Meanwhile, back in Hampstead...

today marks my two-week anniversary of abroad-itude, and i must say time is doing its somewhat familiar but always-surprising warp, where i feel like i've only just gotten here but left home so very long ago. perhaps the days all seem to clump together because of the weather patterns, if "pattern" is the right word (see above, if it's legible). sometimes when i wake up and (try to) go running it has rained already and is foggy and dim, and other days it's about to rain, and is foggy and dim. though i maintain that i am head-over-heels for this city, i no longer question the somewhat dejected faces of the people walking by me in their routines relatively uninterrupted by the weather, something i have quite counted on in the past without realizing it. to meagerly compensate, i have taken to wearing as many annoyingly bright colors as possible.

classes still have yet to start, too, which makes me feel like i'm just a tourist. i've taken advantage of this position, however, and have taken bad touristy photos at: buckingham palace, the houses of parliament, the london eye, big ben, big ben from farther away, old unidentified cobblestone roads between cramped old buildings, myriad parks with ladies in high heels walking their terriers and older dignified british men awkwardly jogging in mismatched waterproof sweatgear. and the shopping. oh bother.

i've met a bunch of brits in my dorm, who are very nice but in the midst of exams. i also have a great small group of americans with whom i've been exploring, and after a certain wonderful experience on monday, have established that we're going to meet every week for (ready?) Monday Drag Queen Bingo Bar Night (as Timberlina explains "because it's bingo, in a bar, at night!" and everyone always thinks this is uproariously funny). discount beer, £1 a game, colorful roaming lights, and abba, queen, and so much more. what more could you need on a monday evening?

had an overwhelming-in-every-way weekend with hansel (as always) who was visiting on his way home to oxford, and some quality time with chris sutliff as he was passing through.

and i'm purely happy for the first time in a long while. much of it is being able to make my own schedule (still packed, but in a good way), and knowing that i'll be able to go as quickly or as slowly as i want for the next five months. i'm on my own a lot, too, which for whatever reason gives me so much good perspective and energy. i'm going to a London Symphony concert next week by myself and haven't looked more forward to a concert...ever.

so that's life on my dot on the map. i'll be here walking around, waiting to start the studying part of my study-abroad next week... stay in touch, as always.