Zei's London Is... (Conclusion)

I was asked the question, what is your London a few times while abroad and every time I’m asked this question, I have a hard time answering it, because although I've learned a lot while being here, I don’t really feel like I have a strong connection with London.  However, I figured I try wrapping it up into one spill.

My London?  My London is peaceful, but fast paced like New York, and there’s something new to see every day.  I’m always on my feet, going somewhere, or trying to find something new to do.  It’s a wave of relaxation, like sitting on the side of the ocean, where nothing can disturb you – in a zone.  With no phone to be a distraction every couple of minutes, it gives me more time to think, embrace my interactions, connect, and reflect on my experiences.   My London is free, there’s not much I couldn’t get away with without the embarrassment, because I don’t know anyone here.  I can laugh out loud, dance outside, or even trip and fall without a care in the world.  My London is expensive, if I ever wanted to live here, I’d have to make sure that I came with plenty of money – but I’d never live here.  It’s too far away from my family and I’d be fat from eating fast food every day – most of the food isn’t that great.  I don’t know how there’s no obesity, because I feel like I’d be the exception in my London.  My London is rich with history, monuments, architecture, and culture that I will bring back to my classroom when I begin to teach.  I want my students to know and understand not only how things and people in America operate, but people all around the world.  They need exposure, so they won’t have that gap that people are trying to mind.  My London has encouraged me to try new things, I usually stay within my comfort.  It has ended my senior year better than any way I could have imagined.

It's About That Time

 

     I can’t believe what I’m about to say, because I never thought that these words would come out of my mouth.  I got home sick.  After being in London for 4/5 weeks, I was ready to home!  No, I didn’t get robbed, I didn’t fall out with any of the people in the program, I didn’t run out of money, I was just genuinely ready to get on the plane and be back home.  My nights of random fun and freedom, class time, trips, and even time to myself were all “old.”  I didn’t want to be here.  I was in a sad mood for two or three days, everything was beginning to irritate me, and I didn’t want to be around anyone.  I just wanted to sleep, eat, text, talk to, or facetime my family, and that was it!  As I realized time was getting closer, I started to get happy again.  I packed all of my stuff a week prior to my departure, sent pictures to my parents, and laid out my clothes for that week.  I was ready!

Our Very Own....British....Visitor

We had the opportunity of having a British man come to answer questions about the British.  When our visitor first arrived, his persona didn’t seem to be too open.  It seemed as though he didn’t want to be seated in a living room sized classroom, surrounded by American students sitting in a circle, starring at him like vultures, anxious to pile random questions on him.  Then, after he was here for about fifteen to twenty minutes, and I saw that his body language was the same (even though he had, by that time, laughed a bit) I realized that that’s just his relaxed state; it didn’t mean he wanted to and it didn’t mean he did.  Our conversations were open and uncensored.  He didn’t mind all of our odd questions, which was cool.  Sometimes, it seemed that the questions we asked were difficult for him to answer, and some were rather short, but he was honest.  One thing that I appreciated, and I think we all did, was that he lived in both America and England for multiple years, so he had something to contrast with England.  He knew what were were referring to when we spoke of different things in America.  It was funny that he to agreed that American food was better than food in England.  He confirmed some of the stereotypes that we had about the British, and gave us some insight to his personal world as a man living in England.

Tour, After Tour.... Unexpected Stop

During this visit abroad, we’ve taken a few walking tours, all of which have been great!  Okay, if I stuck to that, I’d be lying; let’s try again.  All the tours we’ve taken having been informational, with a few peaks of interest, nonetheless boring. What made them boring? I’d say the guides, who weren’t very enthusiastic.  They talked with a mellow tone, as if they were giving a presentation that they had no interest in.  The tours were long.  I guess you could expect that, because you can’t bundle all of the British history into one hour, but two hours plus, is a pretty long time to be on a tour.  Sometimes, they didn’t really have much relevance to what I was learning in class, so I would sometimes be lost when they talked about specific people, and especially when they talked about these unknown people for so long, it’s like I zoned out!  I had gotten tired of tours, so starting this particular one, I had a pessimistic mindset.  I wanted to lag behind without even giving this guy a chance, in fact, I did lag behind.  Once we finally stopped at our first attraction, it was the least expected, which instantly caught my attention.  He stopped us at a corner, told us a bit about the art he was about to show us, as we looked around dumbfounded because there was no art in sight, then he finally point to the top of a street sign post where a small, handmade, metal bird was sitting.  He said this object was made by an artist that we wouldn’t be able to find online; he’s local.  He makes objects like this, and puts them on top of poles throughout the neighborhood.  On this tour you will see lots of street work by local artists, he informed.  With that suspense, so early in the tour, we knew the rest would be awesome, and it was!

Common Phrases

What would you suspect to be the most common phrase you heard while in London?  I don’t think I really expected any of the ones I heard.  

Being in London where the groups of people are as diverse as those in the United States, it’s not always easy to spot a tourist, until they open their mouths to speak.  Well, unless of course you catch them taking a picture of something you walk past everyday on the way to work, and think nothing of it.  We could blend in just fine on and off the tube, in the queue of a fast food restaurant, or shopping on Oxford Street.  It’s not until we ask a question or make a remark that we get the double back head snap, and the corners of their mouths slowly curl upward, in awe, as if they’ve discovered something new.  Then it comes, “Are you from America?”  I think it excites them to meet Americans, and it’s so odd that they can pin point our accent so quickly, on the first guess.  

One day when I was shopping in Primark, I was bending over looking at a lower rack of clothes when I heard someone repeatedly say, “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry”   I finally turned around, because I didn’t realize that the woman had been talking to me the entire time, to see that she wanted me to move so that she could get past.  I had heard ‘sorry’ be used so many times, but it wasn’t until that situation that I realized that their ‘sorry’ is an Americans ‘excuse me’.  If you’re in London, you will hear people say ‘sorry’ a couple dozen times a day!

A big phrase, that made it to shirts sold in the local stores is, “Mind the Gap.”  The way the British word things is so awkward sometimes.  Saying, “Mind the” is a way of saying, “Be careful of” or “Be aware of.”  ‘The Gap’ in this phrase usually refers to the large space between the platform and the tube when people are entering and exiting.  No matter what they are asking you to pay close attention to or be aware of, it always begins with ‘Mind the’.  Mind the gap.  Mind the doors.

Another, is so simple, yet so noticeable – "yeah!"  At the end of almost every sentence that most British people say, they always end it with ‘yeah.’  It’s like subconscious habit.  I take it as them confirming that you understand what they are saying, but they don’t really give you a chance to confirm before they say yeah and move forward.  I really have no other explanations, but if you go watch a few YouTube videos made by someone living in London, or if you happen to visit, you’ll notice it right away!

I Wouldn't Do This In America O_o

After being here for such a short time, I’ve noticed quite a few British behaviors that wouldn’t stand a chance going unrecognized in America.  Awkwardly, I’ve even found myself getting accustomed to these behaviors, as if I were British.  Yes, that quick; I’ve only been here for a week!  Not only getting accustomed to their behaviors, but picking up small habits that I just wouldn’t normally do in America.  For example, the rule I mentioned in my last post, NEW RULES, I wasn’t exaggerating.  These people have emergencies every day, or so it seems!  They can never walk past without bumping you, and there’s no such thing as a gentle bump.  So, what do I do?   You’ve got it, I bump back, move forward with making my way through the sardine packed crowds of people, or I stiffen my shoulders so that the force from their bump knocks them back.  No way would I get away with doing this in America; I will have gotten slapped for walking around like a football player, knocking people out my way left and right.

Another drastic change is the usage of my phone.  Close your eyes really quick, and imagine what being without your phone for three fourths of your day would feel like.  Okay, more or less, but you get the point.  At home I am completely attached to my phone; it is in my hand at all times, and if not, it is within reach.  Since I can only use my phone here, in Wifi, it’s tucked away in my purse until I make it to the nearest McDonalds or Cloud network, or it’s left in my at home in my flat.  I wouldn’t dare leave my phone at home in America, let alone allow the battery to get below 20%.  What’s the use in charging it though? I can’t use it!

Then there’s transportation.  At home, I am driving my own vehicle or riding in someone else’s.  I would never take the bus or a taxi.  I don’t even walk much, unless I’m at school on campus.  Here, I do all of the above.  I only take the tube, which is an underground subway.  There are so many cars on the roads here, but it seems like everyone takes the tube, literally, so I don’t know who’s driving.  It’s a public transpiration system, and as you could expect, there’s no air, they’re packed, they’re not very clean, and you might even catch a homeless person walking through.  Yuck, right?  I would never do it at home, but I sure am here.  The things I do in London...

NEW RULES

The first thing I noticed in London, about the people, is that they get where they have to go, even if that means you don’t!  So, I’ve made a rule, if you’ll cal it, about British from an American perspective: Don’t Mind Them, Join Them. 

As you’re walking down the sidewalks of London, and while entering/ exiting the tubes, you will frequently get pushed or feel your shoulder aggressively bumped.  Do not be alarmed!  I will ensure you that almost every time you will calm yourself, to notice, that everyone is in a rush.  Do not mind them, simply join them.  Stiffen your shoulders and push your way through, and you will survive in London, just fine.  Remember, push first, say sorry later!

As well, I’ve come up with a rule, that the British may conclude about Americans: Can’t Keep Quiet

It might not be so hard to spot an American in London, after all, they voice everything they feel. Seriously, all they do is complain.  If the waiter gets something wrong with their order, they have a fit.  When the line is too long for them, they make a shout.  If we’re inside and it’s hot, with no air, you better believe it’s a problem.  We all know it’s hot, we are all hot, there’s nothing we can do to change the company’s air problem.  If you forgot to put on deodorant, and they’re standing next to you, they’ll remind you.  It’s seems as though they just can’t keep quiet, all they do is complain.

Blog Intro

Coming on this study abroad trip, I didn’t really have any expectations.  All I knew is that I wanted to have fun since I just graduated, with three credits left to take abroad, and London seemed like the perfect place to take them.  I didn’t know much about the city, or the people in it, outside of them having a queen, guards who won’t move no matter how much you temp them, deep accents, and this being the place where my favorite childhood group originated, the Spice Girls.  With that being said, I came here with a completely open mind, ready to explore!  Thankfully, taking the traveling course helped me with going deeper into my understanding of the British, by exploring different readings, traveling, reflecting, and writing.

YAHOO Wireless Music Festival!

Outside - Fold in half (vertically), so that the paper is open to the right and the artist listing is facing you.  Then, fold in half horizontally, so that the cover "Yahoo! Wireless" is now facing you, and the tube map directions are in the back.

Inside - Will open up as one collective "picture" inside.

My Top 5 Cheap Places to Eat in London

1.     Regent’s College

As a student at Regents College, I have a meal plan, and all of the food is practically free!  So, I’ll count Regent's College as my number one cheapest place to eat.  The food wasn’t always the greatest, but I always had options, even if it was just butter and bread (which is good to me). Actually, that’s probably the most common thing I ate in the cafeteria, three plain baguettes and four packs of butter. They had a different main course every day I came to the cafeteria, with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option.  Pizza was served on the side, potato wedges were always available, as well as their soup of the day.  They had lunch sandwiches/ subs, salads, fruits, and ice cream – pretty much everything, including candy and snacks.  I swiped my ID, and I was on my way!

2.     Subway

Subway has a wide variety of subs to choose from, and they’re all healthy.  My favorite choice was the 6” Italian BMT on flat bread.  This flat bread is awesome – it tastes just like soft, fluffy pita bread.  The Italian BMT has salami, pepperoni, turkey, and whatever cheese and vegetables you choose to add.  They have to slightly toast it so that the bread doesn’t break when it is folded over, leaving the cheese melted and the meat slightly warmed.  After my vegetables are added, I have them add a few sprinkles of salt and pepper, plus Dijon mustard, and mayo (their mayo tastes like mayonnaise mixed with ranch).  If you don’t like ranch, you might not want to try their mayonnaise.  Oddly, they don’t have Italian dressing for an Italian BMT!  This sub is only three pounds, and you get a free drink!  Usually, it does the job of fulfilling a hungry appetite, but if you’re feeling extra hungry, you can always add a bag of chips or three cookies for  ninety-nine pents (my favorite choice – macadamia nut).

3.     Waitrose

If you’re on the go, you can walk past the nearest Waitrose and grab a packed sandwich, a bag of chips, and a water or juice.  They have a few different pre-made sandwiches and subs to choose from.  They have ham, chicken, tuna, and turkey, with different dressings on each.  This totaled will cost you no more than four or five pounds, if that.  If you have time to shop, Waitrose is the largest grocery store, with the best prices that I’ve seen in London.  You can come out spending thirty pounds, and have enough food to last you the entire week.  If you do the math behind that, you eat two- three times a day, seven days a week, paying five pounds per meal, that’s a minimum of fifty pounds per week.  So, you’re coming out cheaper whether you go for a quick bit to eat or for your grocery shopping.

4.     Camden Market

Now, Camden Market has a place called “The Grill.” It’s located right over the bridge, across from the stables.  It’s just before you get to the lion statue, in front of the motorcycle seats.  From here, the chicken wraps are good!  They have the chicken marinated in a bin, and they take it out, grill it, and chop it, right in front of you.  They don’t have many condiments to add, but I usually have them add cheese, mayo, and barbeque sauce. With the chicken right off the grill, it melts the cheese, and warms the pita bread.  You get a load of fries, and a beverage.  This is all for five pounds.  Sometimes the amount of chicken they give you is overwhelming, and you can’t finish the wrap.  Also, this meal is only a one time visit kind of meal.  Go once, eat it, enjoy it, and don’t go again.  I know, it sounds weird, but I'm serious.  I had this my first time in Camden, and it was great!  When I went to get it again, it was not as good.  It is not the healthiest meal, because the chicken is dripping with grease.  That's probably why it's not a good idea to eat it more than once, in a week. 

5.     Giraffe

Giraffe is a nice sit down or take out restaurant that serves burgers, salads, seafood, and a few other options.  The prices can get to be expensive, so, the best time to go is during lunch (12-4pm)!  During lunch they have the best burgers and fries!  It’s a decent portion size, so you won’t still be hungry after you eat, and it will satisfy your tastes buds.  Anything on the lunch menu is 6.25 pounds.  That includes the main course and a side.  If you add a drink, of course, the price will increase.  They have alcoholic beverages if you wish to have a drink during your lunch, because your boss or co-worker has stressed you out.  Outside of the lunch menu, if you want some cheap food, you’d have to be a student.  They give students a 25% discount, with an ID.  That brings most meal prices down to the eight pound range.  Overall, everything I've heard from this restaurant has been great!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A representation of who was living, and protecting the living, who was courageous, yet tired, put to rest; awakening the citizens, so grateful. The soldier was to be remembered, they were to be remembered, , by one. Made equal - they were, not one more qualified to be centered than the other. This unknown artifact was crafted with precise thought. From the bottom, his body - relieved of any fright and worry - and covered with blankets of dirt from which they once engaged in war and shed blood. Each crumble is a piece of him, and them, as if he's being hurried with the ashes of comrades. Glass seals the tomb, enscripted with a tribute, made of bullet shells. Not just any, shells that fell dying the war. Each melted shell is special, as would each unique shell that your child hand picked from the sand on his or her trip to the beach - just for you. Lining this tomb is the flower found in the area of the battlefield, a poppy. They line the entire tomb, making no beginning and no end, for the life of the soldiers will always be remembered. The citizens remain grateful. Eyes filled with water, a tear drop could fall. Nerves in the heart playing tag, scattering, running as fast as they can. Palms clinches to heart, as to say, "FREEZE, YOU'RE IT!" - but they don't stop. A smile and a million hugs, with continuous thank you's!