I am definitely using some stranger's internet password in the student union right now. They forgot to log off, yes! My senior student, which is the same as an RA, refuses to give me his, but I've got a few "freshers" lined up who are going to register before me and said they will give me their passwords. So hopefully I will be online soon enough. I just bought a ticket to one of the freshers events, because apparently it's the thing to do. I don't even know what the ticket is for, some kind of club I think. That just goes to show you how desperate I am. I have gone out the last four nights in a row and I would be going out tonight as well only they are sold out of tickets for the "badge party," whatever that is. I think it's for the best, actually.

It seems that the kids here are much less socially awkward than they are in the states. It's actually really easy to have a conversation with them, if you can yell loud enough over the music that is. This might be because I'm American or something, but either way it's nice. In my flat we are still missing 2 people. But so far there are four americans and one 18 year old english guy with a cockney accent who's idea of "not drinking today" is only five pints, a couple of cocktails, and a triple shot of vodka. We can't understand a single word he says but he's pretty cool. I have already made friends with people with names like George, Philip, and Thomas. It's glorious. However, I am starting to get burnt out from all this socializing and it's getting a little forced. I kind of just want to chill in my room and watch movies or something. It's just the whole alone thing that is a little hard.

Apparently charlene is coming on friday which whould be fun. I am so overwhelmed with everything right now. I feel so cut off from home, even though I know I'm not really. It's weird.

This weekend there was a festival on the banks of the thames. Last night was the grand finale and they had a parade and fireworks. It was so so so so cool. We watched the parade, then went inside to some karaoke bar for a while, than came out at 10 to watch the fireworks. They were really really good ones and I was giggling like a 5 year old. I wasn't really feeling the karaoke bar though, so I left with some people who live in the flat above me, one of whom is german grad student with a scottish accent (swoon) to try and find somewhere cooler. After wandering for about 10 minutes it occured to us that it was sunday, so we just walked home accross the waterloo bridge with saint paul's on one side and the london eye on the other.