Soccer or Football
8) - Following the world cup and cheering on the England team.
Perhaps its the lack of American sports that's televised here. Maybe its because Football can be one of the main topics of conversation. But if I never moved, I probably wouldn't have even followed the World Cup at all. I wouldn't care really. I wouldn't understand how passionate people are about their teams because if I lived in America I wouldn't care about the world's most popular sport.
I wouldn't know that John Terry replaced Beckham as the team captain. I wouldn't know that McClaren replaced Sven, nor any players names: Zidane, Henry, Owen, Rooney, Lampard, Terry, or Ronaldo. I wouldn't know what a hooligan was or the difference between the Premiership and the FA Cup would be. I certainly wouldn't have watched England's first friendly match win against Greece (4-0) under the new McClaren era.
Back in the day I'd only watch Football on Telemundo to hear the Spanish commentator say GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL.. because I thought it was funny...now I watch Football because I think I actually like it. Now if only I knew someone that was running a fantasy football league... =)
Monday, August 21, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
My transparent plastic bag and Spain
I was one of the lucky ones this weekend to experience the effects of the "critical" threat level by the British government this weekend. Out of all the weekends to travel, my trip to Costa Blanca, specifically El Campello and Benidorm Spain was a very painful experience. But once I was there, it was all sun, beaches, drinking, and partying.
First off, the critical threat level resulted in the restriction of any hand luggage on any flights out of any UK airport. This resulted in checking in everything you had except for a wallet and your passport in a transparent bag! This sucked because I usually don't check anything in on these weekend getaways. You couldn't even bring a book!
It took over an hour to check in and the security check involved a guy looking through your transparent plastic bag! Anyone that didn't follow the restrictions were turned away and return complying to the restrictions. (I'm not sure what they did with the things they couldn't bring!) We did see some people try to sneak some stuff in, only to be caught with the security frisk later on.
We eventually make it to the Madrid airport, which in my past experience in Spain, has been very bad. (Last time I was there I had to run to the gate with a very heavy bag!) It was deja vu all over again. Since the flight from London departed late, we were late for our connection. It was a 23 min walk to the gate and flashbacks to my last visit haunted me! This time though, all I was carrying a transparent bag!
Of course once we find a screen displaying the flight status information, it ended up being delayed for 5 hours! Oh what fun it is to stay at an airport only carrying a plastic bag with my passport and wallet!
We eventually make it the Alicante Airport and waited patiently for our luggage. We waited and waited... and guess what.. it never came! I can't even begin to describe how much that sucked waiting and waiting.. only to finally admit that my backpack wouldn't be taking a ride around the conveyer belt.
After traveling for almost 12 hours with only a plastic transparent bag, the journey ends with having our luggage lost! Bad luck I tell ya! But an interesting experience nonetheless. We end up getting our luggage a couple of hours before we had to leave to go home. =(
First off, the critical threat level resulted in the restriction of any hand luggage on any flights out of any UK airport. This resulted in checking in everything you had except for a wallet and your passport in a transparent bag! This sucked because I usually don't check anything in on these weekend getaways. You couldn't even bring a book!
It took over an hour to check in and the security check involved a guy looking through your transparent plastic bag! Anyone that didn't follow the restrictions were turned away and return complying to the restrictions. (I'm not sure what they did with the things they couldn't bring!) We did see some people try to sneak some stuff in, only to be caught with the security frisk later on.
We eventually make it to the Madrid airport, which in my past experience in Spain, has been very bad. (Last time I was there I had to run to the gate with a very heavy bag!) It was deja vu all over again. Since the flight from London departed late, we were late for our connection. It was a 23 min walk to the gate and flashbacks to my last visit haunted me! This time though, all I was carrying a transparent bag!
Of course once we find a screen displaying the flight status information, it ended up being delayed for 5 hours! Oh what fun it is to stay at an airport only carrying a plastic bag with my passport and wallet!
We eventually make it the Alicante Airport and waited patiently for our luggage. We waited and waited... and guess what.. it never came! I can't even begin to describe how much that sucked waiting and waiting.. only to finally admit that my backpack wouldn't be taking a ride around the conveyer belt.
After traveling for almost 12 hours with only a plastic transparent bag, the journey ends with having our luggage lost! Bad luck I tell ya! But an interesting experience nonetheless. We end up getting our luggage a couple of hours before we had to leave to go home. =(
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Coming in at number 9....
Is age but a number?
I think I’ve proven to myself in the past couple of months that I can still party like I use to. I know for a fact that if I didn’t make this move, I wouldn’t be partying as much or consuming as much alcohol as I do now. I certainly wouldn’t be staying up till 3-4am trying to catch a bus home after a night of partying and chasing women. Perhaps its just a phase for now, but I just didn’t think I’d get into this “phase” ever again. I compare myself to my peers back home sometimes and what they are up to, and its so strange how I’m at the opposite end of things when it comes to my social activities!
So I guess for #9 on “10 things” would be:
9) Partying more that I ever thought possible in this phase of my life.
I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the people I hang out with who have this kind of energy that I feed off of. Perhaps it’s because I’m surrounded by a “younger” crowd who has this kind of mentality? Conceivably it could be the wide range of bars/clubs that I have yet to check out in London.
A close friend wrote me the other week about how she does “couple” things all the time now. Since she’s in a relationship, everything they do involves couples. It was quite funny. But I guess that’s what really happens. You end up doing the same similar things depending on your relationship situation and the interests you share amongst each other.
For me it seems as if I’ve surrounded myself with single guys that love chasing women by going to bars and clubs!
I guess I’m just making the best out of the situation while I’m here. Don’t get me wrong, I love a quiet night at the flat over the weekend, reading a book or watching TV but it just gets too depressing!
At the end of it all, I guess when it gets to that point of “settling down” I know for a fact that I did take the time and enjoy what it truly means to be single, independent, and enjoying a carefree lifestyle. I guess I’m just afraid that I like it too much that I wouldn’t have it any other way!
I think I’ve proven to myself in the past couple of months that I can still party like I use to. I know for a fact that if I didn’t make this move, I wouldn’t be partying as much or consuming as much alcohol as I do now. I certainly wouldn’t be staying up till 3-4am trying to catch a bus home after a night of partying and chasing women. Perhaps its just a phase for now, but I just didn’t think I’d get into this “phase” ever again. I compare myself to my peers back home sometimes and what they are up to, and its so strange how I’m at the opposite end of things when it comes to my social activities!
So I guess for #9 on “10 things” would be:
9) Partying more that I ever thought possible in this phase of my life.
I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the people I hang out with who have this kind of energy that I feed off of. Perhaps it’s because I’m surrounded by a “younger” crowd who has this kind of mentality? Conceivably it could be the wide range of bars/clubs that I have yet to check out in London.
A close friend wrote me the other week about how she does “couple” things all the time now. Since she’s in a relationship, everything they do involves couples. It was quite funny. But I guess that’s what really happens. You end up doing the same similar things depending on your relationship situation and the interests you share amongst each other.
For me it seems as if I’ve surrounded myself with single guys that love chasing women by going to bars and clubs!
I guess I’m just making the best out of the situation while I’m here. Don’t get me wrong, I love a quiet night at the flat over the weekend, reading a book or watching TV but it just gets too depressing!
At the end of it all, I guess when it gets to that point of “settling down” I know for a fact that I did take the time and enjoy what it truly means to be single, independent, and enjoying a carefree lifestyle. I guess I’m just afraid that I like it too much that I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
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:
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. =)
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. =)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
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!
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