Tag: UK

The start of Christmas in London

Published on by miadervisevicLeave a comment

In London, Christmas starts on November first. The lights are shinning, and the markets start getting set up. Everything has decorations, and the joy of the winter holidays are in the air! Its so surreal to experience Christmas (or the start of it) in a big city like London! While Denver may have one or two small Christmas markets, and an iceskating rink, London goes big or goes home. There are at least 7 markets close to me, as well as iceskating rinks in the making. Not to mention, the famous Hyde Park Winter Wonderland!

It’s so fun to walk around the city and look at all the lights and decorations. It brings so much joy, and on every corner you can see people laughing, taking pictures, and enjoying time together. Scarfs, sweaters, and hats, have become the staple fashion over here now, where people bundle up cozily and spend time together. I love experiencing this kind of atmosphere, as its so different from my hometown. I find myself comparing aspects (such as holiday festivities) to my hometown life, and how it’s similar or different. London is a huge city, and in some way, with all the lights, and decorations, it seems to almost appreciate the holidays more. I do find some similarities though, and its fun to find a piece of home. The smaller markets are very similar to the German one we have in Denver, and it’s fun to walk around and think of home, while also experiencing something a little bit different. I find myself appreciating the winter season more and more while I’m here.

The first snowfall of the season happened on Sunday, and it was beautiful to see the little flurries of snow falling down. People tilting their heads up to watch it fall, and enjoying the phenomenon. The snow doesn’t stick here, as its kind of a mix between rain and snow, but its fun nonetheless, and exciting to experience. However, the cold here sets in quickly, and it doesn’t take long for one to get cold, if they don’t have a proper jacket.

School has started to slow down a bit, and my friends and I have started to focus on our projects and final papers. Because of the drop in weather and temperature, theres not much one would want to do other than go to the markets at night or on the weekends; So, I’ve been spending my days focusing on the four papers I have to write by mid December, and going to classes. However, this does give me and my flatmates an opportunity to plan what markets we would like to go to, as well as talk and catch up. So far, my flatmates and some other friends have planed a few markets as well as iceskating, that we are so excited to go to!

I used to not like winter, because of the cold, and the lack of things to do, but experiencing winter here in London makes me want to rethink. Even the darkest of nights so far, have been brightened with all the lights in central London as well as the company of friends. Its interesting to see how being in a different city (and studying abroad) can change perspectives and ways of life. I enjoy seeing the differences in myself, and influences of the city I am in, and cant wait to experience more in the last month I have.

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Fleeting Connections

Published on by gwenmorgan323Leave a comment

Three weeks ago my phone died in the middle of Soho, London.

It was one of the best things to have ever happened to me.

I had gone off on my own to visit the Victoria & Albert Museum on South Kensington Street. I was on the trip with a couple other girls, but I felt I was making insufficient use of my three days in “The Big Smoke”. So, after being shown around by one of my sorority sisters, I decided to head off by myself. I had a map; I had my phone, and I had my spare battery. I knew exactly where I was thanks to my friend (who had my location) and knew exactly where I needed to go at 6:30 to have dinner with the rest of our group.

Except my phone was at 40%…and my battery pack was dead.

This I did not know until I reached the museum, which I did entirely by physical map because I wanted the opportunity to navigate without Google Maps and take a break from my phone (ironic). I then decided to turn off my phone, save my remaining battery, and go through the museum without taking any photos; a sort of “mini challenge” for myself as someone who loves to whip out their phone and snap a picture of a painting. For those who don’t know, the Victoria & Albert Museum is the world’s largest of applied arts, founded in 1852. Truly, one of the best museums I have ever set foot in and is filled to the brim with not only ancient architecture from every part of the world but people too.

The first person I met was a lady named Jan. Jan was at the museum with her son and husband. They had popped into town for some Korean barbecue and decided to check out the museum afterward. Jan and I had a lovely conversation about the green dye used for shoes in the Japanese exhibit. I told her about my studies here in Bilbao, and she told me about how she’d lived in London all her life and that her son was also interested in an exchange program. I encouraged it. I bid her adieu and went along my merry way.

The second was a boy my age named Spencer. I found him studying and touching one of the vases in the exhibit (don’t worry it was fake). Spencer is currently studying abroad in Italy and is super into pottery and ceramics. He came to the museum mainly to see the “moon vase”, a giant white pot on which he was basing one of his own pieces off of. He showed me why he was touching the vase, and how he was trying to memorize the different dips and curves. It’s such a beautiful thing, getting to see what other human beings are passionate about, what makes life worth living for each delicate soul on this planet.

The third was a girl named Disha, who I met in the Roman sculpture gallery of the museum. Disha was trying to get the perfect picture, setting up her phone against and table and running back to try to get the perfect shot. I offered to help her, and we ended up having at least a 30-minute discussion about our lives and a mini photoshoot in the gallery. Disha is from Canada, works for a travel agency, and is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. We exchanged Instagrams, I gave her some suggestions on spots to hit during her time in London and raced down the steps of the museum to get on the metro…which I then found out was closed, so I headed to the bus station.

At this point, my phone had gone down, down, down in battery, and my anxiety had only gone up, and up, and up, so with only 15% left I began to study the bus map, hoping to find out where I needed to go the old-fashioned way and preserve battery. Luckily, I was helped by a lovely woman named Bushra, another local Londoner who was coming back from teaching music composition. She showed me where I needed to go, and which line to get on as she peppered me with questions about the U.S. and I demanded she tell me where I could find the best scone before I hopped on the double-decker bus and made my way to the restaurant in Soho, London.

Side note: Soho was easily my favorite part of London. It’s like New York, full of color and bars and billboards. I definitely intend to return and explore it more in-depth!

Upon my arrival at the restaurant, I had about 5% of my battery left, feeling not too worried since I had made it to the location, and my friend would be arriving soon with my spare portable charger.

Apparently, I was at the wrong restaurant, and my phone died minutes after realizing this information.

Luckily, there was a lovely trio of people standing outside who willingly lent me a charger, and I went back inside to charge my phone behind the bar, where I met the sweetest bartender, Antonio.

Antonio told me about how he had lived in London all his life and had always wanted to come to the U.S. He also asked me if it’s true we wear pajamas all the time…to which I laughed and said unfortunately yes. We bonded over various topics while we waited for my phone to charge. We laughed about how different our countries were as he made me one of the best martinis I have ever had (I’ve never had one), and we exchanged Instagrams for Antonio’s inevitable journey to the wonderful state of Colorado. Once my phone was sufficiently charged, I paid for my drink (discounted- thank you Antonio), said our goodbyes, and returned the charger before ordering an Uber to the proper restaurant where my friends were waiting.

There is something so beautiful about those fleeting connections made with a stranger. I’ll probably never see any of these characters again, but I will always remember them. I was unbelievably anxious about my phone situation, and each of those little connections just made the whole situation ten times better.

But do consider this a cautionary tale. As someone who is constantly overprepared and hyperaware, this was certainly…not my finest moment, and while I don’t recommend letting your phone die in the middle of a big city you’ve never been to before, definitely make some fleeting connections.