you're a wizard harry.

I can't believe I'm really HERE. Living in London (the flight was terribly long, but so worth it). I'm already completely in love with this place. I feel like I'm living on the set of a movie. I really didn't sleep much at all on the flight (even though I was told many times that I must). BUT, good news! I ended up sitting next to my travel buddy Olivia because no one showed up in the seat next to her. And after I went through customs (where the lady drilled me with difficult questions that completely caught me off-guard) I felt just like Harry when he goes off to Hogwarts. Making my way to somewhere new, and somewhere magical. Took a taxi (on the wrong side of the road) to the BYU London Centre (notice the re). Will definitely need to get used to the cars being on the wrong side of the road (side note: I've also noticed it is difficult with people walking down the street. When you see someone coming towards you, you think traffic rules right?? At least I do...I go right, they go right. Well here, I've realized, they will always go left. I still go right though...so it gets awkward)

We all tried so hard to not go to sleep all day long (one of the longest days of my life) and filled our time with very worth-while things:

• Went to Burger King (at 10am for a whopper)
• Went to a mall (H&M a stupid nd Zara included...nothing purchased)
• Took a stroll in Hyde Park (think Finding Neverland) (there was also a pond) (and Grace thought she was the Swan Princess)
• Lounged in the sun on chairs we were supposed to pay to sit in (he didn't make us pay)(it was delightful)
• Saw lots of people paying their respects (lots of flowers, poems, cards, photographs) to Princess Diana (13 years ago to the day, she died) (us stupid americans were told this by a snobbish british woman) at a memorial spot at Kensington Palace
• Ate dinner with the group at the Centre (it was really good, too)
• Then went again to Hyde Park to study (and try really hard not to fall asleep)
• We're currently at McDonalds (more specifically "the cloud" WiFi zone) (London comes ALIVE at night)

(I hope you're enjoying all of my parentheses as much as I am)

Just a little insight into the life that is slowly starting to be mine. Today was really long and full of fatigue, but I'm hoping tomorrow will be filled with even more excitement. We will be having our first adventures with the TUBE.
My professor, Dr. Seely, told us tonight that just by being here (in a place like London), you can't help but grow.
And that's exactly what I'm lookin' to do.

pictures will be coming soon.