everything comes on toast.

so. i made it. out of the US and into the UK with no problems.

i've moved in, unpacked, and stalked my way around much of central london in the past few days.

these are things i've learned:

- though i am obsessed with double-decker buses, none run on the ONE bus line required for me to get to and from school.

- nothing is free in england. especially not theatre programs.

- the term for "babysitter" is "child-minder"

- london's glamming up for the 2012 olympics so the skyline has more cranes than buildings.

- cab drivers here are extremely friendly. especially if you give them a new york-sized tip.

- the chinese food here is seriously below average, though chinatown is way nicer than in any other city (see picture below).

-APPARENTLY you can get to paris for 2 hours and £29. i have yet to find out how that's possible.

- london is home to the flagship häagen dazs restaurant (the only in the UK) which serves a menu of chocolate and ice cream concoctions that puts max brenner's to shame.

- i have an obsession with small children with british accents. ughh.

- things close early here. go figure.

so there you have it. tidbits of london trivia. from me to you. 

is london "the city of" anything? like paris is the city of lights. new york the city that never sleeps. los angeles the city of angels. anyone?

my first real view was of big ben (straight up) out my hotel room window tuesday afternoon. of course i was too exhausted and cranky to be able to process anything, but there was a honkin clock-tower staring back at me when i peered through the blinds of room 1033.

i have a roommate named abi who likes tupperware and israeli music. i think we're going to get along just fine.

i have a giant window that faces a giant building under construction. sometimes i watch them weld things.

i have alex fast's mobile (pronounced mo-BILE) phone and bus pass. thanks alex. 

i have a full schedule of art and theatre that will make my brain explode. 

i have a view of king's cross station. 

i "top-up" every chance i get. 

i have 2 A-Z guidebooks. kristen johnston's and NYU's. i prefer kristen's.

i have 2-3 london maps/guidebooks in my purse at any given time. ask me where covent garden is. i dare you.

i have 3 going on 4 ID cards for various buildings in and around london. i will lose at least one before the semester is out.

i think i'm gonna like it here.