can't believe tomorrow is my last full day in London. It's been a great experience so far.
Yesterday was a very long day. Hence the reason why I didn't submit a post yesterday. But to tell you a little about that day, we took a tour around London on an authentic British double decker bus. It was definitely a sight to see. We saw everything from Buckingham Palace to the original Hard Rock Cafe that is located in what used to be called Little America. We rode passed Hide Park where u can ride your horse around its acres and acres of land. My classmates and I were wondering if we could come back and rent a horse to ride around the horse but came to the conclusion that because it was London you probably had to BYOH (bring your own horse). After the bus tour we got off at The Eye, which is just a monsterous ferris wheel on the River Thames (aka the Thames River in America). I have pictures that I will post sometime soon that will explain the trip in much more detail.
After we were done sightseeing, we took the Tube back to our hotel. We ate dinner at Cafe Rouge (a French restaurant around the corner from the hotel) and it was DELICIOUS!!!!!! After that I came back to the hotel and slept like sleep was running out of style.
I was up at 6:45 this morning because we were leaving to tour Parliament (the British Congress). The tour was great, and our guide was very knowledgeable. It lasted way longer than it was supposed to. We came back to the hotel and got lunch at a chain restaurant that's popular here in the UK called Pret a Manger. It was great. Of course a nap was next on the agenda.
That afternoon we met with agents from the US Defense Intelligence Agency who told us about the UK/US relationship when it comes to intelligence sharing and gathering and what intelligence agencies are looking for in young prospects. I took lots of notes.
For dinner we road the Tube to a street called Brick Lane. This was a small one way street with dozens of Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants along it. The owners of these restaurants stood on the street and lobbied for their restuarant. Each one had a deal to make with you and each one had a list of reasons why u should eat at his restaurant and not the other man's. It was definitely an experience.
Tomorrow we meet with US FBI agents stationed in London. After that we go to Old Bailey to see a traditional British court proceeding. Later tomorrow night, we go to the historic Globe Theatre to see a Shakespearean play.
Ttyl,
Kookie
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Gate E2, London Heathrow Airport, & Jack the Ripper tour
Greetings from London!
I made it to London safely by the grace of God. It was a long flight, but I had some great laughs with my classmate, Karlie. Speaking of my flight, I believe that is a great place to start today's post. My flight was scheduled to leave at 10:55 pm from Atlanta Airport. That didn't happen. I was told that my flight was delayed 15 minutes upon checking in. Well, that was fine with me until we boarded the plane and had to wait 1 hour for 10 more blankets because the pilot wanted to "ensure that everyone has an enjoyable flight."
We finally pulled out of gate E2 at 12:14 am. The good thing was that the pilot said he could shorten the 8 hours and 40 minute flight to about 7 hours and 20 minutes. As soon as we took off I figured I would be studious and try to get some reading done, until my motion sickness kicked in and kicked hard. I popped a nausea pill as soon as I could get a flight attendant to bring me some water to swallow it. I was pretty much knocked out not too long after that. I slept on and off the whole flight. All in all, the flight was respectable. It wasn't the smoothest flight I have been on, but any pilot that can safely fly that size plain across the Atlantic Ocean is alright with me.
I got to the UK Border Agency line at London-Heathrow Airport around 1 p.m. and stayed in line until about 2. Karlie and I figured we would just catch a cab to the hotel that was across town and split the fair. Well, we walk outside and get asked if we're looking for a taxi by a man standing in the breezeway. The man was definitely African and was dressed in a blazer and slacks. We, unknowingly say, "Yea," and follow him to the parking deck. I started thinking in my head, "If he's a taxi driver, why are we walking to the parking deck?" So we get to the car and its an unmarked Lexus SUV that he pops the trunk to. Karlie and I look at each other bewildered. So Karlie asks if she can smoke a cigarette and the gentleman says, "Sure. You smoke while I go pay for parking." RED FLAG #2! If he is a taxi cab driver why does he have to pay for parking. The man returns and I ask him, "How do people know which cars are taxis?" He makes up an excuse, "There's a sensor in the window that identifies all taxis." Karlie and I look in the car and notice there is no meter. So we hesitantly get into the car. Karlie asks, "Where's the meter?" The man replies, "It's a flat rate of 68 pounds (equivalent to $120)to the city." So we say alright and just pray he takes us to our hotel. LOL WE MADE IT SAFELY! He didn't say a word to us the whole time and just said thank you and helped us with our bags once we got to the hotel.
So by this time it's around 3 pm and we're starved. We didn't dare touch the dinner that was served on the plane. So we met Jodi (my classmate, work mate, and Karlie's roommate) and headed out on foot around the corner to see what was around. We ended up eating at the fanciest Pizza Hut I've ever seen in my life. We were seated by a host, waited on by a waiter in black and white, drank from glasses, and ate out of real plates. I must say the service and food weren't anything short of great! We headed back to the hotel where we chilled for about an hour before our 1st meeting with the professor and students from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN (the other university that is participating in the Study Abroad Program).
We met in the loft of the lobby and got to meet and get acquainted with our schedule for the next couple of days. The first stop: Jack the Ripper tour around London City. But before that, we must ride the Tube (London's subway system). This ride was the most up-close and personal I have ever been with foreign strangers. It was an experience to say the least. And I will definitely be coming home with a "Mind the Gap" t-shirt. (Pics will explain that later)
When we get to the Tower of London, our tour begins. A petite lady with a strong British accents leads us around London pointing out places where the serial killer, who targeted English prostitutes, found and mutilated his victims. Those of you who know me and know my career aspirations after college know that I had a blast with this tour. It lasted about an hour and a half and fatigue doesn't even begin to explain how I felt at this time. I just wanted to get to my room and crash, but not before eating first, of course!
We stopped at McDonald's around the corner from the hotel as soon as we got off the Tube. Surprisingly, this McDonald's was blasting music and had a very unique menu with pretty fonts and colors and only a few pictures. We brought the food back to the hotel and crashed.
This concludes my first day in London. Tomorrow we visit Scotland Yard (London's premier law enforcement training academy) in the morning and take a bus tour around Metropolitan London that evening.
Until then I say farewell from St. Giles Hotel in Central London!
I made it to London safely by the grace of God. It was a long flight, but I had some great laughs with my classmate, Karlie. Speaking of my flight, I believe that is a great place to start today's post. My flight was scheduled to leave at 10:55 pm from Atlanta Airport. That didn't happen. I was told that my flight was delayed 15 minutes upon checking in. Well, that was fine with me until we boarded the plane and had to wait 1 hour for 10 more blankets because the pilot wanted to "ensure that everyone has an enjoyable flight."
We finally pulled out of gate E2 at 12:14 am. The good thing was that the pilot said he could shorten the 8 hours and 40 minute flight to about 7 hours and 20 minutes. As soon as we took off I figured I would be studious and try to get some reading done, until my motion sickness kicked in and kicked hard. I popped a nausea pill as soon as I could get a flight attendant to bring me some water to swallow it. I was pretty much knocked out not too long after that. I slept on and off the whole flight. All in all, the flight was respectable. It wasn't the smoothest flight I have been on, but any pilot that can safely fly that size plain across the Atlantic Ocean is alright with me.
I got to the UK Border Agency line at London-Heathrow Airport around 1 p.m. and stayed in line until about 2. Karlie and I figured we would just catch a cab to the hotel that was across town and split the fair. Well, we walk outside and get asked if we're looking for a taxi by a man standing in the breezeway. The man was definitely African and was dressed in a blazer and slacks. We, unknowingly say, "Yea," and follow him to the parking deck. I started thinking in my head, "If he's a taxi driver, why are we walking to the parking deck?" So we get to the car and its an unmarked Lexus SUV that he pops the trunk to. Karlie and I look at each other bewildered. So Karlie asks if she can smoke a cigarette and the gentleman says, "Sure. You smoke while I go pay for parking." RED FLAG #2! If he is a taxi cab driver why does he have to pay for parking. The man returns and I ask him, "How do people know which cars are taxis?" He makes up an excuse, "There's a sensor in the window that identifies all taxis." Karlie and I look in the car and notice there is no meter. So we hesitantly get into the car. Karlie asks, "Where's the meter?" The man replies, "It's a flat rate of 68 pounds (equivalent to $120)to the city." So we say alright and just pray he takes us to our hotel. LOL WE MADE IT SAFELY! He didn't say a word to us the whole time and just said thank you and helped us with our bags once we got to the hotel.
So by this time it's around 3 pm and we're starved. We didn't dare touch the dinner that was served on the plane. So we met Jodi (my classmate, work mate, and Karlie's roommate) and headed out on foot around the corner to see what was around. We ended up eating at the fanciest Pizza Hut I've ever seen in my life. We were seated by a host, waited on by a waiter in black and white, drank from glasses, and ate out of real plates. I must say the service and food weren't anything short of great! We headed back to the hotel where we chilled for about an hour before our 1st meeting with the professor and students from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN (the other university that is participating in the Study Abroad Program).
We met in the loft of the lobby and got to meet and get acquainted with our schedule for the next couple of days. The first stop: Jack the Ripper tour around London City. But before that, we must ride the Tube (London's subway system). This ride was the most up-close and personal I have ever been with foreign strangers. It was an experience to say the least. And I will definitely be coming home with a "Mind the Gap" t-shirt. (Pics will explain that later)
When we get to the Tower of London, our tour begins. A petite lady with a strong British accents leads us around London pointing out places where the serial killer, who targeted English prostitutes, found and mutilated his victims. Those of you who know me and know my career aspirations after college know that I had a blast with this tour. It lasted about an hour and a half and fatigue doesn't even begin to explain how I felt at this time. I just wanted to get to my room and crash, but not before eating first, of course!
We stopped at McDonald's around the corner from the hotel as soon as we got off the Tube. Surprisingly, this McDonald's was blasting music and had a very unique menu with pretty fonts and colors and only a few pictures. We brought the food back to the hotel and crashed.
This concludes my first day in London. Tomorrow we visit Scotland Yard (London's premier law enforcement training academy) in the morning and take a bus tour around Metropolitan London that evening.
Until then I say farewell from St. Giles Hotel in Central London!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Adventure Begins
Hello Followers!
Greetings from Loganville, GA! I know most of you are wondering why I'm blogging from Loganville. Well the reason is because I haven't left town yet, duh! I leave the house in exactly 1 hour and 23 minutes. You guessed it, I'm super scared, anxious, excited, and more.
I just wanted to say hey to everyone that will be following me the next 4 weeks of my life and thanks for all of the support (financial and spiritual). This trip would not have been possible without the help of my family and friends. I appreciate all of you.
Well, I have to go unpack and repack my bag one last time to get the weight under 50 pounds. The next post will be from London!!!
TTYL,
Kooke
Greetings from Loganville, GA! I know most of you are wondering why I'm blogging from Loganville. Well the reason is because I haven't left town yet, duh! I leave the house in exactly 1 hour and 23 minutes. You guessed it, I'm super scared, anxious, excited, and more.
I just wanted to say hey to everyone that will be following me the next 4 weeks of my life and thanks for all of the support (financial and spiritual). This trip would not have been possible without the help of my family and friends. I appreciate all of you.
Well, I have to go unpack and repack my bag one last time to get the weight under 50 pounds. The next post will be from London!!!
TTYL,
Kooke
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