I left the international student party early. Although I said that I would meet Helene, Charline and Waleed later, I was less than inspired by the thought of having to endure a few more hours of loud dance music and too much second-hand smoke.
My friends and I were separated by a large crowd watching an entertainer juggling, twirling and spitting fire…probably not an unusual site for these parties.
A grey squirrel hangs out in the tree outside my ground-floor street-facing room. The street is relatively quiet so my slumber and the squirrel’s street-crossings are assured some safety and peace.My room is a little smaller than my room in Victoria but obviously with a few less items to take up space. Fortunately, I only have to share the kitchen and WC facilities with two other flat mates, unlike some residents here who have five or six. Lying on a worn-out navy-blue carpet, my single bed allows my feet to hang off its end without difficulty. The windows face southeast, so the pleasant morning sunshine acts kindly as my alarm.
It’s a sunny day in London as I wait for Ben to return from his haircut this morning. He will accompany me down to Claredale house this afternoon to keep me company and help me move in.
I arrived safely in London after the eight-hour flight from Vancouver. I sat next to a shy short older Londoner-turned-Canadian who refused all airline food but two beers, ice cream and a fruit salad. It didn’t strike me until now how completely different we are: he sat next to a talkative tall younger Canadian-to-be-turned-Londoner! My companion kindly offered me his banana muffin and granola bar from his morning meal. I completed Lois Lowry’s John Newberry awarded children’s book The Giver on the ride.