I finally gave in...to hitting downtown London nightlife! Probably 98% of the other students in this program are juniors in college even though a few stragglers are already 21 - I feel like such an oldie! Because the drinking age is 18, well actually as long as you don't look like you're 12, you'll be served so the majority of everyone here wants to go out and grab a beer or glass of wine as often as possible. Sad to say but I'm way past that and did not come here to drink - I would much rather have my expenses geared towards exploring the rest of Europe and all of the amazing things that comes along with that as well as London.
Anywho, everyone has been going out just about every night and on Friday one of the student assistants, Kemal, had this great deal lined up at a pub and one of the clubs; therefore, I gave in. It was an absolute BLAST!! An expensive blast, but a blast! I'm so happy I went. Restaurants were packed so we ended up grabbing dinner at a Dutch pancake house which was so so good. Then we went a very English pub called Cadogen Arms - mahogany walls and floors, flickering lanterns, tons of beers on tap, awesome. Then we headed to Leicster Square which is somewhat like times square in NYC. There we found the infamous club, Ruby Blue. I have never seen so many people in my life, heard so many languages, or ever been exposed to that kind of nightlife. Londoners officially  bring a new meaning to the word "party." Thankfully there was a big group of us, and even though we weren't there too long, we definitely had a great time and made the best of the situation we were in. It was really a very very fun night mostly because of the people I was with; however, I can now check off 'do the typical London student night out' off my list!