After a long and bumpy flight, I landed at Heathrow without incident. Empowered with a British Visa, I was under the impression I would casually walk through some special stall and be asked a few questions and then off. . .WRONG! The line wa. . .sorry the "que" painfully long. Took about an hour and 20 minutes to go 30 feet. So glad Emily was still waiting on the other side, with a car to carry my 3 suitcases.
The most effective strategy to fight jet lag can be summed up like this: the best offense is a great defense. And so I defended my natural clock with as much beer and pub food as I could get. This was after Emily and I packed up her possessions and moved out of her flat about 300meters, sorry "metres" down the road. The shortest move I have ever done!
Our new "Flat" is actually a house. It is a 4 story Victorian house that Emily and I share with 4 other women. None of which are English nationals. We have an Irish woman named Una, a French/Vietnamese woman named Mai-Lan, a Danish woman named Laura and an Australian named Kat. We all get along well and the house is really nice. Our room is up at the top, on the 4th floor. Emily and I call it "the Tower" due to the many steps up. It is a big room, with a wonderful bathroom--like a hotel really Beday and all.
The first thing about London one realizes is the cost. The pound is aptly named, for it slams you in the head with ridiculously high prices. Unfortunately, the exchange rate is about $2 : 1GBP. This is even worse, because all you have to do is do some quick math in your head and realize you are paying double for a cup of coffee ($4.50). It hurts. No way around this one. How I wish it was 1.7 or some kind of off number where you could round up but then reassure yourself it is a little cheaper than you are tricking your brainbank into accepting. All the more incentive to begin earning the pounds!
After a few more days, the feet begin to protest. Walking is the way of things here. Our particular location (Clapham Junction) can be summed up like this: SW11. Postcodes rule the landscape. It denotes boroughs throughout London, and has for quite some time. About half of the places in this city have a "ham" at the end. Yet, like "cheers" they seem to omit the "a" when pronouncing and just say "hm". I am told it has something to do with denoting a town or shire. More on this later.
The English take immense pride in their system. Methodical and practiced, they act like machines. I must hand it to them, the public transportation is first-rate. Trains and buses are usually on time, and give a digital readout of when they will arrive. The best way to orient yourself is by riding the buses. I found myself looking at the map and riding on the top floor up front, fixing my location around train and tube stations. It works quite well. Still, after 22 days, London is still so new to me. I am told it will take at least a year for this feeling to abate.
The weather here has lived up to every reputation. Quite manic really. I was impressed with the warmth at the start. But that gave way to the chilly arctic air and we had some snow flurries for about 3 days. The cold wind cuts right through you in a way no San Francisco winter EVER could. It was then I learned to appreciate the scarf. Never had so many body parts been so thankful for so few fibers. My scarf is never far when you travel outside.
I am having fun learning and adapting to the local methods and traditions. Cheers seems to be the number one word to know. You have to pronounce it like you are racing through those two e's. The second word to know is, "sorry". Bump someone on a train, or ask someone to repeat a question, or ask someone to move out of your way, all the same.
It is difficult to be the American who is not familiar with American pop culture. I have no clue who is on "American Idol" or "The OC" or "CSI". . .but that is what they know of us. Sad, but true. British television is pretty much ignored when a soccer game is not being aired.
Pub life is one to adapt to as well. All these new beers to learn. (Insert pity here). Unlike Ireland, England still allows smoking in Pubs. But all this will change in July. Smoking will be disallowed in most pubs, much to our clothes excitement. After visiting a pub for dinner and drinks, you have to hang out your clothes for 3 days to rid the smell. Imagine the savings on water bills after the law goes into effect. Emily and I live just downhill from a great "Gastro" pub called "the Lavender". These pubs serve up food--anything to the fish and chips to proper meals with soup and salad. Many pubs seem to have double names, like "the Fox and Hound" or "the Anchor and Hope". Most offer lots of charm and good beer on tap.
Working as a carpenter has proved to be more similar than different. They call carpenters "Chippys" here. Don't know if it has anything to do with fish and chips, but they have been called this for a long time. The crew I am working with are a cockney motley crew. Quite a few "northerners" whose accents are markedly different than the London lingo. Throw in a Ornery Scotsman (are there any other kind?) and you have Jon repeating the often said word, "Sorry?" Come again? What was that? You call that tool what? I have learned so many new words, most of which I am ashamed to type on this blog. You know how the Eskimos have 100 words for snow? Well the English seem to have the same for a co-worker they do not like same goes for female genitalia.
Sorry to be so short, I am leaving quite a lot out. Look for more installments in the future.
Hope all is well. Keep eating those burritos for us. They are here, but cost US$15 and are not spicy or fresh.
Up next, my best description of Cricket.
Much love to all
Cheers
Jon
