End of Week 1 in London

Well, as of 8:05am today, I have officially been in London for a week. It is hard to believe and I am still so incredibly tired. I don't think it is from the jet lag. I think it is because of all the excitement, yet somehow all of the other Mountbatten kids still have the energy to go out tonight, which makes me feel incredibly old! I know I'm in London and I should go out, but you know, I have a whole year for that. Plus, I actually want to go out with people more my age that I have more in common with...

...although, I did have fun last night when I went out with some of the interns. After work, my flatmate Tabitha and I got ready and took the Undergroud to meet some other Mountbatten Interns at the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly Circus. I definitely have to go back there (not to the Sports place, but to the Piccadilly area). It was really cool (although very touristy). It was the Times Square of London. We watched a little rugby at the sports bar (I hope to one day learn the rules) and then walked to the Oxford area to find a club that had hip-hop karaoke. Unfortunately, the place was PACKED, so my flatmate Danille's friend, who has been living in London for a while, suggested we go to a bar called the Market Place. It was actually really cool and Tabitha and I each had delicious portabello mushroom burgers. I even tried a really good African cider called Sahara Dry. The place had good food, good music, good cider, and we ended up talking to some blokes that thought I was 21. Pretty funny, huh?

What I've realized is that 21-year-olds in Britain seem to be pretty mature. Much more mature than most 21-year-old Americans. The girl who is training me on a couple of things at work is 21 and she is very mature for her age. I was impressed. Why are Americans so immature then? Is it because our drinking age is 21?

So, although the roommate and "peer" situation is not ideal, I think I will like my job. My manager's manager has even told me that she hopes I like it and wants to keep it interesting for me so that I will work for UBS when the year is over. I don't know, I'm not sure if I can forsee a future in investment banking for myself, but maybe I can if they send me somewhere cool! I also really like the part of town I live in. It is so nice to be able to walk to work (although I probably won't be saying that or doing that in the full-blown winter!).

Here's a picture of where I work:

UBS has 5 buildings total in that complex (I think). It is huge! I will find out more when I get an Intern Induction on Monday.
In the center is a circular area that alternates between a small rugby field and an ice skating rink, depending on the weather. Right now it is set up for rugby and my building is the one with the big glass dome in the background.

Alright, I've got to get to bed soon. I've got a class on British History in the morning. Later!