So.. this is my final full day in London and I am taking it easy. This morning I went on a run, played advanced wars, got fish and chips for lunch (my first time while here... I know some of you are probably surprised, but seriously... It's deep fried fish and potatoes so get over yourself), got my GBP exchanged for USD, and now I'm chilling out trying to think of how I want to look back on my stay here. I suppose that I should put a disclaimer out explaining that this was a great trip and I would not trade this experience for anything. I got some great experience in the British workplace and have a great recommendation from my supervisor. Plus, travel is a great way to get perspective on your own life. And believe me, I have spent plent of time anylizing the way I live here compared to how I live in the US. I've discovered some new passions and made some decisions about old ones. Overall, it's been wonderful. So no one needs to come out at the end of this post and spam me about not having fun. It's all been fun. Plus, I'm just that kind of person. I'm not a complainer. But... it would be foolish to simply write the experience off as perfect (I'm aware that no trip will ever be perfect). I think, to be fair, it is necessary to analyze the good and bad of this city in my final post. After all, you may want to visit London some day and wouldn't you like an honest opinion? Yes you would. Let's get started.
culture culture culture
When I first arrived, I was all star eyed at the world that was London: different accents and vocabulary, older buildings, driving on the opposite side of the road, and so on. My first trip out of my flat, a roommate and I got lost and had to ask people on the street for directions (to our surprise, they had no idea where the street we needed was). Just some of the things that marked my first impressions of the country. However, I must comment that once the impact of travel lessened, it became clearer to me that London and its people are not much different from those in the US. People go to pubs (bars), they eat fried foods (yeah fish and chips), and they shop a grocery stores in the same manner that you would in the United States. Similarly, they watch Big Brother, soap operas, and sporting events on television and then talk about them at work the next day. I'll admit that everything is not exactly the same, but our two nations share similar interests and concerns from day to day in my opinion. To be honest, ignoring the landmarks, if someone moved here, it would be like moving to a city in the US. Life just isn't that different.
Transportation
I've actually already commented on this, but I'll give a bit of a recap. The tube is great for the young go getters, but sucks for everyone else. Also, it's functionality is cut in half on weekends. So basically it is the most convenient piece of garbage around. One sign I saw claimed that the latest construction work (which was closing a few stops) would be finished in 2012. I bet some people look at that and wonder if they'll be alive to see that day.
Also, the price of a tube pass is pretty steep. I think we were charged about $200 for 6 weeks. So keep that in mind against the price of gas. It's probably less... but there is an added convenience when driving a car. Except gas prices are crazy high now... so that conclusion is probably going down the hole quickly.
Price
I knew before I arrived that the US dollar was crap compared to the GBP, so it wasn't necessarily a surprise that it was going to be expensive to buy things here. However, don't let that scare you off. On the flight over, a lot of students flying over were equating it to a sitation where everything would be twice as expensive. That isn't true. Yes, two dollars is worth one pound. But, the price of items in the UK are not one to one with the prices in the US. A $3.50 loaf of bread in the US, doesn't necessarily cost 3.50 GBP in the UK. So if anyone tells you that everything in London will cost you twice as much, don't listen to them. They're idiots.
That being said, it still is really expensive here. Sandwiches (only) run at about $8 at a nice sandwhich store (EAT or PRET). Shopping at the grocery store wasn't too bad though. The biggest difference I found was the prices of eating out and media are insanely high. My fish and chips today cost me about $14 and the beer cost about $6. Those are pretty standard prices for a decent meal. I didn't buy any cds or dvds here, but from what I saw it is about $30 for a cheap dvd... the kind you see at a grocery store. Then your Sam Goody-like locations are more than that. For anyone who watches the Simpsons, when thinking about the price of London, just imagine Skinner doing the that thing with his fingers to the PTA.
Sites, scenes, and attractions
Greatest city on earth for having things to do and for reasonable prices. I saw quite a few shows while I was here and hit up just about every museum and park that this city had to offer. Plus, there are a ton of couply activities that I didn't get to do. So I'll be back to hit those someday.
Conclusion
In the end, I want everyone to know that London is a great city and you could have a ton of fun here on your own or with another person. It is expensive, but it is completely possible to fill up six weeks and spend a reasonable amount. However, I would like to point out that if you think you'll come here and experience an amazing new culture, you can throw that idea out the window. Like my title suggests.. it's just America senior. It is a bit wiser, a bit older, and (like some seniors) the stores close at 8pm and call it a night.
NOTE: It has always been my opinion that most study abroad students come back with purely positive comments and fill every person they meet with the greatness and wonder that was their trip with no negative comments about it. Therefore, my negative comments are merely my own attempt to combat that kind of person because no trip is perfect and it's okay to talk about the bad parts as well as the good.
Extra on my flatmates
The flat itself is fine. I should have titled this section: my jackass roommates. Here's the deal... (this part is going to be informal because it is purely a rant and has no impact about how I felt about London or this trip, but being the Anarchy in the UK blog, it must be addressed). Some of my roomates.. well... two of them.. are basically those children who came to London with only the intention of partying. Furthermore, they came to London with no concern about money (clearly because they've never had a concern over money because they're just plain spoiled). That being said.. every night they would go out and typically attempt to browbeat the other flat members into going with them. A typical 10pm:
Josh or Christian (actual names): "Dude, we gotta go out tonight!"
Eric: "Guys, I've gotta work tomorrow morning"
J or C: Dude so what.. I've gotta work tomorrow, I just don't care about sleep"
Eric's brain: "you're also a moron"
Eric: "Heh"
J or C: "What's funny"
Eric: "nothing"
So... this isn't a condemnation of them going out every night. It is a condemnation of them being completely obnoxious every single night about the subject. The dialogue above, though simple, would without fail occur every night. And yes, I'm kind of a square. I'm not big on going out or drinking really. I'm typically enjoying myself without spending $40 an evening. However, I am not the only one who feels this way in my flat. Just about everyone here is sick of these two and I will be glad to not have to deal with them again. Christian has informed us that he has spent $5000 dollars on going out while in London. That is insane. Also, Josh and Christian are pitiful examples of students.. which insults me just by fact that I have to be associated with them as a student. I know that something has going terribly wrong with a college student's education when they judge the quality of their essay by length. Last night, high five after high five was given about how they got eight pages.
So... I don't know what their last names are and I don't care, but if you meet a Josh or Christian who went to London in 2008 and stayed in King's Court.. spit in their faces... you'll thank me when you're done.
That felt good... and I think someone taught me that you're suppose to delete that once it's finished, but I'm not subscribing to that philosophy.
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