Drama on the Double Decker Bus

After my dinner with Elizabeth I walked back to the bus station to catch the 25 to Mile End.  At IES orientation the leaders had told us not to sit on top at night because it can be a little sketchy but I figured 7pm wasn't too late and I would be fine -- WRONG. The top of the bus was not crowded at all and I picked a lovely seat by the window. Two stops later this guy got on the bus and sat right next to me.  I was in lala land and didn't realize how weird it was that he sat next to me with so many open seats until a few stops later.  I wasn't too bothered and just continued to look out the window.  THEN THINGS GOT WEIRD. He started a conversation with me which is out of the ordinary here because no one talks on public transportation.  I went along with his small talk because I didn't want to seem mean or stuck up.  I answered his questions but was very short just in case.  He told me a lot about himself for example, he is from New Delhi and has been living in London for 5 years.  He doesn't like the hot weather they have in India and couldn't understand the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius -- at one point he told me that if Minnesota had 50 degree weather our skin would melt off. I gave up trying to explain the different temperature scales.  He has family that lives in New Hampshire but he has never been there.  He sometimes rides the 25 bus route but really needs to get to East Ham -- never heard of it.  After his life story he said, "And you?" And I was so confused...apparently he expected me to then give him my life story -- ain't gonna happen.  He then got out his phone and asked for my name to request me on facebook.  I told him that I wasn't easy to find and we had probably a ten minute conversation about how he WOULD be able to find me.  When it was clear that I wasn't going to give him my information he said "I understand you don't want to be my friend." Awkward silence followed.  And then he asked me if I was single.  BEING THE DINGUS THAT I AM I said yes. (stupid mistake never to be made again I'm making a fake boyfriend up as I type) and he wanted to know why.  I flat out told him this was something I would not talk about.  When I was two blocks away from my stop he asked if I had weekends off of school.  I was confused and said "yeahhh?"Just as we pulled up to my stop he asked if we could go out sometime and I ran past him down the stairs to the doors and bolted off the bus.  I ran the entire way back to my room checking over my shoulder just to make sure he wasn't following me.

Prior to this freaky encounter, I went out to dinner at a pizza express with one of my best friends from high school who is studying abroad here in London too! I'm trying to save more money and I decided to take the bus to meet up with her.  Because I only know one bus route I took it as far as it could take me and then walked for fifteen minutes to meet up with her.  I'm so glad I did because it was an adventure! I saw the cutest shopping areas and loved the short walk to meet up with her.  Here are some pictures.