Eloise at the Plaza, its a story about a little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York. She causes a lot of trouble and manages to get everyone angry at her, but she is just so damn cute! So it doesn't matter.
Thanks to the loveliness that is the BAA, British Airways has put me up in a hotel for the past 4 days, and I check out tomorrow to **hopefully** catch my flight. Hotel living is kinda fun and sad at the same time. I get to lounge around in my room and watch TV, which I haven't done in months! I mean, who thought that catching Dukes Of Hazard last night on TV would make my trip. Thank god no one tried to talk to me after that, or they would have heard the worst of accents. But at the same time, it's a bit lonely.
It was more fun when Anna was here, because there was someone to talk to. I really now only have myself to talk to, and as my Aunt Mary says: "At least you know you're having an intelligent conversation." The plus side is, I don't have to worry about waking anyone up, or having them wake me up. I can do whatever I please and no one can stop me. I really have no responsibilities right now, and therefore no one to answer to. I could be doing some studying for my exams in January, but I'd rather not. I might work on my Chemistry coursework that is due when I get back, but I'm not going to stress over it just yet.
The most interesting thing about being in a hotel is eating alone. I could just order room service, it's about comparable to the restaurant... but I feel that is even more sad, and then I would never really leave my room. So I go to the restaurant. It's funny how many people are down there eating at a table for 1. I even thought about asking one of them to join me, or just sitting at one of those tables and making conversation. But that would be weird, maybe I'll try it tonight when I go down. And I will report back as necessary. Who knows, I may meet the love of my life down there.
Here is what one does in a hotel:
1-eat
2-sleep
3-take really long showers
4-watches TV
5-goes to the hotel bar/restaurant
6-talks to people at home
7-goes exploring
8-reads
9-Anything else that doesn't involve studying
I think a nap may be in order... along with some lovely TLOTR:FOTR (if you don't know what that is, shame on you)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
LHR, my Frenemmy
December 18, 2010:
Ever seen the movie 'Love Actually?' Honestly, who hasn't? It's one of the great recent Christmas movies that has come out recently. Although it is great, there hasn't been much competition for amazing Christmas movies. But that is an argument for another time, place, and day.
The reason I bring it up, is 'Love Actually' starts with the super awkwardly sexy voice of Hugh Grant (I love Hugh Grant) saying something along the lines of "if you ever need to believe in love, go to the Heathrow international arrivals area..." They never said anything about the departure zones.
I was supposed to be leaving for home on Saturday (18/12/10) to go back to the US, where everything is bigger, steak can be served at every meal, and anything will probably give you a heart attack just from eating it (although it is probably worth every delicious bite). And here I am, stuck, at Heathrow. Where there is probably the best shopping, food, lounging areas, or anything else that makes you think of comfort, happiness, and spending too much money. But you have to get past security first. Which means you have to have a boarding pass. Which means that you have to have a flight that is taking off. Which I don't have...
Why? You might you ask... simply because Heathrow airport got some snow. Oh LHR! One of my favorite airports. I rave about how I love to fly in and out of here all the time. I'm a pro! I love to take the Heathrow Express from terminal 1-3 to terminal 5. It's so fast, and well, AWESOME! But nope, today British Airways (BA) had to cancel flights from 10-5 today. There is a total of about 5-8 inches of snow, and the roads were pretty terrible on the way in today. Ashley and I worried about it on our way and even laughed when traffic slowed down and we just kept saying "it can always get worse." The sad thing is: I knew about my flight getting cancelled at about 9 AM, I was just already on the bus on my way to Heathrow and there was no turning back. It's kinda ironic. There is nothing that I can do to fix it, except maybe offer to shovel. But at the same time, there isn't that much snow, why can't they cope? On our drive in today, there wasn't a single plow that I saw on the road and it was a 4 hour drive. Where are all the plows? Scotland?
I'm not hating on the system, I understand they have no idea what to do and how to appease 2,000 people who are all stranded before the holidays. But man, it's fun to sit next to some sisters from Frankfurt and hear them swearing in German as they try to get home. Or even some other American citizens who are on my same cancelled flight discussing the ability to pay for hotels and trying to find out where to go for the night, and even worse: how to get there. I'm only a few hours into my waiting, but I think I'm going to stick it out. Hope for the best. I'm sure I'll be updating this every little bit, for you it may be a new paragraph, for me a few hours. I think I need to find a way to play my epilepsy card.
Update 1(3:30 PM): Ashley's flight got cancelled and she is coming to terminal 5, where it is considerably less crowded, to join me. This should be fun as we try to figure out what to do about a hotel. BA is paying for it, I have a letter to prove it, so why not?!? I'm going to go try to talk to someone again, who I'm sure will tell me to go home if I can and call and reschedule. But I want to get out of here soon... so no, I'm not going back to Cardiff. That is a residence, not my home. Virginia is my home, get me there!
Update 2 (8:30 PM): no hotels, they were way to expensive and the queue for hotel reservations was crazy not fun times. We were in line for almost an hour, when the lovely Anna showed up and we decided it would be better to find a plug to charge our phones and get a good dinner and go find a place to camp out and go to bed! Well, trashy magazines, sausage and mash, and a lovely bit of relaxing on a couch later... we are back to hanging out in Terminal 5. Keep in mind I'm the only one flying out of this terminal (if I get a flight). But it's so comfortable, and less crowded, and somehow has happy babies, not screaming ones. There is a queue from one side to the other in the terminal, with who knows how many twists and turns for rebooking in the morning. The desk for rebooking doesn't open until 5:45 AM... and its not even 9 PM yet. Oh I can't wait for the morning!!!! Well it seems we are getting comfy, as Anna and Ashley have blankets. But i'm sure I'll have something to say in the morning. Especially now that I finally have internet after trying for 6 hours to get onto it, and paying 9.95 pounds for it for the next 24 hours.
Update 3 (10 PM): MOM GOT ME A FLIGHT! Ok, by this point I know you don't care. But she did, and she is awesome. She told a stranger that she loved them, but hey, it worked. This means I'll be stateside tomorrow by about 3 PM! Hopefully that will actually happen. Now if only I didn't feel bad about leaving Anna and Ashley with the luggage while I go have a celebratory drink at the 5 Tuns, I wish they could just bring it to me instead of me walking the 27 feet... now just waiting for the confirmation email.
December 19, 2010
Update 4 (5:45 AM): looks like most flights are cancelled again today... I think Anna and I are going to go find a hotel, because this floor is not comfortable. Ashley stands a chance, but we are considering trying to get a room simply for the shower and the actual bed to sleep on. Well here I come Radisson Hotel...
December 20, 2010
Update 5: We did get a hotel. We did take a shower, which was very much needed. But the best part: We took baths. I haven't evne had to option to take a bath for the last 3 and a half months. I dont understand how this is working. BAA keeps cancelling most flights, today for the third day in a row all flights have been cancelled for the rest of the night starting at 4 PM. They will be trying to get international flights, and have eased the night flying restrictions to allow airlines to operate through the night if they can. it feels like they don't know what they are doing. i have to say, hope is gone for most. I'm sticking with my Thursday flight, and praying I don't get bumped. If anyone knows where I should go to pray and/or make sacrifices to the airport gods... let me know, because I'm going to apply to be head priestess. Anna has run back and forth from the airport so many times today! I just hope that the next time she goes she can stay and get on a flight. I know our plan for the day involves finding food, watching movies, and doing what we can to get home earlier. I hope for the best...
Ever seen the movie 'Love Actually?' Honestly, who hasn't? It's one of the great recent Christmas movies that has come out recently. Although it is great, there hasn't been much competition for amazing Christmas movies. But that is an argument for another time, place, and day.
The reason I bring it up, is 'Love Actually' starts with the super awkwardly sexy voice of Hugh Grant (I love Hugh Grant) saying something along the lines of "if you ever need to believe in love, go to the Heathrow international arrivals area..." They never said anything about the departure zones.
I was supposed to be leaving for home on Saturday (18/12/10) to go back to the US, where everything is bigger, steak can be served at every meal, and anything will probably give you a heart attack just from eating it (although it is probably worth every delicious bite). And here I am, stuck, at Heathrow. Where there is probably the best shopping, food, lounging areas, or anything else that makes you think of comfort, happiness, and spending too much money. But you have to get past security first. Which means you have to have a boarding pass. Which means that you have to have a flight that is taking off. Which I don't have...
Why? You might you ask... simply because Heathrow airport got some snow. Oh LHR! One of my favorite airports. I rave about how I love to fly in and out of here all the time. I'm a pro! I love to take the Heathrow Express from terminal 1-3 to terminal 5. It's so fast, and well, AWESOME! But nope, today British Airways (BA) had to cancel flights from 10-5 today. There is a total of about 5-8 inches of snow, and the roads were pretty terrible on the way in today. Ashley and I worried about it on our way and even laughed when traffic slowed down and we just kept saying "it can always get worse." The sad thing is: I knew about my flight getting cancelled at about 9 AM, I was just already on the bus on my way to Heathrow and there was no turning back. It's kinda ironic. There is nothing that I can do to fix it, except maybe offer to shovel. But at the same time, there isn't that much snow, why can't they cope? On our drive in today, there wasn't a single plow that I saw on the road and it was a 4 hour drive. Where are all the plows? Scotland?
I'm not hating on the system, I understand they have no idea what to do and how to appease 2,000 people who are all stranded before the holidays. But man, it's fun to sit next to some sisters from Frankfurt and hear them swearing in German as they try to get home. Or even some other American citizens who are on my same cancelled flight discussing the ability to pay for hotels and trying to find out where to go for the night, and even worse: how to get there. I'm only a few hours into my waiting, but I think I'm going to stick it out. Hope for the best. I'm sure I'll be updating this every little bit, for you it may be a new paragraph, for me a few hours. I think I need to find a way to play my epilepsy card.
Update 1(3:30 PM): Ashley's flight got cancelled and she is coming to terminal 5, where it is considerably less crowded, to join me. This should be fun as we try to figure out what to do about a hotel. BA is paying for it, I have a letter to prove it, so why not?!? I'm going to go try to talk to someone again, who I'm sure will tell me to go home if I can and call and reschedule. But I want to get out of here soon... so no, I'm not going back to Cardiff. That is a residence, not my home. Virginia is my home, get me there!
Update 2 (8:30 PM): no hotels, they were way to expensive and the queue for hotel reservations was crazy not fun times. We were in line for almost an hour, when the lovely Anna showed up and we decided it would be better to find a plug to charge our phones and get a good dinner and go find a place to camp out and go to bed! Well, trashy magazines, sausage and mash, and a lovely bit of relaxing on a couch later... we are back to hanging out in Terminal 5. Keep in mind I'm the only one flying out of this terminal (if I get a flight). But it's so comfortable, and less crowded, and somehow has happy babies, not screaming ones. There is a queue from one side to the other in the terminal, with who knows how many twists and turns for rebooking in the morning. The desk for rebooking doesn't open until 5:45 AM... and its not even 9 PM yet. Oh I can't wait for the morning!!!! Well it seems we are getting comfy, as Anna and Ashley have blankets. But i'm sure I'll have something to say in the morning. Especially now that I finally have internet after trying for 6 hours to get onto it, and paying 9.95 pounds for it for the next 24 hours.
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| The queue for rebooking, featuring 5 Tuns in the background |
December 19, 2010
Update 4 (5:45 AM): looks like most flights are cancelled again today... I think Anna and I are going to go find a hotel, because this floor is not comfortable. Ashley stands a chance, but we are considering trying to get a room simply for the shower and the actual bed to sleep on. Well here I come Radisson Hotel...
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| waxing the floor around the people sleeping... I would hate to have that job! |
December 20, 2010
Update 5: We did get a hotel. We did take a shower, which was very much needed. But the best part: We took baths. I haven't evne had to option to take a bath for the last 3 and a half months. I dont understand how this is working. BAA keeps cancelling most flights, today for the third day in a row all flights have been cancelled for the rest of the night starting at 4 PM. They will be trying to get international flights, and have eased the night flying restrictions to allow airlines to operate through the night if they can. it feels like they don't know what they are doing. i have to say, hope is gone for most. I'm sticking with my Thursday flight, and praying I don't get bumped. If anyone knows where I should go to pray and/or make sacrifices to the airport gods... let me know, because I'm going to apply to be head priestess. Anna has run back and forth from the airport so many times today! I just hope that the next time she goes she can stay and get on a flight. I know our plan for the day involves finding food, watching movies, and doing what we can to get home earlier. I hope for the best...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Another item marked off the to do list...
For anyone who doesn't know, the UK is going through some pretty terrible times. Like most universities did in the states, the tuition fees have to rise due to cuts in education. Coming from a family of educators, I realize how important education really is. Heck, I've been in the education system for 20 years non-stop if you count pre-school and learning to read at home before I even entered kindergarten. (If not then its only 17 years... but still I have another 3 ahead of me) This is all I know, this is all I know how to do, going to class is what I do best. It's my fulltime job and I try really hard to be sure to do well and realize that especially college is for education, not just a social life.
Well here comes the problem. The UK tuition fees have been capped at the University level at somewhere below 3,290 pounds a year. That's only about $6,000 a year. For my last year at JMU my tuition was somewhere in the ball park of $7000. Which really isn't that bad for in-state tuition, and JMU is considered somewhere in the middle of the tuition fees world. That did not include the $1,200 I had to pay on books and lab fees, etc. But it overall isn't too shabby.
Now here is the problem... with the cuts in education that the government has been creating, there is now an issue of how to fund the university. They decided to raise said cap of fees to 9,000 pounds a year... which is about $14,000 a year give or take a few hundred bucks. Thats kinda crazy, and the worst part about it is that the government loans they are offering aren't increasing with the tuition cap. Therefore:
Problem
So there have been loads of protests, and recently I got to go to a bit of a sit in at here at Cardiff. It started as a trip the library to work on my biology coursework that is due in soon. I was in the silent section of the library, 2 floors up from where the protest was occurring and still I could hear them. As an international student, there is no cap, they just make me pay an absurd amount and I just say "OK, sounds great to live in another country and get the degree I want. Why not?" I figure, they might think about raising mine as well, and its on my bucket list to attend a protest. Its like the gods were trying to tell me to do this right now! The sit it was relatively peaceful, and there was a lot of chanting, but it was nice all the same. They walked into City Centre and literally stopped traffic here in the capital of Wales. As I told my sister later that day "might as well buy me a beret, learn french, and spend all my time sitting in coffee houses fueling up for the next fire that I plan on fanning"
But at least there weren't any rubber bullets or tear gas. This was a protest, not to be confused with the JMU Springfest Riots of 2010. Now that was some crazy s***. I'm really hoping that thing here don't get that bad. The student protests have been going on for weeks while the JMU riots went on for less than 12 hours. Lets see who can do the most damage. Right now JMU is still in the lead with the most number of vandalized cars, accidents involving police dogs, and best youtube videos. But JMU also looses because it was just a drunken fest, while at least the students here are rioting for a cause. Recently, students have been getting arrested in higher numbers in London, but really considering the amount of protestors and as of today 3 national days of protesting, not including the sit ins, and the vote due before Christmas in Parliament, I really would like to see if these protests pay off. If you want real information on the UK tuition fees, I say go to BBC and click on the education tab. If you want my version, watch the video's below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-4qcJ53QU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wexfpL9yuII
Well here comes the problem. The UK tuition fees have been capped at the University level at somewhere below 3,290 pounds a year. That's only about $6,000 a year. For my last year at JMU my tuition was somewhere in the ball park of $7000. Which really isn't that bad for in-state tuition, and JMU is considered somewhere in the middle of the tuition fees world. That did not include the $1,200 I had to pay on books and lab fees, etc. But it overall isn't too shabby.
Now here is the problem... with the cuts in education that the government has been creating, there is now an issue of how to fund the university. They decided to raise said cap of fees to 9,000 pounds a year... which is about $14,000 a year give or take a few hundred bucks. Thats kinda crazy, and the worst part about it is that the government loans they are offering aren't increasing with the tuition cap. Therefore:
Problem
So there have been loads of protests, and recently I got to go to a bit of a sit in at here at Cardiff. It started as a trip the library to work on my biology coursework that is due in soon. I was in the silent section of the library, 2 floors up from where the protest was occurring and still I could hear them. As an international student, there is no cap, they just make me pay an absurd amount and I just say "OK, sounds great to live in another country and get the degree I want. Why not?" I figure, they might think about raising mine as well, and its on my bucket list to attend a protest. Its like the gods were trying to tell me to do this right now! The sit it was relatively peaceful, and there was a lot of chanting, but it was nice all the same. They walked into City Centre and literally stopped traffic here in the capital of Wales. As I told my sister later that day "might as well buy me a beret, learn french, and spend all my time sitting in coffee houses fueling up for the next fire that I plan on fanning"
But at least there weren't any rubber bullets or tear gas. This was a protest, not to be confused with the JMU Springfest Riots of 2010. Now that was some crazy s***. I'm really hoping that thing here don't get that bad. The student protests have been going on for weeks while the JMU riots went on for less than 12 hours. Lets see who can do the most damage. Right now JMU is still in the lead with the most number of vandalized cars, accidents involving police dogs, and best youtube videos. But JMU also looses because it was just a drunken fest, while at least the students here are rioting for a cause. Recently, students have been getting arrested in higher numbers in London, but really considering the amount of protestors and as of today 3 national days of protesting, not including the sit ins, and the vote due before Christmas in Parliament, I really would like to see if these protests pay off. If you want real information on the UK tuition fees, I say go to BBC and click on the education tab. If you want my version, watch the video's below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-4qcJ53QU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wexfpL9yuII
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Christmas
For anyone who is not in Cardiff, a few weeks ago, they turned on the Christmas lights. It was quite the event, the Dr. Who cast was there and "pressed the button" so to speak... Bob the Builder sang some songs and most importantly, they turned on the lights. The Christmas is what I'm calling the beautiful decorations all around town. The lights, little stands, it's like Christmas Town at Bush Gardens... but real! (and minus the Amy and Steph and the worst snow storm of 2009) Songs were being sung, the lights dance and sparkle everywhere. Its just so exciting every time I walk into town. I want to go to the ice-skating rink and ride the ferris wheel, go to Starbucks and get hazelnut latte, have roasted chestnuts... they are frickin' everywhere! I have only heard of them in the Christmas song, not actually seen them in real life! I'm pumped... but sadly I can only participate so much in all the festivities. Now as an American, I am strictly banned from listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.
Here is the problem: there is no Thanksgiving here. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. Maybe that is because I bounce back and forth between my two families: one where a house of almost 100 people gets together and you vaguely remember that you are related to every single person in the room (isn't that terrifying) and then the other I get to go to the beach and hole up with the Bitto side of my family and have a great time at the Outer Banks, NC and just sit around, shop, and eat for a week. The best part about Thanksgiving is seeing most of my family in such a short period of time. There is also the food! I love Thanksgiving dinner, don't get confused... dinner is not at 6 PM, oh no, its at 2 or 3 at the latest. That way you essentially eat everything you can at that meal and you don't eat dinner. I mean can you really stop someone from finishing off that turkey leg and I mean, the Cranberry Sauce! That is hands down my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I don't want any home-made with the cranberries still being all crunchy on the inside of my sauce, give me the can and i'll open it and cut it into slices based on the lines from said can. Yes, I know, it sounds horribly lazy and frankly American, but hey... we are the ones who celebrate this holiday of feasting!
But as Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday... I will be missing my family. I will not be in the Outer Banks with my siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and my granny. I will miss them, but this also means I have something to look forward to. Christmas. I get to go home and see them, I get to listen to my Jackson 5 Christmas CD that my mom mailed me a month or so ago, I get to do everything but decorate the Christmas tree because it will already be done by the time I get home. I have already made the Christmas playlist on my iTunes, and I'm psyched! Come this Thursday night, my flatmates will be sick of me because Christmas is all that will be coming out of my computer's speakers for a quite some time.
So now, something to look forward to.... The Christmas
Here is the problem: there is no Thanksgiving here. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. Maybe that is because I bounce back and forth between my two families: one where a house of almost 100 people gets together and you vaguely remember that you are related to every single person in the room (isn't that terrifying) and then the other I get to go to the beach and hole up with the Bitto side of my family and have a great time at the Outer Banks, NC and just sit around, shop, and eat for a week. The best part about Thanksgiving is seeing most of my family in such a short period of time. There is also the food! I love Thanksgiving dinner, don't get confused... dinner is not at 6 PM, oh no, its at 2 or 3 at the latest. That way you essentially eat everything you can at that meal and you don't eat dinner. I mean can you really stop someone from finishing off that turkey leg and I mean, the Cranberry Sauce! That is hands down my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I don't want any home-made with the cranberries still being all crunchy on the inside of my sauce, give me the can and i'll open it and cut it into slices based on the lines from said can. Yes, I know, it sounds horribly lazy and frankly American, but hey... we are the ones who celebrate this holiday of feasting!
But as Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday... I will be missing my family. I will not be in the Outer Banks with my siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and my granny. I will miss them, but this also means I have something to look forward to. Christmas. I get to go home and see them, I get to listen to my Jackson 5 Christmas CD that my mom mailed me a month or so ago, I get to do everything but decorate the Christmas tree because it will already be done by the time I get home. I have already made the Christmas playlist on my iTunes, and I'm psyched! Come this Thursday night, my flatmates will be sick of me because Christmas is all that will be coming out of my computer's speakers for a quite some time.
So now, something to look forward to.... The Christmas
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
American Halloween vs UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress
If you haven't seen the movie Zombie Land... do. That is the only way I can describe the UK Halloween. Now in America we do it... well right! We put on the least amount of clothing, or possibly the most creative we can acquire and we put on a show. Everyone looks crazy, and it is just so much fun! Ok, maybe there are the few (or many) girls in College who dress up in the scankiest outfit they can (usually just a bra and a pair of hot pants) and grab a hat of sorts and say they are _______ (insert Firefighter, Policeman, Disney Princess, Fuzzy Animal, etc here). Its a good time. Girls are excited because they let out their inner freak and guys are happy to look. The best part about it, it is totally acceptable! Also, we don't dress up on just Halloween. In the college scene at least, you get Halloween weekend. If Halloween does not fall on a weekend night, then you get the weekend either before or after (depending on which it is closer to) and the actual day to dress up! Thats at least a weekday, plus a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and occasionally Sunday to dress up!
On occasion you do get the people who just shouldn't be dressed that way at all. You know, the girl who has her bum hanging out of her skirt, or worse, skirt not even covering half her butt. Maybe you have a drunk person who has had 3 too many and now they have a costume that is falling apart and they don't care. Then there are the people who just went to the costume shop and bought the dorothy costume that involved the thigh high socks, poofed out skirt and corseted top. They just lacked creativity! And there is always the cross dressing male. They are there to make me smile, and I am greatly appreciative of it. Now while I really wish that I was posting pictures of Halloween from last year, I'm pretty sure I lost them all in my computer switch. Sorry to those I facebook stalked to find ones of me from last year, and if you so desire, I will remove it if you ask me to :)
Now here in Cardiff, I did not know we only do scary. You can put on a Buzz Lightyear suit, but you better have some face paint and plan on giving yourself the face of a someone who has contracted the T-virus (for Resident Evil fans) or look like Bill Murray (for Zombie Land fans). Everyone is dead, everyone has face make up on, and everyone has a bit of fake blood. How does that happen? There were quite a few girls dressed as animals of sorts, or maybe a dead pirate, or the occasional cop or something, but they all looked like they were dead. That is a lie, there were many cats. They kinda took over the population with Zombies. It was kinda creepy. I didn't really like it much, but I understand the need to be something scary on the scariest day of the year.
Well, I have to say these Britons have us Yanks beat in one aspect at least...
They know how to fancy dress. They go out on regular nights in a theme, such as Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's, or Back to School (wearing school uniforms), or Cops and Robbers. Granted, we are doing it this week for me and a few friends birthdays, but I still enjoy it. You could just grab everyone you know, tell them you are all dressing in a theme, and people actually do it! The only time that works in the US is halloween if you have a group costume (Legends of the Hidden Temple contestants, for example), or a Toga Party. Even at the Toga party I had to provide togas to some people, even if they were out of town. When we had everyone who was dressed appropriately for the toga theme, it turned out to be one of the best parties ever. It was so much fun and no one cared what we looked like. Now only if I can get people to do that all the time in the states.
So it comes down to this:
American Halloween vs UK Halloween: America wins. We have better candy (don't believe me, come get some candy corn from my room), better costumes, and we make it anywhere from a 3-5 day event. Like everything else it is bigger :)
American Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress wins. Everyone in a single theme looking crazy together, why the eff not?
UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress again... Its just better, more fun, and can fit any type. You can choose to be super slutty with the choice of outfit or you can cover up all parts you deem appropriate to do so. What I wouldn't give to do fancy dress every day (and plus, then I don't have to try to look good, I can just go and say i'm doing fancy dress and i will be accepted) Plus, I really don't like dead clowns, so halloween looses here...
On occasion you do get the people who just shouldn't be dressed that way at all. You know, the girl who has her bum hanging out of her skirt, or worse, skirt not even covering half her butt. Maybe you have a drunk person who has had 3 too many and now they have a costume that is falling apart and they don't care. Then there are the people who just went to the costume shop and bought the dorothy costume that involved the thigh high socks, poofed out skirt and corseted top. They just lacked creativity! And there is always the cross dressing male. They are there to make me smile, and I am greatly appreciative of it. Now while I really wish that I was posting pictures of Halloween from last year, I'm pretty sure I lost them all in my computer switch. Sorry to those I facebook stalked to find ones of me from last year, and if you so desire, I will remove it if you ask me to :)
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| Good variety here: cute, super hero, slutty, and cross dressing male |
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| Super Hero Home Made costumes... thats how we do it |
Now here in Cardiff, I did not know we only do scary. You can put on a Buzz Lightyear suit, but you better have some face paint and plan on giving yourself the face of a someone who has contracted the T-virus (for Resident Evil fans) or look like Bill Murray (for Zombie Land fans). Everyone is dead, everyone has face make up on, and everyone has a bit of fake blood. How does that happen? There were quite a few girls dressed as animals of sorts, or maybe a dead pirate, or the occasional cop or something, but they all looked like they were dead. That is a lie, there were many cats. They kinda took over the population with Zombies. It was kinda creepy. I didn't really like it much, but I understand the need to be something scary on the scariest day of the year.
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| Flatmates dressed as fuzzy animals... notice the fake blood to the right and the creepy clown... |
Well, I have to say these Britons have us Yanks beat in one aspect at least...
They know how to fancy dress. They go out on regular nights in a theme, such as Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's, or Back to School (wearing school uniforms), or Cops and Robbers. Granted, we are doing it this week for me and a few friends birthdays, but I still enjoy it. You could just grab everyone you know, tell them you are all dressing in a theme, and people actually do it! The only time that works in the US is halloween if you have a group costume (Legends of the Hidden Temple contestants, for example), or a Toga Party. Even at the Toga party I had to provide togas to some people, even if they were out of town. When we had everyone who was dressed appropriately for the toga theme, it turned out to be one of the best parties ever. It was so much fun and no one cared what we looked like. Now only if I can get people to do that all the time in the states.
So it comes down to this:
American Halloween vs UK Halloween: America wins. We have better candy (don't believe me, come get some candy corn from my room), better costumes, and we make it anywhere from a 3-5 day event. Like everything else it is bigger :)
American Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress wins. Everyone in a single theme looking crazy together, why the eff not?
UK Halloween vs Fancy Dress: Fancy Dress again... Its just better, more fun, and can fit any type. You can choose to be super slutty with the choice of outfit or you can cover up all parts you deem appropriate to do so. What I wouldn't give to do fancy dress every day (and plus, then I don't have to try to look good, I can just go and say i'm doing fancy dress and i will be accepted) Plus, I really don't like dead clowns, so halloween looses here...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Embarrassing, why yes I think so...
It's funny. As it is stated in the great American film What a Girl Wants, Amanda Bynes' characters grandmother states, "No hugging, dear. I'm British. We only show affection to dogs and horses."
Well stated. The people on this island are insanely private. I will show my case and point: Karaoke night. Now let me say, that the Optom's I went with were more or less tone deaf. Granted, some did have a good voice here and there, but either they were too embarrassed to sing, or they could not be heard overtop of the 15 other people in the room singing with them. Now, as we all know in the US, it usually involves copious amounts of alcohol, a DJ and a stage with many lights. Who doesn't love karaoke night? Lets grab 15 close gal pals and we'll split the 3 microphones when DJ Tim calls our name to come to the stage to sing Spice Girls "Wannabe." This way, american girls can only slightly embarrass themselves while looking brave and sexy up on the stage. It's a win for all! It is how we show our wild side, rebel a bit, and put ourselves out there for love and fame. It is how we express our inner, slightly inebriated, beautiful selves... how else am I to do that? Painting? Poetry? Photoshop because of my lack of a seriously awesome camera? NAH!
Oh the Britons, leave it to them to make sure that you can only embarrass yourself in front of those whom you care about and probably whose good opinion of you needs to stay standing... Well they found it, private karaoke booths. Not like we don't have them in the US, it's just that here in Cardiff, it's the only way to do it! Gotta go to Tiger Tiger on Monday nights and drink cheap drinks and book a karaoke booth! We got a 15 room one and we sang some amazing songs, of which I only knew 5 because I didn't grow up here.... Luckily Ashley was there to back me up and get some Billie Jean on the machine!
Now there will be some similarities... We do have some man love that happens, as it usually does in the platonic sense. Now the entertainer of the night was definitely Scott. You couldn't steal the mic from him if he was blindfolded and handcuffed! I'm sure Greg just loved all of it!
I must say that my case has been proven. As soon as we left the sound proof room, everyone was fine and no singing was done the rest of the night. But yet, they do fancy dress... Maybe I should change my argument: They will only embarrass themselves in groups of people or privately. It's alright, these islanders have class, demur, sophistication, and an accent that will automatically make them sound about 50 IQ points above me. (Even the 5 year olds sound smarter than me... maybe I just sound dumb, but as this is my blog, it will not be a presented argument here)
Well stated. The people on this island are insanely private. I will show my case and point: Karaoke night. Now let me say, that the Optom's I went with were more or less tone deaf. Granted, some did have a good voice here and there, but either they were too embarrassed to sing, or they could not be heard overtop of the 15 other people in the room singing with them. Now, as we all know in the US, it usually involves copious amounts of alcohol, a DJ and a stage with many lights. Who doesn't love karaoke night? Lets grab 15 close gal pals and we'll split the 3 microphones when DJ Tim calls our name to come to the stage to sing Spice Girls "Wannabe." This way, american girls can only slightly embarrass themselves while looking brave and sexy up on the stage. It's a win for all! It is how we show our wild side, rebel a bit, and put ourselves out there for love and fame. It is how we express our inner, slightly inebriated, beautiful selves... how else am I to do that? Painting? Poetry? Photoshop because of my lack of a seriously awesome camera? NAH!
Oh the Britons, leave it to them to make sure that you can only embarrass yourself in front of those whom you care about and probably whose good opinion of you needs to stay standing... Well they found it, private karaoke booths. Not like we don't have them in the US, it's just that here in Cardiff, it's the only way to do it! Gotta go to Tiger Tiger on Monday nights and drink cheap drinks and book a karaoke booth! We got a 15 room one and we sang some amazing songs, of which I only knew 5 because I didn't grow up here.... Luckily Ashley was there to back me up and get some Billie Jean on the machine!
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| Oh yes, red booth... did I forget to say |
Now there will be some similarities... We do have some man love that happens, as it usually does in the platonic sense. Now the entertainer of the night was definitely Scott. You couldn't steal the mic from him if he was blindfolded and handcuffed! I'm sure Greg just loved all of it!
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| To give you an idea, they are singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" you know that song in Top Gun? |
There was so much power in those off pitch, amazingly wonderful, loving, laughing voices that it convinced us to do some Journey. As any night should end... Thanks to the peeps at 1910 JPA who convinced me that before this song was popular again, it was the only good way to end a night involved dancing, air guitar, and amazing 80's music. Now I will leave you with this short clip, as my camera battery was running low and so was the memory space.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
When you're lost look for signs, when you're on this island, laugh at them
I always say: "I'm never lost." Now is that because I'm the great-granddaughter of a milkman, as we say in my Dad's family? Maybe because my sense of direction is just that awesome? Maybe because I wander until I find where I want to be... therefore never lost.
This past weekend I was in London with my girl Ashley. She kept asking me how I knew where I was going and when did I learn this. The answer was simple: There are some really noticeable signs at every tube station, most street corners in central London, and when all else fails, sometimes on the pavement. Not even kidding. If you are ever on Borough High Street, look down. You'll see little copper circles telling you which way the tube station is. It's pretty great, maybe thats because they don't want little North American Tourists coming and bothering the Londoners by walking the wrong way and getting confused.
So this has since lead me to always be looking at/for signs to be sure I know where I am going. They are such useful things... But when I was in London, I saw some pretty amazing ones. I mean who would think to put bird feeding and alcohol together? Now let me take you back: Mary Poppins, the lovely Julia Andrews singing Feed the Birds. Did anyone think to ask, was that woman homeless? She sure looks homeless while she feeds the birds. What does she do with that money afterwards? Go to the pub of course! Now while I just ruined a perfectly amazing childhood memory for many people, and especially for all those that I drag to the lovely steps of St. Paul's to feed some much hated pigeons and maybe even sing the song myself... think of this sign next time you do it:
Wow, ruins that song for you now doesn't it? Well let's take it a step farther... A few years ago I was doing a few short weeks in London for a study abroad experience. Considering the partying that we kids did, we found this sign outside of a church to be rather lovely:
Do they think I can't manage to walk up stairs? Well they are right... I tend to fall up them on a regular basis. Not as often as my sister, but I do have the scars to prove it.
DON'T YOU DARE STAND AND POINT AT THE SITTING GUY! Pointing is rude, and rude is one thing the people on this island are not. They will go strangely out of their way to apologize to you even if you are the one that is stepping on them. But we will save that for another post...
This past weekend I was in London with my girl Ashley. She kept asking me how I knew where I was going and when did I learn this. The answer was simple: There are some really noticeable signs at every tube station, most street corners in central London, and when all else fails, sometimes on the pavement. Not even kidding. If you are ever on Borough High Street, look down. You'll see little copper circles telling you which way the tube station is. It's pretty great, maybe thats because they don't want little North American Tourists coming and bothering the Londoners by walking the wrong way and getting confused.
So this has since lead me to always be looking at/for signs to be sure I know where I am going. They are such useful things... But when I was in London, I saw some pretty amazing ones. I mean who would think to put bird feeding and alcohol together? Now let me take you back: Mary Poppins, the lovely Julia Andrews singing Feed the Birds. Did anyone think to ask, was that woman homeless? She sure looks homeless while she feeds the birds. What does she do with that money afterwards? Go to the pub of course! Now while I just ruined a perfectly amazing childhood memory for many people, and especially for all those that I drag to the lovely steps of St. Paul's to feed some much hated pigeons and maybe even sing the song myself... think of this sign next time you do it:
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| On Buckingham Palace Road right by the Apollo before Ashley and I saw Wicked |
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| Outside of Church 2008 |
Salisbury cathedral. Absolutely beautiful! Please go visit as soon as you can! The place is lovely, the town is lovely, the bus system is kinda stinky, but thats ok because there is Stonehenge nearby. While at the previously mentioned cathedral we walked near the graveyard section. Seriously, you are going to go walk in a graveyard... now realize that the ground will not be even. Does that have to do with the people they just buried? Maybe... Now check this out:
I am assuming that people fall often here. I have managed thus far to not take a terrible tumble... but judging by the signage, there are some pretty bad falls. But at the same time, maybe if the sidewalks were actually made of pavement (which is what they keep asking me to call a sidewalk) and not stones, then I would be 100% behind the removal of all signs that include falling. But since that is not the case, I will continue to laugh at these signs when I see them. Well I have a few others that just crack me up here for you entertainment...
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| Don't trip up the stair I think?? |
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| On the sight seeing tour bus in Cardiff |
DON'T YOU DARE STAND AND POINT AT THE SITTING GUY! Pointing is rude, and rude is one thing the people on this island are not. They will go strangely out of their way to apologize to you even if you are the one that is stepping on them. But we will save that for another post...
There are many more that are just funny and I do enjoy them, and as I find them... there will be pictures that will be posted. I mean, this comes from the country of "Due to a person under the train, the Picadilly Line towards Cockfosters is experiencing delays..."
It's all about the little things that make you smile every day :)
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