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