Retarded

Update

I either do too much or too little because I haven't updated in many weeks. And that's my update.

England 2018 World Cup Bid

Even though London is getting the Olympics in 2 1/2 years, it seems like most people are more exciting by the possibility of getting the World Cup in 2018. Here's a pretty tight video England has made that features a lot of the sites in London. Keep an eye out for BT Tower and the swans in Regent's Park, that's where I live.

Stonehenge and Stuff

I went to Stonehenge and Bath and it was cool. Honestly though, Bath is actually pretty cool because every building is required to be made out of the same Bath sandstone, so the entire city has the exact same architecture. Hearing that, I went in thinking the city would just look ancient, especially with Roman Baths being the city's most famous attraction. Instead, all these ancient buildings are filled with Starbucks and Prets and Subways.

Doesn't Bath look exciting! Actually, these are just a few of the pictures I took there. This is more of what Bath looks like:
To the left of this picture is the new spa that is another of Bath's main tourist attractions now. They decided to reroute the water from the ancient Roman Baths to this new spa. It may the only building that incorporates glass into its design. It was designed by world-famous architects at Grimshaw Architects. Here's a picture of it, notice that it still has the sandstone structure though.
Check out more pictures from my trip to Stonehenge and Bath here.

Classes and Stuff

Lectures and classes have begun. And I'm 4 for 4 on professors teaching directly from Powerpoint. What did professors do before ppt? Writing on the chalkboard and overhead projectors I guess. Anyways, each lecture meets for 1-2 hours per week, and then I have a 1 hour class (basically a discussion section) each week as well. But what infuriates me is that professors are either unaware of what they are doing or are too confusing for their own good. For instance, in my government course, there are 4 assigned readings for next week, but all can only be found in the library. So, I go to the library to find them. For two of them, there is only one copy of the book in question. There are over 40 people in this course. How is this logical? But at least this course is resolute on what the assignment is. In other courses, there are essential and optional readings, but we are required to do the optional readings, and then further reading on top of that. In another course, there are 5 assigned textbooks, but we are told that we don't need them, we only need the course pack. Yet the professor a) doesn't know what the course pack includes and b) doesn't know where you can get it. I go to the library because I heard that's where course packs can be picked up, but not for that course I'm told. It may be electronic, I'm told. But this professor has yet to gain access to the LSE network, so there's no way the course pack is online either. It's floating in the ether.

I broke the bathroom. On Tuesday, a guy was repairing the bathroom (all the pipes in this city are Victorian water manes), so I couldn't use that bathroom, even though it was right outside my room. Then, yesterday, I went into the bathroom and saw this panel on the wall a little shifted and touched it, thinking it was a door. To where, I have no idea, but maybe a secret passage that will get me to school faster. Anyways, the panel comes crashing down and the guy cleaning the bathroom tells me to leave, even though I'm only wearing a towel. Now I'm afraid to go into my own bathroom. On top of that, as I write this, I hear a guy re-repairing the door, but because the bathroom is so close to my door, it sounds like he is actually nailing my door shut. It's so Cask of Amontillado.

They had an American party at the Tuns yesterday, and it was the lamest thing I've ever seen. My friends and I walk in, and there is literally no one on the dance floor, as if we traveled back in time to middle school. There was a shitty rockabilly music blaring over the speakers. And some John Wayne movie on the TVs. Great stereotyping. Thankfully they had beer pong, but on mini tables and you had to pay per pint for the beer, which makes each game a £7 affair.

It's going to rain again today, so I can't even go running.

Happy October

Check out more pictures from my Tour through London.

So, I lied. I didn't join the rugby team. I ended up going to the Party in the Park just to see how the game was played, but I came back with two main observations: Berrylands (the LSE playing fields) is way too far away (you have to take the tube to Waterloo, then take a train out) and the rugby guys are douchebags. Instead of playing a friendly game of rugby, they spent most of their time posing for topless pictures. Not really my thing. So, I wasted ten pounds there...

Check out where I live.

Thankfully the weather hasn't been too cold yet, but I still see people wearing their heavy wool coats. Just walking to school makes me sweat in my hoodie, I don't understand how anyone can possibly feel cold when it's never below 50 degrees.
One day while walking to school, wearing my Wu-Tang shirt, two guys came up to me and asked me if I liked Raekwon. Obviously, I do, so they gave me "free" passes to his concert that Saturday at Matter in the O2. As I walked away, I first checked to see if my wallet was still in my back pocket, then checked these passes. All they said on it was "Matter - Free Pass 3/9/09." Good enough for me, except that Saturday was 3/10/09. At this point, I wondered if he just messed up the date because it was still September or if he intentionally wrote the wrong date just to get me down to the O2. Nonetheless, I didn't go because I'm lazy.
My friend and I also went bar hopping one night and ended up at this bar called the Intrepid Fox, where everyone seemed to be dressed in leather. They also had numerous tattoos and whip scars on their arms and necks. Silver statues of naked women wearing gas masks adorned the walls. And to make the scene complete, metal blared over the speakers. The bar was a novelty, but was a bit on the pricey side. And it's not like I fit in wearing a Hurley hoodie and jeans.

Other stuff happened too since I last posted, like lectures and classes and explorations of the city and boat/booze cruises and other touristy stuff, but that's no fun.

Update

The past few days have been pretty busy with orientations, fairs, and shopping. So far I've been to Freshman Orientation, General Course Orientation, Accounting Orientation, Registration, Fresher's Fayre, and met with my Academic Advisor. Hours of my life lost with no gain.
I joined some clubs, the typical: Finance Club, Student Investment Club. Some new ones: Hummus Club, German Club. And some frightening ones: Rugby. That may be a mistake, but we'll soon see. When I asked the captain if there were any guys my size, he said there were smaller guys and that I'd never run into the big guys on the field. I didn't think the playing field was segregated like that, but what do I know about rugby anyways. I still think he's lying to me, especially because everyone I've seen so far is absolutely humongous. So far I've gotten a couple emails from the captain asking about my level of experience and detailing tryouts on Saturday. I'm not too afraid of getting hit, I mean I did play football for four years. I'm more afraid of not understanding the game and making some terrible mistake like making a forward pass or something. But then again, there are 3 teams for every level of ability and experience. I'm not even trying to move beyond the 3rd team. Though I imagine this will turn out like Bad News Bears, I bet I'm still the smallest guy on this team.
But despite the pain I will likely experience from rugby (I'm expecting to break my first bone!), the pain of trying to get a cellphone is so much worse. Firstly, as a Verizon customer, I couldn't unlock my phone from home because Verizon phones are unlockable. Secondly, when I first checked out a Cellphone Warehouse, they told me I could buy a pay as you go phone (a burner, if you will) or a 2 year contract. Not wanting either, I went next door to a Phones4u, where the guy told me about a monthly rolling plan that can be canceled at any time. 350 minutes and unlimited texts, sounds ideal. But here's where the trouble begins. To buy this sim card, I need a British debit card since they still have chips in them (so outdated). Without the chip, I couldn't buy anything but a pay as you go. So, I went to HSBC to ask if they could switch my US card to a UK card, but they couldn't do anything since my account was registered in California. So to get a new card, the bank in Fremont would have to request the card and send it to me. It's easier to just set up another bank account. So, I went back to HSBC with my passport and set up another account. But first I had to get a signed letter from LSE saying I was a permanent, though temporarily, resident of the UK. Then the bank manager had to email ad get confirmation that I had an HSBC account in the US. Once that was all done, the account was made, but the card won't be mailed to me for another week. Herein lies another problem, I don't know where the mailboxes are in my building or have a key to open them. God only knows what I'll need to get that key. And once I get this card and activate it, I'll have to transfer money into it, and then finally I'll be able to get this sim card. In the meantime, I got a pay as you go phone and simple £10 plan for a total of £15. At least I have a phone, but I'll have to go through the whole process of switching my number to my new plan once I get the new sim card. Why must this place be so complicated and convoluted?

There's more I want to say, but at this particular moment, I have to go back to campus (a 25-30 minute walk) so I can head over to Berrylands, LSE's athletic fields, for Party in the Park, another Orientation Event. More to come...

Day One

Ten hours on a plane, 24 hours and counting without sleep, but I'm in London.
London's not too different. lies. It's different. For one thing, the ground floor of a building isn't Floor 1. Also, all their electrical outlets have switches, so I didn't think my plugs were working for about five minutes. But I'll get to these strange differences in a second, let's first get to my adventures getting here.

Landing at around 6:48 AM, I cleared customs around 7:30 and was heading to school with my uncle around 8:15. I got to school at 9:05, about an hour early I thought. Wrong, I was 5 hours early. Ten AM check in begins tomorrow. I'm still a day early, which may explain why I realized I had nothing to do at all today.

Anyways, I headed back to my uncle's house, where I helped watch his kids and run errands. I also ate lunch at his mother's place. So much for my grand plans once I arrived in London. But around lunch time, I began to feel horrible. I almost wanted to throw up my chapatti. I was so tired, full, thirsty, and disoriented that I almost passed out in my food. But then it passed.

I got back to my dorm around 2 PM and got into my room with the help of my neighbor. My room is a single, and sized as such. There's a small desk and bed, a closet with too many shelfs, and a sink. The sink is a nice touch. But because I came a day early, my key will expire at 10 AM tomorrow. Apparently, I am signed up for a one day stay, then a continued stay. So, I need to get a new key for some reason. And this isn't the only annoying bureaucracy of being in England. They also wouldn't give me my ethernet cable because they were required to give them out tomorrow. They also had to reset my keycard three times already, and this is my temporary, one-day keycard.

But me being the supersmart compute wizz that I am, I got onto the LSE wireless network anyways. But the interwebs recognized that I wasn't in America anymore. Here are some examples of what happened when I went to may favorite sites:



I'm such a geek for finding any of that interesting. But here is the best part about the UK, by far:
That's BBC iPlayer, and I'm watching Top Gear, again.

Oh and here's what I saw on the A40 freeway into the city today:
Banksy telling me to slow down.

Guinness Extra Cold

My friend, who many years ago first introduced me to beer, studied in London this past summer. The first night I saw him after he'd returned, before I could even ask him how it was, he said three words, "Guinness Extra Cold." That's all. I love Guinness, the only guy among my friends at school who will drink the dark stuff, but I'd never heard of Extra Cold. I thought the beer was just cooled down. Nay!

Here's more awesome Guinness Extra Cold ads.

Well, actually that's what it is. Guinness Extra Cold is normal Guinness fed through a super cooler until it reaches 3.5°C, which is like 38.3°F, just above freezing. For that reason, it has it's own draught tap at bars and pubs. Yet for some reason, people have this strange stereotype about British people that they like their beer warm.
From what I hear, from this one friend, the beer is so cold and smooth that it's almost thick. Some will complain that it's too cold, but their dumb, not that I've even tried it yet. So they may be right, but only time will tell.
I've been trying to figure out what to do when I first get to London and have time to kill before getting into my room. Usually, I like to do something authentic whenever I go somewhere, even though that suddenly sounds really pretentious. For instance, whenever I come home, I like to go to In N Out or a Taqueria. So, I was thinking, dreaming really, that the first thing I'll do when I get there will be to find a pub and get a beer, a legal beer, my first since I was last in London. But at 8 AM and being severely jet-lagged, that may be strange and/or moronical. I guess it can wait until later that night. Still, I'll probably have to get breakfast when I get there, seeing as it'll be the early morning (midnight at home). But an English breakfast? Probably not. I've heard they serve decent meals in pubs, so I might do that. I'll see if any nearby pubs have breakfast/Guinness Extra Cold.
At worst, Guinness found an excuse to come up with some kick-ass new ads, especially the video above. That's a play on my favorite ad of all time, which is here:

Garrett.

Anxiety-Induced Insomnia

Why is it that I only post at 1Am? Maybe that's the only time when I am bored enough to do so. Nonetheless, with only 3 days left in America, I am beginning to freak out, and not just because I just started packing. Aside from the obvious fear of being overwhelmed by everything in London, I am really just wondering how everything will turn out once I get there, the unexpected...

Thankfully my Mom contacted her cousin, whose husband's brother lives in London, and who will be able to pick me up from the airport. Though I was initially hesitant at having to depend on the far-reaching powers of family (I am independent, that's what going to London is meant to symbolize!), I am grateful that this will be one less worry for me. I could imagine it now: me landing at 7AM in London, trying to transport four bags through Heathrow, while wondering how and who I should contact. I'd struggle trying to dial a number because I'd sit there wondering how to dial a + sign. Then I'd have to use the limited money (£) I had to get a train ticket into London. Once I dragged all my bags onto a train, I'd arrive in the city and have to pull the four bags through the train station until I found the Underground and got another train that would drop me off somewhere near Carr-Saunders Hall. Then, I'd have to drag the bags the numerous blocks until I actually got there. At this point, I'd be sweaty and gross and exhausted, but hey, I made it. Instead, I'll have help loading the bags into a car and have door-to-door service to my hall. Why was I so childish to initially refuse the help of others? Idiot...
Still, I'm scared shitless. It's gotten to the point where I'm listening to my Holiday (to be politically correct) playlist that is usually reserved for December. Christmas music is so cheerful and calming, yet it has an air of expectancy, and that's what I need right now. Too bad Christmas is still 94 days away (thanks Wolfram Alpha). Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

While I was trying to fall asleep, I realized one flaw in this plan. If my plane lands at 6:55AM (GMT?), then the latest I would arrive at Carr-Saunders would be 9AM (and that's if it takes forever to get my bags and get into the city), which is still an hour before I am able to check-in and get into my room. Lame...what will I do while I wait to get my room? It'll be like when you get on a cruise ship and they still have to load your luggage into your room, so in the meantime, you explore the ship. So, I'll explore London, maybe get a phone or find a grocery store or a pub. But it's the walking around the city, even at 9AM on a Saturday, that frightens me. I already feel like an impostor, an interloper (my new favorite word, after maladroit), and worst, a tourist. And even without these retarded, unprovoked feelings, I'm sure I'll get lost, but all the better to kill time I guess.

Oh yeah, another thing, this whole thing in London is still one of my four years in college. Education is supposed to happen. So that means I need school supplies, right? Like notebooks and calculators? I'm still wondering if it's a joke that students in England don't buy textbooks. I wonder if I'll be the only kid in class who doesn't have a book, and that's if I can figure out which classes I'm in. I registered online for my classes, but it doesn't seem like LSE is too intent on letting us know what's going on. So far, I don't know if I'm for sure living in Carr-Saunders, what room, whether I bought linens, what classes I'm in, if the classes I want are available, when classes take place...but I do know how I can get to Wales or Scotland on the cheap! Maybe that's something else I can go pick up Saturday morning. Though in reality I think I may pass out on the sidewalk outside my residence hall and wait for all the 17 and 18 year old English kids who'll inevitably live in my building to rob me. Like stealing candy from a stupid, jet-lagged American.

Thank God for Frank Sinatra, that man's voice can calm a tiger. Are tigers in need of calming? Probably in the way I'm in need of sleep. But then again, what does it matter? I'm moving 8 time zones away in 3 days. To acclimate with that schedule, I'd have to be nocturnal. So, fuck it, I say, I'll just screw up my internal clock, reset if you will, so that when I get to London, I'll just be exhausted beyond belief. I think the best way to beat jet lag would be to combine every remedy I've ever heard of. So, first things first, I'll fast for about a day beforehand, drinking only water to stay hydrated. Then I'll stretch repeatedly to keep the muscles from tightening. And keep away from the booze while sitting in the sunlight. This sounds like a game I used to play when I was a kid, only back then, I would stare at the sun while pretending to be a Power Ranger. Power Rangers don't get jet lag!

In the end, I guess it's the fear of the unknown, the new, that plagues me. But isn't this something I should welcome? We shall see... (PS, Ratatat is some solid music at this hour.) But besides all the obvious fears, I'm also afraid I'm going to blow up my iPod by plugging it into the wall the wrong way...or something else preposterous like getting arrested in a Tesco for not signing my credit cards. Someone smart once said, "Expect the best, prepare for the worst." I do the opposite by expecting the best and that's it. God, I'm so fucking lazy.

Anyways, expect pictures of red buses and telephone booths (which I may be dependent on for the first few days) in about a week. I don't know what to expect, but those two are safe bets.

What to Expect?

Having returned from Georgetown, I now face the fact that I am only days away from moving to London. The whole moving to a new country/continent doesn't bother me that much, nor does the new school/style of education. My biggest worry is the social factor. Who will I hang out with? I've made friends here who are going to LSE, but I wonder if I'll actually see them that often when I'm over there. Or will I hang out with only Georgetown kids? That seems to defeat the point of going abroad to me.

Whenever I go on Facebook and see yet another new gallery of my friends in other foreign countries, I can only help but wonder if I'll have pictures like these posted. Will I suddenly create these friends who will want to go to Amsterdam, Wales, and Scotland with me? Will they want to watch a match at Emirates? Or will they only be into hitting the pubs? I guess I can only do my best to make some friends and not worry too much about it.

Another question I have is whether or not I will actually care or do much schoolwork. But that's a less important issue...

Hash House Harriers

Hashing is the activity in which you run in a group, following a trail left by the "hare" (imagine Hansel and Gretel). Then, once you done running, or sometimes, while you're running, you drink beer. It's a running and drinking club, basically. I enjoy running, and the idea of a "drinking club with a running problem" sounds cool, I imagine this will turn out like my Dad's hiking group, a bunch of weird, eccentric old people with a strange superiority complex trying to stay in shape while having fun with like minded people. Hashing sounds awesome enough that I just might have to check one of these out, especially because it seems like a really British thing to do.
At the same time, living so close to Regent's Park, I may just stick to running there. But if that becomes repetitive or boring, it may be nice to get out and learn about some new routes like I did with the tri team at school. And there's beer afterwards! Running the city has always been my favorite way to learn about a new city, so hashing may be a good fit for me.

I just wish there was an LSE hashing club (kennel) so that I could run with people my age. At least that way, I'm meeting people my age.

Visa: Go

Today, September 2nd, 2009, I finally received my UK visa. And of all the days to have it, for today I had my wisdom teeth removed. It's not like it's some grand coincidence, but I had imagined me staring at the UPS package tracking site as if my visa had a GPS tracker on it. I imagined running to the door and signing for my visa and passports. But instead I has high on nitrous oxide, lying in a bed looking like a chipmunk.

But when I got home, the package was waiting. Anti-climatic, but it really should be. All the worry was unnecessary, but hindsight has good eyesight or whatever. Anyways, now that this is done, my mom is finally comfortable buying me a plane ticket over there, and more importantly a peacoat. Labor Day sales, here I come.

But here's my real question: What if I hadn't gotten my visa? What would I have done then? It's too late to try to return to Georgetown as a junior, as classes began last week. I instead imagined going to the UK anyways and living the life of an illegal immigrant. Or would I have had to take the year off and live at home and find a way to get my tuition back from Georgetown? Thank God I didn't have to resort to any of these scenarios.

Another thing I also wonder is this: If for some reason I couldn't go to England, would I still care about football (soccer)? Would I still look forward to watching Top Gear on TV? What would I tell my friends? It's a horrible scenario, where I can see only one positive emerging (aaspacio), but that's an entirely separate issue.

Now I actually have to worry about what life in London will be like. Damn, that's exciting. I can actually look forward to my time in the UK without those stupid, unnecessary worries.

Still Waiting...

I'm still waiting for any indication from the British consulate about my Visa application. I sent it a couple weeks ago, so it could come any day now or in another month. I have no idea.

Other Shit

Edinburgh looks cool. That is all.

Visa Application Sent

Last Friday, I got my biometrics done. A simple fingerprinting and passport picture later, and I was able to send my entire Visa application. So, this morning it was sent to the British consulate in LA. I wonder how long it will take to hear back. For some reason, I'm nervous about not getting a visa.

77 Days...

It's 1:40 AM on a Friday morning and I don't want to sleep. It probably has something to do with that article I read a couple hours ago saying that "night owls" operate best around 9 PM and that no matter what strange measures they go to in order to become morning people, they will always remain night people, like vampires. So, why fight it? Having woke up at 11 AM today/yesterday, staying up this late isn't a big deal.

Enough on that, a few days ago, Tuesday I think, I received my Welcome Packet from LSE. It included all the documents I had to sign and send back to London, including my course selection and a picture form for my ID. Of course I messed up my signature so it looks like my 4 year old cousin tried to write my name.

I've been lifting a lot recently, still hoping I'll be big enough to play rugby when I go over there. But, still, I am wondering, anxious and nervous, whether rugby is a good idea. It'll be tough meeting new people and making friends otherwise, so it probably is a good idea, despite my hesitations. I wonder how much bigger I can get in the next 77 days. Still, I'm only 5'7" (around 170 cm), which is short for any position. Then again, I did play high school football, so why should this be any different. Because it's England, not San Jose, duh.

I've also begun the process of applying for a visa. It's a pretty straight-forward process so far, considering I haven't done anything besides typing in some cities and countries into an online form. I did hit a few speed bumps though. But that's another issue entirely, not anything to do with LSE or the UK.

Bored, it's now 1:49, which means I'm 9 minutes closer to England than when I started this post. But still no closer to sleep...

Bank Account

I haven't posted recently because nothing new has occurred that would warrant a new a post. I did however get an international bank account that works in the UK, this is good because it allows me to begin the visa application process. Also, I now have a legitimate British bank account, so depositing and withdrawing money should be much easier.

I will begin the visa application soon, but I am still waiting on a few documents from Georgetown/LSE. But in other, somewhat related news, I have convinced my mother to let me go back to DC before I head off to London. I'll probably be in DC sometime in the earlier weeks of September. This isn't at all important, but it gives me something to post about.

End of the Year

I honestly don't know if I've ever been this depressed and happy before. This feeling is reminiscent of the end of high school, but it's hurts a little more. I think it's because I can't take solace in the fact that while I won't get to see my friends again, I won't be missing out because all my other friends are gone too. Now, I am missing an entire year. It's the same feeling I had when all my friends went to Delaware over summer, but expanded over many, many months. Every joke, every event, every hookup, every meal. I am missing the daily life of college with my boys. Right now, I do regret going abroad for as long as I am.

At times, I definitely hated all these guys, especially when they infiltrated my room and would demand to "smash." But it's these small things that I am going to miss. How will I get by without releasing my pent up anger on them?

I really am looking forward to going to London, but I don't want to miss out on a year at Georgetown. I overlooked this feeling of brotherhood and nostalgia that I already feel for this place. And though my last final is in 23 minutes, I can consider myself a junior. Half-way done with college. That frightens me, especially when I think that I've spent two years with these guys and I only one more year left.

As Asher Roth said, "Do I really have to graduate, or can I just stay here for the rest of my life?" I definitely have my reservations about this school. Don't get me wrong, it has many, many flaws. But I love my friends, and after living with them for two years, I can say that I have a connection with them that will be hard to replicate again in London. And though our bonds are strong, can it survive a year apart? What will happen when I come back August 2010. So many months away, thank god for facebook, email, and ichat.

Banksy

Cool Video About London

I found this video on the blog Tier 1 London, it's strange and interesting...

Missing Georgetown

Yesterday was Georgetown Day, the annual day of drinking and revelry that celebrates the end of the school year. And after spending all day just lazing around with my friends, I realize that I am going to miss this place next year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not second-guessing my decision to go to LSE, but I'm definitely as anxious about going. I wouldn't mind putting it off for a little bit. I am going to miss all these morons I call friends. I don't want to miss all the small things that happen like Vic breaking his ankle or Decker getting locked out of his room after a shower or Dave and Pat's constant bitching about crew. And it's so much worse considering the living situation next year. Instead of living with 7 of my best friends in 2 apartments, I'll be in a single in London. Not only that, but all my other friends will be in the same apartment complex.

But this pseudo-nostalgia for what might be is completely dependent on my mood. I'm in a good mood right now, in a lull between all the schoolwork. But I know that if I had a lot of work or if I was in a bad mood, like last week, I'd hate this place and want nothing more to leave. But now that I am recognizing the good things about this place, I am a little hesitant. Given there's nothing I can do now though. But it's London, that's far, really far away.

I guess I just need to keep in mind that LSE will be school and work, but it will also be a great, new experience that I can't get anywhere else. Like everything else in life, I want to keep a balance in my emotions and view of London. Moderation...that's what I've learned in college, right?

Orientation

Yesterday, I had my official study abroad orientation. Along with the other students going to LSE, there were students studying at Glasgow, Oxford, St. Andrews, and other British schools. But by and far most of the students were heading for LSE this fall. From what I could glean, many of the students were just as excited as I am. It honestly reminded me of second semester senior year of high school. Everyone was gossiping about what they had heard about the program. Nearly every sentence began with, "I heard..." or "My friend said that..." People were bragging about how they knew people there and already had friends. So, I was correct in thinking this whole process and experience of preparing to go to London would be very similar to the whole process of coming to Georgetown.

Liz, my study abroad adviser, let us in on some information that we did not know before. For one thing, the UK changed their student visa policy just 8 days ago. The process used to be relatively simple, like any other visa application. Now, however, it's almost like a full background check. They request my actual passport, financial records, a letter from LSE and Georgetown, an itinerary, and a biometrics scan. I had heard that the Brits were very concerned with security, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

I also found out that British students don't buy books in college. Instead, the school library has multiple copies of each book assigned, and students must go to the library and rent the books for a few hours to do the assignment. So, while I hardly ever go to Lau now, it looks like I will be at the LSE library pretty often (if I decide to do my work in a timely manner). And from what I hear, the LSE library is equivalent to the Library of Congress, which is absolutely incredible. I could enjoy studying there.

Afterwards, we got to talk to some returning students. Some of the info was frightening, some exciting, some confusing. One of the students had studied finance while at LSE and echoed what others had said that FM300 (which I am planning on taking) is incredibly difficult. Multiple Georgetown students failed apparently. They also said getting cellphones is really simple since most phones are pay-as-you-go. Getting bank accounts might be difficult, and it's easier to get accounts here that work there (Bank of America). One thing I found really interesting was that there's a pub in London called Boudin that is a Georgetown bar. They show Georgetown games and Georgetown expats and grads all hang out there. I don't know how often I'll go there, but that is pretty exciting. Most of what the students discussed was where to get great food and cheap drinks. It seems like the whole experience was more important to them than the studying and anything else. They seemed most excited about the pubs and countries they visited, rather than the classes they took. They recommended restaurant after restaurant as if we'd remember any of them. At one point, one of the girls ust broke down and cried, "Mango lassis!" Clearly they loved Brick Lane and the Indian food in London.

But one other thing I noticed was that the returning students didn't seem to do many of the things we were most excited about. They rarely went to football matches and went on few of the school trips. While we were sitting there talking, the other students going abroad next year kept saying how they wanted to go to every soccer stadium, go to every concert, see every country. Just like how we all came to Georgetown saying that we couldn't wait to explore DC and do all these great things. I'm pretty sure the whole experience will be incredible, but I am absolutley sure that my expctations are skewed and highly misguided. I remember thinking this morning, "Hey, I'm in Washington DC now, this is where I live," and it didn't affect me. Yet at the same time, I constantly think to myself, "In five months, I will move to London. I will live in London." And I remember feeling the same way before I left California two years ago. I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, I just don't want to get my hopes up and be disappointed. In the end, it's still school isnt' it?

I don't mean to say that I'm not so excited I often start daydreaming about what life in London will be like. I just mean that I know that London won't be what I imagine in my head. That doesn't mean it will be better or worse, it's just that I can't possibly imagine what day-to-day life will be like. In the end, orientation was pretty eye-opening and like every other mention of London, got me all excited to finally go. Too bad it's still over 5 months away...

What I'll Miss About Georgetown

I think this will be easier as a list.

1. My friends
2. Living in an apartment with my friends
3. A small campus
4. Being in the same time zone as my friends
5. (Somewhat) close to home
6. The opportunity to study in the new MSB building
7. Sports teams I understand: football, baseball and hockey on TV
   
8. American internet access
   
9. The strange power and thrill of Washington DC

Is is good or bad that I can't think of any more at the moment?

Blogging for OIP

My main motivation behind beginning this blog was to have a journal of sorts where I could write down my thoughts from London. I thought of it as an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family. But I was inspired by the blogs I saw on OIP's website. I read those posts hoping to gain some understanding of what fears and goals the other students studying abroad might have. The blog is great. There was even a guy who wrote from LSE, but he stopped updating after December. Anyways, I recently received an e-mail from OIP about becoming a travel correspondent. I don't know if I should do this since knowing myself, I will give up on this blog and their's pretty quickly. We'll see, maybe I will apply.

Traveling While Abroad

Like any student that plans to go abroad, I hope that I'll be able to visit some other places in the region while I'm there. I was hoping that I'd be able to backpack through Europe with my brother during the Easter break in March/April, but it's looking like he will most likely come visit me during summer, once I am finished with my exams. Based on the map above, I have clearly been to much of Europe (red pins), but there are even more places I'd like to visit (yellow pins). I didn't add any pins to Eastern Europe because I honestly would rather see Western Europe. I've been to the major cities like Florence, Paris, Barcelona, London, Naples, Zurich, and Amsterdam. But I still haven't been to Berlin, Munich (or anywhere in Germany for that matter), Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Brussels, Vienna, or Budapest. So, with the extensive time I will have between the second and third term at LSE, I hopefully will get to go explore more of Europe. I am guessing that through the program I will get to visit Scotland and Stonehenge and perhaps even Dublin or Belfast. Like my brother, I do have a strange affinity for Ireland. Initially I considered studying a semester in Dublin, but that idea was nixed pretty quickly. I'll have to figure out all this travel stuff while I'm over there, but I know about and have stayed in hostels before. I have taken the cheap flights like RyanAir and Easyjet before as well, and I'm even familiar with the trains, so this whole process shouldn't be too stressful. Nonetheless, thinking about all the places I'll get to visit while abroad only makes me more excited though. And that doesn't help the fact that I am still sitting here in Washington, DC waiting until my next class starts.

Also, on a side note: the gerund form of travel is traveling, but it's travelling in the UK. Which spelling should I use?

Housing

Earlier this week I found out that I had been placed in Carr-Saunders Hall for next year, in a single. Under my parents' guidance, I requested a twin room. I was against the idea, but my parents sought to lower the cost of the entire experience by having me share a room. Nonetheless, I was placed in a single anyways, and apparently it's nearly impossible to switch out of this placement. I'm not complaining, but it is a sore point for my parents.

Anyways, now that I have housing, I have spent hours looking at maps of London trying to figure out if I remember this area from when I last visited London two years ago (I don't.) Basically, Carr-Saunders Hall is in the Fitzrovia neighborhood, which itself lies in between the Borough of Camden and the Town of Westminster. The neighborhood is filled with advertising agencies and media companies such as MTV Europe and CNN Europe. There are also quite a few architecture firms in the neighborhood. Fitzrovia is in central London, as indicated by its postal code, W1 WC1, which means Fitzrovia is on the West side of London, but still very close to the center of the city. There are many famous London attractions in the area such as Regent's Park and the West End. I'm fairly confident I'll find some fun running trails through the park and that I'll see at least one show in the West End.

Just across the street from the hall is BT Tower. So, every morning when I leave my building, I will get to look up and see a giant building covered in satellite dishes. I bet if the communication singnals of the tower weren't shut off, this would increase my chances of getting cancer. The building is now used mostly for environmental studies on air quality.


Carr-Saunders is one of the smallest buildings at LSE, with only 156 residents. I feel like I am bound to meet every one of these people and like my freshman year at Georgetown, these will most likely be my closest friends at school. I am guessing the the smaller building provides for a more intimate, social atmosphere, which is what I was looking for in a residence. It would absolutely suck to have no friends while abroad. Other features of Carr-Saunders include a dining hall and a pub, both of which I was hoping for. The meals at the dining hall, which look more like a kitchen in a hotel, are pretty cheap (£3.50), which will allow me to save money since I won't have to constantly eat out. It will also save me time since I won't have to cook for myself that often.

Small side note: I wonder how I make a pound sign on an American computer. I probably have to switch my computer to UK settings.

The building also offers pillows and duvets, which makes one less thing I will need to buy in London. A single in a London building will probably be pretty small, but that is fine with me. I won't have my bike or shelves with me, so I think I'll be able to manage in a smaller space.

One issue with living at Carr-Saunders is that the building across the street will be under construction during the early part of the first term. And knowing construction, it will probably extend through the next term as well. But I figure I won't be in my room all that much during the day, so it shouldn't be that big of an issue. Also, the building is a 20-25 minute walk away from campus, which on the one hand is annoying, but also gives me an excuse to explore the city each day. There are buses and tube stops nearby, which I will have to learn to use, but I'm not averse to walking.

Now all I need to do is pay my £200 deposit and a room in Carr-Saunders will be mine...

Tale of Two Cities

I like Dickens insomuch as I've watched The Wire. I also enjoyed Great Expectations. But that is not what I meant to say in this blog post. Instead I recently discovered a recurring column in Georgetown's The Hoya written by a student at LSE this year. I don't know why I never realized this column before.

Unionview

Here's a cool site about UK universities. It has a pretty detailed video on LSE and the different benefits and drawbacks of studying there.
http://www.unionview.com/

Tougher than Leather

Already I am getting e-mails from LSE about my course load. Apparently I signed up for classes that are way beyond my abilities. Since British schools are on a three year system instead of on a four year system as in America, the 300-levels for which I signed up are too difficult and advanced for me. Of the four courses I'll be taking, I signed up for three 300-levels and one 200-level. In reality, as the General Course adviser has described, my courses should reflect the opposite situation (i.e. one 300-level and three 200-levels). So, I now have to go through the course list once again and pick lower level classes that will still transfer to my MSB business core. So far I hav settled on the following courses:

Government-two govt reqs (minor)
GV265 States, Nations and Empires
GV227 The Politics of Economic Policy

Finance-two finance courses (major)
FM212 Principles of Finance
FM300 Corporate Finance, Investments and Financial Markets

Operational Management-two business core II reqs
OR202 Operational Research Methods
MN201 Economics for Management
MN203 Social Science Research Methods for Management

Geography and Environment-IB one course for major
GY244 London's Geographies: An Introduction to Cultural and Historical Geography
GY202 Introduction to Development in the South
GY205 Political Geographies, Policy and Space
SA217 Psychology of Crime and Criminal Justice

If all goes according to plan, I will get credit for 7 required courses and 1 elective course. I still don't understand how this corresponds to 30 credits for the year, but it does. This means that during my senior year back at Georgetown I will only have to take 6 more courses to earn my two majors and my minor. In reality, I have space to earn a third MSB major, but they don't allow it, so I guess I will just end up taking a few elective courses or get a long-term internship.

I'm dumb

So Liz said that foreign students (me) aren't allowed in the Department of Finance for whatever reason, so they place us all in the accounting department. It's all the same I guess. Good to know. I worried for nothing, who would have thought.

LSE Unconditional Offer

Well, check this out. It looks like I got in to LSE. This is awesome news. I get to feel all the anxiety and excitement that came with preparing to go to college for the first time. This almost seems like a second chance to do college. The one problem I have is the fact that I have been placed in the Department of Accounting instead of the Department of Finance. I don't know what this means, but I'd rather have finance advisors and counselors, especially because I won't be taking any accounting courses.

London School of Economics
Applicant ID Number--

Dear Mr Akshay Bhatia,

Further to your application for LSE’s study abroad programme I’m delighted to be able to offer you a place on the General Course for the academic year 2009-10. Congratulations!
...

Pictures of London

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/london_from_above_at_night.html
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/more_of_london_from_above_at_n.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/britainfromabove/stories/visualisations/planes.shtml

Those pictures frighten me. I can't imagine living in a city that large. Sure I live in a city of 600,000 right now, but I don't exist beyond the neighborhood of 10,000. At LSE, I will exist in the city itself. I have to navigate and find my way through all of this. It's way beyond New York if I had gone to NYU too since at NYU, I would have still stayed in one (very, very rich) neighborhood. At LSE, I may live 45 minutes away from the school. I will have to use the Tube everyday. I'll have to go shopping everyday for groceries and find food each day. This is way beyond Georgetown or what college has been so far. I may have to cook meals for myself each night. Perhaps I am in over my head. Holy shit.

http://www.jasonhawkes.com/

LSE Receipt

I recently received an e-mail from LSE's General Course:

Thank you for submitting your material for the General Course in 2009-10 and for considering LSE as your study abroad destination. The status of your application is indicated below.

Your application is complete.

It will now be considered and a decision issued by e-mail within 7 working days. Please only contact us to confirm the status of your application after this period.

For some reason, I am actually kind of nervous about the application. I know I shouldn't be, but nevertheless, anxiety consumes me.

NFL UK

So, I registered my interest to purchase tickets for the annual game in London. This year the game will be between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots. Though I don't care for any team, the game will be held in Wembley Stadium, and if I don't go to this game, I doubt I ever have another chance to attend an event there.

So, yesterday, I got my PIN to buy tickets, yet I don't know what I should do. On the one hand, I would love to see this game at Wembley. It's one of those things I will only get to do while studying in London. On the other hand, I would have to go alone since I don't know anyone else at LSE yet. And it's incredibly expensive with the exchange rate and British prices. This doesn't bother me as much since I thought I'd be able to sell my ticket in the event I didn't go. However, after looking online, I've found that I'd have to spend an extra $20 (13.50 pounds) in order to have the tickets shipped to me instead of paying 4.50 pounds to hold the tickets at the box office. If they are held though, I wouldn't be able to sell them. On top of that, apparently the NFL restricts the resale of tickets online, so I may not be able to sell them anyways.

So, I pretty much decided to not buy the tickets. But I am still considering it. I don't know, I just don't know.

Weird Thoughts

I find myself thinking/worrying about what London will be like. I worry about wandering around the place alone, trying to find my way around the city. I worry most about not making friends. I am terrible at opening up and making friends quickly, and the fact that many of the students will already have a set of friends makes this quandary slightly more terrifying. Money will be another problem. How stingy will I have to be? Will my folks give me any money? Cell phone? Insurance? Bank Account? So many random thoughts. But it makes sense, I will be living in another country. Do showers work the same way? Laundry? I bet I break some random law pretty early on.

Still though, I have another semester at Georgetown before I even need to worry about heading over. I still have 5 more classes and many clubs I need to work through in the next five months. There are going to be many moments in the upcoming months that I don't want to miss because I am focused solely on London. And, fuck it, what's the worst that could happen?