Dazed, Confused, and Still not quite British.

Cheers from London everybody!

Upon waking up and seeing the sunshine for the first time in what seems like an eternity, I knew the day was going to hold more promise than the past two dreary days in the London Fog, unfortunately not the Earl Grey Latte variety.

I've decided to start this blog entry off with a list of things that have proven to be particularly difficult for an exchange student in London, especially one who is slightly high maintenance.

1. Flushing the toilet: Something I've never really prided myself on but you would think it would be a simple task in and of itself... wrong.  You literally have to push this thing down like you are pumping water from an actual well.  As if I needed another reason to detest my non-existant biceps.

2. Keys: first time in my life I've ever been endowed with keys (uh ohh).  First of all there are like 7 keys you need (and a fob?) to get into this building as if its the pentagon or something.  Luckily Lloyd gave me a caribeener to attach all my keys in my purse so I'm walking around like a jingling janitor.  But I do feel pretty cool that I have my own keys to my own place, even if my place (or pad as I like to refer to it, in my head) is 4 m squared.  Praying I don't lose these babies as the replacement fee is like 50 "quid" aka pounds (more on awkward slang later) and that's the equivalent of a pair of lace-up booties I plan to purchase from Topshop.  Sorry mommy, I know I said no more boots.. but I lied.

3. Sarcasm: not that I'm the world's fastest person with humor, but these brits literally have my head spinning.  at dinner some guys were talking about playing quidditch tomorrow night.  So naturally I'm like "woah people actually play quidditch here??" then one of them responded that he got a nimbus 3000 for christmas in a totally serious voice and then carried on the conversation... so awkward.  Also the people here talk really fast and pretty quietly, especially for a loud dining room setting.  So someone will be like "where are you from?" not knowing it's a question I kind of just laugh as I feel like I've used up my quota of "what did you sayy?"'s.  Surprisingly though I'm slowly making some nice friends.

4. Bi-sexuality: apparently it's all the rage here.  Was standing with this guy who lives across the hall from me going through the sexual orientation of everyone in our "corridor."  I swear every third person is bi, don't worry grandparents, that's defs not happening.  Apparently LGBT parties are sick though, think I can pull off coming off as a lesbian? Some food for thought...

5. Alcoholism: also, very much the rage.  Apparently the thing to do here is just get totally blackout on weekday nights and "catch up on work and sleep" on the weekends.  Not only do people drive on the wrong side of the street, they party backwards too.  Even though tomorrow I'm testing out my first club called proud.  Thinking it's like the camden tokyo with no jews (imagine partying on a thursday night without jews?? crazy concept...) Sounds pretty awesome though, like a gentrified horse stable.  More on that Friday

6. Lingo: Now I thought I had mastered british slang from camp people (and my own personal british life partner james kelly) but I'm seriously in China here.  All these obscure sayings and phrases "I haven't the slightest" "ta" "blimey" "bloody" "bollocks" the list goes on and on... maybe I'll come home in trousas and jumpa (rich and skinnies and a wildfox hoodie? more like it.)

7. Rodents: Apparently my floor has a rat problem and my floor mates are up til 1 am every night trying to catch them.  I'm actually terrified that thing will come in my room and sit on my face... Still wanna visit shmede, lo, beck? Just seriously happy the plague is over...

As you can see, I'm slowly but surely figuring out how to not look like a total noob over here.  Slowly being the operative word.  However I did get told today that I have a very friendly accent, but that I'm not unique because apparently all canadians are really friendly! I assured them most of the french population where I'm from isn't so, they clearly haven't confronted a true DQ.

On we go, let's discuss the weather.  Seriously, most people dread gloomy london but I LOVE it because the weather is perfect for layering! Like eternal fall! Possibly why everyone looks so chic (or posh I should say) all the time, eye candy heaven.  Rugged army jackets, printed skinnies, blouses buttoned to the top, mullet sweaters, studded satchels on the sideeee à la ali brown, little booties, tight topknots and bold bright lips.  I don't even need my ipod on the chube because I'm so busy looking out for outfit inspiration.  So today's layered outfit consisted of a beige linen button up under a dusty rose knit sweater, grey brandy mini skirt, black tights and black moto booties.  Feeling like a true londoner in my leather jacket and my oyster card in hand (equivalent of a montreal Opus), I didn't notice for a good four blocks that my skirt was totally tucked into my tights.  Almost made it all the way back to camden without noticing... guess its a good thing I basically know no one here, or free advertising for VS? Tomorrow I'll wear pants...

The only bad thing about fashion here vis-a-vis the weather is that you can't wear sunglasses because there is honestly no sun.  I swear people would help you cross the street if you wore sunnies thinking you were blind (even though that would be handy in the first place because I always look the wrong way and nearly get run over..).  Ray ban must have a seriously terrible market share in the UK.  Perhaps I'll come home with a vitamin D deficiency for lack of sunlight, but screw vitamin D I'm really happy I bought a new bronzer and bronzer brush before I came.  Pale is one british fashion trend I will not subscribe to.

Things today slightly improved.  After locating my first class staring at my map like a totally confused fool (and barging in on several classes taking place out of pure confusion) I finally make it to 220 Foster Court... only to see a sign on the door that says "today Ancient Youth will be taking place in 23 Gordon Square"... aka where I had JUST come from.  Eughh.  So on I go with 2 minutes til the "module" begins back to point A.  With all the running to and from class and departments I'm doing here I'm going to be a track star.  Don't get too excited mommy I'm not actually doing real exercise.

First class was chill, sitting amongst all 3rd year history students from Cornell, Brown, Smith, Columbia, Barnard and UCL.  So where do you go little canadian girl? ... uhh McGill.  Not as reputable as we believe it to be I'm afraid.

After class I met up with a girl I had connected with through facebook, a friend of a friend.  Really nice girl and we really hit it off, many similar interests and the same major to top it all off.  We even ordered the same thing for lunch (probs because we were both scared to admit we didn't know what anything else on the menu was besides soup...).  After lunch we metroed to the Someset house near charring cross.  An amazing art venue that holds both permanent art collections and contemporary exhibits on fashion, photography and so on... We began with the impressionist rooms and saw some legendary works, below are a few pictures of my favorites of the day

somerset house east wing 

monet oil paint 

van gogh (first painting after his self imposed plastic surg) 

Manet's barmaid at folies bergere (one of my favorite paintings of all time... can't believe I saw it for real... and for free.) 

Picasso Yellow Irises (He did this one in like an hour, but incredible nonetheless, really thick rapid brushstrokes so the paint still has a liquid gleam) 

We then went to the breathtaking Valentino exhibit.  Displayed were letters to him from Jackie O., Anna Wintour, Meryl Streep, Karl Lagerfeld and other incredibly influential people in the fashion world, funnily enough Meryl Streep was the only one with decipherable handwriting.  Also displayed were press clippings about the fashion house, Valentino's original sketchings and an enormous hallway set up to look like a cat walk flanked by three rows of white chairs.  Every third chair or so was a mannequin dressed in a stunning valentino original (ba-na-nas) I died. I was literally in. the. morgue.  

I took some sneaks pictures of the display, only got scolded at once by a security guard but I tried my best for you.  

This exhibit was followed up by an equally impressive Tim Walker exhibit.  Unfortunately this exhibit's security was a bit more on the ball but here is a link to his website.  Really worth checking out some incredibly imaginative fashion photography and art direction.  http://timwalkerphotography.com/recent_work.php

So I gotta bounce, a guy on my floor just informed me there is a surprise party for another guy on my floor and gave me this cute little party popper for the big surprise!  By the size of this thing it should be WILD.

But I'll leave you with this photo of the sun setting on the thames I took today.  This is really one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I am so blessed to be here.  Thanks to J.Mo and L.Bomb for forcing me to come.  

Lots of Love from London Town.  

-E

Update: Just got informed the guys in my hall are "playing hot potato with a water balloon" right outside my room (read in a british accent it sounds much more innocent and much less annoying) luckily only a smidget seeped in... Oh dorm life... I tap and I tap my marc jacobs flats together but I am no longer in 37 Roxborough anymore...