My last day on this side of the Atlantic

Hey, everyone!  I am leaving for London tomorrow morning and I'm starting to get very excited (and maybe a little nervous).  I'm flying out of Indy to Toronto and, from there, on to London.  I have a 7 and-a-half layover in Toronto, but luckily I have "Freakonomics" and an Al Franken book to help pass the time!  I'm leaving Toronto at 7:15pm and will arrive at Heathrow airport at 7:30am their time (2:30am our time). 

In London, I will be living in Chelsea (how appropriate).  Several people have said that it is a very "posh" district with quite the selection of shops!  In the 1960's, Chelsea was the center of Swinging London.  I can't think of a better place for me to be!  I'm staying in a residence hall that is a combination of a dorm and an apartment building.  I will have a roommate and our room will be like a college dorm; however, every floor has a kitchen (there is no dining hall) and we will have to cook our own food.  We have to clean our room and buy our own supplies, too. 

I am not actually going to a university while in London.  Instead, I'm enrolled in the Institute for the Internation Education of Students (IES).  IES has centers all over the world for American students wanting to study abroad.  I will be living and going to classes with other American students.  I am taking four classes; the Architecture of London, the History of London, Government and Politics in Britain, and British Literature into Film.  I chose the last one so that I would not have class on Fridays! 

In addition to classes,  IES has students either directly enroll in one class in a London university or have an internship.  I opted for the internship.  I have two interviews scheduled; one is with the Policy Studies Institute and the other is with the constituency office of Edward Davey MP.  The Policy Studies  Institute evaluates and researches potential policies for the UK government, the European Union, private organizations, non-profit charities, etc.  Here, I would research and evaluate policy with a team of people.   Edward Davey is a liberal democrat running for Parliament.  I would work on his campaign. 

Cheers! <--I'm practicing my British lingo!