Thursday 30th May

First post from across the pond! The journey wasn't too bad, 7 hours rubbing shoulders with two strangers is never ideal but the in-flight entertainment was a lot more than I expected. I watched the new Hansel & Gretel which I'll admit wasn't the greatest cinematic experience but it was a fairly good way to kill a couple of hours in the air. Customs was LONG as expected, but it was also a really simple system, as was the on-going journey to the Hotel. My first observation of the USA is that the people are insanely nice, from the older guy at the airport who gave me step-by-step directions to the hotel shuttle bus to the woman in the hotel corridor who explained how I open the temperamental door to get out to the pool! That's right, I said pool...I have spent the afternoon reading by the pool in blinding sunshine :) I know this is supposed to be an experience/adventure/city tour but for a few hours today it felt like a glorious beach holiday! And the picture does not do it justice at all.

That's all for today from me, Roey and our heavenly hotel bed :)

Introducing 'Roey'

As a note to my previous post I would like to introduce 'Roey' the Roehampton Duck! At Roehampton they like to give a duck to all of the international students who stay on our campus with the idea that they take pictures with him around London, as a memory for them and also to spread the Roehampton name. The organiser of the NY study trip thought it would be a good idea to give us all a duck to take pictures with in NY.. she also suggested that we pass the duck on to one of the American students we will be staying with, if we think they deserve it! I cannot remember what the actual name of the duck is so I have called him Roey and you will hopefully be seeing a lot more of him (if I remember to pack him!)

New York Introduction

So I have no idea where this Blog is going to go but it is starting because I am going to New York next week and I want a place to share and remember my experiences. A few months ago I saw a poster at Uni for a three week New York Study Tour, when I looked into it further I discovered that only 15 students would be able to go and there was a selection process involving three mini essays (how would this trip benefit you academically/personally etc.) I couldn't really afford to go but how often do opportunities like this come up?! 
Long story short, I was one of those selected and am now unbelievably excited to be flying out next week! I am horrifically under-prepared and haven't even started shopping, let alone thought about packing. To be honest it's all still a bit surreal and I probably won't feel like I am actually going until I am at the airport.

Can't wait to get there and actually have something interesting to write about!