Gateway Open Into SL London

Just like the Chinese New Year on the 26 January, a new beginning started in the SL London sim on the same day, the gateway was opened from real life into Second Life. Hyde Park has become an official Orientation site for people who first arrive in SL after opening their accounts, so the virtual park is the first sight they will see as avatars.

I wandered over there to have a look and there were SL Mentors and Greeters from the London Team helping the dazed looking newbies as they appeared. I could see that they were telling people how to alter their appearance and how to do all the basic stuff that we all take for granted after getting used to the virtual environment.

I left for a short while and then teleported back over the park to see how many new avatars were arriving. I opened my map and clicked on a part some distance from the gateway, but still found that SL had brought me into the teleport area where new people land. I heard some familiar voices, filled with laughter, just across the way, it was SL London Director Brie Janick and Chelsea sim manager Seany1235 Blinker calling out to me and wondering if they could help this newbie Janey who had just arrived. They thought it was hilarious that I had landed in the teleport area, but it must be nice for new people to be greeted by friendly helpful avatars. My first location was nothing but an open plot of land where griefers had their fun. I remember it was quite a long time before I even spoke to anyone, not a good experience!!

Greeter Clive Hissop is also spending a great deal of time making new avatars welcome there, and I hope the new people settle in very quickly and become part of the SL London community. They are very lucky that they have a good home to come back to in SL London, as they go off to explore the very wonderful and very amazing Second Life grid.