Please Mind The Dumb American.

Well today, we were officially targeted as, The Americans. 

So we started the day off with a "scavenger hunt" around the city. This included going around the city with a group of 4-5 people, that we have never meet... and look for certain things. If we fill out and hand in our paper correctly, we win a free tour around london. So we meet as a group around 12 and after the first question, completely dumbfounded.  As a little background info, when we attended orientation on monday, they told us to "fit in". I believe the words were "don't act american". well first off, im american and damn proud of it... only the greatest country, ummmmm... ever?! so this includes things such as not walking around with a map because people like pick pocketers will target you. (btw..is  pick pocketers a real word?) After we get these great life tips, the people at our university send four international students out into london with a map of london and bright blue packet of questions. 

ummm... where are we? 

lost.

talk about attracting attention! come on now westminster, i know you can't be as incompetent as the financial aid services at roger williams, but seriously... you're targeting us as americans. if i get pick pocketed... i'll be sending you the bill. 

This "treasure hunt" lasted about ummm, and hour before we all decided it was erroneous. they had us looking for a painting that was no long on display and going into a park that was closed off. solid. 

We then adventured on toward parliament and big ben!  it was a foggy day (go figure) so we plan on going back again and really exploring with better weather! 

parliament and big ben 

ello ben! 

After this we had lunch and then a few of use went off to find bedding. We went to a store called, Primark, and let me tell you, this is going to be dangerous. Two floors filled with everything you could need.... clothes, bedding, jewelry, shoes... ahhhh EPIC! Its pretty much a cross between h&m, forever 21 and charlotte russe... and i supposed home goods for the bedding! i have officially fallen in love! and to top it off, so cheap! 

one of about 10 walls of jewelry

I ended up buying shower flip flops, storage containers, a pillow case, gloves, a purse and wallet (the uk money is wider and doesnt fit in my wallet!) and a sweater. without the sweat it all came to under 15 pounds. awesome deals! While shopping corrin found her bedding, a duvet, duvet cover and pillow for very cheap. at this point we were fully stocked up with bags. of course when we are checking out of the next store with out dishes, the women ask us if we all live together and its our first time in london, targeted again. random, but another thing that doesnt help, uk credit and debit cards have chips in them and instead of swiping the machine reads the chip. well everytime we use our cards, the cashier needs to swipe them, ask for ID and in return, targeted...AGAIN! so much for trying to dress, speak and act like a true britt. 

Forgetting we have to take the tube back to our dorms, we lugged it all back with us. If you are ever waiting for a tube, the typical recording you hear is, "please mind the gap" aka dont be dumb and step in the 1 foot gap, and step on the tube. 

well the theme of today, dont mind the dumb american.... with all the shit. well today... that was corrin. 

got enough stuff?

We have been here since friday and for some reason, today everyone decided to realize we were american. Of course, corrin bought a day pass for the tube... and it didnt work. so all day she had to go over to assistance and they had to open the doors for her. at one point, the guard asked if she was american. little did we know, this man would provide us with entertainment while we were waiting for our friends. 

please read the following quotes with a british accent:

To all of us: 

"ummm excuse me, but were you all exiled from america?"

To a girl on her cell...with no service

"they dont call it the underground for nothing, if you've noticed... you're underground"

To all of us:

"you girls should head to china town, and see what your country will look like

when they all take over"

I must say, i might have been the highlight of our day. 

once we got on the tube, we continued to get looks because corrin couldn't pass anyone with out knocking them over with her massive amount of baggage. and im not talking a little nudge, im talking full blow smack of the rear-end by her duvet cover. 

Once we arrived back home, we stopped by our new favorite store.. "cheap booze". yes this is for real. we need these in america, let me tell you. we also stopped at the grocery store and made our first homemade meal.... pasta and tomato sauce, and salad. 

beats take out... or in the uk, "take away"

after dinner a group of us headed over to piccadilly circus and went to an.... AMERICAN BAR! ... THANK THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Ive heard alot about the sports cafe but it was wonderful. tuesday nights, typical pitchers of beer, beer pong and dancing. right up our allies. we all had a great night out together. we headed back early though because the tubes close around midnight and we have yet to figure out the night buses. 

Tomorrow the girls and I are going shopping for our orientation boat booze cruise on thursday night (sooo sweet!) and then we have meetings about our classes at school. we were told there is a market around school for really cheap clothes so that is wat we're looking for tomorrow.

other than that we had an awesome day. a little homesick this morning but that was over once we all went out together. i can honestly say that i think i can officially start to see myself living her for the next few months. but that doesnt mean i dont miss my family and friends like crazy. thank god for skype!!! 

=)  hannah <3

especially my roger crew! they should be heading back to school soon and its sooo weird that im not going back with them! 

as per usual here are some pictures from the day. 

me and erin in front of a fountain

our napkin from lunch... haha

you can pay to charge your phone, while in the city 

the boys 

guards on horses

legit street signs.. west minister abbey!!

some of the girls =)

and once again... i dont think im over the jet lag given im awake at 3 am. its great now because i can talk to friends and family at home... but once classes start, this isnt gna fly. 

btw: i do not understand why the uk has so many damn coins in the money system. legit they have paper money and pound (dollar) and two pounds coins. then its goes to pence (cents) and they have one and two pence, five, ten, and fifty pence coins. its that REALLY necessary?! someone please tell me why the heck you use two pence and two pound coins... and why can u just give me a damn bill for one pound? needless to say, i have yet to figure our what each coin is, so today when i needed to use all my change, i handed my wallet to the cashier and she counted it for me. success. 

if someone can add these up... be my guest. 

peace and love. 

<3- happy and excited.