Some news from England/London

My first week in London

Hy, guys, my dear students, this is for you!

I´d like to share some of my experiences here with you and, surely, the first thing to say is: I hope you also have the opportunity to come and study (or just come) here someday!

This is an amazing city to study, there are people from all over the world studying here: Japan, China, India, Italy, France, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, Morroco … it is really a ‘melting pot’!

After my ‘kind of tragic’ arrival (I went to the school instead of going to the residence, nobody was there, because it was Saturday night, I did not have anyone to call and my mobile was not working anyways, I was ravenous, tired and … desperate, in that freezing cold, with 3 bags and no idea about what to do standing in front of a closed door) everything has being magical for me here.

I am living in a residence that is quite close to one of the main overground  lines : King’s Cross St. Pancras station, in Piccadilly line. It makes things much easier for me, because it takes no more than twenty minutes to go to the centre of the city, where my school (Kaplan Covent Garden) is located.

The station around here is reaaally beautiful, it is near an art university called UAL (University of Art in London). There are fountains with colored water in front of it at night.

Harry Potter’s train platform – 9 ¾ is here too, within walking distance from the building I am in.

That is a very convenient place as well, even though it is not as central as Covent Garden. Since the first day I could do shopping in a great supermarket inside St. Pancras International – the M&S. I love it!! There are all kinds of soups, and ready-made meals, lots of different breakfast options, cheese, chocolate, dessert of all kinds and even clothes.

There is a stationery store here too, called Paperchase. I have to run of it every day, otherwise my money will fly from my hands. There is a drugstore, a Starsbuck coffee shop and many other stores. It is really fantastic!

The school where I am studying is in Covent Garden, but the nearest station is Holborn, also in the Piccadilly line. By the way, people in the subway are usually much more polite than ‘paulistanos’ that I almost died of emotion on the first day I took it.  Everybody who was on the platform waiting to enter the train REALLY waited until the other people inside could get off the train!!!

The school facilities are b e a u t I f u l ! But, more than beautiful, I am in love with it, because it really provides students with plenty of material and tools to learn.

My teachers are such nice guys, James Beck (CPE teacher) and Oliver Zarandi (Literature teacher) that really makes all the difference. One of them is even a writer of short stories! I am in love with them. =)

My classes are in the morning, but I actually spend most of the day studying, because there is a LOT of homework!

It is kind of a difficult feeling when you come to a new city and you want to wander, discover things, but you have a busy schedule to follow.

But, I have the weekends to do it and I surely will!!

Although I had loads of homework, yesterday I went to a musical : The phantom of the opera, in the Majestic Theatre. This is not avant-garde, but especially for its classical characteristics, I  found it SO beautiful that it set my heart racing from the beginning to the end.

The costumes are wonderful and the actors and actress perform  gracefully. Their voices are a panacea!! If I could I would watch a musical every week!

Next week I am going to see The Lion King, which seems to be a more modern version of musical. I come back here to tell you about it!

The stores I have seen so far are cozy and attractive. And the most dangerous thing: THEY ARE EVERYWHERE, even between one subway station and another.

Prices here can be expensive so I have to mind it all the time, because my budged is limited, unfortunately.

The temperature has been varying from 1 / 3 degrees (at night and dawn) and 5 / 7 degrees (in the middle of the day). It is quite cold, so people dress sophisticatedly most of the time. It makes London such a charming urban city!!!

The architecture struck me the most! It is incredibly gripping! I can’t stop looking at it, I want to take pictures of everything, even when I am late for class or it is late at night! London is definitely stunning!

It is not easy making friends, though. People are kind of reserved and prefer to team up with those from their own nationalities. This is really a pity!! But I guess with the time things will get easier in that aspect for me here.

Well, dear ones, those are news for this keep. If you have any questions, about anything, ask me!

See you soon =)

Teacher Marcela