And So It Begins...

            If my plane ride to London back in December was a three out of ten, this time around was a nine. There were roughly twenty-five people on the plane! I kicked back in a middle row, three seats to myself. I watched The Five Year Engagement, which was a typical aircraft film. One of those movies I had a mild interest in but would never actively seek out. Initially I attempted to watch The Hunger Games, but the Korean subtitles threw me off. I couldn’t get rid of them! I found the cold chicken salad delicious. There were black beans and corn, so it had a Southwestern/Mexican flavor. The male flight attendant was funny as well, insisting he constantly top off my white wine because he had nothing else to do with so few passengers occupying the plane. Needless to say, I slept quite well.

            In fact, the hardest part of my travels was the taxi ride to Esher, Surrey. The first cab I climbed into had a Cockney driver. This man refused to drive so far out, explaining that he received no work if he didn’t drive directly into central London. I actually pitied the second cabbie. He misunderstood the airport employee, thinking he was taking me into Central. However, once we had begun driving away and he realized he needed to drive forty minutes away from Central, he felt obligated to continue our journey. He had NO CLUE where he was going. The simple drive took about an hour and a half. He stopped three times to find directions from locals. At least I could enjoy the view of sheep and horse racing tracks along the countryside.

            Another huge bonus is that I am staying with the nicest older couple in a quaint little cottage. I sure am thankful for extended family. I would almost find it easier saying they were my grandparents. But, no, Audrey and Mike are my mom’s aunt’s in-laws. They have been so helpful with my transition as an employee to the UK. They have helped me set up a mobile number, purchase train passes, open a bank account, and view potential rooms to rent. They also immediately reminded me of English taste buds. I had a sandwich with butter, cheddar cheese and “British pastrami.” I also had leeks for dinner! Last night our dinner consisted of chips (fries), fried eggs, baked beans, and sausages. With, of course, brown sauce. I am delighted to settle in and begin working very soon. And as long as these funky meals keep cropping up, I’ll fit right back in with British culture!       

It's Official!

            Having returned to the United States since my last post, I have found myself at a loss in terms of what to blog about. However, being stuck inside during this State of Emergency blizzard warning throughout New England is as good a time as any to whip out my computer and write. I have been extremely busy over the past couple of weeks. I was looking back on my first post, from mid-December, when I was expecting to chronicle my job search. Well, fortunately, this blog will not be about my job hunt. It will continue to be about my cultural experiences in Europe because I will be working there for the next four months!

The timeline of receiving a favorable internship offer to actually starting the internship is a lengthy one when attempting to work outside of your home country. However, I am positive that the time and effort (not to mention expenses!) I have put into obtaining my visa will be worth the amazing experience I am about to encounter. I have worked with some very helpful people along the way to get me to this point. I was accepted by BUNAC, the organization that issued me my certificate of sponsorship. Once I received that letter, I was able to apply for my Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visa. This involved an online application and having to go into Boston for a biometrics appointment. At the Boston application center I simply scanned my fingerprints on both hands. As innocent as the process was, I still felt like I was some sort of felon being arrested at a police station. Not only did they scan each finger (thumbs included), I had to roll each finger across the glass so they could get a 3D scan as well. All so that I could take an internship for four months in England! However, I must applaud the UK Border Agency for how quickly they processed my application materials. The package arrived in New York on Wednesday afternoon and my visa was issued this morning. I was more disappointed in UPS for promising that my package would arrive Wednesday at 10:30am. It did not arrive to the New York building until 5:00pm. Luckily, I do not think it delayed the process significantly.

Now my only concern is how long it will take for me to receive my passport. The final step in the visa process is for my passport to brave the harsh weather conditions and travel from NYC to Weston, Massachusetts. I have faith! I am set to officially start working in Wimbledon in ten days. As soon as I receive my passport, my adventure begins. I plan to purchase a flight to London as soon as I have my visa. In a short amount of time I will find a place to settle down, attend a BUNAC orientation meeting, and start an amazing work experience. I am so grateful that I already know the challenges of living in London. Rather than culture shock, I will perform full cultural immersion. I love the Brits, and I am so thankful that I will be spending more time with them! Cheers!    

Playing for the Title

            Daytime British television, specifically game shows, is subtly different to what is shown in the United States. We Americans are obsessed with the competitive nature of each game. No matter what the game is, it has to be fast-paced so that the audience does not lose focus. This thought never deeply occurred to me until watching a few episodes of various English game shows. One show, “University Challenge,” is ALL about intellect. The questions that Jeremy Paxman poses are so difficult that I could not even answer quickly enough to get two questions right until after viewing my third episode. It did not help that my introduction to this show was with my boyfriend’s older brother. This man is an intelligent Oxford University student who was actually on the show…as team captain! I was more entertained watching how rapidly Tom’s brother could answer each question. Very often it was before either team of four adults could respond. Tom made fun of me because when I did get answers correct I would proceed to jump up and down, sometimes even performing a victory dance. Jeremy Paxman seems bored to me with his job as host. He will literally roll his eyes at some contestants and not hesitate to laugh/make fun of people who answer incorrectly. Also, while most U.S. shows are played for a juicy cash prize, these teams play merely for scholarly honor.  

            Another show that has no actual entertainment value in the visual production is “Countdown.” Much like “University Challenge,” the players are all very nerdy and book smart. But Rachel Riley is pretty to watch as she puts the letters and numbers up on the board. The single reason for watching this show is to play it at home. The contestants take turns picking ten letters (vowels and consonants) and need to form the longest word they can in 30 seconds. In the number segment, contestants can pick large and small numbers, and they have to mathematically reach a specific number presented by the computer. Also in 30 seconds. I honestly don’t even try with the math. Usually I cannot reach the lengthy words either.The plus side is learning new vocabulary.

            The show “Pointless” has a lighter vibe than the previous two. The hosts seem to be truly rooting for the contestants here. There is often nice chemistry between the hosts and contestants. And unlike the prior shows, my heart rate does not soar through the roof. It is a very lofty, cheesy joke telling, slow-paced game. The aim of this game is to pick the most pointless answers to each question/category. For example, one category was Jack Nicholson movies. There are four pairs that compete against one another. The winners guess the movies that the least amount of audience members listed. Thus, the pair that guessed The Shining gained a lot of points, and was in last place. Oddly enough, some movies Nicholson won awards for were little known among the audience. One example is About Schmidt. I would love to see these game shows be adapted for U.S. television. Hey, I thought “The Weakest Link” worked out swimmingly!  

Krav Maga

            Krav Maga? Yes, you read that correctly. I went to a Krav Maga class. I probably would never have ventured into a situation like this had Tom not convinced me that I was perfectly capable of attending. All I knew was that it was an Israeli street-fighting martial art. In fact, I found it comical because of an episode of “The League” I watched, where Kevin’s Krav Maga teacher (played by Eliza Dushku) is constantly hitting on him. Without a clue about what I would walk into, I headed out to the gym in my spandex. Tom was bombarded with questions the whole walk there. Will I get hurt? Can I be partnered with you? Will advanced students get mad at me for being a beginner? The last martial arts experience I can remember having is back in Australia. I was ten years old and our classmate’s father was teaching us Judo in what we got away with calling “gym class.”

            Upon arrival, I immediately realized there was absolutely nothing to worry about. I was not the only person there for my free first lesson (there were at least three of us). Further, our ages and physical fitness ranged DRASTICALLY. Of the thirteen students in the room, the youngest person looked like an eighteen year old boy, while the oldest man was probably sixty-five. Also, as we warmed up, running around the gym, I was definitely lapping a large, middle-aged woman. The teacher, Kelina, was a muscular, badass woman with long dreadlocks, gages in her ears, and a dragon tattoo on her forearm. Tom informed me that she used to fight MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) until getting a knife pulled on her. That’s when she realized she needed to learn fighting tactics that successfully resulted in self-defense.

I appreciated the techniques I learned in the short hour I spent with Kelina. It was thrilling to practice defending and attacking, especially once I understood how simple certain moves were. It also wasn’t too shabby having a partner that has been taking Krav Maga for a few months. I learned how to defend myself from oncoming punches, a standing and ground strangulation, and a headlock. Unfortunately, we ran out of time, and did not get to do the intense drills that really make everyone sweat at the end of class. More than anything else, I’m proud of moving outside of my comfort zone. Fighting, even in a controlled environment, has always made me a touch uncomfortable. But today I gained some valuable knowledge about how to win a drunken bar fight one night! I mean…responsibly defend myself and walk away from any brawls.

Tea for Two

            I satisfied my craving for tea and scones this afternoon. Okay, fine, it was more like I scratched the itch I felt for clotted cream. What the bloody hell is that stuff? The name alone suggests I will have a heart attack at an early age if I consume too much. But, wow, is it TASTY. Also known as Devonshire cream, this substance is essential to any Devon cream tea. I dined at a cute little restaurant called Teapod. The atmosphere was pleasant. I welcomed the brightly painted walls/furniture, which included pastel green, orange, and (my favorite) pink. I chose to drink a black, loose-leaf dark vanilla cream tea. Tom sipped on a Lapsang Souchong (also black tea). We were served a small scone with pots of strawberry jam and clotted cream. There was also a butter pat, but I knew I was not going to bother with that, and instead consumed the whole dish of clotted cream. The texture is reminiscent of Fluff. The flavor is sweet, milky, like butter mixed with whipped cream. Rich, smooth, and perfectly paired with a sweet tea, clotted cream is a must-have topping on a scone. Apparently, Teapod has unbeatably low prices on their Devon cream tea. This makes me anxious to purchase cream tea anywhere else. Again, I have found myself complaining about how expensive it is to eat ANYWHERE in central London. But one cream tea was essential. Now I just have to refrain from buying a fat jar from the grocery store. What a challenge to my self-discipline!
 

I was too cheap to buy it, but I wonder what makes it "Boston" chicken chowder?

London Bridge is Falling Down

            Today I revisited Tower Bridge. I walked across it and went beyond the Tower of London to the oldest church in the city. All Hallows. The Saxon translation is “all saints.” Some remains date back to more than 1,000 years ago. There was a fascinating museum in the crypt, which contained such artifacts as an ancient Roman tile floor and William Penn’s baptism record. I also found a wooden barrel that was the crow’s nest used by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his last Antarctic expedition in the ship “Quest.” On the ground floor still stands an arch that dates back to the 2^nd century. However, the greatest memory I shall take from this church was that I lit a candle for my grandmother who recently passed away. Having been in England and feeling that I had not properly grieved, it was a huge weight off of my shoulders and largely satisfying that I could pray for her. She was Catholic and would love to have seen the glorious architecture of All Hallows by The Tower.  

            After my brief reconnection with religion, I made my way back across the Thames. This time I used London Bridge. I went to Borough High Street, where I stumbled upon The George. Here stands another historic pub that was refurbished after the Great Fire. However, in addition to Dickens frequenting the building, Shakespeare seems to have been a regular attendee. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese certainly looked more historic, but I really liked the vibe of The George. The inn was located in a square, a quaint little establishment. I only stopped in for a pint of Aspall’s cider, so I really can’t report on their menu. It was also VERY CHILLY, despite sitting right near a burning fire. Yet, the chill definitely enhanced the old Victorian feel of the pub.
Me in front of Tower Bridge:

All Hallows by the Tower:

Entrance Gate to The George:

Outside view of The George:

This Ain't 8 Mile...

            This post is probably my most epic piece to date, in terms of a unique experience. I attended English rap battles yesterday! I took the Northern Line on the Tube to Chalk Farm and walked down the street to the Fiddler’s Elbow. It was a nicely decorated pub filled with rappers and their fans. In fact, these people have received such a following at this point that they were able to charge me ten pounds to enter! The lights and video cameras were rolling for the website Dontflop.com. Tom and I made it just in time for the first battle. The host of the battle event, named Eurgh, would introduce each opponent and time all three 60-second rounds.

Now, if you’re picturing a scene from Eminem’s movie 8 Mile, think again. The scene was extremely mellow and the vibes were of a friendly competition sort. I was almost certainly the only American. When I congratulated one of the competitors he was impressed, stating, “your accent is sick.” Each rapper had a stage name. Some I heard were Cracker, DeKay, Villun, Quill, Big J, Aukes, Nxt Gen, Lefty, Sniper E, and Midi Intellect. Many an insult was spoken or shouted throughout the pub. I loved the crowd’s reactions to certain bars. I was amazed by the amount of thought that went into writing personal lyrics. Tom also explained to me that a lot of these rappers recycled one another’s lyrics (he heard his own being spit). There was also more uninhibited crowd reaction as the day progressed due to the increase of pints consumed. I heard a man behind me at the bar say, “Oh my god, that’s Einstein. He won’t know who I am but I’m a huge fan.” Einstein is Tom’s rap alter ego, and as he approached me at the bar, this fan bombarded Tom and went on about how much he loved Tom’s material and was happy to be meeting him.

There were several rounds between various rappers. The only female who battled was DeKay, who I spoke with outside at the end of the day. I even filmed her free styling for a few minutes on my phone. The rappers ranged from a garbage man to an English teacher/spoken word poet. Most were musicians for a living. A particularly memorable line for me was, “My second and third round will make the Connecticut murders look like Disneyland.” Another rapper mentioned the CT tragedy for shock effect. It felt weird remembering how sad that day was at a fun event. Many words were lost on me anyway simply because of British accents.

An interesting battle was one that included a grab bag. Each rapper had to pull an item out of a garbage bag that audience members had contributed to and freestyle about the object. The bags included a plastic elephant, play station controller, glasses, a Golf book, a Spiderman action figure, and a phone charger. The final battle was a two-on-two event that came down to a 3-2 judges vote, so a great one to end the day on. I was also lucky to get such a close view on stage because Tom was asked to judge one of the battles. Needless to say, I got some great pictures and video footage of freestyles outside of the pub afterward. Tom is considering battling again in Newcastle if Dontflop.com pays for his travel expenses. That way, it’s a free trip to see his family. I would definitely go to another event, despite the entry and cider expenses of the day. It was Don’t Flop’s first event of 2013 and had been 10 months since they were at the Fiddler’s Elbow. ‘Twas a jolly good show!           

 This is the final 2 on 2 battle:

            Here I am posing with DeKay:

            This is the Grab Bag Battle:
 

            The back wall of the stage (Eurgh is in the white hat):
 

Treadmill, Tavern, Tea

            Today, after I snuck into the student gym with Tom and got my first cardio in of the New Year, we went to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. I was so elated to sit in the historic pub where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, and many other famous literary gentlemen got their fill of ale. The pub, located on Fleet Street, was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666. The stone floor and walls were dingy. This gloom gave the bar a unique old-timey feel that I loved. It was cozy to sit at a small two-person table in the Cellar Pub. And to be honest, for only six quid, I was not upset that my scrumptious steak and ale pie was most likely heated from the fridge. The chips were well cooked and crispy. I even forced down some peas (though I am not a fan). I ordered a pint of organic wheat ale on draught from the Samuel Smith Brewery. The meal was hearty, and reasonably priced for the area I was in.

            Before heading back to the flat, I absolutely had to stop in at the original Twinings teashop. It was a blatant tourist trap. A bit overcrowded, but I enjoyed my free sample of Assam green tea. They have a nice area in the back where all the historic artifacts about the shop are on display. I was obviously too cheap to purchase my own tea, but I captured the proof of my visit using my camera phone. The Strand is a beautiful area stocked with decadent architecture. I always feel like I am walking through the London streets during the Great Victorian era. Thus, I will never take for granted that I was able to study in the heart of the Strand for a semester of college. And now I must bid you adieu, as my body is tired from so much physical exertion in one day. Hopefully I will not regret tomorrow having attended the gym today!   

Wagawhat?

            I just returned home from a meal out at Wagamama. It is a Japanese restaurant and noodle bar that first opened in 1992 off Gower Street in Bloomsbury. Currently, the chain has extended to multiple countries in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. My overall opinion is that the food is great but the atmosphere is…awkward. I begged Tom to come dine with me at the Wagamama on Southbank, right next to the restaurants Giraffe, EAT, and Strada. I remembered the delectable cuisine from when I lived on Stamford Street while I studied abroad at King’s College London. The restaurant was merely a ten-minute walk away. So tonight I waltzed up to the line trailing out the door and happily waited when a server handed me a menu and stated it would be a ten minute wait. Despite those bone-chilling ten minutes (I stupidly forgot my coat), my thirst for ramen was all the more quenched once I warmed up inside. The steaming edemame appetizer with chili and garlic salt was wonderful. My big bowl of chicken ramen and veggies was also worth the £ 8.45 I had to pay. I even splurged on a rich Asahi bottle of beer. My only reservation was the claustrophobic seating arrangement. Seriously, it is as if the restaurant chain wanted to take the annoying, suffocating feeling of an overcrowded Japanese sushi bar and transport it to London in all its glory. Tom and I were sharing benches with a semi-talkative couple to my right and a blind date to my left. I felt a lack of space at the table. Further, the whole restaurant was packed and therefore very loud. I often found myself not talking simply because I did not want to shout across the table over the dull roar of the customers. Ultimately, I had my Japanese food craving filled for this vacation. I will not be returning to Wagamama for the rest of my stay in this city.    

Natural History and Unnatural Queues

           Today I explored the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. But before I get to that, let me explain an anomaly in this country known as brown sauce. The base ingredient is malt vinegar, but the sauce produces a sweet flavoring due to the dates and tomato in it. The consistency is similar to ketchup, but slightly less thick. I was bold enough to try some brown sauce on my sausage and egg breakfast sandwich. It was quite delicious. I enjoy the kick of sweetness, yet lingering spices and sourness of the vinegar. Which reminds me, I recently discovered another condiment known as salad cream. Now, this particular sauce is like mayonnaise’s sweet cousin. It looks deceptively like mayo, but once you taste it, the topping has a more pickled, relish-like taste. Apparently, salad cream also tastes amazing mixed with canned tuna.

Anyway, back to my excursion to the museum. Completely forgetting that many others are on holiday, I did not anticipate the forty-five minute queue I would be forced to stand in. Not only were both entrances backed up; there was a carousel and ice-skating rink directly outside of the building. Thus, all day, between the Natural History Museum and tube lines, I was immersed in a clusterf*ck of tourists. I am sure the free entry added to the area’s appeal. There was so much history to peruse that I was walking around from about 2:30 till closing at 5:30, with many exhibits left unseen. The layout of the museum is comprised of four main zones. The items on display range from replicas to real elements found on this earth. I was able to explore biology, ecology, and geology. In fact, the sections about tectonic plates, rock formations and volcanoes took me right back to my college days of Earth Systems Science lectures. The most popular exhibit, by a long shot, was the dinosaur wing. I saved this for last, so that my interest in the archaeology overpowered my sore feet and back. I also thoroughly enjoyed the “Creepy Crawlies” exhibit. I am simultaneously fascinated and terrified of all bugs, so tackling this display was exhilarating. Despite having to push past multiple strollers and exasperated parents, I had a wonderful outing. Other museums near this one, which I did not have time to visit today, include the Victoria & Albert Museum and Science Museum.   

Happy New Year!

            Another promising year has dawned upon us. As I think about the future that awaits me, I first have to reflect on my past. What an accomplishment 2012 was! I graduated college, received a B.A. in English, spent months creating a forty-page paper that received a “Work of Distinction,” and attended my first Phish concert (an event that was long overdue). I also had the privilege of having saved enough summer earnings to fly to the British Virgin Islands on a memorable spring break with just under 20 of my closest friends. However, this past year was also very unpredictable after my summer ended. I chose to take the summer off, in the sense that I did not actively “job hunt,” and squeezed in one more season waitressing in Rockport, MA. Ironically, after the beach house shut down in October, I was living right back in Weston, reminiscent of my days of acne and college applications. It was then that I realized I had to buckle down and truly throw myself into landing a job.

            Despite tireless efforts, here I am, jobless, at the start of 2013. Sure, I am a bit discouraged, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason. WARNING: The next section of this post WILL contain a slew of clichés. I knew I had to come to London when a few of my job leads fell through. In fact, the most common advice I’ve been given from my older family members is to take advantage of the free time I have. My cousin PJ said to me, “things can get pretty serious pretty quickly.” Therefore, my primary resolution for the New Year will be to live in the present. I do not want to spend my days in anticipation or anxiety about finding an occupation. That is no way to live. In fact, every friend I have seems to hate his or her current job, so I have actually changed my perspective on what it is I want to do. Certainly, at this point, I do not have very specific career aspirations, because I envision myself trying several things before settling into what makes me happy. That is just the kind of person I am. Someone recently told me that life is about trying everything. So that is what I plan to do. I will not knock anything until I try it. Perhaps I will love working in an office setting. Perhaps I will find that being in a job where I travel and I’m working in various locations is more my style. Either way, I will not allow anyone to label me based on the facts I have compiled on an 8” x 11” piece of paper that we call a “resume.” I can figure out on my own what “type” of employee I am. Maybe I’ll decide that I do not want to be an employee and will start my own business. Also, the personality traits I possess currently are due to change as I gain more knowledge about the “real world.” As long as I continue to read What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles, I’m bound to find my general purpose in life, right?

            Last night, before I went out to Camden Town to ring in 2013, I found an old fortune from a Chinese restaurant that read, “Be willing to believe in anything that is good.” I have exactly two weeks left in London. I will begin this year with optimism. Keeping in mind that good things come to those who wait, I will also not take an opportunity merely because it will result in my “doing something.” I would rather spend my days searching for that perfect first internship or job. On my way home from the pub, riding the tube at about 2:00 a.m., I began talking to a kind lady who eagerly shared that her company was offering internships. Now, she did caution that most companies would not offer me work sponsorship as an American, but she still gave me her card. She is the Associate Director of PRCo. I voiced how grateful I was to even receive her opinion about job searching. I value everyone’s opinions. That way, I can satisfactorily prove people wrong when I finally receive a coveted position within a company. Some will doubt me; some will believe I can achieve anything (my parents). At the risk of appearing dramatic, this is the most unpredictable year of my short life thus far. At least I don’t have to join weight watchers (I shed a whopping 20 lbs since last year!) but instead resolve to maintain my healthy exercise and eating habits. I will find a job soon. I can feel it. Until then, I promise to continue writing and finding a style/direction for this blog. I will read more news and novels this year so that I continue to gain knowledge about this wonderful world. I will make mistakes. I will learn from them. I will love unconditionally. I will do what makes me happy. I am scared but ultimately ready for a stupendous year. These butterflies in my stomach are weirdly comforting. Welcoming this year does not make me take my life for granted. My parents, siblings, extended family, and best friends will encourage me to find the best within myself, and for that I am blessed. Bring it on, 2013!