So last night I decided to walk to the supermarket to pick something up for dinner. I usually bring along my bag to carry all my crap in because it's easier than always worrying about getting pick pocketed and my ipod. Last night though I decided I wanted to go for a walk through the city and just take it all in for what's worth. I was having one of those nights where everything around seemed surreal.
I casually wandered around the grocery store for 20 minutes and as I walked out my first thought was "Oh Man! Don't let it be raining." I had quite a hike back to the dorm and I was in no mood to run with my groceries and shit. But the rain drops felt like drizzle and they were cold. I looked on the streets and they glistened like it had just rained. I still was a little lost by the whole idea.
Now you have to understand as a Floridian I've lived in South Florida my entire life. I have traveled to some of the coldest parts of the states and somehow luck would have it that it would never snow or I just was there during the summer. I'd been to Chicago (in the summer), Maine (in the summer), North Carolina (in the fall, but no snow), New York (many times including one Christmas, but it didn't snow). So, I've never seen snow. Ever! I've seen pictures, but I've never seen it fall, touched it smelled it, built a snow man (which I'm still waiting to cross off my list of things to do before I die). Nothing!
Well last night I got my first taste of what snow would be like. It flurried.
On my walk back I started realizing that it wasn't rain I was seeing in the distance it was snow. Or Flurry. Now flurry is different than snow (I was explained this) because it snows up to a certain point, but it's not cold enough to remain a solid so by the time it hits near street level it's already water.
I looked up into the sky and I'll never forget this. It reminded me of an old album cover. Through this old, rustic building with a withered old tree in front of it the moon light seem to strike at just the right angle. The wind blew the snow flake flurries and it was perfect.
As I kept walking I could see the flurries keep falling in the distance, but it never managed to build up enough. A few snow flakes (droplets) manage to hit me in the face and as the fell from the sky they looked pretty large. The experience was amazing. I was so happy to be in that moment and not have any distractions or have anyone who takes snow for granted ruin it for me. There are alot of northerners here and to them it would be nothing, so they'd dismiss it and ruin the entire experience for me. It was really awesome. I don't think I could ever forget my first experience seeing snow...or flurry.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Snowy Stonehenge
There is a trip planned for Stonehenge tomorrow and I'm really pumped. There have been reports on the news and weather.com that it is suppose to snow within the next couple of days. Stonehenge is located 2-3 hours away from where I'm staying and there is more of a chance of snow while we are out there. I'm so freaking excited because I've never seen snow in my life and if I get to see snow while I'm in stonehenge that's fucking amazing.
We're also hitting up Avesbury. It's a lesser known stone monument phenomenon just near Stonehenge. You should google it.
We're also hitting up some old castle that's rumored to be the most "beautiful castle in the UK". We're planning on having a picnic out by Stonehenge.
The best part of the whole thing is that the dorm got a privately chartered bus for 45 of us to go. The entire bus is filled with the people we party with every night and a few new people from the other dorm that's located further south from us. It's going to be like homecoming because we're planning on bringing crazy amounts of liquor and beer for the long journey there and back. It should be a ridiculous time. It'll be my first venture outside of London and I can't wait.
I figured I'd post something other than my drunken debachuries (spelling). I'm not an alcoholic...I'm just enjoying my youth and killing my liver.
Druski Have Another Brewski
So I've been gone for a while and it's my bad. I've been recovering from 3 nights of hang overs. No joke. Where should I start?
Monday: 8 p.m.
Bar: Night & Day
Occassion: Shane's Birthday
Monday was Shane's Birthday and he's a good friend of most of us so we wanted to celebrate it in style. He's only turning 20, but every occassion is a reason to drink when you are studying abroad. We started out at the dorms in the common room playing drinking games. It was going to be a mello night, but it never ends up that way. We convinced my roommmate Andy to drink with us. Mind you he's never had more than a couple of drinks. He's never been drunk. He bought himself a Guinness to try, but as the night rolled on he saw how much fun we were having playing circle of death, horse race, fuck you and annihilation so we kept passing him a beer. At about 11 p.m. we all had a ridiculous buzz going. So, we decided to head out to Shane's favorite bar in town Night & Day. What's awesome is that there are not open container laws here so you can merryily stroll down the street with a bottle of vodka and not get stopped by the police. It's pretty awesome. We get to the bar and Andy is with us still. He's definitely drunk by now and he's hysterical. It's like getting your little brother drunk for the first time. It's funny, you're all laughing with him and a little at him, but it's a good time. There was a group of about 20 of us in this one bar and we were being loud, chanting "chug" and pounding on the table. What's cool about this particular bar is that it's in the Bloomsbury district and there happens to be a lto of people who study abroad in this area, so you can see the different groups of American kids. Needless to say we kept knocking back the Carlsberg pints the rest of the night and you know me I don't pass up an occassion to drink and get shitty if everyone around me is drinking and getting shitty. By the way Carlsberg is like their Natty Ice here except it tastes a lot better than Natty. It's their cheapest beer and they serve it everywhere so whereever I go I order it. We met these two raw-sta-far-ion ( I dont' know how to spell it so I sounded it out) guys and they reminded me of the jelly fish from Finding Nemo. He was your typical Bob Marley. He came over to group and he was sitting at the table near us with his one friend. He says to us in his reggae accent "He mon we gotz to complete de circle mon because life is a circle and it never should end. A circle is whole and its a wonderful aura to be with such high spirited people." Something along those lines. I was hammered. We also met this Australian guy who joined our table and we got him into drinking with us. For the remainder of the night Andy is still knocking back drinks and for the kid who hardly drinks he was doing pretty well. Then we got to the point where he was stealin other people's drinks and that's when we had to cut him off. We got him a glass of whater and told him it was gin and tonic. He chugged it down and said it was the most amazing vodka. He was convinced. He fell off a couple of chairs. Paul had to hold him by his collar the entire night so he wouldn't stumble over. We all ended up coming back home at 1:30 a.m. and I pretty much passed out. The next morning Andy ended up puking in every building he stepped foot in. He puked in our room, he went to a muesum with one of his classes and puked, he puked at Huron. He puked all day and it was hysterical to see him all hung over. That was night 1.
Tuesday 8:30 p.m.
Bar: American Sports Cafe
Occassion: £1 pints all night.
This night is always fucking ridiculous. The weekend before I got so trashed and it was the best fucking time. I had a whole blog dedicated to that one night. This week was no different except that we got there earlier to ensure we got a table. All the tables were full so we just meandered our way over to a table that had two british guys and a girl obviously just returning from work and casually watching the game on the flat screens all over. Arsenal was playing Wigim. Arsenal is the big timer around here. So, the bar was packed and everyone was watching the futbol game. It was pretty intense because when either team almost scored a goal the whole place would go up in a roar. The place started to filter in with American college students from everywhere. I got my first pint and I told myself I wasn't goign to get as trashed as I did the night before. I didn't want to. I thought I had self control. I don't. Little by little we started taking over the entire table that these three people were sitting at. We started playing quarters (our favorite at this bar) and of course I committed the fatal error of telling people that I didn't want to drink too much that night, and everytime someone made the quarter into the cup they would give me the cup of beer to chug. No joke I was the fucking star of the night, but not by choice. They enjoy seeing how much it takes for a little guy like me to get wasted. Well let me tell you I'm impressed with myself because my tolerance level is building. We ended up feeling bad for the 3 Brits who were subject to our foolishness and asked them to play quarters with one. One of them happen to go to school with Americans so he knew the game and the other two didn't really know how to play, but we taught them. We introduced ourselves and told them our majors. One of the guys was a PR guy for a Financial PR firm in London. I thought that was cool as shit. We started playing and that's where they started calling me Druski. Well, the Brits joined in on the fun and started handing me most of the shots they were making into the cup. Not all, but I got the majority. I would say "No" sometimes, so it's not like I was a fucking fool. I got most of the people back too, when I would land a shot. So... the Brits would give me a shot. I'd make one and give them a shot. This went back and forth for a while with everyone and then it got fun again to start giving me the shots so they started with the "DRUSKI HAVE ANOTHER BRESKI."
The night went on and they started playing 80s songs and we all were having a blast. I ended up getting really shit faced and started dancing on the chairs that were more like stools. I was told to get down by security a couple of times until eventually I somehow left the bar. Apparently, they kicked me out, but I dont' remember. We walked home or I was held up rather. I was stumbling all over the streets of London like a fucking fool. I managed to make it Ok, but I just needed people as my crutches. Whatever it happens. We stopped at a McDonald's again (the same one) and my friends bought me a beloved Big Mac. They told me to make love to it, so I was making out the Big Mac in the middle of McDonalds. I was having a ball, people were all staring, but I didn't care. I made the people I was with meet these two American girls from I forgot where, but see it's because I was drunk and I drew attention. It was fun. The walk was forever and I had a few scrapes on my knees the next morning. I passed out in the computer lab and had to be carried to my room. Typical DRUnken Dru. Nothing different. I lost my dorm keys and I woke up Wednesday morning at Noon perfectly fine. No hangover. I'm a champ.
Thursday: 6 p.m.
Bar: Huron University & Metra Bar
Occassion: Welcome Party
Okay so this is only University in the world that serves its students alcohol at a school function held at the school itself. No joke we were invited to Huron for a welcome party to meet the facutly and other students and they had bottles upon bottles and cans upon cans of wine and Foster's beer. I took my opportunity to get free beer and started knocking back the Fosters like crazy. Everyone was taking advantage of that fact and we all got a pretty good buzz going. I then switched to red wine because they told me it had more alcohol in it, but the taste was like melted butter. It was disgusting,but I just took it like shots. We all got drunk there and decided to go to this club that was free cover until 9 p.m. or so we thought. We get to the dorm change really quick and then started walking. It was about 8:25 and the club was a good 30 minute walk. We were never going to make it with the large group we had going. So, in a drunken state of mind. Pete, Kim and I start sprinting down the sidewalks of London. Funny thing is we didn't know where we were going, so we had to stop and ask people for directions. All three of us looking like fucking idiots because no one knew where this club was except that it was in Leceister Square. Finally we get pointed in the general direction and get told it was across the street from Burger king. We get there and the door man notices that we were all out of breath. He tells us it was free admission until 10. So, we ran for nothing, but we did get our coats checked for free because we were there before 9 p.m. we got there 10 minutes till. The club was like any regular club. The only reason I went was because they said they played house music and I haven't been to a club that plays techno, house music. We get there and there aren't taht many people there yet because everyone filters in at around 11 p.m. or 12. Shane and I decide to split 2 jugs of cocktails. Their happy hours last until 11 p.m. so they were £7 each. We got a Sex on the Beach and Hawaiian Punch. The first jug was practically all juice so we waited for an hour to get the second. The second one I went to the bar and asked a different bartender to make it because even though I speak English I still feel like I'm getting ripped off in this country. They really do think that Americans are fucking idiots. This time the jug actually had liquor in it because I was nicer to the bartender. Maybe that's what it is. LoL. I danced, got drunk again. Not wasted, but a good vibe. No house music was played. I was disappointed. Then Laura called and my night came to a happy conclusion. It was content just talking to her the rest of the night so Pete and I just walked home.
I wake up this morning at Noon and annoyed with myself because I sleep in every day and I get nothing done during the day. I have to study for my tests which I completely forgot about because I do nothing all week. I still don't have an internship because the original one I had lined up the internship coordinator can't get a hold of the company and whatever it fell through. So, basically the only option I have is to drink all week. I'm not going out tonight. I'm keeping that promise.
Marlbourough Arms near Byng Place
Monday: 8 p.m.
Bar: Night & Day
Occassion: Shane's Birthday
Monday was Shane's Birthday and he's a good friend of most of us so we wanted to celebrate it in style. He's only turning 20, but every occassion is a reason to drink when you are studying abroad. We started out at the dorms in the common room playing drinking games. It was going to be a mello night, but it never ends up that way. We convinced my roommmate Andy to drink with us. Mind you he's never had more than a couple of drinks. He's never been drunk. He bought himself a Guinness to try, but as the night rolled on he saw how much fun we were having playing circle of death, horse race, fuck you and annihilation so we kept passing him a beer. At about 11 p.m. we all had a ridiculous buzz going. So, we decided to head out to Shane's favorite bar in town Night & Day. What's awesome is that there are not open container laws here so you can merryily stroll down the street with a bottle of vodka and not get stopped by the police. It's pretty awesome. We get to the bar and Andy is with us still. He's definitely drunk by now and he's hysterical. It's like getting your little brother drunk for the first time. It's funny, you're all laughing with him and a little at him, but it's a good time. There was a group of about 20 of us in this one bar and we were being loud, chanting "chug" and pounding on the table. What's cool about this particular bar is that it's in the Bloomsbury district and there happens to be a lto of people who study abroad in this area, so you can see the different groups of American kids. Needless to say we kept knocking back the Carlsberg pints the rest of the night and you know me I don't pass up an occassion to drink and get shitty if everyone around me is drinking and getting shitty. By the way Carlsberg is like their Natty Ice here except it tastes a lot better than Natty. It's their cheapest beer and they serve it everywhere so whereever I go I order it. We met these two raw-sta-far-ion ( I dont' know how to spell it so I sounded it out) guys and they reminded me of the jelly fish from Finding Nemo. He was your typical Bob Marley. He came over to group and he was sitting at the table near us with his one friend. He says to us in his reggae accent "He mon we gotz to complete de circle mon because life is a circle and it never should end. A circle is whole and its a wonderful aura to be with such high spirited people." Something along those lines. I was hammered. We also met this Australian guy who joined our table and we got him into drinking with us. For the remainder of the night Andy is still knocking back drinks and for the kid who hardly drinks he was doing pretty well. Then we got to the point where he was stealin other people's drinks and that's when we had to cut him off. We got him a glass of whater and told him it was gin and tonic. He chugged it down and said it was the most amazing vodka. He was convinced. He fell off a couple of chairs. Paul had to hold him by his collar the entire night so he wouldn't stumble over. We all ended up coming back home at 1:30 a.m. and I pretty much passed out. The next morning Andy ended up puking in every building he stepped foot in. He puked in our room, he went to a muesum with one of his classes and puked, he puked at Huron. He puked all day and it was hysterical to see him all hung over. That was night 1.
Tuesday 8:30 p.m.
Bar: American Sports Cafe
Occassion: £1 pints all night.
This night is always fucking ridiculous. The weekend before I got so trashed and it was the best fucking time. I had a whole blog dedicated to that one night. This week was no different except that we got there earlier to ensure we got a table. All the tables were full so we just meandered our way over to a table that had two british guys and a girl obviously just returning from work and casually watching the game on the flat screens all over. Arsenal was playing Wigim. Arsenal is the big timer around here. So, the bar was packed and everyone was watching the futbol game. It was pretty intense because when either team almost scored a goal the whole place would go up in a roar. The place started to filter in with American college students from everywhere. I got my first pint and I told myself I wasn't goign to get as trashed as I did the night before. I didn't want to. I thought I had self control. I don't. Little by little we started taking over the entire table that these three people were sitting at. We started playing quarters (our favorite at this bar) and of course I committed the fatal error of telling people that I didn't want to drink too much that night, and everytime someone made the quarter into the cup they would give me the cup of beer to chug. No joke I was the fucking star of the night, but not by choice. They enjoy seeing how much it takes for a little guy like me to get wasted. Well let me tell you I'm impressed with myself because my tolerance level is building. We ended up feeling bad for the 3 Brits who were subject to our foolishness and asked them to play quarters with one. One of them happen to go to school with Americans so he knew the game and the other two didn't really know how to play, but we taught them. We introduced ourselves and told them our majors. One of the guys was a PR guy for a Financial PR firm in London. I thought that was cool as shit. We started playing and that's where they started calling me Druski. Well, the Brits joined in on the fun and started handing me most of the shots they were making into the cup. Not all, but I got the majority. I would say "No" sometimes, so it's not like I was a fucking fool. I got most of the people back too, when I would land a shot. So... the Brits would give me a shot. I'd make one and give them a shot. This went back and forth for a while with everyone and then it got fun again to start giving me the shots so they started with the "DRUSKI HAVE ANOTHER BRESKI."
The night went on and they started playing 80s songs and we all were having a blast. I ended up getting really shit faced and started dancing on the chairs that were more like stools. I was told to get down by security a couple of times until eventually I somehow left the bar. Apparently, they kicked me out, but I dont' remember. We walked home or I was held up rather. I was stumbling all over the streets of London like a fucking fool. I managed to make it Ok, but I just needed people as my crutches. Whatever it happens. We stopped at a McDonald's again (the same one) and my friends bought me a beloved Big Mac. They told me to make love to it, so I was making out the Big Mac in the middle of McDonalds. I was having a ball, people were all staring, but I didn't care. I made the people I was with meet these two American girls from I forgot where, but see it's because I was drunk and I drew attention. It was fun. The walk was forever and I had a few scrapes on my knees the next morning. I passed out in the computer lab and had to be carried to my room. Typical DRUnken Dru. Nothing different. I lost my dorm keys and I woke up Wednesday morning at Noon perfectly fine. No hangover. I'm a champ.
Thursday: 6 p.m.
Bar: Huron University & Metra Bar
Occassion: Welcome Party
Okay so this is only University in the world that serves its students alcohol at a school function held at the school itself. No joke we were invited to Huron for a welcome party to meet the facutly and other students and they had bottles upon bottles and cans upon cans of wine and Foster's beer. I took my opportunity to get free beer and started knocking back the Fosters like crazy. Everyone was taking advantage of that fact and we all got a pretty good buzz going. I then switched to red wine because they told me it had more alcohol in it, but the taste was like melted butter. It was disgusting,but I just took it like shots. We all got drunk there and decided to go to this club that was free cover until 9 p.m. or so we thought. We get to the dorm change really quick and then started walking. It was about 8:25 and the club was a good 30 minute walk. We were never going to make it with the large group we had going. So, in a drunken state of mind. Pete, Kim and I start sprinting down the sidewalks of London. Funny thing is we didn't know where we were going, so we had to stop and ask people for directions. All three of us looking like fucking idiots because no one knew where this club was except that it was in Leceister Square. Finally we get pointed in the general direction and get told it was across the street from Burger king. We get there and the door man notices that we were all out of breath. He tells us it was free admission until 10. So, we ran for nothing, but we did get our coats checked for free because we were there before 9 p.m. we got there 10 minutes till. The club was like any regular club. The only reason I went was because they said they played house music and I haven't been to a club that plays techno, house music. We get there and there aren't taht many people there yet because everyone filters in at around 11 p.m. or 12. Shane and I decide to split 2 jugs of cocktails. Their happy hours last until 11 p.m. so they were £7 each. We got a Sex on the Beach and Hawaiian Punch. The first jug was practically all juice so we waited for an hour to get the second. The second one I went to the bar and asked a different bartender to make it because even though I speak English I still feel like I'm getting ripped off in this country. They really do think that Americans are fucking idiots. This time the jug actually had liquor in it because I was nicer to the bartender. Maybe that's what it is. LoL. I danced, got drunk again. Not wasted, but a good vibe. No house music was played. I was disappointed. Then Laura called and my night came to a happy conclusion. It was content just talking to her the rest of the night so Pete and I just walked home.
I wake up this morning at Noon and annoyed with myself because I sleep in every day and I get nothing done during the day. I have to study for my tests which I completely forgot about because I do nothing all week. I still don't have an internship because the original one I had lined up the internship coordinator can't get a hold of the company and whatever it fell through. So, basically the only option I have is to drink all week. I'm not going out tonight. I'm keeping that promise.
Marlbourough Arms near Byng Place
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Tom Dixon
I got an interview with Tom Dixon who is a high end fashion furniture designer. Yea... I didn't know they existed either. He designs weird, artsy fartsy shit welded out of metal and charges absorbent amounts of money for it. Google his name to find his Web site.
I get to his flat and it's this studio style place decorated in all his shit. His publicist comes over to me and the other people interviewing for the job. I'm thinking it's giong to be a very casual interview, not too serious and I'd be doing some busy work and a little bit of actual PR stuff.
The guy calls us one-by-one to get interviewied by him and his personal assistant. He sits me down and immediately asks me what kind of education I have and what sort of work experience I've had. He's basically like " ready... Go!" So, I ramble for awhile pushing how UF is top ranked for PR and blah, blah, blah.
He then sees that I know how to use photoshop and quark. Thanks to the Pearl and says to me that I will have to learn how to use Illustrator and InDesign. So, I'm like yea whatever it shouldn't be hard.
He then asks me what kind of PR classes I've taken. I spit out all the course I've taken and I even caught myself saying some I haven't even taken yet. He then goes on to explain my title as "intern." I use the word "intern" lightly because here it's more than just bitch work. It's more like a fucking job.
He proceeds to layout what my job would be if I decided I wanted the job. He starts by saying that it is vital that I know what the companies image is and what it stands for. That I learn how to speak the "cheeky" language they use in all their print ads, press releases and any other collateral with the name Tom Dixon on it. I'm like OK I can understand that as a PR major how important consistency and imagery are to the industry and a name. Nothing new.
He then says he's leaving for China for 3 months and that the person who starts will have massive amounts of responsibility. That they'd basically be running the publicity from the office so that he's gotta have a huge amount of trust in the person, and the person has to have good communication skills on top of organization. He says that he wants the "intern" to be in the office full time and that there will be some points when it will get hectic. He explained that fashion week in Milan, Italy is sometime in April and that the intern will undoubtedly be flown out to Milan, all expenses paid, to help set up and run press junctions etc.
To me this job sounds fucking amazing. It would be dream job out of college and it has every aspect of a job that I'd ever want. He really stressed the importance of creativity (which I really need in a job) and the fact that image and design are important aspects of the company. The place was really laid back and it was filled with tons of young folks working. It was a great environment, very free spirited and I could really see myself working there. I wanted the job so badly, because I knew that an opportunity like this doesn't come often. Especially with all the aspects that I'm looking for. I was more than qualified and I knew it.
He asked me to write a mock press release and gave me a ton of material to draw from. He gave me the names of four new pieces from this year's collection and told me to sell them to the public within the press release. He was looking to hire someone this week.
Unfortunately, I'm in London once in my life and school is my priority here. He seem to understand that to an extent. You see the education here only holds one exam the entire semester at the end. They have trouble comprehending that we have midterms. Also, the fact that he wanted me there as much as possible working in the office really worried me. I didn't want to spend my semester abroad working the entire time. I really wanted to have time to check out the sites and if I wanted a day off I could have it. I know that other people doing internships have to go in 2 days a week and that's it. They are all good experiences as well.
I didn't do the press release and looking back I wish that I had more time here in order to take that position. It was seriously perfect.
Talking to other people doing internships here from UF and other schools I realized how fortunate I am to be a PR major. It seems that I can seriously get a job anywhere and it gives me a shit load of hope. At first I really didn't think that my job was serious and that a lot of people look at it as bullshit. However, students who's majors are marketing, telecom, communications and general business are all finding themselves interviewing and interning for PR firms here in London. It's awesome.
If nothing else the interview at Tom Dixon was an incredible experience. I was in the actual offices of Tom Dixon where he creates his works, designs his things and has all his shit in. It was an amazing experience that I can look back and say I did even though I didn't take the position or pursue it any further. His company is really a PR persons dream considering the amount of publicity he's been getting recently and has gotten in the past. Just recently he was in London newspapers because his works are featured in central parts of London.
Good or Bad, Everything is an experience. I'm OK with that.
I get to his flat and it's this studio style place decorated in all his shit. His publicist comes over to me and the other people interviewing for the job. I'm thinking it's giong to be a very casual interview, not too serious and I'd be doing some busy work and a little bit of actual PR stuff.
The guy calls us one-by-one to get interviewied by him and his personal assistant. He sits me down and immediately asks me what kind of education I have and what sort of work experience I've had. He's basically like " ready... Go!" So, I ramble for awhile pushing how UF is top ranked for PR and blah, blah, blah.
He then sees that I know how to use photoshop and quark. Thanks to the Pearl and says to me that I will have to learn how to use Illustrator and InDesign. So, I'm like yea whatever it shouldn't be hard.
He then asks me what kind of PR classes I've taken. I spit out all the course I've taken and I even caught myself saying some I haven't even taken yet. He then goes on to explain my title as "intern." I use the word "intern" lightly because here it's more than just bitch work. It's more like a fucking job.
He proceeds to layout what my job would be if I decided I wanted the job. He starts by saying that it is vital that I know what the companies image is and what it stands for. That I learn how to speak the "cheeky" language they use in all their print ads, press releases and any other collateral with the name Tom Dixon on it. I'm like OK I can understand that as a PR major how important consistency and imagery are to the industry and a name. Nothing new.
He then says he's leaving for China for 3 months and that the person who starts will have massive amounts of responsibility. That they'd basically be running the publicity from the office so that he's gotta have a huge amount of trust in the person, and the person has to have good communication skills on top of organization. He says that he wants the "intern" to be in the office full time and that there will be some points when it will get hectic. He explained that fashion week in Milan, Italy is sometime in April and that the intern will undoubtedly be flown out to Milan, all expenses paid, to help set up and run press junctions etc.
To me this job sounds fucking amazing. It would be dream job out of college and it has every aspect of a job that I'd ever want. He really stressed the importance of creativity (which I really need in a job) and the fact that image and design are important aspects of the company. The place was really laid back and it was filled with tons of young folks working. It was a great environment, very free spirited and I could really see myself working there. I wanted the job so badly, because I knew that an opportunity like this doesn't come often. Especially with all the aspects that I'm looking for. I was more than qualified and I knew it.
He asked me to write a mock press release and gave me a ton of material to draw from. He gave me the names of four new pieces from this year's collection and told me to sell them to the public within the press release. He was looking to hire someone this week.
Unfortunately, I'm in London once in my life and school is my priority here. He seem to understand that to an extent. You see the education here only holds one exam the entire semester at the end. They have trouble comprehending that we have midterms. Also, the fact that he wanted me there as much as possible working in the office really worried me. I didn't want to spend my semester abroad working the entire time. I really wanted to have time to check out the sites and if I wanted a day off I could have it. I know that other people doing internships have to go in 2 days a week and that's it. They are all good experiences as well.
I didn't do the press release and looking back I wish that I had more time here in order to take that position. It was seriously perfect.
Talking to other people doing internships here from UF and other schools I realized how fortunate I am to be a PR major. It seems that I can seriously get a job anywhere and it gives me a shit load of hope. At first I really didn't think that my job was serious and that a lot of people look at it as bullshit. However, students who's majors are marketing, telecom, communications and general business are all finding themselves interviewing and interning for PR firms here in London. It's awesome.
If nothing else the interview at Tom Dixon was an incredible experience. I was in the actual offices of Tom Dixon where he creates his works, designs his things and has all his shit in. It was an amazing experience that I can look back and say I did even though I didn't take the position or pursue it any further. His company is really a PR persons dream considering the amount of publicity he's been getting recently and has gotten in the past. Just recently he was in London newspapers because his works are featured in central parts of London.
Good or Bad, Everything is an experience. I'm OK with that.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Shakespeare's - Comedy of Error
I'm taking a class at Huron University called Arts in London taught by this flamboyant but heterosexual american geezer who reminds me of a penguin and other individuals who happen to be a part of the same greek organization as myself but will remain nameless because he's not worth it. I'm a dick. Yes, I'm aware.
We have to see plays for this class and we go to museums and he takes us on walking tours around the city. It's a good class to get to know about the richness of this historic city. Tonight, we had to see this place at the Novello theater.
A 20 minute walk from dorm the theater is located in Alwych. It's located on a street corner and looks just like any regular building, but once you step inside its like you travel back in time. The place looks like an opera house. It's very delicately decorated in rich reds, mahogony, marble and gold. It's dimly lit and ushers dressed in those red bellhop uniforms guide you to your seats. We were able to sit on the first mezzanine and had a great view of the stage.
Once inside the main hall it was like everything old here... it leaves you in awe. Everything is gold encrusted I guess is the word. It's got so much detail all over the walls, with gold crown molding, candelibras and this ridiculous chandelier suspended from a large dome with angels painted on it reminiscent of the Sistine chapel. The place had those tiny balconies you see rich people in old movies sitting in.
As for the play it was interesting. It had a good plot, but I fell asleep the first 30 minutes. The set design, production and lighting was really well done. It look like an off-Broadway attempt. The acting was descent and there was no singing. Thank God. Towards the end it got better and there was actually some understood humor. During intermission which they call interval here they sold mini haagen-daz ice creams for £2.50. It's not worth the money for the two spoon fulls you get.
With this class I'll be seeing a lot more plays, but first night at theater in London was descent. I was more amazed by the actual venue than anything else. It's strange that its been around for so long and that so much detail is dedicated to it. It really makes you transcend time and provides quality entertainment.
American Sports Cafe
I'd been waiting for this night since the first week I'd got here. I had heard so much about this place and I was immediately drawn to the no cover, and cheap drinks. £1 pints all night long. I was planning to get shit faced. Needless to say...I succeeded.
Nearly everyone from Huron University did the 10 minute hike to just past Leceister Square to American Sports Cafe. It's an American haven in London. Every student studying abroad, and a few locals flock to this modernized bar for cheap drinks, classic american music and an atmosphere much like the ones we're use to at home.
It was a fantastic night. I started it off with a can of Guinness, which by the way they dont' have open container laws here so I was free to rome the streets with a can of Guinness in one hand. It was awesome. I get to the bar and immediately hit up the £1 pints. Chug one down and hit the bartender up for another. There were loads of people there from Syracuse, Cincinnati, FSU, UF (on other programs) EVERYWHERE! The atmosphere was so chill and packed. We conquered a table and began playing quarters. It was only 9:30 p.m.
By 11:30 p.m. I'd chugged close to 4 pints and knocked back a few from quarters. I was nearly done drinking, but the night felt like it was just beginning. The Brits have the right idea. They start early and end early so that they can get up the next day and function. This bar fortunately has one of the rare licenses to stay open until 3 a.m. It's usually extra for other bars to do that, but the Brits don't understand that value of making an extra buck by staying open late.
I was drunk and on the verge of vomiting. I ran into the bathroom and every bathroom here has one of those attendants that hands you a paper towel and offers to spray cologne on you. I avoided the guy and made my way to the stall just in case. I coached myself not to vomit. The bathroom was cool though it didn't have urinals it had like one long urinal across two walls. So you stand next to the guy and everyone's urine runs down the same pipe towards a drain. It sounds weird. So yea I avoided the attendant because that meant I had to tip him and that was one less drink for me.
We stuck around for a couple more hours drinking of course and dancing. They played Eric Prydz- Call on me (which is huge here Scambo) and I finally heard the Baywatch theme song techno version "I'll be there" (I didn't believe you Kareem) It made the house jump. The night melowed out later when we were all pretty hammered and then it started reminding me of home. The DJ played "Livin' on a prayer" "Build me Up Buttercup" (or whatever) and other 80s classic like "Pour some sugar on me." The bar had an XS mixed with Swamp vibe to it. It was good times.
We left around 1 a.m. and it was 6 of us. We had no idea where we were going and we were one of the first groups to leave. Somehow we made it home, but it was sheer luck because as we passed a street one of us would recall walking by or past that street at one point during our stay here this far. We later find out that we walked in a zig zag pattern and we were the last bunch to arrive at home it took us so long.
We did stop at McDonald's on the way though. Let me just tell you that I was starved and craved Five Star pizza like crazy. I settled for McDonalds. I though they'd have a pound menu (equivalent to a dollar menu) but they didn't. Then it happened. I saw the Big Mac. Oh, by the way they still call the quarter pound with cheese a quarter pounder so Pulp Fiction is wrong. I ordered a Big Mac and I don't know if it was the alcohol or what but it was the best fucking Big Mac of my life. I enjoyed every bite of it and savored that flavor of two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, NO PICKLES, onions all on a sesame-seed bun. I envy you guys only paying a buck for it at home.
I concluded my night by falling asleep to one of my all time favorite movies "The Boondock Saints." Fucking Amazing Times. However, there was one thing missing...Laura.
Nearly everyone from Huron University did the 10 minute hike to just past Leceister Square to American Sports Cafe. It's an American haven in London. Every student studying abroad, and a few locals flock to this modernized bar for cheap drinks, classic american music and an atmosphere much like the ones we're use to at home.
It was a fantastic night. I started it off with a can of Guinness, which by the way they dont' have open container laws here so I was free to rome the streets with a can of Guinness in one hand. It was awesome. I get to the bar and immediately hit up the £1 pints. Chug one down and hit the bartender up for another. There were loads of people there from Syracuse, Cincinnati, FSU, UF (on other programs) EVERYWHERE! The atmosphere was so chill and packed. We conquered a table and began playing quarters. It was only 9:30 p.m.
By 11:30 p.m. I'd chugged close to 4 pints and knocked back a few from quarters. I was nearly done drinking, but the night felt like it was just beginning. The Brits have the right idea. They start early and end early so that they can get up the next day and function. This bar fortunately has one of the rare licenses to stay open until 3 a.m. It's usually extra for other bars to do that, but the Brits don't understand that value of making an extra buck by staying open late.
I was drunk and on the verge of vomiting. I ran into the bathroom and every bathroom here has one of those attendants that hands you a paper towel and offers to spray cologne on you. I avoided the guy and made my way to the stall just in case. I coached myself not to vomit. The bathroom was cool though it didn't have urinals it had like one long urinal across two walls. So you stand next to the guy and everyone's urine runs down the same pipe towards a drain. It sounds weird. So yea I avoided the attendant because that meant I had to tip him and that was one less drink for me.
We stuck around for a couple more hours drinking of course and dancing. They played Eric Prydz- Call on me (which is huge here Scambo) and I finally heard the Baywatch theme song techno version "I'll be there" (I didn't believe you Kareem) It made the house jump. The night melowed out later when we were all pretty hammered and then it started reminding me of home. The DJ played "Livin' on a prayer" "Build me Up Buttercup" (or whatever) and other 80s classic like "Pour some sugar on me." The bar had an XS mixed with Swamp vibe to it. It was good times.
We left around 1 a.m. and it was 6 of us. We had no idea where we were going and we were one of the first groups to leave. Somehow we made it home, but it was sheer luck because as we passed a street one of us would recall walking by or past that street at one point during our stay here this far. We later find out that we walked in a zig zag pattern and we were the last bunch to arrive at home it took us so long.
We did stop at McDonald's on the way though. Let me just tell you that I was starved and craved Five Star pizza like crazy. I settled for McDonalds. I though they'd have a pound menu (equivalent to a dollar menu) but they didn't. Then it happened. I saw the Big Mac. Oh, by the way they still call the quarter pound with cheese a quarter pounder so Pulp Fiction is wrong. I ordered a Big Mac and I don't know if it was the alcohol or what but it was the best fucking Big Mac of my life. I enjoyed every bite of it and savored that flavor of two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, NO PICKLES, onions all on a sesame-seed bun. I envy you guys only paying a buck for it at home.
I concluded my night by falling asleep to one of my all time favorite movies "The Boondock Saints." Fucking Amazing Times. However, there was one thing missing...Laura.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Cooking
So if you haven't noticed by now that the standard of living here is like any major city in the world only multiply it by 10. It is ridiculously expensive to live here and that's all I hear when I start bitching about the amount of money I've spent for only being here 1 week. I've managed to spend around $200 in 1 weeks worth on food, some partying and that's basically it. It's a little insane I know and I already feel guilty about it, but it's not like I'm going out throwing money around.
I've come up with a descent solution to this little problem.... COOKING. I know it sounds ingenuius but it works. I started going to the market a couple of days ago and buying fresh meat and pasta to cook for dinner. I've been practicing every night and not that it's hard to cook, but I'm just not use to it. My parents have always cooked for me when I'm at home. I've begun experimenting with different things around the grocery store and trying to get the hang of what it takes to be a good cook. As with everything it will only take time.
Tonight I decided to make rice. I don't like rice and my family eats it every night for dinner with every meal. It never fails, but I wanted something other than pasta to eat for dinner since I've been making pasta and chicken for dinner every night. I didn't think it'd be that hard and that rice is similar to making pasta. I put the water to boil, put a cup of rice, some oil and salt. It took about 15 minutes and it turned out nothing ilke rice. It was a mixture of mashed potatos and grits. It was gooey and not very flavorful. The steak however was on sale and it turned out descent. I cooked it with some diced tomatos and it wasn't bad.
So why am I sharing this experience with you? Because if you thought I was a big Jew in the states....my time in London is only solidifying everyone's suspicion that I may in fact be of Jewish descent. I've never counted my pennces and pounds more in my life. Today I bought a single mechanical pencil for the American equivalent of $3. I almost shot myself.
Also, whoever said that traveling within Europe was cheap was lying! I went to find out how much it would cost to travel to France during Spring Break when Laura comes to visit and it will cost about $100 for my ticket out of London alone. Not including hotel, food or transportation once we get into the city. I almost lost it because that's like traveling to NY for the weekend and we don't do that every weekend. Granted I'm only in Europe once and I'm only 21 once, but I was definitely expecting it to be a lot cheaper.
I've managed to go on a rant, but needless to say it's my nature to bitch about things. It eases some of the tension and helps me think of other things that matter more. We'll see.
I've come up with a descent solution to this little problem.... COOKING. I know it sounds ingenuius but it works. I started going to the market a couple of days ago and buying fresh meat and pasta to cook for dinner. I've been practicing every night and not that it's hard to cook, but I'm just not use to it. My parents have always cooked for me when I'm at home. I've begun experimenting with different things around the grocery store and trying to get the hang of what it takes to be a good cook. As with everything it will only take time.
Tonight I decided to make rice. I don't like rice and my family eats it every night for dinner with every meal. It never fails, but I wanted something other than pasta to eat for dinner since I've been making pasta and chicken for dinner every night. I didn't think it'd be that hard and that rice is similar to making pasta. I put the water to boil, put a cup of rice, some oil and salt. It took about 15 minutes and it turned out nothing ilke rice. It was a mixture of mashed potatos and grits. It was gooey and not very flavorful. The steak however was on sale and it turned out descent. I cooked it with some diced tomatos and it wasn't bad.
So why am I sharing this experience with you? Because if you thought I was a big Jew in the states....my time in London is only solidifying everyone's suspicion that I may in fact be of Jewish descent. I've never counted my pennces and pounds more in my life. Today I bought a single mechanical pencil for the American equivalent of $3. I almost shot myself.
Also, whoever said that traveling within Europe was cheap was lying! I went to find out how much it would cost to travel to France during Spring Break when Laura comes to visit and it will cost about $100 for my ticket out of London alone. Not including hotel, food or transportation once we get into the city. I almost lost it because that's like traveling to NY for the weekend and we don't do that every weekend. Granted I'm only in Europe once and I'm only 21 once, but I was definitely expecting it to be a lot cheaper.
I've managed to go on a rant, but needless to say it's my nature to bitch about things. It eases some of the tension and helps me think of other things that matter more. We'll see.
Happy One Year Anniversary!
To the one and only Laura Bess Henry:
It's our one year anniversary and I thought what better way to show my love and appreciation for the most special girl in my life than proclaiming it on my blog. First and foremost I want to say that I'm sorry I'm missing this monumental (I feel like I say that alot on this thing) event. I wish that I could be there to celebrate with you and treat as you should be treated.
This past year has been the most amazing year I've ever had. I wouldn't take back any day, minute or second that we spent together laughing, bickering, smiling and well other stuff that'll remain between you and me. I feel so fortunate to have found someone that I'm so compatible with. Someone I can be myself around, will accept me for who I am and most of all is my best friend. In you I confide so much and you of all people know me best. I've always said that it's one of the most amazing parts about being in a relationship is that it only takes one person to change you and that it's really something special that someone could get to know you and come to love you so much for simply being yourself. It's true.
We've never really fought, and when we have we've come to laugh about it in the seconds to follow. Somehow enjoying each other's company and having a good time is what we've always been about. But perhaps the best aspect of this entire thing is that you have taught me so much. Despite the fact that you may not think so. I've told you once that my sincerest hope is that I too will have left an impact on your life somehow. That you can look back and remember me when you're faced with some obstacle in your life. I want to be the one that you compare future boyfriends too... if it ever comes to that.
I've said it since the beginning... Lucky since 1/16/05. I am. You are an amazing woman. You're smart, beautiful and incredible. At times you're indecisive, anxious, complicated and overdramatic, but without those qualities you'd be boring. You keep me on my toes and I brag about you all the time. It's hard to believe that a girl like you can like a guy like me. LoL.
I love you and that's perhaps the only way I can some this letter up. I don't think I've ever said those to words to someone and really meant it. By that I mean you taught me what it means to love someone (maybe that's what you've taught me all these months).
May you enjoy this day as if I were there, but leaving out some special parts. When you arrive here in London on spring break I promise I'll make it up to you and it will all be worth while.
I love you Laura Bess Henry and that makes this day all the better.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Camden Market
I'm coming up on a week here in jolly old London, England and I have to say that I'm loving everything about this city. I almost don't want to leave and I know that the time here is just going to fly by so quickly. I travel around the city and I feel like a tourist (which I sort of am) but I forget that I actually live here now.
Today myself and a few of the regulars decided to hit up Camden Market. It is an outside market located just a 20-minute walk away from my dorm. The place was insane! What it is, is a long strip of shops and a giant area of small vendors. What makes it so great is that you can walk around and see very young,trendy items and tons of locals. The stuff there was pretty cheap for London standards, but far from inexpensive by American standards. They had unique jewlery, graphic tees, good knock-offs, shoes...Everything. The streets were packed with locals all about my age with the occassional thirty-something and tourists. It had a very indie feel to it because a few of the things vendors were offering weren't items you could purchase at Urban Outfitters or large chain stores. If your looking for something different this is the place to go.
We spent almost the entire day there and we hardly covered the span of the strip. If you continue down the road you run into Stable Markets which consists of even more vendors and vintage shops. The vintage shops offer some pretty good quality things for £10, but that's $20. It's primarily things you could go to a thrift store in the States and get for $10. Of course of the stores had vintage jeans, jackets and other clothes at unreasonably high prices like £45 nearly $90 for a pair of old jeans that someone else had already worn. Not everything in Camden market is used though, they did have a ton of new stuff and it was a really great place to hit up on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Oh yea... the sun came out again today for the 2nd time in a week! It was fucking awesome.
The market also had a lot of small food vendors from every spice of life. You could eat Thai food, Indian food, Moroccon food, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Islamic, American... you name it they had it and it was pretty quality stuff. It's funny though because I feel that if I were in the states at some Flea Market I would never work up the courage to eat some random food off the streets, but there's somethign about this place that makes it OK. It could just be that I'm broadening my horizons... whatever.
Today was a pretty lax day. I'm starting to settle in and get a real feel for what this city is made of and who around me I click with. Everyone is still really friendly and just always up for a good time. However, there is a part of me that hates the fact that home isn't just a 4 hour trip away. It's funny because even when I'm 4 hours away I never travel home or visit unless its a holiday or something, but I think it's the comfort of knowing that it's near that eases the nostalgia.
I started thinking today about how I'm on this experience alone. And then I started looking around at the other students from all over the U.S. and how they are all alone and it got me wondering why we do it. Why do we choose to leave everything that's familiar and safe to come 3,000 miles to something unfamiliar and new? There's a few people who are good friends here, and one couple who came together, but for the most part everyone is pretty much alone. We're all flying solo and shoved into this experience forced to fend for ourselves and build that safety net we've constructed back home just 3,000 miles away in a foreign country. Many of us will adapt to our surroundings. We'll gain our group of friends, enjoy the drunken nights out, stupid nights out, adventures on the weekends and walk away fromt his changed people. As I hope I will. Then there are the few who will come to this hoping for something and gaining close to nothing. But why? What type of people choose to study abroad? Are we the loners? The quiet ones? The socialites? The adventure seekers? The intellectuals? The wallflowers? Is there a stereotype for us because I've met so many different personalities that its hard to pin point what commonality drew us all to this one location for this one semester? There's gotta be one underlying factor..... doesn't there?
I'm greatful for this experience and questioning why I'm here isn't regret, but intrigue. I'm curious. When I think about the lengthy process I went through to get here.... all the applications, deadlines, fees, visas etc. I can hardly rememeber when it was that I said to myself "I'm going to London."
Today myself and a few of the regulars decided to hit up Camden Market. It is an outside market located just a 20-minute walk away from my dorm. The place was insane! What it is, is a long strip of shops and a giant area of small vendors. What makes it so great is that you can walk around and see very young,trendy items and tons of locals. The stuff there was pretty cheap for London standards, but far from inexpensive by American standards. They had unique jewlery, graphic tees, good knock-offs, shoes...Everything. The streets were packed with locals all about my age with the occassional thirty-something and tourists. It had a very indie feel to it because a few of the things vendors were offering weren't items you could purchase at Urban Outfitters or large chain stores. If your looking for something different this is the place to go.
We spent almost the entire day there and we hardly covered the span of the strip. If you continue down the road you run into Stable Markets which consists of even more vendors and vintage shops. The vintage shops offer some pretty good quality things for £10, but that's $20. It's primarily things you could go to a thrift store in the States and get for $10. Of course of the stores had vintage jeans, jackets and other clothes at unreasonably high prices like £45 nearly $90 for a pair of old jeans that someone else had already worn. Not everything in Camden market is used though, they did have a ton of new stuff and it was a really great place to hit up on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Oh yea... the sun came out again today for the 2nd time in a week! It was fucking awesome.
The market also had a lot of small food vendors from every spice of life. You could eat Thai food, Indian food, Moroccon food, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Islamic, American... you name it they had it and it was pretty quality stuff. It's funny though because I feel that if I were in the states at some Flea Market I would never work up the courage to eat some random food off the streets, but there's somethign about this place that makes it OK. It could just be that I'm broadening my horizons... whatever.
Today was a pretty lax day. I'm starting to settle in and get a real feel for what this city is made of and who around me I click with. Everyone is still really friendly and just always up for a good time. However, there is a part of me that hates the fact that home isn't just a 4 hour trip away. It's funny because even when I'm 4 hours away I never travel home or visit unless its a holiday or something, but I think it's the comfort of knowing that it's near that eases the nostalgia.
I started thinking today about how I'm on this experience alone. And then I started looking around at the other students from all over the U.S. and how they are all alone and it got me wondering why we do it. Why do we choose to leave everything that's familiar and safe to come 3,000 miles to something unfamiliar and new? There's a few people who are good friends here, and one couple who came together, but for the most part everyone is pretty much alone. We're all flying solo and shoved into this experience forced to fend for ourselves and build that safety net we've constructed back home just 3,000 miles away in a foreign country. Many of us will adapt to our surroundings. We'll gain our group of friends, enjoy the drunken nights out, stupid nights out, adventures on the weekends and walk away fromt his changed people. As I hope I will. Then there are the few who will come to this hoping for something and gaining close to nothing. But why? What type of people choose to study abroad? Are we the loners? The quiet ones? The socialites? The adventure seekers? The intellectuals? The wallflowers? Is there a stereotype for us because I've met so many different personalities that its hard to pin point what commonality drew us all to this one location for this one semester? There's gotta be one underlying factor..... doesn't there?
I'm greatful for this experience and questioning why I'm here isn't regret, but intrigue. I'm curious. When I think about the lengthy process I went through to get here.... all the applications, deadlines, fees, visas etc. I can hardly rememeber when it was that I said to myself "I'm going to London."
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Zone 1
Check the time stamp at the bottom of this entry. It's about 6 p.m. and I just got back home from an entire day of traveling... ON FOOT. I had promised a few of my new friends here in London that I'd take a trip to Big Ben. Having got home at 4 a.m. last night I was tempted to sleep in and just forget about it. I'm only in London once. I woke up just as I promised and 6 of us headed for the streets. Matt from Ohio, my roommate Chris from UF, Candy and Jesse from Oswego NY and Shane from Southern New Hampshire. We set off to the streets just hoping to get a glimpse of Big Ben.
London (the city itself) is divided up into 6 zones. The main attractions are primariy found within Zone 1 the bullseye of the target. Fortunately, my school is in Zone 1 and a brisk walk away from all the sights. We headed out on foot just intending to see the bronze tower that London is so famously known for. We made our way down Gower Street and passed a ton of little specialty shops, pubs, restaurants and weaved our way through allies. It was exactly like you would imagine it to be if you walked down an old english town. A few of the buildings looked like cottages, old style with a mix of modern, contemporary structures. I took a few pictures of the some of the streets so you can get a feel for what they were like.
As we traveled down the streets that aren't laid out in a easy to understand manner we happened along Trafalgar Square where a Russian festival was going on. It was packed with people and the music they were blasting made the sidewake shake with the poppy beats of Aqua's "Barbie Girl". Pretty funny.
Just down from Trafalgar Square we could see the gold station that adorns the front of Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guard happens every even day (for example on the 16th, 18th, 20th etc.) at what we thought was 1p.m. We decided to head towards the palace and the half a mile or so stretch to reach it builds the anticipation. To the left is St. James' Park (similar to Central Park) you walk down a dirt road and red road provides a means for cars to travel. As you walk towards the palace it seems surreal that you are standing just feet away. I mean you read and hear about Buckingham palace in school, on t.v. and in history but you never thinkt hat you'd be walk to it, taking pictures of it and seeing it with your on eyes.
As we approached the palace you anticipate this grandesque palace, but in reality it looks more like a commercial shopping center... well sort of. There were crowds of people outside from everywhere taking pictures. It happened that we arrived just the changing of the guards was taking place. Something not many get a chance to see, but I may get a few opportunities. It was like a parade of platoons of men in gray wool marching and drumming around the square and down the roads. It was pretty interesting to see and exciting to watch. You look up at the palace and it's hard to believe the Queen could actually live there. It seems a little too hoaky for me, but whatever.
We made our way around St. James' Park towards Westminister Abbey (a huge church and great photo opportunity). It's this amazing cathedral with goth inspired architecture. We asked if Abbey Road ( THE ABBEY ROAD on the BEATLES ALBUM) was near by but that's somewhere in the country.
We then made our way towards Big Ben which in person isn't all that big. It's this bronze, yellow, copper tone tower attaching to Parliament. You can pay to go in and watch the debate and apparently through shit at eachother. We crossed the Waterloo Bridge over the famous Thames River that splits London in half over to the southbank and walked along the river. We passed the world reknowned London Eye (the large ferris wheel) that's architecturally impressive and looks completely faulty. You ride in these pill like capsules and pay £10 ($20) for a 20-30 minute ferris wheel ride. The capsules are made of glass so the views are said to be outstanding. I'm saving that trip for when Laura comes.
We walked along the river and found Gabriel's Warf a little strip of shops, bakeries, bars and restaurants. We went a little further into the suburb to Duchy Street (haha Dooky) and ate at Youngin's. We met two Australian bar tenders who were incredibly friendly and I was shocked because I've only been faced with snotty Brits since I've arrived. They really made a great impression on me and I may just travel to Australia next time. Haha.
We continued along the Thames till we reached the Millenium Bridge. Another impressive piece of architecture. It's a thin steel bridge that seems like it's hovering over the Thames. We took the bridge over to the Northbank of the river and walked towards Tower Bridge another half a mile hike. By now our feet are exhausted, it's freezing outside and there's alight drizzle falling. A typical day in London apparently, but it was the first sign of rain since I've been here.
As we approached Tower Bridge we stopped of all places Starbucks to get something to warm up and wake us up. It had been a long day and it was freezing out. If you stay in the cold long enough, even if it's 40 degrees outside it gets to you. We made our way to Tower Bridge. Another impressive piece of construction around of centuries. Two Towers adorn the bridge sustained by aqua wires and poles or so they seem. According to history (because I read a lot about this bridge in travel books) I believe they use to display the heads of people who were executed atop these towers back in the day. There were points when several heads at once were found on top of the bridge. Pretty morbid and nasty.
After crossing the bridge we came upon Tower of London. A fortress of sorts that's survived for 900 years. It has been an arsenal, prison, torture chamber, execution sight, palace, and fort among other things I'm sure. By now we've managed to walk a large part of Zone 1 within what they call "The City". We decide to make our way back home to Russell Square but make a pit stop at St. Paul's Cathedral. A protestant church where Princess Diana was married. The wedding was televised on television. Above all else it's the largest church in Europe and pretty well known.
We entered the church in hopes of seeing tombs and the impresive art, architecture and rich history. What we found was the Crypt Cafe (sounds tempting) and a closed museum that charges £8 to go to the top of the dome. As we were leaving fortunately for us a EveningSong precession was about to take place. We decide to take a look and enter the cathedral. We weren't allowed to take pictures or film inside the church out of respect for the people praying. I could honestly do this church no justice by describing it on this blog. St. Paul's is one of those places that leaves you speechless. As you make your way through the revolving door monuments, marble statues and iron crypts line the marble floor. You make your way to the center of the church and it hits you. The place is unbelieveable. There are paintings one the ceilings, gold encrusted all over, an incredible alter and it's just too hard to describe. We heard the young boys choir singing and it sort of gives you chills the place is so amazing. You look up and the place is just this canvas! I wish I could descirbe it better, but it's just incredible. You leave the church in awe. I'll leave it at that.
By now it's 5 p.m. and we have quite a hefty trek back to our residence. The weather outside is colder and the drizzle begins to fall a little more frequently. We pass more pubs, specialty shops, restaurants and church's on the way home.
Today, I can say I found my feet. I saw all the places people come here and spend 3 days doing. While I didn't spend much time at each of my stops, it was enough for me to gain a better appreciation for the city I'm living in. There is so much history and rich architecture here. You'd never believe places like this existed or that these have been around for so many years (of course they've been renovated to keep with the times, but what hasn't these days). Today's taken a lot out of me both physically and mentally. There was so much to take in and there was so much I wanted to hold on to. I took a ton of pictures when my camera wasn't acting up. It was an amazing day, spent with some really great people. We took our time, weren't afraid to get lost and no one complained-- the perfect attitude for traveling.
After being here for 6 days I can already see that the people I've met here will all impact my time here each in their own profound way. I can see myself walking away from this with some really great friends. Hell, I've already been invited to go skiing in New Hampshire this winter. I'm beat!
London (the city itself) is divided up into 6 zones. The main attractions are primariy found within Zone 1 the bullseye of the target. Fortunately, my school is in Zone 1 and a brisk walk away from all the sights. We headed out on foot just intending to see the bronze tower that London is so famously known for. We made our way down Gower Street and passed a ton of little specialty shops, pubs, restaurants and weaved our way through allies. It was exactly like you would imagine it to be if you walked down an old english town. A few of the buildings looked like cottages, old style with a mix of modern, contemporary structures. I took a few pictures of the some of the streets so you can get a feel for what they were like.
As we traveled down the streets that aren't laid out in a easy to understand manner we happened along Trafalgar Square where a Russian festival was going on. It was packed with people and the music they were blasting made the sidewake shake with the poppy beats of Aqua's "Barbie Girl". Pretty funny.
Just down from Trafalgar Square we could see the gold station that adorns the front of Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guard happens every even day (for example on the 16th, 18th, 20th etc.) at what we thought was 1p.m. We decided to head towards the palace and the half a mile or so stretch to reach it builds the anticipation. To the left is St. James' Park (similar to Central Park) you walk down a dirt road and red road provides a means for cars to travel. As you walk towards the palace it seems surreal that you are standing just feet away. I mean you read and hear about Buckingham palace in school, on t.v. and in history but you never thinkt hat you'd be walk to it, taking pictures of it and seeing it with your on eyes.
As we approached the palace you anticipate this grandesque palace, but in reality it looks more like a commercial shopping center... well sort of. There were crowds of people outside from everywhere taking pictures. It happened that we arrived just the changing of the guards was taking place. Something not many get a chance to see, but I may get a few opportunities. It was like a parade of platoons of men in gray wool marching and drumming around the square and down the roads. It was pretty interesting to see and exciting to watch. You look up at the palace and it's hard to believe the Queen could actually live there. It seems a little too hoaky for me, but whatever.
We made our way around St. James' Park towards Westminister Abbey (a huge church and great photo opportunity). It's this amazing cathedral with goth inspired architecture. We asked if Abbey Road ( THE ABBEY ROAD on the BEATLES ALBUM) was near by but that's somewhere in the country.
We then made our way towards Big Ben which in person isn't all that big. It's this bronze, yellow, copper tone tower attaching to Parliament. You can pay to go in and watch the debate and apparently through shit at eachother. We crossed the Waterloo Bridge over the famous Thames River that splits London in half over to the southbank and walked along the river. We passed the world reknowned London Eye (the large ferris wheel) that's architecturally impressive and looks completely faulty. You ride in these pill like capsules and pay £10 ($20) for a 20-30 minute ferris wheel ride. The capsules are made of glass so the views are said to be outstanding. I'm saving that trip for when Laura comes.
We walked along the river and found Gabriel's Warf a little strip of shops, bakeries, bars and restaurants. We went a little further into the suburb to Duchy Street (haha Dooky) and ate at Youngin's. We met two Australian bar tenders who were incredibly friendly and I was shocked because I've only been faced with snotty Brits since I've arrived. They really made a great impression on me and I may just travel to Australia next time. Haha.
We continued along the Thames till we reached the Millenium Bridge. Another impressive piece of architecture. It's a thin steel bridge that seems like it's hovering over the Thames. We took the bridge over to the Northbank of the river and walked towards Tower Bridge another half a mile hike. By now our feet are exhausted, it's freezing outside and there's alight drizzle falling. A typical day in London apparently, but it was the first sign of rain since I've been here.
As we approached Tower Bridge we stopped of all places Starbucks to get something to warm up and wake us up. It had been a long day and it was freezing out. If you stay in the cold long enough, even if it's 40 degrees outside it gets to you. We made our way to Tower Bridge. Another impressive piece of construction around of centuries. Two Towers adorn the bridge sustained by aqua wires and poles or so they seem. According to history (because I read a lot about this bridge in travel books) I believe they use to display the heads of people who were executed atop these towers back in the day. There were points when several heads at once were found on top of the bridge. Pretty morbid and nasty.
After crossing the bridge we came upon Tower of London. A fortress of sorts that's survived for 900 years. It has been an arsenal, prison, torture chamber, execution sight, palace, and fort among other things I'm sure. By now we've managed to walk a large part of Zone 1 within what they call "The City". We decide to make our way back home to Russell Square but make a pit stop at St. Paul's Cathedral. A protestant church where Princess Diana was married. The wedding was televised on television. Above all else it's the largest church in Europe and pretty well known.
We entered the church in hopes of seeing tombs and the impresive art, architecture and rich history. What we found was the Crypt Cafe (sounds tempting) and a closed museum that charges £8 to go to the top of the dome. As we were leaving fortunately for us a EveningSong precession was about to take place. We decide to take a look and enter the cathedral. We weren't allowed to take pictures or film inside the church out of respect for the people praying. I could honestly do this church no justice by describing it on this blog. St. Paul's is one of those places that leaves you speechless. As you make your way through the revolving door monuments, marble statues and iron crypts line the marble floor. You make your way to the center of the church and it hits you. The place is unbelieveable. There are paintings one the ceilings, gold encrusted all over, an incredible alter and it's just too hard to describe. We heard the young boys choir singing and it sort of gives you chills the place is so amazing. You look up and the place is just this canvas! I wish I could descirbe it better, but it's just incredible. You leave the church in awe. I'll leave it at that.
By now it's 5 p.m. and we have quite a hefty trek back to our residence. The weather outside is colder and the drizzle begins to fall a little more frequently. We pass more pubs, specialty shops, restaurants and church's on the way home.
Today, I can say I found my feet. I saw all the places people come here and spend 3 days doing. While I didn't spend much time at each of my stops, it was enough for me to gain a better appreciation for the city I'm living in. There is so much history and rich architecture here. You'd never believe places like this existed or that these have been around for so many years (of course they've been renovated to keep with the times, but what hasn't these days). Today's taken a lot out of me both physically and mentally. There was so much to take in and there was so much I wanted to hold on to. I took a ton of pictures when my camera wasn't acting up. It was an amazing day, spent with some really great people. We took our time, weren't afraid to get lost and no one complained-- the perfect attitude for traveling.
After being here for 6 days I can already see that the people I've met here will all impact my time here each in their own profound way. I can see myself walking away from this with some really great friends. Hell, I've already been invited to go skiing in New Hampshire this winter. I'm beat!
Friday, January 13, 2006
Blue Ruby
It's 4 a.m. on my first friday night in London. I just got back from a bar/club named Blue Ruby. Apparently here there is a distinction between bars, clubs and pubs. Ask me to define them and I really couldn't tell you the difference, but one definitely exists. Tonight was one of those nights that I really realized where I was and the company I was with. The night club was located in Leceister Square just a 10 minute walk from my dorms. Almost everything is a 10 minute walk from my dorm. I realized how central I really am.
I started out my night pre drinking in the dorms with a few people playing drinking games that reminded me of home. I was sipping on some cheap vodka that was anything but cheap. $20 for a 1.5 liter. It's a little ridiculous. We loosened up and decided to go to an Irish pub located just on the outskirts of Chinatown named O'Neills. It was an £8 cover roughly equivalent to $16. Just to get into the place and another £3.50 for a beer. Do the math.
We got to the joint and as my first friday night out the streets were packed with locals. Everyone is walking around and it reminded me of the city that never sleeps. However, there was something for familiar about the place. It feels safer, more secure. I learned today that the police in London don't even carry guns, they patrol certain areas and just makes sure that no one is acting out of the norm. Also, pepper spray can land you in the "cells" as they call it for up to 10 years maximum. The offense of carrying pepper spray is equivalent to carrying an AK47 around the streets of London. I'd say a pretty serious offense. This leads me to conclude that the crime rate in London cannot be all that high. The worst crimes committed are credit card fraud, rape and assault. When you think of the spectrum of crimes one can commit these are at the bottom. It sounds horrible to say.
It was a small group of us made up of mostly UF students, Germans, a Japanese and a Southern New Hampshire University kid named Pedro. As we walked down the street I didn't feel threatened. It was like walking down downtown Gainesville at night when the bars are over flowing and students are all over the sidewalks. It was comfortable. It was normal.
We arrived at O'Neills at 12 a.m. and £8 seemed to steep to get into the joint. Not to mention it was overcrowded and accordign to the locals it was not the type of bar you pay £8 for. But to them £8 is the way we look at $8. It's still a pretty hefty cover charge. We skip on O'Neills and head over to Leceister Square a.k.a. Tourist trap central. However, today was different. Many of the locals were out and it reminded me of a micro- Times Square. Everyone here is out and looking for a cheap cover, cheap drinks and a good time. They are all dressed very well not at all like the standards back in the states.
We come across a promotor working for commission who offers us £6 to get into a bar named Blue Ruby. I was reluctant at first but my apprehension was soon overcome when I realized I'm only here once and this is my first weekend here so why the fuck not right? I cough up the cash and make my way in. To start the night off right we pay a mere $7 for their "cheapest" shot made of southern comfort and some other shit. The bartender was American who whore a Colombian bracelet because her fiance was from there. She thought we were idiots. I was a dick back though- naturally. We down the shot and realize how expensive it was, but then brush it off because we're here and we might as well make the best of the situation. I buy a Stella beer for £3.45 (do the math) and start dancing. The atmosphere in the place was a lot more modern and up beat. Very different than Zoo Bar. No one there looked 16 and I didn't feel like I was in an all ages club. The music was good, trendy, house, pop, and techno. The locals dance strangely and are again content with dancing alone. I attempted to meet some British people, but they didn't seem to have any interest in meeting an American.
I did however have a blast with a few of my mates from UF. I got a chance to bond with my roommate Chris (who's from UF and is in SAE). He's a cool kid and I've been designated the "wing man." I don't think I've ever held that title, but with the messed up teeth on these bitches he's going to need all the help he can get when beer goggles blind. LOL.
We made our way upstairs to a lounge that was packed with rich Indians. Not Native Americans but Indians from India. We took over a table and this place was you typical trendy bar... red walls, dim lighting, leather couches that border the walls, small tables lit from below and deco art hanging on the wall. The music pumped loudly from the speakers above as I sat back and sipped on my Stella, which contains 5.1% alcohol here. More than the states.
Towards the end of the night I had a good buzz going and I started dancing to some house music. It was one of those times when I really got the chance to let go and didn't give a shit what people around me thought of me or how I danced. It felt good to just let go and not let my insecurities restrain me from what I wanted to do.
I discovered a balcony just off the lounge and stepped outside. The view was amazing. It overlooked the entire Leceister Square and you could see it all. I looked around and I felt so lucky, so alive, so privilege to be standing right where I was at 21 and in London. It made me smile. I wanted to remember that moment just as it was forever. I hung on to it as long as I could. That's what this experience is about.
For the remainder of the night I just went with the flow and danced. I was getting my £6 worth. It was a good night out... I had my phone and I got it out of my system. I think I'm done with the club scene for awhile while I'm here. It's too expensive. Coming back to Gainesville and paying $5 covers will be a breeze. There is however a local pub called Sports Cafe that offers students £1 pints all night long on Tuesday. So, I'll definitely hit that up on Tuesdays from here on out.
Tonight was one of those nights where I was happy to be young. One of those nights that I want to look back on when I'm 40 and think damn I was stupid when I was 21 for paying nearly $12 to get into a club, but it was a fun fucking night. I want to look back on tonight and remember that view from a top the clubs lounge and remember it for what it was worth. To me it meant being in this amazing city and having this incredible opportunity at 21.
It's been 5 days since I've been here and it still hasn't hit me that I'm in London, England. I'm one lucky son of a bitch and I couldn't be more greatful.
As for tomorrow my plans include visiting the world famous Big Ben (the clock tower you see when people mention London). It should be another picturesque event that makes me happy to be where I am. Goodnight.
I started out my night pre drinking in the dorms with a few people playing drinking games that reminded me of home. I was sipping on some cheap vodka that was anything but cheap. $20 for a 1.5 liter. It's a little ridiculous. We loosened up and decided to go to an Irish pub located just on the outskirts of Chinatown named O'Neills. It was an £8 cover roughly equivalent to $16. Just to get into the place and another £3.50 for a beer. Do the math.
We got to the joint and as my first friday night out the streets were packed with locals. Everyone is walking around and it reminded me of the city that never sleeps. However, there was something for familiar about the place. It feels safer, more secure. I learned today that the police in London don't even carry guns, they patrol certain areas and just makes sure that no one is acting out of the norm. Also, pepper spray can land you in the "cells" as they call it for up to 10 years maximum. The offense of carrying pepper spray is equivalent to carrying an AK47 around the streets of London. I'd say a pretty serious offense. This leads me to conclude that the crime rate in London cannot be all that high. The worst crimes committed are credit card fraud, rape and assault. When you think of the spectrum of crimes one can commit these are at the bottom. It sounds horrible to say.
It was a small group of us made up of mostly UF students, Germans, a Japanese and a Southern New Hampshire University kid named Pedro. As we walked down the street I didn't feel threatened. It was like walking down downtown Gainesville at night when the bars are over flowing and students are all over the sidewalks. It was comfortable. It was normal.
We arrived at O'Neills at 12 a.m. and £8 seemed to steep to get into the joint. Not to mention it was overcrowded and accordign to the locals it was not the type of bar you pay £8 for. But to them £8 is the way we look at $8. It's still a pretty hefty cover charge. We skip on O'Neills and head over to Leceister Square a.k.a. Tourist trap central. However, today was different. Many of the locals were out and it reminded me of a micro- Times Square. Everyone here is out and looking for a cheap cover, cheap drinks and a good time. They are all dressed very well not at all like the standards back in the states.
We come across a promotor working for commission who offers us £6 to get into a bar named Blue Ruby. I was reluctant at first but my apprehension was soon overcome when I realized I'm only here once and this is my first weekend here so why the fuck not right? I cough up the cash and make my way in. To start the night off right we pay a mere $7 for their "cheapest" shot made of southern comfort and some other shit. The bartender was American who whore a Colombian bracelet because her fiance was from there. She thought we were idiots. I was a dick back though- naturally. We down the shot and realize how expensive it was, but then brush it off because we're here and we might as well make the best of the situation. I buy a Stella beer for £3.45 (do the math) and start dancing. The atmosphere in the place was a lot more modern and up beat. Very different than Zoo Bar. No one there looked 16 and I didn't feel like I was in an all ages club. The music was good, trendy, house, pop, and techno. The locals dance strangely and are again content with dancing alone. I attempted to meet some British people, but they didn't seem to have any interest in meeting an American.
I did however have a blast with a few of my mates from UF. I got a chance to bond with my roommate Chris (who's from UF and is in SAE). He's a cool kid and I've been designated the "wing man." I don't think I've ever held that title, but with the messed up teeth on these bitches he's going to need all the help he can get when beer goggles blind. LOL.
We made our way upstairs to a lounge that was packed with rich Indians. Not Native Americans but Indians from India. We took over a table and this place was you typical trendy bar... red walls, dim lighting, leather couches that border the walls, small tables lit from below and deco art hanging on the wall. The music pumped loudly from the speakers above as I sat back and sipped on my Stella, which contains 5.1% alcohol here. More than the states.
Towards the end of the night I had a good buzz going and I started dancing to some house music. It was one of those times when I really got the chance to let go and didn't give a shit what people around me thought of me or how I danced. It felt good to just let go and not let my insecurities restrain me from what I wanted to do.
I discovered a balcony just off the lounge and stepped outside. The view was amazing. It overlooked the entire Leceister Square and you could see it all. I looked around and I felt so lucky, so alive, so privilege to be standing right where I was at 21 and in London. It made me smile. I wanted to remember that moment just as it was forever. I hung on to it as long as I could. That's what this experience is about.
For the remainder of the night I just went with the flow and danced. I was getting my £6 worth. It was a good night out... I had my phone and I got it out of my system. I think I'm done with the club scene for awhile while I'm here. It's too expensive. Coming back to Gainesville and paying $5 covers will be a breeze. There is however a local pub called Sports Cafe that offers students £1 pints all night long on Tuesday. So, I'll definitely hit that up on Tuesdays from here on out.
Tonight was one of those nights where I was happy to be young. One of those nights that I want to look back on when I'm 40 and think damn I was stupid when I was 21 for paying nearly $12 to get into a club, but it was a fun fucking night. I want to look back on tonight and remember that view from a top the clubs lounge and remember it for what it was worth. To me it meant being in this amazing city and having this incredible opportunity at 21.
It's been 5 days since I've been here and it still hasn't hit me that I'm in London, England. I'm one lucky son of a bitch and I couldn't be more greatful.
As for tomorrow my plans include visiting the world famous Big Ben (the clock tower you see when people mention London). It should be another picturesque event that makes me happy to be where I am. Goodnight.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Translation
I thought it be fun to post some words that I've come across walking around town and walking to people. Words that the Brits say differently than we do for the same objects. I' haven't gotten a chance to speak to too many locals so I only have a few.
1. Garbage = Rubbish
2. Eraser = Rubber
3. Elevator = Lift
4. Shopping Cart = Trolley
5. Sweater = Jumper
6. Restrooms = Toilets
7. Pants = Trousers
8. Underwear = Pants
9. You're welcome = You're Alright
10. Thank You = Cheers
11. Subway = Tube
12. Line = Que
13. Mom = Mum (they say it like that too)
Other interesting things I've come across these past few days.
1. Cars don't stop for pedestrians. They will run you over if you cross in front of their path and they have the right of way.
2. They eat sandwiches here like crazy. Every store you walk into has sandwiches on their shelves in these triangular boxes. The sandwiches are cut diagonally so anyone whoever likes it down the middle is out of luck.
3. The groceries stores sell everything in single formats. T.V. dinners are huge here but the quality is so much better than in the States. A large percentage of the city is single (over 50%) so I'm thinking they cater to this market. People run to the market every day basically to pick up just what they are going to eat that night. Their stuff is wrapped basically for one so it's really easy.
4. Wherever you go there is usually one line. For instance if you're at the market and there are 3 cashier boxes. Instead of picking the one with the shortest line like we do... everyone stands in one line and branches off as soon as the first cashier finishes. It seems faster for some reason.
5. American DVDs don't work on British DVD players and visa versa. Apparently companies make special DVDs and DVD players for certain regions. I didn't know this.
6. Brits are behind on every American show in the world. For example, they are just finishing the 1st season of Lost. I dont' watch it, but apparently its old news. However, the good thing is that when one season ends the other starts right back up since they are behind.
7. They love all our FOX shows. You see ads for shows like "Prison Break", "Boston Legal" and "O.C." everywhere.
8. None of the channels have names. For example, in the U.S. we have the WB, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC etc. Here their channel 4 is called CHANNEL 4. Their MTV is some off channel and so is there Vh1 so it looks like generic brand channels.
9. Burger King charges you to use the bathroom. You have to pay equivalent to 40 cents to use it and there is a security guard standing outside the door.
10. Scarves really do have a functional purpose. I walked around today without one for awhile and I felt really cold. I put one on for the rest of the day and it made a huge difference. I thought people wore them for style like ties or something.
11. Being a cab driver is considered presitigous. They have to study for something like 5 years before they can take a test which they have to pass. The test consists of memorizing all the streets and the quickest routes there. Also, they won't drive you further than 6 miles.
12. There's this store called ARGOS, I took a picture but I haven't uploaded it yet, but I thought it was really cool and different. It's a tiny store about the size of a store in the mall, not very big. It's located off Tottenham street and it looks just like any other store. Well, it's anything but ordinary. This is like their Wal-Mart. What people do is run into the store. The store is lined with tables and shelves that border the entire half of a room. The other half is a check out counter and a pick up counter. You walk up to a table and located on the table are two items. A catologue about 10 inches thick with everything you can possible imagine divided into home, furniture, technology, kids etc. You flip through the catologue to find what you're looking for. Once you find the item you want (they have a wide selection, various prices, sizes etc. but no clothes). Once you find the item you look for the Cat No. Also featured on the table is an oversized calculator like thing. You type the number in the box and on the screen it will tell you how many items of that specific object are available and the price. If you want the item you take a slip of paper and right down the number. You then proceed tot he checkout counter to pay for it and you can pick up right after. I just thought it was really cool way of shopping. It's sort of like shopping online or catologue and picking up in the store. Or like service merchandise. The thing is you never see the items on the shelf and there is no inventory anywhere in the store. It's also suppose to be really cheap so people flock there. It's a fun way to shop. You can spend hours there.
13. Solicitors are everywhere in this city. No matter where you go they will stop you in your tracks and try to sell you something. It's like live telemarketers. They not only flier but they'll talk your ears off. It's incredibly annoying and such a worthless job.
14. Also on the streets there is what I consider BUM equivalents. What they are, are these people who are hired to literally stand on the side walk in the freezing temperatures for hours. Their job is to stand with a 8 foot sign... just stand with the sign... and on the sign it advertises a restaurant, store or whatever. So they stand fairly close to the store because the sign features an arrow that points in the direction of where to by SUBWAY subs for £1.99. It's a completely pointless job and you should see these people becasue they are literally bundled up from head to toe and the only part of their body that shows is their eyes. I also took a picture of one to show you guys. ( I haven't uploaded it yet though).
15. All their cellphone plans are pay as you go. It's so much cheaper to have a cellphone here and they all get free incoming calls.
16. At starbucks if you dine in they serve your coffee in actual porcelain coffee mugs not the paper cups. Also there aren't starbucks on every corner here. There are more independent chains and little shops than anything.
That's really all I can think of for right now, but it's just a few interesting things that I came across that I wanted to share.
1. Garbage = Rubbish
2. Eraser = Rubber
3. Elevator = Lift
4. Shopping Cart = Trolley
5. Sweater = Jumper
6. Restrooms = Toilets
7. Pants = Trousers
8. Underwear = Pants
9. You're welcome = You're Alright
10. Thank You = Cheers
11. Subway = Tube
12. Line = Que
13. Mom = Mum (they say it like that too)
Other interesting things I've come across these past few days.
1. Cars don't stop for pedestrians. They will run you over if you cross in front of their path and they have the right of way.
2. They eat sandwiches here like crazy. Every store you walk into has sandwiches on their shelves in these triangular boxes. The sandwiches are cut diagonally so anyone whoever likes it down the middle is out of luck.
3. The groceries stores sell everything in single formats. T.V. dinners are huge here but the quality is so much better than in the States. A large percentage of the city is single (over 50%) so I'm thinking they cater to this market. People run to the market every day basically to pick up just what they are going to eat that night. Their stuff is wrapped basically for one so it's really easy.
4. Wherever you go there is usually one line. For instance if you're at the market and there are 3 cashier boxes. Instead of picking the one with the shortest line like we do... everyone stands in one line and branches off as soon as the first cashier finishes. It seems faster for some reason.
5. American DVDs don't work on British DVD players and visa versa. Apparently companies make special DVDs and DVD players for certain regions. I didn't know this.
6. Brits are behind on every American show in the world. For example, they are just finishing the 1st season of Lost. I dont' watch it, but apparently its old news. However, the good thing is that when one season ends the other starts right back up since they are behind.
7. They love all our FOX shows. You see ads for shows like "Prison Break", "Boston Legal" and "O.C." everywhere.
8. None of the channels have names. For example, in the U.S. we have the WB, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC etc. Here their channel 4 is called CHANNEL 4. Their MTV is some off channel and so is there Vh1 so it looks like generic brand channels.
9. Burger King charges you to use the bathroom. You have to pay equivalent to 40 cents to use it and there is a security guard standing outside the door.
10. Scarves really do have a functional purpose. I walked around today without one for awhile and I felt really cold. I put one on for the rest of the day and it made a huge difference. I thought people wore them for style like ties or something.
11. Being a cab driver is considered presitigous. They have to study for something like 5 years before they can take a test which they have to pass. The test consists of memorizing all the streets and the quickest routes there. Also, they won't drive you further than 6 miles.
12. There's this store called ARGOS, I took a picture but I haven't uploaded it yet, but I thought it was really cool and different. It's a tiny store about the size of a store in the mall, not very big. It's located off Tottenham street and it looks just like any other store. Well, it's anything but ordinary. This is like their Wal-Mart. What people do is run into the store. The store is lined with tables and shelves that border the entire half of a room. The other half is a check out counter and a pick up counter. You walk up to a table and located on the table are two items. A catologue about 10 inches thick with everything you can possible imagine divided into home, furniture, technology, kids etc. You flip through the catologue to find what you're looking for. Once you find the item you want (they have a wide selection, various prices, sizes etc. but no clothes). Once you find the item you look for the Cat No. Also featured on the table is an oversized calculator like thing. You type the number in the box and on the screen it will tell you how many items of that specific object are available and the price. If you want the item you take a slip of paper and right down the number. You then proceed tot he checkout counter to pay for it and you can pick up right after. I just thought it was really cool way of shopping. It's sort of like shopping online or catologue and picking up in the store. Or like service merchandise. The thing is you never see the items on the shelf and there is no inventory anywhere in the store. It's also suppose to be really cheap so people flock there. It's a fun way to shop. You can spend hours there.
13. Solicitors are everywhere in this city. No matter where you go they will stop you in your tracks and try to sell you something. It's like live telemarketers. They not only flier but they'll talk your ears off. It's incredibly annoying and such a worthless job.
14. Also on the streets there is what I consider BUM equivalents. What they are, are these people who are hired to literally stand on the side walk in the freezing temperatures for hours. Their job is to stand with a 8 foot sign... just stand with the sign... and on the sign it advertises a restaurant, store or whatever. So they stand fairly close to the store because the sign features an arrow that points in the direction of where to by SUBWAY subs for £1.99. It's a completely pointless job and you should see these people becasue they are literally bundled up from head to toe and the only part of their body that shows is their eyes. I also took a picture of one to show you guys. ( I haven't uploaded it yet though).
15. All their cellphone plans are pay as you go. It's so much cheaper to have a cellphone here and they all get free incoming calls.
16. At starbucks if you dine in they serve your coffee in actual porcelain coffee mugs not the paper cups. Also there aren't starbucks on every corner here. There are more independent chains and little shops than anything.
That's really all I can think of for right now, but it's just a few interesting things that I came across that I wanted to share.
Orientation
It's been a long day in good old London. We had a mini orientation to discuss the classes I'll be taking from the actual university and got our computers checked to make sure we can watch the business classes from UF. I almost forgot the primary reason I was here was to study. There's still so much for me to do and see just within the realms of my dorm that I'm anxious to get out there, but of course I have other priorities first. I signed for a class called arts in london. It wasn't a cheap class $211 for the semester to go see plays, operas and museums. I'm sure it's a great group rate considering the amount of culture I'll be getting.
I've been here for about 4 days and it seems like I've been here a lot longer. I've lost track of what day of the week it is and the time flys by so quickly. I'm up from fairly early in the morning. Earlier than I'd get up in Gainesville any day. By 5 p.m. it's dark out and feels like 7 p.m. and you're ready to have dinner and go to bed. Plus because I haven't really got oriented to my surroundings entirely I feel like I should go out and explore more often. However, the city is just like New York all the streets look exactly the same here except one major difference- the same road has like 5 different names. Because London isn't perfectly laid out like a grid the streets aren't straight rows. Some of the streets bend and curve and some just continue straight. However, the Brits feel as though this curve, bend or slant constitutes a new name. For instance the street I live on has 3 names. Right in front of my dorm is Byng Place. Only to buildings have the address with Byng Place. Mine and the one directly across the street. If you travel North on th Byng place for oh I don't know 2 feet you're now traveling North of Torrington. If you travel South on Byng Place for 2 feet you're on Tavistock which further down the road turns into something else. It can be very difficult to find your way around the city.
Wednesday has by far been the most beautiful day in London I've seen. It was the first day that the sun actually decided to shine through the clouds. I was so happy to see some yellow in the sky and I never realized how much the sun can really brighten your day. Sounds corny, but it made me really happy to see it. You see in London it seems like its always going to rain but doesn't. It's like the calm before the storm. The clouds settle in, night comes and the buzz from the city rears loudly but no rain. That's everyday. Because it's so dark you feel like the day never really started and the days seem to all run together as one. So, when I saw the sun it was very exciting. I contemplated putting on my sunglasses, but that would just make the view just as gloomy as it would be on any other day. I opted to just not wear them. It may sound strange to you guys in the states, but I never realized the energy the sun can give you. It lifts you up. So don't take it for granted cause I can definitely see how people can fall into a depression once they get here.
I've been here for about 4 days and it seems like I've been here a lot longer. I've lost track of what day of the week it is and the time flys by so quickly. I'm up from fairly early in the morning. Earlier than I'd get up in Gainesville any day. By 5 p.m. it's dark out and feels like 7 p.m. and you're ready to have dinner and go to bed. Plus because I haven't really got oriented to my surroundings entirely I feel like I should go out and explore more often. However, the city is just like New York all the streets look exactly the same here except one major difference- the same road has like 5 different names. Because London isn't perfectly laid out like a grid the streets aren't straight rows. Some of the streets bend and curve and some just continue straight. However, the Brits feel as though this curve, bend or slant constitutes a new name. For instance the street I live on has 3 names. Right in front of my dorm is Byng Place. Only to buildings have the address with Byng Place. Mine and the one directly across the street. If you travel North on th Byng place for oh I don't know 2 feet you're now traveling North of Torrington. If you travel South on Byng Place for 2 feet you're on Tavistock which further down the road turns into something else. It can be very difficult to find your way around the city.
Wednesday has by far been the most beautiful day in London I've seen. It was the first day that the sun actually decided to shine through the clouds. I was so happy to see some yellow in the sky and I never realized how much the sun can really brighten your day. Sounds corny, but it made me really happy to see it. You see in London it seems like its always going to rain but doesn't. It's like the calm before the storm. The clouds settle in, night comes and the buzz from the city rears loudly but no rain. That's everyday. Because it's so dark you feel like the day never really started and the days seem to all run together as one. So, when I saw the sun it was very exciting. I contemplated putting on my sunglasses, but that would just make the view just as gloomy as it would be on any other day. I opted to just not wear them. It may sound strange to you guys in the states, but I never realized the energy the sun can give you. It lifts you up. So don't take it for granted cause I can definitely see how people can fall into a depression once they get here.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
By the Way
I only brought 4 pairs of jeans and that's basically it for pants so today I decided to wear one pair that has rips onthe knees and all over. So, I worke long johns for the first time ever over my boxers and under my jeans. They are the most awkward article of clothing invented. They are so tight around the ankles and have a fucking long ass crotch region. They fit nothing like boxer briefs and give you the worst swamp ass if the building you're in has heating. I don't reccommend them unless faced with a blizzard sometime in the near future because you'll want to kill yourself.
Day One
Song: She'll never understand
Artist: Matchbook Romance
Lyric: "The choice is up to you, to find out what to do."
My first official day as a Londoner begain today. I was a little restless last night. I managed to sleep until 3 a.m. and then I woke up and couldn't stop thinking about all the great things that I'd get a chance to do while I was here. My cellphone has SNAKE II which I haven't played in a long time and I got to playing it for close to an hour until sleep ran back through me. I suppose it was the anxiety and excitment of finally realizing that I was in a big city and living her for 6 months. It felt like the first day of school after you've been on summer vacation. You're excited to see everyone and how much they've changed.
I awoke early to attend an orientation at the campus so I was able to go into the actually university for the first time today. I took a picture of the outside so that you could get an idea of how small it is. It's a nifty little building, small like every other building in the city, but seems to never end as far as height is concerned.
The group decided that it would be a wise idea to go to IKEA to buy a few necessities. IKEA is a cheap bed, bath & beyond but with furniture and this massive waerhouse in the middle of a suburb. Twelve of us decided to go and pick up extra hangers, and other things since the dorms didn't really give us much to work with as for organization. I got the chance to ride the tube and learned the benefits of getting an all day pass to travel on it. It took about 20 minutes to get to our final destination at Totteham-Hale. We shopped for awhile and the store is overwhelmingly huge. It's designed so you have to walk through every department to reach the exit. It's good marketing. The things they sell would be cheaper if we were in the U.S. but witht the exchange rate it somehow doesn't seem inexpensive.
The adventure really began when the group decided to head back home for the evening. The days seem to end so early her by 4 o'clock it's dark outside and throughout the day it's so gloomy you never feel like the day began. You're waiting for the sun to come up in order to start your day. It's very different than Florida where you sort of take the sun for granted. Anyways, we had to take one of those historic red busses to get to IKEA from the underground station. Well, to return to the underground you had to take the same bus #192 back to the station. Just as at school. The only difference is that the buses in London don't really run a full circle like in Gainesville where it'll just loop back aground. Their public transportation is their life and there are probaly 10 buses running the same route at teh same time. We hoped on the 192 but failed to look where it was that it was heading, but one person starts running to the bus and 11 others follow assuming we should be on that bus. It was about 45 minutes into the bus ride and there were people crammed into this red bus and 12 of us with 2 bags each from IKEA. We decide to ask the bus driver how much longer until we reach the underground station and he says another 40 minutes to an hour and that it would be better to get off. So, 12 of us grab our belongings and begin to get off the bus. Mind you there are at least 30 to 40 other people on this bus and there is absolutely no place to move. We are holding up the entire bus until we are able to get off the bus and maneuver our ways off with all our belongings. You could almost feel the nasty stares from all the people on the bus and their snotty english accents mumbling "stupid Americans."
We get off the bus and then quickly realize we are in the middle of NO WHERE LONDON in some residential area that seems gloomier than any part of town. There's only homes and cars parked along the street and no sign of people or a bus stop ANYWHERE. We begin to pace the sidewalk looking for a designated stop going back in the direction we came from because it was quicker than riding out the bus we had just got off. We're stuck on the street until I finally ask a lady where it was the bus picks people up and her response was completely vague. She says to me "It stops at the flats over there." Mind you we are surrounded by "flats" and she points in the general vacinity of the flats. We pick an area to squat and hope that a 192 bus going towards the underground station will pass by and we can hail it. Meanwhile it's 35 degrees outside and a light drizzle begins to fall. People start panicing and the bus utlimately comes. This time the bus ride back is a mere 40 minutes back in the same direction we were at. A funnier story had you witnessesd. It was our first adventure and lost story.
Later tonight a few of us decided to hit up the London night life. We went to Chinatown to a bar named uniquely enough Bar Room Bar. The atmosphere was great. Dimly light, small tables and large counches bordering the walls. The drink prices were ridiculous and I'm almost greatful for the prices at Rue Bar. Also, their servings and pricing are all so strange. For instance they serve beer in pints and half pints. They're pretty much what they are at in the U.S. but you're paying 6 bucks for a pint of Amstel. Also, shots are considered drinks. If you order a shot you have to know whether you want a 50 ml for 3.50 pounds or a 25 ml for 2.50 pounds. Multiply the prices by two and it's ridiculous. I order a half a pint of Amstel because its familiar and learn to pay in coins. Big accomplishment for me. Tipping at bars is ont customary so I save money in that sense.
One of the girls that is ont he same program from UF is Nadine. While at the bar ordering her drink there is this sketchy guy standing at table near by. He stops her starts talking to her and being the polite person she is she pays him some sense. She doesn't know exactly what he's talking about because he seems to be mumbling jargon. We get our drinks and head back to our lounge area where we're hanign out with a group of friends consisting of Germans, Japanese, some Missippi girl and other UF kids. The sketchy old man who is probably in his late 50s early 60s follows us back. He's a tatter old man with gray stringy hair, unkempt beard and oversized clothes. Typical sketchy old man. He makes his way to our table and just sits down in an open chair. We figure its a bar and its loud that we dont' really have to pay him much sense but he keeps staring at Nadine and she begins to get uncomfortable. He's just sitting there staring. So finally I decide to ask him if we could help him with something. He mumbles something inaudible so I ask him to repeat it. He takes out what looks like a yellow tube and extends it out as if offering it to me. I ask him what he wants and he says "are you looking for something" with this hinting kind of glare. Sort of like he's getting at something. I ask him what he means and he responds "well you're in a bar aren't you?" in a drunken, slurish and hostile way. He seemed to have gotten annoyed with my tone and snaps the tube at me which turns out to be a lighter aiming the flame in my direction. I jump naturally thinking he fired something at me and I start getting realyl weirded out because this guy could potentially follow us back to our dorms and who knows what. Finally, the server asks the man to get up and leave and he refuses. The server than physically grabs him and takes him away and apologies for ithe incident which I mus admit was pretty fucking creepy. I mean what did the guy want?
We then hit up Leciester Square (pronounced Lester). This place is a tourist trap and makes Turlington plaza look like central park. What I mean is there are a ton of clubs and bars around the area and there are hundreds of promoters outside each club who are fearlessly handing out fliers for their club. The don't just stop there. They're sharks. The used car sales man type. They feed off of large groups of people. They stop the entire group and ask where you are headed and follow you if you just keep walking. They insist that you give their club a chance and offer group rates and promise drink specials. They're very persistent and extremely annoying because they seriously won't leave you alone until you are out of the square or you enter their club. FInally, we decide to go to the most popular club in the square named "Zoo Bar." We get in for 3 pounds instead of 5 and fell for one guys scam. Turns out they work on commission which is why they are so damn annoying and intimidating. They are very forceful and the entire situation can be stressful if you don't know what you're doing.
We wenter the club and it's like any other club in Gainesville. Dim lighting, strobe lights and expensive drinks. The music the play is allll American from the early 90s and some early 2000's. They played Will Smith's WILD WILD WEST for goodness sake. It was nothing I'd never heard at a club before though. The main difference is they have a place to check your coat for one pound. Also, the bartenders fuck tourists over. Since we obviously don't know anything, or at least they think we don't they find ways to cheat you. For instance, I was lookking at the drink menu and it said that a glass of a long island iced tea was 3.95 pounds. I wanted to know what a glass was and how big it was. It was a standard cup, but I wanted to know what I was getting. I aske for the drink and she fills it half way with pepsi, puts one shot of something in it and some mixer and that's it. It was basically pepsi in a cup and no liquor. I paid almost 8 dollars for that. We arrived at the club at around 11 p.m. and it was dead, but we stuck it out. It eventually got more full and we ended up taking shots for 1 pound of rasberry schnapps because it was the cheapest shot they had. The club felt like an all ages club and I felt like it was filled with more Americans than anything else. Also, Londoners are weird. They show up to clubs alone. They are content with showing up to a club, grabbing a drink and dancing alone. They also don't observe personal space. They'll begin dancing up on anyone with anyone and join any group randomly. It's awkward but hysterical to watch. There was a kid Patrick who goes to UF but is studying abroad with an FSU program and I were amazed at how ridiculous some people dance and acted while in public dancing alone. It's something I'd never witnessed in Gainesville.
My roommate situation is a little off. My third roommate still hasn't arrive. He was suppose to arrive Monday like the rest of the UF kids, but hasn't showed up. My other roommate Andy is a hermit. I think it comes from going to a small school and the other kid from UF is on the boring side. Neither wanted to go out to club tonight so I was greatful to meet Patrick through a mutual friend. I dindn't want to be the only dude with the couple of girls who were going. It turned out fine though cuase some of the older graudate students from Germany came out with us and one of the RAs believe it or not. I'm hoping this kid Chris will be up for more partying cause I'm here to live and learn.
Artist: Matchbook Romance
Lyric: "The choice is up to you, to find out what to do."
My first official day as a Londoner begain today. I was a little restless last night. I managed to sleep until 3 a.m. and then I woke up and couldn't stop thinking about all the great things that I'd get a chance to do while I was here. My cellphone has SNAKE II which I haven't played in a long time and I got to playing it for close to an hour until sleep ran back through me. I suppose it was the anxiety and excitment of finally realizing that I was in a big city and living her for 6 months. It felt like the first day of school after you've been on summer vacation. You're excited to see everyone and how much they've changed.
I awoke early to attend an orientation at the campus so I was able to go into the actually university for the first time today. I took a picture of the outside so that you could get an idea of how small it is. It's a nifty little building, small like every other building in the city, but seems to never end as far as height is concerned.
The group decided that it would be a wise idea to go to IKEA to buy a few necessities. IKEA is a cheap bed, bath & beyond but with furniture and this massive waerhouse in the middle of a suburb. Twelve of us decided to go and pick up extra hangers, and other things since the dorms didn't really give us much to work with as for organization. I got the chance to ride the tube and learned the benefits of getting an all day pass to travel on it. It took about 20 minutes to get to our final destination at Totteham-Hale. We shopped for awhile and the store is overwhelmingly huge. It's designed so you have to walk through every department to reach the exit. It's good marketing. The things they sell would be cheaper if we were in the U.S. but witht the exchange rate it somehow doesn't seem inexpensive.
The adventure really began when the group decided to head back home for the evening. The days seem to end so early her by 4 o'clock it's dark outside and throughout the day it's so gloomy you never feel like the day began. You're waiting for the sun to come up in order to start your day. It's very different than Florida where you sort of take the sun for granted. Anyways, we had to take one of those historic red busses to get to IKEA from the underground station. Well, to return to the underground you had to take the same bus #192 back to the station. Just as at school. The only difference is that the buses in London don't really run a full circle like in Gainesville where it'll just loop back aground. Their public transportation is their life and there are probaly 10 buses running the same route at teh same time. We hoped on the 192 but failed to look where it was that it was heading, but one person starts running to the bus and 11 others follow assuming we should be on that bus. It was about 45 minutes into the bus ride and there were people crammed into this red bus and 12 of us with 2 bags each from IKEA. We decide to ask the bus driver how much longer until we reach the underground station and he says another 40 minutes to an hour and that it would be better to get off. So, 12 of us grab our belongings and begin to get off the bus. Mind you there are at least 30 to 40 other people on this bus and there is absolutely no place to move. We are holding up the entire bus until we are able to get off the bus and maneuver our ways off with all our belongings. You could almost feel the nasty stares from all the people on the bus and their snotty english accents mumbling "stupid Americans."
We get off the bus and then quickly realize we are in the middle of NO WHERE LONDON in some residential area that seems gloomier than any part of town. There's only homes and cars parked along the street and no sign of people or a bus stop ANYWHERE. We begin to pace the sidewalk looking for a designated stop going back in the direction we came from because it was quicker than riding out the bus we had just got off. We're stuck on the street until I finally ask a lady where it was the bus picks people up and her response was completely vague. She says to me "It stops at the flats over there." Mind you we are surrounded by "flats" and she points in the general vacinity of the flats. We pick an area to squat and hope that a 192 bus going towards the underground station will pass by and we can hail it. Meanwhile it's 35 degrees outside and a light drizzle begins to fall. People start panicing and the bus utlimately comes. This time the bus ride back is a mere 40 minutes back in the same direction we were at. A funnier story had you witnessesd. It was our first adventure and lost story.
Later tonight a few of us decided to hit up the London night life. We went to Chinatown to a bar named uniquely enough Bar Room Bar. The atmosphere was great. Dimly light, small tables and large counches bordering the walls. The drink prices were ridiculous and I'm almost greatful for the prices at Rue Bar. Also, their servings and pricing are all so strange. For instance they serve beer in pints and half pints. They're pretty much what they are at in the U.S. but you're paying 6 bucks for a pint of Amstel. Also, shots are considered drinks. If you order a shot you have to know whether you want a 50 ml for 3.50 pounds or a 25 ml for 2.50 pounds. Multiply the prices by two and it's ridiculous. I order a half a pint of Amstel because its familiar and learn to pay in coins. Big accomplishment for me. Tipping at bars is ont customary so I save money in that sense.
One of the girls that is ont he same program from UF is Nadine. While at the bar ordering her drink there is this sketchy guy standing at table near by. He stops her starts talking to her and being the polite person she is she pays him some sense. She doesn't know exactly what he's talking about because he seems to be mumbling jargon. We get our drinks and head back to our lounge area where we're hanign out with a group of friends consisting of Germans, Japanese, some Missippi girl and other UF kids. The sketchy old man who is probably in his late 50s early 60s follows us back. He's a tatter old man with gray stringy hair, unkempt beard and oversized clothes. Typical sketchy old man. He makes his way to our table and just sits down in an open chair. We figure its a bar and its loud that we dont' really have to pay him much sense but he keeps staring at Nadine and she begins to get uncomfortable. He's just sitting there staring. So finally I decide to ask him if we could help him with something. He mumbles something inaudible so I ask him to repeat it. He takes out what looks like a yellow tube and extends it out as if offering it to me. I ask him what he wants and he says "are you looking for something" with this hinting kind of glare. Sort of like he's getting at something. I ask him what he means and he responds "well you're in a bar aren't you?" in a drunken, slurish and hostile way. He seemed to have gotten annoyed with my tone and snaps the tube at me which turns out to be a lighter aiming the flame in my direction. I jump naturally thinking he fired something at me and I start getting realyl weirded out because this guy could potentially follow us back to our dorms and who knows what. Finally, the server asks the man to get up and leave and he refuses. The server than physically grabs him and takes him away and apologies for ithe incident which I mus admit was pretty fucking creepy. I mean what did the guy want?
We then hit up Leciester Square (pronounced Lester). This place is a tourist trap and makes Turlington plaza look like central park. What I mean is there are a ton of clubs and bars around the area and there are hundreds of promoters outside each club who are fearlessly handing out fliers for their club. The don't just stop there. They're sharks. The used car sales man type. They feed off of large groups of people. They stop the entire group and ask where you are headed and follow you if you just keep walking. They insist that you give their club a chance and offer group rates and promise drink specials. They're very persistent and extremely annoying because they seriously won't leave you alone until you are out of the square or you enter their club. FInally, we decide to go to the most popular club in the square named "Zoo Bar." We get in for 3 pounds instead of 5 and fell for one guys scam. Turns out they work on commission which is why they are so damn annoying and intimidating. They are very forceful and the entire situation can be stressful if you don't know what you're doing.
We wenter the club and it's like any other club in Gainesville. Dim lighting, strobe lights and expensive drinks. The music the play is allll American from the early 90s and some early 2000's. They played Will Smith's WILD WILD WEST for goodness sake. It was nothing I'd never heard at a club before though. The main difference is they have a place to check your coat for one pound. Also, the bartenders fuck tourists over. Since we obviously don't know anything, or at least they think we don't they find ways to cheat you. For instance, I was lookking at the drink menu and it said that a glass of a long island iced tea was 3.95 pounds. I wanted to know what a glass was and how big it was. It was a standard cup, but I wanted to know what I was getting. I aske for the drink and she fills it half way with pepsi, puts one shot of something in it and some mixer and that's it. It was basically pepsi in a cup and no liquor. I paid almost 8 dollars for that. We arrived at the club at around 11 p.m. and it was dead, but we stuck it out. It eventually got more full and we ended up taking shots for 1 pound of rasberry schnapps because it was the cheapest shot they had. The club felt like an all ages club and I felt like it was filled with more Americans than anything else. Also, Londoners are weird. They show up to clubs alone. They are content with showing up to a club, grabbing a drink and dancing alone. They also don't observe personal space. They'll begin dancing up on anyone with anyone and join any group randomly. It's awkward but hysterical to watch. There was a kid Patrick who goes to UF but is studying abroad with an FSU program and I were amazed at how ridiculous some people dance and acted while in public dancing alone. It's something I'd never witnessed in Gainesville.
My roommate situation is a little off. My third roommate still hasn't arrive. He was suppose to arrive Monday like the rest of the UF kids, but hasn't showed up. My other roommate Andy is a hermit. I think it comes from going to a small school and the other kid from UF is on the boring side. Neither wanted to go out to club tonight so I was greatful to meet Patrick through a mutual friend. I dindn't want to be the only dude with the couple of girls who were going. It turned out fine though cuase some of the older graudate students from Germany came out with us and one of the RAs believe it or not. I'm hoping this kid Chris will be up for more partying cause I'm here to live and learn.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Byng Place
Song: Keep it Together
Artist: Guster
Lyric: "Everything starts today."
The flight over to London was perhaps the longest 7 hours of my life. At first I thought it would be fun to sit on a plane for 7 hours next to some stranger and have good conversation, watch good movies and eat descent food. My expectations were all the opposite. First, I was lucky. They sat me next to a 16 year old american boy who was traveling alone. However, the conversation wasn't that good. Funny how you can't really seem to relate to the youngin's these days. Haha. The movie selection were mediocre to say the least. Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride" and "Just like Heaven" with Reese Witherspoon (yea I haven't heard of it either). The food was actually pretty good, but then again I've been eating shit at the fraternity house for the past 3 years so anything is comparable and better than that grease meal plan. The flight was fun up tunti l we hit this ridiculous turbulence in the sky over Ireland. Then it just got damn too damn nauseating. I felt like i was on a really good rollercoaster that at first you wish it never ended, but then you reach that one sudden drop or the last loop and your stomach just tells you get off now or you'll puke. Then I realized that the airplane doesn't provide those convenient little barf bags anymore for you and I had to coach myself through the stomach churning.
As soon as the plane landed there was an intolerable desire to piss. It was6 a.m. and I hadn't slept a wink while on the plane, except when it took off so I missed the fun part of the flight at the beginning of my journey. As I got off the plane I headed straight to the currency exchange. Let me just tell you that the most difficult thing that I've had to adjust to is their money. They have bills, that bigger as the amount increases, and then they have coins. The coins are the most d confusing things of life. They have all different shapes and weights and sizes that you sit at the check out counter and you look like one of those stereotypical idiot Americans who doesn't know how to count. The amount of the coin is printed in small digits and written around the edge similar to our coins, but unless you memorize the shape, size and thickness of the coin it's hard to find the exact amount. For instance they have a 5p (which is the size of our dimes), a 10p (which is the size of our wuarters but in the shape of an octagon), a 20p which is a smaller hexagon, a pound which is equivalent to a dollar but in the form of a coin. Let's just say I've had trouble. I exchanged money and the rate is so unfair. I gave the guy $40 and he gave me 18.33 in pounds. To ride the tube to my dorm it cost me 3 pounds. You can hardly get anything with 18 pounds in europe and thats basically equivalent to the way Americans look at 18 dollars in their pockets.
I found my bags at the baggage claim and rapidly walked to the underground station. I say rapidly because everyone seems to be in such a hurry to get somewhere in this city,. I guess its true with any city though. I hurried along as fast as I could with a large 50 pound bag, a 40 pound carry-on, my laptop and a backpack. It got heavy lugging that shit around. before coming to England I was told that the underground was very tiny and crowded. Lucky for me the station that I got on was the last stop of the route, which turns into the first stop on the northbound route so there was hardly anyone on there when I had to fumble with my bags onto the tube. The tube took off and it looks nothing as I expected. I was expecting some grimy, new york style subway but on the contrary it reminds me of something you make out of legos. It looks like it was made out of ikea furniture, its white and colorful on the inside. NO BODY TALKS ON THE TUBE. it's dead silent and sort of eerie from the screeching sounds of the walss and tracks below. The trip on the tube was very sceneic it took me through the country sort of and as tit kept climbing northbound it got fuller and fuller. eventually I had people breathing down my back and squishing me in. Kind of comfortable considering it was really cold outside. I make it to my stop about an hour later and I was told to take a taxi from the underground station because the walk was a 10 minute brisk walk. I said screw it for two reasons, but more so because I'm cheap and a taxi would cost me 20 bucks for a half a mile. So I walked and it was more fun that way. I was dragging these two bags around the city and their sidewalks aren't smoothly paved like ours they are like cobblestones. The wheels got cauight on the crevases a few times and the people behind me were getting annoye and with good reason. I walked quickly (because everyone else was) and it was soo cold, but somehow lugging the two bags around I managed to work up a sweat. I recognized the building from the pictures on the Huron website. I walk up the sairs and walked in. It looked like a small New York style flat. The receptionist took me to my room and one of my roommates was already in the room. His name is Andy and he's from Ohio, but he goes to smaller college. He's a nice guy... he's into comic books and future-a-rama. Need i say more? H'es the only one from his college unlike me where there are 20 people from UF alone. We got a long great quickly. I think when you do something like studying abroad you know to be just very open minded about the whole experience. The room was a lot larger than I anticipated. I took pictures so that will be posted soon. It's got this huge bay window that looks out onto the main street. There's a coffee vendor that stands outside selling hot chocolate, mochas, tea and of course coffee. Young people run around the streets, while bikers crowd the designated bike trail. It reminded me of campus for a bit. My other roommate is Chris. So I've been told. It's the second day and he hasn't arrived yet. He's from UF though. I immediately started unpacking my things and realized that I have one closet with 6 hangers, a small night table with tiny drawers and one rubbermaid box to slide under my bed. I didn't know where I was putting all the shit I had brought. I was really impressed with the room though. I'll be living in this "flat" for 6 months so i better like it.
Artist: Guster
Lyric: "Everything starts today."
The flight over to London was perhaps the longest 7 hours of my life. At first I thought it would be fun to sit on a plane for 7 hours next to some stranger and have good conversation, watch good movies and eat descent food. My expectations were all the opposite. First, I was lucky. They sat me next to a 16 year old american boy who was traveling alone. However, the conversation wasn't that good. Funny how you can't really seem to relate to the youngin's these days. Haha. The movie selection were mediocre to say the least. Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride" and "Just like Heaven" with Reese Witherspoon (yea I haven't heard of it either). The food was actually pretty good, but then again I've been eating shit at the fraternity house for the past 3 years so anything is comparable and better than that grease meal plan. The flight was fun up tunti l we hit this ridiculous turbulence in the sky over Ireland. Then it just got damn too damn nauseating. I felt like i was on a really good rollercoaster that at first you wish it never ended, but then you reach that one sudden drop or the last loop and your stomach just tells you get off now or you'll puke. Then I realized that the airplane doesn't provide those convenient little barf bags anymore for you and I had to coach myself through the stomach churning.
As soon as the plane landed there was an intolerable desire to piss. It was6 a.m. and I hadn't slept a wink while on the plane, except when it took off so I missed the fun part of the flight at the beginning of my journey. As I got off the plane I headed straight to the currency exchange. Let me just tell you that the most difficult thing that I've had to adjust to is their money. They have bills, that bigger as the amount increases, and then they have coins. The coins are the most d confusing things of life. They have all different shapes and weights and sizes that you sit at the check out counter and you look like one of those stereotypical idiot Americans who doesn't know how to count. The amount of the coin is printed in small digits and written around the edge similar to our coins, but unless you memorize the shape, size and thickness of the coin it's hard to find the exact amount. For instance they have a 5p (which is the size of our dimes), a 10p (which is the size of our wuarters but in the shape of an octagon), a 20p which is a smaller hexagon, a pound which is equivalent to a dollar but in the form of a coin. Let's just say I've had trouble. I exchanged money and the rate is so unfair. I gave the guy $40 and he gave me 18.33 in pounds. To ride the tube to my dorm it cost me 3 pounds. You can hardly get anything with 18 pounds in europe and thats basically equivalent to the way Americans look at 18 dollars in their pockets.
I found my bags at the baggage claim and rapidly walked to the underground station. I say rapidly because everyone seems to be in such a hurry to get somewhere in this city,. I guess its true with any city though. I hurried along as fast as I could with a large 50 pound bag, a 40 pound carry-on, my laptop and a backpack. It got heavy lugging that shit around. before coming to England I was told that the underground was very tiny and crowded. Lucky for me the station that I got on was the last stop of the route, which turns into the first stop on the northbound route so there was hardly anyone on there when I had to fumble with my bags onto the tube. The tube took off and it looks nothing as I expected. I was expecting some grimy, new york style subway but on the contrary it reminds me of something you make out of legos. It looks like it was made out of ikea furniture, its white and colorful on the inside. NO BODY TALKS ON THE TUBE. it's dead silent and sort of eerie from the screeching sounds of the walss and tracks below. The trip on the tube was very sceneic it took me through the country sort of and as tit kept climbing northbound it got fuller and fuller. eventually I had people breathing down my back and squishing me in. Kind of comfortable considering it was really cold outside. I make it to my stop about an hour later and I was told to take a taxi from the underground station because the walk was a 10 minute brisk walk. I said screw it for two reasons, but more so because I'm cheap and a taxi would cost me 20 bucks for a half a mile. So I walked and it was more fun that way. I was dragging these two bags around the city and their sidewalks aren't smoothly paved like ours they are like cobblestones. The wheels got cauight on the crevases a few times and the people behind me were getting annoye and with good reason. I walked quickly (because everyone else was) and it was soo cold, but somehow lugging the two bags around I managed to work up a sweat. I recognized the building from the pictures on the Huron website. I walk up the sairs and walked in. It looked like a small New York style flat. The receptionist took me to my room and one of my roommates was already in the room. His name is Andy and he's from Ohio, but he goes to smaller college. He's a nice guy... he's into comic books and future-a-rama. Need i say more? H'es the only one from his college unlike me where there are 20 people from UF alone. We got a long great quickly. I think when you do something like studying abroad you know to be just very open minded about the whole experience. The room was a lot larger than I anticipated. I took pictures so that will be posted soon. It's got this huge bay window that looks out onto the main street. There's a coffee vendor that stands outside selling hot chocolate, mochas, tea and of course coffee. Young people run around the streets, while bikers crowd the designated bike trail. It reminded me of campus for a bit. My other roommate is Chris. So I've been told. It's the second day and he hasn't arrived yet. He's from UF though. I immediately started unpacking my things and realized that I have one closet with 6 hangers, a small night table with tiny drawers and one rubbermaid box to slide under my bed. I didn't know where I was putting all the shit I had brought. I was really impressed with the room though. I'll be living in this "flat" for 6 months so i better like it.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Seat 26A
Artist: David Gray
Song: Life in slow motion
Lyric: “Life in slow motion, somehow it don’t feel real”
The plane took off smoothly from Ft. Lauderdale airport at 15 minutes past 11 a.m. I’ve been awake for what seems like forever. I got to thinking late last night and got one of those light sleeps that you wake up two hours into and feel like almost 12 hours have elapsed. Needless to say, I stayed up thinking about my trip and popped in a dvd (“Best in Show”) and gradually fell asleep. Of course, just as I seemed to be getting into that heavy sleep that either a vigorous shaking or cold water is needed to wake you up it was time to get ready for my long day ahead. The weather outside was colder than it has been since I could remember. I felt as though I was already in New York, but it set the mood for what’s to come. The drive down to the airport was therapeutic in a sense (my dad was riding shot gun and I had no escape). When you’re preparing for a trip this big it’s hard not to think about all the possibilities…. Both good and bad... abroad and on the home front. You worry, you get excited, you feel the adrenaline your body boil up and the endless stream of tears seems almost inevitable. No matter how many times you tell yourself that this is going to be fun, it’s a good experience, there’s nothing to be sad about. It’s almost typical of me to sit there and deny myself of everything that my head is thinking and my body is reacting too. Ever since I’ve booked the flight out to London I’ve wanted to feel something. Something to let me know that this was real, that what I’m about to do is a once in a lifetime ordeal and that few will ever get this opportunity. Well the time came and not a tear was spared. As we approached the check-in counter my grandfather immediately jumped on my case (typical of him). He was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to handle myself and is overly cautious about me making sure I have all the right documents, money and what have you. I’m a lot like him. You see the way my family base works is that I’m the life and pride of the Ortega clan. I share a special relationship with each and every one of my family members and trips like these make those relationships all the more special and they surface. Boy do they surface quickly too. As my family left me at the gate the experience felt surreal. I didn’t want to cry, but I did. I’m leaving my entire support group behind to move to this gigantic city that could either eat me up and spit me out or change me forever. I hugged each one of my relatives firmly conscious to take in every smell, embrace and sensation that I could so I would not forget that very moment for the next 6 months. I want to remember them in that instance, in that split second in time when nothing else seemed to matter except my recollection of the firm and warm hugs I received from each one of my family members. It was hard saying “see you later” especially because I refused to say goodbye. A lot can happen in 6 months and every doubt in your mind seems to rush through you at that instance when your family is forced to leave you at the gate and there’s no entry for them. That’s when I was on my own. Of course, they stuck around to see me go through all the check-in procedures. Behind the blue rope waving, crying, smiling and screaming out “Andrew we love you!” at the top of their lungs in an attempt to embarrass me. It’s classic of my father to do that. To see them stand there and see me off was almost to much to watch, you think what if that’s the last time I see them? I couldn’t help but turn my back on them and focus on what lied ahead. It’s funny because for those minutes I felt so loved, not to say that I never had before, but it just felt 100 times more special. People around me saw it and I felt it. The gentleman behind me smiled as my family waved their hands furiously as if I couldn’t make their faces out. He turns and says to me “You have quite the fan club,” and I smiled at him and said “Yea. Lucky me right?”
So there I was emptying the contents of my life into these tiny gray bins and practically undressing so as not to make the metal detectors go off. I was off and still it felt fake. You know when you walk through life and you feel it and sense that you’re taking everything around you for granted? That’s how it felt walking down that long hallway to the gate. I hate that feeling. I wanted to remember that walk, the awkward feeling, and the desperate attempt to hide my uncertainty. I found a seat near my gate and the area was filled with people who I simply assumed were all heading to New York. The voice on the intercom called for ticket holders in “Group 2” to proceed to the gate. I guess it was the excitement, nerves and anxiety that caused me to suffer a momentary lapse of stupidity. I popped up and walked over to the gate. I confidently showed my ticket to the lady at the counter who I assume knows what her job description entails… checking that I’m getting on the right flight. The computers were down and she was doing the check-in procedures manually. Useful information that I find out about later of course. I walk down the narrow hall fumbling with my carry on , jacket and bag. I board the plane and awkwardly stroll down first class bumping into seats and peoples knees with my carry on. The bag is filled to capacity and to put it simply it should not be considered a carry on. Lucky for me the pilot was already on board and decided to make an announcement over the PA system. He says “Hello and welcome to American Airlines flight whatever direct flight to Dallas, Texas and blah blah blah.” DALLAS, TEXAS!!! I felt like an idiot. There was a line of people behind me making their away down the awkward little walkway with their oversized carry-ons, strollers and bags. I asked the steward whether this flight was going to Texas just in case my hearing had become faulty due to the obsessive iPod listening. He said “Yes.” Confidently. I thought well great I’m on the wrong flight. Imagine my embarrassment when the guy calls out to the front steward “He’s gotta get off, he’s on the wrong flight.” He then turns to me and says “how did you get on this plane?” I explain to him in complete humiliation that the lady just let me on. So, I patiently crammed my way into one of the seats until they could hold the line in order for me to walk back through that little tunnel. All I could do was laugh because I hadn’t taken off and I already had one of THOSE experiences. I think to myself that it’s situations like that, that will make this trip all the more interesting for me.
As the plane ascended upward over Ft. Lauderdale beach I looked down at the specs that I know are people and cars. From up here you realize how everyone is just a spec in the millions of people in the world. Suddenly everything you once though mattered fades away and your left staring down at hundreds of clouds scattered like stepping stones amidst the sparking blue water. You feel like you’re playing Nintendo because the view doesn’t seem real or possible. The clouds seem to dance above the blue water that turns into this canvas. With just the right altitude the sun hits the clouds casting a shadow on the blue canvas making the cotton balls look tangible and 3-Dimensional. They seem like they’re just in arms reach. I sit here inspired to write and think about what still lies ahead. I still cannot believe that I will be spending 6 months in a city as historic as London. In writing, I find my appreciation for this opportunity, for the smaller things I may often overlook, for my family, my life and my future. It’s really one of the world’s wonders that so much exists around us and as humans we remain unaware. I’m merely 2 hours into my trip and I’m amazed at how much I’m able to write and comprehend already. Just imagine for a second the abundance of stories I will be able to tell in just 6 months.
Song: Life in slow motion
Lyric: “Life in slow motion, somehow it don’t feel real”
The plane took off smoothly from Ft. Lauderdale airport at 15 minutes past 11 a.m. I’ve been awake for what seems like forever. I got to thinking late last night and got one of those light sleeps that you wake up two hours into and feel like almost 12 hours have elapsed. Needless to say, I stayed up thinking about my trip and popped in a dvd (“Best in Show”) and gradually fell asleep. Of course, just as I seemed to be getting into that heavy sleep that either a vigorous shaking or cold water is needed to wake you up it was time to get ready for my long day ahead. The weather outside was colder than it has been since I could remember. I felt as though I was already in New York, but it set the mood for what’s to come. The drive down to the airport was therapeutic in a sense (my dad was riding shot gun and I had no escape). When you’re preparing for a trip this big it’s hard not to think about all the possibilities…. Both good and bad... abroad and on the home front. You worry, you get excited, you feel the adrenaline your body boil up and the endless stream of tears seems almost inevitable. No matter how many times you tell yourself that this is going to be fun, it’s a good experience, there’s nothing to be sad about. It’s almost typical of me to sit there and deny myself of everything that my head is thinking and my body is reacting too. Ever since I’ve booked the flight out to London I’ve wanted to feel something. Something to let me know that this was real, that what I’m about to do is a once in a lifetime ordeal and that few will ever get this opportunity. Well the time came and not a tear was spared. As we approached the check-in counter my grandfather immediately jumped on my case (typical of him). He was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to handle myself and is overly cautious about me making sure I have all the right documents, money and what have you. I’m a lot like him. You see the way my family base works is that I’m the life and pride of the Ortega clan. I share a special relationship with each and every one of my family members and trips like these make those relationships all the more special and they surface. Boy do they surface quickly too. As my family left me at the gate the experience felt surreal. I didn’t want to cry, but I did. I’m leaving my entire support group behind to move to this gigantic city that could either eat me up and spit me out or change me forever. I hugged each one of my relatives firmly conscious to take in every smell, embrace and sensation that I could so I would not forget that very moment for the next 6 months. I want to remember them in that instance, in that split second in time when nothing else seemed to matter except my recollection of the firm and warm hugs I received from each one of my family members. It was hard saying “see you later” especially because I refused to say goodbye. A lot can happen in 6 months and every doubt in your mind seems to rush through you at that instance when your family is forced to leave you at the gate and there’s no entry for them. That’s when I was on my own. Of course, they stuck around to see me go through all the check-in procedures. Behind the blue rope waving, crying, smiling and screaming out “Andrew we love you!” at the top of their lungs in an attempt to embarrass me. It’s classic of my father to do that. To see them stand there and see me off was almost to much to watch, you think what if that’s the last time I see them? I couldn’t help but turn my back on them and focus on what lied ahead. It’s funny because for those minutes I felt so loved, not to say that I never had before, but it just felt 100 times more special. People around me saw it and I felt it. The gentleman behind me smiled as my family waved their hands furiously as if I couldn’t make their faces out. He turns and says to me “You have quite the fan club,” and I smiled at him and said “Yea. Lucky me right?”
So there I was emptying the contents of my life into these tiny gray bins and practically undressing so as not to make the metal detectors go off. I was off and still it felt fake. You know when you walk through life and you feel it and sense that you’re taking everything around you for granted? That’s how it felt walking down that long hallway to the gate. I hate that feeling. I wanted to remember that walk, the awkward feeling, and the desperate attempt to hide my uncertainty. I found a seat near my gate and the area was filled with people who I simply assumed were all heading to New York. The voice on the intercom called for ticket holders in “Group 2” to proceed to the gate. I guess it was the excitement, nerves and anxiety that caused me to suffer a momentary lapse of stupidity. I popped up and walked over to the gate. I confidently showed my ticket to the lady at the counter who I assume knows what her job description entails… checking that I’m getting on the right flight. The computers were down and she was doing the check-in procedures manually. Useful information that I find out about later of course. I walk down the narrow hall fumbling with my carry on , jacket and bag. I board the plane and awkwardly stroll down first class bumping into seats and peoples knees with my carry on. The bag is filled to capacity and to put it simply it should not be considered a carry on. Lucky for me the pilot was already on board and decided to make an announcement over the PA system. He says “Hello and welcome to American Airlines flight whatever direct flight to Dallas, Texas and blah blah blah.” DALLAS, TEXAS!!! I felt like an idiot. There was a line of people behind me making their away down the awkward little walkway with their oversized carry-ons, strollers and bags. I asked the steward whether this flight was going to Texas just in case my hearing had become faulty due to the obsessive iPod listening. He said “Yes.” Confidently. I thought well great I’m on the wrong flight. Imagine my embarrassment when the guy calls out to the front steward “He’s gotta get off, he’s on the wrong flight.” He then turns to me and says “how did you get on this plane?” I explain to him in complete humiliation that the lady just let me on. So, I patiently crammed my way into one of the seats until they could hold the line in order for me to walk back through that little tunnel. All I could do was laugh because I hadn’t taken off and I already had one of THOSE experiences. I think to myself that it’s situations like that, that will make this trip all the more interesting for me.
As the plane ascended upward over Ft. Lauderdale beach I looked down at the specs that I know are people and cars. From up here you realize how everyone is just a spec in the millions of people in the world. Suddenly everything you once though mattered fades away and your left staring down at hundreds of clouds scattered like stepping stones amidst the sparking blue water. You feel like you’re playing Nintendo because the view doesn’t seem real or possible. The clouds seem to dance above the blue water that turns into this canvas. With just the right altitude the sun hits the clouds casting a shadow on the blue canvas making the cotton balls look tangible and 3-Dimensional. They seem like they’re just in arms reach. I sit here inspired to write and think about what still lies ahead. I still cannot believe that I will be spending 6 months in a city as historic as London. In writing, I find my appreciation for this opportunity, for the smaller things I may often overlook, for my family, my life and my future. It’s really one of the world’s wonders that so much exists around us and as humans we remain unaware. I’m merely 2 hours into my trip and I’m amazed at how much I’m able to write and comprehend already. Just imagine for a second the abundance of stories I will be able to tell in just 6 months.
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