Oh Boy! BUNAC, ISH. . . Those bring back some memories! I did a work/study abroad program through Iowa State and BUNAC the summer between my soph and Jr years, it took a while to get acclimated, but I did love it. I finally found a job waitressing and while it paid the bills, the hours sucked! (I was often taking the 4 am night bus home alone) I hated to leave, but I also couldn't wait to go home and now I can't wait to go back! Definitely learn the Tube and the Bus system, week-long or month-long passes are a God-send. And definitely use the message boards (the old fashioned kind, with Notecards--at least that's what they had when I was working with BUNAC) to help you find roommates and work. I lived with 6 other people on a walk-up about 15 min from the Holloway Tube stop in North London. When you can, take a day and just explore everything! The Camden Markets, Leicester Square, and even do some touristy stuff--the London Tower, Madame Tussoud's, a walking tour. And get to Ireland, Scotland and the continent for a weekend if you can, too. Haggis tours and Paddywagon tours were great ways to see the sights on a fun tour. *sigh* We'll all be living vicariously through you!
If I remember correctly, there was a pub around the corner from BUNAC that served wicked snakebites (1/2 cider, 1/2 lager with black currant flavoring.) Kind of low-brow but good and a cheap way to get drunk! And American beer will always be the most expensive beer at a bar/pub.
For those interested I don't remember exactly what BUNAC stands for (British Universities North American C something or other) but the website is
www.bunac.co.uk
Hybrid Mode
