Summary: I met other people as crazy (crazier) as I am.
Word of the day: dodgy
I looooove this word. Normally people in America would say “sketchy,” but I think I will say this word forever. Except I haven’t got the courage up yet to start saying it--still don’t feel British enough. I don’t even say “quid” (the slang term for pound, like buck to dollar).
What I learned today: This is an international phenomenon I’ve finally pinpointed: It sucks when people find out how competent you are. I am very busy at work with news stories and a magazine feature and a podcast and survey results and convention agendas. But I guess I’m learning all the segments of a trade magazine.
The next time I go to London I will: Unfortunately never get to be as adventurously lost as I am this time!
There are actually others out there?
If you were hoping that I didn’t blog last night because I was out having fun in London… You were right!
Over my first delicious taste of cider, I met other people in the Work in Britain program (which is how I got a visa to get over here)—including someone who went to Miami University in Ohio—just can’t get away from them!
Actually, most of these fellow students/graduates are a lot cooler than I am, in my opinion. They didn’t have a job and came over here anyway, whereas, my professor got me this job, and that’s why I came over here. They decided “I think I’m going to go to England for six months,” and showed up without a place to live or cell phones or anything. While I felt like the planned one—with an office job and a nice flat in the Docklands—it was amazing to be around other vagabond spirits with full agendas and empty wallets.
As a team, we defended the financial murder we committed and scoffed at the “normal” life other people have after graduation. We shared our constant obsession with the worth of the dollar and complained about our friends back home who tried to tell us everything before we came over here because they studied abroad or traveled over here once. (just kidding...love you all)
While it definitely felt like the first night of college, when you’ll pretty much be friends with anyone, I also found some people I’d genuinely like to hang out with again, independent of the fact that we relate on an internationally helpless level.
I’m glad I know more people in London…but the truth is I’ve also gotten rather used to loneliness. My friend Carolyn came over here last year and did this internship, and she said it made her a “confident loner.” And as a new friend told me last night, this is our selfish time. An interesting way of looking at it, and so true. But it’s nice to know there are other people out there having a selfish time as well.
I am reading: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
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