LIYSF Day 1: Arrival

So it seems that I have made my way to London. I don’t know where the time has gone this summer, but being on the road the past 6 weeks has definitely made time speed up. My first experience with LIYSF and London has been a whirlwind. Everyone here is so organized, whisking you away with a blue package, a nametag and a dining time sheet. It is so different from the time I have spent organizing where I am going to sleep, eat and shower for the day that I think it will take some getting used to. That being said, everyone here is extremely kind. They want for everyone to have a great time, and I don’t see this being an issue!

The flight having left from Toronto to Gatwick was shorter than it would have been from home, but still a long one and I spent the afternoon catching up on some much needed sleep. Tomorrow, I will be carrying a flag in the opening ceremony and anticipating whatever is planned for the day! The Imperial college is in a nice area that is much more bustling than home and makes me miss the wide open space of Canada, but I see why it is so busy. There is good shopping in the area and a nice strip of cafes and restaurants for people to enjoy. The underground runs in spider webs across the city making it easy to travel around and good for tourists and I hope there is enough free time for me to take advantage of the simple travel.

Train travel so far has been fairly simple, although difficult with a 60 pound backpack and a poster tube with me. If I can manage that then I can manage without the backpack! As I was on the Gatwick Express heading into the city from the airport, I spoke with a lady who’d just made it back from Canada and was heading home with her family. Kindly she told me some of the sights to see and gave me a chocolate bar for the rest of my journey! A delightful start to the trip.

I look forward to having more stories for you soon!

Tessa

Street in Imperial College campus: