Alrighty Americans!

Now it is 7:30 AM, I've been awake since 4:30 AM, however, I am refreshed and ready to go for now. I guess at 10 AM I'll be totally crashing. I would just like to remind everyone that everything I know about England/the British I learned from Love Actually, Harry Potter, and Harold Pinter. The reality is refreshing I must say, at least so far. When you watch plays, movies and television and read books the people are idealized into an incredible standard. I am aware that this occurs with every stereotype, but I am just happy that these people are real people. They aren't always polite, they fight, they raise their voices (not quite as loud as us). Maybe not the most enlightened, original, or politically correct realization, but its relaxing for me.

I realized today that I can accurately represent the Northeast, the South, and the Midwest. That's about 1/3 of America. I the all encompassing American, a self proclaimed expert of a 1/3 American culture.

However, my mom warned me that here they speak "British" and we speak "American"; it's not that I didn't believe her, but well I didn't. Everyone kept saying, "Well, at least the same language." They don't. Not really anyway. It's more than "the phrase book" could explain. I was expecting a few different, cute words every now and then. Maybe this is how Northerners feel when they travel to the deep south.

One thing I've noticed so far is that the 80's aren't just an influence around here, I feel like I was "Hot Tube Time Machined" (with the exception of the giant cell phones of course) And YES, I dig the fashion. Everyone here just looks effortlessly put together, but I know it took them a while to look that way. And I was reminded by my advisor before I left, "There are shoes in London." The good news is there are really fabulous shoes in London, and to everyone's shock and awe, I am a part of a 3 person club here, the one suitcase club AND that suitcase has room to spare. (not weight though. stupid airlines)

For the record, the food isn't as bad as the said it would be! Maybe I've been lucky thus, maybe I've been in De Kalb too long. Last night, the chef at the Prince Edward Pub made us tiny versions of classic English pies, Cottage Pie, Shepherd's Pie, and another yummy pie with a forgettable name. The British love horseradish, which I didn't know and wasn't warned about. It's in everything, even the mustard. WARNING TO THOSE TRAVELING HERE: Traditional English Mustard means a yellow horseradish paste. Mom, almost all the coffee I've come across is organic, even the instant coffee in my sad/frightening hotel room.

The exchange rate sucks, sucks sucks sucks. My dollars sold for $1.69.

I am itching to see some theatre. Countdown to Merry Wives begins, 10 hours and 53 minutes. I am really glad to see something I haven't seen before.

What do we think the British Avenue Q is like?

bye y'all

kisses from your American

I am also attaching a link to my friend Chelsea DuVall's blog because:

1. It's much more beautiful and poetic then mine

2. The post I'm attaching is about me and when you are vain enough to write a blog, it's expected to include any and all things you or me. Whatever. Enjoy

Poetic Musings : For Carolyn