Kristen Schaal is very obviously artistic

I know it's only been three days since my last post, but for some reason, perhaps jetlag, or maybe due to the constant traveling on feet, or possibly even the copious amounts of blow I've been doing (JK ROFL LULZ!!) I feel like more time has passed. Regardless, enough events have transpired that it requires a proper blog entry. Tuesday, as I said in my last post, was not only the day of my arrival to the UK but the first time I met with the other kids in my program. Actually I should clarify; there's a bunch of other American and international students who are attending City, so when I say "the other kids in my program" I mean the ones that I happen to live with. There are six of us who live in the very posh Chelsea and the group is evenly split: three boys and three girls. Thus far everyone has been very nice and easygoing, and, like me, are pretty much up for anything (with some reservations) whilst in London. I'm making it my goal not to judge them, and anybody I met here as well, on trivial matters such as music, films, books, etc. because, let's face it, everyone's a critic. And critics are dicks, so I'm just not going to be one. Besides, there's more to people than their pop culture preferences, although I will admit it sometimes can, to quote Gob's wife 'Crindy,' "seal the deal."

I also met my roommate that same day. He's a nineteen year old Iranian named Esmaeil who's been in this building for almost two years. He's a stylin' dude: he blow drys his hair and has a variety of ritzy-looking hygiene products that put mine to shame. Then again, his could be the same caliber, the only difference is his can be only-found-in-London products, but I'll find out once I run out of soap and the like, which should be in the not too distant future. The room we share is slightly bigger than a single in Anderson or Wilder and longer; it houses a bunk bed, two dressers, two desks, and our own bathroom. Next to us is the fully stocked kitchen that we share with four people. Here are some pics.

Our tiny shower and bathroom

The view from our room and kitchen windows

On Wednesday we had our real orientation with everyone in the program. This pretty much was what I expected, that is lots of introducing faculty and the people in charge, a campus tour, and a sample of the campus food (there's no meal plan, but it still beats the shit out of Danforth). Part of the orientation was a walk around the campus and surrounding areas, where I saw tons of cool looking buildings. A lot of them weren't anything remarkable or anything of note, but in a city filled with history everywhere you go, every building is worth looking at; it definitely trumps the standardized American way of things.

The house where Lenin wrote his newspaper
and where the Russian Revolution was planned

London's first pawn shop


The Peabody houses, named after George Peabody


London's first clown lived here

Not of historical significance,
but our guide's hat and hair were seamless

*Correction. I guess there were a lot of historical landmarks on our walk, but the original point still stands. Here are some non-historical buildings and locales.

Afterwards, I met up with Mike and went to Indian Street. It's a street littered with Indian restaurants where each one hires a guy to stand outside and offer passerbys deals and discounts, very often forceful and persistent. Mike and I stood in front of this one restaurant and looked at The Famous Curry Bazaar across the street, and the hired guy next to us told us to eat at his place of establishment. "But the other place has such a good name," Mike replied, somewhat sarcastically, but for those who don't know him this can be taken as sincerity. The hired guy quickly responded with "We also have a very good name." I forgot the name, but it was quite a funny exchange nonetheless. We ended up eating at the Curry Bazaar, and afterwards went to Soho to watch Kristen Schaal (Mel from Flight of the Conchords) and Kurt Braunohler. It was a weird, though very funny show, that dealt with harelips, Pocahontas and John Smith's first telephone conversation, a dating competition (where I got the title of this here post), and this, which proved even better in a live setting (you know a joke is good if the laughter runs dry).

Yesterday there was a Cheese and Wine, as opposed to Wine and Cheese (one of the faculty said "we have our priorities straight") as part of City's orientation-ish week (classes don't start till Monday). It was free, and I thought it'd be a good way to meet people, so I went, along with the five other kids I live with. I met some people, not a whole lot, but enough to spread my wings. I noticed that though it's only been a short while, a good deal of the groups and circles seem closed off. Everyone for the most part hung out with the entourage they showed up with, giving echoes of high school cliques and the wallflowers who watched them with envy and hate. But whatever, this was just the first shindig. Perhaps their hive-like behavior can be attributed to nerves, and over the next few weeks, they'll start straying from the pack, as is par for the course. Plus, I came here to meet some local Brits, and seeing that I'll be going to class and clubs and generally be out and about, I don't foresee that as a problem. (Goddamn I sound cocky! I assure you, I am not a dick.)

And today I registered for classes and got my student ID. I'll be taking Positive Psychology, News and Society, Media, Culture, and Society, Performing Arts in London, and Historic London. There was was this one journalism class I wanted to take where you write a sitcom, but sadly it's only open to journalism majors. It's a good schedule, though; I have no Friday classes and only an afternoon class on Mondays, so essentially I have a four day weekend. Which reminds me, this is my first weekend in London. I have no plans yet. I might check out this free VICE party tomorrow night, and I want to bum around Soho for a bit. So perhaps I'll do that.