Classes/ Orientation

Greetings! I hope everyone back home is doing well. My day yesterday (Monday) was pretty long considering I only got four hours of sleep the night before. I woke up at 4 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I had to get up at 6 to get ready and be in front of the Knaresbourough Flat (the other flats 20 minutes away from our flats) at 745. We met there to walk to the library we are allowed to use and then to the Union (the part of Imperial College that the study abroad students use). We got there on time, but some of the other students were running late so we didn't get a chance to see the library. We just went straight to the Union. Once we got there, we were introduced to the faculty and got our schedules for the day. We had our mini classes as well as a short campus tour and a travel orientation meeting. The classes were fun. The three I went to were only about 15 minutes a piece, but today I have a full load of four classes at 10:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 6. The rest of the day was good. My friend (flat mate and bunk bed partner) Ellie and I had lunch and then went to find our library because we had some time to kill. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the library b/c some shopping distracted us. We finally found where the stores were and that's probably not a good thing. After a couple stores (Urban Outfitters and TK Max, which is a British version of TJ Max), we headed back to the Union for our Orientation with travel agents and the I.E. staff. The travel agents were very helpful and I think we have decided what our first trip is going to be! A weekend in Wales! It sounds amazing! Its a weekend in South Wales where its a coastal nation park or something. They house us, feed us, and take us on excursions in the park. We get to choose from biking, hiking, kayaking, surfing, and coasteering. I'm sure everyone is think what in the heck is coastseering (and that is if I'm even spelling that correctly) but no worries I was thinking the same thing. They provide you a full body winter wet suit and pretty much you just get in the water and swim around the coast and explore. They have certified guides, and this travel agency works with our study abroad students every semester. My friend Ellie has a lot of friends that have been, and they say its awesome. I think we are booking that trip for the weekend of Feb 6-8. They are giving us a discount for that weekend. I am super excited! After the orientation, we got the chance to sign up for all the optional events they have available. I signed up for everything. They consist of tours of Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral, seeing the play Lion King and a guided evening tour of Jack the Ripper. Its all happening so fast I can't believe its here.
If you're noticing the time I post this and if you add 5 hours to that, you're probably wondering why I am up way before I have to be (especially if you know how much I enjoy sleeping). I just can't get a full nights sleep in. I know it probably doesn't help that I napped today, but I was so exhausted from not getting much sleep the night before I couldn't hold my eyes open. I'm sure my body will adjust soon and if not, you all will just get very strange hour postings. Either way, I can't complain. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, you're all in mine as well. Thanks for keeping up with my trip and I hope to write again soon!

I just realized once I posted this that it says the wrong, so i don't sound crazy I'm gonna let you know that its 3:16 Eastern time and 8:16 London time.

more to come later..........