London wasn’t what I expected. My first clue I wasn’t at the University of San Diego anymore was when I strolled into a club (without my friends… because evidently I forgot about that whole “paying” aspect) and realized I was the only white chick there. Also the only one under 30. I had a blast! However, that first night partying in Central London taught me something truly valuable: not everyone is David Beckham. Or even looks like him. I was completely outside of my comfort zone.
The next day, Kayla and I had an intense What’s App conversation about the harsh reality of study abroad… we were, in fact, living in a country of butterfaces. She asked me if I made the mistake of looking at their teeth. Honestly, I’m surprised British mouths didn’t have this Medusa effect and turn me into stone, because let me tell you: it’s like a trap in there. Shallow? Maybe a little. But that’s what happens when you’re on a tight schedule of becoming royalty by the time summer rolls around. There’s no way I’m being crowned Duchess Arianna if I’m hitched to some dude with a bad case of what I like to call “English face.”
Moving on. Orientation at Queen Mary definitely differed a bit to how it was at the country club/USD. For instance, the president of the student union explained that sports here aren’t like they are in the States; mainly people join so that they can “hit up the pubs after games and get smashed.” Needless to say, I was feeling right at home.
The good news is that Harry finally earned himself some points by announcing that on Monday night all of the abroad students could take a boat trip down the River Thames. There would even be a full bar and DJ. But then he managed to lose himself those points .2 seconds later by sharing this dramatic tale of how last year someone showed up white girl wasted on deck and how that apparently isn’t encouraged. As he put it, go ahead and drink to your heart’s content, but staff will also be present at this little get-together… “So make sure we can look each other in the eye Tuesday morning.”
Sorry, Harry, not when there’s a booze cruise involved!
The Art of Being Basic 