The “King and Queen” is the pub next door to my residence where my friends go regularly. It is a traditional Old English pub that has a lot of character, and draws in a mix of local people. The inside of the pub is decorated with pictures of kings and queens of England…and a photograph of Bob Dylan.
On Friday night, one of my friends asked the pub owner about the Bob Dylan photo. He said that Bob Dylan played at the King and Queen in 1962 when he was travelling throughout Europe. It was his first performance in London! He also told us that the line from the Don McLean song, American Pie: “The Jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean” is thought to be a reference to this performance.
An interesting bit of history! For more info, go to:
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/8001.php
http://www.bobdylanroots.com/carthy.html
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Accents and Igloos: Learning what it means to be Canadian
When Londoners I meet hear my (haha) foreign accent, they immediately assume that I’m American. I guess the strong influence of the American media in the UK encourages them to recognize it as such.
After correcting their misjudgment by informing them that I am not American, but Canadian, most are quick to mutter something like “Oh sorry! What an insult!”
It is funny because being labeled as American is not really an insult to me. I personally have nothing against Americans. I don't always agree with their politics, but that make me offended to be called American. In fact, nearly every American I’ve met is absolutely wonderful. Also,I love the Dixie Chicks, George Clooney, college basketball, the Alaskan wilderness, the American Dream, Oprah, and of course, given that I’m an under-25-idealist, I am a HUGE fan of Obama.
In order to understand why Canadians are so highly regarded here, it is important to understand what Londoners think it means to be Canadian. Since the “Canadian Identity” question is one of constant debate and uncertainty, perhaps understanding how we are viewed by people abroad will help us to understand ourselves and our culture.
First, as I have already noted, a critical aspect of what others think of our identity seems to be that we are “not American”. But…we talk like Americans, consume their products, watch their television shows, follow their political elections more closely than our own….What exactly are these apparently unique qualities that make Canadians so popular abroad?
Based on my observations thus far, the average non-Canadian living in London does not know much about Canada. For example, when I say that I’m from Ottawa, few people are able to identify it as the capital city (most think that the capital is Toronto or Montreal).
It also seems that many people perceive Canada as a great wilderness and associate it with images of a Northern climate. Of course parts of Canada are like this, but many Londoners are surprised to discover that most Canadians actually live more like they do than the rugged Arctic inhabitant they envision.
Let’s rewind to last week:
It is 7:30 pm on a Sunday evening. Shannon is cooking a tantalizing stir-fry made from a kit which she purchased on sale at Tesco a few hours earlier when she realized that her only dinner options were apples, yogurt, and cheese and crackers.
28 (ish) year old PhD student (serious tone- NOT sarcastic): Oh! You’re not eating bear meat!
Shannon (looking intently at rice which was burning and sticking to the pan she had purchased at Argos a few hours earlier): No, I’ve never eaten bear meat. In fact, I’ve only seen 2 bears in my entire life and I spent a year working in the Canadian Rockies where bear sightings are common.
28 (ish) year old PhD student: Oh, do you eat seal?
Shannon (getting annoyed and scraping frying pan with plastic spoon because she is still too cheap to by real utensils): No, in fact, I have never even seen a seal. People only really only eat them up North, and most of the population lives within 200 km of the United States where seals are scarce.
Another example:
Student at secondary school I was teaching at: What is it like to live in an igloo?
Me: Quite warm, actually.
Fascinated student: It must be so weird here living in a house made out of bricks instead of snow.
Me: I was joking. I don’t actually live in an igloo. Most people in Canada live in houses that are similar to the ones here.
Teacher at the same school: I heard that Canadians snowshoe to school during the winter.
Me: No, I took a school bus.
Hmm….
This whole experience of trying to understand what it means to be Canadian has brought me back to my OAC year when I applied for the Ottawa Catholic School Board's “Trustee Award”. Having been highly involved with my school’s athletic, student government, and peer helping programs, I thought that I had a really good chance of winning the award.
Prior to the interview, I had been preparing for questions like: “what do you want to do after high school?” or “give an example of something you’ve done to improve the school community?” or “give an example of a time when you had to overcame a personal weakness”…I was taken aback by the question I was asked.
My question: What does it mean to be a Canadian citizen?
I had absolutely no clue how to respond. How was I supposed to know? I had never left Canada, and had never been exposed to anything different.
“Uhh…peaceful…nice…multicultural…supposed to like hockey?”
Needless to say I did not win the award!
What DOES it mean to be Canadian? Beavers+bilingual+multicultural+maple syrup+Mounties+winter+Prime Minister+Governor General+plaid+eh+hockey+…= I don’t know. Google doesn’t even seem to know (I did a bit of research).
So far, the people I’ve met in London think Canadians are: wild, outdoorsy, resilient to cold and fortunately (as I’m told), not American.
I am going to continue to document other people’s perceptions of what it means to be Canadian as I travel this year. Hopefully, I’ll be able to come up with some better answers. Until then, I hope to represent Canada well and will do my best to perpetuate stereotypes by wearing plaid shirts to the bar, eating game, yearning for the outdoors and winter, and being as friendly and bubbly as I possibly can…shouldn’t be too hard, I tend to do most of that, eh?
After correcting their misjudgment by informing them that I am not American, but Canadian, most are quick to mutter something like “Oh sorry! What an insult!”
It is funny because being labeled as American is not really an insult to me. I personally have nothing against Americans. I don't always agree with their politics, but that make me offended to be called American. In fact, nearly every American I’ve met is absolutely wonderful. Also,I love the Dixie Chicks, George Clooney, college basketball, the Alaskan wilderness, the American Dream, Oprah, and of course, given that I’m an under-25-idealist, I am a HUGE fan of Obama.
In order to understand why Canadians are so highly regarded here, it is important to understand what Londoners think it means to be Canadian. Since the “Canadian Identity” question is one of constant debate and uncertainty, perhaps understanding how we are viewed by people abroad will help us to understand ourselves and our culture.
First, as I have already noted, a critical aspect of what others think of our identity seems to be that we are “not American”. But…we talk like Americans, consume their products, watch their television shows, follow their political elections more closely than our own….What exactly are these apparently unique qualities that make Canadians so popular abroad?
Based on my observations thus far, the average non-Canadian living in London does not know much about Canada. For example, when I say that I’m from Ottawa, few people are able to identify it as the capital city (most think that the capital is Toronto or Montreal).
It also seems that many people perceive Canada as a great wilderness and associate it with images of a Northern climate. Of course parts of Canada are like this, but many Londoners are surprised to discover that most Canadians actually live more like they do than the rugged Arctic inhabitant they envision.
Let’s rewind to last week:
It is 7:30 pm on a Sunday evening. Shannon is cooking a tantalizing stir-fry made from a kit which she purchased on sale at Tesco a few hours earlier when she realized that her only dinner options were apples, yogurt, and cheese and crackers.
28 (ish) year old PhD student (serious tone- NOT sarcastic): Oh! You’re not eating bear meat!
Shannon (looking intently at rice which was burning and sticking to the pan she had purchased at Argos a few hours earlier): No, I’ve never eaten bear meat. In fact, I’ve only seen 2 bears in my entire life and I spent a year working in the Canadian Rockies where bear sightings are common.
28 (ish) year old PhD student: Oh, do you eat seal?
Shannon (getting annoyed and scraping frying pan with plastic spoon because she is still too cheap to by real utensils): No, in fact, I have never even seen a seal. People only really only eat them up North, and most of the population lives within 200 km of the United States where seals are scarce.
Another example:
Student at secondary school I was teaching at: What is it like to live in an igloo?
Me: Quite warm, actually.
Fascinated student: It must be so weird here living in a house made out of bricks instead of snow.
Me: I was joking. I don’t actually live in an igloo. Most people in Canada live in houses that are similar to the ones here.
Teacher at the same school: I heard that Canadians snowshoe to school during the winter.
Me: No, I took a school bus.
Hmm….
This whole experience of trying to understand what it means to be Canadian has brought me back to my OAC year when I applied for the Ottawa Catholic School Board's “Trustee Award”. Having been highly involved with my school’s athletic, student government, and peer helping programs, I thought that I had a really good chance of winning the award.
Prior to the interview, I had been preparing for questions like: “what do you want to do after high school?” or “give an example of something you’ve done to improve the school community?” or “give an example of a time when you had to overcame a personal weakness”…I was taken aback by the question I was asked.
My question: What does it mean to be a Canadian citizen?
I had absolutely no clue how to respond. How was I supposed to know? I had never left Canada, and had never been exposed to anything different.
“Uhh…peaceful…nice…multicultural…supposed to like hockey?”
Needless to say I did not win the award!
What DOES it mean to be Canadian? Beavers+bilingual+multicultural+maple syrup+Mounties+winter+Prime Minister+Governor General+plaid+eh+hockey+…= I don’t know. Google doesn’t even seem to know (I did a bit of research).
So far, the people I’ve met in London think Canadians are: wild, outdoorsy, resilient to cold and fortunately (as I’m told), not American.
I am going to continue to document other people’s perceptions of what it means to be Canadian as I travel this year. Hopefully, I’ll be able to come up with some better answers. Until then, I hope to represent Canada well and will do my best to perpetuate stereotypes by wearing plaid shirts to the bar, eating game, yearning for the outdoors and winter, and being as friendly and bubbly as I possibly can…shouldn’t be too hard, I tend to do most of that, eh?
Monday, September 14, 2009
My Home Away from Home: Tourist to Local
Me (at ‘Pret’ a coffee chain): May I please have a regular coffee to go?
Barista: Black?
Me: With milk.
Barista: White coffee.
Me: No, just coffee with milk.
Barista: Yes, white coffee.
Me (slightly embarrassed): Oh. Ok. Yes. White coffee.
I have been living in London for less than two weeks now and it already feels like I have been here forever. The transition to living in a new country has been pretty easy for me- I have been lucky to have made a pretty good group of friends, and my life here is pretty similar to how I live back home in Canada. In fact, I actually prefer some of the differences! (Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, I’m not planning on moving here forever!)
What I love most about London so far is the active hubs of people. With a population density of about 4700 per square kilometer, people live in much smaller spaces than they do in Canada. Stores and services like supermarkets, banks, post office, drug stores, bakeries, delis, etc., are all within walking distance. At home, we usually get in our cars and drive to all these things- so it is nice to be able to walk around and get some fresh air (I’ve seen many cyclists wearing gas masks, though, so I’m not sure how fresh the air is). Although people don’t really have yards, there is a lot of green space in the city’s parks. I am lucky and live very close to Regent’s Park.
I find the energy created by all the people so contagious- it makes you want to get out and experience all that the city has to offer! There are so many interesting people to meet and so many events to participate in. For example, this weekend, I attended the “Thames Festival”, which was a free event by the Thames River that showcased musicians, dancers, and performing artists, as well as the best fireworks show I’d ever seen. I loved being part of the excitement and seeing so many people out and about.
Work has been a bit slow lately, since school only started last week. My experiences so far have been very positive. As a supply teacher, I have realized that you need to be flexible, creative, and extremely confident. Although you have absolutely no clue what is going on, it is important to portray a sense of complete control. Even though I have been living in London for two weeks, teaching for uhh…two weeks, and don’t know much about the UK curriculum or the schools I am teaching at, it is important to appear as though I am a master of it all. For example, I had to teach netball for one of my classes. I had never heard of netball or even seen it played, but apparently, it is what girls play instead of basketball here. Before we started, I asked, “who would like to volunteer to explain the rules of netball to the class for your ‘classmates’ who may have forgotten”. Haha. Essentially, it is the same as basketball, minus the dribbling and the backboards.
For my first day of work, I was called at 8:15 am to teach P.E. at an all-girls high school. School started at 8:40am. I was in Starbucks (ordering a white coffee!)…a 5 min walk from home. I had called my agency at 7:00am to see if I was working that day, and was informed that I probably wouldn’t get any work that day. By 8:00 am, I hadn’t heard anything, so decided it was safe to get a coffee, since I was planning on going for a run and (sadly) can’t have a good run without some caffeine!
My agent (who is super nice and unbelievably supportive), informed me, “there’s no need to panic, but you need to leave as soon as possible since it takes 30 minutes to get to the school”. Luckily, I have a very high stress threshold, so was somehow able to remain calm as I navigated my way through the tube system (which I had previously only used once before), and arrived at the school in good time (another teacher covered the class until I got there).
The students I have taught have been surprisingly well-behaved so far, and have actually been pretty receptive to me. They seem very interested in Canada, although they have a ridiculously stereotypical perception of what it is like. Yep, live in an igloo. Nope, don’t know Drake- it’s a big country.
They are also amused by some of the language I use. For example, I taught a badminton class, and told students to get a “birdie”. Everyone started laughing because they had no idea what I was talking about. In the UK, they call them “shuttlecocks”, or just “cocks” as one sassy gr. 9 was quick to note!
I am itching to get more work, as I haven’t worked in 2 months and am starting to feel a bit useless (and broke- yep, the student loan is almost completely maxed out). However, I have used my free time and the bank’s money well: I saw the musical “Wicked”, got tickets in the pit for Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Globe Theatre, went to the Art Gallery, discovered my local pub, went cycling in Kent, played in 2 rugby games, wandered all over the city, checked out several markets that I will try to stay away from…mmm bread pudding at Borough Market…and (yikes!) brown leather jacket that I bought at the Camden Market (it was only 30 pounds, though!).
I guess that’s all the news that I have for now. I hope that everyone is doing well. It is weird to think about how life just continues on back home as normal when you’re gone. I miss my family and all of my AMAZING, inspiring friends, but am feeling happy with the community I am establishing here. Please send me updates on your lives. I don’t want to be too out of the loop!
Shannon
Barista: Black?
Me: With milk.
Barista: White coffee.
Me: No, just coffee with milk.
Barista: Yes, white coffee.
Me (slightly embarrassed): Oh. Ok. Yes. White coffee.
I have been living in London for less than two weeks now and it already feels like I have been here forever. The transition to living in a new country has been pretty easy for me- I have been lucky to have made a pretty good group of friends, and my life here is pretty similar to how I live back home in Canada. In fact, I actually prefer some of the differences! (Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, I’m not planning on moving here forever!)
What I love most about London so far is the active hubs of people. With a population density of about 4700 per square kilometer, people live in much smaller spaces than they do in Canada. Stores and services like supermarkets, banks, post office, drug stores, bakeries, delis, etc., are all within walking distance. At home, we usually get in our cars and drive to all these things- so it is nice to be able to walk around and get some fresh air (I’ve seen many cyclists wearing gas masks, though, so I’m not sure how fresh the air is). Although people don’t really have yards, there is a lot of green space in the city’s parks. I am lucky and live very close to Regent’s Park.
I find the energy created by all the people so contagious- it makes you want to get out and experience all that the city has to offer! There are so many interesting people to meet and so many events to participate in. For example, this weekend, I attended the “Thames Festival”, which was a free event by the Thames River that showcased musicians, dancers, and performing artists, as well as the best fireworks show I’d ever seen. I loved being part of the excitement and seeing so many people out and about.
Work has been a bit slow lately, since school only started last week. My experiences so far have been very positive. As a supply teacher, I have realized that you need to be flexible, creative, and extremely confident. Although you have absolutely no clue what is going on, it is important to portray a sense of complete control. Even though I have been living in London for two weeks, teaching for uhh…two weeks, and don’t know much about the UK curriculum or the schools I am teaching at, it is important to appear as though I am a master of it all. For example, I had to teach netball for one of my classes. I had never heard of netball or even seen it played, but apparently, it is what girls play instead of basketball here. Before we started, I asked, “who would like to volunteer to explain the rules of netball to the class for your ‘classmates’ who may have forgotten”. Haha. Essentially, it is the same as basketball, minus the dribbling and the backboards.
For my first day of work, I was called at 8:15 am to teach P.E. at an all-girls high school. School started at 8:40am. I was in Starbucks (ordering a white coffee!)…a 5 min walk from home. I had called my agency at 7:00am to see if I was working that day, and was informed that I probably wouldn’t get any work that day. By 8:00 am, I hadn’t heard anything, so decided it was safe to get a coffee, since I was planning on going for a run and (sadly) can’t have a good run without some caffeine!
My agent (who is super nice and unbelievably supportive), informed me, “there’s no need to panic, but you need to leave as soon as possible since it takes 30 minutes to get to the school”. Luckily, I have a very high stress threshold, so was somehow able to remain calm as I navigated my way through the tube system (which I had previously only used once before), and arrived at the school in good time (another teacher covered the class until I got there).
The students I have taught have been surprisingly well-behaved so far, and have actually been pretty receptive to me. They seem very interested in Canada, although they have a ridiculously stereotypical perception of what it is like. Yep, live in an igloo. Nope, don’t know Drake- it’s a big country.
They are also amused by some of the language I use. For example, I taught a badminton class, and told students to get a “birdie”. Everyone started laughing because they had no idea what I was talking about. In the UK, they call them “shuttlecocks”, or just “cocks” as one sassy gr. 9 was quick to note!
I am itching to get more work, as I haven’t worked in 2 months and am starting to feel a bit useless (and broke- yep, the student loan is almost completely maxed out). However, I have used my free time and the bank’s money well: I saw the musical “Wicked”, got tickets in the pit for Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Globe Theatre, went to the Art Gallery, discovered my local pub, went cycling in Kent, played in 2 rugby games, wandered all over the city, checked out several markets that I will try to stay away from…mmm bread pudding at Borough Market…and (yikes!) brown leather jacket that I bought at the Camden Market (it was only 30 pounds, though!).
I guess that’s all the news that I have for now. I hope that everyone is doing well. It is weird to think about how life just continues on back home as normal when you’re gone. I miss my family and all of my AMAZING, inspiring friends, but am feeling happy with the community I am establishing here. Please send me updates on your lives. I don’t want to be too out of the loop!
Shannon
Sunday, September 6, 2009
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." (Samuel Johnson)
I have been in London for almost four days now and am already in love with it. I can certainly see what all the hype is about. The streets are filled with so many interesting people, shops, and historic buildings…which combined, creates an energy that makes you just want to go out and explore!
So far, I have spent most of my days wandering around with my “London: A-Z Map” and my Lonely Planet (thank you, Lauren!) trying to understand the city’s layout (which doesn’t really make sense to me- I tend to be directionally challenged to begin with, so the roundabouts, street names changing every couple of blocks, and backwards traffic flow only add to the confusion) and have loved everything I’ve seen. I am interested in knowing how many kilometers I covered over the past few days. I should have worn a pedometer (typical phys ed….whoops “P.E.” teacher thought-process)! I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to live in such an exciting city and experience the heart of it.
I haven’t actually done anything touristy yet- I am waiting until I get a paycheck before I fall victim to London’s tourist trap! However, I have walked past many of the major sights: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames, Covent Garden Market, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, have explored many of the popular districts: Soho, Bloomsbury, Kensington, Westminster, and have gone on a few runs through Regent’s Park (which is a 5 min jog from my building!).
Today, after the big adventure of finding a replacement quill bit for my bike-- the bike box got damaged on the plane and a few parts fell out—I was finally able to take my bike out for a little spin around the city! Although drivers are really aggressive here, London seems to be cycle-friendly, at least in some areas. There are bike lanes throughout the city, many of which are separated from motorized traffic by a median. I am looking forward to doing some cycle trips throughout England on weekends, and hopefully, some of Europe!!! I hope to join a cycling club and would even like to do a road race or two while I’m here!!
I don’t think that the adjustment to a new place and way of life will as difficult as I anticipated. Everyone has been very helpful and friendly so far, which has made the transition really easy. Also, many things are familiar to me here. Often, I forget I’m in Europe, and feel like I’m just in another city in Canada! I think that I might even feel like more of a foreigner in Quebec! They have many of the same stores and restaurants here that they have back home: Starbucks, McDonald’s, Subway, GAP, H&M, HMV, American Apparel…so it doesn’t feel too foreign. I am looking forward to doing a bit of shopping in the stores which were previously unknown to me…and maybe become slightly more fashionable (I know, wishful thinking…). I already know that there is limited hope for saving money here, though. I live right in the middle of the shopping/fashion district…so even though I don’t plan on buying many “things” while I’m here, as I want to save my money for “experiences”, I am sure that I will get seduced by all the SALE signs and European fashions.
Actually, so far, I don’t find it too much more expensive here than it is in Toronto. I mean, I found living in Toronto expensive compared to Ottawa or Kingston (but maybe less expensive than Banff???), but I had prepared myself that London was going to be outrageously pricey. However, my rent is reasonable, and the prices of groceries are comparable to home. Even drinks in the pub are about the same (especially once you factor in that you don’ t have to tip!). I went to the Canadian pub, the Maple Leaf, with my cousin Laura, and her Canadian friends, so pub prices were a true comparison!
I haven’t spent much money over the past few days and have had a lot of fun… I think it is just difficult to save money in any big city because almost everything you do costs money. Based on what I’ve observed from the price tags here so far, as long as I don’t go to shows every night and have fancy dinners out all the time, I should manage just fine, and will be able to do lots of travelling. (Don’t worry, I do plan on going to shows and fancy dinners, though- I’m not going to be a total cheapskate).
My location is very central- close to Goodge Street and Oxford Circus tube stations for those of you who have visited London. Basically, I can walk to pretty much anywhere in the city, or hop on the tube if I’m feeling pressed for time. Anything I need-banks, grocery stores, pubs, drugstores- is a short walk away. I anticipate that I will have a good quality of life here and a very healthy lifestyle with all the walking!
I am living in a residence which is partnered with the University College of London Hospitals, so most of the other tenants are either working as nurses, are in medical school, or are Health Sciences students. It is nice to be living somewhere where it is so easy to meet other people!! I have my own room and share the kitchen and bathroom. It reminds me a lot of my room in Waldron Tower, where I lived during my first year of university at Queen’s- it also has a sink! It is great, all I need, and the price is right!
I haven’t started working yet, but am starting next week! Right now, I am going to be supply teaching in Central London (there is a teacher shortage here, so you get work almost every day), but may take a long-term contract if one comes up that interests me. However, I am actually excited to supply teach, as I will be exposed to many different types of classes and groups of students. There are many differences in the British school system compared to ours’ in Canada, so I am interested in having a range of experiences, which will hopefully translate into meaningful learning opportunities for me. Of course, supply teaching has its downsides (“whooooo! We have a supply teacher! Let’s go CRAZY!!!”), but I’m sure I’ll survive. It also has the benefits of no prep or marking, meaning, more time to experience London life! Without a doubt, I’ll have many stories to write about!!!
Tomorrow, I’m off to go watch my friend, Jane’s (a friend from Banff) rugby game at Wimbledon…looking forward to seeing how the game is played in England!
My plan is to update the blog weekly, unless something incredibly exciting happens to warrant an additional entry. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at shannon.mullen@hotmail.com if you have any questions or comments--even if you just want to say hi. I’d love to hear from you.
Life is exciting, wherever you are in the world. There is so much to see and do, and so many wonderful people to share these experiences with! Whether you are in London, England or in the bouncing metropolis of Bells Corners, Ontario, partake in the adventure- every day is a gift.
Live. Dream. Explore.
xoxo Shannon :)
So far, I have spent most of my days wandering around with my “London: A-Z Map” and my Lonely Planet (thank you, Lauren!) trying to understand the city’s layout (which doesn’t really make sense to me- I tend to be directionally challenged to begin with, so the roundabouts, street names changing every couple of blocks, and backwards traffic flow only add to the confusion) and have loved everything I’ve seen. I am interested in knowing how many kilometers I covered over the past few days. I should have worn a pedometer (typical phys ed….whoops “P.E.” teacher thought-process)! I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to live in such an exciting city and experience the heart of it.
I haven’t actually done anything touristy yet- I am waiting until I get a paycheck before I fall victim to London’s tourist trap! However, I have walked past many of the major sights: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames, Covent Garden Market, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, have explored many of the popular districts: Soho, Bloomsbury, Kensington, Westminster, and have gone on a few runs through Regent’s Park (which is a 5 min jog from my building!).
Today, after the big adventure of finding a replacement quill bit for my bike-- the bike box got damaged on the plane and a few parts fell out—I was finally able to take my bike out for a little spin around the city! Although drivers are really aggressive here, London seems to be cycle-friendly, at least in some areas. There are bike lanes throughout the city, many of which are separated from motorized traffic by a median. I am looking forward to doing some cycle trips throughout England on weekends, and hopefully, some of Europe!!! I hope to join a cycling club and would even like to do a road race or two while I’m here!!
I don’t think that the adjustment to a new place and way of life will as difficult as I anticipated. Everyone has been very helpful and friendly so far, which has made the transition really easy. Also, many things are familiar to me here. Often, I forget I’m in Europe, and feel like I’m just in another city in Canada! I think that I might even feel like more of a foreigner in Quebec! They have many of the same stores and restaurants here that they have back home: Starbucks, McDonald’s, Subway, GAP, H&M, HMV, American Apparel…so it doesn’t feel too foreign. I am looking forward to doing a bit of shopping in the stores which were previously unknown to me…and maybe become slightly more fashionable (I know, wishful thinking…). I already know that there is limited hope for saving money here, though. I live right in the middle of the shopping/fashion district…so even though I don’t plan on buying many “things” while I’m here, as I want to save my money for “experiences”, I am sure that I will get seduced by all the SALE signs and European fashions.
Actually, so far, I don’t find it too much more expensive here than it is in Toronto. I mean, I found living in Toronto expensive compared to Ottawa or Kingston (but maybe less expensive than Banff???), but I had prepared myself that London was going to be outrageously pricey. However, my rent is reasonable, and the prices of groceries are comparable to home. Even drinks in the pub are about the same (especially once you factor in that you don’ t have to tip!). I went to the Canadian pub, the Maple Leaf, with my cousin Laura, and her Canadian friends, so pub prices were a true comparison!
I haven’t spent much money over the past few days and have had a lot of fun… I think it is just difficult to save money in any big city because almost everything you do costs money. Based on what I’ve observed from the price tags here so far, as long as I don’t go to shows every night and have fancy dinners out all the time, I should manage just fine, and will be able to do lots of travelling. (Don’t worry, I do plan on going to shows and fancy dinners, though- I’m not going to be a total cheapskate).
My location is very central- close to Goodge Street and Oxford Circus tube stations for those of you who have visited London. Basically, I can walk to pretty much anywhere in the city, or hop on the tube if I’m feeling pressed for time. Anything I need-banks, grocery stores, pubs, drugstores- is a short walk away. I anticipate that I will have a good quality of life here and a very healthy lifestyle with all the walking!
I am living in a residence which is partnered with the University College of London Hospitals, so most of the other tenants are either working as nurses, are in medical school, or are Health Sciences students. It is nice to be living somewhere where it is so easy to meet other people!! I have my own room and share the kitchen and bathroom. It reminds me a lot of my room in Waldron Tower, where I lived during my first year of university at Queen’s- it also has a sink! It is great, all I need, and the price is right!
I haven’t started working yet, but am starting next week! Right now, I am going to be supply teaching in Central London (there is a teacher shortage here, so you get work almost every day), but may take a long-term contract if one comes up that interests me. However, I am actually excited to supply teach, as I will be exposed to many different types of classes and groups of students. There are many differences in the British school system compared to ours’ in Canada, so I am interested in having a range of experiences, which will hopefully translate into meaningful learning opportunities for me. Of course, supply teaching has its downsides (“whooooo! We have a supply teacher! Let’s go CRAZY!!!”), but I’m sure I’ll survive. It also has the benefits of no prep or marking, meaning, more time to experience London life! Without a doubt, I’ll have many stories to write about!!!
Tomorrow, I’m off to go watch my friend, Jane’s (a friend from Banff) rugby game at Wimbledon…looking forward to seeing how the game is played in England!
My plan is to update the blog weekly, unless something incredibly exciting happens to warrant an additional entry. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at shannon.mullen@hotmail.com if you have any questions or comments--even if you just want to say hi. I’d love to hear from you.
Life is exciting, wherever you are in the world. There is so much to see and do, and so many wonderful people to share these experiences with! Whether you are in London, England or in the bouncing metropolis of Bells Corners, Ontario, partake in the adventure- every day is a gift.
Live. Dream. Explore.
xoxo Shannon :)
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