England update

[jaala]

tourist-y things I have done in England:

gotten quite comfortable using the London Underground, actually

ridden upstairs on a double-decker bus (because I was trying to get somewhere, not just for fun)

been in Islington! (touristy for me only because of h2g2 references)

had my photo taken at 221B Baker Street

walked around the tourist-y area of Covent Garden and seen young women there actually still selling flowers (for tourists, of course)

visited Forbidden Planet megastore (and bought a Doctor Who audio adventure, I'm afraid)

seen (the outside of) Southwark Cathedral

seen (the outside of) the replica of The Golden Hinde

seen London Bridge (the new one, of course)

seen (but not walked along) the Millennium Bridge

walked along the Thames as the sun was setting and took photos of it against the London skyline

seen (the outside of) the Clink Prison Museum

seen (the outside of) the reconstructed Globe Theatre

visited the Tate Modern art gallery (at nine o'clock at night)

seen Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station (but was alone and wasn't feeling brash enough to get someone to take my photo)

cultural things I've done:

slept six nights in a hostel and actually gotten rather attached to that creaky bunk bed; roommates included a 26-year-old woman from New York City (with whom I got along very well), another SWAP participant from Ottawa, a very macho-ooh-I'm-a-bad-boy Australian young man, a pleasant and friendly young man from Australia who snored incredibly, an English young man who was "between flats" and had a job with very odd hours, and several people with whom I never spoke (just saw them asleep)

discovered another thing I really dislike about Britain: one is exposed to a lot more cigarette smoke

discovered that pub/bar kitchens and restaurants close ridiculously early in London

drunk beer (bitter, Guinness) and/or eaten at three different pubs (not bars), two of which were actual real English pubs

gotten to the point where I at least usually realize when I've used a Canadian or American term instead of a British one almost immediately after saying it (if I didn't remember beforehand)

learned that the best way to blend in with Londoners is to look cross and walk quickly

learned to fake an English accent when saying, "Thanks," "Cheers," and "Where is the bathroom?" to the point where people understand me more easily

gotten used to the fact that the "customer is always right" eager-to-please type of service is not necessarily provided here

attended an LJ picnic in Cambridge

tried marmite (but only a tiny bit) and am undecided whether I like it or not

watched "Doctor Who" with a bunch of people who came to womble2 and tea_cantata's house expressly for the purpose; yes, I am miffed that I've now missed two episodes by coming here from Canada

discovered that lactose-free milk is not available here (at least not readily)

job/life-related things I've done:

opened a bank account

acquired a pay-as-you-go mobile phone

had my CV checked at BUNAC and printed out copies (which need to be updated now that I've got the phone, actually)

lost my SWAPpers Guide to the UK (not a good thing)

visited some job agencies in Cambridge and sent them my CV

gotten an interview with Scudamores

visited and approved (with a couple minor reservations) a possible housing arrangement (tiny room but only £130 a month plus expenses)

Comments

[countertony.livejournal.com]

If I recell correctly, the business in question at 221B was a bank or building society, who employed a member of staff to reply to mail addressed to Mr Holmes.

With regard to platform 9 3/4, if memory serves they actually filmed the Muggle section (for the purposes of the Potter films) at Euston station, as it had more suitable architecture. I could, of course, be entirely wrong at this point.

Who operated the hostel you stayed in? All those run by YHA (that I've stayed in) were segregated by sex unless you booked the whole room.

Glad to see that you're safe and sound in the UK - I gather that you're coming to CCDE, in which case I shall see you then :-)

[womble2.livejournal.com]

Actually the bank is/was at 221 and there never used to be a 221b. Perhaps the bank decided to cash in by splitting the address to create a 221b? I've never been to look.

[jaala]

The hostel I stayed at--the first two nights were pre-booked for me by the SWAP program and I couldn't be bothered to switch for the other nights--was run by St Christopher's Inns.