Cheerio

'Ello friends,
Greetings from across the pond, where I have taken my first steps in this wonderful world known as Europe. It's hard to imagine that a little more than a week ago I was taking tests, and now here I am backpacking across a completely different continent.
I'm spending my summer studying soccer, which is basically the coolest thing that any 11-year-old boy who plays for the local recreational league could dream up (which is largely because I dreamed up the idea as an 11-year-old boy in a local recreational league). So I'm spending part of my time talking with big-wigs and researchers and the rest of the time will be spent being an absolute, no holds barred tourist. I'm hitting up the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, finally making my way down to Croatia for some well-deserved R&R.
The weather here has been wonderful. I was expecting cold and rainy (actually I had no idea what to expect), but it has been sunny and 75 both days I've been here.
I was completely jet-lagged yesterday, so I spend it bumming around and napping. I even took a nap outside and got sunburnt, which is clearly a good first day. However, being refreshed, I spent today wandering around London seeing the sights (and when I have the energy, I'll put up pictures).
I'm here in London until the 22nd, at which time I'll be making my way north to the wonderful kingdom of Scotland.
In an effort to make all of this remotely related to soccer: Boo to Zenit St. Petersburg for beating Glasgow's Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final, especially since I'm heading up there soon.

All of you should stay in touch, because I already miss all of you terribly. This blog is no excuse for individual emails, I care as much about what you're doing. kkiley@email.unc.edu.