Tips when going abroad.... to the UK at least :)

Today I feel soo much better than before! Sleep definitely helped.

Throughout the night, my mind was anxious about writing tips on my blog-- so here I am at 11am in the morning... just so that I'll remember them for the future and I am sure you all would like to hear for your futures of going abroad to the UK!! :)

1) Bring Pepto Bismol

• an upset stomach happens when going to a new place with new foods...or when you are on an uncomfortable plane ride...this will be your best friend in helping you through... haha

2) Lacking Internet Connection? Locate a Starbucks

• when you lack internet connection, starbucks is better than going to an internet cafe. So make sure you have a registered starbucks account to use their free wi-fi services! To register, you have to have those starbucks giftcards loaded with $5 or 5 pounds (here in the UK).
• I think this tip only works when you go to a country with a starbucks though...
• **BEWARE** Free wi-fi will definitely be slower than connection rates at colleges/universities... also it won't be a "secure" connection. So you will run into trouble with logging onto your gmail account. Google and their security settings will prevent you from logging onto your own account.

3) Always exchange money before you leave the airport or the states

• Barclay's is a UK bank that has a sister relationship with Bank Of America. So definitely locate their cash machine before even stepping out of the airport.
• This will prevent you from using your card per transaction and accumulating fees and bad exchange rates. You can simply make one withdrawal from an atm.

4) If you lack internet connection to contact home, get a sim card
I am a big fan of technology in the sense that one will be able to contact home via skype, email, facebook, twitter, etc. BUT this can only happen with an internet connection.

• So what about those times when you forget your user id (which is located in your email) and you don't have an internet connection to find it? You can call home via sim card to ask your family to retrieve your userid.
• The UK has a bunch of sim card deals, so make sure to bring an unlocked international phone to use them.

So far, these tips came from the worst day ever. I know that I should stay positive and will learn to love London... haha I'm already excited to go shopping today! Hopefully I will FINALLY post pictures.

Thank you for reading and I hope those tips will be helpful to you some day. IF you have tips for me, just let me know!! :)

Real-time updates via twitter @ktran13 or email me!

xoxo,
Kristian

First Day in a New Country

It is 10pm in London and I arrived about 12 hours earlier. This day was filled with many complications and disappointments.

The plane ride was horrible and very bumpy. Despite the positives of the flight-- where I looked out the window and saw beautiful constellations, bright lights of unknown cities, and vast amounts of land-- I felt sick, had a headache, and simply started to hate airplanes. The landing and air pressure was tough to deal with. But I suppose the sky-high view of London may make up for it. I will post pictures soon.

Other than that, the bad day continued on the way to my flat/accommodation. The tube (subway cars in London) are tiny! I wasn't able to take pictures because I felt sick and awkward. :( From there, wheeling my suitcase on London streets caused one of the suitcase wheels to break off... T_T; The streets of London are certainly not tourist friendly!

The sunny-rainy-cloudy-cold weather, the trouble with establishing internet connection, the complications of locating a Barclay's Bank (Bank of America's sister bank) contributed to the bad day. Right now as I sit in my dorm, thinking about what to write, I am at a loss for words.

My first meal in London was at Subway (the sandwich food chain). It gave me a sense of home. The drinks are totally different and the man making the sandwiches was surprised about the fact that I didn't put pepper in my sandwich.

I feel totally unprepared in London. I know nothing about it! AHH! T_T; This is just a simple post to remind me about my first day. I can only think of it as a bad first impression.

*I wish I didn't study abroad in London*
*I wish I studied abroad in Japan*
*I wish I researched about London more*
*I wish I talked to Wellesley upperclasswomen about their experiences more*
*I wish I knew more about London*

I wasn't in the mood to take pictures as I felt sick the entire day. So this might be a boring post... I'm usually more excited about going to new places!! I think I'm getting too old....

I hope to shop for bed linens tomorrow ! Wish me luck and for a better day...


Thank you for listening to my free flowing thoughts and my head hurts from the jetlag... :/

xoxo,
Kristian

Why did I make this blog? The Blog Context

I started a blog in order to record my study abroad experience at the University College London, Fall 2011. Currently, I am still in the US, but I wanted to start designing the blog so I won't be discouraged from keeping it. Reasons of this blog stem from keeping in touch with my family and friends, using it as a token of remembering my experience, and expressing myself. I'll be departing in mid-September and I still have no idea what to prepare.

As for the blog, I can't imagine what I'll be writing. I hope to post pictures and write one post a day. I've tried so many times to write one post a day and after going to Japan I've learned that I'll regret not keeping a travel blog!

So I hope that you all will enjoy my writing and will keep interested. I would love your encouragement and support!