I got upgraded to first class on my flight from London to NYC...Hurray!

What I don't understand however is the chairs can rotate so you can have an office, have a bed, do what ever....yet for some reason the bathrooms are still the same size and gross level they are in economy. What is up with that?

Hmm

I have not blogged in a while...however being a graduate student a large portion of my life is just reading and writing papers so you can understand my aversion to even more writing and spending more time thinking!

It is the last week of courses (how you can learn anything of substance in ten weeks is beyond me) so my resolution has been to do something around the city I have been meaning to do every day. Monday I wandered to Carnaby St where there are some vintage shops and boutiques I like. Sadly that was all a miss (the one boutique still had all the clothes from when I was there in sept.) I did buy a bad ass pair of shoes though.

Today I wandered around this area behind the Tate Modern that is up and coming with shops and restaurants...looks like some good places to eat but all the shops just seem to be inventing their own version of urban outfitters.

Tomorrow I shall finally do a pub quiz and Thursday I am shopping with my bartender (perhaps I spend too much time at my pub).

I do have a really lovely post about gay/straight... straight/gay men but I am going to be a guest blog so gotta save it for later.


Other than that my current mood is that London is cold and rainy...perhaps Boston should be my next city. After the events of this weekend Emma and I have concluded that 95% of men are pretty much poo.


Hurray for returning to America soon!

The thing I miss most about America

The thing I miss most about America.... toilets that flush with conviction!

Over here you have to really warm them up to get them to do anything, back home you can do it all in one swoosh!

Smile you're on candid camera...kind of

Wednesday was not a kind day to me.

I got on the bus like ya do and began reading my anti-cooperation book because I am a tree hugging hippie. At one stop four guys got on with a toilet (yes a real live toilet) I did not think much of it because well this is public transport in London. The toilet had a picture of Gordon Brown on it (PM of England) and they were trying to sell it to the guys in front of me saying it had just been shown at the Tate etc. They also were obnoxiously taking camera phone pictures of them. So after they failed to sell it to them they moved onto me. I politely said no and attempted to continue to read. Of course they would not be stopped that easily...they began to ask me what type of art l liked "abstract" ...'no", "modern"...."no", "do you like urban"..."no" Which prompted the response "oooo you don't like urban people so are you like racists" At this point I am like o crap I am going to get a beat down..so I attempted to explain that I wasn't actually paying attention, just saying no so they would move on, and that I did not know what the term actually meant. They then proceeded to ask me if I voted for Barack Ossama, I told them it was Obama which prompted another racist accusation (this time that I don't like muslims). They bothered a few other people on the bus and then got off, but first urged us to buy their cd. Once they got off two airhead girls proudly announced they were with MTV who was filming a new reality show that we had all just been filmed on (o dear). They explained it was a show tracking these "rappers" rise to stardom (they are a made up group) and that the whole thing was shot via camera phones. They encouraged all of to sign the paper so that they could use the footage....not a single person on the bus signed. Thankfully I don't like MTV that much to be allowed to be painted as racist on their new reality show (which being shot with camera phones will probably just make people feel ill watching).


Anyway that was my encounter with stardom this week....guess I just don't want my 5 minutes of fame.

Learning to be naked

I remembered the first time I realized Europe was WAY more open then America. A friend brought be back a spanish version of vogue from her trip abroad and in the back of the bus I realized to my horror that they had naked women in the adverts. Just going into a Victoria Secret store was scandalous for me at this point.

I would like to preface this entry by saying that I am aware we have all encountered a naked lady in the locker room- she is normally old and saggy and the only naked one in there. America is well equipped so you dont actually have to be naked in the locker room. There are towel hangers right outside the showers and in most cases a changing space attached to the shower or additional changing dividers. This is not the case in my gym locker room. Just to get your towel after getting out of the shower you must reach across the walkway to the opposite wall... no hangers near the shower door for you! More importantly people in Europe are just more ok with being naked in front of others. The naked people in the locker room are not just the crazy old ladies who don't give a hoot anymore it is everyone. In fact I am pretty sure you call more attention to yourself by trying to be modest. So I must somehow learn to ignore my prudish American sentiements and get naked in the locker room..... This should be interesting!

A new breed of people... orange people

British people are pale. End of story. They see the sun about five times a year and it is a very weak sun (I have yet to get burned in the UK only on Jersey Island which is close enough to France that it doesn't count). Anyway perhaps because I had never lived in a country of whiteness I just may not have noticed that there is a new breed of people before. Orange people. Now before I continue I will admit I have hopped into a tanning bed three times in my life, and I do use a lotion with tint about three times a week. I am not talking about the people who by using moderation, add a little color to their skin, I am talking full on orange people. Everyone knows an orange person, they either go to the tanning bed on an all too regular basis (and later in life will form yet another new breed of people- leather people) or they just haven't learned how to properly apply tan in a can. I actually know someone who does such a bad job applying tan in a can that her face has brown pores now. I don't know who these people think they are fooling as no one looks good orange but they just keep doing it. Now in America because 95% of the population is tan to some degree I just may not have noticed this new breed as easily. However here in a country where people embrace having healthy skin, the self conscious, American wannabes (who sometimes are American) stand out like a sore thumb. You are walking down the street and in a sea of white there it is BAM orange lady (or sometimes man). Needless to say, surrounded by all these pale people, orange people look even more hilarious and unnatural than normal.

Anyone else noticed this lately?

Rant against smokers

Ok so being in Europe people smoke a lot more and being in a city, it seems to be filled with nothing but smokers.

There are two things I really really hate about smokes, the first being the people who walk and smoke. Why does this bother me you ask? Well when they aren't taking a drag, where is the cigarette, resting in their hand which 99% of the time is resting in along side their body. This alone doesn't bother me, however in a very crowded city it presents a huge burn hazard. You are stuck in a crowd trying to work your way through when BAM searing sensation on leg from where you have brushed against a stick on fire! Yes it hurts, and smokers really ought to be aware of their surroundings so they dont shove their stick of flame into you!

Thing two that is specific for England. Last year they enacted a new smoking law, you cannot smoke under anything that has three walls and a roof. Nice idea in theory cleaner pubs etc. However walking outside has become one big puff of smoke! It is amazing what addiction can do, rain or shine you can always count on a row of smokers hanging outside their building or desperately getting one in on the way to work. Personally I feel like I inhale more now than I did when they were all roped off in their own little section indoors. London has enough pollution as it is!

Anyway that was my observation of the day.

PS smoking not only kills it is annoying for the rest of us so quit!

Side note

On a side note I went to see James Bond tonight- it was sponsored by Lloyds (big insurance place but not boring life insurance so much as multi million dollar business, super models legs etc). I really enjoyed doing the insurance thing this summer even though it is not related to what I have studied at all. Should I apply to the graduate scheme?

Where is all the washing coming from?

Today I was in our basement laundry room doing my washing when it hit me..... there were loads of sheets, towels, and blankets being washed by the cleaning service. Why is this odd? Because our dorm is self service- meaning we provide all of our own sheets and towels and wash them ourselves. So this begs the question, where is all the washing coming from?

You want me to do what?

Ok side story-

In the UK everyone has health insurance (hurray) but you dont go to any doctor you want- you register with your local. So me being productive (and knowing I would get sick) I went to register. So I walked over to get the forms and set up my appointment (they log all your medical information etc). With the forms the woman hands me a test tube type vile. She then explains that I will need to pee in it. I am very confused because my appointment is not for a few days so why is she giving it to me now? Yes yes your wildest horror of a guess is right. I had to pee at home and bring it with me on the day. So the perhaps weirdest experience of my life was peeing into my cup at home and then carrying it several blocks in public (dont worry but it in a grocery bag not in my purse or bare hand). Anyway it might be the strangest thing the doctor has ever asked me to do!

And then life got boring

Hello,

So I realize I have not updated in a while but that is mostly because I went back to the states for some warm weather!

To begin with I am in a new flat (will post a picture eventually). No one really moved in the first week so it was tres dull. Actually everyone should be proud of how much I left my comfort zone, I went to all the dorm mixers (even though I had no flatmates to go with) and went up and chatted with the various people. For the first week I did not meet anyone that I clicked with 100% although one guy is kind of growing on me- seems very friendly and genuine. There are a lot of undergrads (or just people who act like them) in this dorm as well as many many americans (boo- I moved from that country for a reason). The first social night out was a bit tragic--> we headed to this place in elephant and castle yet it was shut, somehow I then was on a bus with thirty-ish very drunk people who had no idea where in the world we were and it was my job to get them to point B (the "group leader" had to wait for others). Getting to point B was a HUGE letdown as it was the same bar my friend and I stumbled upon as under-21s abroad ( you know the kind you think it is cool until you realize it is not, not to mention tons of old men). Anyway I managed to also shepherd everyone home and the whole night made me sick (like cough sick not disgusted) so I have not been out since then (well minus for my bday).

Around the weekend I finally began meeting flat mates (hurray!). In my flat we have Mao from China (tends to hide a lot), Ken from Vientnam, Heloise and Annie from France, and then Chris from the good old US of A. I actually like Chris and his gf a lot (too bad she goes to Oxford!) I am slowly getting everything together, going to meetings, buying supplies, registering for a doctor (oo side story there). Next week classes start so I am sure I will have more to share then. Until then I just hope I stop coughing and get my voice back!

x
me

Mini break in Jersey

Hello,

Chris and I just got back from a short holiday (yes I said holiday look how British I am!) from the channel island of Jersey. It was a very cute little island and an interesting trip. On the con side, our hotel was not as glamorous as I had hoped -I heard my room neighbor poop through the thin wall- the restaurant dinner menu never changed- and I nearly lit my hair on fire. On the plus side our hotel was in a good location- we actually had more sunshine than we had hoped!- I learned things- and it was relaxing.

Our first day there we went to the beach- I thought the beach was absolutely huge, then I quickly discovered something called changing tides. Living at the beach I know what tides are however I watched this beach go from the length of a football field to slowly disappearing. It was pretty nifty. I also got bitten by an evil sand bug but I was able to survive. The second day it was rainy so we went to the zoo (which was full of endangered animals) and then I forced Chris to go to a manor house with pretty gardens. The next day we were surprised with sun (and promptly got burned) We had lunch in a really cute little town by the sea where all the boats were floating on mud (low tide). We then walked to a castle out in the middle of the water (low tide again). It was all pretty cool. The next day it poured all morning so I was a good sport and went to the Jersey War tunnel with Chris. 0:) We took it easy the rest of the day. All and all it was an interesting trip!

x
me

Hm yes lets go to a huge parade right before our flight....

So as I discussed earlier (I think)- I went to the massive Nottinghill carnival on the bank holiday. Anyway as I was preparing to leave (ie waiting in a massive q to cross the street) this girl from somewhere that required an accent pushed through claiming she had a flight to catch. My first thought was weird why would you go to a really crowded carnival when you had a flight in a few hours (bear in mind this girl had no case with her and was no where near the airport). Anyway she wanted out but the police told her to wait her turn. Her solution was then to climb over the gate when the police officer turned his back (stupid). They grabbed her- nearly arrested her- then put her back. About two minutes later our group was allowed to leave (patience is a virtue). Anyway she runs down the road only to suddenly slow at a pastry shop then stop walk back to the window and begin to examine the cakes! ( I cant make this up). This is the last I saw of her as I continued to walk faster than her!

And then I got a stalker

Hello,

So living in London there happen to be India restaurants every five feet. So even though my gym is only a block away I have to pass one. This Indian restaurant looks really nice on the outside and the food was decent when Chris and I ate there but it was not the greatest. That is not the problem though. The problem lies in the fact that a guy stands outside the door dressed up every night. It is ALWAYS the same guy 7 days a week. He recognizes me on my walk to the gym about everyday. The first few days of this walk he just tried to give me his little flier. The next few days he upgraded to saying hello or something else I could not understand, but now he has upgraded to being a bit fresh ...."you look very very pretty today" was the most recent. Even when I walk up on the other side of the road he still shouts! I have tried not looking at him etc but he is very determined to say hello EVERY time. Any suggestions on how to deal with my stalker?


In other news I love living in London if for no other reason the randomness. My friend visited me today and as we were heading to Soho for some vintage shopping we walked by a very large crowd in Trafalger square. While I thought the passing of the summer Olympics' flag festivities were going to be at the Mall (think DC mall not downtown mall) they were showing it there as well. So we stopped just in time to see good ol' Borris take the flag and magically the shot cut to all the crowd in London so you could say we were on tv for the olympics :)

Then as we carried on walking down the street we suddenly saw a ton of bubbles. Turns out it was this man in a tiny old fashion truck that not only blew bubbles but sang! (Well the man sang) And he just road down the street singing into a mic that played outside the car and blew bubbles!

Gotta love London!

For Internal Use Only....

Hello,

Things have been mostly mundane lately so I haven't felt the need to put anything on paper, work, workout, eat, sleep, visit Chris in Reading that is about it. Then filing papers today I came across several with the stamp "for internal use only" well the only other time I have seen that exact phrasing is on a monastat box so I found it hilarious. Maybe I am alone in this discovery?


In other news there is a woman in our office who might die if she stops talking. I literally here her voice ALL day. She carries on a conversation with each person on her team then once she runs out of things to say to them she begins her calls, some of them work calls some of them personal. The really annoying bit about it is, when she is talking to other team members you only hear one side of the conversation (hers). Yes she is loud- most likely the only reason I hear her voice all day!

In other news I got to "do a deal on my own" yesterday. I say on my own but the underwriters had already agreed to sign the change to the wording. But I still had to go find the building on my own and then find the person in the office. The woman I spoke to was me to a scary degree. Not only were all of her office supplies PINK. But she had a pink fuzzy frame of her and her hubby as well as pink fluffy pens and various other pink memorabilia (it was a little scary even for me). And this was at an important London insurance company!

The rest of this week should be simple minus going to Parliament for drinks with Alice (yes she is cool and can get me in so we can have cheap drinks). Hopefully this Saturday I will go to the Reading Festival (check it out on google the line up is not half bad although I am guessing Margaret will be the most jealous).

Hope everyone is doing well.

x
me

PS Lisa Parker rocks my socks!

The spurs v roma game

And then I went swimming in the street....

Hello,

SO this weekend was a very very wet one! I headed to Reading on Friday night (bad idea as the train was well packed) and got to see the bf's house for the first time. Wasn't nearly as bad as a bachelor pad could be. The next day I was tricked into helping set up for their house warming party (just kidding didn't mind helping). Although the helping included things such as removing the front doors (long story). The BBQ went well aside from the fact that it took about two hours for them to get the grill going due to all the rain! The next day we headed back up to London for my first professional football match. We saw the Tottenham Hotspurs play (well kick the ass of really) AS Roma. Chris, his sister, and cousin, were well pleased as they are all fans, although I was sad to see any team from my beloved Italy get the crap kicked out of. It was an experience however. I got separated from the group and went to the bathroom, just as massive thundering and shaking of the stadium started- an entire stadium stomping and shouting at once = scary! In fact in one cheer which encourages fans who hate Arsenal (their enemy) to stand up, no one is actually supposed to stand up anymore for fear of making the bleachers collapse! (I am sure the stadium is not that flimsy though). Although it was pretty funny to hear an entire 40,000 people go "ooo" at the same time. Excellent place to go people watching. This week at work will hopefully go well- already been in Lloyds again. That's it for now!

x
me

My new job

Hello,

For those of you keeping track I ended by job with the law firm on Friday (was only a two week to do) And started Monday with RK Harrison. It is an insurance brokerage ie. people come wanting to get certain policies and they dive out into the insurance world and find companies to cover their client. It is pretty interesting when they have work for me (August is a slow month). I have actually worked on the presentation for one of the submissions almost all on my own (pretty exciting). My team is all guys so I have advised on things such as: what to do for a one year wedding anniversary, what is a good chick flick, and pick up lines. (They are a pretty interesting bunch). While there is the occasional binding task for me, they do try hard to get me to learn a thing or two. Today I actually got to take a tour of the Lloyd building (above). Basically its where oodles of syndicates (the people who provide the insurance) work. Most of the brokers go over at least once a day and throughout my time with them, they will occasionally take me with them (like today). What is even cooler is that some days I will get to sit in a box with an underwriter and watch for a few hours. (Clearly I am just trying to find jobs that get me into cool buildings in London).

Not much else to report at the moment.

Ps to explain the building...property at Lloyds is $$$$ so they wanted to fit as many syndicates in as possible (get more $$$). So everything else is on the outside; stairs, elevators, air shafts. Needless to say not very pretty (but pretty sweet on the inside, especially since the escalators are clear!)

x
me

Mamas got brand new shoes

So this weekend, Chris and I consoled ourselves over the cancelled rubix cube party by shopping (well really Chris was just forced along but he gave good input!)


We popped into a store looking for flats (bought two pairs of shoes so far...none of them flats). While they had no quality boots, they did have the shoes shown above...which clearly are amazing!

So I get to the till to pay (for you americans cash register). And what do they have behind the counter....my shoes in BABY SHOES, Lisa you will be proud to know...I bought them. (No I am not preggers, Marion I have a baby gift for you).

Anyway after buying those amazing shoes we went to the next place to hunt for flats. It took forever to try on this boot (apparently they "sent it back down" the first time) I finally tried it on, was all ready to buy it, when, it turns out there was no right boot to match! To make things even more....erm.. interesting, these women from the Caribbean got into a MASSIVE screaming fight in the store. The manager tried to get them to quite down and they just began to scream at him! Needless to say it caused a massive crowd outside the store!

Anyway enjoy the shoe picture!
x
me

my new room and the view out my window....NO TRAIN

But where did the toilet paper go?

As you know I have moved into the dorms at LSE. Day one there was tp in the bathroom. I came home from work the next day and suddenly there was none! The next morning I held it all the way until I got to work (those of you who have been near me for more than two hours know how hard that is!) Sadly I got off work too late to pick up some tp at the store which put me in a predicament when I got home! I got some the next day and chose to put it in my room- just because I am not sure exactly what the protocol here is- provide your own? Share? Should the maid be replacing it? Anyway it has been nearly a week and no toilet paper has resurfaced in the bathroom. This begs the question- what is everyone else doing? If everyone else has it in their room that is fine....but what if they don't?

I have finished working in the giant egg today. It went mostly well. The last couple of days dragged on and it kind of snapped me out of my "o maybe I can do this kind of work thing" So I am back on track for human rights but still undecided about the general law school question.

I actually walked home after dark the other night (doesn't get dark till around ten), I walked along the river and it was the pretties thing ever. The thames actually looked blue, fountains were lit up and there were decorative street lights.

So happy to be in London and looking forward to office job number two!

x
me

Ramen Noodles & Fountain Pens

After working for nearly a week and a half in London I have learned possibly more than my four years at William and Mary taught me. Perhaps the most important is how to use a fountain pen. In the meeting room with one of the people from HR and the other interns early on in the internship they gave us something to sign. Everyone picked up a pen and signed away. I tried to write with said pen only no ink came out! Now I had heard of fountain pens but had never actually used one before and was unaware of the trick. So in front of four strangers I requested a different pen (good start I thought). However a lot has happened since then, I have been given some legal work so I have learned a few things about the UK legal process and corporations (of course not nearly as much as I would like to and no I have not gotten work that is THAT exciting, but learning none the less). All of us interns get along very well and everyone in the firm is really nice and seem normal (disproving the corporate lawyers sell their souls theory I had). We even got a field trip one day that included the courts and the museum for the Bank of London (I was the only girl who could lift the gold brick... go me). All in all I will be sad to leave Friday afternoon (more for want of the company than my actual assignments). Although this experience has most annoyingly brought up more questions than actual answers. As some of you may already know, I learned about a different LSE program (MA in Human Rights) that I am actually going to attempt to switch into. While that may take care of my life for one year I have many questions arise after that.


My first question is "do I go to law school after I get my masters?" The perks to going to law school would obviously be a competitive edge when applying for jobs. The con would be an even further delay of starting my "real life" ie would be a student so things like marriage, kids, a house would be postponed even further. (NOT that they are on the horizon, my line of thinking is more ok 2-3 more years of school has me graduating at 26-27 instead of 24).

My next question is "if I go to law school, in which country do I study law?" I think right now there is a serious lean towards the UK but it is still a question none the less!

If I study in the UK I then must make a choice between an LLB where I could easily specialize in human rights law but I would not be a practicing solicitor. This program would take two years and then an extra one if I actually wanted to be a practicing lawyer. My other option would be one year conversion course and then the LCP for one year (their law school). After that I would have a two year training contract before I was certified to practice (plus side is the training contract is paid). While I could not study Human Rights law in the conversion or LCP I could make sure I applied to training seats that offered such.

This leads me to my final and perhaps most important question....what if I did not do human rights but say did corporate law? While a part of me thinks this just might be selling out, another part of me is intrigued by what I have seen the past two weeks and also understands that money makes the world go round. I don't think I would ever be as passionate about corporate as human rights but I could be satisfied in life doing it and it would be a much easier path to take. (still selling out).

Right now I am leaning towards applying for the conversion and LCP and then doing my seats in the human rights law area and seeing if I am accepted and then going from there. But I am most appreciative of other people's input as these are some major decisions to be made.

Other than those plaguing questions things are going very well. I have moved away from the train to an LSE dorm (which is full of people who do not speak english and REAKS of noodles). Christopher (who does not appreciate being referred to as "the boy" in earlier posts) has been an absolute saint in helping move yet again ( and no Chris the previous portion of this blog does not imply that I have planned out 2.5 kids and a white picket fence).

Other than work and moving again I am simply working on being absolutely fabulous in London 0:)

x
me

I survived my first day!

So I survived the first day of work! I did not get lost nor was I late!

It turns out to be a work placement program (clearly I did not look into this). There are three other students of various different backgrounds (both countries and law backgrounds). We spend the day partly assisting the department we are assigned to and other times various people from the firm give us lectures on their specialty. At the end we will have completed our own research project and done a presentation.

What was really exciting was that we ate lunch at the top (great view crummy service)

I also think I have sorted out a different place to live- if this place will give me a refund then I am checking into an LSE dorm at Butlers Warf- that way I am in the same area, even faster walk to work- but NO TRAIN :) :)

For those of you who dont know that is a picture of my office!

x
me

photos of the third floor "penthouse"

A home to call my own

Saturday ended a most exhausted tryst across the pond to most of southern Ireland and a few days in London with the Hixon men. Early Saturday morning they checked out and I grabbed a cab with the boy eager/ dreading moving into my very own "apartment" ( I use ".." because it is a plot of studio apts that mostly tourist rent out for a week at a time or so). After the cab driver could not find the place, he serendipitously dropped us off right outside what turned out to be the gate. (This is pro number one the site has a security gate and a security guard). After convincing the letting office I had permission to check in early (I did) they gave us the keys to what seemed like a very nice building. Dont judge a book by its cover. I would say that the room I am paying nearly 1,000 american dollars (that is 500 quid for those of you on this side of the pond), is a little bigger than a college dorm room. I say little bigger but a college dorm room does not have a kitchen or bathroom taking up most of the space. While the place is very well equipped (pro two)--> washing machine, dish washer, microwave, tv, internet, every cooking utensil you can think of (minus an oven so why the tools I dont know). It is very small, tiny closet and bathroom sink so small that you can't actually wash your face in it. In fact the shower is so small you must place your things on the toilet lid and open the door and reach out to get them!

Once the boy and I realized that my clothes could not all possibly fit in the closet (I actually have all of my jeans in one kitchen cabinet and all of my beauty/bath products in another) We went out on the hunt for storage boxes we could maybe slide under the bed (which is so low to the ground not much can be stored there anyway- think cot from camp). After tirelessly searching Oxford and Regent street (no target in the UK). We found a cardboard storage box for 14 pounds (reads nearly 30 american dollars). We lugged that along with a new pair of shoes (addiction) and my new hair dryer and straightener to the pub to meet up with an absolutely fabulous friend-- who I once again profusely apologize for being late and being so confusing to find (long day) and eventually made it back "home". Luckily once we got home we were able to get in (one reason I blanked on what time to meet our wonderful friend was while searching for storage bits we realized when we checked in the office had never given us the gate code, and was since closed meaning we weren't sure how to get in)

We ate dinner at a really good Italian restaurant right on the tower bridge where I spoke to the waiters in Italian and then semi helped a French family communicate with them.

Today was simply full of more errands including mapping out how to get to work (it is a bit of a walk but faster and less crowded than the tube).

Tomorrow I begin work in the Gherkin, I am very nervous (partly because I am afraid I am going to get lost and delayed getting there) and partly because I have no idea what is in store for me.

Wish me luck!

x
Hixi