Friday, the eighteenth of September found me restlessly wandering around Brighton thinking of where I was going to go. Friday, nothing much happened. I enjoyed some excellent authentic Italian food with Apryl, one of my excellent flat-mates. I had a delicious soup for the anti-pasta, pork sausage with lentils and mashed potatoes, and tiramisu for dessert. The tiramisu was so delicious, I could hardly contain my excitement. I think I started laughing a few times just for the sheer pleasure my mouth was experiencing. Everything was delicious, actually. I have discovered recently that I love food. I used to think I could take or leave any sustenance as long as it was somewhat nutritious and kept me going, but having all of this wonderful authentic cuisine brings out the food-lover in me. And I can't help myself but want to eat and eat and eat. But that was the highlight for that day. It was otherwise rather uneventful. Did some grocery shopping, and played at the beach. The water underground wells up in streams in the sand when the tide is out and because there are large pebbles under the fine sand, and it makes something like a quick-sand puddle, except your feet stop at larger pebbles. But you step into it and sink up to your knees in water and sand. It was a lovely day. Apryl and I enjoyed our day out. I tossed some rocks into the ocean and generally was exhilarated by the cold ocean water (I have not felt it in so long!).
Saturday was much more eventful. Apryl and I went to Churchill Square and was amazed by the droves of people. There were so many people shopping in Primark, I felt if there was to be a fire, a lot of people would get trampled by the stampede of the crowd. These are the lovely thoughts that run through my mind when I am in extremely crowded conditions. Needless to say, we didn't stay in Primark for long. Apryl and I walked to a little cafe across the street and I got a muffin and Coca-Cola. I wrote a whole research paper on Coca-Cola once. About how it was originally made with cocaine, fermented tea bags, and the kola nut. When the FDA got on their case about their brewing process, Coca-Cola had to change their product to fit within the guidelines set by the FDA.
Anyway, that's just a side note. It was the first UK Coke I had and it was different from American Coke. I think they actually still use some fermented product in the Cokes here. But they taste pretty good. Less chemicals, I think.
The entire organic/green/preservative free thing is HUGE here. In Moscow, Idaho it's a pretty big deal as well, but here they are about ten times as vigilant about it. They charge you for grocery bags (5p per bag), and encourage recycling on everything. This "earth friendly" approach is very prevalent in Brighton. There are recycling centers for shoes, bras, couches, eye-glasses, clothes, and more. But there's not just one center for this, they are spread out all over the city. You also see a lot of people with dreadlocks and the entire "hippie" look. The city is very "artsy" and bohemian. There are quite a few street performers, and every night, you see at least four people sitting in the door ways of closed shops asking for money or food. Just sitting there reading a book or smoking. Lounging about. People are very friendly with them and talk to them often.
Anyway, after we were in Primark and the cafe, Apryl and I walked around the mall in Churchill Square to see what there was to see. Lots of clothes, very nice clothes, and very nice shoes, perfume, anything and everything you can imagine. There was also a hair-removal booth where, apparently, they use this cotton string to grasp the hairs on your face, and then they just pull. I was going to see how it was done, but then I thought I wouldn't want someone watching me if I had it done, so Apryl and I made ourselves scarce and went elsewhere.
Parents are very patient with their children, and in general, children are very sweet little things. I have only seen two parents cross with their children in public since I've been here. Most of the parents are very lenient with their children, waiting until they go to last possible ring of obnoxiousness or safety before taking definitive action. They watch their kids very closely, though. They never take their eyes off of them, which is a good way to go. But for the most part, the children are lovely sweet things. But children, in general, are this way.
I bought a really nice sweater in a light mint green at the mall. I also got the new Muse CD: The Resistance, which I have listened to everyday since then. I am going to see Muse in November when they come to London and I am so pumped! They are one of my favorite bands of all time. So talented, all of them. My favorite track on the new album is called "Resistance", and it touches the heart strings. Such a haunting song, bittersweet and painful. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, I enjoy these kinds of songs. The sad ones. I like happy music as well, but something about a good blues song, or sad love song hits me home. I presume I am not the only one it effects this way, otherwise Muse would not be so popular. All of their songs have that haunting creepy, loving, passionate tone. They mix distortion with classical music, interweaving their own melodies into those of Chopin, Puccini, and other famous melodies. Their harmonies are pleasingly dissonant, their singing style is raw and refined in the same breath, and their entire works are a compilation of contradictions which blend to create a wonderful world full of different perspectives. Their lyrics are straightforward and poetic, getting their point across in one song, in a creative way. Needless to say, I am a huge fan.
Anyway, we spent all day at the mall on Saturday, basically, and after we returned to the flat, we prepared to go out with a group of other kids. We went to the King and Queen where I met a very funny Londoner. His name was Craig, and he was an adamant supporter of Barack Obama. He told me the English were very political people. And I would definitely agree. One thing about the English is they are DEFINITELY NOT passive. They state their opinions openly and decidedly. Which is rather refreshing from the American passive aggressive approach. Craig told me sarcasm was the property of the British and I could not use it, being American. We just gave each other a hard time. He asked me, "So, what do you think of us Londoners? Witty? Good-looking? Charming?"
"Ahh... fishing for compliments are we?"
"But we are very outgoing."
"Yes, I will give you that, the English are very outgoing and friendly."
Which is true.
I've had a lot of guys kiss my hand. And take my hand in both of theirs. They also do the kiss-on-the-cheek thing here, apparently. I'm glad Craig told me about that... We don't do that in America... which is kind of a bummer because it's a very sweet gesture, if done properly. Basically it means, "thank you so very much, I wish you the best". As does the hand-kissing. It's a formal good-bye. They kiss your hand and your cheek when they are leaving you. It's really cool...
Anyway, later that night, we were trying to find a club to go to that was not 5 pounds or more for entry fee (too much!). So, we ended up walking around for quite a while and ran into this place called "The Ocean Rooms", which could have been a pretty nice club except the lighting was terrible and the rooms were extremely dirty... And there wasn't music, it was noise. So we got out of there quickly.
Kirstyn and I went home and left Harman and Navjot to their own devices. Late night bus rides are always very interesting. Generally there aren't that many people about and the ones that are there are always interesting. Anyway, we made it home safely, and I slept soundly...
On Sunday, I met a graduate student from Niger in Africa. He told me there are very abrupt social classes in Niger. You are either very rich or very poor. He said that most people wanted to get into politics because there is a lot of money involved, and the government really does not care about the poor people. We talked about religion and Christianity and I tried to draw the pier, but soon lost patience. I really don't like drawing buildings. And so I drew him instead. It's the first African-American I have drawn from life... come to think of it, it's the second man I've drawn from life (the other is my dad) It didn't end up looking very much like him, because I haven't drawn a portrait in so long. Apryl and I wandered around on the beach and Apryl had Thai food for the first time. It was very delicious. I had Pad Khing, I think. And she had sweet and sour chicken. She liked it better than Chinese food! I am so happy. Another converted one. We also tried to go Sainsbury's, the big supermarket, but they close at 4pm, or 16:00, on Sundays so we went to the little gas station across the street, the Marks & Spencer "Simply Food" market. Petrol was 1.09/9 for unleaded and 1.08/9 for Diesel. Most of the cars here are manual drive.
Sunday night, the flat mates and I went to the King and Queen again to listen to the Battle of the Bands. The first guy sounded like a dirty Spongebob Squarepants song, the second guys didn't have a sound check, so all that was heard was the bass and drums, the third people were a pretty good eclectic group, but not that memorable, and I didn't listen the last band because I left with Apryl. I played some pool with Harman, Navjot, and Apryl, which was fun. Apryl made most of our balls, but Harman and Navjot ended up winning. The pool table was so small! And the pockets were tiny with really steep edges, so you couldn't bank a shot it, you had to shoot it almost straight into the pocket.
On Monday, Apryl and I went and got internet for our rooms (normality is restored!... wait), and I played soccer, WHOOPS! I mean "football" with Mickey, Harman, Katie, Laura, Cassie, and Navjot. We had a lot of fun. We also played American football, of a sort. We didn't have that many people, but it was still a lot of fun just playing a little scrimmage. Monday night, us footballists watched the movie "Superbad", and it was exactly as the title says.
Tuesday, we woke up early and went to orientation only to discover we really didn't need to be there. Story of the University of Brighton so far. You think you need to do something and turns out, it actually wasn't all that necessary. In other words, stress and anxiety about events in this place, is essentially, in a word, stupid. Things move so slowly, and people are so relaxed about everything, it's almost as if stress does not exist. But being Americans, we like our answers clear, concise, and on time. I keep realizing how rushed Americans are compared to these British here in Brighton. The American kids are all stressed about their classes and the British kids behave as if "uni" is just like a walk on the beach. The British do not allow themselves to get stressed, I believe. At least the ones here. Their attitude is very chill, friendly, and open. And they adamant about some things, but in an open way. They love to listen to you speak (maybe it's just the American accent they, "love"), and they really like good conversation and good speeches. A lot of them have mentioned they love Obama because he is really good at making speeches. Need I say I like these British people? Another thing I have noticed is Americans have VERY LOUD voices. They carry five times as far as the British and you can always tell when there are Americans on the bus because you can hear every word of their conversation. The British, in general, keep their voices pretty low. You can catch every other word, but you have to be listening. They are very talented in making their voices seem just part of the background noise.
So, since we had nothing more to do for orientation, I set out to the Marina to explore a part of Brighton I had not yet conquered. I took the 25C bus all the way to the end and hopped off at the Marina. I walked around a bit, but having not eaten that day, I could not keep my mind off of food. All I could think about was food. A common theme.
I lighted upon a pub and grille called, "The Harvester", which is, I gather, something of chain. The old man who was my waiter had a voice like nails on a chalkboard, but the mannerisms of a kindly man. However, he was a bit of a fright to look at. However, he sounded and looked as if he came from heaven as he asked me what I wanted... I was so happy to be getting food! I had an Elderberry "cordial" which is like a hand mixed soda type thing. It's syrup and carbonated water. It was so good! The Elderberry flavor is very distinct and I like it. I don't know what elderberry's smell like, but I gather they are unpleasant based up Monty Python's quote, "You mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberrys!"... oh the ways of education are wondrous.
I had fried mushrooms, and then BBQ chicken. I just sat there and smelled the BBQ sauce, drinking in the aroma of cooked meat; something, at the time, that seemed to be a distant legend in a forgotten land. I make it sound all romantic, but the food really was quite good. Although, English food has almost zero zest. They apparently do not like acrid tastes. Their "sour" candy is barely sour and they BBQ sauce is basically like Ketchup. However, the meat was good, so I do not complain about that. But English food, in general is much less spicy and flavorful than I am used to in the good old U.S. of A.
I rode by the "Brighton College" which is a prep school for girls and boys aged 3-13. I also went by the Royal Sussex Hospital which is housed in the same building it was founded in 1828. That is one old hospital. I don't know any more about it. That is all I saw from the bus. England has public health care, although you can have insurance if you want, but doctors keep "surgeries" not offices and on campus they are only in their "surgeries" three times a day for only two hours or so. August 1st is the day all of the medical students practice in the hospitals, and apparently, according to The Metro train paper, that day has a 6% higher death rate than other days. Yellow journalism, I say; how can you prove that? But, I still wouldn't want to be very ill in the hospital on that day. Anyway, all students are supposed to "register with the doctor", but of course being American, none of us know how, and the British forget that we don't. So, we have yet to discover how to register with the doctor. I will probably find out this coming week.
I like the area going towards the arena. It's very quiet and the little neighborhoods are very nice and tidy with their little "Argus" (which is the news store/candy shop/odds and ends/convenience store), and every block has a cafe or a little restaurant/pub. Pubs are very central part of the British community. Down at city centre, the pubs are a little noisy and rough with all of the college students, but in more residential areas, people are actually encouraged to bring their children to pubs and use them as friendly gathering places for the neighborhood.
I liked the Marina. It was a lot like America. Apryl said she got bored when she went there, but I liked looking around at the outlet stores and watching the people who looked so much more bored than I. I went to the ASDA supermarket (ASDA is actually a company in the Wal-Mart group) and I got some groceries for a decent price, which I was happy about because Sainsbury's is rather expensive.
As I was waiting at the bus stop, there were several deaf mutes waiting as well. They have the most expressive faces. Most deaf mutes I have seen have always looked so happy. And all of them I have seen are lovely people. Very nice and friendly. They were some elderly folk. There was a girl who "spoke" to them, so that was fun to watch. Tuesday, Laura and I also bought train tickets for the next day to London. Tuesday night is Karaoke night in Brighton, and although I love karaoke, I wanted to be well-rested for London, so I turned in early and told myself I would sing karaoke next week at the King and Queen.
London is a huge story in and of itself, so it will be posted tomorrow, but for now, I must go to sleep.
Cheers!
Han
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