Such stuff as dreams are made on

Life has been a bit of a dream since coming to London.  And I mean that in the sense that it seems too good to be true, but also in that time has been a whirlwind! 

Last week, I had several days of international orientation, which was definitely useful in helping get my bearings in this city.   We learned about everything from banking and staying safe to visas and life in London.

This week, I’ve got some time off to explore and learn on my own.  Having been a tourist in London twice before, I’ve opted to skip most of the big sights.  Instead, I’ve enjoyed picking a tube stop, getting off and exploring what that neighborhood has to offer me.  So far, I’ve wandered around Paddington and Edgware Road (my home), Oxford Street, Picadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Charing Cross, St. James Square, Temple, Marble Arch, and Waterloo. 

Victoria and Albert Museum 

This afternoon, however, I decided to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum; something I’ve never done before, but heard good things about.  (Plus it’s free!)  The Museum was founded in 1852, just after the success of the Great Exhibition in London the previous year.  Now, it has artifacts spanning 2,000 years of history from all over the world.  Though, I have to say, my favorite section was Fashion.  There were samples of men's and women's fashion in Britain from over the past three hundred years.  (See pictures below!)

Having said all that, I’d like to briefly share a few of my favorite moments from this past week and a half.

• Finding a new church home at All Soul’s
• Buying hydrangea bulbs, which will bloom come spring!
• Discovering a local kitchenware/hardware/anythingware store just half a mile away (and being practically the only person there whose native tongue is English)
• Stopping in Covent Garden to listen to a fabulously talented quartet play the best rendition of Vivaldi’s four seasons that I’ve ever heard!  And that’s saying a lot. 
• Running on the trails in Hyde Park in the sunshine! (Because yes, the weather has been sunny and perfect the entire time I’ve been here).

Hyde Park (Kensington Palace in the background)

The real fun begins this coming week, however, when I am inducted into my program and classes begin!