The Great Passport Quest of 2010 a.k.a. Barbie Goes to London

It occurred to me last week that I had lost misplaced my passport. On Thursday, I turned my house upside down searching for it and my letter from Florida State University and came up with nothing. I couldn't search on Friday or Saturday because I was attending my family reunion, but I picked up the search again on Sunday, still coming up sin pasaporte. On Monday, my parents, BFF, and I searched for an hour and forty-five minutes before I found it on a shelf in my walk in closet. Disaster avoided.

The next major obstacle came Wednesday when I arrived at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport where security wait times were extremely delayed. I arrived to the gate at 6:17 p.m. for my 6:25 p.m. flight. Good times. Me: 2. Disaster: 0.

I arrived at Gatwick Airport at 7:05 a.m. (12:05 a.m. EST). I made it through Immigration, claimed my bags, and sailed through Customs without a hitch. There were a few slight mishaps figuring out the the train and tube maps but I eventually made it to the Study Centre at 11:00 a.m. After picking up my key, I was directed to flat 12 at the top of the stairs in building 102. I didn't think the four flights would be so tough, but that was quite possibly the steepest stairwell I've ever seen and building 102 does not have elevators lifts.

This message, left behind by previous occupants of flat 12 sums it up nicely:

"Dear Flat 12,

Embrace the attic, your legs will look great & all the cool people are up here! The stairs make 4 a great story...(free gym)"

Before I forget, Barbie is my “mascot” for my trip. She will be making guest appearances in my photos and on my blog. Unfortunately, she arrived a little under-dressed for the chilly London air but perhaps she'll find some nice new outfits along the way!

London's Calling

My name is Alesha. I’m 29 years old and gearing up to take my first European not-quite-a-vacation!

I just completed my first year of grad school in the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I have an awesome opportunity to earn six credit hours toward my degree taking courses at the Florida State University London Centre for three weeks! Some of the places that I will visit include Stonehenge, the Brittish Museum, Westminster Abbey, Regent's Park, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. I will even spend a weekend in Paris, which isn't too shabby for a girl from Somewhere You've Probably Never Heard Of, NC.

While this is my first trip to Europe, it is a my second trip abroad, the first being when I spent a semester in Queretaro, Mexico during undergrad. Major differences between the two trips is that I'm older and hopefully wiser this time around and that there will be less of a language barrier. My 1.5 years of elementary and intermediate Spanish courses served me quite well back then, but I am hoping that going from American English to the Queen's English will not be that much of a stretch. I definitely do not want to anyone to "fancy" me a "cheeky monkey" if I happen to say something incorrectly. Translation: I do not want anyone to feel like I'm obnoxious if I happen to say something incorrectly.

My journey begins exactly two weeks from today and I couldn't be more excited, nervous, anxious, or giddy! All are welcome to read along and join me as I experience what is sure to be the trip of a lifetime!