the Truth, the Good Stuff, and the Random

The Negative...

The Truth:

I am really not liking it here thus far. I have booked two trips. One to Paris (last weekend in May) and a second to Oslo, Norway (1st weekend in June). I am hoping these trips will make remember why I worked so hard to live in London for a year. The cultural adjustment is not my major issue, it's more the people in the programme that I have to work with and take classes with not being the type of people I would ordinarily chose to surround myself with. There isn't a worst feeling than feeling like an outsider in your own apartment or lonely in a room full of people. And this happens everyday that I am here. I am becoming very silent here, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells everytime I open my mouth because someone is always ready to correct me (usually incorrect when doing so or rudely) or reprimand me like a child. The people I am surrounded with and perhaps the constant battles I'm engaged in (ie with the programme and issues in the states) are making me feel unlike myself and my actions are seemingly out of character. Lets hope the next update will be filled with me having a change of heart. --I just keep thinking of the quote "The strongest have moments of fatigue" ..maybe this is one of mine

For the record. I have been trying really really hard to look at all the positive aspects and benefits of this experience. And the ONLY reason I am still here is b/c I'm too stubborn to quit as of now.

The Good Stuff..

Appreciation for America (never thought this would happen lol )

We are soo spoiled in America and I miss it so. Let me break it down...

1. Portion Control = I pay the same amount, for half the food/drink. (Big BOO!) ..also no Dollar Menu insight ...
2. No / Little Perservatives = My food goes bad twice as fast, and I cannot shop in bulk b/c of this one factor, cheese that only last 1 week, wtf? and grocery shopping every week (sometimes twice a week) = a pain in my tush.
3. Striaght Forward Statements = Everything here is basically phrased either v. passive aggressively or extremely polite. I spend half my time at my job trying to figure out how not to sound assertive (you know me, you know how hard this is). I have yet to hear anyone say an imperative statement. Example: instead of just telling you what they want its either a question or a million unnecessary 'please' inserted


Benefits of the UK ....oh Yeah!

1. The Police = actually quite helpful if you're in trouble. And they do not carry guns ie there wont be any Sean Bell situations. (still cannot believe they were cleared of all charges..if you do not know what I am referring to google "sean bell" )
2. Maternity Leave= Amazing. Women and/or men can get up to 6mos-1yr and still get paid (on a sliding pay scale, but thats still better than the states)
3. Vacation Days = I have 25. To use whenever I please. This would never happen in the states in an entry level position or really any position. This does not include sick days (those are unlimited to an extent). Plus 11 bank holidays. That means an automatic (36 days off from work YAY!)


The Random:

Translations.....

White coffee = Coffee w/ milk
Hay Fever Season = Allergy Season ( as in I will desperately be in need of zyrtec, benadryll, etc etc)
Prawns = Shrimps
On brown = wheat (when referring to the type of bread you want your sandwich on, if you say wheat they get a v. confused look in their eyes)
Coach = Bus (not the class of your transportation)
Overground = Train (ex. amtrak, not subway or metro)
Bureau de Change = Currency Exchange Station ( it makes perfect, however, "de" makes it look like its in a non English context, like Spanish/Italian)

hmm those are all the translations i can think of for now.

Tube Stories Part II:

1. I now know what it to feels like to be a sardine. The other week I was on the tube, I was so close to the person in front of me that her hair, repeatedly got stuck to my lips courstey of my lipgloss acting as adhesive. Literally one of the grosses feelings ever, to top things off its so crowded I had to wait to the next stop to get the hair off because I couldnt move my hand to my mouth. YUk!

2. Public Displays of Affection (PDA) are very very popular here and have no age limit. I have repeatedly seen middle aged people groping and making out with one another on the platform or on the esculator in the train stations. (Please Note: this is during the day, like noon, so I do not believe that alcohol is the excuse for lowered inhibitions which result in necking in front of strangers.)


BTW: Look for pictures from oxford, paris, and norway in the upcoming weeks.

And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much

1 month down, 11 months to go

I cant believe I've been here a month. I miss my friends, fam, and the boy like crazy.

Now for some Updates:

MBA - i decided not to do that. im going to get a business certificate instead. it was smart of me, the mba pgrm is how do i say this nicely ..its the equivalent of getting a PhD from like a county college (mountbatten used some interesting wording i thought it was through "cambridge univ")

Mountbatten Programme: so 46 interns still do not have their bank accounts setup. i get emails from the programme that say statements such as "no laughing, talking, cooking, television, or music after 10pm. all interns should be in their bedrooms at this point" this came after some bogus noise complaints that were made..im sorry i remember being an adult. i had a lovely
meeting w/the director some issues are resolved some are not. only time will tell

My Job: Loving it still. my boss is really sarcastic. ive gone for drinks with co-workers lately ..i really feel like a yuppie. im going to paris at the end of may for one of my co-workers birthdays (hopefully)

Social Life: There is always something to do. They have amazing underground clubs, chill pubs, good drink specials and I always end up at this sports bar watching american sports or the soccer games that are oober popular here. if you want to see pixs look at the at the bottom of the posting.

Random Story#1:

My professor tends to say some pretty offensive statements. Some prejudice statements I havent heard before---

* Being Late Frequently = IST aka Indian Standard Time (like cp time for blk ppl but worst)

* Rumor/Gossip @ work= Chinese Whispering

He was promptly told how offensive these ignorant statements were.

Random Requests #1-3: (in order of importance)

*Can someone please send me some chunky blue cheese, buffallo wings (frozen will do), and hot pockets.

* Would it be possible not to hear statements such as "I love that ghetto music" when referring to hip-hop / r&b.

* If possible can i also get a slurppie (red or blue and NOT Fanta) and Chipotle burrito (chicken, rice, sour cream, cheese, peppers/onions) ---these items should be overnighted in order to preserve their goodness.


TranSlations
Rails (hard liquor + juice/soda/mixer) = spirits
Regular bottled water - still water
Seltzer water = sparkling water
Sketch/shady= dodgey (they do not understand when i say sketch or shady)
Mimosa (champagne & orange juice for my non drinkers) = bucks fizz
Section 8 housing = council housing
The projects = council estates
Biscuit = cookie (and i dont know what they call american biscuits here lol)
Potato chips = crisps
Sweetheart= trinket
Later gator = cheers big ears (huh?)


Pixs of the 1st Month..click the pix below to see them all:

1st Weeks in LONDON!!! oooh yeaah

Thats all folks! make comments so i have something to read at work / so i know you're actually reading this lol

the RaNdomNe$$ of it all

This entry will be just randomness. there is no organization or particular reasoning for some of the stuff i will mention. i just am. enjoy.

*I was on the tube yesterday morning and it was packed to the point where i had enough room to slightly sway and bump into ppl but not enough room where i could grab onto anything to maintain balance. then all of a sudden this guy puts his hand out, and we held hands for 2 stops ----to answer your question--No, i dont remember whether he was cute or not, but that hand was a lifesaver, i think i heard background music come on when i saw his hand that went a little like "aaaaahhhhhmennnnnnn" -- defintely a random act of kindness. im going to pay that forward

* The drinking culture here is kind of ridiculous (and by ridiculous I mean pretty amazing). Saturday I went to my first proper pub with my friend Carly (she's from the uk, but did a yr exchange @ umd), her bf, her uncle and his gf-- Suffice to say we were there for 8 hrs, there was no waitress on our backs for taking so long, a new round of cider or ale every 30 min, and intellectual conversation. The Brits seem to know more about American politics than most Americans (pretty sad..womp womp)

Sidenote: during the convo i heard England referred to as the most powerful country in the world more than once...i thought that was America's claim to fame..we are def not the only nation with a big head lol

* One of the major things that is going to happen here is true INDEPENDENCE. yes, ive lived on my own for years, but never did activities by myself. and its obvious to me that i will go to museums by myself, the theatre, etc ..and i kind of like that

* Quirkiness with UK english... (1st term uk - 2nd term american style/translation)
(this is for you Porter)

Pigeon mail= snail mail
Heche = H (as in the letter)
Zed = Z (as in the letter..i feel like im on seasame street now)
Hole in Wall = atm
Toasty Cheese- grilled cheese sandwich
Folder- a binder like the 3 ring kind from middle school (depending on your current age, it may hs or univ. for you old folks lol)
Billiard & Pool = not interchangable like in the states..they are 2 totally totally different games (billards only has 3 balls)

*The work attire that women wear here is mmm not nearly as conservative as America... they dress as if they're going to the bars afterwards..given many are. but they're always in stilettos, clingy dresses...

* i drink 4 -5 triple shots of espresso a day @ work. yet im still so tired on my lunch hr i want to crawl under my desk and nap. (shoooot b4 and after my lunch hr i want to nap too)

* I saw WICKED tonight..it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. it was only £20. im hoping to go to barcelona for my nxt holiday--- ((((CASH DONATIONS WELCOMED))) lol

Last thing conversation between me and a receptionist:

Me: Hi my name is Hafeezah im calling from Lovells...
Receptionist: Sorry Yada Yada isnt in right now, but i'll give him a msg. Whats your name?
Me: My name is Hafeezah.
Receptionist: Is that your first name?
(((DENSE MUCH))))

one last thing..Andres they sell a tub of shredded cheedar cheese in my cafeteria..ugh we would have so much fun eating it lol

My first weekend AWAY

Pix 1= View from the horse when I was riding it
Pix 2= Club Havana with fellow interns (L to R: Me, Heather, Carmen, Sara, Antonette, Sean, Across our laps is Katie)
Pix 3= Me on Corbett
Pix 4= Exmouth-the coastline of England

For the Record- these places are 100x prettier than the pixs

Sooo a 4 day weekend (for easter) means I must travel somewhere. Hmm? Where did I go..Paris? no Milan? nope. oh why of course to the countryside. There were 8 of us total and we are all so very different. I'll give you a day by day play.

Friday: the bus ride took like 6 hrs when it was only suppose to take 4. we got lost walking the mile to the hostel so this nice English couple with a baby walked us there. We go to this club called Club Havana (1st pix). The shots here are like a forth of the size of American shot glasses. So suffice to say it takes an awful lot of shots to feel saucy. We then go to this club called Mambo (i think lol) and we are the only ones dancing on the hip hop floor. We stand out like a sore thumb, but we get shots on the house and the dj plays whatever songs we want for the whole night. HOttness. During a cigarette break (not mine) this guy starts rapping to me and my roomie and wouldnt stop for like 5 minutes. I wish i could have recorded him just so everyone could get a laugh for the day.

Saturday: We went horseriding. MMMmm so lets just say I'm not the most outdorsey chic. The view from the horse was beautiful we went up and down trails and through a stream. But that was my first and my LAST time riding a horse. They are way too temperamental and there is no way to make them listen, they have all the control. NO likey.

Sunday: We went to the coast to see the beach in Exmouth. We were enjoying a walk on the beach until it randomly starts pouring down rain and the sand starts swarming around us. Over the nxt couple of hrs we get caught in a few more rain showers and one really bad hail storm. England reminds me of Florida b/c of the sporadic rain showers.

A few things to note:
* I am going to lose so much weight here b/c we have to walk EVERYWHERE and the food here is god awful. I refer to this lifestyle change as the European diet.

* I dont quiet fit in here with a lot of the interns, they are a lot more reserved and I'm kind of spunky. But there is one roomie that I'm hitting it of with quiet well (haha dont i sound british). I'm hoping to meet more people that I connect with in the next couple of weeks.

* I like my job. I get to organize a lot of meetings and talk on the phone all day. I spend half my time on the phone spelling my name so people can call me back. H- A as in apple - F as in frank - EE- Z as in zebra- A as in apple- H. Everyone in my office can now spell my name, thats how much I had to spell it out. I start school starting April so look for updates on that.

If you miss me email or im me. gmail chat is my fav. okay toodles