A Post...Then the Pictures

So, this entry is going to be the reverse of the last. Following the title, I'm going to write the words and when I get a faster Internet connection, I'll add pictures/videos. Hope you enjoy! I'm covering a lot of stuff over the past few weeks, so there might be a lot to say.

Let's start with Megatripolis. Wow. This night was so unique. The event was a one-off party put on at Heaven to re-live the glory days of a club scene in the 90's. This was "conscious clubbing." Basically, a hippy movement, sort of like Burning Man, in which artsy types get together, meditate, dance, make speeches about enlightenment and aliens, and other stereotypical. Not sure if that made since. The night started with an old guy telling me how he was related to James Dean and Marie Boelyn. He had a friend who was like Mother Theresa, and when he wore her shoes, he could kick footballs more accurately. Needless to say, he provided me with a lot of story ideas. What a nut!


Other than that, there was a room where people could talk about whatever they liked. Upstairs, a group discussed how to purify yourself by running coconut water through your nose. Another room had lasers shooting through fog machines with tribal techno thumping away. The whole night was just one big trip. I can't wait to write a short story about it.

That weekend, I visited Sarah Wachter in Paris! It was so great to leave the city for an adventure in France. We had a blast! It was great to see her. She's studying abroad for this whole year and can speak French pretty well, which was nice because I don't speak it at all. I tracked her down once I got off the Eurostar, and we began our fun.


We spent the day walking around, eating typical Parisian food, and shopping a little bit. Then we met a friend, Steven, for dinner. Very nice. After that, we wanted to go to a disco, and that we did. We went to Queens club and literally danced all night. It's a very nice place, and I know my dad will appreciate the pictures/video of the ladies who danced on the platform. Scandalous.


After a few hours of sleep in a hostel, I met Sarah at her host family's flat, and we set our for Sacre Coure. It was as amazing as I remembered. Truly one of my favorite places in the world. The view was amazing as well. We could see all of Paris. After that, we made our way to the Pompidou, one of my favorite museums ever. All of the art blew me away. I could have spent all day there, but we just a couple of hours. And then, my whirlwind weekend came to an end. I hopped back on the Eurostar and headed home to London. It was exhausting, but incredible!
Over the next two weeks, I went to a slew of music gigs. It's kind of crazy how many bands I've seen while in London. I'm really thankful for this accessibility to music. Every week is another show. So, I saw Parenthetical Girls/High Places/Mt. Eerie at The Dome on the 17th. Parenthetical Girls absolutely killed their set; just amazing. Very theatrical and intense. Four days later, the 20th, I saw Andrew Bird perform in St. Gile's church. I've already seen him about three times, and this was still great. He mainly played stuff from the new, unreleased album, so that was cool. It was also interesting to hear him play in such a holy venue. Not every day you go to a concert in a church.

Jump to the 25th. I saw Women and Chad VanGaalen play at the Borderline. Both were great. The next day I saw Jay Reatard at the Lexington. It was crazy good. On the 29th, I saw Titus Andronicus at the Astoria 2. That show continued the trend of amazinness set by all of the bands before. However, the band to truly rise above all the others was Wolf Parade (at the Electric Ballroom on the 1st. Wow! One of the best shows I've ever seen. They had such energy, and their performance was so tight. I was in awe during the whole show.

Two days later, I saw Department of Eagles play at the Lexington. Another good show. They are really new, and this was their second live show ever. They had their act together, and the crowd was in love. And, tomorrow I am seeing Fantomas play at the Astoria. I am so pumped. If you recall, I exclusively used this band's music for my high school horror film, Bloodthirst. They broke up in the 90's, but they're back to perform the album that inspired me so much. It's a unique opportunity, and I cannot wait to back in the nostalgic bliss of their live show. It should be one to remember! And on top of that, I'm seeing Vivian Girls at Madame Jojo's the night after.

So, in review, that's 9 gigs in 23 days.

Oh, and Thanksgiving. Can't forget that! I was sad to not be home for Thanksgiving, but I made up for it by travelling to Grantham and celebrating at Harlaxton. It was so great to re-aquaint myself with the manor. I loved my summer session there; so many good memories. I loved being around all of the other students, too. Americans! The British don't understand Thanksgiving. However, my managers understood it's importance to me, so I got the day off.


The dinner was the real deal. You'll love the picture of my plate. We had all of the traditional food: mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams with marshmallows, green beans, turkey, rolls, and cranberry sauce. And, finally, pumpkin pie! London just doesn't have pumpkin pie, and it kills my soul. I had been craving some for a while. So, all in all, my Thanksgiving was not the lonely sob fest it could have been. Instead, it was almost as special as home. I mean, you can't beat the real thing, but you can try.


I think that's all for now. Hopefully, I can put up the pictures/videos in the next few days, but don't hate me if it takes longer. I am working like a dog right now, and it's the Christmas season, so I'm a little oversome with Selfridge's stress. I love you all and will see you sooner than you realize. Christmas is rapidly approaching, then it will be New Year's. The next think you know, it'll be February, and I'll be flying back to the USA. (Although it's not over yet, so be excited for new entries about all of the crazy stuff I'll pack into these last two months.) I'll try and update more often, too.

Well, it's sleep time for me. I work tomorrow, the next day, oh, and the next day, too. Good night!

A TON of Pictures...Then the Post

The "woman" in the comments is right: I failed on writing the post-pictures post that I promised. And for that, I am sorry! I've been so busy with work and all of the other fun stuff I'm up to that I have once again neglected my blog. I really need to do better. So, after finishing this post, I'm going to write another that fills you in right up until today. Bear with me, it might be long.




This first picture is from the Shred Yr Face tour at Electric Ballroom in Camden. It was really great. Times New Viking, No Age, and Los Campesinos (all big buzz bands) played. Times New Viking wasn't amazing, but Los Campesinos (no surprise) were incredible. The real surprise of the night was how much No Age blew me away. I had always been on the fence about how I felt towards No Age, but I am a definite fan now. For two guys, they sure made a big sound.


The next picture is one of many window displays at Selfridge's. As you can see, the store's Christmas message is "The More The Merrier." Not very considerate of the credit crunch. Rather, they are equating holiday cheer with spending. Therefore, each window has a traditional Santa bombarded with products that you can conveniently buy inside. Jesus who? Christmas is secular in London. Emphasis on consumerism. Oh well, the windows look great anyway.




Next, we have a video/photo from the Urban Works fashion show. It was great. Live music and a catwalk. The clothes were pretty cool. It was just neat to be at the event. A friend put it together. I loved the dancers that performed in between the runway shows. It was a great night.

Oh, Halloween. What a fun night. I spent it at Crystal's (a co-worker) flat. She and her flatmates hosted a party. I don't know what my costume was. I found it at Beyond Retro, and I had to buy it because it was cheap, comfortable, and fit well. Crystal looked amazing as Cruela De Vil. So authentic. We just drank, ate, and danced the whole night. Quite fun.



Fireworks!!! Victoria Park (not too far from my ghetto flat) puts on one of the best shows each November. What a great time. The show lasted for a long time, and they had carnival rides, too. It almost felt like the Fall Festival. After, we had a crepes. Mine was filled with Nutella and peanut butter. Delicious.


Not sure if you heard of him, but this black guy named Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States. It's kind of a big deal. Needless to say, I was pumped to see the results come in. So, I went to Yate's Wine Bar in Leicester Square for the party of the election year. I found Maggie waiting in queue, so that was a great surprise. We spent the night anxiously watching the results stream in, and at 4 in the morning, the big announcement came! Barack Obama '08! What a feeling!

These three pictures above were taken in the British Museum. On a day off, I visited. Ironically, my favorite bits of the museum were contemporary pieces. It's called Statue Philia: contemporary sculptors were asked to put their work in with all of the older stuff. The juxtaposition was really interesting. They all blew me away.

Not pictured are painted skulls via Damien Hirst (big in the news recently). The giant and incredibly life-like head is by Ron Mueck. I had always loved his work, so it was cool to see it in person. The gold Kate Moss is by Marc Quinn. And the bottom piece is by Noble and Webster. The bottom was great; the artists compiled dead animal remains and lit them just right to make the shadow of two human heads. I cannot even imagine the precision required to make that work. I was in awe!



After the British Museum, I headed to Regent Street to watch the Christmas lights go on. This was at Hamley's, the big toy store. So fun! Now, all of the streets have their own Christmas lights on. London really is beautiful during Christmas.

And finally, Kim and I, looking as sexy as ever. I think the top of the two could be some kind of ad. I'm not sure what it would sell. Perhaps, sex. We went to the new, super popular club, Matter. Eric Prydz did a dj set. Therfore, it cost a lot to get in. That wasn't that great, but once we finally got in, we danced all night. It was ridiculously fun and so nice to take Kim out for a good time.

So, now you know about the pictures. Hope you enjoyed them! As you can see, my London life is filled with art, music gigs, cultural happenings, and spectacular night life. What more could you ask for? Well, it could be less expensive, and I could be with family. Those are two. But basically, I'm making the most of my time while I'm here. I'll be back in the States soon enough. Then, I'll downgrade my cost of life and be with my family/friends again!

Coming Soon

A new post is coming. I apologize for the lack of updates. I have been very busy (not an excuse), and I have lots to tell you, whoever you may be. London is very exciting right now, and I am filling all of my free time to the brim with activities. Tomorrow night, I will let you know everything I've been up to these past couple weeks. I'm a bit tired right now and need to get some rest.

Here's a picture I took recently. A double decker bus passed in front of my shot. I had just finished with an evening service at Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben/The London Eye looked cool. It seems to encapsulate the way London life is right now, fast, bright, and a bit blurry when you realize it's passing by so quickly.

A Few Great Days

Hello there! Hope you haven't missed me too much. The Internet has been down for a bit at the flat, and it's making me go crazy. I'm at the cafe down the road, downloading tv shows, checking facebook, and taking care of business. Instead of filling you in on every thing I've done since the last post, I'm just going to tell you about a few great days.

First off: Of Montreal. I saw them twice a couple weeks ago. I saw them play an in-store gig at Rough Trade East. It was really neat. They stripped down a bunch of their new songs in order to play in such a small venue. It was cool to hear the new stuff played acoustically. However, that was just a warm up for the huge spectacle at KoKo. Wow, it was ridiculous. The band had actors on stage, dressed up as giant Buddhas, animals, Adam and Eve. All kinds of crazy characters acting out the songs throughout the whole night. I'll upload videos at a later time. The only bad part of that night was the crowd. It was an "all ages" show, so there were a bunch of teenagers, and they started a mosh pit. I left to watch from the balcony after suffering through a little bit of that.

not the best picture, but notice the dancing Buddhas

Of Montreal closed with a cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
It was amazing.

Second: Not this past Saturday, but the one before. I started the day with a little shopping at American Apparel. (I'm now curbing my spending a lot.) Anyway, I got some great stuff there. After that, I saw American Teen at the London Film Festival. It was amazing, and it put me in such a good mood. The documentary is about four high school seniors in Indiana. It was exactly like my high school experience, so I felt pretty nostalgic. I also realized just how much I love Indiana (a lot!).

Third: This past Sunday. Wow, I crammed so much into this day off from work. I started at the First Out Cafe with an incredible Sunday brunch. It was very traditional (yet also vegetarian). There was fried egg, hash brown, sausages, toast, tomatoes, baked beans, probably more. So yummy; I'll be going back there. Then I finally went to church at Westminster Abbey. It was really beautiful. Felt good to be back at church, and I think I'm going to go regularly now. After that it was time for the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Both were nice, and I realized I have a new favorite painter: Degas. Then I had a great dinner at a Milaysian restaurant. Finally, I ended the night with two film screenings for the London Film Festival. I saw Hamlet 2 (not as good as I hoped) and The Wrestler (amazing!). The Wrestler was the secret film for the festival. Every year, they have a special screening that remains a mytery until the lights go off and the film begins. Last year was No Country For Old Men. The Wrestler has received a ton of rave reviews at other festivals, so it wasn't a huge surprise. Definitely look out for this film when it comes out. It is really tough to watch, but Mickey Rourke's performance and Darren Aronofsky's direction are superb. So, yeah, that day was chock full of goodness.

Otherwise, I've been staying busy. This week is Halloween, so that should be a fun night. Also, Quantum of Solace opens Friday. I'll probably see it on Saturday or Sunday. And Guy Fawkes' Day is Nov. 5th, so there will be lots of fireworks going off. I think I'll go to Victoria Park to watch its annual display.

On a personal note, I'm personifying LCD Soundsystem's song, "New York, I Love You, but You're Bringing Me Down." Except, it's "London" and it deserves an "And Up, Too" at the end. Maybe that's confusing. What I mean is, London is sort of like a roller coaster (i.e. lots of up and downs, yet always thrilling). I am really homesick, and it sort of scares me that I still have 3 months left. I know it's going to go quickly, especially now that I'm working. However, I hate thinking about the fact that I'm missing Thanksgiving, and most importantly, Christmas. It's going to be pretty hard. That, and I just generally miss the States, home, family, friends. I've come to realize how much I value said items.

On the flip side, days like Sunday remind me of how amazing and unique this situation is. Where else can I go to church in such an incredible place, go to two museums, and attend a film festival screening. Nowhere but London. As long as I make the most of the unique opportunities I have here, I will feel fulfilled. So from now on, I am going to make it my mission to soak up all that London has to offer (without spening toooo much). London is amazing, after all. I just can't let myself dwell too much on my life in the States. I will live that life once again when I get back (it's not that long when you think about it). While I'm here, I'm living the London life!

New Post Soon

The internet crapped out again, so I'm at a cafe, and it's about to close. Hopefully the internet will resurrect at the flat soon. Then I'll add a new entry. There's a lot to blog about!

Since The Last

Well, This is a much needed update. I apologize for the 11 day absence. I know that my mom probably checks this a few times a day, so here is an exciting post. P.S. If anybody else is reading this, leave a comment. Send me some love!

So, Kim moved in the day after the last post, and she is wonderful! She is a welcome addition to the flat. Matt is with us still, and hopefully he'll be sticking it out. He just got a job at Reiss, so that should help him pay rent and keep him happy. I hope!

The next exciting happening was the Concrete and Glass music festival. Thursday was the first night of it. The only band for that day that I wanted to see was Bodies of Water. The hard part was getting there. First, we had to collect our free wrist bands that I won on the Internet. I got Matt and I so lost, trying to find them. We almost gave up. But then somebody told us we were really close.

On our way to the ticket place, we passed three girls. One of them asked me for directions. I told her we were lost, too. Then I looked over at the girl on the right, and who was it? It was Mischa "O.C." Barton. I quickly snapped into nerd mode, and shouted, "Hi, Mischa!" She just gave a coy smile and kept on walking. It was quite an adrenaline rush.

Then we found the place, got the tickets, and power walked to the nearby venue. We arrived minutes before the band started. They were amazing. It's like gospel indie rock. So joyous. Cue video evidence:



We got home after the show, and I got a good night's sleep because the next day (Friday) was my first day at Offspring! It was amazing! Everything is so great at work. I've now worked a whole week, and the initial excitement hasn't worn out at all. I'm still so pumped. The shoes, the responsibilities, my co-workers, the department store; they're all great. So, you get the point: I love this job. I won't be parting with it until I get kicked out of the country.

After work, I had some dinner at Wagamama. Then, I met Matt and Scott at Brick Lane to see Lykke Li perform. This was day 2 of the Concrete and Glass festival. Now, I am not a huge Lykke Li fan. I really like her a lot, but I have had trouble falling in love. Fortunately, her live performance was way better than her album. She was amazing. So much energy. Her enthusiasm and the band's performance took her songs to a whole new level.




After that, I sought out TV on the Radio. They were supposed to play at one venue, but when I finally found it, the place was deserted. I met a nice, married, Brazilian couple, and we formed a team to find the new venue location. Unfortunatly, when we got there, the queue was super long. We waited for an hour, only to find out that none of us were going to get in. So, I was bummed out and headed home.

We took Kim out on Saturday night and had a good time. Then I made Sunday a lazy one. I watched Gossip Girl almost the whole day. I hadn't seen a single episode, but now I'm both caught up and obsessed.

Monday I worked 10-7. Tuesday was 11:30-8:30. And Wednesday was 10-7. After work on Wednesday, I headed to Camden to see CSS perform for free. It was actually not that great. I expected them to be a little more crazy. Plus, I don't care for their new album very much, and a lot of the songs were off of it. But, it was free, so that's alright.

Thursday was tough because I worked 9-6 (aka I had to get up earlier than usual), but it was still a nice day at work. Then, before I realized it, it was Friday once again. I have a feeling my time here is going to pass much more quickly now that I'm working every week, and I'm fine with that. I actually had Friday off because Saturday was my induction into Selfridges.

I spend that Friday night at St. Luke's for the London Contemporary Orchestra. It was really great. The main reason I went was to hear Johnny Greenwood's piece, called "Popcorn Superhet Receiver." It turned out to be almost the exact music from There Will Be Blood, so I was thrilled. You'll recall how incredible the score for the film was, so I was excited to hear it played by a live orchestra. Here's a video that I snuck between my legs since recording was prohibited:



As amazing as the piece was, it was the performance before it, "Put Flesh On!" by Emily Hall, that really caught my ear/attention. It was the world premiere of the arrangement. What Emily did was use recordings of a female preacher's sermon, remix the words and add electronic music, then have all of that performed with strings. It was captivating and like nothing I had heard before. I don't think the video really captures the piece, but here's a little sample anyway:

Promised Update

Hello everyone,

The Internet is back on in the flat (it has been for a few days now, thankfully!). Knock on wood though because you never know when it might mysteriously disappear again. I'm not sure what all to include in this entry, so it might be a little scatterbrained.

You know I got the shoe store job. Still stoked about that. I have to be go through a training day with Selfridges, but they only do those on Wednesdays, so I wasn't able to start today like I had hoped. I assume I'll be doing that on this Wednesday. I should get a call tomorrow to find out for sure. I'm just ready to start working because I need a routine. I've had a lot of free time these past two weeks, which is nice, but it also means I have time to think too much. I'm realizing thinking too much can make you depressed, so I want this job because it will get me on a schedule.

I suppose one big piece of news that I haven't mentioned on here yet is that Maggie and Matt have decided to move from the flat to a hostel. I'm bummed out about it, but I understand their reasons, so it's alright. However, it means I've had some stress and frustration about finding their replacements. Luckily, Maggie has been replaced by Kim, a sweet German girl who is interning with the Mayfair Hotel. She's going to move in tomorrow. I hope that goes well.

Matt hasn't moved yet, and we haven't found a replacement for him yet. Hopefully, we'll get some calls this week in order to make that second transition. Honestly, I wish Matt would stay here, but once again, I understand. I'll just be really happy when all of this gets panned out. Then, I can relax.

Another source of stress (and don't get me wrong, I'm not at all depressed or anything) is me being homesick. I know, I never really get homesick. When I was at college, I could go home anytime. It was just a 2 1/2 hour drive to Evansville. I think it's the sheer distance and inability to visit home whenever I want that is making me miss home right now. As a friend said, the honeymoon stage of this London experience has worn off, and now it's real life. I'm loving it, so that's a good thing, but...

I do miss a lot about home. Family, friends, my house, college, all of that good stuff. In fact, I just started a Moleskine notebook entitled "Memories and Misses." I'm just going to list fond memories and things I miss. It's actually quite comforting instead of making me sad. I had one nice memory on my walk home from dinner tonight. It's starting to cool down in London as Fall approaches, and I immediatly had a nice thought of UE soccer games and warming up under a blanket with mom, drinking hot chocolate. (This is the part where my mom starts to tear up; sorry mom!)

Like I said, this entry is a little scatterbrained, so in summation so far: I'm excited to start my job, the flat is going through some transitions, and I'm a little homesick, loving the things I miss back in the States.

Moving on, what have I done lately in London. Well, the biggest thing that sticks in my mind is this weekend, going to Loud Tate. It was a really neat, free youth event. We attended workshops on art making, watched a powerful play about knife violence, and coolest of all, got to see Metronomy live. They were so much fun! Here's a video:




The next day I went to Brick Lane for their Sunday street market. It was pretty amazing. I got some cool vintage and home-made clothing. More importantly, I ate a lot. I had a plate of noodles and chicken curry. A little later I had a tuna empanada with two different salads. A few minutes later I had a huge crepe with bananas, nutella, and dark chocolate flakes. It was all so delicious. I don't know what came over me, but I couldn't resist eating everything I saw. It was a nice day. I walked home from there, and it only took about a half hour. It's nice to be a short walk away from such a cool area.

I just realized this is a pretty long post. Sorry. Luckily, that's about all I have to say for now. The next update will include info about the new job once I've gotten into that. Until then, I miss and love you all very much!

I Promise Another Update Tomorrow

see title

A Follow Up to Yesterday

I GOT THE JOB!!!

Obviously, I am so pumped about this job at Selfridges, working for Offspring shoes. Visit their website: offspring.co.uk. It was just launched, so I'm sure there will be improvements soon. The actual area of the department store is amazing. They have the hippest trainers and really chic shoes, too. I'll let you know more when I start, which I think will be next week. However, I might have general training for the department store tomorrow. I'll keep you up to date.

In other news, it looks like I'm only going to be able to get the Internet at Roastars, a really cool coffee shop right down the road. So, that sucks! But I'll deal with it. That's all for now. Leave comments if you have any questions or possible topics for future posts!

Sorry I've Been Distant, Literally

I know, it's been a little bit since I've updated. I apologize for being distant, literally and metaphorically. I'd love to see everybody and visit the States for a bit, but that will have to wait. London is calling, and I have to stay. Just a quick update because my internet at the flat disappeared (hopefully I'll find a solution soon), and I'm at a cafe down the road, using their free wireless.

Nothing too exciting has happened lately. This past weekend was a quiet one, which was nice. I mainly wandered during the day and spent the night at home, watching movies. However, one exciting piece of news: I had an interview for a shoe store!!! This is what I really want to do for my short time in London-->work in a sweet shoe store.

I went to the Office across the street from Poste (where I had tried to get a job, but they don't have any spots open). Unfortunately, Office didn't have any spots open either, but I chatted with Dawn, and she said she thought I would be perfect at Offspring in Selfridges. So, she called Paul and told him I should work for him. In a hot second, she told me to go there right away and chat with him. I did. It was amazing. He was really cool, and we set up an interview for the next day.

The next day...the interview went so well. He even joked about cancelling his other interviews. Well, tomorrow I should find out for sure if I have the job. Please think good thoughts for me! I really want this job. Offspring is exactly what I wear when it comes to shoes: a mix of hip trainers (Converse, Vans, Nikes) and nice chic shoes (Office, Ask the Missus). I'll update tomorrow with hopefully good news!

That's about all for now. I'm sure there's more, and I'll fill in on the rest when I have some more free time.

Love from London!
David

I Have Seen and Heard a Lot

The title pretty much sums up this entry. I have seen so much and heard so much over the past few days. After getting let go from the job, I had the weekend to just relax and have fun. Today I started the third job search (no results just yet), but I don't want to talk about that. Let's focus on how nice the weekend was.

Friday, Matt and I traveled to Brick Lane (not too far of a walk, and well worth it) to find a great thrift/vintage store where most items are under 10 pounds, which is nice. We wanted to get something crazy to wear to Circus @ Soho Revue Bar. And crazy we got. Then we found out there is a larger warehouse just down the road from our flat. It was so refreshing to hear that there was a cool clothing store so close to our flat in little Pakistan.

So, that night was quite awesome. But let's skip forward to Saturday. Scott crashed at our flat, so we spent the next day wandering around the area. That night was a free in-store Deerhunter gig at Rough Trade East back at Brick Lane. We traveled back that location and meandered through the shops and markets. We had a wonderful dinner at the Bustaurant. It was so neat. A group of people had converted this two-story bus into a really nice restaurant. Hence the name.

I had vegetable stir-fry with tofu.

Pretty soon it was time for the Deerhunter gig. They were awesome. It was a free in-store show, so they didn't play a very long set. Nonetheless, they rocked the whole time despite a few technical issues. Here's a short clip from the song "Never Stops":

The next day was the Thames Festival. It started out nice and ended incredibly. While it was still light out, Matt and I just wandered around the South Bank, looking at booths and smelling all the yummy food. Then we watched some free-runners/parkour people perform. They were the people who did the choreography in Casino Royale's famous scene where James Bond chases the guy through the construction site. Anyway, that was kind of cool (a little underwhelming though).

Then I had an entire gourmet pizza at Gabriel's Wharf. Scott met up with us, and we traveled to the Tate Modern only to arrive right when it closed. So we killed some time until it got dark, and that's when things got amazing. First was the lantern parade. Tons of performers and people carrying big lit up sculptures. Cue pictures/video because I can't really put it into words how cool it all was. However, I can say it was one of my favorite things ever.







So, after that magical hour of street performers, marching bands, glowing lanterns, and all around amazing-ness, we walked a little further along the South Bank. We found a nice area to sit right on the river. The fireworks started a little late, but it was well worth the wait. Somehow, we picked the most ideal/perfect spot possible. The fireworks were shot off from two different boats, and we were sitting directly in the middle of them. It was breathtaking, so here are a few videos/pictures to let you see what I mean.

Ten Days Later

Wow. So much can happen in a London week. This is going to cover the past ten days, beginning where "What a Good Day" ended. It will cover my Street Fundraiser job and end with an unexpected twist.

Tuesday and Wednesday were training days at the office. They were exciting. The time flew by as we learned about NDCS (Nation Deaf Children Society) and how to properly disperse all of its information to the public. We practiced and role played and hammered in all the information. Fun stuff; I was really pumped to start work on the actual streets.

Also, Tuesday night, Scott and I went to see the Shout Out Louds @ 223, which is the club connected to ISH. Scott is from the States and goes to Ithica College. He is interning with a music company, so he can get us on guest lists and into clubs. Pretty awesome. Anyway, the concert was loads of fun.

Wednesday, I worked out after training. Then I met all the other BUNAC-ers at a pub for a group get together. It was nice.

So, Thursday. My second first day of work. I was on Charing Cross Road. The day started off with a bang. Thankfully, I don't mean a literal one. What happened is Vitold, or V, our team leader (my least favorite of the four I worked with), stupidly locked a big red bag with our backpacks in it right outside the tube station. Well, he left for just a short bit and the police saw it there. Cue potential bomb threat. All of a sudden, they are having to temporarily shut down Leicester Square tube station and take our details. Crazy, I know! It was all fine in the end.

On a higher note, one girl was unable to give to the charity because she didn't have a bank account, but she liked me, so she wanted to help somehow. She leaves and comes back with two ice cream cones. "Mango or Strawberry?" I took mango and thanked her very much. How sweet is that. The first day was fun. I didn't get any sign ups, but I started to learn more.

The second day, I worked in Kentish Town. It was ok. More of the same (minus the dramatic bomb threat). I still didn't get any sign ups, so that was kind of a bummer. I figured I would start the next week fresh. A clean slate.

That night, wow, we went all out. I've wanted to have an all nighter, but I was apprehensive, seeing as it takes a lot out of you, is physically draining, and means you have to sleep all day tomorrow. We did it though, and we did it well. Not gonna happen again any time soon, but this once was really fun.

Let's see, first I met Mirko (a co-worker at Jigsaw) for dinner at Veg, this wonderful chinese/thai vegan buffet. It was delicious. He caught me up on the happenings at the shop. Nothing too exciting. He sort of hates it, too. Then we got a couple drinks at a bar. And then I met up with Matt and Scott. We also brought along a French kid named Steven that we met on our way.

The destination: Circus night @ the Soho Revue Bar. This club is where celebrities like to visit. It's also crazy fun with two rooms. One is a dance floor, the other more of a sit down and chat area. We chose the dancing room, and dancing we did. Then, I saw someone who looked really familiar. I turned to Matt, and I said, "I think that's Patrick Wolf!" So, I wrote on a piece of paper the following: Patrick Wolf? Yes of No. Circle one. Well, he just told me, "Yeah, that's me." Of course, I went into fan mode, but I tried to stay cool, so we just chatted about this and that (Did you know his hairdresser is half deaf? She is.). Cue picture:

My first celebrity sighting/meeting, and it was great. He was so nice. And he is such an awesome singer/musician. What an honor. So, we danced a bit more. Then we left to find Punk because Scott's friend Emmanual could get us in free. It ended up we still had to pay a little bit, but it was well worth it. Punk was such a sweet place. We just danced and danced.

After that, we found a late night cafe, and I had smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and coffee. Soooo good, especially after a long night of dancing. After that, we wandered to Trafalgar Square until the sun came up. It was a great night. We took the tube home, and I slept until about 2 in the afternoon.

Saturday was just a lazy day at the flat. Then Sunday was the Regent's Street Festival. It was kind of fun. We got free champagne at Calvin Klein, free Pimm's at another shop, free popcorn at a furniture store. Yeah, I just ate a lot. Also, we rode a carousel that played Beatles songs. Cue video:




Monday, back to work. I was in Enfield Town, which means Zone 5, which means I had to take the rail. Turned out to be worth the trip because I got my first sign up!!! It was such a rush. Her name was Victoria, a young mother. She was so cool. That night Matt, Maggie, and I finally had a dinner together. We went just down the road to this great little fusion restaurant. I had chicken kebabs with lamb. And then I had an incredible Toblerone milkshake. To die for.

Tuesday, I worked Bond Street. Well, it was not working well. In fact, I didn't get any sign ups that day, so that was unfortunate. But my skills were improving. I was just having trouble getting that last and most important step: the sign up. I pretty much had to get some the next day.

Wednesday (yesterday), I worked in Kilburn. Basically, everyone was old and/or didn't speak English. Still, I had to get some sign up because that's the name of the game. I mean, they can't afford to pay me if I'm not actually getting people to donate money. So, I worked really hard. The first session, I didn't get any. Right before the second session, Sean, my team leader, told me, "You pretty much have to get a sign up during this session."

I tried, but I did not succeed. This is challenging work, you see. So, during my second break, I was chatting to the girls I was working with that day, and Sean comes up to me. "David, you actually need to go to the office now." I thought, "Holy Crap." Or possibly a few expletives. I kind of teared up a little, but all the girls told me it was fine. So, I jumped on the bus and made the journey to the office. I had a lot of time to think about the situation (i.e. me failing at the job). There was a part of me that just hoped they would let me go. I mean, it's going to get cold pretty soon, and do I really want to work outside? Let's be honest: no. Also, I was enjoying the work, but I was truly having trouble getting people to sign up. I'm not used to failure, but I was failing.

Now, I wasn't emotion or anything (besides the initial news that I had to go to the office). I got there, and Henry sat me down. He asked me how things were going. I said I enjoyed the work, but I was just not quite connecting with it. He told me all of the team leaders like me a lot, and I have great enthusiasm. But, I just wasn't making the money they needed me to make for the charity. So what am I getting at? Why having you been reading all of this? Could this be the surprise ending I promised? Yes, it is:

I GOT FIRED!!! Well, it was more like being let go. Apparently, they have a high turn over rate. I'm not the first to be prematurely rejected. I was just not born to be a street fundraiser, and you know what, I'm perfectly fine with that.

So, let's do a recap: I got a job, and then I quit it. I got a second job, but they let me go. Now, it's on with job hunt #3. Will this be the one that sticks? Let's cross our fingers, ladies and gentlemen. After all, third time's a charm!

What a Good Day

Yes, before you complain, I know I still need to finish the last entry. I know you're dying to see pictures of our flat in little Pakistan. But wait just a few because I want to write about today. It was a good, solid day from start to end, and here's why.

Well, my interview was at 2, so I didn't have to get up super early. I dozed in bed for an hour instead of waking up at 9 like planned. Then I had some breakfast and finished a movie on my laptop. Then it was shower time, get dressed, and take the tube to Victoria.

I stopped by Pret for a sandwich (chicken and avocado...so good). Then I walked past the Billy Elliot theatre to the Elliot House (nice) where the Outreach Fundraising office is located. Signed in and waited, met a sweet girl named Annabel. Then Kevin camed down, brought us up, and we began. It was just myself and Ali, a nice fellow from Pakistan. We filled out paperwork and chatted about school, hobbies and our Obama love.

Kevin came back. I introduced Ali (a display of my communication/learning skills, I suppose), and he introduced me. "Well, this is David. His favorite color is orange."

Blah, blah, blah. Interview stuff. I learned about Oxfam and gave am impropmtu presentation about it. Kevin bought it. Then I asked a lot of questions because I do not want to rush into a mess like Jigsaw (shout out to Jigsaw!). I made sure to cover all the points, and honestly, I was satisfied with the answers. It really sounds like a nice albeit challening-when-it-comes-to-the-incessant-rejection time. Did that make sense? Anyway, if you want the conclusion to that chapter, scroll down a little and skip the next few graphs.

So, from there I walked past Buckingham Palace because it's really close. I felt really touristy, but let's be real, it's a nice place. Cue picture:

Don't those roses look vivid?

Then, I walked through St. Jame's Park, and I saw this nice little stand with ice cream, and I just decided to splurge. So, I got a scoop of pistachio, and it was brilliant. I asked a couple if they would snap a photo of me eating it. Here's that:


After a nice breeze through the walk (I'll be going back), I phoned Matt, and we decided to meet at the American Apparel on Carnaby Street (I wanted to try on a pair of trousers). While I waited for him to get there, something amazing happened. It was one of those moments in which you just smile and thank goodness that you were there to see it in person. What could this be? Well, a woman was standing not too far from me, and she all of a sudden started belting out a song. I thought she was a kook, but then another person joined in. Gradually, the song turned into a whole street production. I got my camera out and took a video. Here's the proof:

(well crap...technical difficulties...I'll try to upload the video tomorrow)

I loved it. They were a troupe from the Soho Youth Theatre. I talked to them a little bit and complimented them on the performance. They were cool, and I'm pretty sure I want to go to their performance (maybe this week). Geez, I haven't been to any theatre yet.

So, Matt showed up (he unfortunately missed the song), and we did the shopping thing (minus actually buying anything). Then, we went to a great crepe shop, and I had an awesome tuna crepe for meal #3. Oh, right before we went inside, I got a phone call. It was Kevin from the interview. He offered me the job, and since I had had time to think about it, I said, "That sounds like it should be good." So, end of job search #2. I'm gonna stick with this one no matter if it turns out to suck. I'm sure there will be another entry all about it.

After that, I wanted to check out a cafe I found on the internet. It's called the First Out Cafe, and on Mondays, they have "Life Drawing." Basically, a model comes in (each week a different costume), and everyone sits around a draws her in different poses. It was so neat.

notice the funky model and the people drawing

We drew for a little bit, then we decided we wanted to stay out for just a little bit longer, so we stopped at a bar and hung out. Cue another picture (as if there hasn't been enough in this post):



Then we got free wrist bands for entry to the Ghetto, and since it's one of our faves, we decided to make a quick appearance. On our way though, we passed a vegan Chinese place, so we got a little take-away plate and devoured it. Delicious! (Although my tummy hurts a little bit now). Then we arrived at Ghetto. Monday nights, their party is called the Frat Party. I know, how appropriate. So, we danced for a short bit, but then I wanted to come home before it got late.

And now I'm here. Hope you enjoyed my day; I know I did.

Oh, wait. One of the last things I saw. This guy in the Tottenham Court tube station:

THE REALY BIG UPDATE

Chances are I'm going to write this "really big update" in installments because I have some things do today, but I wanted to put something on here since I haven't updated for a bit. This is going to cover the basics: the job and the flat. And then I have some time, I'll add some fun pictures of going out and whatnot.

Well, let's start with the job. I had it. I don't have it anymore. By choice. That's the short story.

the first day at Jigsaw

The long story? I arrived at this job purely through chance. I would have never actively seeked out a job in retail. As I have mentioned, I made a connection while getting my phone fixed, and that led to me going to Jigsaw. Somehow I got the job despite my knowledge or experience. And that was exciting. It was all new; I was ready to do anything. You see, I have this good/bad habit of jumping into something without necessarily considering the logistics. I ignore the reality, thinking I can achiever whatever I set out to achieve. Well, oops.

The first day was new and pretty cool. I learned so much; how to take stock, how to replenish stock, how to search for new sizes upstairs, blah, blah, retail blah. I tried to look at it as a game. Therefore, it was fun. My imagination helped me get through it. Plus, it was a whole new world, and I was on Bond Street. Might as well think positively.

This mindset carried over to the second day. I came excited, believing I would be able to learn how to do everything. And it went fine. Until a few hours to closing. Then, all of the illusion crumbled (not to sound dramatic). I think I finally cracked and realized, "Wait a second. This job actually sucks. Nobody really wants to work retail (even though they're all really nice), and everyone is just here until they find another job." Other thoughts: "I have absolutely no passion for the selling of women's clothing; I don't even want to learn. I would kill myself if I did this for six months. Also, I completely lack the skill set required to do this job."

lost after the third day, literally

You get the picture. All of these thoughts congealed into one awakening/realization: I jumped into this like a blind man, and I do not belong. Truly, I am not the missing puzzle piece of
this Jigsaw. Cue groans from the audience. After closing the second day, I asked to speak Theresa (wonderful manager) in the back. I told her what I was feeling, and I even cried a little. I know, so unlike me. But this is all so crazy really, isn't it? She was comforting, but I still left not knowing what to think. The masochistic part of me wanted to suffer on, but another part of me knew I should get out while I can.

So, the third day came, and it went ok. Not too much craziness, and no post-closing-cryfest. This meant I could think objectively about the situation. Not persuaded by emotions or passionate frustration, I could really sort out my priorities. I still wanted to leave. Therefore, I followed my heart. The next day, Matt and I traveled to Bond Street, and I broke the news of my final decision to Theresa. I felt really bad, but Theresa understood and supported me. It was really nice, and I left with no ill feelings.

A review: I got a job. I left said job. In three days. End of that chapter. On with a new job search. This one is going to be more informed. However, I need to jump on it and find a new job quickly because as everyone said, London is not cheap.

On to the flat.

We Got a Flat

Now, in the States, this might sound bad: picture us stranded on the highway. I'm talking about a flat tire. Lame. But here, getting a flat is great news. Maggie, Matt, and myself found a great flat, and we took it right then because property is flying right now. It' in Mile End, just a couple minutes walk from the Stepney Green tube station. It's big, has three bedrooms, a nice kitchen/bathroom, and a great common room. Also, there's a nice balcony, and we're on the top floor, so the view is cool. I'll put up pictures soon. We move in on Wednesday, and I cannot wait. I should have the Internet all the time then as well. That way, I'll stay in touch much more easily, which will be a great relief after this hit-and-run Internet use of the past ten days.

I start work this week; more exciting news. I can't wait. I also joined a gym, so now I can get back in shape and work out after work since it's really close to Jigsaw.

What else have I been up to? Well, a lot of wandering. London is great for just walking around. For example, yesterday I wandered around the South Bank. I breezed through the Tate Modern, had a crepe at Gabriel's Wharf, and watched the skaters skate. It was quite pleasant.


We've also been enjoying fun night life. Maggie, Matt, and I went to the Ghetto the other night. It was a special party called Nuke Them All. We got in free because Pennie (bartender/new friend) put us on the guest list. Lots of characters there, lots of dancing, and lots of photos. Here a couple:


I think that's all for now. Go to Stranger Behaviour for a lot more pictures. Next update will probably be on Wednesday. Then, I'll have moved into the flat and worked a few days.

Highs and Lows

Well, I have a job, and that's a really high high. I'll be working at Jigsaw, a really chic women's clothing store on Bond Street (where all of the big designers are located). I'm not quite sure how I landed the job, now that I think about it. I have no retail experience and my CV (resume) is not really that impressive. I suppose it was my American charm and youthful charisma.

It started when I was getting my phone replaced at Orange. I had to wait for quite a while while they did paper work in the back, so I chatted with Ness, another employee. She told me that her friend works at Jigsaw and that they just had someone leave and need a new employee. I said, "Why not? Might as well give it a shot." So, she texted her friend and told him I'm cool. Good to make connections with anybody, I realize. Well, I printed out my CV and filled out an application. Andrei called me and set up an interview after speaking with me briefly at the store.

Tuesday morning, the day of the interview. The day before I bought some new trousers and black shoes (they don't wear khakis here at all). So, all spiffed up, I headed to Bond Street, feeling confident but nonetheless undeserving of the job. Oh well, if you really act like you know what you're doing, you should be fine, right? Well, I guess that worked out.

on my way to the interview

The interview started with a chat about who I am and what my goals are and why I came over to London. All of that was cool. Then came "The Challenge." Andrei gave me a hypothetical situation: a woman comes in who is going to a wedding in the afternoon and needs something chic to wear. Wow. I'm not a fashion adviser, but I knew I had to try this out or I wouldn't get it. I went around the store, picking up this and that. I got a flowy dress and a small top, some nice sandals and a cool necklace.

But, that wasn't quite enough (or a good choice?). Andrei told me to really let my imagination run wild. The second time around, employees noticed what I was doing, and they would give me little hints. It was really cool how they all helped out. "Don't pick up anything on sale." "Get lots of accessories (and the most expensive ones)." "That purse is almost 400 pounds." Basically, I needed to just choose tons of stuff, the more the merrier, and the more the pricier.

This time, Andrei was a little more pleased. We chatted a little bit more, and he asked me some more questions. I didn't quite understand all of the payment stuff he told me, but I think I'll be making a nice amount. He said if he chose me, he'd be generous and treat me pretty well. Fine with me. Help the American gain pounds.

So, I got it. Later that night, Andrei called me and said he wanted to offer me the position. It's going to be interesting. I know he's taking a chance on me, so I'm going to have to be impressive. I'm going to get some fashion magazines and study what's in right now. I'm also going to have to go shopping for some new outfits because my current wardrobe might not cut it.


Partnered with this job-gaining excitement was/is the impending need for our own flat. Matt and I met a girl named Maggie, and she's wonderful. A fellow BUNAC-er, she is from Washington, D. C. She's also an English major and recent graduate. So, we're looking for three-bedroom flats to rent. It's so stressful. We took the tube out to see a flat, and it was alright, but we found out this morning that it might now be the best, so we're crossing that off. Now, we're just setting up appointments and visiting flats. Hopefully it will work out soon.

Echoing past remarks, I just want to settle in. Have my own room, the internet, all of those simple pleasure. Yesterday was overwhelming, and I found myself asking those inevitable questions: "Am I crazy for doing this? What was I thinking? Should I just go home?" Well, those kind of sentiments become magnified when you're feeling stressed. They've washed away since yesterday. I'll update this again when I have a flat and I'm cozy.

Catch Up

This'll be a brief entry with a few pictures. Just to catch you up with my London happenings. Everything is great (a general announcement). The weather's been great. Everyone is a model and dressed incredibly well all of the time (quite intimidating yet exciting, too). The food is nice. All is well.

cheeseburger in London

I probably walk five miles a day. My legs/feet are killing me, but it's good to travel on foot. Where have I been walking? Oxford Street, Holborn, SoHo, Camden Town, Bond Street, Regent's Park, Hyde Park...all the hot spots.

How's the job search going? Well, slowly. I turned in a CV to Ripley's Believe it or not, which is opening in London on Wednesday. I think most of the spots are filled already, so we'll see. I do have an interview tomorrow for a nice clothing store on Bond Street (aka the posh, designer avenue). Perhaps I'll win them over with my American charm. Chances are I'll take the job if they want me. Then I'll be able to start working and looking for a flat, which I can't wait to find.

I'm so ready to settle down in my own flat and fall into a routine of working. Everything is wonderful right now, but the uncertainty of job hunting and sleeping in a hostel are beginning to grow old. The past few days have been long, starting early and ending late. I've spent time in the parks, walked along the busy streets, eaten at plenty of cafes, and meandered through different stores. And I've done business-y stuff like buy my mobile, open a bank account, and started looking for a job.

Hmmm, this is a bit scatterbrained. I think I'll just post a few pictures now. I'm going to update next once I have a job. So, cross your fingers that a new update comes really soon.

Alphabeat @ KOKO in Camden

reading in Hyde Park

in the tube (first day)

New post coming soon...Believe it or not

Sorry everyone (if anyone is reading this), but my internet availability is not great at the moment. When it becomes readily available, I'll provide a nice entry. Until then...

From VIP to ISH

Well, we're here. And we're safe and sound. That's the most important thing to know for now.


Now for a few more details. At about 7:30, the parents and I loaded the BMW with all my stuff and drove to the Indy airport. It was book-finishing trip; quite nice. Then after a passable airport salad and a tearful goodbye, I checked in. Matt and I sat together on the flight, and it flew by, literally/metaphorically. We arrived in Chicago, got our tickets at Virgin, and went through security. It was all a breeze.

Then we started a miniature wild goose chase to find a VIP lounge since I recently got a special card for some reason from my bank. It was a great way to blow a few hours before our flight. I enjoyed free beer, espresso, finger sandwiches, and fruit. It was quite nice.


On the London flight. Wow, it was so nice. I lucked out and had two empty seats next to me. In other words, I had a bed. After watching the sequel to Harold and Kumar, I snuggled up as comfortably as possible on my three-seat bed. It worked well. I woke up, rested and ready to arrive. We landed, went through Immigration (less than ten minutes), then through customs. We decided to spend a little more money and save on comfort by taking a taxi to our hostel. Expensive, but we liked it.

Got to ISH, stowed our luggage away until we could check in later, and made our way to BUNAC for orientation. We were excited that everything went so smoothly. Then, it rained on us. And we were fine because we're in London, and that's how the weather works. I'd like to think of it as a baptism of sorts. So, we made it to orientation, and that went well.

Now, here's where reality sets in. All of a sudden, we felt overwhelmed (they tell you A LOT of information) and tired. We needed to decompress and rest for a bit. So, we went back to ISH, checked into our room, and after a difficult but doable push of our suitcases, we arrived at our building and took a nice nap.

Then I got up and took a shower (accidentally in the women's...oops; it sucked nonetheless). And now I'm here, in ISH's internet cafe. Tonight, Matt and I are going to have dinner and explore. No plans; just enjoying being in London. Tomorrow, we dive into the job hunt, the bank account opening, the mobile phone buying, the accommodation searching, all of that fun stuff.

This Is How It Starts

This is how it starts. Three days away and unpacked, which will be a different story in a matter of hours. Then I will have broken open the freshly-bought luggage and begun to plan the best way to organize shoes and shorts, shirts and pants, wires and travel-sized toiletries. It will be a challenge, but the time has finally come. London is steadily approaching, and what truly seems like a dream will become ridiculously real as I board that plane on Tuesday and arrive in London early the next morning.

How this really started is a little over three months ago. As our friends talked about Teaching for America, graduate schools, or first jobs, Matt and I were not so confident with our future. We were as bewildered as most English Writing majors most likely are, so we sought an alternative route: the post-college escape from America to find ourselves and/or have an incredible adventure that parents will deem "life experience" when explaining to their adult peers. It took shape after a suggestion by the lovely Christine Dougan about traveling abroad and working.

Enter BUNAC (aka our ticket out). After some research, Matt and I quickly said, "Yes, let's do this. Let's get the hell out of here and have an adventure." And that's what we hope to do. When I say "get the hell out," I am not necessarily suggesting a term of escape; more of a purging of stress, a much needed six-month departure from the pressure to know our future after four years of learning that we have no idea what we want to do yet. And when I say "adventure," I use the term to encapsulate the fact that we do not know just what's going to happen.

We have our passports, our work visas, and a program's worth of assistance, but we do not have definite answers to those repetitive questions: "What's your job going to be? Where are you going to live? You know London is super expensive, right?"

Check back here in about two weeks.

picture from summer of 2005 with parents

Now I'm going to get to that work promised in the first graph. I've sold my car (holy moment for my Grand Prix), I'm giving my mom my phone, I've had three different farewell dinners, and I have all the necessary documents. I'm pretty much ready, but the bags, still unpacked. I'm sure that each article of clothing carefully folded and placed into those beautiful red Samsonites will be a reminder that yes, this is all about to happen, and I can't wait.

Now playing: The Clash - London Calling