A Free Day in London!

Summary: I did more sight-seeing than you this weekend!

Word of the day: stone
On my favorite British show, The Diet Doctors, they always talk about losing “stone,” which equals about 6 kilograms (or 12 pounds). I would like to lose about a stone while I’m here.

What I learned today: The British Library is not a public library but for archives, oops.

Next time I go to London: I will, like, bury myself at Westminster Abbey. It's gorgeous.

I am exhausted…

This weekend, I walked all over again, and every two seconds I stumbled upon a lovely park or tall, super-old steeple.

I saw the elegance of Buckingham Palace, but decided to skip a tour. (I don’t need to pay to see decadent royalty when I’m living on noodles and tuna.)

And then walked through St. James Park on my way to the Queen’s Life Guards. I like their fringe ponytails.

Then I walked next to the Houses of Parliament and ol’ Big Ben, and stumbled across the Westminster Abbey, which was unfortunately closed for touring, so I must go back another time to pay homage to Poet’s Corner.

Then I found myself strolling through Victoria Park on the way to the Tate Britain art museum, where I again spent hours absorbing art from 1400 to now. I have discovered my love of the mystical and vibrant Pre-Raphaelite art—considered to be the first avant-garde artists.

"The Lady of Shallot" by John William Waterhouse (courtesy of Wikipedia)

And then I attended a service at Westminster Cathedral, exploring each elegant chapel (St. Patrick's was my favorite). I listened to the gospel about giving to the poor in its gilded walls … Oh Catholics! (I’m just trying to get a rise out of you, Mom.)

And then of course, feet aching, I went grocery shopping, breaking my streak of spending no money in a day.

Then today my friend and I met for lunch and a long walk along the South Bank of the Thames, viewing some very creative buskers, including human statues and blue guitarists. I kid you not:

Then we took the tube up to the British Library, where I stupidly inquired about a library card. Turns out it’s just for the national archives … We saw the Beatles original doodlings of “Yesterday” and the Magna Carta, then I bought a Jane Austen book in a nearby used bookstore.

All in all, a good London weekend.

I am listening to: The Beatles. Actually I'm not, but it would be cool if I were.

[Edit: I went back through this post and added my own photos.]

Oh Amber Waves of Grain

Summary: America sucks and I love it.

Word of the day: top up (or n. top-up)
So I realize we could figure out what this means in the U.S., but like a lot of words I showcase, the English use it more. Do you need to top up your travel card? Your phone card? Your money card? Your grocery card? Your caffeine level? Your paycheck? Your hairstyle? Your sex drive?

What I learned today: Walking around all day will really make your feet hurt!

Next time I go to London I will: go back to Westminster, because I loooove it there! I will let you know all about it tomorrow.

In an earlier post, I know I said some mean things about America, along the lines of “America sucks. sucks. sucks. sucks.” And it hurt my mom’s feelings. :(

That wasn’t fair, because it’s not America’s fault that its dollar is absolutely worthless.

So, just to clarify, America has some good things. For instance, you can view all of its historical sites in a lot less time than in England. Also, America has better salad dressing, in my opinion. And the food portions are much bigger and more deliciously fattening at restaurants. And it’s just cooler to be fat in general! Also, America puts its hot and cold faucets together, because it just makes sense. And the movie Gone With the Wind, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and the musical 1776 could not exist without America’s charm. And Americans delete absolutely unnecessary letters from words, such as “color” instead of “colour.” Yeah, we don’t mess around in America, and we have the military budget to prove it! And we don’t have to pay for other people’s healthcare in America either! And we have the American Dream for everyone.

And my FAVORITE thing about Americans is actually that I am totally guilty of being one--your typical friendly girl from the Midwest that thinks she can change the world--and I just don’t think any other country manufactures people like me at such a huge gross rate. And these pleasantly cold London people in their classy fishnets and boots just have to cope with it.

So don’t worry, Mom, just because I get mad at the exchange rate (you would too if your value was cut in half), doesn’t mean America sucks altogether. In fact, I completely miss that gluttonous, self-righteous-but-friendly pile of dirt that is my homeland.

Edit: I would also like to add the following things I love/miss about America to the list:

- abundant drinking fountains
- superstores where you can get all your shopping done (I don't know if that's a good thing, but it sure was convenient)
- free refills everywhere
- visible street signs (as opposed to obscurely posting them on the side of buildings)
- oh, and people I love :)

I am listening to: I mean, I know I mentioned my trip the ol' "I miss you" ballad specialists, 3 Doors Down, but I didn’t think they’d write a song for me so quickly! (3 Doors Down, “Landing in London”)

Post from Work

Summary: I'm bored at work, but I have loads to do.

Word of the day: lift
elevator, duh

What I learned today: It sucks when the Word of the Day is broken, because you have to walk down five flights of stairs to get a cup of coffee:(

Next time I go to London I will: get a job in a building that isn't from, like, the 18th century.

Man this coffee tastes gross...Oh, that's because I was just informed that it's tea. I'm at work, and I need to get the podcast going. I am actually starting to learn what's going on in the securities industry, and that scares me...

Today was kind of long, and my co-worker wasn't here today or yesterday...So I had to take on some extra stuff.

OK break is over.

I am listening to: the gentle rainfall of London (it's ucky)

New Facebook Friends in the London Network!

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

Boo for the News

Summary: I’m depressed about money and red tape, so I’m taking it out on the media (they can be a scapegoat for everything).

Word of the day: holiday
British people go on these all the time. It’s like a vacation, but does anyone in America know what those are?

What I learned today: There is a lovely little contraption that heats water all on it’s own and my boss taught me how to use it today! It’s called a kettle, and that’s how I get to make coffee in the office, isn’t that adorable?

Now Here’s Where I Bitch
(You will have to excuse me, I just spent 15 minutes on an international call to my bank and got no help, of course.)

Yeah OK, I get it, my trip is cursed. Exchanges rates are horrible, blah, blah, blah, and now The New York Times predicts that international travel will be great next year. And traveling around the holidays is going to be bad, so I mine as well not plan on being home at Christmas. After all, my flight over here was five hours delayed.

For the story: Flying for the Holidays? Brace Yourself

You know what, I’m a journalist, but the news just depresses the shit out of you, so why read it? It’s not helpful; it’s just vindictive. Instead of doing articles like “Experts Predict that You Should Go to the Park Today Because It’s Sunny,” they always do a story that says “Experts Say It’s Raining and You’re Wet Because You Went to the Park.”

I’m listening to: Nothing, Apple updated my iPod and so I can’t charge it anymore—does that make any sense?

Realising That I'm Tired

So finally, you got me, I’m too tired to post. I think I will be like actors and have Monday be my day off from the show.

And I need to rest up; tomorrow I have to start researching the valuation of hedge funds, including OTC derivatives (especially post sub-prime) and asset backed securities for my first article in Global Custodian. But everybody knows what those are.

But of course…

Word of the day: realise
Notice, it is not spelled with a “z,” which would make a heck of a lot more sense phonetically.

What I learned today: I finally found the McDonald’s, with the help of my English friend. And it had big leathery chairs and modern paintings—high class!

Next time I go to London I will: Apply for a credit card that doesn’t charge conversion fees—bastards.

I am listening to: Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine”
Because I still only travel by foot and by foot, and by foot it’s a slow climb.

Hurray for Countries More Than 200 Years Old!

Summary: I wish I was alive during Medieval times!

Phrase of the day: "Scott free" (i.e. "He got off Scott free.")
Of course American's use this too (but I notice we don't use archaic phrases as often as the Brits). There's an interesting story that may or may not be where the word came from. The wife of a duke of Scotland visited him at the Tower of London a day before his execution. She brought in her maids, dressed him up like a woman and ushered him out without the guard blinking! And so he got off Scott free. Just one of the lovely stories I heard today at the Tower of London.

The next time I go to London I will: ... probably not go. The dollar will be too worthless.

From The Washington Post:

"Oh, the amazing shrinking dollar.

"The U.S. currency tumbled last week to a record low after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, continuing the dollar's six-year slide. Behind the latest drop is the expectation of weaker U.S. growth and stronger overseas economies. The slump took the dollar below $1.40 for each euro and put it at parity with the Canadian dollar for the first time in more than 30 years.

"While U.S. tourists might think twice about a vacation abroad, investors are discovering a variety of ways to make a buck betting against the buck."

Ah yes, people who are already billionaires will benefit, and I’m sure I’ll put something about it on our Web site this week.

The money thing really is the only thing really weighing on me over here. And I get paid the same amount in dollars as other people who did the internship in the past, yet it is worth less, boo. I hope I can make it. And I hope they pay me ASAP before the dollar plummets like gas prices rise!

America sucks. sucks. sucks. sucks. sucks.

OK that feels better. It’s my own fault for being in London right now, so let the debt incur!

What I learned today: A lot of the eggs in the grocery store aren't refrigerated. Is it OK that I eat them?

More London Exploration!
The Tower of London is well worth the 13 pounds to enter, especially if you are a history buff like me. I saw the crown jewels, which was cool, but looking at diamonds locked up in a case doesn't do too much for me. My favorite part was definitely the history in the other parts of the tower, such as the mystery of the murdered princes in the Bloody Tower.

I’ve loved medieval history for forever, and when I was little I was fascinated by the nine-day uncrowned queen, Lady Jane Grey, who was executed at the Tower (I was a weird kid). I saw her name etched on the wall of the prison and saw the place she and two other queens of England were imprisoned.

Tower of London

[Edit: I added my own photo to replace an earlier one.]

I am listening to: Dixie Chicks, “The Long Way Around”

... Because that's what I always seem to do.