Just Touched Down in London Town

So I am here. After telling people for months that I was going to be studying in London the surrealness has worn off and reality has set in. The first day here was miserable to say the least. Sorry, I am not going to sugar coat my blog. It was cold, I was jet lagged, I felt dizzy, I had to walk up seven flights of stairs to get to my room, and I nearly fell off my top bunk a time or two. I just wanted to turn around and go back home. But things have gotten much better. The BYU Centre is pretty amazing, I switched to a bottom bunk in room one and things are going smoother. I think once classes have started and jet lag has completely worn off I wont want to return home despite how much I miss it now.
I have begun to realize the magnitude of the city and how little time I actually have to see everything. I feel anxious to get out and do and see things because I realize that four months is not all that much. On Friday we arrived at about noon and we unpacked and they sent us on a walk around the neighborhood. I don't think any of us were prepared for how cold it was going to be. It's cold in Utah and when the thermostat reads 29 you shiver. But here in London it's not just cold, it's cold to your bones cold. As in you don't just feel cold when it is 29 degrees you become the cold. I can't explain it but it probably has something to do with humidity. So after a dazed walk where we got a little lost we went back to the centre and ate and sort of had a group meeting. I don't remember much because I was so tired so I will just tell you about Saturday.
I woke up at like 9 am after having slept 12 hours straight and a few girls and myself decided to complete one of our assigned walks in the business district of London. But first we set off for Portabello market. It was pretty crowded and I will have to go back there when it isn't so cold but there are all sorts of vendors. Then we set off on the tube for the "City Walk" but since it was Saturday this area of London was dead, the stores weren't open and there were hardly any people around. It was still a cool walk and we got some good photos which I will post.
I miss home but I am excited for the semester. I think it will progress into a better adventure than I can forsee now because homesickness tends to cloud things a little bit. Anyways I better get posting my photos!

This is us on the jet lagged walk the first day. My attempts at navigating got us lost.

This is the group of girls I was with on Saturday touring the empty business district. This nice old man and his wife took this photo for us. He then proceeded (much to the chagrin of his wife) to explain that this church was the church Scrooge could here church bells from in A Christmas Carol). He was a cute British man. I suppose everyone with a British accent has some charm sort of charm right now though.

Here are a few of us walking home from church today through kensington gardens. That is the pond behind us. I have been wearing my down coat everywhere because it's too cold for any of my other coats.

This is one of the many alleys that are snuggled behind the larger streets. Imagine trying to advertise your business when it's tucked away in here. Needless to say parking is slim.