London:
London is absolutely crowded. People are commuting and traveling constantly. It seems as if there's a lot of different types of people just melted in, and this is especially evident with the restaurants. Just trying to find something that isn't Vietnamese, Indian, or something exotic is a little bit of a challenge. Fish and chips stands are pretty much in every tourist destination. I think the closest equivalent in the US would be New York, especially with the flashing lights, extremely tourist-driven business, and busy culture. The metro seems to be a very popular form of transportation, but that doesn't mean the streets aren't crowded and hectic. Double level buses barrel through the streets, and they could care less if your foot is about to be crushed under their tires. It's quite frightening watching other tourists almost being plowed over. I suppose the way California works makes one feel very safe around cars, but I realise now it's purely a luxury. The place is also very expensive. Every meal is about $12 USD, which is ridiculous compared the the $5 fast food meals I'm used to picking up.
Newcastle:
Riding the train into Newcastle was absolutely a lovely experience. The English country-side was so green and well-kept, it felt as if I was looking into a photograph. Farm animals were scattered between the fields, and I enjoyed getting glimpses of them chewing on grass and aimlessly wandering about. When we finally got to see the city, I was amazed at the size. It was quite bigger than all the other towns our train stopped by, yet smaller than London. It was a nice feeling being in a more comfortable town. I felt much too unfamiliar in London. The buildings and streets in Newcastle were interesting too. I found it funny that the roundabouts really are more popular than they are in the US. It's not to say there aren't streetlights, but just on the way to work everyday is a couple of roundabouts. The school here is also very different. I find it very intimidating, but I'm excited to help students and teachers. Our mentor has packed our schedule with classroom visits and meetings.