Look at me...a new post within a day. I know. I am impressive. Seriously.
Speaking of seriously, I hope you are all keeping up on Grey's Anatomy. I have been watching it on itunes with my flat mates. Its just so good. Its like sex. Only better. Okay, not better, but still very very good. And hot.
Okay, but the point of this blog was to tell you all about my adventures in an East London grocery store. It was rather embarrassing but oh so funny.
I had to go grocery shopping, again. I have been spending so much money lately that I decided to go to LiDL. Its a German store, I believe, that sells food pretty cheap. Its kind of a "quantity" type of store. Not so much "quality." haha. yeah. So I venture on down to the part of East London where it is. If you are not familiar, East London is not exactly high end type areas. You wouldn't expect rich ladies out shopping or couples strolling down the park with coffee. Its more like, crazy women buying crack from the three-legged man with his cat-dog hybrid and couples prostituting together to make a decent income. But, no bother. I dont mind. I grew up in Aurora so its practically the same. So, I made it alive to the store.
I pick out my items. Some of the stuff was a little sketch, but it was so cheap that I risked it. haha. I even got some noodle mixes that are in german. So, I don't know how to read them but it will be fun.
I proceed to check-out. Big line. Lots of people. My total is like 17 quid. Roughly $35. I put my card in. Error. Okay, no worries. I have two cards! I come prepared. Error. "Um, sorry, we don't accept those kinds of cards...you will have to pay with cash." So, inside I freak out. I tell her I dont have that much, only like 10 quid. I ask if I can go put some stuff back but she says no, I can't go back in. So she motions the security guard to come and assist us. She helps the next customer while the security guard "helps" me count my money. Out loud none the less. "See, you have 5 more pounds. No, you are counting wrong, thats worth 20p." It was bad. Everyone was looking at me and inside I just wanted to curl into a little ball, eat a reeses peanut butter cup, and watch heroes. But, I couldn't.
So...he has me cut back in line and we recheck everything. But it was funny because we were taking stuff from my basket, having her check it out, and then putting it back in the basket. It all got mixed up. Oy...but I think they were so tired of me that they didn't care and they let me go...just short of some sandwich meat and orange juice.
I took a bus home. There were so many people and they wouldn't let me get off at my stop. People suck sometimes. But then again, it makes life funny and gives me something to laugh about when its all said and done. So, I opened up my package of chocolate chip cookies and walked home. Proud to be an American in East London, looking like a fool, giving the locals something to chuckle at. Classic.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
SO....apologies for not staying up to date with this blog. I was planning to be much better at it and then I just started having too much fun. Okay...so, over the homesickness. LOL. I should know that I always freak out with big changes and just relax, but oh well. London is AMAZING. I am having an awesome time...school is school, I mean, its not like Im thrilled to be studying about polyploids and membrane systems, but whatever.
I have living by the philosophy "how often are you in London?" and its been great. Sure I am going to be broke when I return, but oh well.
Okay...so whats been happening you ask? Well. I have been doing a lot around London. Going to the Natural History Museum, the Tate, checking out all the parks. I have been trying to see a lot of shows....I think we are up to 4 now....not too bad. Saw "Rent:Remixed" the other night...haha..it was horrible. But funny to watch.
So...the big excitement...this weekend I went with my study abroad group to Ireland! We went to this small coastal town called Dingle. It was BEAUTIFUL. Like nothing I could have ever imagined. It was fun getting to meet some other study abroad students, though, after three days with all Americans, I was reminded why I chose to study abroad in the first place. Haha...that was bad. But anyways, it was great. The first day was just a lot of travel and having a great dinner. But, on the second day, we went on a 7 mile hike right through the country side. It was fantastic. Literally, we were just walking through pastures with sheep, cows, lots of mud and poop =). We even had to all clear to one side of the road at one point in order for the line of cows to pass while the dogs herded them down the road. Not something I think I have ever seen, except for maybe in the movie "Babe." Yeah, it was kind of like "Babe." Only cooler because I was there...so yeah....it was like the study abroad character in "Babe."
After that we had fish and chips. I had yet to have them...but they are delicious. Then we went out horseback riding. I should be much better, seeing the amount I have ridden, but I think I broke something. Kidding. It was a really beautiful ride up the side of this mountain that gave us a great look at the entire town and valley. That night we went out to the pubs to watch some rugby...had my very first Guinness. I thought it fitting to wait till Ireland for that one.
Finally, on Sunday, we took a boat tour of the harbor and met Dingle's famous dolphin. He just swam right up to the boat...gave us all a good look...and then we proceeded just out of the bay for a little bit. The cliffs and the countryside are really just breathtaking. I don't think I have really seen anything like it. And now I am back at school...working away...making my parents proud. LOL.
But yes, I am having a great time. If there is one thing I have learned it is how BIG the world truly is. Yes, obvious. But sometimes I got lost in my little Colorado world and forgot just how much else is going on. I am amazed by the diversity on this Earth. Its mind boggling at times. I am loving seeing all the new landscapes and meeting all the new people. It is truly a blessing. Missing you all back at home. Pictures tonight...and I will be better at updating. My sincere apologies. ;-)
I have living by the philosophy "how often are you in London?" and its been great. Sure I am going to be broke when I return, but oh well.
Okay...so whats been happening you ask? Well. I have been doing a lot around London. Going to the Natural History Museum, the Tate, checking out all the parks. I have been trying to see a lot of shows....I think we are up to 4 now....not too bad. Saw "Rent:Remixed" the other night...haha..it was horrible. But funny to watch.
So...the big excitement...this weekend I went with my study abroad group to Ireland! We went to this small coastal town called Dingle. It was BEAUTIFUL. Like nothing I could have ever imagined. It was fun getting to meet some other study abroad students, though, after three days with all Americans, I was reminded why I chose to study abroad in the first place. Haha...that was bad. But anyways, it was great. The first day was just a lot of travel and having a great dinner. But, on the second day, we went on a 7 mile hike right through the country side. It was fantastic. Literally, we were just walking through pastures with sheep, cows, lots of mud and poop =). We even had to all clear to one side of the road at one point in order for the line of cows to pass while the dogs herded them down the road. Not something I think I have ever seen, except for maybe in the movie "Babe." Yeah, it was kind of like "Babe." Only cooler because I was there...so yeah....it was like the study abroad character in "Babe."
After that we had fish and chips. I had yet to have them...but they are delicious. Then we went out horseback riding. I should be much better, seeing the amount I have ridden, but I think I broke something. Kidding. It was a really beautiful ride up the side of this mountain that gave us a great look at the entire town and valley. That night we went out to the pubs to watch some rugby...had my very first Guinness. I thought it fitting to wait till Ireland for that one.
Finally, on Sunday, we took a boat tour of the harbor and met Dingle's famous dolphin. He just swam right up to the boat...gave us all a good look...and then we proceeded just out of the bay for a little bit. The cliffs and the countryside are really just breathtaking. I don't think I have really seen anything like it. And now I am back at school...working away...making my parents proud. LOL.
But yes, I am having a great time. If there is one thing I have learned it is how BIG the world truly is. Yes, obvious. But sometimes I got lost in my little Colorado world and forgot just how much else is going on. I am amazed by the diversity on this Earth. Its mind boggling at times. I am loving seeing all the new landscapes and meeting all the new people. It is truly a blessing. Missing you all back at home. Pictures tonight...and I will be better at updating. My sincere apologies. ;-)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Okay, okay...seeing as how my last few blogs have been a little negative, I figured I should write and let you know that I am okay, my world didn't explode, life is still moving.
But seriously, things are getting better. I am settling in and starting to realize that I am in LONDON! I have been running everyday which has helped me keep in check. I have also been doing some exploring on my own and with my flat mates. I went and checked out Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus (mini Times Square) and the West End. London is very beautiful. East London, where I am, is a little sketch...definitely restrict my runs to day time. haha. But it is going better and I appreciate all the support and love from everyone at home.
There is one thing I have been noticing that I would like to share with everyone. My school here is extremely diverse. There is not minority or majority...its just students...from everywhere. It probably is one of the most diverse places I have ever been for an extended period of time. Maybe I am just ignorant, or maybe I just never took the time to really consider it, but it amazes me how similar people can be. Sure, there are so many differences. Differences that are very obvious...physically, dress, morals, values, customs, traditions, language, food (the list could go on forever)...but there is something fundamentally the same about everyone. There is this "thing," this piece of everyone that links us. Does this make sense at all? I mean, it seems so obvious, we are all humans after all, but how many of you have really thought about it? As different as I am from, say, and Iraqi or a Japanese person, there is something inside all of us that we each would understand about the other. There don't have to be words. But I am saying that there is this feeling, this state of mind, this basic instinct maybe that we all share and we all can see within one another. Its something that we share with our friends and our families.
Maybe I am just rambling and not making sense...its harder than I thought. I am just saying, I think we look at people too often as foreigners, or different from us. Different types of humans, of people. Separated and maybe only being connected because we speak languages or have the same human characteristics...but I think we are all more alike than we care to admit. We don't take the time to look at it...we don't take the time to realize we all feel. Again, maybe you all have thought about this before and I am just lagging behind, but its has just been all that more apparent to me. Queen Mary is full of every race, color, nationality. And yet within each, you can find the kid who is homesick, who misses their boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or dog. You can find within each the person who wants nothing more than to make this world a better place. You can find within each group the person who will go out of their way to help someone, to lend them a hand. You can find that person within each group because our groups are not as defining as we make them...we ARE all humans. We really are.
Maybe if our leaders stopped to consider that...things wouldn't be so scary in this world. Not just one...all of them. I hope and pray they do.
Okay, enough of this....just want you all to know I am learning. Im not just over in England partying...haha. =)
But seriously, things are getting better. I am settling in and starting to realize that I am in LONDON! I have been running everyday which has helped me keep in check. I have also been doing some exploring on my own and with my flat mates. I went and checked out Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus (mini Times Square) and the West End. London is very beautiful. East London, where I am, is a little sketch...definitely restrict my runs to day time. haha. But it is going better and I appreciate all the support and love from everyone at home.
There is one thing I have been noticing that I would like to share with everyone. My school here is extremely diverse. There is not minority or majority...its just students...from everywhere. It probably is one of the most diverse places I have ever been for an extended period of time. Maybe I am just ignorant, or maybe I just never took the time to really consider it, but it amazes me how similar people can be. Sure, there are so many differences. Differences that are very obvious...physically, dress, morals, values, customs, traditions, language, food (the list could go on forever)...but there is something fundamentally the same about everyone. There is this "thing," this piece of everyone that links us. Does this make sense at all? I mean, it seems so obvious, we are all humans after all, but how many of you have really thought about it? As different as I am from, say, and Iraqi or a Japanese person, there is something inside all of us that we each would understand about the other. There don't have to be words. But I am saying that there is this feeling, this state of mind, this basic instinct maybe that we all share and we all can see within one another. Its something that we share with our friends and our families.
Maybe I am just rambling and not making sense...its harder than I thought. I am just saying, I think we look at people too often as foreigners, or different from us. Different types of humans, of people. Separated and maybe only being connected because we speak languages or have the same human characteristics...but I think we are all more alike than we care to admit. We don't take the time to look at it...we don't take the time to realize we all feel. Again, maybe you all have thought about this before and I am just lagging behind, but its has just been all that more apparent to me. Queen Mary is full of every race, color, nationality. And yet within each, you can find the kid who is homesick, who misses their boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, or dog. You can find within each the person who wants nothing more than to make this world a better place. You can find within each group the person who will go out of their way to help someone, to lend them a hand. You can find that person within each group because our groups are not as defining as we make them...we ARE all humans. We really are.
Maybe if our leaders stopped to consider that...things wouldn't be so scary in this world. Not just one...all of them. I hope and pray they do.
Okay, enough of this....just want you all to know I am learning. Im not just over in England partying...haha. =)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
aRghhhghhh!
Ever feel like you have made the biggest mistake of your life? Yeah, that is my life in a nutshell. Its ridiculous. I know that the whole culture shock and adjusting takes time...but no one ever warned me about how much it really does suck.
And can I vent about the education system here? My god...its like I walked in a time machine. For being a prominent university in the city of London...I would have expected a lot more. Hardly anything is done by computers. It is all paperwork and long lines. For everyone who has been so mad about computer systems and registering online, reconsider. I know it can be stressful, but there is nothing like this. After I enrolled I had to sign up for classes. Basically, they put us in a room with all the departments and it was a free-for-all. They had hand written lists of classes that were available or not and they checked them off as they went. So chaotic, unorganized, and all together frustrating.
I hope that things start to improve. I feel sick to my stomach all the time because I am homesick. The only highlights of my day are in the evening when I get to talk to those few people from back home who are keeping me going....and bed. I am in love with sleep. I don't have to stress, I don't have to be afraid, I don't have to cry...I can just...sleep.
I miss you all so much. My heart breaks every day because you are all not here. I have strangers...and thats probably one of the loneliest places to be. I have to keep reminding myself that this is more like a vacation than living somewhere. Its temporary. I am coming home in no time so I need to enjoy this. I need to try.
Going through things like this make me think a lot about life. Its amazing how fast life goes when you are with friends, having a blast with family, or in love. And its cruel how horribly slow life becomes when that is all taken away.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. Thats just where I am at right now.
love
matt
And can I vent about the education system here? My god...its like I walked in a time machine. For being a prominent university in the city of London...I would have expected a lot more. Hardly anything is done by computers. It is all paperwork and long lines. For everyone who has been so mad about computer systems and registering online, reconsider. I know it can be stressful, but there is nothing like this. After I enrolled I had to sign up for classes. Basically, they put us in a room with all the departments and it was a free-for-all. They had hand written lists of classes that were available or not and they checked them off as they went. So chaotic, unorganized, and all together frustrating.
I hope that things start to improve. I feel sick to my stomach all the time because I am homesick. The only highlights of my day are in the evening when I get to talk to those few people from back home who are keeping me going....and bed. I am in love with sleep. I don't have to stress, I don't have to be afraid, I don't have to cry...I can just...sleep.
I miss you all so much. My heart breaks every day because you are all not here. I have strangers...and thats probably one of the loneliest places to be. I have to keep reminding myself that this is more like a vacation than living somewhere. Its temporary. I am coming home in no time so I need to enjoy this. I need to try.
Going through things like this make me think a lot about life. Its amazing how fast life goes when you are with friends, having a blast with family, or in love. And its cruel how horribly slow life becomes when that is all taken away.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. Thats just where I am at right now.
love
matt
Monday, September 17, 2007
Greetings everyone!
Well...I am officially in London now. I arrived about 2 1/2 days ago. Things have been...well...interesting. As you all know...I am a big baby so it has taken some adjustment getting used to everything. I am still working on it but it is slowly getting better.
The first day we took a tour of London by bus and boat. It was really cool...though being jet lagged did not really help with the whole "memory" of the trip. But I am sure I will do much of that when my family arrives.
My flat mates are wonderful. Truly. Could not ask for a better bunch of people. There are 2 other guys and 3 girls. 1 other American and 1 Irishman and the rest from England. It is great. I start classes in a week.
I miss everyone so much. I cant even explain it. But thats okay...Day by day...thats the only way to do it. I cannot wait to fill you in on more details..please stay tuned. miss you c.
love
matt
Well...I am officially in London now. I arrived about 2 1/2 days ago. Things have been...well...interesting. As you all know...I am a big baby so it has taken some adjustment getting used to everything. I am still working on it but it is slowly getting better.
The first day we took a tour of London by bus and boat. It was really cool...though being jet lagged did not really help with the whole "memory" of the trip. But I am sure I will do much of that when my family arrives.
My flat mates are wonderful. Truly. Could not ask for a better bunch of people. There are 2 other guys and 3 girls. 1 other American and 1 Irishman and the rest from England. It is great. I start classes in a week.
I miss everyone so much. I cant even explain it. But thats okay...Day by day...thats the only way to do it. I cannot wait to fill you in on more details..please stay tuned. miss you c.
love
matt
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