OMA Students Abroad

Election Night in London

Last night was Election Night!

I was too restless to sleep and hear about the results the next morning, so my flatmates and I went to a pub called the Lexington that was airing live election coverage and supposedly serving “American” food as well. Twinkies and hotdogs? I’m game.

Let me just comment on the amount of British interest and support I have been getting. Everyone here seems to be well informed and actually care about our election, our President. It just blows my mind that people actually TALK about these things here, whereas I feel like Americans aren’t too concerned with what’s happening across the pond really.

The pub was filled with Brits and Americans alike. There was actually a LINE outside the pub to get in. At 11:30, they gave us the option of going upstairs to watch CNN or downstairs to watch BBC. Mind you, downstairs had a chandelier and a very nice projection screen. But of course, the Americans swarmed for CNN and my flatmates and I had to tap into our inner aggressive Americans to get a good spot. The upstairs was…well…not as posh. Our projection screen was literally a blanket that was held up by clothespins. But there was indeed an incredible sense of camaraderie. Americans sat all over the floor, on tables, the bar, and each other. I brought my election guide to keep track of the swing states, as well as my nifty Obama face mask, where people took pictures with me like Mickey Mouse.

I don’t need to describe how the election went. But I will never forget how I felt last night. I’m not one to cry when I’m happy, but I swear to you I thought we were going to break the floor when we heard the results. Strangers hugging one another, pints being spilled, crying, kissing, chanting. Afterwards we waved an American flag down the street at 5 in the morning shouting “4 more years!”

I’ve never actually been “proud” to be American, but now, being millions of miles away and going through hell and back to make sure I stayed involved and voted, I will never underestimate the power of one vote, or the strength behind my generation. I am a proud American in London, and am so excited to return home to a country ready for the right kind of change.

Yesterday we went to Samuel Johnson’s house where he wrote the first official British dictionary. It’s incredible how one man determined the spelling and definition for thousands of words. It took him 7 years to do this!

In one of the rooms they let you play dress up. Needless to say, Emma, Bakari, and I bolted there as soon as the tour was over. We then proceeded to take “family pictures” and flounce around the entire house.

What an attractive multicultural 18th century family.

Having lunch at a place called Pret today. They have these all over London. It’s kinda like Panera bread but quicker and with an international twist. Im having a falafel wrap, tomato soup, and red thai curry chips. Yumm.

Hey Everyone!

I’m Danielle! Similar to what Suki posted in her last post, us Londoners are being kept very busy over here. Just getting some free time to post a little something. 

So.

I have officially been in London for about 2 going on 3 weeks and I’v been out of the country for about a month now! Wow. It feels as though it’s been forever and not long at all at the same time. But so far…I’m loving it. I live in a flat in Camden Town, a very vibrant & eclectic town in London and I have an internship with Stonewall, a lesbian, gay, bisexual lobbying group & charity. It’s kinda perfect for my interest in activism and LGBT equality. I’m taking some very interesting classes as well and all together it’s been  a great time! 

This is my first REAL post so from now on you will be hearing much more from me as I get settled in. Keep a look out for lots of pictures, videos, and posts! 

Here are just a few pics so you can get a taste of what I’ve done and see over the past 2 weeks. 

Talk you you later! :D 

A rainy day in Camden Town. Literally from dawn till dusk.

Sorry for the lack of posts about life in Britannia! I’ve been busy lately with classes and my internship.

If it seems like I’m posting a lot of pictures of food and alcohol, it’s merely my attempt at integrating with the culture here.

Food is nothing new. It’s a staple in every country and culture. The food and the way we interact with and through it in our day to day lives always say a lot about who we are and the kind of lifestyle our city cultivates.

I can see the eyebrows on the alcohol part. And this is where I unabashedly tell you I drink everyday. Not the sloppy, wasted kind of drinking I see you envisioning. I drink when I go out to lunch. I drink at dinner. I drink while watching X Factor. I drink at staff meetings.

This might be because I went to bartending school and have an appreciation for technique and taste. I like alcoholic beverages. They look and taste pretty. So what? But mainly because drinking, or “pub life”, is a major part of British culture. The States have made it so much more of a stigma, but in turn the stigma is more than likely the only reason it’s abused amongst our youth in the first place. In Europe, alcohol is fuel. Economically and socially. Gathering at the pub after a long day at work on a Tuesday is completely accepted here. In fact, drinking with meals regularly is considered healthy. And sure, occasionally you’ll see the regular user and abuser being shoved onto a night bus by their equally disheveled friends on a Saturday night. It happens everywhere.

One of my flatmates’ internship encourages drinking in the office on Fridays. The theater that I work at has a full on bar downstairs for chrissakes, and it’s always packed… 11 am to 1 am.  They have meetings over a pint, iPads out and all. It’s an unexplainable way of life…Like how Americans usually always get ketchup with our fries or expect ice in our water or for the check to come within seconds of clearing your plate. It’s what we’re used to. It’s what they’re used to. The English say “alcoholic” takes on an entirely new meaning here, and I’m completely starting to see why. It isn’t that they’re dependent on alcohol to function. It makes for the staple to their meal or just a reason to meet up with some old mates. It beats lean cuisine dinners, reality TV, and browsing Facebook all weekend, that’s for sure. And personally, alcohol is delicious. If I could drink more than I already do and be incapable of getting tipsy/wasted, I’d be one happy camper.

No poems can please for long or live that are written by water-drinkers.  ~Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus), Satires

Ok so that quote doesn’t back up my post at all but I thought it was quite honest.

“My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.” - Winston Churchill

So get that craft beer you’ve been eyeing on the lunch menu! And drink those three glasses of red wine with your lasagna! You can just say you were being European.

Pig brain!! 

One thing that i will miss when i leave china is the dumplings. I can eat dumplings for breakfast, lunch, and even diner. They have become my go-to meal every time i want something quick and tasty. Since dumplings have become a favorite for most of the students on the program, last week my program facilitators took everybody to a hands on “lets make dumplings” activity. On this trip we went to a little mom and pop shop that thought us to make all kinds of dumplings. To my surprise there is actually an art to the technique. there are different ways to fold the dough and a different type or shape of dough for each type. The best part about making and eating everything we made. 

Another fun eating experience was hotpot where i had a taste of pig brain. It was really fun to try something new but i am really not a fan of pig brain. Thankfully there was a table full of other meats to add to the hot pot. My favorite was the seasoned beef but the ham, and of course the pork dumplings :) 

Making Dumplings.