I finally made it down to London last weekend. I got lured into traveling by bus because it only cost £11 for a round trip (compared with £40 for train), which I guess was worth it but fairly painful to sit through the slow ride. I stayed at the International Student House (ISH) on the south end of Reagents Park, which was a great deal, and neat because everybody there was actually a student (as opposed to 40-something cheap asses). Another plus about ISH is the bust of JFK just outside the main gate; pretty sweet place.
In London I actually didn't do a whole lot of sightseeing. I started off at St. Paul's, crossed the Themes to the Take Modern after the Millennium bridge was blocked off (note to self: dont curse at Bobbies). I was at the Tate 12 years ago and remember that Claude Monet's "Waterlillies" filled the main open area, but it was a little different this past Saturday. In fact, there were no pieces out. Instead, there was only the bare cement floor with a long, snaking crack running from end to end. I assumed the crack was caused by the recent earthquake, and asked a docent if this was the case. She said no, "This is Shibboleth". OK. Wow. It really did "strike the foundations of the museum". It was actually quite impressive. So impressive that I skipped the Pollacks and Hoopers and walked right out.
After the Tate I took the tube to Parliament and walked around a bit, going by 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Neat to see, but really not that interesting. The city was absolutely jam packed with tourists, in the tube, on the streets, in museums, it was just a zoo. And this is March. I cant imagine what August is like.
That evening I met up with my buddy Zandy, who is studying in London for the semester. We went out to his neighborhood of Northwood (took the tube stop "Harot on the Hill", funny name), got some pizza (actually got full for only £4), and went with some girls he met to a pub/club out near his house. Pretty chill place. Pretty chill night. Not much else to say. Kindov a boring entry, but they should get better when I hit Europe in 10 days.
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Sunday 2 March 2008
Block Report
Last Thursday at 5 am, while huddled together outside waiting for the fire alarm to turn off, I realized just how awkward everybody in my block is. The 15 guys that live here just don't mesh well together - at all. So for my second blog entry, I will discuss everybody in Lydsay Hall I Block, going in order from room 1 to 15. So this is my 'Block Report', if you will.
Room 1: Byger; Caucasian, 5'10", 230; Hometown: Liverpool. He is a supporter of Liverpool FC, and goes to a couple of games a year. As with most of the guys in my block, I'll see him a few times a week in the kitchen, usually making tea, sometimes with his girlfriend struggling to follow some complicated recipe (which is funny to watch). Actually, if it were not for his girlfriend this kid would be a homie, he plays quite a few videogames and watches a lot of TV. The only other downside is that he goes home on the weekends.
Room 2: Runyska; 5'10", 160; Finance major; Born in the UK, his parents emigrated from India and he is fluent in Indian. He has an extremely thick accent, and I ask him to repeat himself quite a bit. I often catch him speaking Indian with the dude in Room 14. Him and his girlfriend are always around, cook dinner every night and watch a lot of American sitcoms. His girlfriend is very friendly and playful. He keeps a clean room and drinks Heinekin mini-kegs. I probably see him the most out of everybody in my block.
Room 3: 5'9", 175; I don't know his name, I have only seen him on a few occasions, usually in the kitchen. He likes to leave notes on his door, like when his dog is visiting.
Room 4: I have no idea who lives here, but I know that somebody does.
Room 5: Johnny, 5'9", 160; From China, studying finance. This dude is probably my best fried in the block. He is eager to strike up a conversation, interested about American, and always trying to give me bootlegged movies (Borat, The Girl Next Door, Seven, Lord of War). He is working to improve his english, which is not that great but better than most Chinese students here. This is his first year studying at Keele. As with all of the Chinese and Indina students here, he eats a lot of rice. But yeah, dude is really chill, and looking to make friends. My only issue is that he can become very distant when holding conversations in Chinese with the other Chinese students. Obviously I cannot understand why they are saying, and they just sortov ignore me. I don't know if I can really hold this against them, but it just adds to the awkwardness of the social dynamic in the block.
Room 6: 5'10", 165; a black dude; I have seen him twice all semester, once he was unlocking his room coming out of the shower (apparently he is concerned about getting jacked). I have never heard him speak, so I wont try to make any generalizations / stereotypes.
Room 7: 5'7", 140; Another student from China, studying economics. Really into his girlfriend, who is always over and has a terrible squeaky high-pitched laugh. I live right above him and hear it all night. But she is really flirty and very nice. Except for the time that she used half my bottle of oil to make some veggie dish. I was a little pissed off.
Room 8: 5'8", 140; Another student from China, also studying finance. This is his third year here. I cant really say much about him, I think he is from Shenzhen.
Room 9: 5'10", 175; Exchange student from France, here for the semester. I met him the first day I got here, and I partied with him at the Union this past friday. A pretty chill cat, likes to flirt and dance with the ladies, especially the other French girls (there are a few here).
Room 10: 5'9", 190; A chuby British kid, whenever I see this dude in the kitchen he always asks me if I am cooking for him, or if I will split my dinner with him ("you are eating that entire pizza??"). Supposedly he is a first year, but he looks older. Actually kinda a weird cat, I cant really explain it but he is a little different in the head.
Room 11: 5'11", 180; This dude is always around, and when he's gone his phone is ringing off the hook. Not a homie at all, very much a pretty boy, always in a hurry, he skips up the stairs one minute and scampers back down the next. Always playing some flamboyant indinan music. I cant figure out whether or not he is British, and my current theory is that he is Austrian (Bruno, anybody?).
Room 12: Myself
Room 13: 5'10", 185; Brit, I met him the first week and have only seen him once since. Economics major. I cant say anything more about him, I have no idea what he does all day. If he never leaves his room or if he is never here, I couldn't tell you.
Room 14: 5'9", 175; From Sri Lanka, ESL, Economics major; in his second year. This dude is always in the kitchen, eats a lot of rice. Knows more about the American presidential race than I do.
Room 15: 5'11", 175; Brit, I have seen him once. He was blasting 'umberella' last week, which is siq. Aside from that, I am not to sure about him. Somebody keeps pranking the upstairs bathroom, and I think that it may be him (or if not, the Sri Lankan dude may unintentionally be doing it). Anyways, I cant say much else about this kid.
So yeah, my block is not that interesting. Not only are most dudes never around, we just don't mesh that well together. However, outside my block I have met some siq British students, especially two second years in my "State and Empire 1530-1720" class. Also, I have met some european exchange students who I have gone to the union with a couple of times. To conclude, here are some terms to summarize the dudes in my block: individual, protective, quiet, selfish, absent, and serious. And some words that should definitely not be used to describe these dudes: chill, laid back, brahs, and trusting.
On another note, the John D. Balling of Keele really sucks. Today I went over 500 mb, and my internet has been blocked until tomorrow. Which is why I have spent the last hour writing this entry.
Room 1: Byger; Caucasian, 5'10", 230; Hometown: Liverpool. He is a supporter of Liverpool FC, and goes to a couple of games a year. As with most of the guys in my block, I'll see him a few times a week in the kitchen, usually making tea, sometimes with his girlfriend struggling to follow some complicated recipe (which is funny to watch). Actually, if it were not for his girlfriend this kid would be a homie, he plays quite a few videogames and watches a lot of TV. The only other downside is that he goes home on the weekends.
Room 2: Runyska; 5'10", 160; Finance major; Born in the UK, his parents emigrated from India and he is fluent in Indian. He has an extremely thick accent, and I ask him to repeat himself quite a bit. I often catch him speaking Indian with the dude in Room 14. Him and his girlfriend are always around, cook dinner every night and watch a lot of American sitcoms. His girlfriend is very friendly and playful. He keeps a clean room and drinks Heinekin mini-kegs. I probably see him the most out of everybody in my block.
Room 3: 5'9", 175; I don't know his name, I have only seen him on a few occasions, usually in the kitchen. He likes to leave notes on his door, like when his dog is visiting.
Room 4: I have no idea who lives here, but I know that somebody does.
Room 5: Johnny, 5'9", 160; From China, studying finance. This dude is probably my best fried in the block. He is eager to strike up a conversation, interested about American, and always trying to give me bootlegged movies (Borat, The Girl Next Door, Seven, Lord of War). He is working to improve his english, which is not that great but better than most Chinese students here. This is his first year studying at Keele. As with all of the Chinese and Indina students here, he eats a lot of rice. But yeah, dude is really chill, and looking to make friends. My only issue is that he can become very distant when holding conversations in Chinese with the other Chinese students. Obviously I cannot understand why they are saying, and they just sortov ignore me. I don't know if I can really hold this against them, but it just adds to the awkwardness of the social dynamic in the block.
Room 6: 5'10", 165; a black dude; I have seen him twice all semester, once he was unlocking his room coming out of the shower (apparently he is concerned about getting jacked). I have never heard him speak, so I wont try to make any generalizations / stereotypes.
Room 7: 5'7", 140; Another student from China, studying economics. Really into his girlfriend, who is always over and has a terrible squeaky high-pitched laugh. I live right above him and hear it all night. But she is really flirty and very nice. Except for the time that she used half my bottle of oil to make some veggie dish. I was a little pissed off.
Room 8: 5'8", 140; Another student from China, also studying finance. This is his third year here. I cant really say much about him, I think he is from Shenzhen.
Room 9: 5'10", 175; Exchange student from France, here for the semester. I met him the first day I got here, and I partied with him at the Union this past friday. A pretty chill cat, likes to flirt and dance with the ladies, especially the other French girls (there are a few here).
Room 10: 5'9", 190; A chuby British kid, whenever I see this dude in the kitchen he always asks me if I am cooking for him, or if I will split my dinner with him ("you are eating that entire pizza??"). Supposedly he is a first year, but he looks older. Actually kinda a weird cat, I cant really explain it but he is a little different in the head.
Room 11: 5'11", 180; This dude is always around, and when he's gone his phone is ringing off the hook. Not a homie at all, very much a pretty boy, always in a hurry, he skips up the stairs one minute and scampers back down the next. Always playing some flamboyant indinan music. I cant figure out whether or not he is British, and my current theory is that he is Austrian (Bruno, anybody?).
Room 12: Myself
Room 13: 5'10", 185; Brit, I met him the first week and have only seen him once since. Economics major. I cant say anything more about him, I have no idea what he does all day. If he never leaves his room or if he is never here, I couldn't tell you.
Room 14: 5'9", 175; From Sri Lanka, ESL, Economics major; in his second year. This dude is always in the kitchen, eats a lot of rice. Knows more about the American presidential race than I do.
Room 15: 5'11", 175; Brit, I have seen him once. He was blasting 'umberella' last week, which is siq. Aside from that, I am not to sure about him. Somebody keeps pranking the upstairs bathroom, and I think that it may be him (or if not, the Sri Lankan dude may unintentionally be doing it). Anyways, I cant say much else about this kid.
So yeah, my block is not that interesting. Not only are most dudes never around, we just don't mesh that well together. However, outside my block I have met some siq British students, especially two second years in my "State and Empire 1530-1720" class. Also, I have met some european exchange students who I have gone to the union with a couple of times. To conclude, here are some terms to summarize the dudes in my block: individual, protective, quiet, selfish, absent, and serious. And some words that should definitely not be used to describe these dudes: chill, laid back, brahs, and trusting.
On another note, the John D. Balling of Keele really sucks. Today I went over 500 mb, and my internet has been blocked until tomorrow. Which is why I have spent the last hour writing this entry.
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Life at Keele after six weeks
I have now been abroad for six weeks, and am finally getting adjusted to life here at Keele. Food and transportation have been the biggest hurdles thus far. They say you don't go to England for the food, and yes this is very true. The food at the restaurants here on campus is terribly bland: hamburgers, pizza, chips, and maybe a pasta dish. So I have been cooking for myself, and have worked out a simple diet: hamburger meat, pasta, frozen lasagna, and sausage. I figure if I can survive off this, I can afford expensive pints of guiness and stella artois at the pubs here on campus.
On another note, it has been interesting living in a block with students from China, India, and Sri Lanka. I mean, I think dudes are having a little trouble adjusting to life outside of the third world. They don't really understand things like flushing the toilet, taking showers, using trash cans, and turning off focits. But they are interesting fellas, always cooking up something exotic.
I made it out to Liverpool this past weekend, saw the Liverpool-Middlesbrough match at Anfield on Saturday. The atmosphere before the game was amazing, with fans spilling out of pubs on every corner into the streets around Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2 on Torres' hat trick. On the train ride back to Stoke I sat with a group of Liverpool fans from Australia, who were hilariously intoxicated and kept chanting 'Gerrard, Gerrard'. Fun times.
I am a little sketched out about hostels after last weekend in Liverpool. At about 4 am on Saturday morning, this dude shows up in my bunk-room, confers with another dude who is sleeping across from me, who brings his bag into the bathroom and they make some sort of swap. After getting into an argument in the hall, dudes leave separately half an hour later. Can I please meet some normal people at a hostel?
I have meta siq Australian fellow here, and we have planned out a trip for late May- early June to the Greek Isles (primarily Santorini), Berlin and then Amsterdam. We booked the flights last night. I found a the website called couchsurfing.com through which you can meet people all over the world and arrainge to stay at their houses for free; they may show you around, hang out, etc. I may also use this over Easter break in eastern europe.
Until something else interesting happens,
Stiff
On another note, it has been interesting living in a block with students from China, India, and Sri Lanka. I mean, I think dudes are having a little trouble adjusting to life outside of the third world. They don't really understand things like flushing the toilet, taking showers, using trash cans, and turning off focits. But they are interesting fellas, always cooking up something exotic.
I made it out to Liverpool this past weekend, saw the Liverpool-Middlesbrough match at Anfield on Saturday. The atmosphere before the game was amazing, with fans spilling out of pubs on every corner into the streets around Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2 on Torres' hat trick. On the train ride back to Stoke I sat with a group of Liverpool fans from Australia, who were hilariously intoxicated and kept chanting 'Gerrard, Gerrard'. Fun times.
I am a little sketched out about hostels after last weekend in Liverpool. At about 4 am on Saturday morning, this dude shows up in my bunk-room, confers with another dude who is sleeping across from me, who brings his bag into the bathroom and they make some sort of swap. After getting into an argument in the hall, dudes leave separately half an hour later. Can I please meet some normal people at a hostel?
I have meta siq Australian fellow here, and we have planned out a trip for late May- early June to the Greek Isles (primarily Santorini), Berlin and then Amsterdam. We booked the flights last night. I found a the website called couchsurfing.com through which you can meet people all over the world and arrainge to stay at their houses for free; they may show you around, hang out, etc. I may also use this over Easter break in eastern europe.
Until something else interesting happens,
Stiff
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