Weekly Update: First Week in London
Overall, I'm settling in well so far. It helps that I’ve lived abroad before and that English is the primary language. It also helps that I primed myself by thinking about an adventure like this before the opportunity presented itself.
Things in the UK I'm getting used to:
- Turning on/off outlets
- Not having a dryer
- Commuting 45+ minutes to work each way and taking the tube
- Having a northbound "Southern" train line and a southbound "Northern" train line
- Foxes are like cats around here. And they stink like skunks!
- Wait... How do I call the police if I have to? I know the train number 61016 "See it. Say it. Sorted"
- Not tipping on every single purchase
Me two days in: the tube is incredibly easy!
Me one week in: they can change platforms a minute before the train arrives? And the cars can split in half to different destinations!? I've only taken a wrong line or direction twice so far... that feels pretty good.
I've never been a public transport or "train" person, and overall it doesn't require that much effort. Different lines have different nuances, but it doesn't take long to learn. I’ve heard others describe it as “chill time.” It’s definitely a good 90 minutes of the day to read, listen to audiobooks or podcasts, or even practice a language.
I also made progress on my UK bucket list! Kensington Palace & Park and Hyde Park made up the majority of my Saturday. This palace has been home to royal residents of the British Royal Family since the 17th century. The parks were mostly big green spaces with trees - great for a walk or run. The small rose garden on the east side of Hyde Park was a good way to end. I wandered past Buckingham Palace and then to the train station. I decided to save St. James Palace and Park for another day, even though it's right next to Hyde Park.
PSA: The phone number for the police is 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergencies.
