A Typical Day in London?
Sorry for not blogging more often! End of term is quickly approaching and I have three papers due in the next 10 days. EEK
On that note….Jess and I decided to head to the British Library to get some work done. We got into the tube station and ran to catch the train at Warren Street. We soon realized that the train was not moving and people in our car were slowly moving toward the other end of the carriage. Just as we are about to leap to steal their seats we noticed an unattended backpack. Now in London this is a big deal. Unattended baggage is a no-go, if you remember the London Tube Bombings on 7/7/05. Sooo one man yanks the emergency break and the doors quickly shut. We then have to stand in the car for about 3 minutes while everyone stares intently at the bag. London’s solution to a terrorist threat? Containment. I guess this makes sense but when you are actually in the container, you get a bit pissed. Finally the doors opened up and they evacuated the train. False alarm, but this is the second time this has happened to me in a week! The first time it happened I heard a Tube worker say, “You know they found another unattended bag on the Northern Line. A single bag is one thing, but two is something to worry about.” Lovely. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re 3 stories below street level.
After finding a new route, Jess and I finally got to the British Library. I needed some books for a research paper so I went to become a “Registered Reader.” This was tougher than going through immigration. Let me just explain the process: I had to queue for about 20 minutes before getting up to reception. At reception I needed to provide 3 different forms of identification, the books I was looking for, and a reason for needing them. Once clearing this station I had to go to a computer to look up the shelving numbers for the books. Then once my number was called I was interviewed about my purpose. I wanted to shout back “IS IT REALLY THIS DIFFICULT TO FIND BOOKS FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PAPER?” Then I was told that my books would take about an hour to be retrieved by a librarian (because god forbid you get them yourself) and one of my books would have to be ordered from Yorkshire. I also had to get a photo ID card. My picture basically says it all - “You’re kidding me, right?” Then the interviewer outlined some basic rules of the library: You must carry your ID with you at all times. No jackets, bags, pens, highlighters, food or drink of any kind are allowed in the reading rooms. If you must you may bring a pencil, but in a clear plastic bag. You also must have “book wedges” provided by the library because most of the texts do not open more than 120 degrees. There are also different wedges for different kinds of books. Then the man smiled at me and said, “Welcome to the British Library.”
This was so stereotypically English. Bureaucratic processes with absurd rules. Erg. Well, at least I am officially a member of the British Library.
“Eat in or take away, love?”
Let’s just do a quick break down of English lunch time.
Food: Expensive, but really what isn’t. It’s actually really interesting to stand out of Tottenham Court Road (one block from me) at 12:59 PM. Because come 1 o’clock, that busy street becomes like a beehive on steroids. Lunch time here is so interesting. There is little to no seating in these places, so “take away” is a must. There are at least 2 dozen places within two blocks of my flat that are only open during lunch time. To name a few of the British favourites:
- Itsu: Japanese noodles, sushi, and the best frozen yogurt. Ooo and they have rice cakes dipped in chocolate. I go when I want to feel healthy, though I usually end up eating one too many rice cakes. Or just scrapping the chococate off the top. Average meal price: £6
- Pret a Manger: Rumor has it they’re opening one up in NY! The brits really know how to do sandwiches. Taste like your momma made them and then cut diagonally the way you like. My personal favorite: their brie and cranberry sandwich with rocket (basically lettuce) and pine nuts. Average sandwich: £3.50
- Cafe Fresco: Like many lunch places around me, this little cafe is family owned and DELICIOUS. They talk in rapid Italian while making some of the best sandwiches known to man. Jess swears by it. Her favourite? The Mona Lisa, a masterpiece made with bread. I think it’s something like chicken and bacon with a spicy sauce. Average sandwich: £4
- Italian Coffee Co: A favorite among UCL students and locals alike. They make huge ooey gooey personal pizzas for cheap! AND you get a free croissant with your coffee before noon! Probably the only place I’ve seen the word free. This place is always packed to capacity with students, businessmen, and Italians. Just from looking in the window, you know it has to be good. Average pizza: £4
Entire food guide books could be written about my little neighborhood. I got so lucky. However there ARE some food issues I would like to raise with Parliament:
-Why is it necessary to put copious amounts of mayo on everything?? Don’t get me wrong I love mayo, but when it’s soaking through bread and on every sandwich at Pret, I get a little annoyed.
-I hate “rocket.” Sure, the letture part is good, but it also includes a hella lot of arugula. And sometimes cilantro and basil. That much green never made anyone happy.
-Probably the food item that bothers me most: BRITISH BACON. It’s floppy and fatty. Bacon should be crisp. And greasy. BLTs will never be made like Mom’s.
Typical English breakfast!
Too late?
Ok so I know that most people who went abroad started blogging a long time ago. Frankly the idea intimidated me a little. But under the pressure of some friends, (ahem, EB), I have given in to the world wide craze of expressing myself on a the vast internet.
I am about 3 months into my year abroad in London so perhaps this blog will be less about my new experiences, and more about my attempt at becoming a native, because more than one third of people living in London were born aborad.
SO the question is, who IS the real Londoner? This blog is about my attempt to find out. And a space to ramble and post videos of puppies (who GOT A NEW TOY!)
