Wednesday, 26 November 2008

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! 

Tuesday, 4 November 2008

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. 

The 5th of November

A quick comparison of days used for fireworks displays in the US and the UK. Now based on my own personal experience. 

Name
US: Independence Day
UK: Guy Fawkes Day
Date
US: 4th of July
UK: 5th of November, but they have individual celebrations based on whatever day is most convenient for them (ie weekends)
Celebrates: 
US: Independence from the overbearing tea-drinking motherland
UK: The foiling of a plan for a group of Catholics (including Guy Fawkes) to blow up Parliament. So instead of fireworks in celebration, the fireworks represent what would have happened had the Catholics taken over the entire country. 
Time of Day
US: All day long
UK: Evening
Location
US: backyards, lakes, vacation houses
UK: communal squares
Weather
US: Sunshine, hot 
UK: Rain, cold
Food
US: Burgers, hot dogs, other grill food, watermelon
UK: Sausages, baked potatoes
Drink
US: Beer, beer, beer, and soda
UK: Mulled wine aka URINE
Attire
US: shorts, t-shirt, loads of sunscreen, Old Navy flag shirt, red white and blue
UK: raincoats and wellies (rainboots)
Activities
US: Contests, lawn games, fireworks
UK: Giant bonfire to burn "guy", huddling for warmth, feeble attempts at fireworks