I'm laying here for the 3rd morning in a row that I've somehow developed the disgusting pattern of going to bed at 7pm-9pm and then waking up again at 5am. You know the different feelings of waking up? There's the kind where you just wake up normally, and then the kind where you literally feel like you've been sleeping so hard that your face was smashed against the pillow with the force of life? Drool can also accompany this, but I won't admit to that. Anyway, I had this this morning. Again. Pretty sure Jordin is on a swift path to killing me for my freakish hours. Last night we were supposed to do our nails before bed and I literally was in a comatose state asleep with facebook on and my laptop on my lap. She even messaged me "Yer SO lame" on FB chat whilst I lay there in my stupor.... Ah, well. Cest La VIE! I would eat a glass muffin for a normal night's sleep at this point.
Yesterday/Last night was extremely fun/entertaining though. We had our first snafu vis a vis traveling on the tube, however. On our way to class we discovered that our bus to finsberry park tube station wasn't coming at our normal stop. *Insert mini panic attack here* So we were forced to ask random people around us what to do. (P.S. Jordin and me are VERY different people when it comes to directions. She is naturally quite good at maneuvering maps and has amazing street smarts, whilst I..... Don't. I prefer the method of asking EVERYONE around me to point me in the right direction. She hates asking people. This has made for some interesting days. She definitely wants to punch me when I start randomly assailing people for directions.)
Also, another thing that frustrates me here is the fact that whenever I ask someone for directions, it seems that EVERY SINGLE PERSON points in opposite ways when we ask. One person tells us the tube station is right... we get lost and ask again and then that person points left.... etc. But at least it's not like in France when I asked and the person heard my American accent and they rolled their eyes and probably were pointing us towards the nearest cliff.
So ANYWHO (and yes, I just said anywho) we finally got ourselves back on track and got to the tube station. It takes about 45 minutes to get to school. This intensifies my problem of being on time to class by ... a lot, let's just say. We were only 6 minutes late when we finally arrived, though. Thank god.
Our first class was British Life & Culture. Lots of talk about the history of England etc. But one thing I learned is that Brits get VERY annoyed when you refer to England as part of Europe. I always seem to forget that we're actually on an Island here. It's odd to think about. Our teacher is a British professor. And lectures are about 2.5 hours long. Meaning that I can stay awake for about 2.5% of it, due to my acute & undiagnosed ADHD (triple D, squared, to the ninth power.) He did inform us of some interesting facts, though. Which I found amusing/hilarious. #1) The earliest form of indigenous people that Britain can trace back are called the BEAKER people. (The name is funny enough.) They are the people who made stonehenge, though. They apparently built up those huge mounds (hahahahahaha to the word 'mounds' for those of you that understand. For those of you that don't, sorry." ) to bury their loved ones underneath and they buried them with clay "beakers" or little pots. When I hear Beaker people, though, I can't help but think of the dude from Sesame street named Beaker, and then I think of thousands of HIM running around in the English countryside as a meager farming nation.... AKA HILARIOUS.
Also, another fun fact. I read SO many things before I came here that the people in London/England drink beer WARM so as to bring out the flavor. I hate beer. & thinking about drinking it warm made me throw up in my mouth. Our British professor dismissed this fact as TOTALLY false. He said no one drinks warm beer. *Metaphorical wiping of brow* WHEW.
ALSO. He informed us that the English are very reserved and sometimes seen as cold or unfeeling. I can see that. Already on the tube it is obvious most times that Jordin and me are American. But I've almost nailed seeming like a true Londoner on the tube. Step #1) You MUST look like you want to kill yourself. This can be done by having a look of boredom/pain on your face. Hanging your head in sorrow, etc.
#2)Bring something to read so that you can have ANOTHER reason to NOT look up at ANYONE. Even if it is a fortune cookie.
#3)DO NOT scramble for a seat. Look around shiftily before you assume that you can sit down.
and #4) DO NOT. And I mean, do NOT, make direct eye contact with someone. One must perfect the shifty eye technique (which I am proud to say I've mastered.) This includes being able to get a good look at the people around you and as soon as their eyes turn towards yours you immediately look at the next person.
Now, BADABING, you are a Londoner on the tube. Oh, and I forgot one thing. Don't look like a chicken with your head cut off when you get off at your stop and wonder which way to go. I do it every time. Usually there is a sign DIRECTLY over my head that says "Way Out" (they make it even easier rather than saying 'exit') but I still seem to miss it. Jordin really needs to fashion for me one of those baby leashes that parents put on their children to make them stick near you. I'd appreciate it. Especially if it was in a sassy print like snakeskin or leopard.
After we got done with class we decided to go and get our first English Tea. We went to this adorable little tea shop right near our school. #1 most annoying thing about British (and most European restaurants) that we've discovered is that it is like PULLING TEETH to get service at one. You basically have to lasso the waiter and risk being very annoying by asking him (up to346456534234243 times to take your order). #1 BEST thing about restaurants (and everywhere else here) NO TIPPING. That's right, NONE. But we ordered scones and tea. The most delicious thing I've had yet here is a scone with clotted cream. Clotted cream SOUNDS like it would be something rotten that you would never want to ingest, but in reality it's like a mixture of homemade whipping cream and really sweet butter. AKA "whoot whoot!!! next stop, my THIGHS" but delicious nonetheless.
After that we went to have a beer with some friends and experienced our first English pub. The atmosphere was amazing. However I did notice that the beer truly IS about five million bajillion times stronger than in the US, so lightweights (like me and Jordin) beware. We were a little groggy getting back to our bus stop. Whoops.
Well, it is now my second morning in a row that I've been blogging at 630AM, so hopefully this will help put me back to sleep. No class at all today so I'm not sure what we've got in store. I definitely know for a fact though that first on our priority list is some traditional fish and chips at a pub. I can't believe we still haven't had any yet. Adios!
OH and one GIANT PS: I am trying, but I get a little excited sometimes so forgive some misspellings and grammar from hell. It is 6AM after all.
Well, au revoir, lovely people who are taking the time to read my awful blabberings.
xo Mollie
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