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!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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?
Friday, October 24, 2008
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?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
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!
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
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
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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
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
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