London #3

Hey guys and gals... Life in the good old UK has kept on rolling along at a frenetic pace...so I will try to keep everyone as up to date as I can....

As always, first things first...

Some really bad news--I let my brother use my RAZR and he broke it...so, i lost EVERYONE'S phone #'s---everything...home, work, etc. etc. etc. So, PLEASE send me basically all of your information--that would be awesome...

Secondly...and nothing pleases me more, some people are starting to plan some awesome London trips to visit a certain someone, so let me give everyone the low down on my schedule and how to get here.

I live in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath apt, and 1 person can COMFORTABLY stay on my huge leather couch. 2 people could also manage, but it would be tight...and if you are a girl, then I also am happy to share my queen bed..:-) In terms of where to fly, here is the airport breakdown by distance to my flat---Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton--and don't forget Dublin is only 30 minutes away by air, so that flight could work as well. I have already seen $400 flights from basically anywhere in the US from United until March..I feel like they will only get cheaper and may bottom out at $300...so come one and come all....

Finally -- I have internet!! YAY!!! So, for everyone who is interested my AOL IM is edwardo starr and my Skype name is edwardstarr. I have the fancy video camera, so if you guys want, you can gaze into my eyes when we chat. EVERYONE GET SKYPE so we can chat for free....

OK...onto the fun stuff...I finally figured out how to properly send pictures, apologies to everyone for my pathetic attempt last time--so following this email will be some pics from what I am talking about. So the highlight of the past week has undoubtedly been ROBBIE WILLIAMS. So, he is like the biggest thing in the world here..he played to 70,000 for 5 NIGHTS!?!?! I was lucky enough to get tix (bring on all of the Robbie jokes--he rocks)--Check out the pics--the stage was better than what I saw for the Rolling Stones.

Also, the STARRS have arrived in London--so I have been trying to keep up with my brother and act as a proper tour guide...I am preparing for all of you..:-) Anyway, we have had a blast here so far and the weather has been amazing...Check out some cool shots from around London. We are also going to PORTUGAL this weekend!!! I am so excited as I have never been, and its still like 85 there, so I plan on doing some proper beach activities...I will try to take some great pics and send them on the next email.

In terms of LBS---Me and a team of 3 other people have entered the AT KEARNEY world-wide case-study competition. Schools include MIT, COLUMBIA, KELLOGG, INSEAD, etc. So I will keep everyone abreast of my progress---3 teams out of 20 get picked from LBS to go onto the next round. Winner gets $12,000 and a job offer--so hey, who knows...Also, I am embroiled in Business Statistics---so don't be jealous of my currently as I struggle with the joys of Regression analysis...I am making some great friends out here..really cool people that I am getting along with and I look forward to introducing guys to when you come and visit.

In the mean time, my BEARS are 2-0--YEAH!!! I went to the Sports Cafe here on opening day and it was a MADHOUSE---I was wearing my new bears jersey courtesy of Jason Hornik and was among at least 20 other Bears fans. In regards to my other team, CHELSEA had a HUGE win in the Champions league and against Liverpool las weekend. The squad is doing well and they have a player named Didier Drogba who is simply astounding to watch on the pitch...i am also the proud owner of a brand new Chelsea jersey courtesy of gregory and jane.

Anyway--it's getting late here..so I hope everyone is doing well...I will try to update everyone next week when I get back from Portugal.

Miss you all...

London #2

Hope everyone is doing well...the fact that a week has passed since my last email is somewhat shocking to me in every possible way--i thought time would fly by while I was here, but literally, I feel like I am in some kind of vortex. Next week marks my 1 MONTH!!!! London anniversary...somehow, it still has not registered.

Anyway, enough with the embellishment, let me update everyone on whats been going on. I got lots of positive responses to my last email--which means everyone really liked what I sent out, or you guys are just lying to me since I am so far away...so here is try #2...

First of course, some more quick housekeeping...

INTERNET--As with everything in London, getting this into my flat has proved to be a ridiculously challenging endeavour, but, I have good news for everyone--as of today, I am expected to receive internet in my flat on Tuesday---So...everyone asking me why I can't chat on google, Skype, AOL, Apple I-chat, etc. etc. etc. there is your answer. I can use the net at my school, but they have a firewall set up for all of these instant messaging services...so don't worry...we will be chatting away to every one's annoyance really soon--Tuesday is the big day.

Now---here are the fun developments---

I saw my first official Cycling race...don't ask why, but cycling is CRAZY popular in Europe, so i decided to go to the TOUR OF BRITAIN...not quite the Tour De France, but I thought I would go watch my first official bicycle race--I was blown away by how fast these guys are flying by...in fact so fast, i was barely even to get a picture. Another thing that is shocking, is that like thousands of people crowd the streets to cheer the cyclists on---not quite what you see in America...so perhaps, next year I will be in the streets of Paris screaming my lungs out at the doped up cyclists, but we shall see.

Next, here are some pic's of various touristy stuff I did in the last email and some new stuff from this email. Basically a quick rundown--You have--

The TATE MODERN--best museum in London

Regent's Park - 1 block from my flat and gorgeous

Camden Town - Like the East Village of London--thousands of people go every weekend for 'market'--pretty cool stuff

Notting Hill - The book shop where Hugh Grant worked (I know it's cheesy but sue me)

Notting Hill Carnival - this is what I wrote about last week - There were 1 million people there that day...

St. Paul's Cathedral - Pretty self explanatory, but you gotta see it

Finally - LBS had a really cool orientation week this week--and they took us to Lord's Cricket Ground (Basically the Yankee Stadium of Cricket) - Now, I know football season started yesterday, and you will all make fun of me for liking cricket, but I LIKE CRICKET--something about the vests--anyway--The worldwide president of Proctor and Gamble gave us a very inspiring speech, and then we took a tour or Lord's - so here are some shots of me in the stadium.

Other than that, life has been amazing--Most of you know my good friend Jordan has officially moved to London as well, and his apartment is STUNNING--so I included a pic of a view from his Floor to Ceiling glass windows--i think a bunch of people are coming out in Feb. for his wedding--so prepare to be amazed.

School has started to get into full swing--but like i said earlier..i am (at least right now) still really energized to be in class and loving the lectures so far--now business statistics starts next week, so i will hold off on my grumbling until then---

Lastly, the Starr family is coming to visit me and Bruce next weekend--so my update might be a little late, but i promise we will make up for it with everything that bruce has lined up for me next week...I think we have quite an ambitious schedule to say the least.

Well, I will sign off now---GO BEARS

The First Big London Update

Hey everyone... I arrived on the little island on August 17th, and have not stopped have a blast since--I will do my best to try to catch everyone up in the most non-boring way that I can imagine---I also am considering a blog, as they seem to be the rage...but who knows...

First--some housekeeping details--

Mobile - I sent this out already, but in case you need it again: 0780-914-0005 -- If call from the US, dial like this: 011-44-780-914-0005

Address: I have a great flat with 2 really cool roommates--1 from UCLA and one from Michigan--Our place is great..1 block from school..3 bedroom, 2 bath--and a killer leather couch with an awesome chaise lounge---guests are welcome and encouraged--

Edward Starr

150 Clarence Gate Gardens

Glentworth Street

Marylebone

London

NW1 6AP

Communication: OK--this seems to be the biggest hurdle for many, so this have done a bunch of research and experiments and here are the results--first off, a little refresher course on the time difference (JAKE--this is for you!)

If you live in NYC or East Coast - I am 5hrs AHEAD

If you live in Chicago - 6hrs AHEAD

If you live in LA - 8hrs AHEAD

I know some people are like, what an asshole writing this stuff, but you would be surprised by some of the calls that i have gotten at all hours of the night...

So, here are the best ways to chat:

1. Most traditional - Buy a phone card--best site is http://www.enjoyprepaid.com/ - I found that this site has amazing rates, and for $20, you can talk to me for like 5 hrs--

2. Internet methods - For this, you have to have a dedicated broadband connection--

A: SKYPE - go to www.skype.com --- set up an account---if we are both online at the same time, we literally can talk for free. You need either a SYKPE internet phone, a headset, or a laptop with a microphone---both easy options and work really well.

B: SKYPE OUT - Same type of thing, but this is for when I am not online and you want to call my mobile, then you can deposit like $10, and we can talk for like 10 hours...really cheap rates

C: JAHJAH - http://www.jajah.com -- This is a really cool option---If you become a member of this, then we can talk for free, unlimited amount of time, and unlike SKYPE, you dont need a headset, etc. This is the most convenient I think for everyone, and I have not been able to find a catch yet---basically, all you need is a good internet connection----

3. EMAIL - Still fun to receive now and then...:-)

OK..so now the boring stuff is out of the way--here is the fun stuff---

London is the best city in the world, and I am sticking to that until I die...:-)---Its been 2 weeks, and despite the fact the the $ and the £ are at all time highs, EVERYTHING is twice as expensive as it is back in the states, the city is still without description---I know a lot of you have been here, and some have not---but just walking through the winding streets, parks, nightlife, and pubs---I don't know...I get the excite of NYC, without the bursting noise, people, and crowds---I get the beauty of Chicago or San Fran--it's tough to describe, but I hope all of you can find some time to visit in the next 2 yrs and we can explore the city together and everyone can decide for themselves.

I have had some great times since I have arrived--my first 10 days involved a lot of crap that you must deal with whenever you arrive somewhere, but luckily things worked out quite well and within a week I had a great flat, a UK bank account, a flashy new mobile phone and about 20 new friends. So far, I have tried to keep the touristy activities to a somewhat minimum, as I am a true Londoner now--but I still had to make my way to the Tate Modern, which has to be seen to be believed, and have strolled through Hyde Park and Regents Park(which by the way is about 1 block from my flat--so imagine living 1 block from central park, and you can understand how happy I am.

For the next email, I will try to email some fun pictures of my escapades so far--but other highlights have included Notting Hill (I of course took a picture next to the famous bookshop, but sadly Julia Roberts was no where to be found, the London CARNIVAL--2 Million people, debauchery, and just an amazing time--and of course, I had to hit Asia De Cuba and try a £13 martini--YEP, that a $26 dollar drink for those of you counting at home. But its just been so much fun as i have gone out literally every night since i have been here.

The pubs are awesome--I have decided to adapt CHELSEA as my official London football team (i tell people i did this because I am just supporting my Russian heritage by supporting their Russian owner, and the fact that Andrii Shevchenko is amazing) and watching a Premiership match in a pub is truly an experience that I hope all of you share with me when you visit--trust me, you will not forget it. I have not decided what I will do when American Football season starts next week---BUT---the thing that has surprised me the most is just how quickly I have literally forgotten about everything 'American'--I have not seen a Tv show, watched a sporting event, etc. since i have been here--and honestly, i don't miss it at all---

My brother just arrived yesterday--in case you guys did not know, Bruce is studying abroad for his final semester at NYU in London--we have already started to have a blast and i think these next four months will go down in history as the best of my life, and hopefully his as well---on tap is: Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, a 3 week New years Thailand Asia trip, Portugal, and nightly London debauchery--I promise to keep everyone abreast of everything, and i will try my best to keep up with Bruce, but I can't promise anything...:-)

Now...let me at least mention school---So, I am currently in the orientation period, and if you can believe it, I actually have class tomorrow!! How European----but here are the details...311 people, 87 Americans--and 59 different countries if you are keeping track at home...everyone has a real thirst for life if you will, perhaps that is the not best term, but hey, i can be cliche---people have run iron man triathlons, made it Everest base camp, literally travelled the world--so I feel slightly inadequate---so I am trying really hard to impress them with my bad jokes and funny stories about my Hollywood glory days---

Well---I am getting tired of typing, and I am sure everyone is tired of reading...I will try to do these type of things maybe every other week...who knows...but I will try my best...

Cheers everyone....