Adjusting to another developed country is much more difficult than it seems.  Rather than embracing the similarities to my home country in my new environment, my arrival has only made me aware of the many differences between the two countries including: a washing/drying combination unit that doesn't really dry your clothes, smaller appliances, differences in online infrastructure and internet laws, and duvet blankets that I am unable to wrap myself in.

It would be easy for me to decide that the first 2 weeks of this program were insignificant at best.  In all honesty, my initial expectation of the time spent revolved around this idea that we would only have "orientation type stuff" to deal with - learning about what to expect in London, being given resources to look to if we ever needed assistance, and reviewing course materials.  It was not my first trip to Washington, D.C., and I truly believed I had seen all that it was worth.