(no subject)
Hello all.
I'm writing from the claustrophobic little Internet Cafe on Grays Inn Road. My thoughts have begun to occur in a British accent. Some classic part of London to be exact, with a little bit of Michael Caine's Cockney thrown in. But I suppress it. I'm waiting to stun the City with my Britishness once I've had a bit more mental practice. I'm not altogether convincing yet.
I love it here. I had a few first days of thinking to myself, "I wish I could go home..." Which is odd, because I don't know if I've ever mentally completed that sentence before in my life (barring all roller coaster experiences, of course, which don't count. And maybe that cruise ship... But cruises really aren't my thing.) But now that I've got my bearings, and a slightly clearer head, I love it here. My friends have started arriving... And I must say that I exult a little in knowing my way around already. As I knew I would; I love being so strangely experienced. And, when I'm not travelling in a noisy pack with them, I must say that I blend in quite well. I mean, people know I'm not from around here once I open my mouth, but I think they find my charming foreign humility kind of cute, and I have gotten myself into one or two conversations with Londoners who felt oddly comfortable confiding in me how irritating Americans can be, as though I'm not really one of them. Plus, even here, in spite of my accent, you can't quite place me. God bless ethnic ambiguity. (Though I am having a blast noticing My Peoples around here. Persians are everywhere! They can be so lovely...) But I'm very content to note that I have wonderful times alternating between time spent with my Uni friends from home, time spent making new British friends, and just lolling about on my own. The lolling, really, has been delightful.
People here are so chic and goodlooking. I must say, I'm impressed. And remember, this is after a semester in New York. Also, I think Europeans place quite an emphasis on being charming. It's certainly a more subdued and calm character around here; a slight difference, and you know how I love change. And people have really been so kind to me that on any number of occasions during the day I well up with love for London.
Love for London.
Oh, how I wish you were here.
Let's see, what else...
Note to self: Leon's restaurant, on Carnaby Street, was an exquisite find. The best meal I've had since I've been here. Moroccan lamb meatballs, brown rice, and beet coleslaw? THIS is what my macrobiotic friend kept dragging me to restaurants-boycotting-eggplant in search of. Organic. Yum. No more pub food for Haley. I feel better already.
I have many pages to read this evening, because apparently even on British time I refuse to do my homework in advance. Ah well. As long as I know that tomorrow night I get to bask in the warm glow of Shakespeare (As You Like It), everything will be just lovely.
I'm writing from the claustrophobic little Internet Cafe on Grays Inn Road. My thoughts have begun to occur in a British accent. Some classic part of London to be exact, with a little bit of Michael Caine's Cockney thrown in. But I suppress it. I'm waiting to stun the City with my Britishness once I've had a bit more mental practice. I'm not altogether convincing yet.
I love it here. I had a few first days of thinking to myself, "I wish I could go home..." Which is odd, because I don't know if I've ever mentally completed that sentence before in my life (barring all roller coaster experiences, of course, which don't count. And maybe that cruise ship... But cruises really aren't my thing.) But now that I've got my bearings, and a slightly clearer head, I love it here. My friends have started arriving... And I must say that I exult a little in knowing my way around already. As I knew I would; I love being so strangely experienced. And, when I'm not travelling in a noisy pack with them, I must say that I blend in quite well. I mean, people know I'm not from around here once I open my mouth, but I think they find my charming foreign humility kind of cute, and I have gotten myself into one or two conversations with Londoners who felt oddly comfortable confiding in me how irritating Americans can be, as though I'm not really one of them. Plus, even here, in spite of my accent, you can't quite place me. God bless ethnic ambiguity. (Though I am having a blast noticing My Peoples around here. Persians are everywhere! They can be so lovely...) But I'm very content to note that I have wonderful times alternating between time spent with my Uni friends from home, time spent making new British friends, and just lolling about on my own. The lolling, really, has been delightful.
People here are so chic and goodlooking. I must say, I'm impressed. And remember, this is after a semester in New York. Also, I think Europeans place quite an emphasis on being charming. It's certainly a more subdued and calm character around here; a slight difference, and you know how I love change. And people have really been so kind to me that on any number of occasions during the day I well up with love for London.
Love for London.
Oh, how I wish you were here.
Let's see, what else...
Note to self: Leon's restaurant, on Carnaby Street, was an exquisite find. The best meal I've had since I've been here. Moroccan lamb meatballs, brown rice, and beet coleslaw? THIS is what my macrobiotic friend kept dragging me to restaurants-boycotting-eggplant in search of. Organic. Yum. No more pub food for Haley. I feel better already.
I have many pages to read this evening, because apparently even on British time I refuse to do my homework in advance. Ah well. As long as I know that tomorrow night I get to bask in the warm glow of Shakespeare (As You Like It), everything will be just lovely.