So a while back I posted something on Londonisms, this time I will be going a step further and just tell the truth about the country and its people.
I will start with use of the word "mind". The tube at every stop announces in a rather annoying voice, "mind the gap", before we leave a station it is "mind the doors" and while standing on the platform it is "mind the train". I was also told the other day while trying to squeeze on to the tube to "mind yourself and mind the pushing", he was mad at me but it was still hard to stifle my laugh. I would rather watch my step, the more stuff I mind the less I have for other useless crap in my brain.
This is just me being a bad person but I can't shake the thought out of my head. There is a string of stores called the Co-operative. I do my shopping at the Co-operative Food store next to my flat which is entirely normal, what gets me is they have expanded past grocery stores. this is the statement on their website "A unique family of businesses owned by our members including: Food, Travel, Banking, Insurance, Pharmacy, Funeralcare, Legal Services, Electrical and Beds." I understand food, travel and pharmacy, but the rest I don't get. I don't even know what to make of beds. My favorite though is funeralcare, I pass the shop or parlor everyday on my way to school and I always get the worst thought in my head. It goes something like this:
Dear members, Today George died in a tragic accident involving the automatic doors at our pharmacy while picking up his weekly medications. George was a valued member for the past 30 years and lived a fulfilling 76 years. The service for George will be held on this coming Saturday at 1pm at the Barnet Church of England, we encourage all of you to attend. In the absence of George we will need a greeter to fulfill his normal duties at the service and we now have a 2 hour slot opened for volunteers on Monday and Tuesday. Remember by volunteering you continually reduce the amount of your final service. Please respond to this email or feel free to call me if you wish to take his place.
I know it isn't like that, but everyday that I pass the Co-operative Funeralcare I can't stop thinking of these stories. I suppose that is less England and more me, whatever I still blame them.
Something that I learned last night via twitter is a thing called the Man Flu. I'm not sure if you have heard of this before but it is a very big deal here in England. So big that a study was actually conducted into the possibility of Man Flu. I had to use the power of the internet and specifically Wikipedia to find out what this actually was. This is what Wiki had to say:
Man flu is a pejorative term that refers to the idea many men, when they have a cold, exaggerate and claim they have the flu — the implication being that women do not do so. Whilst a commonly used phrase in the UK, it is referred to in other cultures and there is a growing scientific basis for the phrase. A study published in 2009 was widely reported as supporting the concept that "man flu" exists, but many believe that the media were misunderstanding and/or misrepresenting the science. The study had nothing to do with the flu (the experiment was related to bacterial, not viral, infection)
and was performed on genetically modified mice rather than human
beings, so the results are not necessarily applicable to humans (Wikipedia, 2011). Since everyone is getting sick these days out here everyone is referring to man flu. My suggestion is to type in man flu to google and see what you get, if nothing else it will keep you laughing and entertained for about 10 minutes. My personal favorite so far is http://manflu.info/index.htm worth a look.
In time I will post more, those of you that might get emails my get some of the terms I use. They tend to be hard to think of, I don't notice them unless someone say something about it. I will keep collecting the awkwardness that is England and sharing it with the world.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Enviro rubbish/rant
I have 1 week left before Christmas break, in that time I have a group project that I just got assigned due Tuesday and a paper due Thursday, this is on top of all the reading that I am supposed to keep up with just to understand the lectures. I know it is a masters program I am supposed to work my ass off and I am, I am also not complaining. I might have last week but not anymore.
I don't like everything I read, nor do I care for all that papers I am writing but I do enjoy topic. It is a cross between science and policy all at once [pause...] I just had a laugh at how nerdy/geeky that sounded. Seriously though, my generation will deal with wars and massive shifts in the environment. If you think immigration is a problem now, wait for a couple of decades and then we can talk about mass immigration. You want to remodel your house with hardwood floors? retire late.
I haven't been in a single car since moving to London, I've had no need. I take 2 buses to get to school, I take a bus and a train to get to the grocery store. I took an electric train that hit 189mph to Paris. I wonder what my carbon footprint is now compared to when I lived in the States. I used to drive 30 miles each direction for work 4 months a year. I know that we can't rid the world of cars at all, and there are days where more than anything I want to go for a drive in the country side with the music blaring.
Has this course work changed my life drastically, no not yet. Do I perhaps make small choices that I didn't think of before, sure. Remember when we used to buy cds? It might sound crazy but buying music from i-tunes or amazon is much more environmentally friendly. Think of all the plastic that goes into making a cd, the case and the cellophane wrapping.
Environmentalism isn't something people agree on, global warming/climate change is even worse, but one thing we need to realize is that nothing is infinite. One way to think about it is this: how exciting it is to read an article on new tools used thousands of years ago, what would they find if there was no tomorrow and in 5000 years they dug up your house. For me they would find a couple of glass bottles, a couple of plastic bottles, my klean kanteen, shave cream, spray deodorant, my computer and printer. Not sure if my suitcases would make it that long, perhaps the wheels and the plastic parts, some of my clothes that are made out of who knows what and coins. Now we have found what appear to be tools, made out of rock, wood, and iron, what would the future think of us when they find a garbage dump? At least we know they wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel, as all the tires would still be around. I'm not so embarrassed by the advances in technology and what I use everyday, it is the amount that we should start thinking about. How big is your rubbish bin and how big is your recycling bin?
Okay enough about my ranting, even though I'm as much as fault as anyone else. I tell myself everyday that one little thing everyday will make a difference. Just think, it isn't always about giving things up, perhaps it is about looking at your options more clear.
Hope all is well where ever you may be. I head to Brighton for a few days once school is out, then Alan comes and we are taking a tour of the UK for about 2 weeks. I'm sure I will have much more entertaining things to say then and less about my school work.
I don't like everything I read, nor do I care for all that papers I am writing but I do enjoy topic. It is a cross between science and policy all at once [pause...] I just had a laugh at how nerdy/geeky that sounded. Seriously though, my generation will deal with wars and massive shifts in the environment. If you think immigration is a problem now, wait for a couple of decades and then we can talk about mass immigration. You want to remodel your house with hardwood floors? retire late.
I haven't been in a single car since moving to London, I've had no need. I take 2 buses to get to school, I take a bus and a train to get to the grocery store. I took an electric train that hit 189mph to Paris. I wonder what my carbon footprint is now compared to when I lived in the States. I used to drive 30 miles each direction for work 4 months a year. I know that we can't rid the world of cars at all, and there are days where more than anything I want to go for a drive in the country side with the music blaring.
Has this course work changed my life drastically, no not yet. Do I perhaps make small choices that I didn't think of before, sure. Remember when we used to buy cds? It might sound crazy but buying music from i-tunes or amazon is much more environmentally friendly. Think of all the plastic that goes into making a cd, the case and the cellophane wrapping.
Environmentalism isn't something people agree on, global warming/climate change is even worse, but one thing we need to realize is that nothing is infinite. One way to think about it is this: how exciting it is to read an article on new tools used thousands of years ago, what would they find if there was no tomorrow and in 5000 years they dug up your house. For me they would find a couple of glass bottles, a couple of plastic bottles, my klean kanteen, shave cream, spray deodorant, my computer and printer. Not sure if my suitcases would make it that long, perhaps the wheels and the plastic parts, some of my clothes that are made out of who knows what and coins. Now we have found what appear to be tools, made out of rock, wood, and iron, what would the future think of us when they find a garbage dump? At least we know they wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel, as all the tires would still be around. I'm not so embarrassed by the advances in technology and what I use everyday, it is the amount that we should start thinking about. How big is your rubbish bin and how big is your recycling bin?
Okay enough about my ranting, even though I'm as much as fault as anyone else. I tell myself everyday that one little thing everyday will make a difference. Just think, it isn't always about giving things up, perhaps it is about looking at your options more clear.
Hope all is well where ever you may be. I head to Brighton for a few days once school is out, then Alan comes and we are taking a tour of the UK for about 2 weeks. I'm sure I will have much more entertaining things to say then and less about my school work.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
It isn't easy being green
I've been in London now for 2 months. To say what everyone says, it seems like I just got here. I figured I would use annoying sayings because the name of the post.
I feel like I have settled in well, I'm in a routine. There are times when I still feel like I'm here on holiday just hanging out, but most of the time it is starting to feel like home. London is a great city and I'm enjoying my time here. Now that doesn't mean I don't miss home.
I have about 10 days left before Christmas break and I'm feeling it. It is days like this that I miss home most. I never thought I would say this but I miss the simplicity of home sometimes.
It takes at least 20 minutes for me to get to a good grocery store. That means walking for 15 and a 5 minute tube ride. It's not that big of a deal but I do get tired of holding onto bags on a crammed tube carriage and then getting on a bus. Not as easy as having a car.
Also the novelty of the accents have worn off. I still don't understand people at times. I was trying to pay for my groceries the other day and there was something in the way of the screen and for the life of me I didn't know what the checker was saying. It also happens more than I would like to admit at pubs.
I am also getting tired of hearing "American?" and yes just like that and "you actually like football?". Yeah to both of them folks. They also tend to get pretty surprised when I actually know about the sport. It just gets old, the same 5 questions every time, the same responses. I feel like a new toy getting passed around the room when people find out.
I really do like it here, but I guess I never really thought there were going to be so many times when I really missed home. I guess I knew that was going to happen but it happens more often than I thought it would. I expected to miss home at times, just not as much as I do. I miss it the most when it takes me 30 minutes to get anywhere, or as I said going the store.
Most of all I miss everyone back home. The people here are great, but they aren't family. I have more and more respect for those that move to other countries for jobs and extended period of times. It isn't the easiest thing someone can do.
So it isn't easy being green.
I feel like I have settled in well, I'm in a routine. There are times when I still feel like I'm here on holiday just hanging out, but most of the time it is starting to feel like home. London is a great city and I'm enjoying my time here. Now that doesn't mean I don't miss home.
I have about 10 days left before Christmas break and I'm feeling it. It is days like this that I miss home most. I never thought I would say this but I miss the simplicity of home sometimes.
It takes at least 20 minutes for me to get to a good grocery store. That means walking for 15 and a 5 minute tube ride. It's not that big of a deal but I do get tired of holding onto bags on a crammed tube carriage and then getting on a bus. Not as easy as having a car.
Also the novelty of the accents have worn off. I still don't understand people at times. I was trying to pay for my groceries the other day and there was something in the way of the screen and for the life of me I didn't know what the checker was saying. It also happens more than I would like to admit at pubs.
I am also getting tired of hearing "American?" and yes just like that and "you actually like football?". Yeah to both of them folks. They also tend to get pretty surprised when I actually know about the sport. It just gets old, the same 5 questions every time, the same responses. I feel like a new toy getting passed around the room when people find out.
I really do like it here, but I guess I never really thought there were going to be so many times when I really missed home. I guess I knew that was going to happen but it happens more often than I thought it would. I expected to miss home at times, just not as much as I do. I miss it the most when it takes me 30 minutes to get anywhere, or as I said going the store.
Most of all I miss everyone back home. The people here are great, but they aren't family. I have more and more respect for those that move to other countries for jobs and extended period of times. It isn't the easiest thing someone can do.
So it isn't easy being green.
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