London = 2/3/11

    OK I made it to London!! The flight was not very exciting, if very short, but it had its good moments.  As we were taking off I was scanning the area around me looking for an empty row and found one located two rows behind me with a small lady sitting in the window seat.  Greg, program student also, was next to me and very cramped for leg space so I figured this would work well for everyone: I get more space, Greg gets more leg room and who really cares if I sit in a different seat?  Well it turns out the flight attendant cares, a lot.  I had just settled into my new digs when I was promptly and efficiently removed and hustled to my original seat with a death look that clearly said “Sit and Stay.”  The other fun point was waking up and finding I had set my entertainment screen to Japanese (controls are exactly at hip level) while I was asleep ☺ 
    After landing I walked briskly to the underground (I am now a big fan of easy-to-navigate, cheap and clean EU mass transport), found my way to King’s Cross/St. Pancras International station, and walked the 10 mins to the RVC (Royal Veterinary College).  I had a nice meeting with admissions and a really fun tour from a current student thereby getting a pretty good feel for the place.  Leaving the RVC I bought lunch and found a bench in St. Pancras Old Church park and spent an hour or so eating and people watching.  I got a few pictures also which I will post soon I hope.  I now sit outside the TGI Fridays back in Heathrow listening to US pop music and wishing the hotspot did not cost 15 pounds and that my Crackberry had service here! 
The other students here seem nice so far.  I had several hours to chat with Greg and I was in the security line with several others all of whom were engaging and fun.  I have to admit a few of these girls don’t really strike me as the “rough-it” type but I am reserving judgment until we hit Africa.  The group spoke of doing a few different things here: one large-ish group was going pubbing, others to nap in hotel rooms and shower, and another smaller group was planning on going to the London Eye (probs the wrong spelling I know).  We will all gather for the 9pm flight to Nairobi and wake up tomorrow in Africa. 
That’s pretty much it for me so far folks.  I should go hunt up some more food so I can stay awake til the flight and change my British money for Tanzanian.  We’ll be talking soon