Pictures Finally!

Another grey day here in London, but it's been a fun week moving in and touring the city. Yesterday was spent on an early morning bus tour of the entire city! The pictures on page are from that outing. The tour was about 4 hours long and we covered everything from interesting history to current affairs, from Churchhill to Harry Potter. After heading up to 'High Street', which is the main shopping area near me, I signed up for my first trip! I'm heading to Wales at the end of October for an adventure weekend of cliff diving, hiking, kayaking, biking and surfing. Check out the website Mom...it's perfectly safe.

http://www.preseliventure.co.uk/studyabroad/adventure_weekends.shtml

Figuring out travel here is really exciting, everything is so close! If I haven't mentioned before I'm heading to Paris in mid-September for a long weekend. This trip is included in my program and gives access to the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and a trip to Versailles...I cannot wait!

Last night was spent in the heart of
the city with friends. We all took the
tube (underground) right into Piccadilly Circus, which is London's 'Time Square'. We made our way around and met up with other students from our school.
Nightlife in London is fabulous.


The plans for tonight involve a Thames
evening boat cruise up and down the center of the city with my classmates. I'm off to go shopping with friends for this evening at Oxford Circus. I think I've been able to get in touch with most of you. If not feel free to e-mail: kscurloc@providence.edu.

Keep in touch!

Lots of Love xoxo,
Kate

All settled in...

Sorry it's taken a few days for internet to get hooked up here but finally...here I am!

Mom left me, in quite abandonment fashion (I'm kidding), yesterday. We had a wonderful 5 days together but I'm sure she missed sisters '2' and '3' so she headed back to the states. We took separate taxi's to our respective airport and campus and said our goodbye's until Christmas. (Or until 8 hours later until now, in which time I've called home probably about 15 times...just to sort out the connection of our phones of course).

My room is a typical dorm room: bed, desk, chairs, dresser and sink (which is a treat)! My roommate is very nice, she is from Phillie, PA...her name is Mara (Sarah with an 'M'). My hall 'Atlantic Hall' is unique in that it is as if an entire campus fits into one building. In my building I have common rooms (complete with Ben and Jerry's vending machine), computer labs, cafeteria, mail room, some classrooms and houses about 100 students as well. It's an indescribable part of town! (Example: The ambassador of France lives in the flat next to the other dorm)...crazy! The past two night I've gone to the 'pubs' with friends and had a pint...EXTREMELY LEGALLY: drinking age here is 18. Tomorrow I'm off for a morning bus tour of London and am figuring out tickets to get to Octoberfest in Germany! It's all so amazing and surreal, I cannot believe I'm here and am so grateful for the opportunity. Everyone here is very open minded and willing to go-with-the-flow.

So I'm all hooked up to internet. If anyone wishes to get 'Skype' its like AIM, it's a chat service that also allows you to speak through the computer (like a phone) for free!! (www.skype.com) Otherwise e-mails are :
kscurloc@providence.edu OR
F056308@Richmond.ac.uk

Love to hear from everyone, miss you all!

NOTES:
HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY KRISTIN!!!
Congrats Lisa on making Varsity Volleyball team!! (I taught her everything she knows ;o)

Lots of love xoxo,
Kate

London's 'Wicked' awesome

Today has been a busy day. So much so that Mom and I napped for 2 hours in the middle of the day...yay jet-lag! We have been on the underground on and off all day venturing to my campus, to get theater tickets, figuring out banking over here and to get lunch. We have run into a few
'roadblocks' (note the Amazing Race reference Mom made earlier). But all in all London has been beautiful. It reminds me of bustling New York City, very colorful and character filled. My campus is in a beautiful residential neighborhood area in Kensington just a few streets from the palace. I'll post pictures once I get to campus! I love all the accents, I feel like I'm in a Harry Potter movie. Everyone winks and calls you 'luv'. Several people have made a note of picking on my American accent already...all in good fun of course.

Here's my address (thanks for reminding me to post it Aunt Jo), I'd love to get mail:

[My name] c/o AIFS
Richmond, The International University in London
1 St. Albans Grove
London W8 5PN, England

*Feel free to send me Panera sandwiches, a French Vanilla Dunkin's coffee, winning lottery tickets, or just yourself neatly boxed with bubble wrap (its the cheapest way to travel)!


Well, Mom and I are off to see "WICKED" tonight!! I'll let you all know how it is :o)

We have arrived!

We made it!! Safe and sound. We flew into London just as the sun was setting, barely a cloud in the sky...how beautiful (and un-London like)!

Very tired after an 8 hour flight, I'll write tomorrow...but "hi/bye" for now!

Lots of love,
-Kate & Patsy

Time to move on, Time to get going...

Last night was a lot of fun! I went to see Journey, Cheap Trick and Heart with Elsa at the Comcast Center. Perfect ending before I head off tomorrow.

Today was a rush of packing and doing errands. Packing, with the help of my cousin Kristin (who surprised me :o) took about 2 hours to accomplish once everything was laid out. I cannot believe it's done...two carloads going to PC turned into 2 suitcases and a backpack...literally a miracle. I have gone over my lists and think I have everything, either way it's time to go! Our flight is at 8:45 am tomorrow so I'll try to make some last minute calls and say 'see you later'.

I'm not nervous about being away, but I will miss you all so much. Time will fly and I'll make sure to share my memories with you! Take care and I'll see you before you know it.



Lots of love xoxo,
Kate

Hi all!! Summer flew by way too fast. Anyways I'm heading to London within the week and will updated my address and other information once I get there. Until then my...

Skype is: Boston__Girl

E-mail is: kscurloc@providence.edu

I got orientation information today and am psyched! They take us to see a play, to the Tate Modern, to Thorpe Park (a theme park I went to when I was little), on a Thames boat cruise, on a double-decker bus tour and a lot more I'm really excited about. Packing is non-existant about a week out...oh boy! We'll see how fitting two car loads into two suitcases works out. I'll keep you all updated!!

I'll miss you all, keep in touch and I'll see you in December xoxo :o)