Even the Queen has her own lifeguards!

Today was another adventerous day in London-town.

Some of the ladies and I ventured to Oxford street in London which is their longest shopping street. I managed to snag a good big purse for a decent price (10lbs! 15 USD!). Nothing fancy but actually holds the many things I need to take daily to survive (all my maps, umbrella, extra jacket, scarf etc.!). Then EUSA set up a great blue badge tour for us, we lucked out and got in Isabell's tour and she was just a bloody good time!! Walked around and saw Westminster Abbey, Big Ben (actually named for the bell inside not the actual name of the tower!), House of Commons & Lords aka. House of Parliment & its tower, saw where the PM lives, the Sri Lanka protest that has been going on forever, a man living in a tent on a street corner for 7 years until there is world peace, tower & london bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Queen's lifeguards.

There was a lot of fast history and in 4 hours we only were able to see the outsides of those. However, there were plenty of great stories about the Queen Mum and all of the royal families. The Queen's guards were perhaps the highlight of the day other than being next to some of the greatest sites in the city. Apparently these guards sit in full uniform and guard essentially nothing all day. Yet it does seem a better alternative than going to war or something which is their only other option in service. Also in this process we rode a top the famous double-decker red buses and were pointed in the direction of many great shops and "local" areas to come back too!

After that EUSA herded us back to our new usual The Big Chill for a welcome reception. Here they had us partake in a favorite British pasttime, drinking, while we mingled, ate and celebrated the end of the long day! We've met students from UNC, OSU, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Buffalo etc. We also happened to meet a guy from GVSU who had as much difficulty as we did setting this up so he opted and went through Jackson State. So that was a nice surprise!!!

Well I have to get some homework and rest done before tomorrow. I have my first professional development seminar followed by a trip to the Natural History Museum which is just down the street from our seminars and then a night of traditional London techno clubbing!!

Cheers!