Wrapping up 2010

It's been a while.  My last entry was written in the thick of finals, while working overtime and watching everyone go home for the holidays.  All was not lost, however, because I managed to make some money and still get to see all of my family and some friends - just a little later than the official "everyone gets to head home now" date. 

Christmas was pretty spectacular this year.  Apart from some incredible gift-giving all around (poo-pourri, anyone?), everyone seemed genuinely thrilled to be hanging out together.  Family from both my mom and dad's side managed to show up and we had mashed potatoes from Bob Evans.   How bad is that?

To top if off, we had an awesome Christmas card this year.  The Pub at Polaris seemed like the perfect picture spot.

Merry Christmas, 2010!

Farewell, London! I will miss you...

The inevitable return to the USA happened on 8 May, 2010.  After a drama-free trip from Heathrow to Detroit, I sit here in Whitehouse, Ohio where the air is clear and the fields are vast.  I got out of the car to find myself drunk on fresh, clean air. My nostrils couldn't get enough as they had evidently gotten used to the polluted, smoke-filled air of central London. 

Thus begins the final entry of A Taste of London.  A bit sad, I must admit, as this blogging business has been more fun than I ever imagined. 

Truthfully, I didn't anticipate becoming quite this involved, but it was all due to the incredible experiences I had.  The (almost) unhealthy amount of fun, wonderful memories I've managed to compile and the people I met along the way kept me honest about updating this thing. 

Frantically scribbling everything down started to get fun and I soon found myself writing about EVERYTHING! ...now to think it is already over! 

I've been banging on about "best this" and "best that" over the course of the last four months. Was it really the best experience of my life? If so, why? Do I have any favorite moments? Anything I hated? Loved?

Why did I decide to jump on the study abroad bandwagon?

After several trips abroad in high school, I had always been itching to get back to Europe, albeit for an extended period of time.  The allure of actually calling a place like London home (for at least a few months) was too great to pass up.  

There had to be some things you didn't particularly enjoy...What were they?

I intended to meet as many non-American students as possible during my time abroad.  It soon became apparent, after I got settled, that it was going to be incredibly difficult to tap into the affluent, pretentious and frankly, entitled Saudi royalty, billionaire Greek shipping tycoon and Swiss private equity manager set.  

Never have I seen so much designer clothing, such unmotivated, snobby, disrespectful, chain-smoking, rude people in my life.  It was all pretty disheartening at first, but it quickly became clear that it didn't matter as I had already met some amazing American friends.

Even though I had heard stories about the European Business School students prior to landing in London, seeing them in person was extraordinary.  The girls actually put on a designer fashion show every single day, they actually drove Ferraris, Bentleys and Lamborghinis to school and they really were completely rude all the time.

Nevertheless, it didn't matter.  Everything else was so fantastic, the fantasy of making friends with someone and having them take a few of us to their house in the south of France for spring break faded very quickly.

--------

Exchange rate, exchange rate, exchange rate.  London, as one of the world's most expensive cities, is already jaw-droppingly pricey.  This well-known fact, coupled with the weak US Dollar meant checking my bank account became a truly terrifying experience.  The money just kept disappearing at such an alarming rate it started to become a legitimate problem about 2/3 of the way through the semester.  

Moral of the story: bring at least (probably more) twice as much money as you think you will need.  Between trying to feed yourself, going out to pubs, buying random souvenirs and taking weekend trips, you will be shocked at how fast the numbers drop in your bank account.  

Favorite weekend excursion?

Wales proved to be my favorite trip of the semester.  The beauty of the Welsh coastline will never fade in my mind.  From my pony, Bottom, to the endless coastline, hills, rock faces, ruins, beaches and pristine views of the water, to the infamous Maddock's restaurant; nothing beats it for a quick weekend holiday.   

Favorite spring break memory?

Everything we did on spring break was epic.  Considering all of the researching, planning and confirming that went into that week, it would be easy to say the whole thing was glorious.  

However, after safely arriving in Florence, and getting a chance to wrap my mind around just how many things that could have gone wrong between Lausanne and Florence, my favorite memory has to be driving through the Alps, Genoa, nearly getting hit by dozens of Vespas and all the good times Bri, Rainey, Zach and I had on that eleven hour journey.  We made it alive, didn't want to kill each other after eleven hours and went on to celebrate with lots of pizza and wine.  What a good day!

What food will you miss most?

Anything from Borough Market: Malaysian Curry, samples of the balsamic vinegar that had been aged for 323023092 years, cinnamon almonds and the crazy-good desserts that seemed to be everywhere. Most of all, the sheer enthusiasm all those foodies brought to the market every weekend...

Considering all the time I've spent in/around "Little Lebanon" these past few months, I have eaten an embarrassingly small amount of Lebanese/Indian/Iraqi/Kurdish food.  That said, I can recommend Maroush for some good Lebanese.  Having ordered takeaway lunch there a few times, it is straight-forward and pretty good value for money.  If you don't fancy heading to the heart of "Little Lebanon" to get your falafel fix (which I highly recommend), rest assured, there are a bunch of them scattered around central London.

The Natural Kitchen is a good option if you are looking for gourmet-type food, but still want the convenience of takeaway.  It tries (and pretty much succeeds) to be an upscale "Purveyor of Fine Foods,"  but if you can get passed the pretentious exterior, you won't be disappointed.  It's located right off Old Marylebone road in a nice area with loads of restaurants, cafes, sidewalks wide enough to pass someone without getting flattened (Italy take note) and a typical assortment of soccer mom stores (designer baby clothing, over-priced towels, blah blah).  Needless to say the area isn't good for much unless you plan to eat or take a walk, however, given its close proximity to Regent's Park, it's a great place to pickup some food for a picnic.

Pret A Manger is by-far my favorite fast food restaurant in London.  I say fast food because it is actually more ubiquitous than McDonald's, just as quick and if you get the right sandwich, about the same money.  Think Panera quality, faster than Taco Bell and always-changing, fresh sandwiches.  I'm a fan. The concept is genius: Walk in, pick out your sandwich from the fridge, add some crisps/cookies/drink and pay. No custom orders, that would take time.  It's simple, inexpensive and satisfying.

So you went to school in a Royal Park?

Regent's Park is really something special.  It isn't everyday you can say you go to university in a Royal Park.  Now that the flowers have started to bloom and the ivy on the Tuke Building is starting to come out, it is nicer than ever.  I pity anyone with allergies as we are quite literally dropped right into a garden, surrounded by more flowers than one can wrap their head around, grass that most golf courses would envy and enough people at any given time that you will (almost) want to leave. 

The Barbican, eh?

The Barbican is one of the biggest concert venues in London.  It hosts everything from musical theatre productions, to lectures on UK foreign policy, to the London Symphony.  Near Victoria Park, its central location means that it is no more than 20-30 minutes from Regent's, Edgware Road or Westminster Abbey.  I've been fortunate enough to see the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra on several occasions and they are all worth seeing.   

 

I will miss____:

Chicken curry, all of my amazing London friends, gorgeous accents, beautiful people, pubs, random bottles of red wine, Thursday nights, London Symphony Orchestra, the Tube, Barbican Hall, seeing Keira Knightley, Regent's Park, The Natural Kitchen, London Euphoria, long runs along the Thames, Yellow Tail, constant laughter, Pret, the endless Swiss/Italian hills of spring break, Borough Market, the Refectory/Brasserie, parties in the penthouse, our multi-million pound view of the London Eye, coffee from dose espresso, Westminster Abbey, Wagamama, getting groceries at Waitrose, The Breakfast Club, "Ready to Eat" Waitrose meals, Oyster Cards, Trafalgar Square, Evening Standard Crosswords (thanks, Bri), St. Martin-in-the-Fields + the Crypt, endless world-class museums, and so much more!

I will not miss____:

The constant haze of cigarette smoke on the streets, the smell of the pedestrian subway under Marylebone Road, road works, EBS students, checking my bank account and seeing that the 40.00 Pounds I withdrew actually was closer to 60.00 USD, constantly having to top-up my Oyster Card and broken everything at the Landward

--------------

During the last week, after my finals ended in an unspectacular fashion, I managed to wrap up the semester by crossing off the last items on my to-do list before we departed. 

I was fortunate to snap the requisite Abbey Road photo, check out the Imperial War Museum, ride the London Eye one last time, have a drink at the Absolute Icebar London, take a day trip to Brighton (on the coast of the UK), make a quick visit to Oxford, ride roller coasters at Thorpe Park, walk around the Victoria and Albert Museum, blaze through the Natural History Museum in fifteen minutes and soak up the last hours of my time with a comprehensive walk around the city. 

6 Steps for Study Abroad Success:

- Embrace the food, the people and the language (seems obvious, but you've gotta work at it)

- Things are not weird, they are just different!

- Keep an open mind and always try new things

- Stay busy (go explore!!!)

- Keep the calls home to a minimum (at least until you get settled)

And most importantly...

- Enjoy it and soak up every second!!! It will be over before you know it!!!!!

Easter Sunday

Since this was the first time I had spent Easter Sunday away from home, I thought it would be fun to do a Toledo/London comparison.

Toledo:

Usually my family gets up, heads to St. Tim's for Easter service and then we find ourselves at my grandma Carol's house by early afternoon.  Loads of food (always too much), my aunts Beth and Joanne, uncle Dennis and cousins Lauren and Ellie are always there.  It's always really informal which is awesome and my mom and grandma always whip up some incredible cheese potatoes and deviled eggs.  By far the two greatest holiday dishes ever created.  On the other side of the family, my grandma Hilda has made dinner in the past which is equally delicious!

 The infamous cheese potatoes (and deviled eggs)

London:

I woke, threw some clothes on, headed to St. Martin-in-the-fields for Easter service, wandered back to the flat, had an awkward brunch of peanut butter/jelly on a (toasted) waffle, Waitrose cheese and tomato pizza and a glass of orange juice. Later my "Easter dinner" consisted of a delicious chicken tikka masala "tv dinner."

Contrast much?

Easter dinner

My flatmates Dave and Zach were off exploring Ireland on a "Patty Wagon" bus tour, Matt was also in Ireland, but to visit his girlfriend and Nick was stuck with me in the flat.

After church and brunch, it became clear just how exhausted I was from the incessant traveling over the past month.  With school work starting to pile up and finals just around the corner, I was glad we returned from Paris on Saturday evening.  

It was definitely the most relaxing Easter I've ever had. The hours flew by as I sat in the flat snacking, watching TV and just laying around.

Looking Back

It might seem like I'm belaboring the fact that this trip has been life-changing, but truthfully, every time I look back to see where I was some nine weeks ago, it's shocking.

Our program director, Lee, said that 20% of the study abroad experience would be in the class room while 80% would be outside soaking up the culture.  This couldn't be more true.  The classes, although I am learning a lot (especially in my management class), are almost (but not really) a formality.  So much of what I have learned, absorbed and been exposed to has been purely because of my willingness to walk around and throw myself into situations. 

In my first reflection, many weeks ago, I mentioned how we shouldn't be worried about our mediocre living conditions, broken toilets or terrible disorganization at Regent's.  We're college students and it shouldn't matter that our wireless is terribly slow, unreliable and limits us to 2000 minutes a week. 

I was thinking the other day about my ability to adapt to changing situations and new living conditions. New flat mates, surroundings, classes, all of it has shown me that if you're willing to let yourself go and jump into new circumstances, it all eventually becomes "normal or commonplace." A small, cramped, gross bathroom becomes pretty decent if you live with it long enough and a small, purple bedroom doesn't even phase you after a month. 

Another struggle I had was wrapping my mind around the fact that people in the UK drive on the left side of the road.  Although at every crosswalk they write "Look Left" or "Look Right" in bold white letters, it was until I stopped thinking it was weird and eventually just accepted it that I got used to looking the correct direction.

Obviously none of this is unique to study abroad, college students or any one demographic, it's just something I've realized within myself since being here.  As humans, especially college students, we need very little to survive.  These are some of the greatest years of our lives because we can afford to live and thrive on next-to-nothing. 

Looking onward to my remaining time in London, it promises to bring many more great memories and good laughs.

This month of March certainly has been "madness," but not in the American sense.  With little time to regroup and wash clothes from spring break, we are off to Edinburgh for the weekend. The trip is organized by Regent's, so it will be wonderful to go with the flow and have nothing to worry about.  I can't wait to get a taste of Scotland and travel with a big group.

After Scotland, I will be in Paris over Easter and then things settle down dramatically.  Our last month in London will entail some site-seeing: Imperial War Rooms, Tower of London, Harrods and much more.

Also, look for a review of the chicken curry from Brick Lane soon..

Cheers!

A Reflection

There is something about living in London that just makes me smile. Every time I attempt to chronicle my daily life here, I find it increasingly impossible to wipe that silly expression off my face.

Living in such a cosmopolitan city where on any given tube ride you could hear 3-4 different languages is brilliant (Think Montreal, Mom and Dad).

Before I left, a lot of people (after I told them I would be studying in London) said "Oh, that's great, you won't have a problem adjusting..It's just like America!!" The truth? It couldn't be more different. The common language (English) in itself is so different, only vague comparisons can be made. The subtleties of day-to-day life and the fact that we live in "Little Lebanon"(Thanks Bri)make each day feel special. There are so many cultures packed into central London, it is crazy to generalize it as "Just like America."

If I sounded a little depressed that my classes are full of Yanks in the last post, pshh those are just classes. The real experiences are outside the classroom.

I love to compare my current stay in London to the trip I made back in 2004 with Roger, Ms. Roshong, ISCA, and everyone from MV. Back then, I was so much more naive. The personal growth I have witnessed in myself has been incredible. I am truly thankful to have the most wonderful parents in the world. Parents that cared enough to give me opportunities to travel outside my comfort zone and really figure out who I am. One percent of American university students take the opportunity to study in a foreign country. ONE PERCENT! What a statistic.

So if I am ever sounding a bit ungrateful (complaining about the mediocre living conditions, terrible organization at Regent's, or about the combination washer/dryer in the flat), take it all with a grain of salt. Those things, to me at least, are what make being a poor college student so great. Not everything is going to be perfect, there will be annoyances, differences, things we absolutely cannot stand, but when it all boils down to it, those are the things we will remember. If life was perfect, we would have nothing to remember.

a rather anticlimactic arrival..

My arrival in London was rather anticlimactic. Our program director, Lee, had warned us that "London Heathrow is the biggest and scariest airport in the world. It will take at LEAST 45 - 60 minutes to get through customs."

We got off the half-empty plane fighting polar-opposite emotions. Our uncontainable excitement/smiles/laughter was in stark contrast to the undeniable need to sleep, eat and just veg out. As we deplaned, we made the (what seemed like) two mile walk to the baggage claim, found out bags far quicker than anyone ever has (I'm convinced) in the history of international air travel and walked to customs.

When we arrived at the customs gate, we were greeted, not by a line stretching from there to Piccadilly Circus, but one that was merely a dozen people, give or take a few.

The lady at the counter had the most intoxicating British accent I had ever heard, and so it was a slight disappointment when she ONLY asked me what my business was in the UK. To which I said "Study Abroad".....stamp...stamp.. "OK, have a nice stay." Nope, she didn't ask how long I would be here, where I was studying, if I had my papers (which I was all-too prepared to hand over). In retrospect a good thing? Probably, but that accent....

After getting our bags and finding the correct driver, we embarked on the 45 minute journey to Regent's College in the heart of Regent's Park. In the absence of rain, we were able to enjoy the slight hint of pollution, traffic that would put L.A. to shame, and some of the best-looking German cars on sale today. London is a car enthusiasts heaven and the student lot at Regent's could easily be mistaken for an exotic car dealership.

Much, much more soon!

Cheers!!

Flying Time and Packing....Stressful? nahh....

It has been a few days since I published the semi-awkward-don't-really-know-what-to-say initial post.

I'm not going to say my state of euphoria is waning, I just think I'm reaching the point of "Let's get the show on the road, folks." By this point in the week, most everyone has returned to their respective universities and the daily grind of "college life" has returned in a rather brash fashion.

It might just be me, but I feel like I am still trying to comprehend why I am not still sitting in accounting, having incredible discussions in Katchen's UC200H class and living life in an awkwardly-designed dorm room choked full of an unhealthy amount of London paraphernalia. Where did the last semester go?!?

That's not to say I miss it, because it was getting rather dull going through the same routine over and over (despite having a penchant for a routine lifestyle).

Where is this post going, you say? In truth, I sit here at 11:11 AM (make a wish!) with a whole lot of nothing to do. I say that whilst sitting on 3/4 of the clothes I own, albeit clean ones, that wait patiently to be chucked in a suitcase and shipped across the blue pond.

Ahhh, packing....The bane of my existence. It really is something that, no matter how many times I check, recheck and use OCD folding techniques; forgetting a pair of socks, toothpaste or that infamous belt is inevitable. I made an executive decision when I returned home from Capital to abstain from the art of "putting clothes away."

It would be utterly pointless to put ANY of those pesky garments into drawers due to the fact I would be packing them back up in no time at all.

This decision has proven to be good and bad. Good because the time and (little) effort it takes to fold and insert into their respective drawers is put to better use by doing (nothing). Bad because my already warm down comforter is now as warm as a North Face Inferno Sleeping bag. All of this means I get quite toasty underneath that thick layer of cotton and polyester. We all know how lovely it is waking up coated in a thin layer of slimy sweat. mmm mmmm good!

So packing...Despite the never-ending "put your clothes away" command by the parental units, the clothes are going to have to wait another 5ish days to be folded and packed away.

That's all for now.

Cheers!

The Final Countdown

Invariably when you tell someone you are studying abroad, they will follow up with "Oh, really? Where are you going?"

They secretly hope it will be a far-off, uber-exotic destination like Bali, Djibouti, or Antarctica. The disappointment on their face is evident when you simply say "London." Why London, you ask? There are truly many reasons why I settled on Big Ben's home: Keira Knightley, Keira Knightley, and well, Keira Knightley. In actuality, it all fell into place relatively easily. The location, diversity, and the English-speaking nature of the city all helped the decision-making process.

As of January 21, 2010, I will be living, studying, and most importantly eating in London. This blog will hopefully showcase the bulk of my travels, good times, bad times, and some of the incredible eats I am bound to stumble upon during inevitable epicurean adventures.

Studying will take place at Regent's American College London. It is in the heart of Regent's Park (Central London). My roommate Zach and I will be staying in off campus flats about 10ish minutes from campus. The Anglophile inside me couldn't be more ecstatic. The copious amounts of paperwork, endless anticipation, and undeniable pressure to actually follow through with my grand plans after telling everyone what I wanted to do has evaporated. What a relief!

I will definitely miss my family and friends, but there is no doubt in my mind that this will be an experience of a lifetime. Hopefully this blog will enable me to share some of it with all of you!

Cheers!