Snail Mail

I never get mail..but yesterday I got TWO letters in the mail from Barkingside Rotary: 1. David and Jane Smith, a very sweet couple who took me in at the last minute when my host couldn't, mailed me a picture of the group while we were in Eastbourne. I expressed I'd like a picture and they got me one!!


2. The President, Alan Coleman, sent me the November Bulletin, with our picture on the front, as well as a blurb about me. Emails are easy, and text messages/phone calls are ok, but SNAIL mail is always the best!

Last night I went to York Gate to meet some of the London city club presidents. I was quite surprised at the amount of people that attended. There were a few presentations from various local charities, and a few introductions to future members/president elects. I enjoyed meeting some of the presidents and hope and trust that I'll be speaking at all of their clubs in the near future.


Last but not least, I'll be attending Rotaract's christmas party in a few weeks and I'll be speaking to the audience, sharing a bit about myself with the "folks." I look forward to all of it - school is kicking in so I'm signing out! au revoir!

I'm so busy, my wine glasses are the only clean dishes...

...it's true. I've neglected, or rather put-off, my dirty dishes all week. (Please note the one and only picture of my current situation, coffee in a wine glass.) I don't know how much longer I can go. This morning, having coffee from a wine glass made me feel a bit creative. But more so, I felt a like I was living large...ironically enough, I wasn't living well enough to have washed my dirty coffee cups.

School has been SO busy. I sometimes forget (until this week) that I'm in a MA program, and I'll actually have to write papers, do research and show something for myself. School has been going very well, I've been making many friends (none of whom are from the UK) to keep me social while walking to and from class.

I've attended my second Rotaract meeting last night at the BBar in Victoria Station (an overly-priced, too small restaurant that offers a variety of exported drinks and food.) They meet twice a month, and last night the Westminster Rotaract members had the privilege of hearing myself and two other ambassadorial scholars discuss our origins and the nature of the Ambassadorial scholarship.

I must say, in the most unbiased way, I encouraged each of the members to attend a Rotary meeting and get to know some of the local Rotarians. I was surprised most of them had not done so already.

Another thing I must address that was an err on my part from the last entry, thanks to Mr. Alan Coleman, Eastbourn is NOT in fact East-bound, but rather directly below London. So officially, my trip to the Rotary conference was North-bound to Eastbourne...doesn't make much sense, because almost every place, area, location, street name, has a reasoning behind it (unlike Atlanta, where every corner is named Peachtree.)

Last week, I went to Rotary of Barkingside's meeting because David Wynne-Fitzgerald (or "Fitz" as I later found out) spoke about life in law. I met a few new visitors, said hello to the faith 12-15 that usually attend, and hugged my host, Diane Wynne-Fitzgerald.

Next week, I'll be speaking about my Chrisitan-southern background to Gant's Hill Rotary club. I'm very excited, since I met most of the members at the conference. They've promised me an authentic Indian cuisine, and I'm hoping to not be disappointed.

I apologize for the lack of aesthetics in this post, but truly my life has been spent in the Library or kitchen, and sometimes asleep in bed, for the past few weeks.

I hope to take other pictures as I plan on speaking three more times before December. Wish me luck!

East-bound to Eastbourne

School has really snuck up to me these past few weeks, leaving me very little time for my "pleasure" work, like blogging, journaling, Google-reading and yoga. Things I had so so much time mere weeks ago are things that I now have to pencil in my journal.

Since I've began my uni here, I feel that I've already learned so many things. Sure, I've been reading political commentaries and historical frameworks for Foreign Policies, but it's been eye-opening none-the-less. I usually only have school Monday (twice a month) through Wednesday. During these days, I take my c2 bus to Oxford Circus, show up, listen and take notes in class, then run out before oxford circus becomes - well - a circus. Rightly so. People pile into the tubes and cram their hot, sweaty bodies down steaming tile corridors, pushing with a smile, just to get only a few inches ahead of you..sound familiar to you Atlanta commuters?

At any rate, I truly hope that the outcomes my mind discovers and the things I've discovered about others, but mainly about myself, aren't easily forgotten. I think the biggest part that has added to my international experience are my flatmates. Let me briefly list off to you the nations represented in the picture: Japan, Rwanda, Uganda, Germany, France, UK, Italy (others not listed: Iran and India). This paints a cultured picture to you of how international my life has been going.]]
We do a cultured snack/dinner once a week where each person volunteers to cook a small portion of something that represents their hometown.

On to the East side of things...
I did go on the annual London Rotary Conference on the stony beaches of the East UK. What a fun time I had just meeting people, hanging with my host club, Rotary of Barkingside, and hanging with the other scholars.

We went to a Gala dance on Saturday with a band, balloons and partying. See pics below

My awesome Pres and Wife from Barkingside Rotary!




Climbing near the cliffs beside the water...one of the most beautiful moments I have been privileged to experience.




My table at the Gala..this is Gant's Hill club. I'll be speaking to them next week

Nice looking bunch :)

Frogs and Faries and Laundry - another day in London

I sound like a frog...it's true. I've been sick for the past few weeks. And of course, as an American procrastinator, I wait until I get sick to try to register with the doctor. It's really great having National Insurance - the NHS plan. But oddly enough, I've found that most of the elderly here are really REALLY old. There are so many people here that have different types of arthritis and hunched backs - I can't help but think it's because of you have to literally carry everything you'll need for the rest of the day with you. This includes any groceries or other items you'll purchase along the way. Nonetheless, I've been sitting in my closet room - doing laundry, sleeping, but mainly Skyping with Caio.

Another thing I've noticed about "londoners" is their habitual need for a "fag." Every where I go, accented business men and women are pulling out their skinny white cigs for a few puffs before getting onto the Tube - Oh this brings me to another topic...

I wholeheartedly believe that I've gotten sick from being on the tube. In fact, I'm so sure of it that I've banned the tube all together for the next few weeks. I've purchased hand sanitizer, hand soap and vitamin C to undo what was done to me on that horrid piece of machinery. The tube has been on and off strike - usually over the weekend - so the bus is the next option. It's not so bad either. I know where I'm going, and I usually drive straight through Soho, which is very entertaining but also frustrating for a young, poor college graduate.

Yesterday I had my first presentation at the Rotary of Barkingside. I've met them before, but in honor of the President, here's a picture.



The presentation went well and I don't think I bored the audience too much - I always try to use pictures instead of words on a screen. I'll be headed with them to Eastbourne in a few weeks, so I'm looking forward to getting to know each of the members individually.

On the school side, I have yet to meet an American taking my International Relations course. It's good and bad. Good because I get to know so so SO many different people with different cultures. On the bad side, it's quite easy to get put into a box of the rest of Americans (they assume you know nothing outside of the U.S.) whenever I have something to say. I was expecting this, especially in the field of International Relations. But what I've also come to find out, is that alot of students my age know more about their own country than the rest of the world. Part of this is natural, however, but it sorta makes me feel good. Most of the time, I'm familiar with a few of the events that have taken place outside the States.

Secondly, I've gotten to know the girls on my hall very well. We've nicknamed our kitchen the "Fairy" kitchen because when we first moved in, everyone bought the cheapest dish soap called "Fairy." We've decided to have a dinner every Wednesday night. A few people will volunteer to make something very small, but enough for everyone to try. It's a great way for us to stay connected and know that we're all living together in one hall, so we might as well get to know each other. Ironically, there are girls representing the following countries: Japan, Germany, Italy, France, India, Nigeria, Rwanda and Iran.

I'll have to get pictures up soon...

Rotary and Oxford

I've finally settled into my quaint (and I emphasize the word quaint) apartment/dorm. The location is absolutely amazing..three blocks from Westminster, Parliament and the London Eye. But my room is TINY!

Enough about that, this post is a bit of a view on Oxford. I've added pictures at the bottom. After a huge and often times unfriendly stay in London thus far...Oxford was undoubtedly REFRESHING. Not only was my Rotarian host amazing, but also my room was HUGE! I felt very much at home with how everything was set up. I didn't realize how much I missed spacious greenery until I was in Oxford. The more north you travel in London/UK, the more American Southern you find things. And what I've discovered since being away from home? I really do like the South. Can't deny my roots!

Our Oxford trip was short-lived, but fun nonetheless. I met alot of other Rotarian scholars and made memories with other Rotarian members in Oxford. My host was so great, she showed me around the area I stay at (Northern Oxford) and showed me some "Northern" hospitality.

On Saturday night, we all met up with surrounding Rotarian clubs for a "Barn" dance and good company. I first didn't exactly like the idea, but once I was forced onto the dance floor, I had alot of fun - again, another feeling of home.

The dance was alot like the kind of dancing you would find in Pride and Prejudice or Emma. In fact, my Rotary host and I kept calling dibs on Darcy, because we knew he would "waltz" through the door at any moment.

Oxford showed me alot that not all people in London are uneasy about hugging goodbye. And most often, I misinterpret unfriendliness for a different culture. All-in-all I met some great Rotarian scholars, was able to make good memories with them - including tasting some yummy fish and chips at a pub where Tolkein and C.S. Lewis used to converse!

Enough talk, more pictures...

My Host Family: David and Diane Wynne-Fitzgerald, took me to tour inside the Tower of London for my birthday. It was a complete surprise. I learned alot of history and ate my first fish and chips!

Meeting Rotarians from ALL OVER the world and enjoying a very cultured lunch.

Kate, from Australia, and I both admiring the HUGE Oxford library. Wish we could of gone inside!

Enjoying some bitter with Rotarian scholars...at a pub that C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien hung out.

The guessing Game

I’ve gone through all of my international student enrollment. (I refuse to take on the different spelling that the British has here.) It’s so strange to think of myself as an international student, but I surely am, and had someone comment on my ‘accent’ for the first time the other day. I didn’t know how to respond. I’ve also had people ask me where I’m from - I thought this would be obvious in my accent, but so far it hasn’t been.

I went into the city of London for the first time on Monday. It was alot like New York, only with accents. There are TONS of accents in London, not just British. I met a gal from China at Westminster University, but I thought she was also from the U.S. because her English had the lack of British flair. That’s when she told me that her language tutor was from the States and not London - go figure.

I met three Americans - the only Americans that attended the student enrollment. I didn’t realized what a trek it was to commute from Northeast Newbury Park to Oxford Circus. It’s nearly an hour to get to where I need to be! Another frustrating realization. So it does make it difficult when I meet these students, and they all go out together and have fun, while I’m having to worry about training it back to Newbury.

It’s very strange to be in school again. Although classes haven’t started, I still have the college feeling. Enrollment was for all new international students, so even if you’re a postgrad, you’re required to attend. There's a faint feeling of newness, like I should find the closest Bed, Bath & Beyound to purchase a pink and black matching bedroom set. Between opening up a bank account and getting cash in the UK, to dealing with my host family, it's has definitely felt new. I think they are unsure that I am capable of getting from place to place on my own. However, I’ve done very well at commuting and we’re working through that.

The other students I met are incredibly diverse. I met two french gals to start out with, and out of desperation, planning on staying the night with them in the city so I wouldn’t have to go back up to Newbury Park. In the end, I didn’t stay with the French girls. I felt a bit uncomfortable staying with them. I also met two guys studying my same MA program, they are both from the Middle East, and were a little too clingy for me. But they were nice to talk with for a few minutes.

It’s unfortunate, but expected, that I would feel more comfortable with the American gal I met on Tuesday. Her name is Caitlin, and so far, she’s been a Godsend. She’s from Tampa, so we immediately clicked. Though we’ve done a good job associating with everyone, we’ve also gone out shopping together, made plans to run and market hop on Saturday and I’ve seen her ridiculously ‘post’ flat. It's incredibly spacious, modern and overlooks one of the busiest streets in the city. It's very exciting to meet someone who felt just as lonely as I did when she first arrived. We’ve both left behind loved ones, but we’ve had such a blast together that it’s been very comforting.

I also met another Rotarian scholar - Angela. She’s from Germany and is LOADS of fun. We went on a boat down the Thames River (which I found out is pronounces “Tims” here - go figure.) We all had drinks and socialized. Next thing I knew, Angela was dancing all over the dance floor - she was a good dancer too!

Since commuting back and forth to London, I thought I’d find myself constantly trying not to stare at the girls clothing, fashion and style. So far, the only problem I’ve had is trying to keep from eavesdropping in on conversations. It’s been sort of a guessing game lately, each person as their own accent and I’ve found myself listening to the locals talk and trying to guess from where in Europe did they come.

So far, I’ve had Ireland, Australia, India, Ghana, AMERICA (yes, there’s a british-american accent that I hope I don’t end up developing while here!) It’s been quite a guessing game.

Indian and Ilford

I leave for my first venture to the actual city of London tomorrow. For those that don't realize how large London actually is, I'll try to relate it to Atlanta. I currently reside in Ilford, which is northeast of the actual down town area. I'm in the Decatur, GA of London, if that makes sense.

Before I got here, I expected (of course that gets you in trouble when you expect things) this area to be much like the pictures you see on the Sartorialist or people who belong on the Vogue runway. Although there is a part of London that is fashion based (mainly Soho across from where I'll be attending school) it's very small. There's also the biggest part of London: the history.

For those who don't know, the United Kingdom ruled a major part of India and the Middle East for quite sometime. And when I say ruled, I mean (According to David, local Londoner) "We beat the crap out of them." Because of this massive kingdom, Middle Easterners, Sri Lankis - all of them migrated to London. Years later, after a few generations passed, all of London has been infiltrated with these people. (I hope infiltrated does not communicate negative connotation.) So that when you see a Muslim couple walking down the street, they speak perfect accented English that it's a bit surprising.

In Ilford, you'll find a huge majority of Indians, so much so that I can't walk around the corner, go into a restaurant, walk to a coffee shop, into a mall without being completely surrounded. There are about five different churches all along High Road that consist of many different religions, Muslim, Sri Lankin, Jewish, etc. Very different than the South!

Today we ventured to a nearby Indian cuisine inside a very ancient ex-pub. I was excited at the thought of eating at an exotic place. Garlic, sugar and other spices along with a faint, musty smell similar to moth balls. I like to be open minded and was very grateful for the free meal of Indian cuisine, but the food tasted just like the smell. I was quite taken back with a small feeling of nausea - and I am in love with Indian food back homw! Debating on whether I should eat the food or just order french fries, all I could tell myself - when in Rome. After consumption - I felt like I ate a spiced Indian man.

Another fact about Ilford is the high level of elderly people that exist. I'm just dying to be with someone younger, not even my age - heck I'd would a 10 year old just to be around someone younger! London's downtown is filled with a younger generation, but just outside I've found quite a bit of old people. In fact, the very house I'm staying at dates back to the 1930s. There are two window panes that done a type of cloudy glass used for the windows in London during World War I and II. When I told the couple that they could sell those panes and make alot of money, they answered, "Yea, but those windows are part of our house!" Oh to be a young person in a foreign land.

The other day I went to church with the couple I'm staying with. It was a Church of England, much like Episcopalian, created from Henry the VIII when he split from the Catholic church because the pope refused to remarry Henry to a more 'fertile' wife. The church was over a 100 years old. When I said how beautiful it was, the answer I got back was "Yea, but this is more of a modern church." Woah! It was rather modern inside, but I enjoyed the fresh baked bread and the opera and broadway music performance. Again, another treat from my host.

Needless to say, though I was expecting to be thrown into the hussle and bussle of the young, hip, fashionable and intellectual London my mind had created, I found a very different one here so far. Though the intellect still resides that, a slow-moving, very foreign Ilford that serves weak "Americano" coffee's proves that there's a bit of London I had not known.

Until the next time....