When the plane landed we were all encouraged to make it to immigration as soon as possible, we were all expecting a horrible line in front of us! However, when we got there the line was practically empty!!! We got through with basically no hitch in under an hour (baggage claim and everything, we were on the bus in under an hour!). It was all pretty cool. At the time it did feel like running a gauntlet but everyone was nice and patient even while being hectic.
What surprised me the most was the influx of individuals present for the Olympics. While I had certainly considered the effects of their presence and I had absolutely considered the crowds what I hadn’t realized was the level of tolerance for none English speaking individuals and the mass of media for the Olympics themselves, for example this was taken outside of the airport!
It was all very scary and exciting; when we first landed I was practically vibrating with nerves. I am so thrilled with all of the cultural difference that I see, through the haze of the Olympic invasion. I am thrilled and overwhelmed and cannot wait to take on this city, I feel like there is so much going on here, I will never be able to even scratch the surface!! Angela
Wow! I’m impressed–Heathrow without a long wait to get through customs. You arrived on a perfect day. I look forward to reading more about London during the Olympics. It might be interesting to talk to the King’s College staff to see how preparing for the Olympics has impacted their day to day lives. As a student, you’re sure feel the impact as you explore London and go on excursions. Michele