Hmm...

An interesting conversation between me and my Indian grocer at Sainsbury's today....note that all his quotes were heavily accented so there was a slight confused pause on my part after everything he said.

Him: Good afternoon. How are you?

Me: Good thanks how are you? 

Him: Good....where are you from? Germany?

Me: (Germany?? really??) Ahh no. America. 

Him: What are you doing here? 

Me: (pause at the uncharacteristically invasive questions as he bags my broccoli)

Him: Studying?

Me: Yes

Him: What are you doing here? Arent all the best universities in the States? 

Me: Just studying for a little while?

Him: (completely ignoring me) Harvard, Yale, Princeton...blah blah blah

At this point, I ended up just walking away mid-college list. He did ask an important question though: why am I studying here when the US education system is so good? I'm a little annoyed I didn't have a satisfactory answer, but next time, I will say that this year is my "social education" to meet strange people like him. I guess I did find his knowledge of the Ivy League amusing. 

Activities

A comparison between my everyday activities at Williams and in London, just to remind myself how lucky I am NOT to be in Williamstown this year. 

Arts

Williams: A lecture from a well renowned art historian, where only half the class is actually paying attention. Maybe a minute long walk to the WCMA for a full-museum tour in 15 minutes.

London: The National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the British Museum, and impromptu performance art demonstrations involving hundreds of people in Liverpool Street Station or Trafalgar Square. 

Entertainment

W: Mostly YouTube in the library 

L: Shows, movies for 10 pounds, a trip to the BAFTA red carpet to see all the celebs (true story! Saw Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and more). 

Sports

W: A strenuous 10 minute hike to Cole Field in the middle of the cow pastures for a soccer game. Two bleachers. No rowdy behavior or the big bad Campus Security might bust you. 

L: A transportation mess (my bus was overtaken by Italians and consequently shut down) to arrive at a crowded 60,000 person stadium to see the Brazil vs. Italy football match. Unlike the American international friendlies, all the good players are actually present for the games. Excessive chanting and separated seating areas to prevent belligerent violence. Metropolitan Police enforcement at every Tube station within a mile or two of the stadium. 

Leisurely Lunch

W: Sandwiches at Papa Charlie's. See everyone you know walking up and down Spring Street.

L: Tea at the Dorchester. Finger sandwiches, scones, and delicate pastries. See no one under age 45. 

Go Out to Dinner

W: A selection of a few restaurants--Sushi/Thai (yes that is one place), Indian, or bad American food. There is always the dining hall I guess. 

L: A million places to go. The hardest thing to do is choose. 

Weekend Getaway

W: A 2 hour drive up to Middlebury, Vermont to visit friends and watch a basketball game. See cows, trees, snow, and if I have time, make a quick stop at the Apple Barn in Bennington to get my farm culture fix. 

L: A 2 hour plane ride for 2 nights in Stockholm, the Swiss Alps, or any other European destination. See museums, tourist attractions, and eat amazing international food. Get a new stamp on my passport. It doesn't expire for another 7 years but I think I already need new pages.

Long Walk:

W: Anything more than 5 minutes.

L: Anything more than 45 minutes. 

Shopping

There's no point in even writing this comparison.

Nightlife

See shopping

Snow in London!

Reactions to the 20 cm of snow in greater London, the most snow the city has seen in 20 years according to BBC. 

 

"David Brown of Transport of London said the situation was 'exceptional'"

"On the roads, the southern section of M25 has treacherous driving conditions between the M23 and the A3."

"A London Ambulance Service spokesman said it received more than 650 calls between midnight and Monday morning and stressed that it would only respond to 'life-threatening calls' as it was under 'severe pressure'."

"Given the severe weather conditions and the likelihood of worse to come, the School has taken the decision to CANCEL ALL TEACHING for today. Staff are advised to remain at home if they cannot easily get into the School." -my school

Advice to those who do decide to travel: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7864788.stm

Schools (including universities) are cancelled. All Tube lines are severely delayed, or partially/fully suspended. Buses are not running. The city has completely shut down. All from a mere 7 inches of snow. It is a complete joke. 

Also funny...the city has no snow plow.

I got in a cab today and the cab driver was complaining about how he needed to start stocking up on snowballs in his front seat to defend himself from the children. Apparently taxis make great targets. 

City Living

I came back to London almost two weeks ago after spending a month in Seattle. I thought coming back to the hustle and bustle of the city would be overwhelming, but instead, I fell right back into my same old rhythm. There are a few signs that indicate that I have adjusted to living in the city:

1. I have to make a serious effort to see the tourist sights of the place where I live. 

2. I no longer care if people read over my shoulder in public places. 

3. I am a master of the passive-aggressive "excuse me" or "sorry" that really means "excuse you, you're in my way you bumbling idiot!!"

4. I can walk through crowds at warp speed, deftly avoiding the foreigners rolling suitcases, people with umbrellas, and the dangerous dangling cigarettes. 

5. My proximity to the financial part of the city means that I never see children or dogs. I am not bothered by it anymore. 

6. I can finally ignore the solicitors supporting asthma research and saving the children without feeling guilty. Sorry, no thank you, and just keep walking. Last night, someone offered me a pamphlet and the first thing I said was, "Sorry, I can't. My hands are in my pockets!" That was one the man had never heard before.

7. I jaywalk. Even with the switched streets. No one in London actually waits for the green man. We are clearly above the law. 

Christmas in London

I'm back I promise

Well, I'll admit. This month I have paid amount as much attention to this blog as I do to my studies at LSE. Very little. I will try and make up for it now. 

An update on my life: 

November has FLOWN by. I hit the 2 month mark two days ago and marveled at all I squeezed into the past couple weeks. I had my grandparents visit, watched the US election from abroad, traveled to Copenhagen for a weekend, and visited friends at St. Andrews (again). I wrote a few papers for school here and there, but school has been low on my list of priorities, as it should be when I am graded pass-fail. Also. Will is coming to visit today! And all of my family and friends arrive tomorrow!

A few signs that I had adjusted to life in London: 

1. I hate waiting in queues of any kind. London has made me lose all sense of patience. I move at warp speed pretty much all the time. I may or may not have developed a mild case of ADD. 

2. I am beginning to understand local dialect. Trousers mean pants, pants mean underwear. Knackered means tired. Cheers means thank you. And cheers in a toasting sense too. However, I am often too afraid to use these words in sentences, because a word like 'cheers' sounds so dowdy when I say it compared to a Brit. I did adopt a few phrases that I sneak into my everyday language without completely embarrassing myself, such as loads (I have loads of homework...not), ages (it has been ages since I've seen my family!), and my personal favorite, I can't be bothered.  I use that one a lot. 

3. I avoid Oxford Street unless it is an emergency, and if I have to go, I will go at an obscure time like Wednesday morning. The idea of herding through Oxford Circus between millions of people moving at the speed of a gimp snail frightens me. Topshop is pretty amazing, but I don't feel like sacrificing an arm and a leg for it. 

4. I watch the X Factor. This show is like the British version of American Idol but wayyyy better. Simon Cowell is a judge on this show as well, but he actually has talent to evaluate. The absence of Paula Abdul-on-painkillers is quite refreshing. X Factor is a typical Saturday night staple to my weekly entertainment diet. 

More updates to come soon. Got to prepare for my family visit. Can't wait to see them! 

The 4th of November

And speaking of November...GO VOTE. 

I will be watching the election on CNN in the Student Union bar until it closes at 4 am. And then I will wake up later in the morning to find out my new president and prepare to face either the wrath or joy of the rest of the world. 

And if its wrath...at least the red Starbucks cups come out on Wednesday.