All Moved In

Leaving home is never easy, and this time it seemed especially difficult.  At moments I was literally shaking with emotion - worry, nervousness, and of course excitement.  Though all my worry was for nought because getting here really could not have been easier.  Despite having an overweight bag, the fee was reasonable.  My flights were uneventful and there was free internet for my layover in Toronto!  

But nothing was so wonderful as getting off a long flight (totally dazed from jetlag and trying to hall more than my body weight in luggage across Heathrow) to find some other King's students waiting to welcome me into my new life.  They did everything but pick me up and carry me to my train!

Though I debated taking a cab, just for ease, the Express train takes you right from Heathrow to Paddington station - a 5 minute walk from my flat.  While those 5 minutes were more like 15 with my bags, it really was marvelously simple to get to Lillian Penson Hall.  

Once arriving, I was told I couldn't check into my room till 2pm (I had arrived around 10am).  However, this gave me the opportunity to leave my bags behind and wander my new neighborhood. With Paddington just 5 miles to my north, Hyde Park is just 5 miles south.  I walked through the park for a good hour, said hi to my new neighbors - Will and Kate, and saw all sorts of little British dogs.  I'll definitely be spending a lot of time in the park - rain or shine!

After I moved into my flat and picked up jaw from the floor (it's so perfect for me!), I struggled to stay awake long enough to buy a few groceries.  I ended up going to sleep around 6pm, and was slightly worried that I wouldn't sleep through the night.  Silly me, I should've had more faith in how awesome a sleeper I am!  I woke up at 8am - that's right 14 hours!  Mom and Dad, be so surprised! ;)

There'll be more posts to come in this next week, but for now here's what you have all been waiting for... Pictures!

Welcome! Don't mind how jet-lagged I still look/am.

My bed!

My desk and dresser! - there's also a wardrobe next to the dresser that you can't see.

My kitchen! - fridge not pictured

My bathroom!  Always a difficult shot - the shower is missing from the picture.

And finally, my view!  If you could see past those trees and buildings, you'd see Hyde Park.