10 things...

As the one year anniversary of my London move slowly approaches, it was time for a bit of introspection and think about how the past year has changed my life. What better way to organize my thoughts than using a list!

So I couldn't come up with the proper title to this list.. I started with:
"Top 10 things that I do now that I didn't do before moving.." Then I didn't like that and renamed it: "Top 10 things that I wouldn't have experienced if I didn't move to London." But then, some of the things I came up with really didn't fall under that either. So now I've just called it "10 things..." which is perfect because now its a catch-all list.

Basically, the 10 on this list are things that I:

• Do now, that I didn't do before I moved.
  
• What I've experienced that I wouldn't have if I didn't move.
  
• Things I've realised because I moved.
  
• Things that have changed because of my move here.
  

You get the idea.. =)

So coming in at number 10..

10) Relying on Public Transportation


The only time I really took public transportation in Chicago was usually the "L" on the red line to Wrigleyville to catch a Cubs game. Or perhaps the brown line a couple stops from work to grad school. I never took the bus and really didn't have a big dependency on public transportation. I had a car at my disposal or I could easily grab a cab.

Now? I rely heavily on public transportation. Without a car, riding a bus or jumping on the tube is part of my daily routine. I deal with all the crowds, all the hassle, and all the general pain when it comes to taking public transportation. Its the primary way I get around. I sometimes give up my personal space and I suffer the disadvantage of not having a 'boot' to put my groceries in or throw my golf clubs in and drive to a golf course.

At the same time, I don't have to worry about paying for gas, having a car payment, worrying about car maintenance, driving on the wrong side of the road, or paying the infamous congestion charge!

What I've realised?

I can live without a car... in a city like London that has
a comprehensive public transport system... =)

Oh S4, don't worry, you are truly and deeply missed. =)

Taste of Oxford

Oxford University that is. I had an impromptu visit to Oxford this past weekend. I was hoping to see more on my first visit here, including areas where the Harry Potter movies were filmed. I wanted to see the Great Hall at Christ Church College but it closed before noon, so I didn't get to see it. Maybe next time.

There were commencement ceremonies around campus as well so some of the buildings I wanted to visit were closed, specifically the Bodleian Library.


Some fun facts:

• Oxford also has a Bridge of Sighs as pictured above. The other being in Venice!
  
  
• Students get three 8 week terms for an academic year.
  
• Ashmolean Museum as pictured on the right, was the first museum in the world to be opened to the public!
  
• The stairs leading up to the Great Hall in Christ Church College were the stairs used in the Harry Potter films. (Maybe next time I'll grab a photo.)
  
• Hitler didn't bomb Oxford during the war because he wanted it to become the Capital of England!
  
  

The Countdown..

11 months. I guess I don't count the days as much as I use to. But I do know the milestone of "1 year" since moving here is only 1 month away. Its quite amazing because I feel like its happened so fast and my end goal of staying at least 2 years doesn't seem so far away.

I've been thinking of a way to commemorate such a momentous event, maybe posting something new everyday about what I've learned about myself or some kind of Top 10 list that would lead up to the one year... but that would result in some extra effort and pre-planning! So I'm really unsure about the whole thing right now.. but I am open to some suggestions!

Here's a few I've come up with:
1. 10 memorable moments since moving here.
2. Top 10 things I wouldn't have done if I stayed in Chicago.
3. Top 10 things that I do now that I didn't do before moving.
4. Top 10 things that haven't changed.
5. Top 10 blog posts (not sure about this one, but I'd blog about them again?)

Anyway, not sure yet, but I'd like to do something, just don't know yet! Or maybe I'll do them all as one post each! That's ambitious!


Weekend
A taste of Oxford, and Clubbing yet again. I did meet some Brazilian women who taught me some Portuguese, but unfortunately I wasn't successful enough to see if they were "true" Brazilian.

Use your hands!!

And there it was.. in all its glory.

The "OZ" Lamb Burger they called it. Sitting in front of me.

I opted for the Steak instead of the Lamb, but it was going to be good.

Fried free range egg, grilled pineapple, yellow beetroot relish, red beetroot slice, tomato & lettuce, and of course the slab of meat, all in between a sesame seeded bun.

I've had it before and was truly enjoyable.

My other colleagues ordered it too. I think all of us ordered burgers except for one person.

I took my knife and cut it in half so I can handle it properly.

As I salivated, I placed a napkin on my lap and rubbed my hands together to enjoy such a glorious meal.

As I looked around to make sure everyone had their food, I was just about to grab my burger.. when..

What's this? What is everyone doing? Why are they doing that!! No!!

As I briefly paused, I watched everyone continue to use their knives and forks!
What the hell is going on! Why is everyone using utensils to eat a burger!!

I understand using them to cut the burger in half, but to eat the whole thing?

Immediately as I grabbed the one half of the burger and took a big bite, I slowly put it down and grabbed my knife and fork. Don't ask me why, but I just felt like a pig compared to everyone else! I felt it wasn't "proper" to eat the thing with my hands!

So instead I give into peer pressure and eat it in a more proper way. Eating a big burger with a knife and fork... I tell ya, its not the same. You don't get the same effect because once you use a knife and fork, you don't get to shove the whole damn thing in your mouth encompassing all the layers of the burger! Instead you cut it up in little pieces. Maybe a little part of the bun with some of the meat, maybe a piece of meat with the egg, etc. It truly gives a new meaning to the saying "the whole (burger) does not equal the sum of its parts!"

Street Wars!!

I use to partake in "Stalker" back in University for an Asian Organization. Basically you get details of a member in the organization and you "stalk them" with a water gun. You either play on two teams or you are given a name to stalk and once you kill them with "water" using a water gun, or whatever means necessary, you get the name of their victim they're supposedly "stalking" and go after them.

The game was fun because you never know who's "stalking you" on the whole campus.

But imagine if it took part in a whole city! Well it has! Here in London!

It started today! Wish I knew of this earlier! What's funny is that the news is making a big deal of it because if played in a public area, people might feel threatened, esp with some of the water guns looking like the real thing! I'm hoping to spot a few players in the next few weeks. Should be interesting!