Every day is Opposite Day in London

I did it. I took my last class on Thursday March 28, and now I have a month off before exams express my anxiety disorder in its finest form. My boyfriend (who happens to be the most incredible man I have ever met) is coming to visit me! I am so excited that I can’t sleep, so I figured I would be productive and write a blog post that I’ve been meaning to get to.

I’ve noticed during my three months in London that it is not like the U.S. in many quirky ways that I didn’t expect, along with some that I did. Or as Dorothy would say, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”. Here is some of the differences that I’ve taken note of:

1. First and foremost, the Brits drive on the wrong side. Now I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Joey, it’s not the wrong side, it’s just the left side.” No. It’s the wrong side. Even the British know it’s wrong. By each crosswalk painted onto the street is text that says, “Look left” or “Look right” to prepare you for cars coming from the wrong direction. Clearly too many dumb tourists have gotten run over. I’m in the category of dumb tourists that have almost gotten run over. Multiple times.
2. The light switches are opposite too. To turn the light on, you push the top of the button. And you guessed it, to turn it off, you flick it on the bottom. My body is still used to the American way, and I am constantly turning the lights on and off until I get it right.
3. The drinking age is 18. To someone who cannot legally drink in the United States, this is a dramatic change. Not only can you buy liquor in any store, but you can drink it (almost) wherever and whenever you want! It’s illegal to drink it on the tube, but I have yet to see that stop anyone.
4. There is no “open container law”. In the United States, it is illegal to walk around with an open container of alcohol or drink in public places (such as parks). Here, there are people drinking alcoholic beverages on the way to the pubs and clubs, or even on the way to the grocery store. The classic “road beer”. If there is a law against this, myself and all of London are completely unaware of it. That or it isn’t enforced.
5. The pigeons here are fearless. And I mean it. You know how sometimes you are walking and someone is trying to get past you and you both do this weird ‘who’s going which way’ thing where you sway in both directions until the awkward moment is over? I’ve done that with pigeons several times now. Unless you purposely try to scare them away, they aren’t budging. You could take a walk to class with a pigeon, and it couldn’t care less.
6. People from London are not the most welcoming in the world. I know, I know, it’s bad to stereotype. My flatmates are fantastically welcoming and I’ve met tons of extremely kind Londoners. But this is not what I’m claiming. It’s similar to New York City folk in that they are always on the go and they will not approach you. If you approach them first, they’re usually nice and helpful, but there’s no Southern hospitality. They would never go out of their way.
7. This leads me to my next point. People walk and they do not care where you are going. I have been pushed and shoved many times. People walk with only their destination in mind, and if you are in the way, you won’t be for long. Because they will push you. Hard.
8. The fashion here is quite different. We wear similar clothes, but for completely different occasions. You’d think a girl was going to a Bat Mitzvah in the heels and dress she’s sporting, but she’s just on her way to class. There I am, sitting in my gym clothes in a lecture, surrounded by posh British students in blazers and fancy clothes. I may have dressed down a bit this semester due to the combo of gymin’ it up and my boyfriend being over 3,000 miles away, but I still look underdressed in my everyday school clothes.
9. British girls wear shorts in the winter. In their defense, it’s with tights underneath, but still. They sky is almost always grey and it’s been freezing. But no matter how wrapped up in my winter coat, scarf and gloves I am, I will see a girl in shorts pass by. I don’t get it. Maybe the British have super warm blood?
10. Baked beans for breakfast. No explanation necessary. Where’s Grandma Janice’s famous french toast? I’m going through withdrawal.

Those are the biggest differences that I’ve noticed from living here in London. Cheers!

Mo’ Homework Mo’ Problems

I’m starting my third week in London and it seems that I’m in denial. I’m in denial that I’m not just here to hang out with new friends, eat food, go clubbing and bar hopping, and sleep. No, it looks like I’m also signed up for classes at Queen Mary University of London. I don’t know how it happened, but it looks like I’m stuck.

Ask anybody (and by anybody I clearly mean my Mom) and they’ll tell you that I’m excellent at time management. I’m the kind of student that gets an assignment and does it that day or the next. I love being ahead of my work and on top of my studies. It helps keep my anxiety in check.

However classes, or should I say modules, here are so different! Not only is this my first semester without two lab periods, but instead of meeting two to three times a week you meet once a week for either two hours straight or one hour with a break until your next class. [For Evolution my break is only one hour while for Neurobiology and Madness and Medicine in Modern Britain it’s three. Text, Art and Performance in London goes for two hours straight.] So even if you feel like you learned everything possible about action potentials one week, the next week when you finally have class again you magically don’t remember anything that you learned the previous week. Or the week before. Or ever.

On the bright side, I’m finally learning how to procrastinate! Wait.. that’s not good. Mommy, if you’re reading this, that said ‘learning how to live in the library’. Because you have an entire week to complete your assignments, it’s easy to say “Oh, I’ll just do it tomorrow”. Then, before you know it, tomorrow becomes the day before it’s due and you’re still typing a blog post instead of doing your stupid homework. Mommy, that said ‘still typing a blog post after having finished extra credit assignments’. Your eyesight must be going.

Well, time to finish the homework due… in two weeks? Can’t say I didn’t try, Mommy.

Cheers

P.S. Below is a picture of Marissa, Courtney and I studying in the library.

English to English Dictionary

This weekend was pretty uneventful during the evenings since I tired myself out, but I did manage to sight see on Sunday during the day! Here are some pictures of British landmarks, me, and me with British landmarks. Since all I want to do [ever] is nap, instead of a post about how I haven’t done anything, here is the British English to American English Dictionary I’ve been working on to go along with the pictures.

P.S. All of these pictures were taken with my camera yesterday! Absolutely none of the following have been taken off of the internet or any other sources.

P.S.S. The most exciting part of this week was probably seeing an original Van Gogh at the National Gallery of London (No pictures allowed)

….but here is a model of the museum!

English to English Dictionary as Translated by Joey

Cutlery = Silverware

Lift = Elevator

Take away = Take out

Hiya = Hey

Top up = Add money (as pertaining to a pay as you go cell phone bill)

Mobile = Cell phone

Brilliant  = Great

Going to university  = Going to college

Module = Class

Module Organizer  = Professor

Toilet = Bathroom

Flat  = Apartment

Fresher = Freshman

Washing up liquid = Dish soap

Car park = Parking lot

Adverts = ads, advertisements

Clothes airer = [Clothes] drying rack

Let’s link up = Hit me up

Queue = Line

Mind the gap = Watch your step

Third time lucky = Third time’s a charm

And last but not least:

Cheers  = Hello; Goodbye; Excuse me; Congratulations; Thank you; Cheers

Here’s to Nothing

This is not only my first time in London, but it’s my first time blogging, so bear with me.

I’ve always wanted to study abroad and see the world, since as far back as I can remember. Having an Israeli father and American mother, when it came to traveling, it was simply a given. My first time on an airplane was when I was still months old. However, in my childhood, I had only really traveled to Israel to visit family. Then senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to go an international school in Mexico – but that was for only two weeks. One year ago, I had an unforgettable trip through Birthright to Israel and saw the country in its entirety from North to South.

But now that I was no longer a teen, I figured it was time to venture to places that I had never seen before, without my parents or little sister there to hold my hand the whole way. So when I was accepted to study abroad at Queen Mary University of London for the Spring semester in 2013 I was thrilled! And terrified.

So this blog is my way to help me grow up and have you join in the experience. I want to start my blog with something I’ve come to find commonly said in Britain: cheers.

Cheers to new experiences! Cheers to British accents! Cheers to making new friends! Cheers to making memories! Cheers to growing up but always having fun! Cheers to making long distance relationships work! Cheers to good grades! Cheers to drinking legally! Cheers to traveling! Cheers to learning from your mistakes! Cheers to London! And damnit, cheers to me!