Well, ladies and gents, this is where the adventure begins! I arrived in London bleary-eyed and sleepy after a seven hour flight, but seeing this glorious city in the cold grey morning light was the perfect way to welcome me to my new home. I had a few days until I could move into my room at UCL, so I spent the hours shopping for everything that didn't fit into my suitcase. This wound up taking days and days, leaving me to ponder late into the evening how anyone goes to college in a place that's a plane ride away. I'm seriously impressed at all the international and non-local Tufts students who manage this impossible feat every year.
Finally, it was time to repack my suitcases in our hotel room to accommodate all my new purchases and move in! I chose to move in a day before the freshmen rush, hoping it would be quieter and a bit less stressful. Turns out, no one in my flat (apartments as they're called here) would arrive until three days later! I'm living in a UCL residence called Arthur Tattersall house, which is a collection of converted Victorian town houses turned nicely into flat-style buildings. Thankfully learning I was on the ground floor, I began the never simple task of moving my entire life into a dorm room. It is a plus, however, to live where I do, as the houses were originally intended for the wealthiest of London. As a result, my room is easily the size of a large Tufts double, my window goes from the floor to the 12 foot ceiling, and I have a fireplace!
I've never lived on my own this far from home before now. Growing up in northeast Connecticut, Tufts was only a short ride away. Now I've moved across an ocean, so I knew the transition wouldn't be easy. I struggled freshmen year at Tufts to get the hang of college life, and I was worried it would be even harder here. However, I've found that it's infinitely easier, thanks to the support of Tufts in London and the other Tufts students alongside me! We've had planned excursions during the days leading up to the start of classes and the time is passed so well I barely remember I'm alone in a foreign country! It' s incredible to have this support, and that system can only grow with the friends I make at UCL as well.
I also decided to take a day before saying farewell to my parents for a year to go around London and see the sights. We started at planning simply to visit Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, only to find ourselves four hours later on the other side of London, having seen as much as we could! We trekked all around the city to see the London Eye, parliament, and Buckingham Palace as well as sharing the sights of Trafalgar Square with about 30 million other tourists. It was a wonderful way to take a break from the stresses of knowing London is my home for the year and the unfamiliarity of starting at a new university.
I'll be registering for and starting classes soon, but for now, it's all about making London feel more like home!